Once comfortable on stage in front of thousands, Joely Crockett is now mortified at the thought of walking—or rolling—down the aisle at her sisters’ wedding. Scarred and wheelchair-bound, the former beauty queen has lost more than the ability to walk—she’s lost her fire. But when one handsome, arrogant guest accuses her of milking her injuries and ignites her ire, Joely finally starts to feel … truly alive again, and soon it’s impossible for her to resist her heart’s desire.
Alec Morrissey knows a little something about loss. A famous rodeo cowboy before he was injured in Iraq, he’s managed to create something of a normal life, even if it’s not the one he always imagined. Encountering stunning but damaged Joely, he sees a kindred spirit who can learn from his mistakes.
As these two healing souls begin to fall in love under the Wyoming stars, they must discover if they are willing to give in to the tragedies of life or fight for a future together.
An Avon Romance
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Wow! This book has been on my shelf for a couple of years. I read all the others in the series, but for some crazy reason I put off Joely and Alec’s story. It was by far the best thing I’ve read in quite a while. It blew my socks off. It was soooooo good!
This is a romance, but also so much more than a romance. It deals with physical handicaps and getting the guts to move on with your life after a traumatic event and disfigurement. Alec and Joely both had physical and mental mountains to climb after their accidents that left them less than whole.
Alec was determined to help Joely get over herself (pity party for one!) and get her back to living. He didn’t realize that Joely would also make him face his stumbling block and demand that he overcome it.
Their romance was just so lovely to witness. I think this has become my new favorite book. Loved, loved, loved it! It really is Lizbeth Selvig at her best.
Former beauty queen Joely Crockett has always been use to being the center of attention, and has always been most comfortable surrounded by a crowd, but after some recent changes in her life, that isn’t really the case anymore. After being hurt in an car accident and deemed wheelchair bound her outgoing spirit has really diminished, and she is really struggling to accept her disability, and find a way to live with it. She has become a shell of the vibrant person she once was, and has begun to find it so easy to arm herself with excuses, and use her disability to keep her from doing things that she once loved. But with her sister’s impending nuptials fast approaching, and their expectations of her being a part of their wedding, she is going to have to find a way to deal with her doubts and be present for them no matter how scary it is for her. She just needs a little push in the right direction…
Alec Morrissey never expected his life to turn out the way it has, after losing a leg to an IED while serving overseas, he was forced take a different path in life, and while it was challenging, he never gave up, or lost sight of the important things. He has accepted his fate, and learned how deal with the challenges caused by his injury, and has managed to create somewhat of a normal life for himself. So, it is hard for him to see a beautiful girl at his friends wedding struggling to deal with disability, something inside him wants to help her find her way again. While his approach to helping her may not seem right to some, he knows giving her a little push in the right direction, and forcing her to step out of her comfort zone might just be what she needs. Who knows maybe helping her could help him out a little too..
I have been anxiously awaiting for the opportunity to make a return to visit to this series and get better acquainted with another member of the Crockett family. As soon as I read the synopsis for Joely’s story I knew it was going to be a good read, and I am happy to report that my instincts were spot on, this story had it all! It was brimming with emotion, overflowing with heart, and had a little heat mixed in here and there!! The story line pulled me almost immediately and had me flying right through the pages in search of what I hoped to be a very well deserved happily ever after…and I have to say Ms. Selvig definitely granted all my wishes..and then some!! If you like small town romance stories, with a lot of heart, and a little humor, then I highly recommend you give this series a try… the Crockett family is destined to steal your heart and leave you with a smile on your face!!
ARC requested through Edelweiss and kindly provided by Avon Publishing in exchange for a honest and unbiased review.