When Dannilynn Kelly is date-raped her first year away at college, her sheltered world begins to unravel. Already 20 years old because she delayed starting school to stay in her hometown with her doting mother and domineering father, she's buffeted by the life decisions she faces. Home for the summer, she finds herself pregnant -- and doesn't dare tell her parents. At the same time, she meets and begins to fall for Ben Edwards, the tall, handsome veterinarian-in-training that she meets on her summer job as a vet assistant. Danni decides she can hide her pregnancy for the summer, and have the baby while she's away at school without her parent's knowledge. Ben, drawn to her beauty and touched by her helplessness, becomes her "best friend" when she gets thrown out of her dorm and has to find an off-campus apartment. Ben is a bright, ambitious, good-hearted guy with a bad habit of getting into fistfights. When the ex-boyfriend who raped Danni comes around and begins harass her, Ben's hot temper shows up in ways that could jeopardize his career. The interpersonal dynamics in this touching romantic drama are sometimes painful to read, but Vale carries her characters through every misfortune with sensitivity and integrity. We come to care for them, root for them -- and rejoice when their strengths pull them out of seemingly hopeless situations. A good read!
Love when a book makes you cry and laugh and can't put it down. Very well written. Will read again.
Once again Kate Vale’s characters are people I’d like to encounter and know, except for the evil ones whom I really dislike in her books! Kate makes her characters come alive in realistic ways, and in Package Deal she carefully addresses so many of the issues families could encounter surrounding the difficult situation of another adult’s inappropriate behavior towards a child. We can feel the if only-s that worm into a parent’s brain when their child is hurt in any way. Vale does fine work bringing out the complexities of being a single mom and dating, with Amanda always putting her relationship with her daughter first, despite her obvious love for Marcus. Marcus is a wonderful character seeing that indeed mother and daughter are a package deal, so he goes above and beyond to win Cece over. Vale weaves her words in a way that always makes me want to keep reading!
This was such a great story. Cecilia was such a sweet little girl & she and Marcus really hit it off. Carlton, the guy who shared an office with Amanda, seems to want to be friends with Cecilia too. Amanda & Marcus's relationship gets closer and well...Some crazy twists and turns in this book but so worth the read!!!
I don't normally write reviews, simply because I don't have the words to say what's in my mind and heart. But this book is special. The characters, locations, and situations could have stepped right out of real life and that makes a book a success in my experience. Isn't it just like a rancher to wear western boots on a beach? Mine would have. The dreams in this book are classic; what every woman wants but rarely finds. The trials Jonathan and Suzanna lived through made them the people they became. Not just characters in a book, but real and believable. I've added all of Kate Vale's books to my wish list, and you can be sure I'll read them soon. This book deserves 5+ stars.
Once again Kate Vale has not disappointed, the story line, characters & their situations are very believable. I would definitely recommend
Family Bonds & cannot wait to get started on the next one in the series. Thanks Kate.
Yet again another winner from Kate Vale. I absolutely loved this book, very engaging characters. Once again quite a few tears, but a fantastic storyline. I'm very much looking forward to the next in this series.
In this sweet and wholesome tale of true love, two college students must endure a gauntlet of family confrontations and secrets that test their belief in each other before they emerge smiling. It wasn't easy.
Chet Barton returned to his hometown in Washington State, riding in on a bad reputation that included womanizing, drinking, a slew of speeding tickets, and a disgraceful incident that impelled him to quit college after his junior year. When he attends his high school’s five-year reunion, he meets an unusual young woman: not-so-plain Jane Collins, who is not in the least swept away by his too-good looks and flirty charm. Naturally, he’s intrigued by her indifference, and after a few tentative coffee dates, he becomes highly motivated to continue reforming his wild ways.
Jane, however, remains leery of his past. Raised by a mother who drank to cope with past abuses until her death at age 44, along with her late stepfather and Bert, her tenant and beloved father figure, inexperienced Jane is wary of all men, whose physicality frightens her. But Chet—ironically, given his past behavior—is different from the few other men she’s dated. Determined to not frighten her away, he is thoughtful, courteous, and above all, in control of his amorous impulses. Their courtship is old-fashioned and chaste, and they seem headed toward bliss.
But obstacles arise, primarily in the form of Chet’s father Richard, a cruel and faithless man whose past misdeeds far eclipse those of his younger son. He isn't above physical abuse, but when he verbally attacks Jane upon meeting her, the family dysfunction escalates. Jane and Chet continue to alternate dates—dinner and a movie—with cooling-off periods, until Bert’s illness forces them to consider their post-college plans.
Then Jane discovers a shocking fact in her mother’s diary, one that has drastic implications for their future. Every strand of DNA that bonds both families together is tested as secrets begin to tumble out and life-changing decisions are made. The outcome, though predictable, comes with a kicker revelation that smooths the path to true love, and not just for Jane and Chet.
"Family Bonds" is a bighearted tale with an old-school, if at times, ingenuous sensibility. This is your mother’s romance novel, and aficionados of traditional love stories will find that refreshing.
Having just finished reading Concealed Attractions and its sequel Heartstrings, I feel compelled to write this review. They are two of the best books its ever been my pleasure to read. I am not going to go into who the characters are or what they do, as I believe people should read that for themselves. I will say however that they made me cry, laugh and sigh with pleasure. Do read them as i'm sure you will not be disappointed. Thank you to Kate Vale for your amazing writing skills.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it kept me on the edge of my seat at times, and the characters were believable. I am so happy to have found the books that Kate Vale has written. I am very happy to recommend it.