キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか? しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか? 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第8章 - 恐ろしくも真っ白な不動産書類 『みんな仲良くできないのかな?』 マリは無用に力を込めて箱に本を投げ入れた。最近、なぜ彼女は人生の中で全員と言い争いをしているのだろう?もしかすると、これは本当に悪いアイデア
Captain’s Log, Stardate 11.23.2007
When Dreams Come True by Margaret Daley
Book 4 in the Ladies of Sweetwater Lake series
When her DEA agent husband's plane went down, Zoey Witherspoon thought her life was over. But with two kids to care for, and another on the way, she moved back home to Sweetwater to be closer to friends and family.
Two years later, her world was turned upside down: her husband was alive!
Amnesia-stricken Dane was not exactly the same person he had been, but neither was Zoey. She refused to return to the fractured marriage they had shared—workaholic Dane had never been around—yet moving forward was a scary prospect. Would a second chance at happiness make all her dreams come true?
Camy here: Margaret Daley is always a good read. I liked the unusual premise about a husband, presumed dead, who reappears after two years. Margaret adds more tension by the fact that Zoey and Dane had been on the brink of separation before he’d disappeared.
The story highlights the good and bad of living in a small town, and how it impacts Dane, who is used to a larger city. The support of the community makes me want to live in Sweetwater.
My only gripe with the book was that it seemed like Dane was the one with most of the internal issues, and I felt that Zoey didn’t adequately face her own mistakes. However, she makes a sacrificial decision near the end, ready to act on her love for Dane and her family.
I really liked how Dane dealt with his estranged son near the end of the book. It rang of authenticity to me, after I’ve worked with teens and pre-teens for many years. The way he handled the rocky relationship impressed me.
Overall, a good story It’s completely appropriate for pre-teen readers, although they may not relate to the storyline as well as adults.
When Dreams Come True by Margaret Daley
Book 4 in the Ladies of Sweetwater Lake series
When her DEA agent husband's plane went down, Zoey Witherspoon thought her life was over. But with two kids to care for, and another on the way, she moved back home to Sweetwater to be closer to friends and family.
Two years later, her world was turned upside down: her husband was alive!
Amnesia-stricken Dane was not exactly the same person he had been, but neither was Zoey. She refused to return to the fractured marriage they had shared—workaholic Dane had never been around—yet moving forward was a scary prospect. Would a second chance at happiness make all her dreams come true?
Camy here: Margaret Daley is always a good read. I liked the unusual premise about a husband, presumed dead, who reappears after two years. Margaret adds more tension by the fact that Zoey and Dane had been on the brink of separation before he’d disappeared.
The story highlights the good and bad of living in a small town, and how it impacts Dane, who is used to a larger city. The support of the community makes me want to live in Sweetwater.
My only gripe with the book was that it seemed like Dane was the one with most of the internal issues, and I felt that Zoey didn’t adequately face her own mistakes. However, she makes a sacrificial decision near the end, ready to act on her love for Dane and her family.
I really liked how Dane dealt with his estranged son near the end of the book. It rang of authenticity to me, after I’ve worked with teens and pre-teens for many years. The way he handled the rocky relationship impressed me.
Overall, a good story It’s completely appropriate for pre-teen readers, although they may not relate to the storyline as well as adults.
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