Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Review: Now and Forever 2: The Book of Danny

Author submission in exchange for an honest review.


Title:
Now and Forever 2: The Book of Danny
Author: 
Jean C. Joachim
Release Date:
November 8, 2011
Publisher:
Secret Cravings Publishing
Word Count:
approx. 71,000


Description: 

Now and Forever 2, the Book of Danny is the second in the Now and Forever series. In the first book, Now and Forever 1, a Love Story, you met Callie Richards and Mac Caldwell and watched their love story evolve. This second book is the story of Danny Maine, brother to Callie’s fiancé lost in Iraq as well as the continuing story of Callie and Mac. Now and Forever 2 is a stand-alone book and can be read and understood without reading the first in the series.


Captain Danny Maine leaves the Army after becoming an expert sharp shooter, killer and womanizer. He gets a job teaching English at Kensington State University where he seeks out his brother’s fiancée, Callie Richards, the sister he never had. 

He meets Eliza Baines, a beautiful widow and is smitten immediately. Danny struggles to overcome post-traumatic stress syndrome and make a new life. He strives to leave his violent past behind and forge a new path that includes love, success and having his own family but dark forces and emotional obstacles block his way. Now and Forever 2, the Book of Danny is an heartfelt story of love, loss and ultimate triumph that will touch your heart.

Joey’s Review:

 
I've said, in a previous review for a book by Jean Joachim, that I love books with a male POV. Add in a dose of angst, and I'm a happy reader. Granted, I'm not one for breast-beating and hair-tearing, but a book that can evoke emotion is always a plus for me. 

Ms. Joachim is very good at taking the male of point of view. And believe me, having written a story using that male angle, it's not the easiest thing in the world to do for a female author. And Ms. Joachim does a good job of engaging the reader without overpowering their senses. You feel warmth toward the characters. There's a cozy relationship you develop with them. 

The Book of Danny is the second in the Now and Forever series. It's definitely a stand-alone, because I have not read its predecessor, and had no issues with wondering about previous plots. 


I've not read many books with the soldier theme, but I have to say this is a story that definitely makes me want to seek them out. There's certainly a natural drama that goes with the set-up, isn't there? With this being the second Jean Joachim story I've read, I have to say there is an attractive mellowness to her writing. Now, don't take that to say that this story doesn't have twists, because it does. I just mean to say I have a natural desire to curl up in bed with books like this and leisurely read. I like that feeling, because books should feel like old friends, shouldn't they? And I liked The Book of Danny. I hope that 2012 brings the blog more books by Ms. Joachim to read.
 
Joey's Rating:

2 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you so much for the wonderful review. "Danny" and I appreciate your kind and perceptive analysis.

    ReplyDelete