Review: The inset of animal POV adds to the story in ways that please everyone: even those who aren’t particularly fond of pets.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 5, 2014
The third book in the Rescued Hearts series by Edie Ramer was just as wonderful as my introduction to her writing with the second in the series.  Using a curious mix of animal POV and characters who are bruised but ever-searching, the sweetness and heart in this story just shine through.Early on the story is a series of past vignettes: we first meet Sam and Callie when they are four years old: that first love was all consuming, and lasted until at 6, Sam broke Callie’s heart (and his own) when he feared his dyslexia prevented him from being ‘enough’ for her. Flash forward to a graduation dance: Callie is struggling with her mother’s MS diagnosis and trying to ignore the broken heart as she pours all of her love into her parents and her dog Magic.  Sam is leaving to try and break into the music business, and the two have a night together that both reinforces their undying love and is utterly heartbreaking and poignant.These two are destined for one another: love found them at 4 and won’t release her grip.  Sam is now semi-famous with his band, and has won a Grammy based on a song that was all about Callie, and they manage to reconnect again.  Saved from an abusive boyfriend by a wandering cat who was searching for her own special love, Callie takes Mojo in, and starts to consider a possible future with Sam.But there are a few kinks in the works: Callie doesn’t feel that she can leave her job or her mother, and she is afraid that Sam’s fame will leave her on the outside.  Sam is most concerned for Callie’s safety – a stalker had been threatening and harming fans who had gotten ‘too close’ and although it seems as if that situation is settled, he is still worried. Yet these two never do seem to be able to ignore the love between them, and the enjoyment that they have in being together.Populated with characters that you can’t help but enjoy, the start of the book is just adorable and the emotions are so close to the surface you can touch them.  While I didn’t find the discovery of the stalker as a great surprise, the twists to get to that point, and the growing confidence in both Sam and Callie’s characters as they settle into a real relationship as cheered on by their parents and Callie’s cat Mojo was interesting to watch and made this a page turner. You want to cheer for them, and see them find happiness: and the easy friendship offered to Callie by Justen, and the growth of Callie’s confidence in working with her on song lyrics was a nice addition to the plot.As I have come to expect: Ramer’s writing is easy to follow and doesn’t present great challenges to seeing the characters or the emotion.  The inset of animal POV, detailing that unique perspective that pet owners always believe is running through their little fur-clad heads and putting it into the story as a plot point, adds to the story in ways that please everyone: even those who aren’t particularly fond of pets.  This is a fun, light and happy ever after story that screams love to one and all.I received an eBook copy of the title for purpose of honest review for The Jeep Diva. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.