Feasted On: Toronto Collection, Book 2

- This is an ARC book - Available Formats through Amazon.com: Paperback - Pages: 235; Kindle Edition - File Size: 1387 KB | Expected Release Date: November 1, 2010 | Publisher: Self-Published | Obtained: NetGalley

"Go Small or Go Home" [Toronto Collection, Book 2] by Heather Wardell

Author's Book Description : Massage therapist Tess Grayson has long dreamed of turning her hobby of building intricate miniature dioramas into an art career. She's finally ready to grab for that tiny brass ring, but her potential new massage client shakes her resolve.

Forrest Williams had finally healed from the car accident that killed his fiancée, but a new injury now threatens his professional hockey career. Even allowing for everything he's suffered, the depth of the emotional and physical pain Tess senses in Forrest at their first meeting shocks her, and she puts aside her artistic aspirations for two months to help him recover.

When Forrest shows Tess's dioramas to his mother, who owns a top Toronto art gallery, she agrees to sell Tess's work but her rules and restrictions stifle Tess's creativity. Giving up the career of her dreams is unthinkable, but losing the freedom and joy she'd always found in her art is unbearable, and Tess can't seem to find a way to have both at once.

One of Ms. Wardell's favorite reviews for "Go Small or Go Home," on I'd So Rather Be Reading: "Heather Wardell is my favorite new author. She takes the emotion of Anita Shreve, the relationship development of Jodi Picoult, and the romance of Nicholas Sparks, and puts them all together to create books that are impossible to put down." (See more reviews of this book.)

My Book Review : 4.5 out of 5 stars! Tess longs to take her hobby of creating miniature scenes and turn it into a fulltime career. However, when she goes for an interview to be Forrest's (a pro-hockey athlete who recently was injured) massage therapist she knows that it's the right decision to take the job. Forrest recently lost his fiancée in a car accident and with this new injury, he is in bad shape both physically and emotionally, and Tess believes she can be the one to help him. During their time together, they become closer and Forrest lets it slip that his mother owns a popular art gallery and he encourages Tess to meet with his mother to start her career. Yet, as things get going Tess comes to realize that doing what she loves professionally comes with more strings attached than she might be willing to deal with. As time goes on Tess' relationship with Forrest becomes extremely close but is he willing commit to a new relationship with her? Is Tess able to deal with her massage position along with putting all her efforts into her dream job? Something has to give but what out of Tess' life is she willing to put the most into, and when she does will it all work out in her favor?

This intensely complex novel reeled me with Tess' candid commentary and then hooked me with her compassion for Forrest which subtly turns into something more. I was pleasantly riveted with this novel and couldn’t be happier about it! Well, in truth, it would have been nice to read it also from Forrest’s POV but that’s the only flaw that I can recall about it. Otherwise, I loved this novel’s plot and flow. It’s steadily paced and the way the plots built themselves on top of one another was sensational.

Together Tess & Forrest are a bit of a heart wrenching pair. They made me want to root for them no matter what, yet because of Forrest past, it doesn’t always seem like it’ll be a happy ending for them. I thoroughly enjoyed their relationship. In addition, with Tess working with Forrest, the reader gets to know more about his teammates and I couldn’t help but enjoy the growing camaraderie they all get into.

I HIGHLY recommend this novel to anyone who likes hockey and/or intense contemporary romances!

Purchase This Book and/or The Other Books From It's Series Here : IndieBound (Paperback) : Planning to Live (Book 3) | Smashwords (e-Book) : Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo (Book 1) | Smashwords (e-Book) : Go Small or Go Home (Book 2) | Smashwords (e-Book) : Planning to Live (Book 3) | Smashwords (e-Book) : Stir Until Thoroughly Confused (Book 4) | Smashwords (e-Book) : A Life That Fits (Book 5) | Smashwords (e-Book) : Live Out Loud (Book 6) | Smashwords (e-Book) : Blank Slate Kate (Book 7) | Smashwords (e-Book) : Finding My Happy Pace (Book 8) | Smashwords (e-Book) : All At Sea (Book 9) | Smashwords (e-Book) : Good to Myself (Book 10) | Smashwords (e-Book) : Pink is a Four-Letter Word (Book 11) | Smashwords (e-Book) : Everybody's Got a Story (Book 12) | Smashwords (e-Book) : Fifty Million Reasons (Book 13) | Smashwords (e-Book) : Plan Overboard (Book 14)


Author's Novel Extras : Go Small or Go Home - Overview & Excerpt | Guide for "Go Small or Go Home" (PDF)

Go, Leafs, Go! (I keep hoping I'll see Forrest Williams but I doubt it. :)
Posted by Heather Wardell on Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Book Teaser(s) :

GO SMALL OR GO HOME by Heather Wardell -- Read my review here:...
Posted by From Me to You - Video, Photography, & Book Reviews on Wednesday, May 27, 2015

"Talk to me," I said. "Be the injury and talk to me."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. What's your name?"
"You've forgotten my name?"
"Not your name." I laid my hand gently across his right inner thigh. "Its name."
He studied me. "You're serious."
"Totally."
"A million sane massage therapists in the world and I get you."
"I know, aren't you lucky?" I said, and he laughed. Unwillingly, but still a laugh. I smiled at him. ~ within Chapter 3

"How's he doing?" Jen said as I sat down.
"Fine. Gave him a hand rub and he's good to go."
Jen's mouth dropped almost to her knees.
"What?"
"Say that again."
"I gave him a hand rub," I said, bewildered. "Massaged both hands."
She grinned. "I heard 'job' instead of 'rub.'"
I laughed. "And then I came marching up and announced it?"
"I was surprised, I admit."
I shook my head. "You're a pervert."
"Moi?" She flashed me an innocent grin. "Here he is. Gee, Tess, he sure looks relaxed. Are you sure you didn't--"
My elbow in her ribs cut off her words but not her giggles. ~ within Chapter 7

For more information on this book, series, and/or any other books by Heather, then please check out her website.