This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Love makes the world go ‘round, the saying goes. To Annie, love makes the story go ‘round. The pages of her romance novels beat with the hearts of characters in search of connection. Spirited, flawed, sometimes maddening, ever relatable, they rarely behave as she wants or expects them to. But if their emotional journey affirms the bonds that tie us to each other, she won’t get in their way.
When she’s not expressing her imagination with pen and paintbrush, Annie cooks and gardens with undaunted enthusiasm (if variable success). In possession of a well-worn passport and memories of all the places on the map she’s called home, she shares her life with her husband and two sons. One of these days she’ll weed her collection of books, swimming goggles, and shoes. But not anytime soon.
Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite
Helen of Troy, Illinois is a very well written story of love and relationships by Annie Sereno. Helen is a young woman who seems to have it all; expensive clothes, a hectic social life in New York and a successful fiancé. However, this picture-perfect lifestyle is slowly shattered when she returns to her childhood home of Troy to sell the home she inherited with her mother, Lena. Lena has already promised the house to Gordon, the local vet and the nemesis of Phillip, Helen’s deceased first love. Throughout the novel, Helen battles her conflicting feelings of attraction to Gordon and loyalty to the memory of Phillip. Whilst in Troy, Helen slowly realises she has been living the life others want for her and not what makes her happy. She finally puts her feelings of guilt and need for approval behind her and embarks on the future and life she actually wants.
Helen of Troy, Illinois takes you on an emotional journey of love, family and relationships. Annie Sereno's descriptive writing of character and situations is compelling and realistic. The dialogue spoken by each character is very well thought out and in keeping with the traits of the character. The main story line examines the love/hate relationship between Helen and Gordon. I enjoyed the subtle hint of comedy within the dialogue as it made the relationship very authentic and something the reader would relate to. The sub plots were also very strong and well written, especially the difficult mother/daughter relationship between Helen and Lena. The twists and turns of the story are compelling and leave questions unanswered with each chapter. It is hard to put this book down once you start to read the first page.
