MEANT TO BE

Author: Marilyn Parrish, J. R. Mitchell and Jordana Ryan ISBN: 9781934475164 7/2007 ANTHOLOGY Publisher: AMIRA PRESS

Echoes of Love by Marilyn Parrish When Laura's husband dies, she loses the love of her life. Will Laura find the courage to love again or will she settle for nothing more than echoes of love? Racer by J.R. Mitchell Rayne is a race car driver on the Montana circuit, forced to move home to take care of her grandpa. After she's blown away in a mock race in the middle of nowhere, by sexy Jaden, things heat up between them. That is, until disaster strikes in more ways than one. Will they hash out their differences? Summer Fling by Jordana Ryan Love hasn't been kind to Cammie Gallagher. When she meets Jamie Ambrose she wants to keep him at a distance, but his boyish good looks and heart stopping smile draw her to him. Jamie Ambrose is in Los Angeles to take care of his broken hearted sisters. But when he meets Cammie Gallagher, he is afraid it is his own heart that will end up broken. Cammie and Jamie quickly become close and develop a love Cammie had only dreamed existed. Will it last? Or is this just a summer fling for the famous womanizing hockey player? Menu for Love by Marilyn Parrish When Jasmine's fiancé jilts her to marry another woman, she turns to food for comfort. Overweight and miserable, she meets dreamy Brent and is motivated to go on a diet. Jasmine's obese friend Tony wants to lose weight to win the girl of his dreams. When Tony moves in as her platonic diet partner, the road to romance takes an unexpected turn. Color Blind by Jordana Ryan Marissa Has always tried to live up to an image created in the shadows of her Entrepreneur father's career. When she goes away to college, she sees it as a chance to shine on her own. Little does she know that her first day will introduce her to a life and a love like she's never known. Deshawn is smitten from the moment he meets the spunky new girl at school. But when his belief in true love and stability is tested, will it rip apart his new found relationship with Marissa?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

MEANT TO BE is an anthology of love stories, all with the theme of love lost and found. Each of the five stories is heartwarming, with characters that are so realistic as to be nearly recognizable. The love lost portions of some of these are bittersweet and tender, and touching enough to bring a lump to readers' throats.

Echoes of Love by Marilyn Parrish is the first story, and this one is so poignant it clutched at my heart. A mother tries desperately to put the past behind her in order to give her son the love and life he deserves, but a photo reminds her at every turn of the love she once had with a very special man. She wonders if finding love again is in the cards for her, or if having found it once is all she can expect.

Also by Marilyn Parrish is Menu for Love. Jasmine, who's been jilted just before her wedding, knows it's time to put the past where it belongs-in the past. At a party thrown by her cousin, she sees Brent Jennings, a man who resembles Brad Pitt. She resolves to go on a diet and lose the extra pounds, hoping then a hunk like Brent will notice her. But Jasmine soon finds that pounds don't make the woman, and the best friend beside you may make the most perfect love match.

Racer, by J.R. Mitchell, is a tale of love, loss and learning to trust again, mostly from behind the wheel of a car. This story has characters that tear at the heart, they're so realistic. Rayne's relationship with her grandfather is unconventional but interesting, and when Jaden enters the picture life gets even more intriguing. There are parts of this that are very, very sad. It is a bittersweet story.

Summer Fling and Color Blind, the remaining stories, were written by Jordana Ryan and are both satisfying reads. Summer Fling is a tale of just that, a summer fling, but it takes the story beyond the last days of summer. I very much enjoyed this story, as well as Color Blind, which both have endings perfect for their tales.

All in all, MEANT TO BE is a worthwhile read. The five stories pulled at my heart while they entertained me. What more could I ask for?

Kay James