Lena Nelson Dooley's Never Say Never ~ Reviewed

Never Say Never
By Lena Nelson Dooley
Published by Heartsong Presents
ISBN 1-59789-056-1

Charlotte Halloran will never love again. When her husband was killed by a drunk driver, Charlotte's heart died, too. Now, one year later, Charlotte and her teenaged daughter are boarding a cruise ship to take their minds off their loss. But when the Pearl of the Ocean's captain catches her eye, Charlotte wonders if "never" was God's idea or—hers.

Captain Gareth Van den Hout knows the pain of losing love. Three years ago, he lost his precious wife to cancer. His time aboard the cruise ship created a chasm of secrets between them, and he's vowed it will never happen again. But when he sees Charlotte, Gareth is compelled to risk his heart and get to know the petite, black-haired beauty, even if only for a short time.

Could the Lord have plans to heal and unite two broken hearts convinced "never" is forever?

I really liked this book. Lena Nelson Dooley is one of the best romance writers in the industry. Her characters are authentic, their problems real, and the stories are interesting. I like the way her characters are flawed and the way they react to things. Just like you and me. I never roll my eyes or have the urge to gag as with many romance books. Dooley's plots are not predictable; she throws a number of unexpected twists in that propel her romances to the top of my list. I can get lost in any book by Lena Nelson Dooley, while a lot of other romance books get tossed aside after a chapter or two.

Never Say Never is warm, it's believable and superbly well-written. If you're a romance fan, this is a must read.

I recently read another of Lena Nelson Dooley's romances, Move a Mountain. Packaged with three other romances in Windswept Weddings, it's also in the same category as Never Say Never. Superb. Each plot Dooley pens is different and never formulaic. A favorite romance writer, her books receive a high recommendation.

Reviewed by Ane Mulligan
www.anemulligan.com