IF I WERE QUEEN OF THE WORLD by Heather Graham

 

As a young lady of seventeen fighting cancer, Laurie Mayberry sits outside of the Care for the Children Hospital, awaiting the results of her latest tests, not knowing if the next day will be her last, when she meets twenty-one year old Brian Thompson, who was losing his close cousin to cancer.  Neither one realizing what this chance meeting will mean for their future, nor how dedicated their lives will become to Toys.Calm, a wonderful fund raising organization that provides toys to sick children, and the joy this dedication will bring to the two of them.   

 

Inspired by Erin Puck of ToysCalm.org, Heather Graham aims for the heart and touches it in IF I WERE QUEEN OF THE WORLD.  The addition of the children playing parts in the skits is especially endearing and it adds a special appeal to this tale, finding humor in the midst of tragedy.

http://www.theoriginalheathergraham.com

http://www.toyscalm.org

 

BREAKING LINE by Candace Camp

 

Always wanting to be a ballerina, Nicole is aware of the stringent guidelines for weight and has had no problem eating sensibly and maintaining her weight.  However, an impromptu weigh-in suddenly lets her see that her best friend and roommate Sarah has a problem.  Nicole takes notice of Sarah’s baggy clothes. The baggy clothes disguise just how thin Sarah’s body has become.  Nicole has no idea what to do.  She soon realizes that Nicole is anorexic, but every time she brings it up, Nicole gets angry.  Will she take the chance of losing her best friend to save her life?

 

Getting her inspiration from Johanna Kandel of The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, Candace Camp writes a wonderful story addressing two friends who are both in a career that calls for weight maintenance.  Ms. Candace Camp did an admirable job of addressing the weight problem of today in her story BREAKING LINE.

http://www.candace-camp.com

http://www.eatingdisorderinfo.org

 

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE DRESS by Stephanie Bond

 

After Chloe’s fiancé Paul calls off the wedding, she throws her ring against the wall and returns her wedding dress.  The next day, he begs for forgiveness and asks her to go ahead with the wedding.  Unable to find the ring, she tries to retrieve the dress and finds that it has been given to the Windfall Clothing Service. Chloe volunteers for the service, secretly hoping to find the gown, even though volunteers cannot even buy the items.  There she meets Andy, a sexy volunteer truck driver for the agency, who is attracted to her, but he feels that she is up to something.  So he decides to keep a close watch on her.  With Andy always close by, how will she get her dress if she finds it?  Can she actually bring herself to take the dress meant for the disadvantaged?

 

Joan Clayton and Ina Andre of Windfall Clothing Service inspire Stephanie Bond as she writes IT’S NOT ABOUT THE DRESS, using her style of writing with humor.  Chloe finds herself getting into or almost getting into one mishap after another as she tries to retrieve her custom-made wedding gown.  This is a delightful story.

http://www.stephaniebond.com

http://www.windfallclothing.ca

 

WHISPERS OF THE HEART by Brenda Jackson

 

When Paul Castlewood’s daughter, Heather, has an asthma attack during the planning of her sixteenth birthday party, caterer Michelle Chapman, a volunteer for AANMA and an asthmatic herself, knows just what to do.  Though Paul believes Heather has outgrown her asthma problem, Michelle informs him that asthmatics never outgrow it.  He wants a relationship with Michelle, but he refuses to take any of her recommendations regarding Heather’s asthma and he gets angry if she brings it up.  Will it take a disaster for Heather before he listens to Michelle?  Will their disagreement on this point come between them?

 

With the inspiration of Nancy Sander of Allergy and Asthma Network, Mothers of Asthmatics (AANMA), Brenda Jackson writes an interesting story that covers some points that asthmatics need to know.  Though the story is very entertaining, it is also informative.  Simple breathing is something that so many take for granted, but a large number of people are not that fortunate.

http://www.brendajackson.net

http://www.aanma.org

       

THE MECHANICS OF LOVE by Tara Taylor Quinn

 

When a baby is left on the doorstep, Scott finds that he is now a father,

even though he never touched the mother.  Scott has been donating sperm for some time now.  Being abused and fearing for her child, the baby’s mother finds the sperm donor’s identity and leaves the baby at his shop.  However, Scott still has not been able to find the identity of the mother.  So he has his best friend Tina taking care of his daughter.  But as Tina takes care of the baby, she thinks about how she has always been knocked around by others and always taken care of others.  Tina thinks it is time Scott faced the music and took care of his daughter himself.  Scott is her best friend as well as being too much temptation to have around her house all the time.  He is the best man she has ever known and she thinks he needs this chance to know his daughter.  Will he find the mother in time to get her help?

 

Inspired by Sandra Ramos and the organization she founded for abused women, Strengthen Our Sisters, Tara Taylor Quinn writes an emotional story of a woman who wanted a baby so badly she went to a sperm bank and she may pay for it with her life due to her abusive husband. This touching story is one you will not soon forget.

http://www.tarataylorquinn.com

http://www.strengthenoursisters.org

 

MORE THAN WORDS, VOLUME 5, is a wonderful collection of stories that show real life heroes who have proven how much one person can accomplish in changing the lives of those around them.  No matter what their motivation was, each one’s story shows the far-reaching effect that a single act of kindness can have.  Each of these authors has contributed their time and talent to this project and all proceeds will further support causes that are of concern to women.  Many readers of these stories may find a way they can contribute.  Further information can be found at the websites listed at the end of each story review. I highly recommend MORE THAN WORDS, VOLUME 5 for an enjoyable and an informative read.

By Romance Junkies Reviewer: Dottie Click here to Buy this Book Now!   Romance Junkies Content Editor: Teri Romance Junkies Publishing Editor: Chrissy   Top of Page