DREAMS FOR STONES
ANN WARNER
ISBN# 978-1-59998-974-7
October 2008
Samhain Publishing
512 Forest Lake Drive, Warner Robins Georgia 31093
Trade Paperback
$14.00
276 Pages
Contemporary Romance
Rating: 5 Cups

Kathleen (Kathy) Jamison is an editor for a small place called Calico and Cat; they publish mostly children’s books. Kathy also teaches at Denver State University. She is just getting over being jilted by her ex fiancée, and is getting on with her life when she meets Alan Francini, a professor also at Denver State. Kathy has been trying to write her own novel, her only muse is the diaries of an old lady Emily Kowlski. Every time thinks about her life and the problems she has, she reads a bit more of Emily’s life and feels better. But what Kathy does not understand is Alan’s fear of closeness.

Alan Francini hopes to get tenure at DSU, and the way things are going it does not look good. But with his work on his family’s ranch, Tapdance Ranch, giving riding lessons and chores; he is not going to worry yet. Alan is a widower who lost his wife five years ago and has never let go. He has never met a woman to make him think he would want to, until he met Kathy Jamison. There is something about Kathy that makes Alan want to live again, but Alan does not want to go through the pain if something happened to her, so he thinks it is best not to get involved and be just friends.

Kathy and Alan start to become closer when Alan realizes he is not ready yet. As Kathy goes on, she soon finds herself writing the story given to her by Emily, and puts Alan to the back of her mind. But then she meets Charles and although he is nice, he is not Alan. When Alan finds out his best friend is seeing Kathy, it starts the wheels turning in his head, could he lose Kathy forever to his best friend? First Alan knew he needed help with his grief and seeks help. But could it be too late already?

This is a powerfully emotional and heartfelt story that is sure to touch anyone who reads it. From the first you are drawn into the romance of Kathy and Alan and while they both have pasts and Alan’s is tragic, what they both learn from the diaries of Emily Kowalski is priceless. Exceptional characters and very important secondary characters set the stage for this tale. To this reader, it is the diaries in this story that makes these characters see the way. Ms. Warner pens this story beautifully and with steady dialog and how she created the diaries to make this story happen is phenomenal. This is a book not to be missed.

Wateena
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books