Beyond Words Book Review by Colleen Bohensky

BEYOND WORDS (BOOK REVIEW)
May 18, 2015 · By Colleen Bohensky
Beyond Words was written by Diane O’Key. This post was organized by N K Author Services. I was provided a copy in exchange for my honest book review. All opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The last thing Abby Mathieson wants is what she most needs: a take-care-of-the-business-end partner. Emotional and financial demons spur her dreams of self-reliance and her vow to continue her aunt’s legacy of Beyond Words, a Blue Ridge Mountains book-and-gift shop.

Trey Dalton, sexy CPA with a heart of gold and backbone of steel, wants nothing more than to return to his home in sunny Florida. But he made a death-bed promise to help Abby succeed… whatever it takes.

Conflict and sexual tension intensify as they wrangle over the shop and deal with Abby’s quirky best friend and the incorrigible resident parrot. Abby’s sworn to trust no man, but Trey has her tangled up worse than knotted fishing line. If she can’t overcome her insecurities before he unravels her finances and leaves town forever, her precious independence will cost her a love Beyond Words.

MY REVIEW:

I loved Beyond Words for so many reasons. First… it brought back memories of my college years. I went to school in a little mountain college town in North Carolina… right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. I could immediately picture Beyond Words being one of my very favorite places to go on Main Street. I could perfectly imagine Abby getting the shop ready for it’s grand re-opening day before the beautiful autumn colors of the mountains brought in all of the mountain tourists… right after the college students all settled in to classes. I would have loved to have gotten a job working with Abby in her shop. The whole little book shop with locally made gifts just has such appeal to me. It’s kind of a wonder to me that I never actually did work in a book shop or library.

I loved Abby’s character. Honestly, just everything about her. She was just so real. Her independence, her insecurities, her love for her aunt, her relationship with her best friend, her reactions to Trey. Each bit of her made me love her more. I have to say I especially enjoyed Abby’s reaction and the relationship development between Abby and Trey. Having never met, and being forced together after their aunt’s passing was anything but easy. Everything about them was at odds. It really just made it all the more fun to read!

Vickie F.

Diane O’Key – I don’t whether to thank you or curse you! I started a new shift this week…getting up @ 5am. I also started reading your book…which has resulted in me not going to bed until midnight!!! You actually got a non-reader reading!!! And the wedding night chapter…whew, I almost needed a cigarette after that one!~ Vickie F. (Cape Coral,FL)

An Exciting Read

Yes, I do Cherish the Knight. Diane’s story, set in the time of William the Conquerer, has everything you love in a historical romance: A strong, feisty heroine, a powerful, yet vulnerable warrior hero. The story tension builds to a satisfying end. I couldn’t put it down. Congratulations to Diane O’Key for creating such a great read. I want more.
~ P. Campbell

Helluva Read!

What a wonderful time I had reading Ms O’Key’s debut novel. I hold her personally responsible for the lack of housework that got done at home while I read this! Seriously, I was particularly impressed with the character development, and the balance between and the depth of both the male and female voices.
When I got to the last page and made ready to leave those rich characters behind, I had a thought… is it posssible Diane plans a sequel? Or dare we look forward to a multigenerational saga? The elements for either are certainly there.
Well done, Lady, well done!
~Jo S

A Knight to Remember

Talk about a knight to remember! Diane O’Key’s debut book, with its lush backdrop and gripping characters, will have you begging for more. Cherish the Knight is truly a keeper!
Ms. O’Key has woven a page-turner with a plot full of secrets, passion and betrayal. From page one, you’ll find yourself rooting for both Cort, the fierce Norse warrior, and Lexi, a feisty Gaelic healer, as they go nose-to-nose!
Set in England during the time of William the Conqueror, Cherish the Knight is steeped in history and rich in detail. This is, quite honestly, one of those rare books made for reading again and again. Lynnette Hallberg, multi-published author of Just A Little White Lie, Moonlight, Motorcycles, and Bad Boys and Somebody Like You, the first in the Maverick Junction series from Grand Central due out November, 2012.

Joyce Henderson

Diane O’Key paints a well-researched, intriguing tale of love and deception between Norman Lord Cort Dornogard and Saxon Lady Alexis Fallon in 11th Century England. There’s humor and danger aplenty when Cort claims Lexi’s home, given to him by William the Conqueror by right of conquest. A wondrous love that will last through time grows between Cort and Lexi. Outstanding secondary characters cry for their own story.
I give Cherish the Knight two thumbs up for Ms. O’Key’s incredible, you-are-there writing ability, and a love story I can believe in. I hope to read more from this talented author.
~Joyce Henderson…multi-published, awards-finalist author