Book Review: The Circle of Friends - Book V: Heather

The Circle of Friends - Book V: Heather by L. Diane Wolfe
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Release Date: Available Now
Publisher: Dancing Lemur Press
Pages: 282
Received From: Author (Thanks L.!)

Summary: When confidence turns to frustration… A new beginning awaits Heather Jennings. The position at Clemson means she will finally realize her dream of coaching basketball. Heather is ready to focus on her duties, using sheer force if necessary to prove her independence. Sadly, her triumph is hampered as her father and greatest advocate lies dying of cancer. Battling her grief, she must also deal with a sister who appears incapable of responsibility or achievement. And once basketball season begins, a talented but cocky player who resembles her in every manner challenges all that remains of Heather’s patience. Heather’s life changes when she encounters a man capable of handling her bold and feisty attitude. Straightforward and smug, he entices her to date him, and despite his gruff nature shows a great capacity for compassion. However, the last thing Heather needs is a serious relationship with a man equally fixated on work and opposed to marriage…

My Review: The Circle of Friends - Book V: Heather is the first book I've read in this series. I didn't know what to expect but I very much enjoyed it. This book could be read as a standalone, I never once felt lost. Heather was quite a relatable character, I think a lot of readers will be able to connect with her. She was a hard-worker that never stopped reaching her goals. She succeeded in landing a dream job as an assistant basketball coach. However, her happiness was underlined with great sorrow for her dying father. I loved the fact that she found a job near her family. It showed what a committed, loving and caring person she was. But, she also had a side to her that was spunky and courageous. She stood her ground well when it came to dealing with an uncooperative team member that tried to make her life a living hell.

Now, as you can see Heather had enough on her plate until falling in love fell in her lap. They tried to fight it but when it's meant to be nothing can stop it. Mark, which was ironically her ex crush's brother, rocked her world. He had a similar personality to Heather. Very blunt yet sympathetic and charming. They didn't have a perfect relationship but it just worked. In my eyes, they balanced each other out. I really enjoyed watching them fall for one another. Overall, a very interesting book with a character dealing with real life issues. The unexpected life altering event caught me off guard and I couldn't believe the crazy twist. It just goes to show that sometimes life is unpredictable and the only healing medicine is the power of love.

I will be hosting a giveaway for this book next week, so look out for that!

My Rating:

Author's Info:

Known as “Spunk On A Stick,” Wolfe is a member of the National Speakers Association. “Overcoming Obstacles With SPUNK! The Keys to Leadership & Goal-Setting”, ties all of her goal-setting and leadership seminar’s information together into one complete, enthusiastic package. Her YA series, The Circle of Friends, features morally grounded, positive stories that appeal to both teens and concerned parents. Ten years associating with a motivation training system and experience as a foster parent gave her the in-depth knowledge of relationships, personality traits and success principles. Wolfe travels extensively for media interviews and speaking engagements, maintains a dozen websites & blogs, manages an online writer’s group, and contributes to several other sites.

For more info on L. Diane, visit her site(s):
Website: http://www.thecircleoffriends.net
Blog: http://circleoffriendsbooks.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/SpunkOnAStick
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/L-Diane-Wolfe/1274846499
Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/117664.L_Diane_Wolfe

Other books by L. Diane:
-The Circle of Friends - Book I: Lori
-The Circle of Friends - Book II: Sarah
-The Circle of Friends - Book III: James
-The Circle of Friends - Book IV: Mike
-Overcoming Obstacles With SPUNK!

Guest Post:
I'd like to welcome L. Diane Wolfe to my blog, she was kind enough to write a guest post with the voice of the main character, Heather. Thank you!

Death is reality.

A fact of life we can’t always control.

Sometimes people try, though.

I wasn’t ready to face either situation…

When I found out my father had cancer, I was prepared to quit school and come home right then and there. I felt my place was with my father and my family. I stayed in school, though, as my father wouldn’t hear of it!

It was a horrible time. I loved my father. He’s the one who introduced me to basketball. When I was a kid, we’d spend hours out in the driveway shooting baskets. My father encouraged me and he came to almost every game. It sucked knowing he’d never see me fulfill my dream of coaching basketball.

My father was a strong person. I tried to present a strong demeanor as well, holding back the pain in front of others. I cried in my pillow every morning after he died, but I held it together in front of my mother. I had a few lapses, but thank goodness, Mark was with me during those moments. Matt’s brother was just incredible. I couldn’t have survived without Mark!

My sister… that’s another story. Dawn was a total wreck when our father died. She was like the walking dead - totally useless! Not that she wasn’t already useless. I figured she’d get over it eventually, though. After all, I survived, and he was my father, too.

Finding her that night in the bathroom - now that was total hell. I knew something was wrong. She’d lost weight. Dawn and I didn’t talk much, though, unless one counts all the times I yelled at her. Yeah, I sucked as a big sister. Dawn only wanted to be like me, her hero.

Just never dreamed my baby sister would attempt to end it all…

- Heather Kay Jennings

Book Trailer for The Circle of Friends series: