A Real Hero

Rating:
Summary: Heroes for a Real World
Review:

Like Forest Gump's momma, my mom always offered gems of wisdom herself. Her favorite, probably, was "You gotta know the rules before you can break them." In A Real Hero, Jean Brashear smashes the rules with such success that one can only imagine she must know them by heart.

A Real Hero continues her "Deep in the Heart" series, about families-united families, and families torn apart. This is the story of Hollywood's hottest new star, Zane MacAllister. Zane's brothers-curanderos, cops, adventure photographers-all seem to be more worthy of recognition than he himself; his world is a plastic one, all money and image, and his opinion of himself is shattered when a private tragedy becomes public-and inescapable.

Still, Zane flees, thinking to hide incognito briefly in the Appalachians, seeking the shelter of those alien mountains before returning to the Davis Mountains in stark west Texas, where he knows he will find true love and refuge.

Along the way, however, in a ramshackle roadside store, Zane bumps into Roan O'Hara-a gaunt, defeated rail of a woman, treated like a leper by the store's unfriendly clerk. When Roan faints in front of Zane's $60,000 luxury SUV, he realizes that he must offer help-and quickly finds that Roan is unwilling to accept even a candy bar.

Brashear's rule-smashing begins with her choice of characters; any perusal of writing guidelines for publishers such as Harlequin will say to avoid Hollywood types. Throw in a recovering addict as heroine, and you can see why only a devilishly skilled writer could pull off such a story. Romance is the domain of "happy ever after," and sympathetic characters let those of us in busy, often harried lives escape. How to sympathize with "The Sexiest Man Alive" and a junkie?

Writing with grit and compassion, Brashear does her usual stellar job, making characters compelling and real-and avoiding the traps of easy solutions to impossible problems. Each new "Deep in the Heart" sequel makes me wonder how the next can measure up, then has me rereading the others to see which truly is my favorite. The Real Hero settles that question...at least until Jesse's story, Most Wanted, is released. Then I'll have to start deciding all over.

Mom, she knows the rules. And just how to break them.

Rating:
Summary: Heroes for a Real World
Review:

Like Forest Gump's momma, my mom always offered gems of wisdom herself. Her favorite, probably, was "You gotta know the rules before you can break them." In A Real Hero, Jean Brashear smashes the rules with such success that one can only imagine she must know them by heart.

A Real Hero continues her "Deep in the Heart" series, about families-united families, and families torn apart. This is the story of Hollywood's hottest new star, Zane MacAllister. Zane's brothers-curanderos, cops, adventure photographers-all seem to be more worthy of recognition than he himself; his world is a plastic one, all money and image, and his opinion of himself is shattered when a private tragedy becomes public-and inescapable.

Still, Zane flees, thinking to hide incognito briefly in the Appalachians, seeking the shelter of those alien mountains before returning to the Davis Mountains in stark west Texas, where he knows he will find true love and refuge.

Along the way, however, in a ramshackle roadside store, Zane bumps into Roan O'Hara-a gaunt, defeated rail of a woman, treated like a leper by the store's unfriendly clerk. When Roan faints in front of Zane's $60,000 luxury SUV, he realizes that he must offer help-and quickly finds that Roan is unwilling to accept even a candy bar.

Brashear's rule-smashing begins with her choice of characters; any perusal of writing guidelines for publishers such as Harlequin will say to avoid Hollywood types. Throw in a recovering addict as heroine, and you can see why only a devilishly skilled writer could pull off such a story. Romance is the domain of "happy ever after," and sympathetic characters let those of us in busy, often harried lives escape. How to sympathize with "The Sexiest Man Alive" and a junkie?

Writing with grit and compassion, Brashear does her usual stellar job, making characters compelling and real-and avoiding the traps of easy solutions to impossible problems. Each new "Deep in the Heart" sequel makes me wonder how the next can measure up, then has me rereading the others to see which truly is my favorite. The Real Hero settles that question...at least until Jesse's story, Most Wanted, is released. Then I'll have to start deciding all over.

Mom, she knows the rules. And just how to break them.

Rating:
Summary: Real people
Review: In A Real Hero, Jean Brashear creates complex, unforgettable characters.

Roan O'Hara is a woman who has been used by those who should have loved and cared for her--and by those who had no reason to. When the reader and hero Zane MacAllister meet her, she's weak, vulnerable and at the point of starvation. She has no money and no future, nothing but the pitiful cabin her grandmother left her. In spite of her appearance, Roan is not weak and doesn't want pity. With tremendous strength of will, she has decided to turn her life around, a tough job.
A talented man from a loving family, everything has always come easily to Zane--fame, fortune and women. However, because of the one failure in his life, Roan is not the right woman for him. Even knowing that, he can't help but admire her and, finally, fall in love with her.

This is not an easy story to resolve, but Ms. Brashear brings it together with great skill. Roan O'Hara is a heroine you'll never forget; A Real Hero is a book you'll want to reread.

Rating:
Summary: engaging relationship drama
Review: Oscar nominee Hollywood hotshot Zane MacAllister is tired of the downside cost of fame especially when his former girlfriend pregnant Kelly Mason committed suicide after begging him to come back to her. He decides he needs to escape the glitter and relook his life as the so called All American male. However, to escape his myriad of fans and the media who appreciate distorting his life with wild unfounded rumors, he will need a masquerade.

Zane's two week trek so far leads him to a dilapidated shack in the Smoky Mountains and emaciated Roan O'Hara. She has vowed to spend the winter in this forbidden place. Her spirit touches him and he decides to join her. As they become acquainted in their isolation, they fall in love, but both has secrets that once revealed could end their solace in heartburn especially when the outsiders find the vanished heartthrob.

A REAL HERO is an engaging relationship drama that stars two wounded individuals who need loving hugs, but are wary to reach out for even a handshake. The adjustment from suspicious minds to lovers is cleverly handled by Jean Brashear. Zane and Roan are a delightful couple who the audience will hope can overcome their demons in each other's arms.

Harriet Klausner