"I've always known. It's always been you."
When I first heard that Katy Regnery was penning her third fairytale, GINGER'S HEART, a modern retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, my heart leapt with joy. I fell hopelessly in love with her first two fairytale based stories, THE VIXEN AND THE VET and NEVER LET YOU GO and knew in my gut that this book would be just as spectacular, if not more so, because this is an author who always raises the bar, takes HUGE editorial risks, and always manages to pen a timeless love story that leaves me spellbound!
And she not only did us proud with this tempestuous tale, she knocked it out of the park! GINGER'S HEART is a breathtakingly beautiful, emotion-fraught Modern Fairytale romance filled with so many big, explosive, EPIC feels, so many jaw dropping twists and turns, so much fierce, all consuming love and unbridled passion, heartache and sorrow, it is truly a romantic masterpiece.
Set in the small southern Kentucky town of Apple Valley, this coming of age story is about an unexpected romantic triangle that ignites when two charming cousins who are as different as night and day ....one dark as midnight, the other golden like the sun, both become smitten with their sweet, spunky childhood friend. A rivalry develops that tests the bonds of friendship and brotherhood in powerful, profound and ultimately heartbreaking ways. The heroine, Ginger McHuid, is a sheltered, well-to-do small-town girl who is eventually forced to make an impossible choice between her two best friends.
A choice guaranteed to have far-reaching ramifications.
Growing up, Ginger, Josiah and Cain were the Three Musketeers of the prosperous McHuid Horse Farm, and forged a life-long bond that withstood the test of time until it was torn asunder by the cruel hands of fate. The timeline in this books spans their childhood through young adulthood and is told via multiple points of views from each character's unique perspective.
And lemme says this, although I went in staunchly hoping for a certain romantic outcome (#TeamCain!), it soon became clear that there is nothing about Ginger's ultimate choice that is cut and dry.
The players.....
CAIN....the wild, rebellious Bad Boy.
This hot tempered, roguishly sexy heartbreaker slayed my soul from the very start! You can't help but root for this cocky, woefully misunderstood young man, the emotionally neglected son of an Austrian immigrant father who works in the McHuid stables, when he lashes out at the world he thinks has done him wrong. But beneath the sexy swagger and disdainful sneer is a noble, surprisingly selfless "dark angel" who feels unworthy of love but secretly pines for the lion-hearted l'il gal who forever owns a piece of his heart. But she's already been claimed by the fair-haired Woodman, who is seemingly far more deserving of the gorgeous princess. But can the big bad Wolfram truly step aside to ensure his cousin's happiness, or will he succumb to his primal desires and take what's HIS?
WOODMAN...the kind, charismatic golden boy
With his laid-back, sensible charm and charisma, Woodman might not have the flash and fire of his devilishly handsome cousin, but still managed to win my favor! He has a solid plan for his life--which includes marrying his beloved Ginger and enlisting in the Navy, and seems destined for greatness. But is he truly as safe and predictable as he appears--the perfect match for sweet Ginger--or actually a wolf in sheep's clothing with dark demons lurking behind his seemingly benevolent smile?
GINGER...the beleaguered princess
This pretty, small-town gal is sweet and sassy and carin'...a pure hearted, yet idealistic young woman caught between two besotted men, and who's still at the mercy of her over-bearing parents’ decisions and control.
"Choose doll baby. Someday you will have to choose."
But who should she dare to pin all her hopes on? The sensible suitor...the Woodman, her fiercely protective, doting best friend who thinks the sun rises and sets in her big brown eyes, who lavishes her with love and affection and the promise of his unfaltering devotion? Or Cain, the volatile lothario who sets her blood on fire but is the "shatterer of her heart and the executor of her dreams"? How can she possibly decide between the two men who are "like two halves of the same coin that she holds carefully in the palm of her hand?"
Sound complicated? You don't even know the half of it. I won’t spoil any plot but will say this: If you are looking for a conventional storybook love triangle that pits two bitter foes against each other in order to win the lovely lass's heart, this is NOT the book for you. The marvelous Ms. Regnery takes the traditional love triangle and literally smashes it to smithereens! All I can say is brace yourself. Expect the unexpected, prepare to swoon and fall hopelessly, head over heels in love--with both contenders!--and have ton of tissues handy.
Because you will need them. Especially at a pivotal dramatic arc where something so earth shattering happens it rocks the foundation of this love triangle in ways you never saw coming. Had me sobbing in fury and denial....wanting to scream at the author "WHY? WHY? WHY?” bemoaning that there is NO WAY what's broken can be fixed now. Frankly, the wound is still so fresh and raw; I am still reeling from the aftershocks!
But hang on...because, as always, Ms. Regnery manages to salvage the seemingly unsalvageable. She waves her magic wand and bestows us with an EPIC HEA that not only miraculously managed to mend my broken heart but ultimately had me smiling through my tears and swooning in rapturous delight.
There were so many incredibly touching and heartfelt moments that resonated deeply--far too many to mention--but I must call special attention to the chats between Gran and her "doll baby." The scenes with Gran supporting Ginger through thick and thin, good times and bad, struggling to get the words out due to her progressively worsening Parkinson's were so moving it brings a huge lump to my throat just remembering. Gran was so kind and brave, exquisitely tender and nurturing, never judgmental. In many ways these exchanges were the emotional touchstone of the book, and we all should be so lucky to have a Gran like her in our lives.
Ultimately, Ginger's Heart is an intensely emotional, sumptuous modern day fairytale that is simply divine! A sweeping romantic saga about difficult choices and heartrending consequences, the ties that bind and the unforeseen setbacks and tragedies that tear us asunder. It is an unflinching story about hope and joy, sorrow and loss, friendship and family, about trusting in your heart and true love persevering AGAINST ALL ODDS.
So thank you, Katy Regnery, for once again sharing your majestic gift for storytelling, for sprinkling your magic fairytale dust, and enchanting us with yet another achingly emotional story that will live in my heart for all time!
Oh....and it’s official: I am #TeamRegnery all the way!
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“One man could offer her the sweetness and stability she craved, it was the other who challenged her and set her heart on fire.”
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 21, 2016