Here to Stay

Written by Catherine Anderson

Narrated by Julia Gibson

In this heart-stirring romance by New York Times best-selling author Catherine Anderson, Mandy Pajeck has overcome a tough childhood. Now 28, she feels responsible for the accident that took her younger brother's sight. But his complete reliance on her care is making them both miserable. When she meets handsome Zach Harrigan and his mini guide horse, she thinks she's found the ticket to her brother's happiness-and maybe her own.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jun 10, 2011
• ISBN: 9781461804680

Catherine Anderson

Catherine Anderson is a bestselling American romance novelist. She resides in the pristine woodlands of Oregon, is married to her high school sweetheart, and has authored more than 30 award-winning historical and contemporary romances. Throughout her career, she has made numerous bestseller lists, such as the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, Ingram, Waldenbooks, and Barnes & Noble. She has received nominations for the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards, as well as being a RITA® Award finalist, and was given a Career Achievement Award by Romantic Times for Contemporary Romance.

[leighannewrites · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

OMG. I loved this book. It made me really emotional.

Content warnings: death, disability, child abuse, animal abuse (off page but deals with an animal that has been abused).

One of the things I love about Catherine Anderson's novels is how she makes such great characters. Things aren't always as they seem and people are more complex than what is shown. That is definitely the case with Mandy. Catherine Anderson's books are enjoyable as a whole. She takes you a journey and you definitely have to be prepared for that.

Here to Stay deals with some heavy subjects. If you're not knew to her works then this isn't a surprise. What I liked about her approach to it in Here to Stay is how realistic and believable the characters actions are and how the trauma shaped their later actions in life. She made the trauma part of the characters and not some plot device to bring together characters or add for drama's sake. The characters showed a real growth in coming to the realization of how the trauma held them back and needed to change.

This is a real slow burn romance although it didn't feel slow burn if you get what I mean. There was no insta-lust/love. In fact both the hero and heroine were willing to give up having a relationship with one another to pursue their goals. Their relationship progressed very naturally. The hero isn't OTT and he didn't come off as Alpha or Beta. I think because so much of the story was focused on Mandy and her brother Luke and the hero was kind of the supporting role in helping them move on from their trauma.

[mrsboone7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love the research that went into this book. The mini guide horses sound so intriguing.

[read2me2010 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Not my cup of tea. Too much story about the horse and horse training.

[momuv4boyz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Catherine Anderson is the best. I have read all of her books and her web-site is fun to go to as well. She is just so personable. This was a very moving story and shows the struggles of people with disabilities. A must read...

[bookishbrunette · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I will always be a sucker for the Kendrick/Coulter/Harrigan families!