Walking Sam
Walking Sam by Deanna Lynn Sletten
Kindle EditionExpected publication: March 29th 2016 by Deanna Lynn Sletten
Love isn’t always a walk in the park…
Ryan Collier has lived a quiet life with his golden retriever, Sam, and two orange tabbies since the death of his wife nearly three years ago. His friends and family are encouraging him to move on and find someone to share his life with, but Ryan feels he’ll never find anyone he’ll love as much as his wife. Ryan reluctantly starts going out on weekends, and soon finds that not only have women changed, but also the rules of dating. He’s longing for a fulfilling relationship but everyone he meets only want one-night stands. Then, Kristen moves in next door and he finds they have a lot in common. There’s only one problem—she’s not available.
Kristen Foster craves a peaceful place to call home. With her stressful job as a Pediatric Oncology Nurse and a failed marriage behind her, she doesn’t want any more drama in her life. Then her casual boyfriend—a surgeon—proposes to her. And she finds that the widower next door is a thirty-something, handsome man who seems to have his choice of young women every weekend. His only redeeming quality is his beautiful dog, Sam. But as she gets to know Ryan, Kristen is drawn to him. She finds herself struggling to choose between the dependable surgeon or the man she believes is the neighborhood playboy.
Can Sam’s furry charm bring Ryan and Kristen together?
Walking Sam is a heartwarming story of two people who have to let go of the past in order to see what’s right in front of them.
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My thoughts about Walking Sam ~~
(I am going to start noting here the first lines of the books I'm reading. First lines can really grab a reader's attention and I love seeing where the author takes the reader after their great first line.)
First line—"Ryan Collier awoke in the darkened bedroom to feel the warm breath hitting his face."
Oh my, I don't know where to start, other than to say that I should have started this book on the weekend. Once I got started reading it, I didn't want to stop! I loved it! I felt so very comfortable with the characters in this wonderful book that I never wanted to leave them. Ryan and Kristen are people that I wish I knew in my life.
They are both such caring, down to earth, loving people but they are both dealing with loss. Ryan's wife passed away very suddenly 3 years ago and he's having a really hard time letting go of her memory. Kristen was divorced 2 years ago and is currently in a relationship ... when it's convenient for him. Kristen moves in next door to Ryan and they forge a very comfortable, easy friendship, largely due to Ryan's dog Sam, who take an immediate liking to Kristen. See, even the dog knows a nice person when she meets one.
Deanna writes very descriptively throughout the book and because of her descriptions of the people, places and events, I was able to feel like I was a part of the story. Their emotions, love, and friendship became just as important to me as they did to Ryan and Kristen themselves.
I have read quite a few of Deanna's books but this one may be right up there as one of my favorites and it's because of Kristen and Ryan. They both are such good people and I felt very comfortable (there's that word again) with them. I really cared about them and I knew I would be happy for them, no matter how things turned out. They were there as good friends to each other and what more can someone want but to have a good friend in your life?
Walking Sam is a beautiful, warm, loving story of two mature adults who discover that true happiness comes when you can find someone who can be yourself with. Read Walking Sam and fall in love with Ryan and Kristen just like I did.
About the author
Deanna Lynn Sletten grew up on the sunny coast of southern California before moving to northern Minnesota as a teenager. Her interest in writing novels was sparked in a college English class and she has been writing in some form or another ever since. In 2011, Deanna discovered the world of self-publishing and published three novels she'd written over the years. After that, she was hooked.
Deanna enjoys writing heartwarming women's fiction and romance novels with unforgettable characters. She has also written one middle-grade novel that takes you on the adventure of a lifetime. She believes in fate, destiny, love at first sight, soulmates, second chances, and happily ever after, and her novels reflect that.
Deanna is married and has two grown children. When not writing, she enjoys walking the wooded trails around her home with her beautiful Australian Shepherd or relaxing in the boat on the lake in the summer.
Connect with Deanna
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Thank you so much for the lovely review, Susan. I'm so happy you enjoyed Walking Sam. It was a joy to write.
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