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Wisconsin – Present Day Dancy Flynn was the beautiful and doting wife of Roth Hardy, a superstar in the acting world. But Roth dropped her, and Dancy is trying to pick up the pieces of her life by making an appearance at a gala in Chicago. Just as she garnered attention, her ex shows up with his new girlfriend—and it’s apparent to everyone that Roth is about to become a father. Dancy falls apart. If only the people around her knew that she desperately wanted to become a mother while married to Roth, but he refused her request. Now everyone is congratulating him on his impending fatherhood. In tears, she runs out of the gala. Her destination: to find her first love, Chicago Stars quarterback Clint Garrett. Clint and Dancy haven’t seen each other in twenty years, not after she broke his heart by sleeping with another guy in high school. She went to California and had a modestly successful career, but her biggest coup was marrying Roth. Clint has had a successful career as the quarterback for the Stars, but he is now infamous for botching a potential win last season. Training camp is starting soon, and Clint is training hard at his remote Wisconsin property. But one day, a vehicle arrives and drops off Dancy. He doesn’t want her there. Nope. Nada. She looks so pitiful, and he can’t help but feel sorry for her. Clint agrees to let Dancy stay, but it has to be in the railroad caboose that he’s in the midst of fixing up. To his surprise, she agrees. One thing to be said about any Susan Elizabeth Phillips novel…she comes up with some interesting and intriguing story ideas. To the outside world, Dancy appears spoiled, and now, an alcoholic after losing Roth. But inside is a woman who is in pain. She loved Roth and wanted a child with him, but he turned her down. Turns out that he thought she was “too old.” Dancy is in her thirties. After her divorce, she got pregnant via IVF, but miscarried. So, seeing Roth at the party with his pregnant fiancée deeply hurt her. Clint was always her protector, the one who cared for her no matter what. Until she betrayed him. In AND THE CROWD WENT WILD, it’s no wonder that she sought him out. He was always there for her. Clint certainly can attract women, but after being falsely accused of murder months ago, he’s sworn off women. Dancy is part of his past and one he’d hoped to keep there. But her sudden appearance makes him angry and intrigued. She expects him to welcome her into his home, so he’s going to make some rules. She can’t step into his house. She is on her own in the caboose. He isn’t going to help her. Of course, rules are made to be broken, especially when she finds an injured and abandoned dog, whom she “adopts.” Clint soon realizes that the Dancy he knew years ago isn’t the Dancy who is staying with him. The more he gets to know her again, the more he’s becoming attracted to her. Secrets are revealed throughout AND THE CROWD WENT WILD, which adds to the complexity of this tale. Dancy appears on the outside of a woman who’s lost control of her life and is dragging herself into the gutter. Deep down, she’s in pain and must figure out how to heal. The caboose reminds her of a children’s book by the name of The Box-Car Children, and it’s quoted at the beginning of each chapter. Dancy makes the best of a bad time in her life. She has a dog, a temporary home, and soon meets a friend, Erin. Clint thinks his life is unraveling with Dancy there, but it soon becomes apparent that she’s changing his life—for the good. AND THE CROWD WENT WILD is one of those books that you won’t want to put down, and you know it’s going to be funny and end up happily-ever-after. You won’t be disappointed, and this is why I’m awarding it A Perfect 10. Don’t miss this amusing and entertaining tale. Patti Fischer |
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AND THE CROWD WENT WILD – Susan Elizabeth Phillips