It's time for another featured story! This week, Lisa was kind enough to provide us with a review of "Endings and Beginnings" by Viv, one of our Hosted Author's here at GA! Not only did she provide us a Hosted Review, but she also provided us with what could be considered a "Blast From the Past", so in essence, it's a two for one! We're always looking for reviews to feature in the blog, so if you've been reading a story that you would like to review for the blog, please PM me! Now, without any more of a wait, lets get onto the review, shall we?

Reviewer: Lisa
Status: Complete
Word Count: 10,442

This was one of the best stories I’ve read anywhere. And the good thing is, there are four more like it. Viv started “Endings and Beginnings” for the Spring 2007 Anthology and she continued with books 2-4 for the Summer, Fall, and Winter Anthos. Book 5 can be read in the Spring 2008 Antho section. I’m hoping that if enough people read this review, they will check out her stories and review them so she can see that she clearly has to continue with this fantastic series. That’s my hope anyway. I happen to love all her stories; she is truly a gifted writer, but I really hope that if enough readers comment on these particular stories, she’ll complete the series.

Tracey Marshall is a very angry nineteen-year-old boy. Ok, ok, to me he’s still a boy even though many of you out there would consider him a man. To me, his actions make him a boy. His mom died two years ago and his father up and got himself a real trophy wife, totally disrespecting his late wife and his son. This really pisses Tracey off. It’s bad enough his mom isn’t around anymore and he misses her so much, but now his father has to flaunt his new bimbo everywhere he goes.

One night after drinking, Tracey decides to go on a joyride over to Kingsman Bluff, a ranch about ten miles out of town. He barrels through the ranch, taking out one of the fences and crashing through one of the barns on his way out of there. Since his father won’t pay for the damages, the judge suspends Tracey’s license and rules that he has to live at the ranch and make the necessary repairs himself.

Tracey is so overcome with guilt, remorse, and shame that he feels totally embarrassed and humiliated that he has to see the people that he hurt every day. Paulette is the widow who owns the ranch and she lives there with her twin nineteen-year-olds, Catherine (Caty), and Casey, Will, a ranch hand, and Janie, the wonderful cook.

Caty is a beautiful, sweet girl who is crushing on Will big time. Of course Will is oblivious. Casey is a hot-tempered, angry boy and Tracey is just fueling his anger because all Casey wants to do is beat up the person who caused so much damage to their ranch. Casey and Tracey (don’t laugh), are so much alike but they don’t even realize it. They both lost parents, they both miss their parent so much, and they have all this anger simmering inside of them, with no where for it to go.

Naturally, Casey and Tracey get off to a very rocky start. Casey has so much animosity towards Tracey and he’s just looking to start fights with him while Tracey wishes he could just disappear. He is wallowing in his own guilt and shame, as I’ve mentioned before, and he feels so badly about hurting the Kingsman family due to his own recklessness and contempt for his own life.

Book 1 pretty much sets the stage for the next four books, but what a beautiful stage it is. I can’t say enough wonderful things about this series. If you like horses, ranches, a beautiful, funny girl, a sexy ranch hand, a compassionate mother, two hot guys, and a wonderful cook, then look no further: this story is for you!