Customer Reviews

Dream Runner (Indigo)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Gail McFarland introduces readers to Olympic hopeful, Marlea Kellogg in Dream Runner. Marlea has dreamed of winning a Gold medal in the Olympics since she saw Evelyn Ashford at the Los Angeles games in 1984. Moving to Atlanta to be closer to her coach, Marlea practiced every chance she could, between teaching special education students, to achieve her goal. In order to qualify for the Olympic trials, she had to win The Peachtree Road Race. With the finish line in her sight, Marlea could taste victory but she fell over another runner who had tripped and lost her chance at qualifying.

A.J. Yarborough, Atlanta's star running back, was trying to come to terms with the possibility of ending his career. A. J. injured his knee and his attempts at making a comeback did not look good. He was more than happy that he devoted his time during the off-season to earn his degree and license as a physical therapist.

As fate would have it, Marlea was involved in a car accident, which resulted in a serious injury. Depressed and angered, Marlea refused all help. A.J. was asked to take Marlea as a client since he was also an athlete. Marlea and A.J. were immediately drawn to each other as she tried to accept her disability and as A. J. tried to heal her body and her ability to love.

McFarland took her time to introduce her characters and their circumstances. She gave wonderful information about the United States Track & Field Association and the International Paralympics. Even though I struggled to read through some sections, I found the story to be well-written and entertaining.

Reviewed by: Priscilla C. Johnson
APOOO BookClub

Not being a BIG sports fan (with the exception of watching my children play), I was PLEASANTLY surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. I have to say Ms. McFarland did an excellent job of detailing the life of a professional runner and still keeping me entertained with this engaging and inspiring romance. Definitely not the novel for readers JUST looking for a HOT & SPICY romance. Although it does have some brief sensual and romantic encounters, it's not the main focus of this novel. Ms. McFarland provides very vivid and descriptive imagery of an athlete's life and the tragedy and triumph that one might face at some point during his/her career.~~~~~~~The characters of Marlea Kellogg and A.J. Yarborough are well developed and quite BELIEVABLE. This book is filled with in-depth detail as to what makes them tick.~~~~~~~ Marlea and A.J. literally crash into each other and from that moment on a constant electric spark SIZZLES between them. Their relationship starts as an unwilling therapist/client partnership, and slowly they learn to trust each other, developing a friendship that slowly moves along and eventually leads to them falling in love. Along the way there are several challenges they MUST overcome, separately and together in order to build upon this budding relationship. Both Marlea and A.J. show great strength and courage in rebuilding their lives after their dreams are shattered due to unexpected circumstances.~~~~~~~Ms. McFarland has written a story that touches on several emotionally charged issues; such as life-altering accidents/tragedies, benefits and demands of physical therapy, trying to find the will to forgive, trying to push through and keep moving in order to rebuild the broken dreams, so that their ULTIMATE goal is still obtainable. "Dream Runner", is a HIGHLY emotional ride, with many interesting twists that kept me turning the pages just to find out what would happen next for Marlea and A.J. The secondary characters were also intriguing and added just the right amount of fun and intensity to a decent storyline. I had a GREAT time bonding with the whole cast of characters and the very "real-life" concept portrayed in this wonderful story. Overall I think it's a worthwhile read!

Eight-year-old Marlea promised her mother she would one day win Olympic gold. Twenty-plus years later, she's on the verge of making it happen; she needs a few more points to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team. Peachtree Road Race will give her those points... Marlea's kick is high, she is five seconds ahead of her time, she is in a zone. A second later she is sprawled on the ground, trapped under a hard body.

Licensed Physical Therapist, Special Olympics' coach, and recently released NFL running back, A.J. Yarborough is running for exercise. He looses his footing and finds himself buffered by a soft body. Marlea is heart-broken; the fall destroys her time and her chance for Olympic gold. She heads home, thinking nothing could be worse, but something is. Her car is hit and pushed into a ravine; she is cut from the car and rushed to the hospital.

There are no witnesses and no clues about the victim, or the other driver. The ER physician, who also called in the accident, performs emergency surgery; he has to amputate two of her toes. Days later he hires a physical therapist. Marlea is confused by his actions and is equally shocked and upset that the therapist is the dream killer himself, A.J. Yarborough. With her Olympic dream dead, she is not interested in therapy, but A.J. promises she will walk, dance and also run again. A.J. is finding out how mentally tough Marlea is and she is realizing how much she has sacrificed. These unlikely runners, fortunately, did not pass in the night. Their hard work gives them a renewed hope and maybe the best running field ever. In spite of all the negatives surrounding her accident and her injury, life, with its infinite purpose, may actually give her the gift of gold.

DREAM RUNNER is an inspiring story filled with, broken dreams, broken hearts, simple truths, and undiluted triumph. McFarland gives us strong characters, a story to pull the heart and an ending soaked in the stuff dreams are made of. The serious storyline is enhanced by the way the characters deal with their adversities, and how they learn to embrace life. While fallen athletes will surely appreciate the story, it will appeal to anyone forced to dream a new dream.

Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

I love a good Love Story; don't you???
=sighs audibly=
And this love story Hit The Spot better than a cup of Maxwell House coffee.

Marlea promised her aunt/mother Way Back when she was a child that One Day...she'd bring home some Olympic gold. After all: running was all Marlea dreamed about/felt destined to do. Now, after many heartbreaking near-misses, Marlea is one race away from realizing that dream when... Some Dude trips her right before the Finish Line.

AJ has had a long illustrious football career. One knee injury later, AJ finds his team has let him go. If he can finish well in the Peachtree 10k race, AJ can prove he still Has It. He didn't count on that bum knee collapsing on him.
Or him collapsing on the pretty woman runner in front of him either.
She was mad too but Oh Well; it's not like AJ didn't try to apologize. In any event it's a good thing AJ has his physical therapy degree to fall back on.

Thoroughly upset about missing what could be her last chance to make the Olympic team, Marlea leaves the park in a huff, and ends up in a car accident. The circumstances surrounding the accident are a bit murky, but one thing is certain: Marlea may never walk again, much less run. Her doctor wants her to try physical therapy.
Can YOU guess who the Therapist is???
And who is behind the Hit & Run accident that leaves Marlea, and all her dreams, in jeopardy?

For Sure Dream Runner has all the element of a Formula Plot: most good movies or books do; but OH, what a Lovely Journey Ms McFarland takes us on! Not everyone has the talent to handle The Formula, but in McFarland's capable hands The Formula becomes A Masterpiece. I laughed with Marlea and AJ; cried with them; cringed when the going got Rough; I even prayed for their relationship. In AJ and Marlea, McFarland creates vivid, three-dimensional characters whose dedication to their sports careers was not only apparent, but rang true: a testament to McFarland's own fitness background. Nothing in this book seemed Phony or Forced; the story line flowed smoothly and naturally, and I came to care not only about the two main characters, but about Rissa and Dench's journey too.

It was a special joy to read such a well written, well produced book. The bonuses of McFarland being a traditionally published author with a real editor and not just a "proof reader" were not lost on me, but mere "editing" could not have created so satisfying a story.
For that you need Real Talent, which McFarland has in Spades.
Kudos.

This is a great story about 2 people who didn't give up after being badly injured and feeling that their athletic dreams were over. They also learned about love and trust. I would have loved to read more about A.J.'s ex-fiance Bianca and what happened to her after he finally got through to her that their relationship was over for good. Also I would like to have read more about A.J.'s sister Rissa and Dench's courtship and marriage. Maybe Gail will write a follow up book about them and more about A.J.' and Malea's wedding and the birth of their baby. This was a great read though about not allowing obstacles keep you from your life long dreams.

'Dream Runner' was about sports/athletes... the heroine is a track runner with the goal of going to the Olympics when she has a car accident causing her to think her dream is over... but she meets her therapist, an ex-football player, who sticks with her, by her and encourage her to reach the goal she's always wanted. I loved it, although I'm not a sports fan the book was really good. I recommend this book to all.

DREAM RUNNER is such a moving story, that I was filled with happiness, pain and eventually joy throughout this story of broken dreams and broken hearts. McFarland as always has created characters with strength and plenty of backbone that make readers get in their corner. This story will definitely appeal to readers, especially to those who have overcome adversity and had to work hard to obtain Gold. Great read.

ROMANCE IN COLOR 4+
Ms. McFarland has written a wonderful story. I really enjoyed the emphasis on the special needs population and the fact that there are activities (Special Olympics and Paralympics) out there for those who like to compete regardless of their disability.
22nd May 2008


ROMANTIC TIMES 4.5 stars
This lyrical and challenging story isn't the typical boy-meets-girl tale. The author takes you into the heads of her characters so that we learn their thoughts as their emotions change and grow. Their newfound love is beautifully written, and the extended family provides humor and support for this couple.
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Summary: Marlea Kellogg is a world-class runner bound for the Olympics. Her dream collides with former NFL star AJ Yarborough when they run into each other at the end of a qualifying race. On her way home, Marlea is broadsided by a car that leaves the scene of the accident. Enter Parker Reynolds, a trauma surgeon who happens to be driving by and brings her in for surgery. AJ is also a certified physical therapist and he's just the man to aid Marlea's recovery. HOT
May, 2008

Marlea Kellogg is Olympic bound. She has been preparing her entire life to get the gold in the 400 meter dash, until her dreams were literally crushed. When Marlea wakes up in the hospital, her dreams may be a distant memory. A.J. Yarborough was deemed the nicest guy in the NFL. When a knee injury caused him to be cut from the team, he had his physical therapy degree to fall back on. Someone like Marlea was not who he planed to take on as a client, but he admired her as an athlete and he was intrigued with her as a woman.

Dream Runner has the potential to be a very good book. The storyline was great. It is the excessive verbiage that draws the story out. There were several subplots and characters that were overdeveloped. The one subplot dealing with the doctor that hit as well as cared for Marlea was not developed well enough. The extra pages seems as if they were space fillers that added nothing to the overall story. Dream Runner would have been an excellent book without all the "fluff."

Reviewed by Tenecia
for Urban Reviews