The Merry-Go-Round [Kindle Edition]

Donna Fasano (Author)

Book Description

When Lauren divorces her husband, she has one thought on her mind...stepping off the merry-go-round. However, her life quickly turns into a three-ring circus: her hypochondriac father moves in, her ex is using her shower when she’s not home, and her perky assistant is pushing her out into the fearsome dating world. She also has to decide if the dilapidated barn and vintage merry-go-round she was awarded in the divorce settlement is a blessing or a bane. As if Lauren’s personal life isn’t chaotic enough, this slightly jaded attorney is overrun with a cast of quirky characters who can’t stay on the right side of the law. What’s a woman to do? She can allow life to spin her in circles forever. Or she can reach out and grab the brass ring.

About the author
Donna Fasano is an award-winning, best-selling author whose books have sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide.

“. . .complex, funny, and realistic. . .” ~Wilmington News Journal

Book Review
The Merry-Go-Round is an utterly charming romantic comedy that pulled me in right from the start. Award-winning author Donna Fasano skillfully weaves a story consisting of funny, imperfect characters, love lost and found, sexual attraction, and an old merry-go-round. Told with humor and honesty, this novel is an entertaining and satisfying read. I highly recommend it! ~ Karen McQuestion, author of A Scattered Life

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An utterly charming romantic comedy that pulled me in right from the start. ...funny, imperfect characters, love lost and found, sexual attraction, and an old merry-go-round. Told with humor and honesty, this novel is an entertaining and satisfying read. I highly recommend it!" ~ Karen McQuestion, author of A Scattered Life

About the Author

Donna Fasano is a three time winner of the HOLT Medallion, a CataRomance Reviewers Choice Award winner for Best Single Title, a Desert Rose Golden Quill Award finalist, and a Golden Heart finalist. Her books have sold over 3.6 million copies worldwide and have been published in nearly two dozen languages. Her books have made the Kindle Top 100 Paid List numerous times, climbing as high as #17.

Visit her blog at DonnaFasano.com where you can sign up for e-mail updates and be the first to hear about new releases.

Find Donna on facebook at Facebook.com/DonnaFasanoAuthor. She loves to chat with readers.

Follow her on Twitter at Twitter.com/DonnaFaz

Product Details

• File Size: 397 KB
• Print Length: 236 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Hard Knocks Books (December 2, 2009)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B002ZNJL78
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,648 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #45 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Parenting & Relationships > Family Relationships > Divorce

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 48 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Kept sharing snippets with family April 26, 2012

By Elizabeth M Caldwell

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Could not help myself from reading excerpts to my husband and friends. This book is well written, the characters are real, everyday folks. It is very easy to identify with them. Donna Fasano is a talented author. I just love this book! My favorite quote: "Marriage is a three ring circus: engagement ring, wedding ring, and suffering." How true. Indulge yourself with this book, you will not regret it.

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy, light, fun romance March 23, 2010

By kindle addict

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This romance was a quick and easy read. There was some humor in it as well as family relationship issues. I enjoyed the main characters and felt they were as developed as they could be in a short novel. The story has a predictable ending, but it was an ending I wanted and left me feeling satisfied. Although there was one main formatting problem in that sections of text were indented for no reason and there were several typos, they did not interfere with an enjoyable read. I look forward to more from this author.

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A fun lighthearted read February 28, 2010

By Steph H.

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really enjoyed this book, it's a good lighthearted fun romance. Lauren's dad is annoying, in that well-meaning "I'm just doing it for your best interests" kind of way, and you can't help but like him. As you might expect from a contemporary romance, Lauren herself has an epiphany or two along the way, but it's all written in such a way that nothing feels forced. And there's nothing too terribly angst-y about the story, which can get really old and it's nice not to have to deal with if you're looking for something escapist and feel-good. This is a good book to spend a few hours with and come out satisified in the end.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars She doesn't love him--or does she? April 2, 2010

By L.C. Evans VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I enjoyed this book. Author Donna Fasano has done a fine job detailing heroine Lauren Flynn's problem life. First, after her husband Greg manages to nearly bankrupt them, Lauren files for divorce and her elderly father has to move in with her. Then in her divorce settlement Lauren is awarded a merry-go-round that she will have to refurbish before she can sell it. Meanwhile, she's busy with her legal career.

I like the way the author wove interesting legal cases in with Lauren's day to day life with her hypochondriac dad. Initially I had trouble warming up to Lauren, though. Her anger with Greg came out every time she was near him and she behaved badly. From her point of view he had lied and put them in a financial bind through poor business decisions. Yet Greg always seemed kind and thoughtful, and I had a hard time picturing him as being that bad. After Lauren makes some mistakes of her own, especially by dating someone unsuitable, she starts to realize that she shares a big part of the blame for her marriage failure. The merry-go-round also played an important role in bringing Lauren to the point where she knows what she really wants out of life. The newly humbled Lauren reaches the right conclusions and the ending is a happy one.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoy the ride on the Merry-Go-Round February 14, 2010

By J. Neldner

Format:Kindle Edition

The Merry-Go-Round was a great easy read and I would recommend this to others, you won't be disappointed! I felt that I was able to easily identify and connect with the characters, especially Lauren's Dad. HA! I could see this book be adapted for the big screen.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful and Entertaining! March 2, 2010

By Sierra Rose VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition

The Merry-Go-Round is a book that I'd be pleased to recommend to friends. Laura's story is well-written with character's that I believe that most readers could relate to, especially her Dad. I loved his character. A great fun book for the romance fans.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Merry-Go-Round December 31, 2012

By B. Menzer

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I loved this book. It is very fast, easy reading with a great plot. Definitely would recommend.
Great for my vacation.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great 6 Hour escape - the AudioBook review February 12, 2013

By Gaele

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This was a sweet, engaging and at times, laugh out loud funny tale told through Lauren's point of view, with the occasional interjection of sense and nonsense from the other characters. A plausible romance, with a love relationship not torn asunder by fear of vampires or pack responsibilities: no, these were real people, with honest issues that many will find applicable to their own lives. There's nothing wrong at all with escape romance, but the profusion of supernatural and paranormal romance novels often lead readers (and authors) to forget that real people are sometimes as, if not more fascinating than their paranormally infused counterparts.

Written with attention to pacing and characters, the story unfolds to present a series of surprises for Lauren. When the judge awards her a barn that her ex-husband had not mentioned in the assets statement for the divorce proceedings, Lauren finds an old merry go round, still glorious despite the grime and neglect. The carousel is a perfect metaphor for the story, neglected beauty and joy, travelling only in circles and tarnished brass detracting from its glory. Lauren spends much of the book doing just that, relying on her anger, hurt feelings and incorrect assumptions to keep her travelling in one single circle, never looking up or out. As the layers of grime are removed, and the renovation of the merry go round begins, Lauren begins to lose her crust of anger and hurt, and starts to look at her own behaviour as potential cause of her unhappiness....

The narration by Margie Lenhart was a perfect accompaniment to the story: modulating her tone and pacing slightly to indicate the different characters, without overreaching and making it feel forced or overworked, her words brought characters well defined by the author into brilliant bas relief, and the book was a joy to listen to.

For me, there is no requirement that every romance have a happily ever after, but this one does, in a sweetly described scene that left a smile on my face. While the book contains adult themes, and even references to sex, there was no swearing or overt sexual descriptions, this was a sweet read with allusion and reader imagination working to fill in the blanks.

You won't go wrong with this story for a quiet afternoon listen or read, and you may just find it was your best decision all week.

I received an AudioBook version of the book from the author in exchange for honest review as part of The Heard Word promotion at I am, Indeed. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions were my own responsibility. Read more ›