Loving Chloe : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: Not up to Mapson's Par
Review: "Loving Chloe" by JoAnn Mapson is the sequel to "Hank and Chloe". I usually enjoy her books more, although this was a somewhat touching story (but gritty, with quite a bit of sex). Here is what the author says about that:

Mapson never hesitates to explore the intimate details of the characters' sexual relationships. "Writing about love and sex to me is great fun and a challenge," she said. "The sex in my novels isn't all that racy, but one of my mother's friends recently said I write dirty books. I find that amusing since she is absolutely addicted to those bodice-ripper romances with Fabio on the cover."

Mapson explores the complexities of a love triangle in this book. Hank and Chloe are sort of a star-crossed Romeo and Juliet. Hank is tender, loving, sentimental, committed, well-educated. Chloe is wary of commitment, street smart, and uncertain of her feelings.

I find that the author really touched me when she wrote about the illness of Hank's mother; the birth of Hank and Chloe's baby and Chloe's immediate and intense maternal feelings; and the plight of the native American children and their less-than-adequate school.

However, I wish that Mapson had gone in another direction and left Hank and Chloe where they were in the first book. Sequels can be dangerous for an author to attempt, and this sequel fell far short of the original.

I am now reading her newest book, "Bad Girl Creek" and am happy to say that the author is back in her usual fine form!

Rating:
Summary: Alas, a disappointing sequel
Review: I read Hank and Chloe about 4 years ago upon the recommendation of a friend and really enjoyed it. Then, last year or so, I heard that there was a sequel and eagerly awaited the paperback version. Once I knew it was available in paperback, I re-read Hand and Chloe (again, really enjoying it) so that I could move right into Loving Chloe, in effect, making it a longer novel. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. It started out engaging and, it was a book that was riveting in it's own right but it just didn't hold together in the end. It seemed hastily contrived at best. The triangular relationship seemed thoroughly implausible and unresolved, almost as if Ms. Mapson just couldn't figure out what to do with it and finally, Reed's narrative seemed disjointed and convoluted and not worth figuring out.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed my time with the book... made 40 minutes, 4 times per week of aerobic exercise much more enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: Alas, a disappointing sequel
Review: I read Hank and Chloe about 4 years ago upon the recommendation of a friend and really enjoyed it. Then, last year or so, I heard that there was a sequel and eagerly awaited the paperback version. Once I knew it was available in paperback, I re-read Hand and Chloe (again, really enjoying it) so that I could move right into Loving Chloe, in effect, making it a longer novel. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. It started out engaging and, it was a book that was riveting in it's own right but it just didn't hold together in the end. It seemed hastily contrived at best. The triangular relationship seemed thoroughly implausible and unresolved, almost as if Ms. Mapson just couldn't figure out what to do with it and finally, Reed's narrative seemed disjointed and convoluted and not worth figuring out.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed my time with the book... made 40 minutes, 4 times per week of aerobic exercise much more enjoyable.

Rating:
Summary: Loved this though I haven't read Hank and Chloe yet...
Review: I thought this novel was great and I'm looking forward
to reading the first book about them.

I felt sympathetic towards Chloe's headstrong ways, and
her guilt about horseback riding probably leading to
the breech birth and damaged uterus. Her character was
engaging and realistic.

Both Hank and Junior Whitebear were strong sensitive
men and while the ending was a tiny bit contrived it
worked for me. Why shouldn't Chloey have it both ways?

I'm looking forward to reading Mapson's other books.

Rating:
Summary: The Fate of Hank & Chloe
Review: In the sequel to Hank & Chloe, Mapson takes the reader on the next journey on the path of this dis-jointed couple. Where Hank & Chloe leaves off, Loving Chloe picks up, taking you through Chloe's impending pregnancy and what life will be life for Hank & Chloe as parents.

This time in a cabin in Arizona, Hank finds himself teaching Native American children in a third grade setting and learning as much about their lives as he learns about his own. Now living with Chloe on a much smaller income than either of them are used to, life is not the same as it was back in California. Chloe's days of waitressing and horse training are over, as she embraces the reality of being a parent and coming to terms with what this relationship with Hank amounts to. As if that isn't enough, enter a third party, Junior Whitebear, who raises even more questions in Chloe's already confused mind. Ultimately, Chloe must decide between a stable and steadfast love or one of pure passion and unexplainable force. In Loving Chloe the reader is asked to examine all of the angles of a love triangle and how to make sense of it. It also asks if unconventional solutions can work and be accepted, and what are the affects? The novel also takes a glimpse into parent/child relationships and how they affect who we become as adults, and what we pass on to our children. While the ending may be considered somewhat unrealistic or unsatisfying, it does leave the reader with lots to think about and ponder~

Rating:
Summary: doesn't match its prequel, but good
Review: Mapson seems incapable of creating an unsympathetic (though flawed) character, but this book just did not live up to her first "Hank and Chloe." I was disappointed that Chloe was not forced to choose between her two loves (as she surely would in real life), and disappointed at the epilogue, in which Chloe's daughter wraps things up in a manner that seemed too pat. However, the relationship between Hank and his young Native American students was touching, although I did wish Hank's parents had been more complexly drawn.

Rating:
Summary: You'll Love Chloe (and Hank too) !
Review: This sequel to "Hank and Chloe" literally starts where the former novel left us, with Chloe returning to Hank, pregnant with his child. The setting is now the red rocks of Arizona, an Indian reservation and is described beautifully by Mapson. Chloe is still rough around the edges as she prepares for the birth of her child, and tries to have a settled relationship for the first time in her life.

The problem is that Chloe, like a wild horse, is not broken or even easily tamed. Like the horse she can't bring herself not to ride while pregnant, her very nature keeps her from settling happily into domesticity. Chloe is akin to the horses that run wild in the canyons, and although she loves Hank, her nature is restless. When she meets Junior Whitebear, a romantic triangle ensues, much to Hank's dismay. The reader is left with the feeling that this triangle is never fully resolved, but all three players have come to their own private terms with it.

It was a treat to see the well-fleshed out characters return from "Hank and Chloe", such as Hank's uptight parents, and Chloe's young friend Kit. In addition, Chloe discovers the truth about her own parentage.

I only gave this book four stars, chiefly because of the ambiguous ending. It seemed strained that the three main characters could be resigned to the fate Mapson gave them without much more strife. In additon, the futuristic epilogue about the offspring of Hank and Chloe seemed a bit contrived.

However, if you love a picturesque setting and an interesting, entertaining love story with grit, you'll love reading about the further exploits of Chloe.

Rating:
Summary: You'll Love Chloe (and Hank too) !
Review: This sequel to "Hank and Chloe" literally starts where the former novel left us, with Chloe returning to Hank, pregnant with his child. The setting is now the red rocks of Arizona, an Indian reservation and is described beautifully by Mapson. Chloe is still rough around the edges as she prepares for the birth of her child, and tries to have a settled relationship for the first time in her life.

The problem is that Chloe, like a wild horse, is not broken or even easily tamed. Like the horse she can't bring herself not to ride while pregnant, her very nature keeps her from settling happily into domesticity. Chloe is akin to the horses that run wild in the canyons, and although she loves Hank, her nature is restless. When she meets Junior Whitebear, a romantic triangle ensues, much to Hank's dismay. The reader is left with the feeling that this triangle is never fully resolved, but all three players have come to their own private terms with it.

It was a treat to see the well-fleshed out characters return from "Hank and Chloe", such as Hank's uptight parents, and Chloe's young friend Kit. In addition, Chloe discovers the truth about her own parentage.

I only gave this book four stars, chiefly because of the ambiguous ending. It seemed strained that the three main characters could be resigned to the fate Mapson gave them without much more strife. In additon, the futuristic epilogue about the offspring of Hank and Chloe seemed a bit contrived.

However, if you love a picturesque setting and an interesting, entertaining love story with grit, you'll love reading about the further exploits of Chloe.

Rating:
Summary: The Simple Title Belies Complex Relationships
Review: When I closed the cover on Hank and Chloe, I could not wait to get to the bookstore to buy the sequel. At the close of the first book, a large question mark is left as to the meaning of the truck with the horse trailer slowly coming up the driveway as Hank waits and wonders. This book carries the story of these star-crossed lovers forward. In addition to Hank and Chloe, we now have Kit, Reed, Junior Whitebear, Dog, Hannah and Thunder added to the mix. We learn something of the Northern Arizona territory and its peoples and we are treated to the complex weavings of personal relationships, done as only Jo-Ann Mapson can do them. In a review of the first book, I commented that Mapson's writing reminded me of Richard Russo. Nothing in the sequel makes me change my mind.