Growing up in the Nebraska orphanage Bobbi always knew some day she would search for the people who had abandoned her. What she found at The Amigo Inn was devastating. Two brothers at the inn fall in love with her as she searches to find her mother. Along the way she succeeds in making a name for herself and her horses, but also suffers a lot of heartache. Nobody would have thought the little redhead girl back in Nebraska would become a household name.
Young and Naïve Author: Marla Blowers Reviewed by Fran Lewis
There are many reasons why children are given up by their parents and sent to live a life that no child should have to withstand. Orphanages house children that parents can’t care for or support. Some children are sent there because their mothers do not want them or care to deal with having a child. Rather than have them adopted this is often their sad solution. Bobbi is one young woman who spent the bulk of her life in one. Some withstand the experience not caring to find out their true parentage or roots and others like Bobbi want to seek the truth by learning who they really are and where they came from. When the investigator she hires gets a possible lead to her real identity it leads her to a woman named Ruth Hall in a nursing home and then to an inn owned by her family. Preston Hunter is the manager of the inn and seems taken with her at first glance. But, his brother falls for her too. Acceptance is something that everyone seeks. Sometimes it comes in the form of your family and at other times from those you meet along the way. Bobbi Sanders grew up in this orphanage in Nebraska and learned the true meaning of love from the woman who ran it who treated her as her own daughter. When Bobbi hires a private investigator to search and find her mother little did she suspect how much her life would change and in so many different directions. When Bobbi learns of the possible whereabouts of her real mother she immediately checks into the Amigo Inn and what happens will surprise and delight the reader. Bobbi meets many people while staying at the inn. Loving horses she enjoys helping with their care and riding them. Asking many questions of the employees and finally meeting BJ her life starts to turn around but not for long. Not everything turns out the way we want it to or the way we would like to map it out. Waiting to meet her real mother and finally coming face to face with her would reveal much about who she is and hopefully create a bond between them. Relationships and bonds are often hard to form when new. Trust is not an easy thing and overpowering someone with your presence often deters him or her from wanting to be with you. As Bobbi meets Preston one of the managers of the inn she also meets BJ and the chemistry and connection was not only instant but also electric. Meeting him brightened her life but it was almost short lived as events about her parentage unfolded which led her to believe that she and BJ might not wind up together. But, persistence, honesty and one woman named Christina that she would learn to call mom, clarified and answered her questions and all of her fears were allayed. Children are precious and their lives should be spent in a nurturing and safe environment. When Bobbi is approached about being a foster parent she jumps at the chance and is thrilled to have Tammy in her life. Kind, sweet and so glad to have two people to call parents, this young lady blossoms greatly until the system pulls the plug on her happiness and that of Tammy and Bobbi too. How and why this occurs you need to learn for yourself as Bobbi’s life takes a downward turn when BJ is killed in an accident that should not have happened.
Mourning, helping at the inn and with the support of not only her mother Christina but BJ’s brother Preston she begins to put together the pieces of her life as she and Christina make the decision to turn the inn into an orphanage. Tammy, would no longer be alone and now a permanent member of her life at least for now. Sometimes the system needs to take sensitivity pills and the people that run it need to learn how to circumvent the rules and make them work in favor of the children. All too often things happen to many kids in foster care or even in the care of their own parents that social services ignore, mishandle or fluff off. This book brings this to light and shows what happens when someone decides not to take NO for an answer. All roads to not always have a smooth and even path and although Bobbi and Preston are able to overcome one hurdle there are many others that would tear them apart. Just as Bobbi searched for and found her real mother Tammy’s comes front and center and decisions have to made as to whether she will become a part of her life or not. Added to that Bobbi goes through a series crisis that most women would find devastating to say the least. Another child is born to Bobbi quite different from Tammy. Michelle has a definite mind of her own, into her own ways, rebellious to say the least and has a definite eye for the boys. Comparing herself to her sister, Tammy, you can hear the resentment in her voice, the distance she enjoys keeping from her and the lack of respect she has for so many. Where Tammy appreciates everything she has and the things learned from her parents, Michelle seems to feel that things are coming to her and that only the best and most expensive of everything is what she deserves and is required. Creating jealousies among her male suitors, not revealing her real age she is a total force to be reckoned with and much more. Reflecting upon her relationship with Tammy you hear the animosity come through and yet she admits never really giving her a chance. Competition among siblings is not rare and is often sparked by parents or other relatives. But, this competition came from within Michelle herself.
Events turn dangerous when one man comes into Michelle’s life and another is injured as a result. One young girl is kidnapped and brainwashed while another learns some hard lessons in life when afraid to admit the truth about her situation with the same man. Lives ended, lives changed and one family’s love and understanding put to the ultimate test. Some novels have sad or unhappy endings and others give the reader pause for much thought as this one does. One young girl named Michelle who learns some very hard lessons in life. One young girl named Mary who rekindles her faith in friendship and hope. One young man named Brad that only wants to protect the one he loves and pays dearly. What will happen to this family will endear you to Bobbi, Preston, Tammy, her husband Dana and more. But, will Michelle ever find a place in her family? Will she and Tammy ever become sisters? Will the family ever really find total happiness and peace? Read Young and Naïve and find out just what is behind this innovative title that really describes Tammy, Michelle and Mary and the lessons learned by the young at the hand of so many others. Some people who are naïve tend to believe whatever they are told. Some do this without questioning whether it is right or wrong or even think what others are telling them is for their own good. Age does not always come into play with naivety. Young people who have not seen enough of the world or have not experienced much in life are often referred to as naïve or some say innocent. Young and Naïve: Learning to Fall is not just about the hard times and those they create a downward spiral or fall for the characters as author Marla Blowers teaches her characters many of life’s lessons that would take them on a roller coaster ride filled with twists, turns and definite curves until the ride comes to a total stop and the truths, betrayal, lies and deceits are told. One thought provoking story with characters that are truly well created, realistic and definitely will evoke all types of emotions in the reader. What happens when on girl named Bobbi searches for the truth? Find out when you read this outstanding novel. NEVER GIVE UP ON LOVE! THIS NOVEL GETS: FIVE AMIGOS : Fran Lewis: Reviewer
After spending her childhood living in an orphanage, Bobbi quietly dreams of meeting the parents that she has never known. The day comes that her dream becomes reality. With the help of a private investigator, she is reunited with her mother, but it is not quite the happily ever after of her childhood dreams. This book was easy to get into and it held me captive. Blower’s characters are very true to life, and you will cheer for them to the very end. She did an awesome job of capturing human emotion on paper. I could feel each of the character’s happiness and sorrow. I believe this is Marla Blowers first book and I have to say that I am impressed.
“A Heartwarming Tale” “Young and Nave” is a very soft and sweet story filled with deep emotions concerning love, loss, and triumph of the human spirit. The author paints a very clear picture of how all of her central characters (women of several generations) face many obstacles throughout their lives; the old and new, the good and bad, and still find the strength within themselves to push on to the happiness they so desperately deserves. Overall, this was a very good book that will captivate every reader and completely steal your heart.
This book is great. I couldnt put it down. Bobbie goes through alot of heartache but she makes it through it. This book is about strong women. Any women that makes it through what Bobbie did is strong. There is also alot of love in this book. This is a must read book!
Very good book, a heartwarming and touching tale. It is the type of book that you power to the end because you want to read more and then are sad when it is over. This is a must read book!
I really wanted to like this book. Furthermore, I hate to write a negative review. However, I cannot rate this book honestly and still give it high marks.
I had a hard time getting into the book from the start due to the way it was written. Instead of feeling like you're immersed in the book, it feels more like a list of encounters with some dialog. "Bobbi ____ and then she ____ and then ____. She felt ____ and then she ____."
I pushed through the writing style and tried to focus just on the story being told. Drama is necessary in any story, but this book took it to the extreme. Bobbi's life is a giant crap storm with something horrible happening on every single page. Many of the plot lines were just unbelievable.
***SPOILER***
I found it hard to believe that Bobbi and BJ fall in love and become engaged within 24 hours of meeting each other. But then Bobbi finds out that BJ is actually Brent, her brother! But wait...he's not her brother, only her adopted brother so everything is ok!!! But BJ dies after being hit by a car, holding on for several days and leaving Bobbi with a huge speech about carrying on. But she'll be ok because she'll just marry her step-brother instead.
Her pregnancy just rubbed me the wrong way. There's no way that a mom on bed rest wouldn't know that something was wrong with her baby. After two weeks of not feeling the baby move, I think she'd notice that something was up.
The book itself should have been a series with the first book ending after Bobbi and BJ's wedding. I would have liked to have seen Bobbi have some happiness and romance before everything crashed down. I also would have liked Tammy and Michelle's stories to be separate books as well. It was just too much jammed into one book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
After getting used to Ms. Blowers writing style, I became really interested in the story as it unfolded. It is basically three generations of women. Each generation find different things that they were young and naive about.
The characters and situations are believable. The narrative style was different. The story often glossed over several years, which will necessary for the outcome was a little unsettling at first. I did however find myself up late several nights trying to find out what was going to happen next to the characters.
I loved this book!!! Once I started reading it I had a hard time putting it down. This book made me think of my own childhood growing up with horses. I can't wait to read more of Marla's books. I will recommend this book over and over.