Made for Two

by Karen Lenfestey

Diane acted on instinct when she broke up a fight at the inner-city school where she teaches. When the superintendent suspends her, Diane returns to her hometown of Foxworth. Almost immediately she finds herself tracking down her old boyfriend, Tim. Just seeing him rekindles her love and she realizes that her life, just like her tandem bike, was made for two.

Unfortunately, Tim keeps pushing her away, claiming it will never work out. After all, she still wants to live in the city and he can’t imagine leaving his family’s bakery. But Diane discovers there’s more to it than that. Tim has been hiding in this small town because he has a secret.

Genres: Romance, Short Stories, Novella

52 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 30, 2012

About the author

Karen Lenfestey, a Midwest Writer’s Fellowship winner, writes “happy endings with a twist.”

Karen has a B.A. in Advertising from Purdue University and a M.S. in Counseling from Indiana University. She is active on Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter and on her website, www.karensnovels.com.

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Reviews

[Melodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Diane has just returned home to Foxworth, her small home town, after being suspended from her big city teaching job at an inner city high school. Accused of excessive force with a student when she was only trying to break up a fight, she is shocked and dismayed to have been treated so unfairly.
She comes out of herself to help her Mom, who has turned into a recluse in response to the death of her husband some years past. And she tracks down her first love Tim, hoping to rekindle the spark between them. But Tim has other ideas and pushes her away.
Karen Lenfestey tells great stories and this one is no exception. Her characters and plot are well developed and the reader is instantly swept into the storyline.And the symbolism of the red tandem bike is spot on. This would adapt well to the small screen for a Lifetime or Hallmark movie. Any TV people listening?

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Note: I was given a copy of Made for Two by the author for a honest review.**

This was the first book I read from Karen Lenfestey and it will not be the last. Diane, the main character, is given a huge blow at the beginning of the book when she tries to break up a fight in an inner city school. The repercussions that she faces really pushes her into a tailspin and she goes home to lick her wounds. While there, she decides that it is time to face her past and hopefully make amends with her best friend and her first love. What I loved about Diane was that she seemed real. She was not perfect. She didn't give up when she was on the brink of losing her job. She fought to make amends with her best friend, Kim, and to rekindle her love with Tim. Meanwhile, she helps her mom heal after the death of her dad. None of the characters were perfect and that made the story seem real.

For a novella, there was a lot going on. Never a dull/slow moment. The one aspect of the story that kept me from giving it 5 stars was the ending. I felt like the ending was a little rushed. I would have liked a little more build-up and more closure with certain characters. Made for Two isn't just a light read. The symbolism of the bike and the idea of going back home to face your past truly makes you think of what might have been.

[Jo-Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book about rekindling past loves. Diane lived in Chicago and taught at an inner-city school. She broke up a fight, was falsely accused of hitting a student and got suspended so she went back home to her mother's house in the small town she grew up. While there she tries to renew her friendship with Kim and her first love, Tim. This was not as easy as she expected. Meanwhile, she was trying to get her widowed mom to contact an old beau.

I liked the writing style of the author very much. The scenes were detailed enough that I could picture the school, town and house but not so detailed that it was boring. Her characters were real but not perfect. I liked that Diane had a strong personality and didn't just give up when she was suspended from her job. The way Made For Two ended was unexpected for me and I really liked it. Overall this was a fun read that I quite enjoyed.

I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Please note that I was given Made for Two by the author free of charge in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Karen Lenfestey for giving me this opportunity of reading and reviewing this fabulous book.

[Rachel R. (My Book Empire) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about the one that got away, and how love was once again the savior of the day.

Lenfestey has a knack for telling stories, and I'm impressed by the way she wrote this novella.

The story is about Diane who teaches at Chicago Central and her hometown is in Foxworth. One day, something happened in school and she was accused of something that she never really did. Then she decided to go back to her mom, in Foxworth, and when she returned, she decided to visit her old flame, Tim, and as her mom told her. “You never do forget the one that got away.”

This story is about rekindling the love that two lovers thought they have lost, but truth is, all those times, they were always thinking about each other, wondering if one day, they could continue the story they started and never really ended.

Made For Two is a great romance novella that readers will definitely enjoy reading. A light, fun and romantic read. :)

*I received an ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review. This, however, did not influence my review in any way.*

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually don't care much for short stories, they usually leave so much out. I found Made For Two to have it all. Yes short but so very sweet. It did fill in the blanks and you had no question left over as to what, who, or how. It was a cute little story of lost love not just Diane but her mother as well. It did leave you guess as to what happen with the mother, that would make a great story as well. It did tell you from the beginning to end how Diane and Tim met, why they split and why they might get back together. The author tells you about Tim secret but I never thought it was that. I did think it was something worse. This book tells a story of lost love, finding their way through some tough times. The ending is great. I would have liked for this book to be longer but for a short story it was well worth the read, well written one of the better short stories I have read. It was put together wonderfully from start to finish. It started out fast and just kept getting faster.

What a wonderful short read, you will not be disappointed nor will want to put the book down. A must read.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made for Two was a brilliantly written romantic short about rekindling lost love. After being put on suspension from the inner-city teaching job Diane loves, she returns home to Foxworth to regroup. While home, her memories of the old days in her small town are overwhelming. She concedes to her temptations and walks into the bakery and face to face to the past she left behind.

Lenfestey created Diane's character with persistence exceptionally powerful and admirable. The symbolism in a red tandem bicycle plays such significance in rejuvenating the lost friendship and love in two simultaneous stories.

I read this quick story while making dinner last night. Lost between the lines, by family was served cold casserole and overcooked carrots. OOPS!

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this short novella, author Karen Lenfestey has managed not only to give the reader well-developed characters but also has written an intriguing plot. A teacher in an inner city school, Diane has been falsely accused of a crime and suspended from her job. Returning to her mom’s home, she tries to reconnect with an old beau, while encouraging her widowed mom to do the same. Will either encounter rekindle old flames? Or is it too late for both? And, even if the truth about Diane’s actions at school is disclosed, will she be too disillusioned to ever teach again? A quick read, this tale will grab you from the very start. I received this kindle edition free from the author.

[Zara Kingsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Karen Lenfestey and I am certain it’s the first of many more to come! I received a free copy for my honest review, and really enjoyed this Novella. I don’t usually read short stories, but this one was a perfect quick fun read. Made For Two, is a very sweet story about lost love, which features very likable and believable characters. I totally believed in, and loved the main character Diane and was hoping at the end that she gets back together with Tim. Simply put: a very lovely story.

[Literary · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite short stories! This story takes you into the heart of all the main characters. The one that got away and the reflection many years later can have an effect on anyone if thay are not happy. A wonderful example of that here and how no matter what age we are it is never too late to find happiness. A wonderful and inspiring story.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute love story. I love that Karen has it in her to write about an inner city school. Would love to see some "darkness" in a future story.

[Jennifer Kirkwood (Levac) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 out of 5 Stars!

This is a short Novella about 52 pages. It is a fast, fun and light read great for a chilly night by the fire. It is the first book I have read of Karen Lenfestey and I am sure it wont be the last. Right away I enjoyed the main character and really felt for her when she was put on an investigation for what she thought was helping a student as she tried to break up a fight at the school she works at. In the end this allegation was likely the best thing to happen to her and also her mother.

Diane goes to spend sometime with her mom in her hometown where she helps her mom reconnect with an old flame. Diane also reconnects with her old love and rebuilds her friendship with his sister. I loved this story line as I can totally connect with it. It is very believable that we can reconnect with a past love as I have with my husband. Karen writes a fabulous story that you feel part of, just enough detail to get to know all the characters and a bit of the past. The book finishes on a happy note but also to me leaves more to the imagination and maybe another novella? If you like clean romance and something that you can read in an afternoon or right before bed, I highly recommend this great story from Karen.

[Pati · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading this reminded me of when I was young and would read my grandma's Harlequin Romances. It is a sweet, clean story.


SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT!!




I must say thought that I had a problem with Tim's reaction to his secret. I so badly wanted to tell him to grow up and act like a man! Two of my family members had that exact same thing happen to them and they were thankful it wasn't worse and here he was hiding away like a big baby.