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Fairies of Rush #3
Annie's Hero
Sweethearts since childhood, Annie and Richard shared on unparalleled love filled with tenderness, passion and joy. Until the tragic day Richard vanished--presumed dead after a terrible car accident--leaving his adoring wife pregnant and alone, and holding on to the shattered pieces of her broken world. But Richard is not gone--for magic claimed him before death could.
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1997
About the author
Maggie Shayne
269 books2,586 followersI live in the teeny, tiny town of Taylor, NY, (Alliteration Alert!) though my mailing address is Cincinnatus, my telephone exchange is Truxton and I pay taxes and vote in Cuyler. All of these are at least in the same rural county in the southern hills of New York State; Cortland County. There are more cattle than people here. The nearest “big” cities are Syracuse and Binghamton and they are an hour away, in different directions, and not really all that big by most standards, though they both seem humongous to me. I look out my window to see rolling, green, thickly forested hills, wildflower laden meadows and wide open blue, blue skies. My road is barely paved. The nearest neighboring place is a 700 acre dairy farm.
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 16, 2010
ANNIE'S HERO is a fantasy romance that I first read in 1998 and loved, giving it 5 weepy stars before placing it on my keeper shelf. However in my re-read I found that I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much. I don’t know if my romance expectations have changed or the romance genre as a whole has changed but this time through I found it to be fluffy, angst riddled and with far to much repetitive internal dialogue without any meat to keep me interested. The story idea is still intriguing and I fell for our anguished hero Richard just as hard but overall Annie’s Hero just didn’t do it for me this time.
Sweethearts since they were children, Annie and Richard share an unparalleled love filled with passion, joy and tenderness; they are a couple destined to be together always. (And the author tells us this a lot) However the fates have different ideas. Returning from their honeymoon Richard reluctantly leaves the bliss of their perfect world and returns to his job as a truck driver. On this day Annie has a bad feeling, and as the heavens open and lightning claps around her she knows Richard is about to leave her forever.
As does Sir George, leader of the White Knights who witnesses Richard sacrificing himself to save a bus full of school children. As Richard’s fuel truck plunges over a cliff and explodes Sir George plucks him from his mortal existence and offers him a choice; he can pass over into eternity or join him and his Knights in their fight against evil. However in order to join, Richard must first give up everything he is including his memories, his name and even how he looks. Richard is now Ren, leader of the White Knights and he knows nothing except battle in this timeless world, battle and an all consuming emptiness and sorrow.
8 months later Annie is trying to keep it together for the sake of her unborn baby but she’s a mere shadow of the woman she once was. She’s also brutally aware that she might just be going crazy because that man she keeps seeing all over town looks just like her dead husband. His hairs longer and he carries more muscle but she knows in her soul it’s him. Only why doesn’t anyone else recognize him? And how could he not remember her? Or does he? Only Annie’s love and passion can revive Richard’s stolen memories but by giving into what they both want Richard will be breaking the last of his vows and risks losing Annie forever. And then theres also the small issue of the Black Knight, sent to kill their baby. Cheers!
Sweethearts since they were children, Annie and Richard share an unparalleled love filled with passion, joy and tenderness; they are a couple destined to be together always. (And the author tells us this a lot) However the fates have different ideas. Returning from their honeymoon Richard reluctantly leaves the bliss of their perfect world and returns to his job as a truck driver. On this day Annie has a bad feeling, and as the heavens open and lightning claps around her she knows Richard is about to leave her forever.
As does Sir George, leader of the White Knights who witnesses Richard sacrificing himself to save a bus full of school children. As Richard’s fuel truck plunges over a cliff and explodes Sir George plucks him from his mortal existence and offers him a choice; he can pass over into eternity or join him and his Knights in their fight against evil. However in order to join, Richard must first give up everything he is including his memories, his name and even how he looks. Richard is now Ren, leader of the White Knights and he knows nothing except battle in this timeless world, battle and an all consuming emptiness and sorrow.
8 months later Annie is trying to keep it together for the sake of her unborn baby but she’s a mere shadow of the woman she once was. She’s also brutally aware that she might just be going crazy because that man she keeps seeing all over town looks just like her dead husband. His hairs longer and he carries more muscle but she knows in her soul it’s him. Only why doesn’t anyone else recognize him? And how could he not remember her? Or does he? Only Annie’s love and passion can revive Richard’s stolen memories but by giving into what they both want Richard will be breaking the last of his vows and risks losing Annie forever. And then theres also the small issue of the Black Knight, sent to kill their baby. Cheers!
September 12, 2018
Too much weirdness for me as a couple on honeymoon are parted by a road accident and the rest of the tale takes on urban fantasy status with the husband passing to another life as a guardian, the wife pregnant and doing everything from horse riding to sex shortly before the birth.
Some readers will enjoy this more and see it as love conquering death. I would rather see the woman coming out of the story strong enough to conquer (a fantasy evil) by herself, but that's not what we get.
This is an unbiased review.
Some readers will enjoy this more and see it as love conquering death. I would rather see the woman coming out of the story strong enough to conquer (a fantasy evil) by herself, but that's not what we get.
This is an unbiased review.
November 23, 2013
Ok what is to say except that I have been a major Maggie Shayne fan for awhile. I have read all her newer books, however I'm just now getting down to buying her early releases.
Annie's Hero was amazing. I went from crying to smiling to bursting with joy within just a few chapters. Talk about a love story. We all want to believe in life after death or a loved one not really being gone, but with the way Maggie wrote this book, it left you no doubt that true love can conquer even death.
Richard/Ren is absolutely a White Knight and what woman wouldn't want to model her husband after him? And although Annie is pregnant through the entire book, it doesn't detract from the love scenes like I thought it would.
I guess in the end, the only question left is, What would you do to bring back your one true love?
Ms. Shayne I must say it is and has always been a pleasure to read your books.
Annie's Hero was amazing. I went from crying to smiling to bursting with joy within just a few chapters. Talk about a love story. We all want to believe in life after death or a loved one not really being gone, but with the way Maggie wrote this book, it left you no doubt that true love can conquer even death.
Richard/Ren is absolutely a White Knight and what woman wouldn't want to model her husband after him? And although Annie is pregnant through the entire book, it doesn't detract from the love scenes like I thought it would.
I guess in the end, the only question left is, What would you do to bring back your one true love?
Ms. Shayne I must say it is and has always been a pleasure to read your books.
October 14, 2019
At first, I thought this was going to be a great book. As I read on, it became formula predictable without enough foreshadowing to make valid connections between major characters and the "Universe". The author crosses various spiritual views Christian, agnostic, Wicca, spiritualist etc. as if they were the same belief system, which they are not. The author's saving grace was the fact she did not go into chapter long descriptions of the sexual interaction between the protagonists which would have changed my rating to "no stars".
February 23, 2021
So, while working on my book project (I always seem to have those) I am going through and getting rid of some old books I have read or even some I've never read and no longer have an interest in reading. This is one I have read and will keep. I remember loving so much about this book. It definitely deserves another read. This is when Maggie Shayne really good books. I haven't read one by her in years. I think she only writes RS now and the last few of hers I couldn't get into. But these older ones are goodies. This entire series (which I hunted down after reading this one) is really good.
October 8, 2019
I have this first edition book. It has been tweaked, packaged, re-titled "BY MAGIC BORN" June 3rd 2011. New series title is "MAGIC OF RUSH" or "BY MAGIC".
January 2, 2015
Annie and Richard grew up in the same small town and were always best friends. They marry and honeymoon at her parents' cabin at the lake. He is working as a truck driver. She hates that he has to leave and go to work. One day it is storming when he leaves. On a small road a school bus goes out of control and comes right at him. He makes a quick decision to turn off the road and off the cliff down to the river. His body is never found. Richard is approached on the other side and asked if he will join with a group of warriors who fight evil. He agrees. He is trained and he fights. The time on his side is not the same as that in the real world. One day his leader gives him an assignment to protect a woman who is pregnant with a child who will save the world and evil wants to kill the child. His leader uses magic to disguise him. He looks nothing like his normal self.
Annie is pregnant and working as a teacher. She is fascinated by a young woman in her class named Sara. One day she asks in the office about the girl and she is told there is no girl by that name in her class. The principal suggests she take a leave of absence. A neighbor who is a psychologist, suggests that she get counseling.
Richard only knows himself as Ren the Warrior and has no memories of his human life. But Annie does not see the disguise, she sees her Richard and is determined to make him remember her and the child she is carrying. When several accidents occur - gas leak, a car nearly hitting her. Ren insists they go into hiding. She decides the cabin is the perfect place and hopes he'll remember their honeymoon there. They are in a row boat on the lake when she remembers she needs to take a vitamin. A storm comes from nowhere and spills all but one vitamin which she takes. The storm continues. The vitamins were replaced by the enemy and her labor starts. Ren worries she may not make it down the path on horseback safely, but they have little choice. Ren is attacked by the evil one he has battled many times before. He tells Annie to go and hide. Sara shows up and helps her hide and tells her the lake can save her. She has to get to the lake. Does Annie lose the baby? Does she reach the lake and it helps? Who is Sara? Will Ren remember he is Richard? Can he defeat this evil enemy once and for all? Will Ren's leader call him back?
I really enjoyed this unusual paranormal story.
Annie is pregnant and working as a teacher. She is fascinated by a young woman in her class named Sara. One day she asks in the office about the girl and she is told there is no girl by that name in her class. The principal suggests she take a leave of absence. A neighbor who is a psychologist, suggests that she get counseling.
Richard only knows himself as Ren the Warrior and has no memories of his human life. But Annie does not see the disguise, she sees her Richard and is determined to make him remember her and the child she is carrying. When several accidents occur - gas leak, a car nearly hitting her. Ren insists they go into hiding. She decides the cabin is the perfect place and hopes he'll remember their honeymoon there. They are in a row boat on the lake when she remembers she needs to take a vitamin. A storm comes from nowhere and spills all but one vitamin which she takes. The storm continues. The vitamins were replaced by the enemy and her labor starts. Ren worries she may not make it down the path on horseback safely, but they have little choice. Ren is attacked by the evil one he has battled many times before. He tells Annie to go and hide. Sara shows up and helps her hide and tells her the lake can save her. She has to get to the lake. Does Annie lose the baby? Does she reach the lake and it helps? Who is Sara? Will Ren remember he is Richard? Can he defeat this evil enemy once and for all? Will Ren's leader call him back?
I really enjoyed this unusual paranormal story.
October 8, 2010
Richard and Annie were in love since they were children but shortly after their wedding tragedy strikes and he dies in a terrible accident. But his soul doesn't actually die, only his memories. He's taken over to an alternate universe and turned into the best "White Knight" and has dedicated his life to banishing the world of evil. His next and most important battle is to save an unborn child who has the power to change the world.
Ren (as he's now called) has fought evil for centuries but only eight months has passed on earth. Annie, alone and eight months pregnant, has been attempting to hide her grief for the sake of her family and has been sort of sleepwalking through life waiting for Richard to come back to her. One stormy night her dreams come true when he arrives just in time to save her life. But although this man looks, speaks, and acts just like her husband he insists his name is Ren and that he is only there to protect her unborn child from evil. Annie refuses to believe this and insists that he has just lost his memory. And eventually bits and pieces of Ren's previous life with Annie do come back to him and he falls in love with her all over again but because of vows he's taken to the "Light Side" he can't stay and refuses to break her shattered heart again. So he doesn't reveal that he's her Richard and tries to concentrate on keeping her and their baby safe.
This is a moving paranormal love story with a standard plot of good versus evil. Although the heroine's grief is heart-breaking and the couple's rediscovery of their lost love is touching and done very well the paranormal plot was extremely predictable and the villain was obvious from the beginning. Annie's Hero is a very good book but I've read others by her that are far more original.
Ren (as he's now called) has fought evil for centuries but only eight months has passed on earth. Annie, alone and eight months pregnant, has been attempting to hide her grief for the sake of her family and has been sort of sleepwalking through life waiting for Richard to come back to her. One stormy night her dreams come true when he arrives just in time to save her life. But although this man looks, speaks, and acts just like her husband he insists his name is Ren and that he is only there to protect her unborn child from evil. Annie refuses to believe this and insists that he has just lost his memory. And eventually bits and pieces of Ren's previous life with Annie do come back to him and he falls in love with her all over again but because of vows he's taken to the "Light Side" he can't stay and refuses to break her shattered heart again. So he doesn't reveal that he's her Richard and tries to concentrate on keeping her and their baby safe.
This is a moving paranormal love story with a standard plot of good versus evil. Although the heroine's grief is heart-breaking and the couple's rediscovery of their lost love is touching and done very well the paranormal plot was extremely predictable and the villain was obvious from the beginning. Annie's Hero is a very good book but I've read others by her that are far more original.
June 10, 2014
This novel is an emotional roller coaster! I went from smiling to crying and back again within a few minutes :) Annie's Hero is a love story unlike any other I've ever read.
Childhood sweethearts Annie and Richard's picture perfect love story comes to an abrupt end when Richard sacrifices his life to save a bus full of children ;( Our hero is reborn as a White Knight, with a new appearance and no memory of his former life. He is sent back to Earth to protect Annie's (and his) unborn child!
Although our White Knight Ren looks nothing like Richard, Annie recognizes him as her true love! I don't want to soil the story for you SO I'm gonna stop fit here with my recap. I promise that you will not regret purchasing this book! Maggie Shayne is a true storyteller :) within minutes you will pulled into the story and going along for an amazing ride!
Childhood sweethearts Annie and Richard's picture perfect love story comes to an abrupt end when Richard sacrifices his life to save a bus full of children ;( Our hero is reborn as a White Knight, with a new appearance and no memory of his former life. He is sent back to Earth to protect Annie's (and his) unborn child!
Although our White Knight Ren looks nothing like Richard, Annie recognizes him as her true love! I don't want to soil the story for you SO I'm gonna stop fit here with my recap. I promise that you will not regret purchasing this book! Maggie Shayne is a true storyteller :) within minutes you will pulled into the story and going along for an amazing ride!
June 23, 2014
Really enjoyed Annie's Hero. Kind of different from Maggie's usual books, but it was a good read.
It is the Story of Annie and Richard Nelson. They grew up together and have been in love since they were young.. After the return from their awesome honeymoon, Richard is killed in an accident, in his tractor trailer full of gasoline, trying to avoid a school bus full of children.. Or is he?
Annie discovers she is pregnant shortly after..Richard is kept from death by the mysterious Sir George.. Who makes Richard into his White Knight Ren. Ren is sent back to protect Annie and their unborn child from the mysterious Dark Knight. Their daughter is meant for greatness...
They must fight together to save their child and to get back what they once had..
Well worth the read.. Does true love transcend death? Does love over come evil?
It is the Story of Annie and Richard Nelson. They grew up together and have been in love since they were young.. After the return from their awesome honeymoon, Richard is killed in an accident, in his tractor trailer full of gasoline, trying to avoid a school bus full of children.. Or is he?
Annie discovers she is pregnant shortly after..Richard is kept from death by the mysterious Sir George.. Who makes Richard into his White Knight Ren. Ren is sent back to protect Annie and their unborn child from the mysterious Dark Knight. Their daughter is meant for greatness...
They must fight together to save their child and to get back what they once had..
Well worth the read.. Does true love transcend death? Does love over come evil?
August 26, 2010
I really really liked this book,i din't rate it 5 stars only for the reason it reminded me of the movie ''terminator''and its sequels.Whoever reads this please don't get put off by that fact,if u read it u'll understand why i said that.
I stayed up until late and today morning i woke up early to finish it.Towards the end at some point my heart missed a beat and tears came to my eyes..I related to Annie b/c i love my husband just as much as she does hers and i know that i ,too,would recognise him under whatever disguise spell he would may have been.I just know i would.
I stayed up until late and today morning i woke up early to finish it.Towards the end at some point my heart missed a beat and tears came to my eyes..I related to Annie b/c i love my husband just as much as she does hers and i know that i ,too,would recognise him under whatever disguise spell he would may have been.I just know i would.
February 5, 2016
I got this ebook a while ago thanks to replying a survey that Maggie herself created, but up until now I couldn't find the time to read it and it took me just a day to do it, since it's a short novel, as well as quite entertaining, mixing romance, drama and time travel. I found it really enjoyable and easy to connect with the characters's emotions and feelings, and even though there is a moment in your reading when you just know how is it going to end, the feeling you get once you are there is as impressive as if you didn't know.
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January 8, 2015wonderful Wonderful Book
This one was supper great I could not put it down.
The story of Annie Richard was so good there love so strong it makes you say that is true love.
I am a Maggie Shayne fan so maybe it's me but if you like a good love story where you are so fought up in the story Maggie Shayne is awesome I say read one of her books I have yet to be disappointed
Her stories are funny heart touching and just plane great.
1/8/15
This one was supper great I could not put it down.
The story of Annie Richard was so good there love so strong it makes you say that is true love.
I am a Maggie Shayne fan so maybe it's me but if you like a good love story where you are so fought up in the story Maggie Shayne is awesome I say read one of her books I have yet to be disappointed
Her stories are funny heart touching and just plane great.
1/8/15
July 25, 2012
This book for me was fantastic! I read it all in about a day and it was one where you are almost sad to see it end. This book will make you laugh, cry, mad etc (so many emotions) My only regret is that there isn't a sequel to this because I would have like to see how everything ended up years down the road. If you like books with a lot of emotion and of course a great story pick this one up!
June 10, 2014
I couldn't find anything I didn't like about this book. It was emotional and a out undying love. It had magic, knights, and sword fights. A story heroine fighting for her husband and unborn child. It was such a fast paced great read. I highly recommend it.nnif I didn't borrow it with my prime membership I would have bought it. Its on sale for $.99 this week June 9-15 2014.
June 29, 2014
Maggie Shayne had done it again with a great book that has you feeling the love just flying out of this book . I really enjoyed it . its not like the ones that I usually read from her but I really did like this book. I think you will too . so pick up a copy and give it a try .
October 26, 2016
This was a good story. It was a light read, the storyline was unbelievable, but that was its appeal. Richard (Ren) and Annie had a special bond that not even death could sever. It was a sweet story with enough tension and angst to hold the readers attention.
January 10, 2011
What a sweet, enchanting story!
March 8, 2013
Heartbreak, upset, great HEA.
May 28, 2013
Review soon @ thefaeryromanticlibrarian.blogspot.com
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December 29, 2015This was a truly wonderful book. The ups and downs made me urge them on.
January 1, 2016
3.5 stars
January 10, 2016
Great book!! Do you believe in magic? You might after reading this! There is a love so great that it surpasses all understanding. Save the world Sara...
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews