How did Carrie change a town she’s never visited?
The heroine of the first three books of A Long Road to Love, Carrie Hansen has never been to Iowa. Yet the people in Denton Iowa are better because of her.
This is a lesson in the power of positive thinking.
Carrie Hanson is one of the most upbeat, positive, ‘can do’ people you will ever meet. She always sees the best in people. She even saw the best in Trent, which given his constant bursts of anger and self-centered attitudes was no easy feat.
A few of my reviewers of Worst Week Ever even declared her mentally ill and in need of therapy.
Clearly, they do not appreciate positive people who see the best in others, but I will admit her tolerance of bad behavior was extraordinary.
When Trent goes to his lawyer to give away all his wealth in a manner that cannot be reversed, his comment about stained glass windows not being energy efficient was pure Carrie. His lawyer tells him he hasn’t lost Carrie entirely, because she appears to still be in his head.
Trent grabbed onto that thought, and at every crossroad since, he has pondered what would Carrie do.
Breaking a person down to their fundamental bits is easy compared to getting them to rebuild themselves into a better person. If they think like they did before, they won’t change much, if at all.
But instead of channeling his horrid father, the source of most of Trent’s bad behaviors, he now channels Carrie.
Here’s an excerpt where the current Mayor of the town is trying to convince Trent he’d be a great mayor.
*****
Trent blinked, trying to make sense of Harvey’s words. “You want me to be mayor?”
“I do.”
Trent didn’t know which of his five billion questions to ask first.
“Shouldn’t you ask a local person?”
“I could, but no local person would have ever suggested being nice to outsiders
might be good for business. And I guarantee you, no local would have stood his
ground with Cougar the night Andrea was attacked. Much less sort out the truth
of what happened. Nope. Anyone else would have thought Cougar guilty and he’d
be in prison with his former gang.”
might be good for business. And I guarantee you, no local would have stood his
ground with Cougar the night Andrea was attacked. Much less sort out the truth
of what happened. Nope. Anyone else would have thought Cougar guilty and he’d
be in prison with his former gang.”
“I was glad to help. You know, Cougar is a smart and funny guy when you get to
know him.”
know him.”
“That’s another fine quality of yours. You not only see the best in everyone, but you
bring it out so the rest of us can see it as well. Take Maybell Colins, the old
woman you saved from becoming roadkill. Before that day she was as mean as a
feral cat with its leg in a trap. But ever since you rescued her, she acts like
a giddy schoolgirl.”
bring it out so the rest of us can see it as well. Take Maybell Colins, the old
woman you saved from becoming roadkill. Before that day she was as mean as a
feral cat with its leg in a trap. But ever since you rescued her, she acts like
a giddy schoolgirl.”
“I appreciate the compliment, but I know absolutely nothing about running a town.”
“See, there’s where you’re wrong. A good mayor takes care of his town and makes it a
nice place to live. Yes, there are meetings you have to sit through with experts
talking about water quality and what not, but you’re a smart guy. If they can’t
make you understand what’s going on then they’re blowing smoke up your ass. In
that case, let them talk and then declare, ‘with a matter this complex, I’ll
need testimonies from further experts.’ And keep bringing in experts until
someone manages to make sense of the matter. Trust me, you already possess the
core qualities needed. And the town wants you. Question is: do you want the
job?”
nice place to live. Yes, there are meetings you have to sit through with experts
talking about water quality and what not, but you’re a smart guy. If they can’t
make you understand what’s going on then they’re blowing smoke up your ass. In
that case, let them talk and then declare, ‘with a matter this complex, I’ll
need testimonies from further experts.’ And keep bringing in experts until
someone manages to make sense of the matter. Trust me, you already possess the
core qualities needed. And the town wants you. Question is: do you want the
job?”
It would solve one problem for Trent. Since Dani could afford to hire kitchen help
and servers, he would soon have nothing to do. He needed a job, but not one
that would get him killed. He turned away, fighting to control the sorrow that
always hit whenever he recalled Jason’s senseless death.
and servers, he would soon have nothing to do. He needed a job, but not one
that would get him killed. He turned away, fighting to control the sorrow that
always hit whenever he recalled Jason’s senseless death.
Harvey’s hand settled on his shoulder. “Did I set you to tears? I meant to compliment
you.”
you.”
“No. The truth is I need a job, but not one I die for.”
Harvey sighed. “Even there. You pointed out that being nicer to outsiders so they’d
come and shop here would create jobs for our young people. And that had to be
better than sending off our kids to die or be maimed at the slaughterhouses. No
one in this town would have made the connection. We accepted our losses as part
of life. But you showed us it didn’t have to be this way. I’m telling you,
Trevor, you’ll be a fabulous leader.”
come and shop here would create jobs for our young people. And that had to be
better than sending off our kids to die or be maimed at the slaughterhouses. No
one in this town would have made the connection. We accepted our losses as part
of life. But you showed us it didn’t have to be this way. I’m telling you,
Trevor, you’ll be a fabulous leader.”
“I appreciate your confidence. I hope others will agree. Guess I’ll throw my name
on the ballot.”
on the ballot.”
Harvey laughed. “I would have never brought it up unless I knew for sure my town would
accept you. We had a meeting last night and agreed on the matter. So if you
want it, the job is yours as of now.”
accept you. We had a meeting last night and agreed on the matter. So if you
want it, the job is yours as of now.”
*****
Channeling Carrie’s can do attitude, Trent takes on the job of mayor and the entire town becomes nicer and prospers under his guidance. Every positive thing he achieves goes back to Carrie. Being nice and tolerant of others’ failings is never a reason for therapy or scorn. It is something we should all strive for.
Climbing Out
of Hell
of Hell
Book 4 of the series
A Long Road
to Love
to Love
Romantic
Comedy
Comedy
Billionaire Trent Lancaster has destroyed his relationship with the only woman who ever loved him. Now we discover the full truth of what happened.
He actually had reasons for his behaviors.
Still, there is no going back. Trent has lost Carrie forever, but he would rather die than marry Coco, so he does just that. Trent gives away most of his possessions, fakes his death, and starts over with a new face and a better attitude in a small town in Iowa where his half-brother Sam is sheriff.
Losing his true love has fundamentally broken Trent to his core. His only chance for happiness is to become the better man Carrie had always seen inside him.
True change is not easy. Can Trent grow up and become
a man we can love?
a man we can love?
Dear Trevor/Trent/Liza,
Not only did I think you couldn’t pull this book off but some how you made me fall in love with you and loath someone else. Sam is an *s* and I don’t like him at all. I realize that he is your brother but come on. He treated Dani like a piece of meat, has no respect for anyone, including himself and other than liking you, I don’t see how Liza could pull his miraculous transformation in a story. Oh wait…Mars will just slap him upside his head a couple of times…maybe. I truly think that Sam is the one that needs the exorcism. Jeez, grow up Sam and realize that you’re the douche…not everyone else. Quit blaming your parents…
Trevor/Trent…its so hard to keep up with the name switch…there were so many parts of the books where I was rolling on the floor. The beeping noise in the truck; heck even learning how to drive but most importantly that you could cook. I NEVER saw that one coming at all. And yes, I think its all in the salt, too. 😉 Plus, owning up to your own shortcomings and setting to make things right in the beginning. I loved the short scene with Dan. I really thought Dan was going to hit and you would have deserved it.
Channeling Carrie was a good idea but I think underneath all that ego, hatefullness and anger towards your parents, you really were a good person. Sam and Mars never left you. Okay, Sam did but he needed to. It was the only way that you were really going to move on. You used Sam as a crutch a times but with him gone…you really shined. I will miss Mars and I’m sure you will too. When you were Trent, he was the only true friend you had, believe it or not. He really did like you and you liked him. Not a bromance but mutual respect for one another underneath the Master/servant roles.
In some ways, Dani’s a better choice for you. I liked her from the start and she showed some backbone when it came to Sam, her grandfather (he was a hoot and a half) and to even Cougar. What you learned from Carrie was to respect people for their differences and to embrace them for it. Dani just reinforced that lesson and you shined.
Overall, I’m glad that you finally decided to grow up, move on and make a better life for yourself. No one deserved it more than you. Carrie loved you with her whole heart and just remember to love Dani with your whole heart. That would be the greatest lesson that Carrie would have taught you.
Oh and Coco is still a beotch! Evil devil woman. Glad that you are finally rid of her and her dad. May they rot together in hell!
I love you,
Harlie/Pink
Links
Released May 1, 2014
Book Four of the series:
A Long Road to Love
Climbing out of Hell
“Easily, the best of the
series!”
series!”
***
Other books in the A Long Road to Love series
Book One
Worst Week Ever
“Love this book and couldn’t stop laughing from beginning to end.”
5 stars – Alves – Amazon
5 stars – Alves – Amazon
Book Two
Oh Stupid Heart
“Be warned though, this book is completely different from The
Worst Week Ever. Yes, there is still humor, dry wit, situations that you would
think…NOT AGAIN but this one humanizes Trent more.” 5 stars – Brian’s Mom –
Amazon
Worst Week Ever. Yes, there is still humor, dry wit, situations that you would
think…NOT AGAIN but this one humanizes Trent more.” 5 stars – Brian’s Mom –
Amazon
Book Three
Coming to Reason
Once again, Ms. O’Connor has written a brilliant book about the
complexities of relationships, good and bad. Again, to me, the book is the best
break up book EVER and it left my heart singing in the end. Best.Book.Ever…
complexities of relationships, good and bad. Again, to me, the book is the best
break up book EVER and it left my heart singing in the end. Best.Book.Ever…
Other Books by Liza O’Connor
Liza O’Connor
Author Bio:
Liza lives in Denville, NJ with her dog Jess. They hike in fabulous woods every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow. Having an adventurous nature, she learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ, hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She’s an avid gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts. Yet through her entire life, her first love has and always will be writing novels. She loves to create interesting characters, set them loose, and scribe what happens.
FOR MORE
INFORMATION ABOUT
INFORMATION ABOUT
LIZA O’CONNOR & UPCOMING BOOKS:
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Heart
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I see I’m now two books behind…
Love this review as it gives such a different spin on things. As for Carrie, I have to say I admire her positivity. I try to be positive, especially with the day job but sometimes that is easier said than done.
Yes, but one has to make a choice to do so 🙂
Great and detailed review!
Fun post. Tweeted. FB shared. Tried to share on Google+ – but Google+ isn’t talking to me today.
Google has kicked me off Google +. Thankfully, I never got around to needing it, so I’ll live.
Great review and excerpt. Shared via Google+ 🙂
Well, I’m glad google likes someone.
Yea! I love Sam!! He’s certainly hero material!! I loved the book!! Thanks for sharing the book!
Melissa, you’ll appreciate this: I got a rock bottom review on book 3 because the reader felt traumatize. Maybe she should have read book four first.
I don’t think people really change though, but anything is possible though with time, I’d love a book contestmichelle at hotmail dot com.
I’ll send you Worst Week Ever. 🙂
Awwww Trent is happy that you like him now, that you appreciate his hard work to become a better man. However, he wants you to know within Sam is a very good man, he’s just lost his way right now. He’ll be better once he returns to NYC. Mars and Carrie will get him straightened out. And even Trevor will help, as he remembers how he kept saying he used to be a horrible person, but he was trying to change. Finally, Sam will get over his betrayal and anger at women, because inside Sam is a bonafide hero. It’s why he keeps rescuing people.