I didn´t expect the second volume of the Templeton trilogy (as it is called in Germany) to be that much fun. The humor, the sometimes-hilarious dialogues, the great setting, and the way how the main figure thinks about herself, her family, and life, in general, were great to see. It was a pleasure reading this novel and I found myself thinking if the author has shown a bit of her private life in this book.


Holding The Dream
by Nora Roberts
Templeton Trilogy #2
Publisher Berkley on September 4, 2012
Genre Novel
Pages 374
Format Paperback
Source Blanvalet
Goodreads
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They swore eternal friendship to each other - the three young girls Margo, Laura, and Kate. Kate awakens one day from the deceptive lightheartedness of her life and discovers that her past hides a dark secret. This knowledge changes her attitude towards the loved ones around her and fuels her ambition: she wants to prove that she is special and from now on she focuses all her aspirations and all her dreams on professional success. Until love takes a dramatic toll ...
Story
Kate's life is numbers, mathematical calculations, and her work as an accountant. There are no frills or useless odds and ends with her. Everything must be organized up to that point and, above all, planned well in advance and checked many times before a change is allowed. But the fact that humans also have such natural needs as food, sleep, and clothing are annoying side effects that Kate would prefer to ignore. She always wears dark blue suits and costumes and thinks make-up is an absolute bad investment - just like sensible food. Coffee is her elixir of life, which she consumes by the liter. She swallows stomach tablets like others water and sees her apartment as a practical place where her closet and her second job are. A perfectly balanced and normal life for Kate, until one day she discovers that her father, who died in an accident, was a fraud and thief. This knowledge weighs heavily on her, increases her stress considerably and so it happens as it must happen: Kate collapses with unbearable stomach pains.

Style
The second volume of the Templeton trilogy is also characterized by humor, wonderful dialogues, and a subliminal mischievous undertone, which makes the volume a wonderful pleasure to read. Kate's often dry comments as to why a customer needs such a porcelain elephant at all or her sometimes very practical thoughts bring an additional dose of humor to the plot and have often conjured up a happy smile on my lips. In addition to Margo's ambitious yet easygoing nature, there is another fresh twist that makes the novel original and fits the tone of the first volume perfectly. The Templeton family is doing everything to make Kate healthy again, which also means that she has to say goodbye to her beloved coffee and the stomach pills disappear. The way she gets Byron to exercise and adopt a healthier lifestyle is delightfully portrayed and even inspired me to dig a little deeper into nutrition.
Nora Roberts simply knows how to put the men in the limelight and not let the women look like mindless, weak creatures, despite all the male care and attention. Kate's blossoming makes it clear that weakness can also be a strength that makes us human.

Characters
With just a few words, Nora Roberts has also created characters in this novel that complement each other perfectly through their contrasts. It brings color to the plot, fun, and credibility that I, as a reader, was delighted to perceive. The author charmingly shows that an unhealthy lifestyle, too much stress, and coffee can become a problem that women should not underestimate.

Kate - what a woman. Lord in heaven, I never thought that a person could be so stubborn. Kate never took it for granted that her uncle and aunt would take her into their family as one of their own. She wants to repay their care and love with brilliant academic performance, a scholarship, and professional success. But Kate only realized years later that she was completely wrong when her lifestyle gave her a reminder in the form of a stomach ulcer.


Conclusion
Lively dialogues, a dreamlike landscape, and highly interesting characters also make this volume of the Templeton trilogy a great reading experience. All I can say is read!



Happy reading


Nora Roberts
Nora Roberts ©Bruce Wilder





Nora Roberts, born in Silver Spring, Maryland, is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming. Nora is a member of several writer’s groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.” She is also the author of the bestselling futuristic suspense series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.


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