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Holly is happy for her friends, but she can't help feeling a little left out when hanging out with the two couples. She does finally have a boy interested in her, but the e-mails from her secret admirer, Shy Boy, have recently stopped coming. What has she done wrong? Will she ever meet her mystery guy in person? But Holly's world is forever changed when tragedy strikes close to home. It's not fair that the most loving and giving person she knows is the victim of a random crime. She, Raina, and Kathleen will need each other now more than ever.
Raina and her friends were spending the day at Carson Kiefer's house, lounging by the pool, under a clear blue sunny sky. Burgers sizzled inside the mammoth grill on the patio, and the aroma mingled with the scents of sunscreen and chlorine.
"I heard the school board wants to have year-round classes," Holly Harrison said. She was sitting on a towel at the side of the pool painting her toenails a flamboyant shade of hot pink.
"Forget it," Carson said. "We need a break." He took a running leap off the diving board and cut like a knife through the water. He swam the length of the pool underwater, coming up beside Kathleen McKensie's float.
She opened one eye. "If you splash me, I'll shoot you."
"Crabby."
"I've just covered myself with sunscreen and I don't want it washed off." She lifted her sunglasses to look at him treading water next to her. His brown eyes danced and droplets of water clung to his buttery tanned shoulders. "If I didn't burn to a crisp without it, I wouldn't mind," she said. "But que sera, sera." She resettled the dark glasses on her nose and rested her head again on the cushioned pillow of the float.
He tossed his head and slung beads of water over her body. "Did I get you wet?"
She ignored him.
"Want me to lick the water off?"
Instantly, her face flushed bright red. "Go away."
He laughed. "Maybe you'd taste like coconut."
"Pervert." She wasn't even mildly annoyed. It felt so good to be back with him, to be a part of his life again, she would have tolerated any amount of his teasing. The weeks she'd spent apart from him the past winter after she'd hung up on him over a spat about Stephanie Marlow had seemed like an eternity.
"I'm, like, so disrespected," he announced. He put his elbows on the float, leaned over her and ran his cool, wet tongue across her mouth.
Shivers shot up her spine. "Scram!" she hissed.
He laughed, arched backward like a dolphin and dove under the water.
Raina watched, amused, from the circle of Hunter's arms. They were sitting on a lounge chair together, Raina in front, and Hunter was smoothing lotion on her back. The stroke of his fingers was lulling her into drowsiness. He bent forward and nibbled on her earlobe. "He's right about the coconut taste," he whispered.
"I'll buy you an Almond Joy," she mumbled.
"You taste better."
"I'm flattered." Waves of contentment washed over Raina, mimicking the water lapping against the colorful tiled sides of the pool. Hunter would be home for the entire summer and she'd be with him every minute possible, between his job at the fast-food restaurant and her volunteer work with the Pink Angels program at Tampa's Parker-Sloan Hospital. Every minute.
"What do you hear from Emma?" Hunter asked, leaning back in the chair and pulling Raina against him.
"I talked to Jon-Paul last night. Emma's finally home. She was asleep when I called." Raina closed her eyes, conjuring up the faces of her sister and her husband, a sister she had never known existed until February.
"But she's doing all right?"
"She is now." It had been touch and go as Emma's doctors fought to stave off infections that threatened her new bone marrow, but after a hundred and ten days, she had been sent home to complete her recovery and begin her married life, cancer free.
"And you?" Hunter touched her hip in the area where bone marrow had been extracted to save Emma's life.
"You asked me the same thing yesterday. The answer's the same today. I'm fine. Just a small scar."
"Can I see?" He nuzzled her neck.
"I'm shocked you would ask. I mean with all these people looking on."
He laughed. One thing she could trust about Hunter was that he wouldn't look even if she stripped on the spot. "I'm not a prude."
"Yes you are." She twisted around and kissed him lightly. "That's what makes it work between us. I keep trying to jump your bones and you keep pushing me away."
"This will change when we get married."
Her heart did its usual stutter step. They talked about sex and marriage, but truthfully, huge hurdles lay in front of them. For starters, Hunter wanted to be a minister and had taken early admission to a small Christian college in Indiana the previous winter. She wasn't sure she even believed in God. Only Holly, Hunter's sister, realized the depth of their dilemma. Raina was worried about their having a future when they were such polar opposites in this area. Yet whenever she was with him, all she thought about was how much she loved him and about being with him forever.
"What if I get a better offer?" she asked playfully.
"Then I'll just have to take the guy out."
"That sounds pretty hostile--for a minister."
"Think of Samson. Hey, I'm tough. I'm the guy who got into a fistfight over you, remember?"
How could she forget? Tony Stoddard's bad mouth had almost destroyed her relationship with Hunter. "Don't joke about that, Hunter," she said quietly. "I don't think I'll ever be able to joke about it."
His arms tightened around her. "I was the idiot, not you."
She knew he wanted to make it up to her for the way he'd treated her after Tony's "revelation," but he didn't need to. She loved him and wanted to be with him forever--yet the hurdles remained.
Carson hoisted himself out of the pool. "I'd better turn the burgers." He padded over to the grill, raised the lid and stared down. "Um--I think they're burned."
Holly went over and confirmed his suspicion. "Hopelessly burned."
"Dad's never burn."
"He stands over them full-time," Kathleen called. She had straddled the float and paddled to the shallow end of the water, where she used the steps to exit the pool. She walked over to the grill.
The three of them stared in dismay at the charred remains of their lunch.
"Too bad. I'm starved," Kathleen said.
Carson turned off the grill. "So how does everybody feel about pizza?" The agreement was unanimous, so he picked up his cell phone and hit a single button.
Incredulous, Kathleen asked, "You have the pizza parlor on speed dial?"
Carson grinned. "A guy's got to eat." He slipped his arm around her.
Holly hung back, feeling as left out as she always did. She'd turned sixteen in May and now had her driver's license, not that it did her a whole lot of good. Her parents only allowed her to drive Hunter's beat-up car solo and only if and when he wasn't using it, which wasn't often. Her emancipation wouldn't go into full effect until he returned to college in September--if then. But it wasn't the car issue that bothered her the most. It was the lack of a boyfriend, a guy of her own, a boy who took her out on dates or came with her when she hung out with Raina and Hunter, Kathleen and Carson.
From the Hardcover edition.
Anonymous
Posted March 25, 2007
wow this book was so good sad but so good i could not stop crying i was really glad holly found someone,and that kathleen and carson are still strong!!!there need to be a carson's book about him and that one summer with 'steffie' and evrery thing that happend in all the other books but in his point of view
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted July 12, 2005
I absolutly loved the 'Angels in Pink' books! I think that Lurlene McDaniel is the best writer ever. When i first picked up 'Riana's story' I couldn't put it down! same with both the other stories! This book is great for anyone who likes to read about romance and the challenges life gives you. Holly's story is a deffinet winner!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 4, 2011
I am reviewing the book, Angels In Pink (Holly's Story) by Lurlene McDaniel. I enjoyed the book very much and was unable to put it down!
The story tells the lives of three normal, teenage girls' lives: Kathleen, Raina and Holly. Something completely unexpected occurs to a son, boyfriend, brother, and friend. The girls' lives become so tragic and Kathleen can only try to cheer them up. Finally, the girls accept the situation, move on, and head back to reality.
I am able to relate to Holly's feelings because our families were going through the same situations. I am also a sister and can relate to how she would feel if my brother would die. I know the feeling of losing someone because I lost my great-grandma.
I absolutely loved the book overall! I definitely recommend this book to mostly teen girls who like romance, but not too mushy! In conclusion, the book was great and I can't wait to read the next one in the Angels In Pink series!
Anonymous
Posted April 1, 2009
I Also Recommend:
omg i love this book so much i finished it in less than a day!!!!!! it is amaing i recommend 100%
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Posted March 27, 2009
Wow it is the best book i have ever read. This book is the sadest book of the series.
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Posted March 21, 2009
This book was so good. I read the whole series in 4 days and I read this book in less that 6 hours!!!! This book is so sad though, I have re-read it 5 times!!!! You have to read this book!!! Just read it!!!!!!!!!!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.i love this series holly's book is the best one you will laugh cry and smile. i love this series i didnt want to end
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Posted March 22, 2008
This book was great!!! I read it a COUPLE months ago, but when I think about it I still cry most of the time. Its one of the best book ever.
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Posted February 28, 2008
I was so surprised when i found out what happened that ruined Holly's summer. I just was so stunned that the series had to end like that. I feel like Chad and Carson should have their own books, just because I've read the series twice and I want more Angels In Pink!!!!!!!!!!!
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Posted February 10, 2008
I'm the type of girl who never crys for any sad sob story. NEVER. But when I picked up the last Pink Angels book, and finished it in like a day, I have to say i cried for the pure uniqness that McDaniel put into this story. It showed that u can really move on and still love someone at the same time. It is in my top ten and i'll love this book forever! McDaniel did a GREAT job!
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Posted January 26, 2008
holly's story is awesome!!lyk the whole ben thing and the hunter thing was so sad that i cried.:'(
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Posted January 2, 2008
This book was fantastic! Everything about it was great. I think that it is cool the way they put love, religion, and people who need help all into one book. Do I recommend this book? All the way! You will NOT regret reading it(I know I didn't!!!)
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Posted January 9, 2008
I really enjoyed reading this book . I enjoyed both the beginning the end, even though parts of the story was sad. There were three best friends named Holly, Raina,and Kathleen. They all had planned to go to the same college on one summer day when they were hanging out with each other. Raina and Kathleen also had their boyfriends over too. Their names are Hunter and Carson . Hunter is Holly's older brother. Holly did have someone e mailing her. His screen name was Shy Boy. One day a police officer came to Holly's and her parent's house to tell them that Hunter has been shot and killed. They and Raina all got really upset about what happened. The next day Shy Boy came to Holly's house when he heard that her brother had been shot. His real name is Chad. Chad has a disease called CT and he is also homed schooled. A week later they all went to Hunter's funeral. Everyone they had known all went to Hunter's funeral . During the summer and school year Holly, Raina, and Kathleen all worked at a hospital. The hospital has a program called the Pink Angels. Pink Angels is a program where they go and help other people around the hospital . Holly also has a friend named Ben. Ben is a eight year old boy who has cancer. Holly always goes to see him when ever she can. After Holly and her friends had started talking about going to different colleges now that things have changed for all of them. Raina had decided to go live with her older sister. After they all had graduated they all went to a prom. Holly and Chad went together. Kathleen and Carson had went together also. But they all had wished Raina and Hunter had went with them. That night Raina hung around the hospital thinking about Hunter. The night after Holly, Raina, and Kathleen were at the hospital. They were on their breaks and Holly wanted to go see Ben. Then her friends decided to go with her too. When they got to Ben's room they saw him smile when they had entered the room. The room was dark and Ben said he didn't like the dark. That's when Raina turned on the lights and Kathleen went down stairs to go get the glowing necklaces that Hunter had given to Raina. When she got back they all started to put on the necklaces on Ben. When they were done Ben looked like he was glowing. Then Kathleen shut off the lights and Ben wasn't afraid of the dark any more. Then Ben said good night to all of the girls and said thank you to them also. Then he fell asleep. The next morning at the hospital Holly had found out that Ben had died. They gave Holly the day off. Holly went home. The hospital had told her that his funeral was tomorrow. When tomorrow came she and her friends went to Ben's funeral .After the funeral they talked about Raina moving in with her older sister. Raina thinks that its the best thing to do . Because the town is filled with Hunter's rememorizes and it makes her miss him more. So it is best that she move in with her sister . Things got much better for all of them . I recommend this book to teenage girls that like to read stories just like this one.
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Posted January 12, 2008
The story, Angels in pink, Holly's story was the best book EVER!It made me cry because a certain accident happened. The book will make you cry, laugh, and smile. It talks about Holly and her families faith in God, Raina and her relationship with her mom and Kathleen and Carson's romance blooming. Lurlene McDaniel is the best author in the whole universe. You will not regret reading this BEST book ever!
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Posted July 22, 2007
This book was amazing even if I did shed a few tears because of a certain tragedy.
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Posted June 29, 2007
OMG! This book I mean the whole series was so awesome! Everyone needs to read it! It talks about everything. From boys to friends to family and everything in between. I was so sad and I hated how much it didnt explain the whole ending of the angels in pink lives but after reading all of the 3 books it didnt matter. It was great and it reached out to me!
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Posted July 26, 2007
The Angels in Pink series is one of the best series I've read. Holly's Story was THE BEST one. Many tears were shed as I flipped through the pages in this book. It was a great end to a wonderful series and my favorite book of all time!'please read Angels in Pink-their great!'
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Posted June 21, 2007
My 2 best friends got me hoocked on this series! Holly's Story was AMAZING! It was great to get into her mind after reading about her friends. I was soo happy at the way it ended! I would MOST DEFFINATELY recomend this book to everybody 'I kinda already have at my school'. You'll get mad, you'll laugh, and oh yes you will cry!
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Posted February 21, 2007
I love this book! It was so good and made me cry so much. While this book is great to read by itself, I recommend reading Kathleen's Story and then Raina's story before you read Holly's in order to really get connected with what goes on in the characters' lives. 2 thumbs way up.
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Posted April 4, 2007
I have the first two books, and I keep reading the excerpt from Angels in pink: Holly's story. I've been waiting to get the book for about two or three months. I was waiting for it to come out in paperback.
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Overview
Holly is happy for her friends, but she can't help feeling a...