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Chloe #2
Loving Chloe
When thirty-four-year-old Chloe Morgan appears on Hank Oliver's doorstep in Cameron, Arizona, she arrives with more than her old white German shepherd, Hannah, and a rambunctious young horse in tow. Chloe is pregnant with Hank's child, and she's as tough-talking and vulnerable, skittish and tender as when last we saw her in Jo-Ann Mapson's acclaimed first novel, Hank & Chloe. As Chloe and Hank settle somewhat uneasily into domesticity, a local Navajo legend named Junior Whitebear returns home to collect his father's ashes and renew his own spirit after years spent in the art-world fast lane. When Junior arrives at the reservation, he doesn't expect to find a son he fathered unwittingly nine years ago; nor is he looking to fall in love with Chloe and to deliver her baby girl. Both events change his life, and the lives of those around him, forever. A passionate love story, Loving Chloe explores the emotional complexity of a love triangle with sympathy, humor, and compassion.
372 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
3 people are currently reading
133 people want to read
About the author
Jo-Ann Mapson
25Ìýbooks173ÌýfollowersJo-Ann Mapson, a third generation Californian, grew up in Fullerton as a middle child with four siblings. She dropped out of college to marry, but later finished a creative writing degree at California State University, Long Beach. Following her son's birth in 1978, Mapson worked an assortment of odd jobs teaching horseback riding, cleaning houses, typing resumes, and working retail. After earning a graduate degree from Vermont College's low residency program, she taught at Orange Coast College for six years before turning to full-time writing in 1996. Mapson is the author of the acclaimed novels Shadow Ranch, Blue Rodeo, Hank Chloe, and Loving Chloe."The land is as much a character as the people," Mapson has said. Whether writing about the stark beauty of a California canyon or the poverty of an Arizona reservation, Mapson's landscapes are imbued with life. Setting her fiction in the Southwest, Mapson writes about a region that she knows well; after growing up in California and living for a time in Arizona and NewMexico, Mapson lives today in Costa Mesa, California. She attributes her focus on setting to the influence of Wallace Stegner.Like many of her characters, Mapson has ridden horses since she was a child. She owns a 35-year-old Appaloosa and has said that she learned about writing from learning to jump her horse, Tonto. "I realized," she said, "that the same thing that had been wrong with my riding was the same thing that had been wrong with my writing. In riding there is a term called `the moment of suspension,' when you're over the fence, just hanging in the air. I had to give myself up to it, let go, trust the motion. Once I got that right, everything fell into place."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 5, 2013
I don't know that I've ever had a book twist me and turn me in so many ways. Did I like it? I'm not sure. Was it a compelling story; well-written? Yes to both. Did Jo-Ann Mapson once again make me feel like I was riding a horse in some sunlit canyon right along with her characters? Yes, definitely. But of the three main characters in the book, I only admired one. The other two were memorable and very human, honest, and flawed...and made me almost wish I hadn't read this sequel. I think I might have been happier leaving them all at the end of the previous book.
September 6, 2015
Having recently become a fan of Jo-Ann Mapson I was drawn to ‘Loving Chloe� because of the story’s setting � Navajo country in northern Arizona. I’ve made repeated visits to many of the places described in the story, and the novel brought back wonderful memories.
I liked the principle male protagonists � school teacher Hank, Chloe’s partner, and Navajo jeweler Junior Whitebear who has returned to the home of his youth � before fame and fortune enticed him to move, more or less permanently, to the upper echelons of the high-priced art world.
The one drawback of the novel for me was Chloe herself, who, even given the past traumas that have shaped her character, I found to be a less than lovable personality. To be sure I liked her affinity with animals, but became frustrated with many of her other actions and choices.
Of course, it takes two to ‘tango� agreeably, which means the blame for some of Chloe’s ‘transgressions� has to be shared � but being at the focus of the book, Chloe was the one I had the highest hopes for.
However, ‘Loving Chloe� was nevertheless an entertaining, and certainly compelling read � another Jo-Ann Mapson book I did not want to put down.
I liked the principle male protagonists � school teacher Hank, Chloe’s partner, and Navajo jeweler Junior Whitebear who has returned to the home of his youth � before fame and fortune enticed him to move, more or less permanently, to the upper echelons of the high-priced art world.
The one drawback of the novel for me was Chloe herself, who, even given the past traumas that have shaped her character, I found to be a less than lovable personality. To be sure I liked her affinity with animals, but became frustrated with many of her other actions and choices.
Of course, it takes two to ‘tango� agreeably, which means the blame for some of Chloe’s ‘transgressions� has to be shared � but being at the focus of the book, Chloe was the one I had the highest hopes for.
However, ‘Loving Chloe� was nevertheless an entertaining, and certainly compelling read � another Jo-Ann Mapson book I did not want to put down.
October 16, 2012
I found this book to be rather disappointing after Hank and Chloe. I liked Chloe in Hank and Chloe, but found I just didn't really like her at all in this book. I was debating on whether to finish the book, when I was about half way through, but I wanted to see how it ended, so I read it to the end. I have to say, not one of Jo-Ann Mapson's finest hours....
August 10, 2015
This is another great book by Jo_Ann Mapson, not the greatest piece of literature but such an insightful and absorbing read!
It is great!.
I highly recommend.
(Now on to another of her books I found in the library)
It is great!.
I highly recommend.
(Now on to another of her books I found in the library)
March 8, 2013
I'm repeating myself, but honestly, anything written by Mapson is going to be a terrific read.
October 9, 2010
A sequel to Hank and Chloe that literally picks up just where the other book left off, in Hank’s driveway as Chloe moves to Arizona from California to find him. Pregnant with Hank’s child, they live together in his grandmother’s old house, while Hank teaches third grade at a local Navajo school. Enter Junior Whitebear, returning home after many years away making a name for himself as a Navajo silversmith. The plot thickens as relationships are revealed between Whitebear and some of the local people Hank and Chloe have befriended, and then a love triangle starts to grow. A well-written and enjoyable love story.
May 6, 2016
It did not turn out the way many would have wanted, but life is just that way for the most part. Having read Hank and Chloe a long time ago, I should have known that Chloe just would never be like a fairy tale princess and find her one and only true love. Just the same, I wanted her to love Hank who was so wonderful and I guess you can say she did. But then there was Junior who also stole her heart. I doubt this story could ever really happen but in many ways it still is a good love story.
September 13, 2015
Well written but so messed up. I'm glad I didn't read the first book. I guess I'm supposed to empathise and understand flawed Chloe for her inability to do what is right and make a choice, and bloody stick to it. And are we supposed to admire the two men for loving her so much that they would just live with her selfishness? both of them are losers and deserve Chloe. But then does Reed deserve to be thrown in the midst of this f#%ked up situation?
Very unsatisfying read!
Very unsatisfying read!
November 5, 2016
Loved It!!
Hank and Chloe.
Chloe became pregnant with Hanks baby, they live together on the Navajo Reservation. He teaches third grade.
Junior Whitebear comes back after being away from the reservation, he finds out he is a father. He delivers Chloe's baby. A love triangle develops.
I really liked all the characters in this book.
Hank and Chloe.
Chloe became pregnant with Hanks baby, they live together on the Navajo Reservation. He teaches third grade.
Junior Whitebear comes back after being away from the reservation, he finds out he is a father. He delivers Chloe's baby. A love triangle develops.
I really liked all the characters in this book.
January 9, 2008
JoAnn Mapson creates the most REAL, believable, sympathetic characters. I loved this book just like I loved Hank & Chloe, the book before it.
July 24, 2010
A great follow up to Hank & Chloe. Life isn't a happy ever after story, it's much to complecated.
How can Chloe love two very different men and not be considered a harlot. It's complicated.
How can Chloe love two very different men and not be considered a harlot. It's complicated.
November 29, 2018
This would have made a better short story than a novel. The bulk of the book consists of the ramblings of the main character's thoughts.
November 18, 2019
This was a interesting book. The plot included horses so that's one of my favorites! There was a little bit of cultural appropriation in the Navajo (Dine) character, Junior Whitebear but non-Native authors seem to have trouble restraining themselves from attempting to write confidently about a culture they do not clearly understand.
September 24, 2017
Eh, don't bother. This was about as unsatisfying as a book as I've ever read. I like the author's writing, but this is not a good read. I'd pass.
March 2, 2018
Not as good as the first one--but a good read--
March 30, 2012
I've listened to Kate Forbes narrating which I didn't really care for but I think it was mostly the stilted language that I didn't like. Her narration of this book was so much better that it confirmed to me it was the book and not her. She portrayed the characters so well that you knew exactly who was speaking and the language/dialogue was so much better than the Garlock book.
Chloe drives her pregnant self to Hank and he's overjoyed to see her, which she wasn't sure about. He's a professor and she's a girl raised around men and horses and with a horrible foster parent past, but they seem to love each other no matter what. Hank is a lot controlling and Chloe's trying to make him and herself happy. She's riding horses which she shouldn't do pregnant and ends up having her baby early with Junior Whitebear delivering the baby. Junior feels an instant connection and although Chloe is not married to Hank, she loves him and tries so hard to be loyal to him knowing that a part of her, maybe a big part, wants to be with Junior. I loved the ending, not all tied up in a bow with a smile on top. Good book, good narration.
Chloe drives her pregnant self to Hank and he's overjoyed to see her, which she wasn't sure about. He's a professor and she's a girl raised around men and horses and with a horrible foster parent past, but they seem to love each other no matter what. Hank is a lot controlling and Chloe's trying to make him and herself happy. She's riding horses which she shouldn't do pregnant and ends up having her baby early with Junior Whitebear delivering the baby. Junior feels an instant connection and although Chloe is not married to Hank, she loves him and tries so hard to be loyal to him knowing that a part of her, maybe a big part, wants to be with Junior. I loved the ending, not all tied up in a bow with a smile on top. Good book, good narration.
September 21, 2011
i absolutely adored this book. the only problem, now i've gotta backtrack and read book 1 Hank and Chloe!!! i can't wait.
May 22, 2011
Not my favorite by this author. The characters just didn't seem to work for me although I could identify with Hank when he was struggling to teach the 3rd graders on the Indian reservation. It seem like the book ended then there was one more chapter called Twenty Years Later. Maybe it was suppose to conclude the story but left me with many unanswered questions.
October 29, 2014
A disappointing sequel to Hank and Chloe. Chloe was an engaging character in the first book, in this she feels somehow one-dimensional and lacking. The love triangle was disturbing and also disappointing, I found myself hoping for Hank all the way through that things would work out. The ending seemed shallow, maybe a little too trendy for me.
March 5, 2013
Arizona is one of my favorite places to visit....this book captures northern Arizona so well that you want to catch the next plane there. Mapson writes characters who are realistic but who also have recognizable flaws....she has created a modern-day romantic western.
August 5, 2014
This was a good story but after all the hoopla it ended too quickly. I liked the ending, the fact that she couldn't give up either Hank nor Junior. I felt like Jo-Ann Mapson just wanted to end the story.
April 29, 2008
Sweet love story.
September 21, 2008
Great author; have enjoyed all her books. Most are set in California near Monterrey area.
January 5, 2010
Excellent ending to the story of Hank and Chloe.
Read
October 21, 2012Sequel to "Hank & Chloe".
May 15, 2010
Easy read good if you don't want to work too hard!
April 1, 2016
Wow, it's a really interesting sequel to the first book. Things get changed up in interesting ways.
November 18, 2011
well, i made it through, but i kept thinking, hoping it might get better, but it never did. i am not going to read the sequel
December 12, 2011
I enjoy Jo-Ann Mapson's characters - real problems with resolution of some sort.
January 7, 2014
loved it
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
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