WOW simply BEAUTIFUL, almost brought tears to my eyes. Pure love was there but so was fear right in between fear of having her heart broken, fears of losing what she most loved Natasha feared these things because she'd experienced them before and knew how much it hurt and she knew she that she didn't want to feel that pain ever again she knew she wouldn't bear it. Them Spencer and his daughter Freddie came along and though it was a slow and patient process though not TOO patient they changed thing took away her fear to love let her know that she didn't have to go through that pain again not as long as they were around. She used to think that the only people she had were her family members which weren't many since they had left everybody they'd know when she was simply a child as her family escaped from Russia and ended up in New York City thanks to the church, and spencer taught her that he would also be there for her , he and Freddie became family and their family grew not only with love but new members. Poor Natasha she had her heart crushed by a dancer, she even had to quit dance to give birth to the child he didn't want. She gave birth to the child and loved that baby girl she always had her family's help (her mother, father, 2 younger brothers and youngest sister) the child was only 5 weeks old when Natasha woke up even surprised her daughter Lily hadn't cried all night, when she look at the crib where the baby was sleeping the baby had died, she screamed her sister and mother ran to the room next thing you know they all went racing to her and took the baby always from her arms. The doctor said it was crib death that there was no reason it simply happened. Natasha was never the same after that she didn't want to trust or love anybody that aunt her family, she moved from New York City to West Virginia made a new life, but one summer things changed as Spencer and his daughter Freddie moved into town. Spencer had a back story of his own he had a life as a musician and composer in New York City with his wife Angela they were always fighting and one day Angela got home furious because she had discovered she was pregnant they thought about not having it but they did it they barely cared for it the housekeeper did. Once they got divorced he changed he wanted his daughter and loved her as for Angela she died in a boating accident. Spencer was a changed man left New York and went to Virginia for his daughter to be happier and safer. As for his family they weren't very close even less after he left New York but he kept in touch with his sister Nina. Natasha fell in love with Freddie she was a sweet little girl a year younger that what her daughter would have been at the time if she were still alive, and even though she didn't want to or intend to she fell in love with her father and her father with her. With time Natasha told him everything she had went to after one thanksgiving where he met her family in New York because she had discovered she was pregnant with his baby. She didn't want another baby being born from her she was afraid but spencer helped her as did the housekeeper. They had a beautiful baby boy named Brandon though Freddie loved her baby brother very much she was still waiting for her baby sister and she knew she would come soon. They were a new family and loved each other infinitively.
The thing is that I started The Stanislaskis series beackwards with Waiting for Nick/ Considering Kate, and realized there were two othe books. I absolutly loved Taming Natasha because it's so heartbreaking what both Tash and Spence go through, and it's all about regaining one's sense of self. I think so far it's my favortie of the series. I loved the setting and the atmosphere very small town, and cozy and comfortable kind of like the McCade Brothers series. I loved The Fun House and how passionate she is about her business. I loved that she always takes a class just for herself, and that is so smart for a woman to do. Having read Freddie's story before her parents, I adored Freddie and it helped me understand her romantic, positive attitude. I loved how we got glimpses into what Freddie was thinking as well, because it showed how much she truly wanted a mom and how she wanted her dad to be happy. I also thought it was great that we got little hints about Tash's story, and when she told Spence after she realized she was pregnant, which I loved, it was so heartbreaking, how Anthony dismissed her, and she was so young and naive, and how Lily just died, I mean that's all she had other than her family, and she was gone. I loved Spence's story as well, and how because he was so awful towards Freddie at the beginning, he wants everything for her now. I loved the first day of school, when Freddies got chicken pox and Tash was there and she rocked her and sang to her. I love how cute Freddie is because she thinks Natasha is so beautiful and she wants her with them. I loved Halloween, and of course that night, and I loved how Spence never gave up on Natasha, and he was always there for her. I especially liked when they visited TAsh's family, and how they accepted Freddie so openly. I love Mikhail, and he is always there for his sister. Their whole story of how they came to America, was so courageous and loving, it was beautiful, and how at dinner Natasha told Spence that sometimes you shouldn't be patient. I really love how the series is very family oriented, yet each character is so different and their personality is so different. I really loved the epilogue, and how they got married on Christmas Eve, and how just like parents, they treasured those rare intimate moments together, and how each time they made love it was just them, and they worshiped each other.
What do You think about Taming Natasha (1990)?
This is on the high side of Roberts' 1990s books. It's nothing stellar, with characters a little too predictably emotional and a plot that doesn't quite gel, for me. Spence is a bit too... commanding for the rest of his personality as a professor and composer and single dad. Natasha is a bit too... passive for the rest of her personality as an entrepreneur and dancer and with strong family support.That said, this is one of Roberts' best depictions of a dependent child with Freddie (Frederica) stealing many of the scenes she is in as she quietly steals your heart alongside. She's 6 and Roberts gets the flavor of her character pitch perfect and her interactions with Tash are genuine and full of warmth without being cloying or manipulative.This is also one of the more solid family dynamics for this stage of Roberts' career, I think. I won't name names but some of the series written at around the same time come across poorly to me—overly idealized and deliberately charming in a way I sometimes find almost twee. The Stanislaskis have more depth than that and their interactions carry enough weight that they don't feel like the manipulative intrusion of some of the other contemporary family-based series do.In all, I liked it and look forward to the stories for the other members of the family.A note about Steamy: Can I just say Nora Roberts standard, yet? There are one or two more than normal, but they're also shorter than normal, I think.
—Jacob Proffitt
Taming Natasha is book one in the Stanislaski series by Nora Roberts. It is a great book and an easy read. The characters are realistic as are the events in the plot. Natasha Stanislaski had moved from New York City to a small town. She has all she wants and needs with her toy store and her home. She consistently refuses to have anything to do with men. What happened in her past to cause this? That perhaps is the reason she reacted to uncharacteristically when a gorgeous man came in with a woman and a little girl and began to flirt with her. How dare a married man hit on her when his wife was right there? However, she finds she can’t keep her mind off him. Spence Kincaid came from a wealthy family and was always treated as if whatever he wanted he could have. That is until his daughter was born. Freddie turned his life upside down. He was a renown composer so could work from here as easily as from the City. Now he can create a safe environment for Freddie. Maybe he can forget his wife’s death and her treatment or non-treatment of Freddie. When he takes Freddie to the toy store for a doll, he is not ready to have his world turned upside down. What will happen between the two of them? What secret is she holding? This is a good book.
—Pam
I just fell in lobe with Natasha and Spence and of course little Freddie. Natasha is put off by Spence at the very beginning and slowly starts to have feelings for him but builds up these walls so hoping he won't break them down. He is pushy at first and can not understand why she won't return his feelings. He is a man who gets what he wants and he wants her, and secretly she wants him but won't admit it to him or herself.. it is a nice love story and Freddie who is just adorable and all she wants for Christmas is a mom.... and a family. Loved it... Now I have to read the rest of the family books. Cannot wait
—Jodster's
