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AND MISTRESS MAKES THREE - Francis Ray St. Martin's Press June 2009 |
SYNOPSIS: Gina Rawlins is dealing with a cheating husband, a messy divorce, two unhappy children, and a floundering travel business when the very handsome new owner of the local B&B, Max Chaneau, enters her life. Not only does he make her heart pound, but it soon becomes clear that they need each other.
SERIES ROMANCE |4+| Dianthia Lemons
REVIEW: Gina Rawlings is a recently divorced mother of two. She feels like a failure, at not only her numerous home businesses, but since the divorce, at life itself. She is forced to deal with single parenting, late or non-existent child support payments and her teen-aged daughter’s attitude. Her final straw comes when she tries to get her husband to change his mind and finds him with his arms around another woman and he demeans her by saying “You don’t excite me anymore and I can do better”. Celeste de la Vega, Gina’s best friend is beautiful, successful and not about to let her friend wallow in self pity. Celeste knows that Gina needs to get her travel service off the ground to take care of her children and herself because her spouse has decided that his children are not a priority. What Gina finds out is that not only is she gifted and a great talent but she can do better too.
Max Broussard is a handsome widower who was career driven and found out too late
what was important in life. It has been seven years since he lost his wife and
he blames himself for not being there for her. He put his career before his wife
and marriage and felt there was always time to start a family, vacation and
enjoy life afterwards. Max’s Aunt Sofia Durand, finds her nephew wallowing in
self pity after his wife’s death and reminds him that he is dishonoring her
memory. Max purchases a three story Victorian home in Charleston, South Carolina
near the Ashley River and fulfills his deceased wife’s dream of owning a bed
and breakfast. He is the proud owner of Journey’s End but feels there is
something needed. He meets Gina Rawlings and sees something, a second chance.
Gina and Max meet each other at the open house for businesses at Journey’s End.
He is depending on the opinion of others to see where his bed and breakfast is
lacking and to make it a success. He is very pleased with the suggestions made
by Gina Rawlings and decides to hire her to bring the vision alive. What happens
is that they bring a new awareness of what has been missing in each other’s
life.
AND MISTRESS MAKES THREE is the fifth book in the “Invincible Women
Series” by Francis Ray. The characters Gina and Max had placed their major
emphasis in the wrong direction as so many of us do. She was focusing on the
needs of her children and her spouse’s dreams. Max was focused on obtaining the
American dream of a successful career and put starting a family and his wife’s
dreams on hold for later. Both discovers that time isn’t promised but learning is a
blessing.
I thoroughly enjoyed AND MISTRESS MAKES THREE, it is a great addition.
reviewer@romanceincolor.com | 5th July 2009