YOU AND NO OTHER - Francis Ray
St. Martin's Press
March 2005
SYNOPSIS: The national bestselling author of "Someone to Love Me" revives her popular Grayson series, with handsome politician Morgan Grayson trying to woo Phoenix Banister, an aspiring artist with stunning looks and a checkered past.
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE: (4+) Jennifer Brathwaite
REVIEW: In YOU AND NO OTHER the reader is taught two old lessons in a new and exciting story. In the long run, secrets always do more
harm than good and one should remember to get all the facts about an issue before making a decision. Throughout the story secrets are the
burden, and withholding judgement the challenge, of the two main characters.
Morgan, a successful attorney and avid art collector falls for Phoenix, the assistant of a client he cannot abide. While they both are greatly
attracted to each other there are a number of obstacles - the control Phoenix’s boss, Mr. Duval, has over her, her loyalty to him, Morgan’s
unwillingness to seemingly fall in line with his mother’s plan to marry off all of her children and a shameful secret from Phoenix’s past -
standing in the way of happily ever after.
YOU AND NO OTHER moves along well, giving the reader time to get to know and care about the characters and to watch their relationship develop
at a believable pace. The settings, while good, are not a major element of the story. The scenes in the museum however, are infused with the
subtlety and elegant romance of the surroundings.
All of the characters are fun, interesting and entertaining. Morgan’s siblings and friends are great examples; the easy-going friend – Richard
the vet – being an example.
The dialogue in the novel is excellent, demonstrating everyone’s character and personalities. Further, it showcases the familiarity in the
characters’ relationships – Morgan and the love between his brothers and the developing closeness between Phoenix and Morgan. Ms. Ray also
deftly adds a great deal of humor to the text in the conversations that the characters have with each other.
All in all YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU is a very enjoyable, extremely real and romantic story. For those who are already fans of Ms. Ray, there is
the added treat of revisiting familiar characters from past novels such as the Falcons and the Taggerts. Ms. Ray also does an excellent job of
maintaining the suspense about Phoenix’s secret without it becoming annoying, making the revelations worthwhile instead of anti-climatic. Ms.
Ray’s strong writing has produced a great read.
jennifer@romanceincolor.com (1st July 2005)