Marie Ferrarella

 

The 39-Year-Old Virgin

Author: Marie Ferrarella

ISBN: 9780373654659

Genre: Silhouette/Contemporary Romance/Home and Family

 

5 Hearts

 

Exceptionally written characters make up this Silhouette Special Edition about a former Dominican Sister who decides to leave the order when she suddenly realizes it just doesn't feel right anymore. She goes home to take care of her ailing mother and meets a man, whom as a boy she used to babysit.

 

This is a real crossroads story for Claire as she tries a assimilate with a world where she isn't quite sure God is standing by her side anymore. All has not changed for Claire though. Even now when she doesn't quite know where she fits into this new world she is creating for herself, she is lending a helping hand. When she sees that the boy she once knew is experiencing a world of hurt in his own right as a man, she steps in to help him.

 

Caleb is no longer the smiling face boy Claire remembered. An already hardened police, vice detective Caleb experienced a great loss when his wife was violently killed the year before. He makes it through the day only because of his son, Danny.

 

Claire knows that just surviving isn't working anymore for either Caleb or Danny and she pushes her way into their lives to make a difference.

 

One of the best part about Marie's writing is that she succeeds in producing believable, exciting characters. She has done her best work with both Claire and Caleb. Readers can feel the emotion sizzle not only between these two characters, but also when they are dealing separately with their own issues. I also like the fact that she doesn't try to fix all their hurts in just one week and suddenly the two are falling in love, but gives both characters time to adjust to the new world they've been thrown into and to come to terms with everything.

 

Note: While Claire is an ex-nun in this book, the religious aspect of the book remains very neutral. The story line is based on the individual characters and how they adjust to the world around them.

 

Description:

It was a big world out there. . .

 

But was ex-nun Claire Santaniello ready for it? Her yearning for a home and family had her shedding her habit and moving back to California. But her true calling definitely wasn't with sexy single dad Caleb McClain. Was it?

 

The stunning redhead seemed uncomfortable in the crowded bar. She was also tantalizingly familiar. Caleb couldn't believe the girl he'd once loved was now a teacher in their hometown. Soon after he rescued her from the dance floor, Claire made it her mission to bring out his softer side, arousing feelings Caleb couldn't ignore. Was it finally time for them to create the future together they both craved?

 

Loving the Right Brother

Author: Marie Ferrarella

Series Connection: The Alaskans and Famous Families

ISBN: 9780373654598 

Genre: Contemporary Romance

 

For years Brody Hayes has loved Irena Yovich, but she was his brother's girl. When she was eighteen Brody's playboy brother broke Irena's heart and she went off to college without looking back.

 

When Irene returns to Hades, Alaska after ten years for her ex-boyfriend's funeral, there is her old best friend Brody just like always. Brody is the exact opposite of his brother, Irena's ex. He was always there to tell her secrets and now it is almost like nothing has changed, but it has. Suddenly Irena is having some different feelings for him, but she doesn't think she should act on them because she has no intention of staying Hades. What would it hurt though to get a little closer to him while she was here?

 

In pure Marie Ferrarella style this is a heart warming novel. As always Marie relates an appealing story which is well plotted with wonderful characters. I especially loved reading the interactions between Irena and her grandfather Yuri.

 

Description:

Seeing Brody Hayes again was like seeing a ghost. But, Irena Yovich noted with relief, the resemblance he bore to his late playboy brother—Irena's philandering ex-boyfriend—was purely physical. Still, she knew she'd better not get too close. . .



 

Brody had been secretly in love with Irena for years, and now she was suddenly within his reach. All he had to do was convince her that they were meant to be—that he was the right brother after all. . . .

 

The Heiress's 2-Week Affair

Author: Marie Ferrarella

Series Connection: Love in 60 Seconds miniseries
Silhouette Romantic Suspense¨

ISBN-13: 978-0373276264

 

5 Hearts

 

The Heiress's 2-Week Affair is part of Silhouette's new Love in 60 Seconds series. This is the first in the series, which introduces readers to the high stakes world of Las Vegas. In the first story, written by Rita award winner, Marie Ferrarella, Natalie Rothchild is a cop on her way to the office when she hears over the police scanner that her twin sister has been killed. While trying to find the murderer, Natalie runs into her former fiancŽe and enlists his help in finding her sister's killer. When her sister dies, a mysterious family heirloom turns up missing, leaving Natalie to wonder is her sister's death is an act of robbery or something more personal.

 

The hero in the story, Matt Schaffer, insists he left Natalie eight years ago for her own good. Members of his family were into shady activities. Even his own older brother's actions were enough to worry Matt that Natalie wouldn't be safe if she were to stay with him. So he left her a note, knowing that he would never be able to leave if he told her in person. After seeing Natalie for the first time in eight years, Matt is still as in love with her as he was before and now can't seem to let her go. Even for her own good.

 

Once again the author has offered up a great tale of romance, in this case adding the element of suspense. This book captivated my attention from beginning to end. I couldn't put it down as I kept trying to figure out who exactly the villain could be. I can't wait to check out the next installment to the series, His 7-Day FiancŽe by Gail Barrett.

 

Description from the back of the book:

Shell-shocked detective Natalie Rothchild wasn't sure what stung more—knowing that her twin had paid dearly for flaunting their fortune at a Las Vegas hot spot—or prying information from the man who went AWOL after promising her forever.

In between lame excuses and darkly possessive glances, casino security expert Matt Schaffer revealed how the bejeweled tabloid queen sashayed down the red carpet before she died. Yet he couldn't say whether Natalie was dealing with a crime of passion or a family foe on a wild rampage.

Would the two ex-lovers partner up to solve this horrific crime—or would they give the sizzling heat of Sin City a run for its money?

 

 

Travis's Appeal

Author: Marie Ferrarella

Series Connection: Kate's Boys Book 4

ISBN: 978-0373654406

Genre: Contemporary Romance

 

5 Hearts

 

Description:

He never mixed business with pleasure. But when fresh-faced Shana O'Reilly appeared at his office door, she threw no-nonsense attorney Travis Marlowe's carefully ordered world into a tailspin. For the first time ever, he couldn't stop thinking about a client—and not just because of her father's mysterious request to adjust his will.

 

Shana wasn't looking for romance—she had her hands full with her family and her business. But she couldn't shut off the electric current humming between her and—of all people—the new family attorney.

 

Talk about finding love where you least expect it....

 

About the Author from her Website:

Born in West Germany, arrived in the U.S. at four, I began writing when I was eleven. I began selling many years after that. Along the way, I acquired a Masters in Shakespearean Comedy from Queens College in N.Y, a husband and two kids (in that order)—the dog came later.

 

My first romance was bought by Second Chance At Love November of 1981. The road from there to here has two hundred and six more sales to it. I've been published by Silhouette, Harlequin, Zebra, Harper, Bantam and Berkeley. I've been fortunate enough to have received several Rita nominations from the Romance Writers of America Association over the years, with one win for FATHER GOOSE (in the Traditional Romance Category). I've also been nominated several times in various categories by Romantic Times Magazine.

 

I hope to be found one day—many, many years from now—slumped over my computer, writing to the last moment. But before then, I would dearly love to write a successful screenplay. My goal has always been to entertain.

 

My view on her book:

I love a well written romance and I'm never dissatisfied with Marie Ferrarella's books. In her Kate's Boys series Marie introduces four brothers, which includes an older brother, by one year, and identical triplets. Each finding love where they least expected. In the final installment of the series, Travis's Appeal, we meet the third triplet Travis. Travis is the only of Bryan's boys to follow in his footsteps and become a lawyer. He's hard working and has just about given up on love until beautiful Shana walks into his office with her father, Shawn.

 

Shawn has a secret that he feels will completely ruin his relationship with his daughter if she ever found out.. At least that's what he thinks. Now that he's dying he's decided he needs to share that secret with someone so that they can help his daughter deal with after he's gone. That is where Travis comes in. Travis urges Shawn to tell Shana, before it is too late. Now Travis is the one stuck with a problem. He's fallen in love with Shana, but now he too is keeping a secret from her. Bound by attorney-client privilege he can't reveal what he knows.

 

This is a wonderful love story with strong characters and with an emotional angle that will grip your heart. I absolutely fell in love with both Shawn and Travis. Shana is a strong heroine who will do anything for the father she adores. This is a stand alone book, so even if you didn't read the previous books in the series you will have no problem starting with this one. Remember, though, that the previous books can be found online at several sites.