Quote-Tastic: Witches, Broomsticks and So. Much. More.

Sealing the Deal

Ladies Who Lunch, #3
Sandy James

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Forever Yours
Date of Publication: November 4, 2014
Number of pages: 320
Word Count: 65,000

Available at the following retailers: 

Amazon     BN    Kobo     ARe     eBooks

When Bethany Rogers's sister dies in combat in Afghanistan, Bethany, a teacher and part-time interior decorator, takes in the nine-month-old daughter her sister left behind. As she struggles with the challenges of raising a young child, she gratefully accepts the help of her fellow Ladies Who Lunch as well as Robert Ashford, her longtime friend and boss at Ashford Homes. Robert is great with kids and has always mentioned wanting a family of his own. Beth soon feels more than gratitude toward her handsome helper, and longs to give in to the growing heat and desire brewing between them. But will loving Robert further complicate her already spinning-out-of-control life? And is he drawn to her, or to the idea of a ready-made family?

Beth accepted a drink from Robert. “Thanks. I’m so grateful you’re here.”

He shrugged. “The Ladies have your back. I just thought…” Another shrug, but his dark eyes didn’t leave her.

“It means a lot to me.” She saw her three friends drawing near.

“Ah, speak of the devils,” he quipped.

“Who are you calling a devil?” Dani asked, jostling Robert with her shoulder. As if she could ever move the man. He was nothing but a mountain of muscle, probably from years of constructing homes.

“If the high heel fits…” His wink and the bantering helped Beth relax.

With a grin, Mallory said, “Actually, I think we’re more witches than devils.”

“Yeah,” Juliana agreed with a nod. “But I left my broom back in Cloverleaf.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

She turned to bury her face against his broad chest as sobs racked her body.

Funny, but after several long moments of weeping, Beth felt much better. Reduced to hiccups and shuddering breaths, she tried to ease back.

Robert put his hand behind her head and pushed her cheek back against his chest as if he didn’t want to let her go. Her eyes were even with Emma’s where she clung to him. Beth hadn’t realized the baby had been crying as well until she saw the tears on Emma’s cheek and her quivering lower lip.

Beth stared at Emma, and Emma stared back as Robert held them both. Just one happy little non-family. Then Beth ran her fingers down Emma’s cheek, thinking they were quite a pair. Two weeping females joined in their grief, both clinging to a man who probably wanted to get them the heck out of the house.

Leaning back slightly, she looked up to find him watching her. The concern she saw reflected in his dark eyes made her heart clench. Here was the kind of man she’d searched for her whole life, one full of compassion and honor and gentleness. Not only that, but he was gorgeous, too. From his thick hair to his perfect body, she’d even loved the light brush of gray on his temples. He’d been right beside her all along.

She knit her brows as he slowly lowered his face to hers, and when it dawned on her that he was going to kiss her, she almost turned away, afraid of allowing her lips to connect with his.

Then she closed her eyes and let it happen.

The touch of his lips wasn’t at all what she’d thought it would be. She’d expected a gentle kiss, a friendly are-you-okay-now gesture.

She got… So. Much. More.

Review:

It doesn't seem like all that long ago I saw this book called The Brazen Amazon being offered on a book tour.  The premise struck my fancy, but it was the third book in the series and I really hate to start mid series. So I researched books 1 & 2, The Reluctant Amazon and The Impetuous Amazon respectively, and thought they sounded right up my alley. They were in a word - Fantastic. The series ended with The Volatile Amazon, and I was blown away by the excellent dialogue, realistic characters and great action sequences throughout the series. Needless to say I became quite a fan.

Then came a new series, Contemporary this time, instead of Paranormal, but still a Romance, called The Ladies Who Lunch.  The series started with The Bottom Line, continued with Signed, Sealed, Delivered and now continues with Sealing the Deal.  The overall storyline takes place over several years and follows the Lifes and Loves of 4 women who become friends as teachers sharing the same lunch period. These aren't Multi-Billionaries and too sexy Secretaries with too much time and money on their hands. Sandy James creates characters that we can see friends, family, and even ourselves in; true to life people with real world problems. And that is the beauty of her writing, she gives the everyday person a hope of the happily ever after. Are there obstacles and set backs? Yes. Do they have heartbreak and loss? Of course. Yet by coming together with family and friends, she shows that honesty and open communication are vital to relationships and pain is eased when it's shared. Lessons that we all sometimes need to be reminded of.  I just plain feel good after finishing one of her books. And this book was no different.

Bethany and Robert have had some chemistry in the previous books, but neither one has mentioned or acted up on it.  When Beth's younger sister dies in Afghanistan and leaves her baby daughter Emma for Beth to care for, her world is turned upside down. Robert quickly falls for Emma and realizes that she could be his opportunity to reach out to Bethany and together they could become the family he has always wanted, especially with Beth as his wife.

This was an emotional story and I needed a tissue a time or two. I'm not saying why, because I refuse to give an spoilers. Just know that for me, it was a 5 star read. If you haven't tried Sandy James yet, what are you waiting for?

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