Fresh Fiction: Review: And Mistress Makes Three by Francis Ray

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St. Martins Griffin
July 2009
On Sale: June 23, 2009
Featuring: Gina Rawlins; Max Chaneau
352 pages
ISBN: 0312573685
EAN: 9780312573683
Paperback

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"Two tales of romance, one sweet and one spicy"

Reviewed by Patricia Woodside
Posted August 30, 2009

Multicultural Romance

Gina Rawlins is rebuilding her life following a less than amicable divorce. Now a single mother of two, she's also trying to build a travel agency. When she visits the new local bread & breakfast and finds it wanting, she's challenged by the new owner, Max Broussard, to help him make it right.

Max is moving on with his life too, following the death of his wife. The B&B was their dream, one he wants to fulfill for her. As Max and Gina work together, they each wonder whether they're ready to move on, not only in business, but in love, especially when Gina's ex-husband re-inserts himself into her life.

Although AND MISTRESS MAKES THREE is seemingly about Gina and Max, this novel is actually two tales of romance, one sweet and one spicy. The story that leaped off the pages for me was that of Celeste de la Vega, Gina's best friend, and Alec Dunlap, one of the five Dunlap brothers previously introduced across the first four books of the Invincible Women series. Celeste's story is much more enticing, as the interior designer is immediately attracted to Alec, a detective warring with how to recover from a shooting in the line of duty. Alec, who wants nothing more than to be left alone, fights her—and his own—attraction every step of the way.

Celeste is full of life, and makes no apologies for that. Alec is tall, dark, and smouldering, and one can just imagine the sparks flying between these two.

Ms. Ray is still my favorite romance author, as no one develops such endearing characters nor weaves such intriguing plots, but for my money, AND MISTRESS MAKES THREE was definitely Celeste and Alec's story, and I can't wait to read more about the incredible Dunlap brothers.

Learn more about And Mistress Makes Three

SUMMARY

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. Max needs to turn the B&B around and the first thing it needs is a woman's touch. And not just any woman. He offers to redesign her website for a bit of interior design help. As they work closely together, Gina realizes that her ex-husband wasn’t her only chance at love, even if Max has some scars of his own.

However, when her ex (and all his baggage) abruptly reenters the picture, Gina’s love life is turned upside down, while her daughter and son are ecstatic to have their father home again. However Gina is left wondering what she should do? Be with the man she loves or take back the father of her children for the sake of her family?