Just before he passes away, Samantha Collin's grandfather,
Abe, hands over the reins of the family business to her. It
seems that her grandfather suspects something foul is
happening at Collins Industry and he trusts Samantha to turn
the failing company around. Only he expects her to work
with Dillon Montgomery, the object of her long ago teen
crush. Dillon has his own business, not to mention that her
grandfather fired Dillon years ago. Why would he want or
expect Dillon to help save the company now? Then, Samantha,
a journalist, not a businesswoman, has to deal with her
embittered uncle Evan, who feels he should have been left in
charge of the company that he worked at alongside his
father.
AFTER THE DAWN is technically the third installment in the
Family Affair series, although some readers may think
it's
the second. (The first book, I Know Who Holds Tomorrow, was
released originally over a decade ago.) The series tells
the stories of five men and women who unbeknownst to them
turn out to be long lost brothers and sisters. In this
latest installment, the two siblings who have connected so
far—Dr. Cade Mathis and Madison Reed, by way of her marriage
to the now deceased Wes Reed, discover yet another sibling.
I have found in many Francis Ray novels that what makes them
particularly enjoyable is a second romance that is equally
as satisfying as the primary one. In this case, it's the
story of Roman, Dillon's friend and business manager, and
his mother, Marlene. This unexpected plot line never
overtakes the first, rather meeting and complementing it
until the story reaches its climax in a way that ties
everything up into a single, neat bow. It saddens me to
know that Ray's untimely death this summer will bring a halt
to her special brand of romantic tales about friendship,
family and love.
Samantha Collins is stunned when her grandfather turns
Collins Industry over to her, causing more than a bit of ill
will among the other family members, especially her uncle,
Evan. But nothing stuns her more than when she finds out
that he has asked Dillon Montgomery to help her run the
company. Her grandfather had fired Dillon and ordered him
off the company property years ago.
Twelve years ago Samantha made her feelings known to Dillon
and the whole thing ended in disaster and they haven't
spoken since. Working together now, even all these years
later, is sure to be a disaster. Still, she needs his help
if she is going to keep Collins Industry afloat. But will
the prodigal son return to the empire - and the woman - who
desperately need him? Will he be able to admit how much he
desperately needs them.