Book Title: MAYBE THIS TIME
Character Name: Rose Schafer
Hello! I’m Rose, and I’m ready for your questions. Fire away.
How would you describe your family or your childhood?
Messy. My parents worked a lot and used much of their free time partying and fighting with each other. They didn’t spend much time with me or my sister Vi. She’s five years older and pretty much raised me. Mom and dad divorced when I was nine. Finally! Our gran moved in with mom and us girls, and things settled down some. Next question.
Who is your significant other?
I had my share of boyfriends before I met Peter. He’s a respected surgeon at Port Simms Hospital. A workaholic, too. I’m his third wife, and we’ve been married almost two years. But now, he … (sniffles) Never mind. Can we please move to the next question?
Where do you live?
In Port Simms, Washington. I’ve lived here the entire twenty-six years of my life. It’s a small town in the Pacific Northwest on the east side of the Olympic Peninsula and about two hours’ drive north of Seattle. It’s beautiful here. You’d love it.
How do you feel about the place where you are now?
The house Peter bought for us is in a classy neighborhood. It has good bones, although I don’t like his stodgy tastes in furniture and boring color schemes. But he likes what he likes and he paid for it, so I accept that. Although with things being what they are, I don’t really care anymore.
Would you like to explain?
I’d rather not. It’s too painful.
Do you have children, pets, both, or neither?
No pets or kids. Peter doesn’t want either, and I’m okay with that.
What do you do for a living?
Peter handles most of the expenses, but I’ve been working at a cute dress shop once a week. I have plans I’m not ready to divulge.
What is your greatest personal failing, in your view?
There are two. Here’s the first: I don’t mean to brag, but I’m gorgeous. Early on, I learned that I could skate through trouble and rough times with a smile and by leaning on others for help. Not the best way to solve problems. This led to the second: I never finished my degree in interior design. I regret that, but as I said, I have plans.
What keeps you awake at night?
So many worries. My future, paying the bills—that kind of thing. As you can tell, my life right now is a barrel of laughs. It’s a good thing Kenny Martin is around. He’s doing renovations on the house. He’s a nice guy, handsome too, and easy to talk to. Not that I’m looking. He came along just when I needed a new friend, and he’s it. Here’s a little secret just between us: I like when he’s here. That’s all I’m going to say, except I know you’ll enjoy my story.
Port Simms #2
Shock of her life...
It’s a lot to process. Rose Shafer’s husband of less than two years asks for a divorce, walks out, and says he’s selling the house she’s called home since the wedding. Then, as he leaves town to move in with the new love of his life, he asks Rose to stay in the house and supervise the carpenter he’s hired to do renovations for the sale! Rent-free, as if that makes up for his despicable behavior.
Imagine contractor Kenny Martin’s surprise when he unlocks the door to the house and finds a beautiful woman fighting back tears brought on by her husband’s upsetting announcement. The man who hired him never mentioned a wife.
He sympathizes with Rose, who’s reeling over what her rotten spouse has pulled. She unloads on Kenny, who’d rather not get involved. He’s finally moved past his own miserable divorce and is thinking about dating again. Besides, he recently opened his own construction company, and he has enough on his plate.
As livid as Rose is, she can’t help but notice that Kenny is attractive. Not that it matters. She’s done with marriage and family. She’s never wanted kids anyway. No more depending on a man for income or anything. She’s going to finish her degree in interior design and build her own business.
But with Kenny and his crew showing up to work on the house five days a week, they see each other often. Soon, their reluctant collaboration turns to friendship, and then becomes something more.
Can love happen when two people moving in different directions and fighting for different dreams find themselves in a head-on collision of their own desires?
Romance Contemporary [Oliver-Heber Books, On Sale: December 3, 2024, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781648397653 / ]
Ann Roth is an award winning author of 40-plus contemporary romance and women’s fiction novels, as well as novellas and numerous short stories. Her first novel was published in 2000 by Harlequin Special Edition and was nominated by Romantic Times as best first book. Ann lives with the love of her life in the Greater Seattle area and enjoys creating flawed characters and putting them in challenging situations that help them grow and ultimately find love— whether or not they’re looking for it.
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