May 2nd, 2024
Home | Log in!

Fresh Pick
THE FAMILIAR
THE FAMILIAR

New Books This Week

Fresh Fiction Box

Video Book Club

Latest Articles


Discover May's Best New Reads: Stories to Ignite Your Spring Days.

Slideshow image


Since your web browser does not support JavaScript, here is a non-JavaScript version of the image slideshow:

slideshow image
"COLD FURY defines the modern romantic thriller."�-�NYT�bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz


slideshow image
Romance writer and reluctant cop navigate sparks during fateful ride-alongs.


slideshow image
Free on Kindle Unlimited


slideshow image
A child under his protection�and a hit man in pursuit.


slideshow image
Courtney Kelly sees things others can�t�like fairies, and hidden motives for murder . . .


slideshow image
Reunited in danger�and bound by desire


slideshow image
Journey to a city that�s full of quirky, zany superheroes finding love while they battle over-the-top, evil ubervillains bent on world domination.


The Man She Married

The Man She Married, February 2009
by Ann DeFee

Harlequin American Romance
224 pages
ISBN: 0373752520
EAN: 9780373752522
Paperback
Add to Wish List


Purchase



"Counseling for any Married Couple"

Fresh Fiction Review

The Man She Married
Ann DeFee

Reviewed by Tonya Callihan
Posted February 9, 2009

Romance Series

Maizie and Clay Walker are having the twenty-two year marriage itch. There daughter, Hannah just moved out of the house for college and now it's only the two of them. Between them conversations are rare and usually end in an argument. Maizie isn't sure what to do, she puts on something sexy and tries to seduce Clay, but he can't take his eyes from the TV screen.

Maizie feels at first she's just upset that her little girl is grown up and has moved out of the house, but before long she realizes her relationship is the problem. Her and her husband haven't made love or spent in time together. And no matter how many attempts she makes at getting his attention his mind seems to be elsewhere.

Clay knows that he hasn't been paying enough attention to his wife. It seems like everything he does or says ends in an argument. But his mind is on his business and the threat of bankruptcy. He doesn't want to worry his wife, but at the same time he's slowly losing her by keeping this secret and stress to himself.

THE MAN I MARRIED is a great read and I would recommend it to any couple, especially one that has been married for longer than ten years. It's a story that rings true for many married couples. We let the stress of everyday life and work get in the way of our relationships and instead of talking about it we take action. Take Maizie, she plans on making her hubby jealous by flirting, but then Clay moves out. Now Maizie must make Clay realize it was harmless and he's the only man she could ever love. You have to make sure you add this to your list of must-reads for 2009. It's full of romance, heartache, laughter, and love...what more could you ask for from a romance novel?

Learn more about The Man She Married

SUMMARY

Maizie Walker’s hubby of twenty-two years is spending way too much time watching football/baseball/bass fishing/whatever and way too little time practicing the art of romance. He’s oblivious to sexy lingerie and even sexier suggestions, so what’s a girl to do? Hmm – how about making him jealous, and who better to flirt with than the hot new tennis pro at the country club?

Do you really think that’s going to work? As they say in the south – there ain’t no way. The Man She Married is a rollicking look at a bad concept that produces some interesting consequences. It’s a story of love that endures in spite of lame-brained courting/making up ideas, buttinski relatives and a not-too-nice stalker.

Join the eccentric and fun loving folks of Magnolia Bluffs, Georgia for a guaranteed good time. And stay tuned to see how Mama and her sisters manage to get out of the magnolia tree.

Excerpt

The sign on the window read Miss Scarlett's Boudoir, and if the inventory of Maizie’s store was any indication, Miss Scarlett had had herself a high old time. It was an environment of lace pillows, frothy undergarments and frilly feminine apparel. Even the bell above the door sounded girly.

It was kitschy, it was funky and it had something for everyone. Every female in the county had shopped at Miss Scarlett’s at one time or the other.

The blue-hairs loved the beauty and bath selection and the teens were hot for the trendy collection of jeans. Best of all, Maizie and PJ were known throughout the area for the exclusive line of French make-up they applied with a flourish. If you were in the market for a make-over, the Boudoir was definitely the place to go.

Under normal circumstances the boutique was a fantastic, fun place to work, but this day had been a doozey and Maizie was dead on her feet.

"PJ, would you close the shop today?" she asked. "I need to run by the grocery store. We’re having a family football party at my house tomorrow."

"No problem. It’s almost six o’clock anyway."

"I won’t be here tomorrow. Bambi and Jerry Sue will be here to help you."

"Gotcha’. Don’t worry about a thing."

Maizie pulled into the Piggly Wiggly parking lot. She was determined to do a quick in out, but the chance of that happening in Magnolia Bluffs - where everyone knew everyone else’s business and loved to discuss it – was slim.

Before Maizie could make it through the checkout line, Laverne Hightower, the town’s rumor maven, had managed to share a play by play of her gall bladder attack. Not to be outdone, Shirley Smith had launched into a full rundown on her daughter’s wedding prep. And everyone wanted to discuss the commotion at the Boudoir. Puleeze. The next time she needed groceries Maizie was going to patronize the big box store out on the bypass.

By the time the groceries were bought, the errands were run and the day was over, she was ready to pull her hair out. No doubt about it - today had been one of those days.

Maizie breathed a sigh of relief as she pulled up to the detached garage behind her rambling white turn of the century bungalow. Her home was typically southern with green shutters, a wraparound porch and a trellis of honeysuckle.

When things got too hectic, or she wanted to meditate, Maizie loved to sit on the porch swing with a frosty glass of sweet tea and watch the world go by. It was her way of cleaning out the mental cobwebs. However that was an indulgence for another day.

"Clay," Maizie yelled as she dropped her purse and a bag of canned goods on the kitchen table. "I need some help."

The television was blaring in the family room, Blossom the cat was twining around her legs demanding to be fed, and hubby dear was missing in action. Everything was operating normally in the Walker household.

"Clayton, where are you?" Maizie was perfectly capable of toting in the rest of the food, but it was the principle of the thing.

"Clay-ton!"

That apparently got his attention. "What do you need, Babes?" he yelled, not bothering to abandon the television.

"I want some help with the groceries."

"Can you wait just a minute? I’m watching something."

Maizie stomped into the family room to see what was so important. Bass fishing? Clay wasn’t waiting for a touchdown to be scored or a home run to be hit. No - he was watching some guy in an expensive boat troll for fish. That was almost as boring as watching the grass grow.

Maizie was normally even tempered – except when she was in a snit, and that didn’t really count – but that didn’t keep her from grabbing the remote, hitting the off button and marching out. Making a grand exit was a talent she’d learned at her mama’s knee, and she happened to be darned good at it, even if she did say so herself.

Crap. Clay knew he was in a mess of trouble, again. What had he done this time? All he’d wanted to do was see if Skeeter Jackson won the tournament and the hundred thousand dollars prize. That kind of cash would go a long way toward solving at least one of his problems.

Getting immersed in that pipe dream had done nothing more than irritate his sweetie, so it was time to make amends. Should he go with the "I’m so sorry, I’m an insensitive jerk" defense? That usually worked, especially if he followed up with some heavy necking - that and a promise to do the dishes, take out the trash, clean the bathroom, yada, yada, yada.

"I’m sorry, Sweetie." Clay was honestly remorseful. He hated upsetting Maizie. He’d fallen head over heels in love with her when they kids and that feeling hadn’t dimmed with age, if anything it had increased in intensity.

"Why don’t you sit down and let me get you a Coke," he suggested. Without waiting for an answer he retrieved a soft drink from the refrigerator.

Clay was about to give himself a big pat on the back. Then he took a good look at his wife’s face. Something was drastically wrong, and it didn’t have anything to do with a fishing tournament or bringing in the groceries.

"Clay." Maizie rubbed the cold can against her face. "Is this all we have to look forward to?"

Moses would have had a hard time answering that question, and frankly it scared Clay Walker silly. When your wife got philosophical all hell was about to break loose, and he didn’t have a clue where it was going or how things would turn out.


What do you think about this review?

Comments

No comments posted.

Registered users may leave comments.
Log in or register now!

 

 

 

© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net  all rights reserved Privacy Policy