Why does Vanessa Duran keep falling for married men? Oh, she doesn't know they are married when the relationships begin, but along the way, the outraged wife comes along to once again dash her hopes of finding the perfect man for her. After three such experiences and at her overbearing, controlling sister's suggestion, Vanessa decides to take a hiatus from men for at least six months. No dating; no relationships!
When she is not entrenched in this "husband habit," Vanessa is a successful chef in one of the best restaurants in Albuquerque. She hopes to one day own her own restaurant, but having enough money to get started is a real drawback. She isn't even given credit by her boss for her own outstanding culinary creations in the kitchen. He's claiming them as his own! But her friend Hazel, fashion advisor, doctorial candidate and waitress extraordinaire, just might have a surprise for Vanessa to help her get started in her own restaurant.
As she is getting back on her feet from her third "husband habit" experience, Vanessa meets Paul, her parents' new next door neighbor. Her sister has warned her about him. From first sight, Vanessa knows he is going to be trouble, and her six months of swearing off of men could be doomed. In so many ways, Paul seems to be perfect for her. She tries her best to shun every move he makes; she does not talk to him and uses extreme avoidance techniques. Yet Paul is determined to win her over. Just when she finally thinks he may actually be the one, and she lets him into her life, disaster strikes. She discovers that he, too, is married. Is there a "good" explanation for why he has led her to believe he was available? Will she believe him? Can he prove himself?
You'll love Vanessa's eclectic style and sarcastic sense of humor. You'll laugh with her and cry with her in the ups and downs of her relationships. THE HUSBAND HABIT is a quick read that is sure to delight.
Why does Vanessa keep falling for married men?
Not that she knows she does. At least not at first. But every man who seems like he might be the one turns out to be someone elseβs. So maybe the right thing to do is take a vow to stay single, to keep away from all men, until she can figure things out.
At least work is a bright spot: Itβs an anchor to be so good at something, to lose yourself in your job, and Vanessa is a whiz of a chef, so good she makes her grandstanding boss, Hawkβof Albuquerqueβs chic Nuevo American restaurant hawkβ look good. After all, itβs his name on the awning above the door. If only her friends and family would get on board with Vanessaβs plan and stop trying to fix her up. If she canβt fix her life, nobody else is going to get the chance to tryβnot her parents, not her friends, and certainly not her ultra-well-meaning but just-not-getting- it sister, Larissa.
And nothing could be more with the plan than helping out at her parentsβ houseβgardening, keeping them fed, getting them organized with her loyal pet Red Dog by her side. Red Dog is all the companionship she needs. Until Vanessa meets Paul, her parentsβ neighborβ heβs all wrong on paper, but heβs got great manners and certainly seems safe. Not bad in the kissing department, either. But just when Vanessaβs guard goes down, the red flag goes up: Could Paul be yet another married man?
Bursting with Alisa Valdes-Rodriguezβs trademark wit and originality, The Husband Habit introduces a rich and complex heroine in chef Vanessa. Youβre not going to want to leave her world when the novel comes to an end.
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