Tuesday, December 22, 2020

"One Christmas He Never Expected"--From the "Santa Barbara Sunsets" contemporary romance series by Lynne Marshall--Can the magic of the Christmas season help two reluctant hearts fall in love? (see my reviews)


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One Christmas He Never Expected

Phil Hansen has a reputation as a playboy. One look at the new OB doc, and he wants to find the nearest mistletoe. What could be better than kicking off the holiday season with a fling? Except he sees heartbreak in her eyes.Stephanie Bennett may be dazzled by laid-back Phil’s charm, and though she is long overdue for romance, she’s not ready to put her heart on the line again. Soon swayed by his “love is the best medicine” attitude, she gives in and comes alive in his arms.Can the magic of the Christmas season help two reluctant hearts fall in love?

MY REVIEW:  Phil Hansen, the acknowledged playboy of the physicians group at a well-regarded medical clinic, finally meets his match in "One Christmas He Never Expected". A former surfing star who became an esteemed pulmonary specialist, Phil is a gorgeous golden boy. Seemingly carefree and permanently unattached, he enjoys a successful career, the attentions of beautiful women, and an enviable lifestyle in a magnificent home. After he meets his new colleague, Stephanie Bennett, he starts to look at his own life with new eyes. Taking care of his much younger half-brother while his father and stepmother are vacationing proves to be another eye-opener for Phil. He recruits all the help he can get, including a surprisingly reluctant Stephanie. Phil is used to short-term, leave-on-good-terms romantic flings, but he shocks himself by wanting more from Stephanie. She is keeping a painful secret, and while she enjoys her relationship with Phil, she knows that she is there for a brief while to fill in for a colleague on maternity leave. In her mind, she can become involved with Phil, and then leave their relationship behind when the time comes. An unexpected pregnancy changes both of their lives, and Phil is determined to have Stephanie and their child in his life. Will former world-class player Phil win this emotional war and become the family man he suddenly longs to be? Lynne Marshall brings her "Santa Barbara Sunsets Series" to a resoundingly romantic conclusion as Phil and Stephanie have a chance to find a happiness neither had ever imagined.

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More Than He Bargained For

Jon Becker, divorced father of teenage daughters, is dedicated to his job.
René Munro longs for a baby. Thirty-five and single, her options are limited. Except…her colleague and trusted friend, Jon, seems ideal genetic material! Dare she ask him to help make her baby dream come true?

On paper Jon agrees to René’s proposition and is prepared to offer moral support through the experience. But his straight-forward plans to keep the agreement strictly clinical get derailed when he finds the radiantly pregnant doctor irresistible. Is he ready to be a father again? A husband?


MY REVIEW:  "MORE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR", by Lynne Marshall, introduces us to Rene Munro, a successful obstetrician, who at age thirty-five is single and longing to become a mother. She sees her colleague, Jon Becker, a top-notch cardiologist, as the perfect candidate to father her baby. While working together as members of a highly-regarded medical clinic, Rene and Jon had formed a friendly, respectful professional relationship that had not included a romantic involvement. Jon had been greatly hurt when his wife of many years had surprised him with a divorce, and he had immersed himself in his work while remaining close to his two teen-aged daughters. Earlier in her life, Rene had been deeply in love with someone whom she thought would marry her and give her the family she so wanted. Instead, he left her broken-hearted and alone, and Rene had focused on her career of helping others bring their children into this world. When Rene asks Jon to father her child, he is stunned, and his whole world is turned upside down. After much discussion and thought, Jon agrees with Rene's plan, and they form a contract. However, hidden longings and unexpected desire soon come into the picture, and a practical arrangement becomes an emotional roller coaster. Have two competent, intelligent and reasonable people made a mistake with unforeseen, lasting emotional consequences? Lynne Marshall's medical expertise and skill as a storyteller draw us into the dilemma of two hearts who thought they knew exactly what they wanted, but are shaken to find that they need much more.

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His Second Chance at Forever

He's stuck in his past, she shows him their future...

Brooding Jason Rogers prefers to keep people at a distance and his pain tucked safely inside. So what if he’s a grouch? He doesn’t care.

Claire Albright isn’t afraid to waltz into her new boss’s office and give her opinions. The fact she has a tagalong little girl, Gina, who reminds Jason of the daughter he lost, only adds to their bristly start.

Soon, against Jason’s will, Claire and Gina inject hope back into his dull existence. Dare he dream of a life he never thought he’d have again?

 MY REVIEW: In "His Second Chance at Forever", from author Lynne Marshall, we meet two dedicated medical professionals who both need a healing touch in their lives. Dr. Jason Rogers is the stern and steely family practice GP of a medical clinic. Suffering from the tragic loss of his wife and daughter, Jason prefers to avoid emotional involvements and keeps others at a distance. When Registered Nurse Practitioner Claire Albright joins the medical group, her sincere smile and her holistic approach to treating patients both begin to stir unwanted feelings in Jason. Claire also has a young daughter, Gina, whose presence serves as a painful reminder to Jason of the absence of his own sweet child. At first, Jason wants nothing to do with Claire's alternative medical treatments, but he soon comes to respect her knowledge and professionalism. He feels guilt over his attraction to Claire, and struggles with the sense that he is betraying his late wife. Claire has her own inner conflicts, and has no intention of becoming involved with the taciturn Dr. Rogers. In the past, when Claire had become chronically ill with Lupus, her former husband could not handle a wife who was not always at her best. He made her feel less than desirable, and their marriage came to a painful end. She is afraid that another romantic relationship will suffer the same fate, but she is greatly attracted to Jason. Lynne Marshall's experience as a Registered Nurse lends an interesting authenticity to the medical story line, and her heartwarming characterizations make this a very touching and satisfying romance read. Seeing Jason come to terms with his loss and come alive again, and watching Claire overcome her self-doubts and bloom again as a woman makes you root for these two lovers to find their very happy ending.

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LYNNE MARSHALL

Lynne Marshall 

USA Today Bestselling Author, Lynne Marshall says;

"I grew up in Los Angeles wanting to become a dancer, and studied theater arts. Life had other plans…

When I got a job in a hospital, reality checked in and I went back to school to become an RN. I met a man I wanted to marry and embarked on parenthood.
When my two children had the audacity to grow up, I was left bursting with creative energy and with no one to shower it on. It was then I parlayed my lifelong love of reading into a desire to write. Between you and me, I’d assumed I had a serious problem with daydreaming. Who were these people and stories parading through my mind’s eye? I was happy with my life. I was practical—a registered nurse for over 20 years– married to the man I loved. Yet…these mysterious people and plots plagued me…daily.

The story of my heart came kicking and screaming out of my head in 2000. I had a choice to either write it down or go loopy. In all honesty, I think a little of both happened when I discovered it was a romance. Me? A romance writer? Yes, the snooty little b- word applied to my attitude about such things back then. When I got honest, I realized my favorite part of books had always been the love story, and any book worth its cover price has a love story weaved through the plot, right?

My husband thought I was having an on-line affair when I began spending hours and hours before my computer typing away. When I confessed my goal and he realized that I was pursuing my dream of writing a novel, he offered his complete support.

In 2001, with completed manuscript in hand, I found the Romance Writers of America, entered the world of genre writing, and never looked back. What an intriguing journey it has been; I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Through writers’ groups, national and local conferences, and university affiliated extension courses, I honed my craft. I also discovered the most wonderful network of supportive people, many of whom have become first class friends. I considered each phase of my newbie writer’s life a blessing.

After almost six years of actively seeking publication, I got “the call” from across the pond on November 8th 2005 at 7:30 a.m. Harlequin Mills & Boon wanted to buy one of my books! Yes, my husband was the first to know, and later that day, my wonderful critique partners cheered along while I squealed and pinched myself.

When I’m not writing I love to read, and take day trips and vacations with my husband. We love to explore cities we’ve never been to before. I also like to see movies and eat out–Japanese and Mexican restaurants are my favorites. For exercise I work out at Curves and take power walks. I find brisk walking helps stimulate my imagination, and I’ve often solved writing dilemmas or have come up with new ideas for books trudging up hills and marching across parks.

I’m thrilled to be a part of the romance and women’s fiction market. Of all the genres out there, romance rules the day. Perhaps it’s because in a world that oftentimes gives us little encouragement, romance stories always end with hope. As I’ve learned over the years, hope is the candle that guides us through the dark and lonely patches in life.

 

 

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