Publication Date: January 31, 2012
Received: By Publisher
Mass Market: Paperback: 304
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; First Edition
Language: English
ISBN-10: 031253647X
Synopsis:
YOU CAN ALWAYS COUNT ON FRIENDS:
Dianna Harrington is known throughout the world as "The Face"-the stunningly beautiful spokesmodel for her family's fashion empire. She could probably have her pick of any man she wants. But Dianna would rather kick back and relax with a good friend-namely Alex Stewart, who she's known, and harbored a crush on, her whole life...
BUT CAN YOU TRUST YOUR HEART?
Ever since they were kids, Alex has been Dianna's protector and pal, a shoulder to cry on. But as the brother of her best friend, Alex always seemed untouchable. Now a handsome, successful New York lawyer, Alex never realized how lonely Dianna's life has been-or how innocent she is in the ways of love. Alex wants more than anything to reach out to her, to heal her heart. But is his desire worth the risk? After a lifetime of longing building up between them, somethings gotta give. Maybe all it takes is just one kiss...
Review:
In the fifth installment of the Grayson Friends and Family series, we see Dianna Harrington, a famous model since she was a teenager. She is the face of her family's modeling house, The House of Harrington. She often believes that her family is using her for their own selfish pursuits. She in turns feels unloved and despite her beauty she has low self-esteem. Dianna's childhood friend, Alex, wants to pursue a relationship, but knowing Dianna's low self-esteem and her feelings of being used by people who supposedly love her, he is hesitant to take their friendship to the next level. But Dianna has a proposition to take their relationship further. Now it's up to Alex to see if he will take the risk of getting the love of his life or lose his longtime friendship with the woman he loves.
What I Liked: The tenderness of their romance. It was delicate and gentle as with all of Francis Ray's novels. You get a sense that the author cares about her characters because she gives them traits and characteristics that readers can relate to. I love her female characters, such as Dianna, have some wits about them. We get to see Dianna come into her own as an independent woman, searching for love and taking risks. At times, she can be a little naive and it was frustrating to read. But once she began to discover who she was as a woman, it was nice to watch her blossom. We also see Alex, an attorney, who is smart, loving and caring, but wants the woman he loves to be happy more than anything. Alex was by far my favorite character in the book. Together, Dianna and Alex tip toe around this romance that lingers in the air and as a reader you know when the match strikes, it's going to be good. This book is also in a series, but you don't need to read the other books, to know what's going on. It definitely stands on its own.
What I Didn't Like: It wasn't much I didn't like, except the romance took too long, as with most of Francis Ray's novels. She loves to have the romance simmer. For me simmer is good, but then it starts to fizzle and I become impatient. I want them to open their eyes, see the love there and get it on. And then perhaps when it's going good, throw in some turmoil. But that's not how Ms. Ray writes. She takes her time. And so with that, you'll have to make up your own mind.
I highly recommend this book.
I give it FOUR STARS
****
