Better...the second time around | Like the First Time

Ray Knows Romance! | Like the First Time | Francis Ray

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	• Like the First Time Francis Ray St. Martin's Griffin, 2004 - 368 pages average customer review:based on 25 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

This is a Must Read

I really enjoyed this book. The Man of Bliss concept was just brilliant. I loved how the women stood strong for what they believe in and conquered. If you are not sure about the author this book will make you change your mind.

Better...the second time around

Like the First Time was better for Claire, Lorraine, and Brooke the second time around. Well, Ms. Ray does what she does best and pens a tale of romance, desire, and companionship all rolled up into one. This book depicts three women with different ideologies but with a common dilemna....that bonds them together for life. Lorraine comes into the fold, the most mature of them all, but quickly learn some lessons from both Claire and Brooke. Brooke, the youngest, but the most experience of them all finds the gentle side of herself as she falls in love with someone who she thought would never fit into her equation. Claire, comes into the picture completely naive and innocent, but quickly learns and likes the game of chase and capture...by any means necessary. Come on a take this romantic journey with Francis Ray as she takes hold of your emotions and coasts with you on this unforgettable story of love and lust and then more of love, lust, and happiness.

Ms. Ray does it again, with this novel and you won't be disappointed.

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Ray Knows Romance!

Claire and Brooke lose their 9 to 5s. Claire turns to her friend, Lorraine, who convinces Claire to tap into Claire's underlying skills and start a business. Claire solicits the help of Brooke and the three ladies create Bliss, the shop and product line. In between making the business a success, Claire, Brooke, and Lorraine deal with the ups and downs of finding and sustaining love and happiness in their personal lives.

Francis Ray writes about love and romance with a sincerity and purity that is first-rate. The pages of this story ooze with love, lust, and possible lost - so much so that it makes the book hard to put down. I could see myself as a fly on the wall as the story unfolded. Truth be told, I found myself tearing up in some moments. Darn shame - LOL.

This is the 3rd book of Ray's that I've read and have in my collection and she has yet to disappoint. Good stuff here! 3.5 stars!

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Good but slow

This novel caught my attention on the first page and it lasted to about halfway through the 350 page novel. There was about 100 pages I really had to push myself through because the story seemed to stall. And then the last chapter was just too pat of an ending. I thought Claire was really going have to fight to win her man back from his own inflected prison, but that didn't really happen. I also wanted a bigger can of whoop arse when she finally stood up to her brother. Lorraine and Hamilton weren't as dynamic as the other characters and I also thought the conclusion of their strife was too pat. She said nothing more than what she said the entire book to turn him around. And what was Jana's plan? Just go in a room and stand there? same for the Bliss shop? I thought someone as cunning as she was portrayed would of had a better plan. Again the last half of the book I was skimming and the book still seemed long.

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"Blissfully Entertaining"

Oh my goodness where do I begin. Francis Ray is a master storyteller because she takes a storyline and runs with it. I see alot of myself in "Claire", my heart went out to "Lorraine", and "Brooke"...that's my girl. The men in this story are so unique and fascinating. I feel that every woman should have a "John Randle" in their life, unfortunately "Gray Livingston"s don't exist in the world but it's fun to dream, Claire's brother "Derek" is a poor example of a man, "Thomas" is A-O.K, and last but NOT least, "Hamilton, Hamilton, Hamilton". He was my favorite throughout this novel. The way he depended on Lorraine to take care of him and their house, was so funny to me. The part where he wanted Lorraine to come home and wash his favorite unmentionables was hilarious. I have to say that when I read "Any Rich Man Will Do", I felt sorry for "Jana" and all that she went through, but now that I've read this book, I totally understand. Ms. Ray you're excellent, keep doing whatcha do.

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THE GOOD SISTER. Claire Bennet has lost her job for the second time in as many years due to downsizing. She doesn't know what she's going to do since her checking account has almost been stripped bare and her older brother is always a day late and a dollar short. With no man in her life, her parents' home is all she has and she's going to lose that unless she can think of something quick.

THE GOOD LOVER. Fashionable and trendy Brooke Dunlap has also been downsized, but she's not worried because she expects her wealthy boyfriend to propose any day now. Unfortunately, Randaolph Peterson III has other plans and dumps her. Now Brooke is left devastated with no engagement ring, a pile of bills and a Jag that's in the shop.

THE GOOD WIFE. Lorraine Averhart lost one of her dearest friends to cancer only months before and with that friendship, their dream of opening their own florist shop. But when Lorraine sees the wonderful candles, soaps and bath gels Claire has created, she pushes them to go into business together. With Brooke's savvy about what women want, Claire's products and Lorraine's money, they're sure to be a hit. They've got nothing to lose, so why not?

But Lorraine's marriage comes under terrible strain as the business takes off and a new a temptation appears on the horizon; Claire becomes involved with one of the most powerful men in town; and Brooke is forced to reevaluate what matters most: a fat bank account or love and belonging somewhere she can call home?

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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