Erik had watched the woman since she came into his shop. Now she stood before him and placed her wedding band on the counter to sell it. He could feel his attraction to her immediately. Even wet she was gorgeous and obviously now available. Erik told her he'd give her fifteen dollars for the gold band with the faux diamonds but she wanted to haggle about it. Maybe she didn't really want to get rid of it. Erick tried for a date with her and she blew him off in a brusque manner. He must have read the signals wrong, the lady had seemed interested at first. Finally, they agreed on a price, she took the cash, and left the shop. Despite the fact he was highly attracted to Samantha Whitman she wanted nothing to do with him. Then his brother explained to him why. On the register were pictures of his ex-wife and his two daughters and on Erik's finger was his wedding band. Taking his brother's advice, he took it off and felt like a weight lifted off his shoulders.

Ms. Whitman, during their haggling, left her driver's license behind giving Erik the perfect excuse to drop by her home and present her with her license. That was what his younger brother suggested he do. However, Erik was hesitant to do anything so bold. Closing the shop and picking up a Pizza for his daughter's dinner, he ate with them and his mother who also encouraged him to do something along the same lines as his brother. After drinking, a beer or two Erik found the nerve to drop by Samantha's house.

Samantha, after leaving the pawnshop had gone to the grocery store and then, as if the car had driven taken her there on its own, stopped at the grave of her stillborn daughter. Part of the reason for the break up of her marriage was the inability of Samantha to bear children; the last blow to their marriage was her loss of their daughter. Heartbroken and in shock she was in need of comfort from a husband who had been having an affair and was unable or unwilling to comfort her. The marriage had ended badly.

Finding the strength at last, she drove home to an empty house. She showered then sat on the couch and drank a glass of wine too exhausted to eat dinner. She desperately needed a loving understanding man. She though about Erik, the man from the pawnshop, the attraction had been instantaneously. Nevertheless, he was married and she would never go with a married man. Unable to rid herself of fantasizing about him and the arousal he had caused, her hands strayed to the lonely and erotic places long left ignored on her slender body. In a dreamy state, she could imagine his strong hands on her body.

Somewhere in the distance, she heard the doorbell ring. Sluggishly she heard it again and managed to answer it. Erik stood in her doorway, the answer to her prayers.

Ms. Jenson has written a wonderfully erotic and touching story of two Lost Hearts, both nearly broken. She has used the weather to set the mood for both characters illustrating how desperately lonely each had become. The sexual tension between Samantha and Erik is electric when they meet as the thunderstorm outside, but Samantha isn't one to date a married man. Ms. Jenson has cleverly taken her readers from the darkness of her Character's painful Lost Hearts to the light of Found Souls in each other's arms. Lost Hearts and Found Souls is a moving and enjoyable read. One I thoroughly enjoyed. From the Character's first meeting to the end, their attraction is undeniable and HOT. This isn't just a "jump in the bed" read but one with feelings and emotions that will convince the reader of love at first sight and yes, even fate.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Orange Blossom
June 2, 2004