Helen Chilcott does a wonderful bit of writing about two women who seem to fall into relationships because they're available and the men who use them. Jarratt is an opportunist. One can't help but wonder why he hangs around other than that the women let him. He's a slob, doesn't follow rules but he's familiar. He seems like a throwback to another century expecting his woman to wait on him, meet his needs, with very little given by him in return. He's preoccupied with sex twenty-four hours a day. It seems like both women are so numb from grief, hard work at jobs and school, that they don't often notice how shallow his personality is.

Jack McElvoy, Vivica's boss isn't much deeper than Jarratt as evidenced by the fact that he'd brag about his conquest around town. It takes several crises in their life for the women to shake off the haze and realize that there are others in the world who offer them friendship as well as love. There are probably a lot of readers who can relate to the women. I know I could as the author shows us the wonderful people under the surface of their grief. I'm glad she was able to help both find something better before the two succumbed to the men in their lives who were so far beneath what they deserved.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Dee Dailey
March 26, 2009