Elise Lanier Treading Lightly

Treading Lightly

Elise Lanier

Harlequin Next, Jan 2006, $5.50

ISBN: 0373880782

Not known for a layback approach to life, bestselling writer Janine Ruvacadois is stunned with Dr. Harvey's medical finding that she suffers from sever osteoporosis that could easily lead to her being wheelchair bound. She feels this is not an opportune time to worry about breaking bones, as her son is turning into an evil teen and her mom is driving her crazy; alas part of the woes of the sandwiched. Even her ex is trying to cook his way back into her life.

However, Dr. H forces Janine to do more than just reassess her lifestyle of taking the hill at any cost. Besides diet and medicine, she begins an exercise program to at least prevent any further damage to her skeletal structure, especially her spine. As she works out, she meets Tom Kennedy who finds her attractive and brings encouragement to a still upset Janine.

TREADING LIGHTLY may be a Harlequin Next tale, but it is not a romance; instead the storyline focuses on a fortyish woman needing to adjust how she lives due to osteoporosis. The storyline provides the audience plenty of information on this somewhat common crippling illness, though at times the amount slows down the pace of a solid character study. Janine is terrific with her efforts to change from a drill instructor into a mellow mushroom as she tries to learn to tread lightly.