Marie Ferrarella The Setup

The Setup

Marie Ferrarella

Harlequin Special Release, Jul 2006, $4.99

ISBN: 0373389396

His wife died eight years ago leaving corporate lawyer Jefferson Lambert to raise his preadolescent daughter Emily by himself though her Uncle Blake helps. Now the Boston based attorney has rejected the notion of going to his alma mater Tulane University for the reunion. Emily wants him to go as he never has time for himself since he became mother and father to her.

Emily and her uncle manage to persuade stubborn Jefferson to attend the gala. They even arranged for him to have a computer based blind date. However, upon meeting free spirited artist Sylvie Marchand, Jefferson feels his little teenage matchmaker blew his profile, but does not know why. However, as he begins to fall in love with Sylvie, someone steals two valuable paintings from the Marchand family gallery at the elegant Marchand Hotel so the lovebirds team up in search of the stolen goods.

The second Hotel Marchand romance (see IN THE DARK by Judith Arnold) is a wonderful contemporary romance starring two nice people loaded down with personal baggage that make neither a candidate for a lasting relationship especially with the New Englander-Louisiana disconnection. The story line predominately focuses on the relationship between the opposites as both their families find this a suitable match, but the participants have doubts even after falling in love. The late mystery adds suspense and serves as a final catalyst to bring prim and proper Jefferson and bohemian Sylvie tether, but that seems unnecessary gimmicky to a fine romance.

Harriet Klausner