Mia Zachary, Afternoon Delight

Afternoon Delight

Mia Zachary

Harlequin Blaze, April 2006, $4.75

ISBN: 0373792514

In San Francisco, Superior Court Commissioner Rei Davis is as tough as anyone when it comes to her work as a family referee. However, since her bout with breast cancer that is in remission, she drew up a life list, changing her values and much of her lifestyle. The greatest example is her accepting the lower paying public mediator job instead of the private sector tract to law firm partner she seemed destined to fulfill.

Now Rei wants to taste a loving passionate and compassionate relationship with a man preferably Mr. Right. At a night club with her friend Phoebe J. Hollinger she meets computerized dating service owner Chris London. He, like her, seeks his perfect match, but has finally concluded that either there is no one for him, or true love is a Hollywood ending. Rei and Chris are attracted to one another, but will the realities of their professional and personal lives destroy what if given time could prove the perfect match?

This terrific contemporary relationship drama stars two adults struggling with real problems that will hit home to the audience who will believe both of them are family or neighbors. Rei is terrific as she confronts family issues that could easily destroy the psyche of a person with its seeming hopelessness, while she also fantasizes that there is someone for her. Chris is her perfect partner, as he too seeks what he has begun to believe is myth, a woman to love forever. Mia Zachary provides a strong character driven tale that seems authentic and is well written that the audience will enjoy an AFTERNOON'S DELIGHT reading it.