Download or read book Playing House A single parent steamy romantic comedy written by Ellis O. Day and published by LSODea. This book was released on 2020-04-03 with total page 191 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nick is not a patient man. He wants a life with Sarah. Marriage. Kids. Everything. But she keeps dragging her feet. No wedding date set and every time he mentions kids, she panics. Sarah wants to marry Nick but she knows how quickly life can change for the worse. Watching her friend’s kids for the weekend is the perfect opportunity to teach Nick that having children isn’t just playing video games and eating popcorn. It’s a lot of work. But Nick has his own plans. He’s going to use this weekend to show Sarah that having kids, now, is a great idea. Will Nick realize that kids are more work than fun or will Sarah finally be able to bury her past and take a chance on her future? This steamy, second chance, new adult romantic comedy continues Nick and Sarah’s story because life doesn’t end when you find your true love. It’s only just beginning. Playboy Nick is ready to settle down. He’s ready to prove to Sarah that he’d be a great father and she’d be a terrific mother. This book is funny, poignant and super steamy with kinky scenes that are suitable for those over 18.

Download or read book Always a Bridesmaid Never a Plus One A Steamy Romantic Comedy written by Iris Morland and published by Blue Violet Press LLC. This book was released on 2022-10-11 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This wedding season, she’ll meet her match. As a bridesmaid-for-hire, Anna Dyer lives and breathes weddings. She’s not only the wedding planner, but she’s also the bride’s BFF, her confidante, and sometimes even her therapist. Yet all of Anna’s experience is useless when she’s forced to work with the dreamy grump Rowan Caldwell. Sure, Rowan might be a scrumptious hunk of manliness. But this handsome grump loathes weddings. Even worse? Rowan concocts a crazy scheme for them to be each other’s plus-ones for wedding season. He says it’ll make things more convenient. (How romantic!) Anna isn’t worried, though. She can play Rowan’s fake girlfriend without catching feelings. But love? It has other plans…

Download or read book A Playing Dirty Romantic Comedy Duet written by Pamela DuMond and published by Pamela DuMond. This book was released on with total page 367 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A PLAYING DIRTY DUET featurES two steamy, STAND ALONE, Holiday Romantic Comedies. THE CLIENT I was an underpaid assistant working at a matchmaking agency, surviving on Insta-Ramen and dreams. How was it possible that I made a love match that resulted in the society marriage of the year? Christmas season was upon us and I planned on enjoying this gorgeous wedding. I didn’t plan on running into the smoking hot, tuxedo-clad brick wall of a man. I didn’t plan on him stopping my fall by grabbing onto my boob and Not. Letting. Go. I most definitely didn’t plan on this gorgeous man being my new CLIENT. Joe was heir to the Delacroix Hotel fortune, whip smart, hilariously funny, and so yummy. I was tempted to… good God I wanted to... but sleeping with clients was a big, fat ‘No-No.’ Weren’t some rules meant to be broken? ** THE MATCHMAKER Aiden Black thought he’d left his past behind when he abandoned the priesthood. He channeled his desire to help others by creating WGA -- Chicago’s premiere matchmaking agency. Aiden’s the expert at finding true love for his clients but he’s put his own needs on hold for a Very. Long. Time. Violet Accardi doesn’t want to settle down and be a Mafia princess – she’s busy building her own sportswear company. Problem is Uncle Vincent promised Violet’s hand in marriage to the son of a rival family. When his goon attempts to kidnap her at the WGA Christmas party, Aiden shuts him down by pretending to be Violet’s fiancé. He’s smoking hot, such a gentleman, and Violet wonders what could it hurt to pretend to be in love for just one night? But Uncle Vincent calls their bluff, popping them both on a private jet headed to the Accardi home in Sicily for the holidays. Life for Violet and Aiden is about to become more complicated... Praise "Funny, witty, and hot, hot, HOT!..." ~ Ann Charles, USA Today Bestselling Author. "A captivating love story; simply have no words to describe how beautiful it is." Sofia Beddable Reads "2 Thumbs up for a great heart warming story..." ~ Barbara - A. Reviewer "Lots of feels, terrific secondary characters, drama, comedy, angst, this book has it all!" ~ Melissa P. "The perfect balance of funny (like laugh out loud funny), witty, and sexy (sosohot)." ~ Sweet Red Reader "... a sexy, funny, emotional heartwarming romance." April Symes "Everyone needs to discover Aiden Black..." Amy Stephens 1 click the Playing Dirty Duet!

Download or read book The Billionaire s Baby A workplace friends to lovers steamy romantic comedy written by Ellis O. Day and published by LSODea. This book was released on 2021-08-15 with total page 524 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Billionaire Harker has everything he wants, except a child. He’s finally chosen the mother. Alison is brilliant, kind and hard-working. Her genes will mesh perfectly with his. And it doesn’t hurt that he’s spent the last year fantasizing about taking her to his bed and doing all kinds of deliciously wicked things to her. Alison can’t believe that her boss wants her to have his kid and that he wants to do it the old-fashioned way. She can’t imagine having sex with him. He’s Harker. Sure he’s kind of sexy in a dark, brooding way and when he barks orders her body naturally responds, but still…sex with Harker? She can’t do that, or can she? His offer is hard to refuse, and she’d only have to be with him until she got pregnant. It shouldn’t take long, right? This steamy, later in life, friends to lovers, romantic comedy will have you laughing out loud. Harker is brusque, alpha and bossy. Alison is fine with that in the workplace. He is her boss after all, but she’s not sure about having his child. He's determined to have her in his life and his bed. All he has to do is find the right price. Everyone has one. This is the full four-book series. Book four ends with Harker and Alison's HEA.

Download or read book Clover Park Charmers Boxed Set Books 1 3 Steamy Romantic Comedy written by Kylie Gilmore and published by Extra Fancy Books. This book was released on 2020-10-05 with total page 509 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Escape into three hilarious feel-good romances with a frenemies to lovers romance, a devoted charmer who wins the girl against rock star competition, and a rock star longing to put a ring on it! The Clover Park Charmers Boxed Set includes: Almost Over It, Almost Married, and Almost Fate. Each is a stand-alone story with some Clover Park series favorites popping up too! Almost Over It A frenemies-to-lovers romance! When Jasmine Davis opens her new dance studio, she’s shocked to find she shares the building with Will Levi, aka the man she fought with all summer at the community theater. Will is rigid, uptight, and irritating, so why is she so turned on? Ex-bad boy Will has been living a life of penance ever since he crashed his car, nearly killing his brother. Jasmine is just one more reminder of the life he doesn’t deserve, but when one perfect kiss sets them on the slippery slope toward love, they both fear it will end with a crash. What do you do when the one person you can’t live with is the one person you can’t live without? Almost Married Brains vs brawn in an epic smackdown… Stephanie Moore’s boyfriend has husband material written all over him. One teensy problem—she’s still technically married. When she demands a divorce from the rock star husband she hasn’t seen in five years, he shows up on her doorstep wanting a second chance. Dave Olsen is so in love with Steph, he’s already researching diamond rings. If only he didn’t have to compete with the famous Griffin Huntley. Griffin is going all out to win Steph back, and Dave plans to fight for his woman. A mathlete vs. a rock star? Statistically speaking—oh, the hell with it. Game on! Almost Fate Is marriage in this rock star’s future? Rock star Griffin Huntley longs for the one thing he never had—family. And who better to give it to him than his girlfriend, manager, and muse, Christina Olsen. But when his New Year’s Eve marriage proposal hits a sour note, Christina flees his limo in the middle of Manhattan, leaving Griffin fearing the worst. Christina has been burned in marriage before and knows marrying Griffin would be the kiss of death in their relationship. Just look at the disaster with his first wife. But when Griffin is spotted in the press with not one but two beautiful women, Christina has a few choice words to say. To his face. Only what she discovers is a secret from the past taking over Griffin’s life. Can two people with scarred hearts ever leave their pasts behind or does fate have other plans? The Clover Park Charmers series continues with Almost in Love! Clover Park Charmers Series Almost Over It (Book 1) Almost Married (Book 2) Almost Fate (Book 3) Almost in Love (Book 4) Almost Romance (Book 5) Almost Hitched (Book 6) Keywords: contemporary romance, romantic comedy, chick lit, funny romance, humorous romance, humorous fiction, women's fiction, series romance, series, family sagas, romance series, romance, romantic, family life, dating, humor, marriage, love, family life, friendship, Kylie Gilmore, USA Today bestselling author, sagas, romantic comedy series, friends to lovers romance, steamy romance, romance series, romance books, small town romance, smart romance, hot romance, geek romance, kylie gilmore romance, beach read, romcom, boxed set, box set, romance boxed set, anthologies, romance anthologies, romantic comedy boxed set

Download or read book Clover Park Charmers Complete Boxed Set Books 1 6 Steamy Romantic Comedy written by Kylie Gilmore and published by Extra Fancy Books. This book was released on 2021-10-29 with total page 1049 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Six hilarious feel-good romances! Enjoy a frenemies-to-lovers romance, a rock star romance, and a brainy virgin with a devoted alpha of her own! All of the Clover Park Charmers series in one boxed set. The Clover Park Charmers Complete Boxed Set includes: Almost Over It, Almost Married, Almost Fate, Almost in Love, Almost Romance, and Almost Hitched. Each is a stand-alone story with some Clover Park series favorites popping up too! Keywords: contemporary romance, romantic comedy, chick lit, funny romance, humorous romance, humorous fiction, women's fiction, series romance, series, family sagas, romance series, romance, romantic, family life, dating, humor, marriage, love, family life, friendship, Kylie Gilmore, USA Today bestselling author, sagas, romantic comedy series, friends to lovers romance, steamy romance, romance series, romance books, small town romance, smart romance, hot romance, geek romance, kylie gilmore romance, beach read, romcom, boxed set, box set, romance boxed set, anthologies, romance anthologies, romantic comedy boxed set

Download or read book Flirting with the Scrooge written by Gia Stevens and published by Wild Clover Publishing, LLC. This book was released on 2023-11-20 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Enjoy this steamy holiday, grumpy/sunshine standalone romcom by romantic comedy author Gia Stevens… ‘Twas a month before Christmas, and all through the town, Everyone was ready to celebrate, except my hot and grumpy new neighbor. Christmas is my favorite time of year with the festive parties and holiday cheer. But having Connor Tyler move in next door is as much fun as searching for a burned-out bulb in a string of lights. His rugged good looks and guitar can make anyone swoon. That doesn’t change the fact that he slammed the door in my face when I welcomed him with a tray of homemade cookies. But I won’t let his bah-humbug attitude damper my holiday spirit. This year, more than ever, I need to deck the halls and revel in being jolly. As I ramp up my holiday cheer, Connor spends more and more time casting lingering glances toward my… mistletoe. When a blizzard hits, a gesture of hospitality leads to exchanging more than presents. As Christmas draws nearer, I chip away at his icy facade only to discover a painful truth. There’s an expiration date on his time next door. And I’m certain I don’t have enough boxes of tinsel to convince him to stay. Flirting with the Scrooge is the fifth book in the Harbor Highlands series. It's a grumpy/sunshine, holiday romantic comedy filled with holiday antics and snow melting interactions. Be prepared to laugh-out-loud one minute and swoon the next in this steamy standalone romcom. Each book in the Harbor Highlands Series is set in the same world and delivers a guaranteed happily ever after. Harbor Highlands Series: 1. Flirting with the Playboy 2. Flirting with the Enemy 3. Flirting with the Stranger 4. Flirting with the Bad Boy 5. Flirting with the Scrooge

Download or read book Trapped Between Right And Wrong Single Parent Forbidden Romance written by Kristina Beck and published by Kristina Beck. This book was released on 2023-10-12 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Kristina Beck’s Trapped Between Right And Wrong is a heartwarming, small-town, single parent contemporary romance. An innocent wish. That’s all it was. Charli Because of my selfishness, people lose their lives. And if the punishment isn’t bad enough, I inherit everything my sister leaves behind, including her adorable six-month-old baby girl. Now, I’m a fumbling single mom and tough career woman whose life lies in the balance. Unexpectedly, Kellan, my father’s broody business partner, reappears, looking ridiculously handsome as ever. For a man who couldn’t stand breathing the same air as me before, he’s suddenly melting at my feet. Little does he know he’s starred in plenty of my steamy dreams. Slowly the wall between us melts away and love and passion take its place. Everyone says I’m the winner in this situation, but guilt chases away my happiness. Then two more bombs shatter my fragile world, making me question the strength of true love and my future. Kellan They say I was a hero that Thanksgiving morning. To me, I was at the wrong place at the wrong time. The horrific images burned into my memory are on constant repeat. I was thankful it wasn’t Charli crushed in the wreckage, the woman I’ve always hidden my true feelings from. It was her sister, Sandy. Now I’m brought face-to-face with Charli and her niece, teasing me with a future I’ve always wanted. Out of respect for my boss, I’ve gone as far as to callously dismiss her for years. But circumstances have changed, and that reasoning is irrelevant now. It’s time I put everything on the line and prove she’s the only woman for me… even if it means losing her anyway, if she finds out what I’ve been hiding from her. Keywords: contemporary romance, love from afar, single mom, single parent, small town romance, boss's daughter, age gap, lovable hero, parenting, family life, contemporary romance ebook, women’s romantic fiction, romance novel, inspirational, angsty romance novel, emotionally charged romance book, new beginnings, infant, surprise baby, secret love, construction worker, contractor, interior design

Download or read book Stage Mom written by K.L. Montgomery and published by Mountains Wanted Publishing. This book was released on with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A mom who'll never give up fighting for her special needs daughter... A "nice guy" who finally learns to take a stand... Larissa and Mateo's worlds collide in Stage Mom! Everything about Larissa Emerson is strong. Her personality. Her snark. Her aversion to men after one too many disappointments. Her unwavering fight to ensure her special needs daughter is treated like any other girl--a fight that ramps up when she begs to compete in a beauty pageant. Mateo Flores is in his first year of heading up the Little Miss Rehoboth pageant, and he’s not about to screw it up. He knew he’d be dealing with stereotypical pageant moms, but he never saw this one coming. She hits him like a hurricane, all strength and beauty and attitude. How can he say no to a force of nature like Larissa Emerson? Stage Mom is part of the Romance in Rehoboth Series. If you like your romcoms sweet, funny and semi-clean, if you enjoy a small town setting, and if you like your heroines curvy, strong, and a little bit snarky, then by the time you're done reading, you're gonna want to move to Rehoboth Beach! It's a real place--in Delaware. I know, right? Delaware has beaches and people actually go there? On purpose? I'm as surprised as you are. These books can be read in any order, but if you're one of those types... Then here ya go: Book 1: Music Man (Claire and Jack's Story) Book 2: The Flip (Sonnet and Drew's Story) Book 3: Plot Twist (Lindy and Meric's Story) Book 4: Badge Bunny (Brynne and Chris's Story) Book 5: Wedding War (Hannah and Jason's Story) Book 6: Stage Mom (Larissa and Mateo's Story) Book 7: Shark Bite (Megan and Shark's Story)

Download or read book The Love Hypothesis written by Ali Hazelwood and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2021-09-14 with total page 401 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Instant New York Times Bestseller and TikTok Sensation! As seen on THE VIEW! A BuzzFeed Best Summer Read of 2021 When a fake relationship between scientists meets the irresistible force of attraction, it throws one woman's carefully calculated theories on love into chaos. As a third-year Ph.D. candidate, Olive Smith doesn't believe in lasting romantic relationships--but her best friend does, and that's what got her into this situation. Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks: Scientists require proof. So, like any self-respecting biologist, Olive panics and kisses the first man she sees. That man is none other than Adam Carlsen, a young hotshot professor--and well-known ass. Which is why Olive is positively floored when Stanford's reigning lab tyrant agrees to keep her charade a secret and be her fake boyfriend. But when a big science conference goes haywire, putting Olive's career on the Bunsen burner, Adam surprises her again with his unyielding support and even more unyielding...six-pack abs. Suddenly their little experiment feels dangerously close to combustion. And Olive discovers that the only thing more complicated than a hypothesis on love is putting her own heart under the microscope.

Download or read book Love Diamonds and Spades A feisty single mom sweet small town musician romantic comedy written by Violet Duke and published by Violet Duke. This book was released on 2015-02-03 with total page 199 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: -- A USA TODAY best-seller -- Fiercely independent single mom Quinn Christiansen likes being known for having a heart too hard for any man to break. So when she finally meets the lone man in town inexplicably undaunted by her ball-busting tendencies, she has absolutely no clue what to do with him. Not only is he ridiculously handsome, and surprisingly sweet under his gruff and gritty exterior, he's also clearly determined to invade her life. Rylan Grey isn't used to getting a woman so worked up. Well, not in a bad way, at least. And yet somehow, his mere existence seems to nettle the guarded and gorgeous Quinn to no end. But that's okay. He's a patient guy. Truth be told, though he's never wagered anything he's not willing to lose--namely his heart--where Quinn is concerned, he's more than ready to ante up...for what's bound to be his riskiest gamble yet. "Violet's writing simply jumps off the page and grabs you from the first sentence. If you love strong heroes, you'll love her books." -- New York Times Bestselling Author Bella Andre THE CACTUS CREEK SERIES Love, Chocolate, and Beer [Luke & Dani] Love, Diamonds, and Spades [Rylan & Quinn] Love, Tussles, and Takedowns [Hudson & Lia] Love, Exes, and Ohs [Isaac & Xoey] All the Cactus Creek books are standalone novels with feel-good HEAs. :) Enjoy!

Download or read book One Night in Foxbrooke written by Evie Alexander and published by Emlin Press. This book was released on 2023-04-14 with total page 68 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Enjoy this steamy small town romance series by award-winning romantic comedy author Evie Alexander! They’ve got one night for a second chance at love… When chef Ben ‘Kenobi’ Walker gets the call to help save a VIP dinner at Foxbrooke Manor, he doesn’t expect to run into old flame Leia Perry. She's all grown up and even more attractive than when they were teenagers - but she hasn't forgotten what happened ten years ago, and she definitely hasn’t forgiven him. Hard-working Leia may be named after a princess but she's still waiting for her prince. Ben was her brother’s best friend, her first kiss and her first love. But he was also a liar — their kiss was nothing but a bet. Now forced to work together under pressure, sparks fly. Will one night give Ben the second chance he needs to prove himself and win back Leia’s heart? Or will fate strike back and their love be lost in a galaxy far far away? One Night in Foxbrooke is a short and sizzling second-chance romantic comedy with no cheating, no cliffhanger and a guaranteed happy-ever-after that’s out of this world – Perfect for fans of Lucy Score, Pippa Grant, Kayley Loring, Tara Sivec, Lauren Landish, Lauren Blakely and Nicole Snow! Get your copy of One Night in Foxbrooke today!

Download or read book Writing for Visual Media written by Anthony Friedmann and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2021-11-28 with total page 492 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Writing for Visual Media provides writers with an understanding of the nature of visual writing behind all visual media. Such writing is vital for directors, actors, and producers to communicate content to audiences. Friedmann provides an extended investigation into dramatic theory and how entertainment narrative works, illustrated by examples and detailed analysis of scenes, scripts, techniques, and storylines. This new edition has a finger on the pulse of the rapidly evolving media ecosystem and explains it in the context of writing and creating content. Friedmann lays out many of the complex professional, creative, and commercial issues that a writer needs to understand in order to tell engaging stories and construct effective and professional screenplays. This new edition includes: A new chapter on storytelling A fresh examination of dramatic theory and how to apply it to constructing screenplays Updated discussion of mobile platforms A lengthened discussion of copyright, ethics, and professional development issues An updated companion website with sample scripts and corresponding videos, an interactive glossary, sample storyboards and screenplays, links to industry resources, and materials for instructors such as slides, a syllabus, and a test bank.

Download or read book It Was All The Cat s Fault written by Elizabeth SaFleur and published by Elizabeth SaFleur LLC. This book was released on 2022-04-05 with total page 275 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An opposites attract, meet cute, confirmed bachelorette, hot handyman, laugh out loud, romcom from award-winning Elizabeth SaFleur. Super independent Eve can juggle work, school and a fixer-upper house just fine with a little help from YouTube. Well, she could, if her beloved cat, Thor, would stop getting into trouble—like getting stuck behind the walls. Thankfully, plumbers make house calls at ridiculous-o’clock in the morning. Enter hot handyman Brent who not only has all the power tools she needs, he looks like the God Thor. A mountain of muscle with movie-star hair, shining green eyes, and a perfectly scruffed, chiseled jaw. Just great. This confirmed bachelorette doesn’t have time for all the lusty neediness rising where it should not be rising. Eve reminds herself and her weakening knees that she’s a strong, independent woman determined to make it without anyone’s help. But as more renovation and cat-astrophes pile on, she finds her fingers doing the walking to call Brent to her rescue. She has to decide if keeping Brent at arm’s length fits her life plan, or if it’s the biggest miscalculation she’s ever made. It doesn’t help Thor seems to be in cahoots with Brent when it comes to setting up steamy romantic moments between them. ~~~~~ Perfect for readers of Julia Kent, Avery Flynn, Lila Monroe, Meghan Quinn, Pippa Grant, Lucy Score, Penny Reid, Lauren Blakely, Sally Thorne, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Kendall Ryan, Kristan Higgins, Helena Hunting, and Sophie Kinsella.

Download or read book Playing for Love written by Jeevani Charika and published by HarperCollins UK. This book was released on 2022-02-11 with total page 301 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ‘LOVED it... Romantic, witty, insightful and engaging.’ Sue Moorcroft, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Home in the Sun ***Shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Jane Wenham-Jones Award for Romantic Comedy!***

Download or read book Perfect Life A Novel written by Jessica Shattuck and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2010-06-14 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Jessica Shattuck’s engrossing, deceptively ambitious novel explores a wide range of subjects . . . with a shrewd and sympathetic eye.”—Tom Perrotta “In this smart and engaging follow-up to her well-received debut, The Hazards of Good Breeding, Shattuck focuses on three privileged Gen X college roommates who are now grown up, coupled up, and raising kids in pre-recession Boston. The cracks in their ‘perfect lives’ begin to show when the most precocious of the trio, a gorgeous striver named Jenny whose husband is infertile, makes the unconventional decision to have a baby with a sperm donation from Neil, her brainy, slacker ex-boyfriend from Harvard. . . . Stylish storytelling and sharp social commentary . . . make Perfect Life both topical and eminently readable.”—People

Download or read book Unhappily Ever After written by I. Gelman Norman I. Gelman and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2009-11 with total page 514 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Unhappily Ever After employs three different narrative techniques to tell the story of Rachel Rothschild, her family and friends, the wealthy young man who will become her husband and their children. Seeking to establish her own identity, other than as her rich husband's consort, Rachel works hard at becoming an investigative journalist, and she is succeeding.. But then she experiences a trauma that threatens to destroy her sanity and marriage. Trying to recover her balance, Rachel, who had always been a star student, enters graduate school in large part as a retreat from life and emotions she cannot control. The story is told in four chapters or books. The first book is an autobiography, begun when Rachel is expecting her first child. It starts with Rachel's tomboy childhood in Santa Monica, California, moves on to the development of a tight circle of girlfriends in junior high and high school and the angst and the sexual experimentation of teen-dom. As in real life, the first book surrounds Rachel not just with her girlfriends but with parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, each of whose stories is an element in Rachel's own story. After entering the University of Colorado to room with her cousin, Yalie Goodman, Rachel is expelled following a drunk driving accident. She undergoes several months of difficult community service back in the Los Angeles area. Then she reenters college as a beginning freshman at UCLA and the following year is permitted by her parents to transfer to the University of California at Berkeley. There she pursues her goal of becoming a journalist and meets the young man, JJ Weiner, whom she will marry. But the marriage will not take place until JJ completes his law degree and obtains an MBA. Meanwhile, he insists that Rachel complete her senior year at Berkeley, return to her hometown and begin her career. He also refuses to have sex with her until they are married, adding up to more than two years of frustration and bafflement for Rachel. Unwillingly, Rachel accepts JJ's edict because she is not strong enough to stand up to him. It is not until after they are engaged that Rachel realizes that JJ comes from an extremely wealthy family and that their life together in Colorado will be luxurious, but also restrictive. Although she intends to keep her name, her identity will depend on him, not on her own achievements. Following the birth relatively early in the marriage of their first child, Rachel, at her husband's suggestion, goes to work at a local magazine and soon carves out a place for herself, building a reputation for tackling challenging issues. However, a miscarriage and the difficult birth of her second child mire Rachel in post-partum depression. She is just beginning to regain her footing when she experiences the trauma that forever changes her life. The trauma is described in the present tense in the second book. That is, it is taking place in real time while it's being read. The third and fourth books are told in the familiar third person past tense. The two books cover Rachel's efforts to overcome the emotional consequences of her experience, partly with professional help but also with the support of a cousin, Dev Goodman, who lives nearby in Denver, and Jessica Sherman, a rock-solid girlfriend back home in Santa Monica, California. As her young relatives begin to experience professional success, Rachel feels left behind, a damaged person who has retreated to academia to avoid real life in which she considers herself a failure as a mother and wife. Over a period of almost four years, ever reliant on her cousin and girlfriend, Rachel begins to understand the underlying source of her discontent, which has roots extending beyond her trauma. Unexpected developments accumulate and eventually explode into a crisis leading to a startling denouement. This is an ambitious novel with a large cast of characters, each of whose lives is intertwined with