Product Description

Stephanie Mortimer feels trapped. Her alcoholic mother and domineering father have never loved each other, let alone their only child, and her upbringing has been one of violence, repression and neglect. In an attempt to escape, Steph agrees to marry a man she doesnt even love but a tragic accident means their marriage never takes place. Then her father dies and the terms of his will reveal that he still has a hold on Steph even beyond the grave. Reeling from the news, the last person Steph expects to meet is the man of her dreams. Jason Connor could change her life for ever, but will their whirlwind romance be the answer to Stephs prayers or the beginning of a nightmare?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #29078 in Books
• Published on: 2009-02-19
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

About the Author
Lynda Page was born and brought up in Leicester. The eldest of four daughters, she left home at seventeen and has had a wide variety of office jobs. She lives in Leicester.

Customer Reviews

The Dating Game
It's been a while since I read a Lynda Page novel, so I thought I'd renew my acquaintance with this intriguing sounding saga.

Gil Morton is an all-round good egg. He and his wife, Alexandra (hereafter known as Lex), have brought their two sons up well. Their hard-working family is respected in the neighbourhood. But someone has it in for Gil. His world falls apart when a woman he works with accuses him of molesting her.

Many of Lynda Page's trademarks are stamped on this story: the whiter-than-white, almost saintly hero/heroine; the faithful friends/family who rally to their aid; the Leicester parlance (although it's not quite as prevalent in this story as it is in some of the author's earlier novels, for example the excellent Josie). Lynda Page is a highly skilled storyteller and it's easy to get wrapped up in the leading characters' lives.

Lex, realising that the family income is now being severely squeezed, decides that she must re-enter the work force. But what skills does she have that she could turn to good use? Well it just so happens that she is renowned for her ability to match people to their potentially perfect partners, and, as luck would have it, a marriage bureau has just opened locally and the owner is looking for an assistant. The perfect job for Lex!

Lots of comedy potential is realised in this novel, notably with the marriage bureau's owner being completely unsuited for her chosen occupation. Meanwhile, Gil, who, fearing that another groundless accusation may be aimed at him, has withdrawn himself from female society. Unfortunately, he finds himself alone with a woman on a couple of occasions. In these scenes, Gil seems to have undergone some kind of role reversal whereby it's the man and not the woman who is hysterically saying, "Don't come near me." Obviously this is not usually a subject for levity, but the notion of a hitherto hearty male specimen like Gil wilting in the innocent company of a woman sets up some neat comedy of misunderstanding.

This is a romantic saga, not a whodunit, so the ending isn't exactly a surprise. But the conclusion is of secondary importance; it's the storytelling that makes this novel such an enjoyable read. If you enjoy romantic sagas but have never tried one of Lynda Page's novels, you have a real treat in store. This is a good place to begin. I'd also recommend Josie, Evie, No Going Back and my absolute favourite, Just by Chance.