Design for Life (Paragon Softcover Large Print Books) [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Essie Summers (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1998 | Series: Paragon Softcover Large Print Books

Successful New Zealander thriller writer Dane Inglethorpe is visiting Britain on an exhausting signing tour. His publisher has arranged yet another signing, this time at a famous antiques shop, Leonora's, in Surrey.

Leonora is currently displaying New Zealand artifacts and has become enamoured by Dane's most recent books. Unwillingly, Dane goes to see her and is pleasantly surprised by the display, which features some excellent murals. He discovers that the artist is Leonora's granddaughter, Chloe.

At lunch with Leonora, he overhears a red-headed girl reject a proposal and she storms out of the restaurant. Always the alert writer, Dane feels that this is good subject matter and notes everything down. But when he returns to the shop he is intrigued to find that the artist granddaughter is also the red-head at the restaurant.

Dane asks Chloe to return to New Zealand with him to restore his pioneer home and covert his sister's house on the property into the restaurant she has dreamed of. But though he and Chloe are initially drawn to each other, Chloe is incensed when she discovers his notes on the quarrel in the restaurant back in England. Is she just being used as material for Dane's next book or does he really love her?

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 296 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Pr (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0754020673
• ISBN-13: 978-0754020677
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,433,334 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Light enjoyable read, April 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Design for Life (Paragon Softcover Large Print Books) (Hardcover)

I think Essie Summers died this past September. Please correct me if I am wrong.

This book is not as textured as her earlier ones. Yet it is a gentle idealistic story. Her leads seem removed from this generation. Characters from previous books are mentioned, one even makes an appearence. It was a nice nostalgic moment.

Summers wrote literate romances, she peppered her stories with poetry and prose from various sources. She shared her love of her native New Zealand as well. She also shared her deep spiritual believes in what I consider an unobtrusive manner. I am an atheist, yet felt comfortable enough with the characters deep religious beliefs. Possibly because Summers was comfortable with her beliefs so didn't force them upon the reader.

She clearly is/was a talented writer who writes intelligent romances with men who don't behave as boors and women who possess depth.

If I am correct and Summers is dead, she will be missed by many readers.

1 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I read it at least once a year, October 19, 1997

By 

[e-mail] (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Design for Life (Hardcover)

How can I explain Elizabeth Cadell's appeal? I've never been one for the typical "romance" novels, and Cadell's books certainly all include a romantic element. There's usually some sort of mystery or crisis as well. This one can be read in a day, and if you want something light and just plain enjoyable, try it. It's so refreshing to read a story that involves people falling in love without them also falling immediately into bed! Sometimes you want suspense, sometimes drama, and sometimes just plain enjoyment. If it's enjoyment, this story will do it.