Designed For Passion (Kimani Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Francine Craft (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2008 | Series: Kimani Romance (Book 82)

Curvy Melodye Carter runs a successful boutique dedicated to plus-sized beauties. The widow and mother of twin boys also has serious troubles. Her husband's mysterious death has been linked to another shooting, and now she's more than grief stricken...she's a little afraid. Detective Jim Ryman is drawn into her case, and soon Melodye and her mischievous boys are reawakening feelings he'd sworn off after his wife's death. He didn't think he could love again, but proud yet vulnerable Melodye makes him remember what it means to be a man in love--a man who will risk everything to protect his woman.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Kimani (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373860579
• ISBN-13: 978-0373860579
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,233,377 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

More than anything, I'm a whole earth lover, but that doesn't mean I like everything. I do give people the benefit of the doubt, and I'm happy with that.

I've written 19 contemporary romance novels and been a participant in 4 romance anthologies for Harlequin, Kensington, and BET and. I've had a really good time writing romances and have a mainstream romance, Solomon and Sheba, biblically-based and this century to be released in 2012., but I've indie published a multicultural thriller, "Dying On The Edge," on sale now on Amazon and all online bookstores. I will also be doing a triology of biblically-oriented mainstream romances that I will also indie-publish. Edge will be a series. I love this, and I look forward to having you read and let me have your comments, yea or nay. They're all part of the writing game.

My mind really began to open when I began to indie-publish. I was lucky enough to find good help after many many stumbles and disappointments.

Please visit my interactive website. You'll find all my books and reviews on there and some good info about me. http://www.francinecraft.com.

I'm looking foward to hearing from you. My website is interactive.

Best,

Francine

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sizzling Romance, March 26, 2008

By 

drebbles (Arlington, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Designed For Passion (Kimani Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Despite having beautiful young twins and running a successful boutique catering to plus-sized beauties, Melodye Carter suffers from low self-esteem. Her mother has always favored Melodye's sister Lucia and never misses an opportunity to tell Melodye how much prettier and slimmer Lucia is compared to Melodye. Melodye's late husband Rafael also added to her low self-esteem, cheating on her and taking every chance he could to put her down right up until he was murdered. When Detective Jim Ryman reenters her life while investigating Rafael's murder, the chemistry is obvious between them, but, afraid of getting hurt again, Melodye wants to keep him at arms length. That's fine with Jim, his own marriage wasn't great and he feels he failed his late wife. Will Melodye and Jim be able to just be friends or will the passion between them be too much?

A couple of things struck me right away about Melodye, the heroine of "Designed for Passion". She's not the typical lily-white, thin, and gorgeous heroine so often portrayed in romance novels. She is indeed attractive, but African-American and overweight - a welcome change. She's a great heroine and her insecurities are very real and will make readers sympathize with her especially as the details of her marriage are revealed. Jim Ryman is a great hero, as he has his own insecurities, especially about the failure of his own marriage and whether or not he'd be a good husband and father. Of the supporting characters in the book, I liked Papa France and Miss Belle the best, especially when they try to play matchmaker. Melodye's mother and sister are a bit too stereotypical villains to be believable.

"Designed for Passion" has two basic plot lines - who killed Melodye's husband and the romance between Melodye and Tim. The mystery is the weaker of the two plots and could have been developed better although there are some twists at the end. The romance between Melodye and Jim is what carries the book and it is a hot and heavy one. And I do mean hot and heavy - there are some sizzling sex scenes in the book. For me, the only problem with this is that the chemistry between Melodye and Tim is so obvious that it's hard to buy the excuses that each of them has for not getting involved with each other.

"Designed for Passion" is a sizzling romance novel.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love Story Praising the Full Figure Sista, June 15, 2008

By 

M. Bruner ""Deltareviewer" Real Page ... (Oklahoma!) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Designed For Passion (Kimani Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Here's another love story praising the full figure sista. Melodye Carter is attempting to bring her life back to normal. It hasn't been long since she her husband, Rafael, died leaving her to raise the twins. Even though she has lived her life in the shadow of her ultra thin sister and domineering mother, Melodye is traveling the road of successful plus-size fashion designer and boutique owner.

Melodye's life changes when the attractive Detective Jim Ryman returns to town and discovers that Rafael was murdered. His conversations with Melodye remind him of his own tremendous loss - the tragic death of his wife and unborn child along with emotional abuse from his father. Both Melodye and Jim are battling self-esteem, trust and romantic battle scars. Their friendship has the potential to blossom into a thriving love story if their hearts soften enough to let each other in. That is if the person behind Rafael's murder doesn't get to them first.

Craft continues to prove why she is an icon in the romance industry. She consistently produces love stories that resonate with the hearts of readers. DESIGNED FOR PASSION unlocks steamy desires, murder and racketeering in a small town. Even though the storyline reminds one of Cinderella and action slows down in the middle there are elements that make the story unique. The description of self reflection, communication between family members, and honesty of children reminds you how love conquers all.

Deltareviewer
Reviewing for Real Page Turners

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A 3 Star book, April 19, 2008

By 

Ratmammy "The Ratmammy" (Ratmammy's Town, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Designed For Passion (Kimani Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

DESIGNED FOR PASSION by Francine Craft
April 19, 2008

Rating *** (3/5 Stars)

Melodye Carter has always been overweight, and her sister and mother have never let her forget it. Despite their cruel behavior, Melodye has always been her own person and has done quite well for herself. She runs a successful boutique for plus-sized women and had been married with young children until her husband died in a shooting. She's conflicted over her feelings for her deceased husband, however, because their marriage wasn't as perfect as it could have been.

Detective Jim Ryman is helping out with the case of Melodye's husband's murder, and as he investigates the case, he feels drawn to her. There are sparks flying between them, but to start anything now would be inappropriate. Still, he looks forward to spending time with her and her children. His mother helps Melodye out by baby sitting the kids, and through the children he feels he's getting closer to Melodye too.

Jim has his own history. His wife had also passed away and he's not ready to start fresh in a new relationship. But if he ever did love a woman again it would be someone like Melodye. Jim is physically drawn to Melodye and is trying very hard not to cross that fine line.

While part of the focus of DESIGNED FOR PASSION is to find the person who killed Melodye's husband Rafael, the core story centers on Melodye's blossoming relationship with the detective assigned to the case, Jim Ryman. He proves to her that larger women are beautiful too, and one of the main themes of the book is to show that you don't have to be thin to be beautiful. Melodye has a successful career despite her mother's disinterest and lack of moral support. And despite the type of environment she grew up in, Melodye made a name for herself.

Melodye's sister and mother are portrayed as two very mean-spirited people, but by the end of the book it is explained why they became the people they were, and why they treated Melodye the way they did. Nothing excuses that type of behavior, but one will find it interesting nevertheless, and will also feel relief to discover there was a reason for this bad behavior, and was not just a plot device.

One may not feel drawn to any of the main adult characters, but the twin children of Melodye were endearing and felt on the mark. They played a minor role in the story, but I think they added realism to the other characters and showed another side of Melodye as she interacted with her children and showed how she dealt with the death of her husband, and their father. Fans of erotic fiction will be pleased to know there are a few steamy passages in DESIGNED FOR PASSION, although not enough to classify this particular book as erotic. There were some issues with the writing, however; there were moments in the book that the dialogue didn't ring true. Some of the characters, in particular Melodye's mother and sister, come across as flat and one dimensional, but they add to the general story line. Because of that DESIGNED FOR PASSION receives only a 3-star rating. The themes and lessons from the book are important and are what gives the story the 3 stars, but the story could have been written much better. - Courtesy of Love Romances and More - M. Lofton