Customer Reviews

A Fabulous Wife (Harlequin American Romance)

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Jack Dawson goes to Whistlers Bend, Montana to attend the high school graduation of his son Ben. His ex-wife divorced him thirteen years ago when she couldn't deal with the stress of being a cop's wife anymore. She was a country girl and he was a city boy, and they just couldn't find a compromise, even though they loved each other. So for the last thirteen years, he's been a Chicago detective, and she's been living and working on her family ranch in Montana. When Jack arrives, Maggie is working to try to find out who rustled her prize Buffalo Bull for a new crossbreed she is working on to help sustain the ranch. "Beefalo" is what is going to be the new future of beef if Maggie's idea works out. Jack tries to take over Maggie's life as soon as he arrives on the ranch, aggravating Maggie to no end. This is a terrific second chance at love story. Maggie and Ben have so much chemistry the pages almost sizzle. Add to that interfering best friends, in-laws, and a Bull that will follow you anywhere for a marshmallow Peep and who loves Elvis and you have a wonderful story with this author's quirky sense of humor. This is such a terrific read, I just couldn't put it down until I got to the end. Dianne Castell has written a wonderful tale of love, and I am looking forward to more from her in the future.

Dianne Castell's latest Harlequin American romance, A Fabulous Wife, is the first in her "Forty & Fabulous" trilogy - a miniseries that celebrates the lives and loves of three mature heroines. I totally enjoyed reading about a strong, independent, 40-year-old woman who is facing her attraction to her ex-husband, dealing with a person bent on sabotaging her business, and worrying about her teenage son. This reunion story is set in Montana on the heroine's ranch, where Maggie Dawson is attempting to start a business breeding beefalos - a cross between buffalo and cattle. Her ex-husband, Jack Dawson, is a Chicago cop she divorced after a decade of living with the stress of loving someone who is in constant danger and too-frequently injured on the job. Jack arrives in Montana to attend their son's high school graduation at the same time someone steals Maggie's buffalo stud. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, her son is hanging out with a troubled local girl and considering a career in law enforcement like his dad. It's enough to give a weaker woman an ulcer. But Maggie handles it all with the help of friends and family and finds that love with her big, bad cop is better the second time around.

When Maggie Moran and Jack Dawson divorced thirteen years ago, it was because Maggie could not live with the worrisome stress associated with being the wife of a Chicago cop. Now Jack and his parents have traveled to Montana for his son's high school graduation. When Jack arrives to find Maggie preparing to head out at night in search of her stolen bull, he finds himself being overly protective and feeling the need to take over the investigation. Maggie tries to convince Jack that she is perfectly capable of taking care of herself, having done so for the past thirteen years. When old feelings are refreshed and once again become new, Jack and Maggie both try to deny what is happening between them. Throw into the mix a teenage son, comical, caring parents, tastefully written yet steamy passion, and a dash of suspense and you have a beautiful story of love between a hero and heroine who are a smidgeon older and more mature than what is the norm in women's fiction. A Fabulous Wife is a breath of fresh air; Dianne Castell has written a beautiful story that romance lovers are sure to enjoy. I look forward to the upcoming books in this trilogy.

A Fabulous Wife by Dianne Castell is a delightfully sexy tale of love the second time around.

Jack Dawson with his parents in tow is in Billings Montana to see his son graduate high school. He hasn't seen his ex wife Maggie in years, his first sighting brings back a flood of memories.

Maggie Moran couldn't handle the constant worry as a wife of a Chicago cop. So she took their son and returned back to the ranch life she loved. Jack still makes her heart pound and common sense fly out the window. When her ranch is threatened Jack offers to help. But Maggie has grown and changed since the divorce. She is a force to be reckoned with in and out of the bedroom.

A Fabulous Wife is funny, sexy, moving and a keeper. It's a treat to read about an older heroine in the Forty & Fabulous series, looking forward to Maggie's friends BJ and Dixie's stories in the books to come.

The first book of Dianne's new trilogy - Forty & Fabulous demonstrates how this authur just gets better and better. This book shows how love is not just for the young, but something to be savoured by all ages. A chance at love the second time around presents itself when Jack Dawson comes to Whislers Bend, Montanta to attend his son's high school graduation. After seeing his ex-wife, Maggie Moran, who had divroced him 10 years earlier because she could not stand being a cops wife, he realizes that his lover for her had never died. When her ranch is threatened because her prize bull, Andy has been taken by cattle rustlers Jack offers to help her and protect her at the same time. At first Maggie resists, because she realizes she still loves Jack and it was so hard to give him up the first time round. Can she possibly survive doing it again? This story is one that will have you laughing in places, wiping tears in others, but also shows how maturity and true love wins out. I look forward to the next books on Maggies friends,BJ and Dixie. But above all - love the second time round can really have its rewards.

Also recommended: Court Appointed Marriage, The Wedding Rescue

Dianne Castell really is coming into her own with her unique brand of humor, passion, and love of cowboys. This first in the Fabulous trilogy is a wonderful story about two people who were once together but are now apart yet continue to love each other, even after all these years.

Maggie Moran and Jack Dawson met years ago in Chicago - he as a city cop and she as an artist - and instantly fell in love. The two made a life for themselves and had a son together but after several years, Maggie couldn't handle the constant danger her husband was in because of his line of work, especially since he attracted trouble like moth to a flame. But Jack didn't know any other life, and he decided to stay in Chicago while Maggie took their son and moved to her home state of Montana to live on her father's ranch and build a new life, without Jack. Though they've kept in touch, Jack hasn't seen Maggie in thirteen years.

Now their son Ben is graduating from high school and Maggie has invited Jack to the graduation. From the moment they see each other again, Jack starts taking control, which drives Maggie absolutely nuts. She is now forty, her own woman, and doesn't need Jack to take care of her. But that is what Jack does, it's who he is, and he can't help that. He also can't help the feelings he still has for his ex-wife.

Maggie has made a good life for herself and their son, and she's afraid of the feelings she still has for Jack because she knows that after the graduation, he's going to head back to Chicago. Can she stand to lose him a second time, knowing how hard it was to get over over him? Will the differences that drove them apart years ago still manage to keep them apart a second time?

"A Fabulous Wife" has many wonderful qualities to rave about, from the romance and sexual tension that constantly exist between Maggie and Jack, to the care and concern they have for each other and for their families and friends, it is a heart-warming story. Their are also moments that will have you laughing out loud and others that will bring a tear to your eye. Readers will appreciate the strong passion that exists between these forty-something individuals and see it as healthy, sexy, and not just for teenagers or people in their twenties but for mature adults who still have a lot of living left in them. I cannot wait for the next book in this trilogy, and hopefully revisit these delightful characters once again.

Maggie Moran is a forty-year-old divorcee. Her teenage son is about to graduate from high school and his father is planning a visit to their Montana ranch for the celebration. Maggie divorced Chicago cop Jack Dawson thirteen years earlier, mainly because Jack seemed to thrive on danger and Maggie just couldn't handle the constant fear anymore. But even after all these years, she has never really gotten over mouthwateringly-sexy Jack. Now he looks better than ever, but Maggie can't make the mistake of getting involved with him again. He's still the same old Jack, right?

Jack Dawson was planning to leave Montana right after his son's high school graduation, but there were a few things he hadn't counted on. First of all, Maggie is sexier and more gorgeous than ever. Also, Jack assumed her father was still running the ranch and he isn't happy to find Maggie doing the bulk of the work. Worse yet, her prize bull has been stolen and Maggie intends to ride out on her own to look for him! That goes against Jack's every instinct as a cop, not to mention his personal feelings for Maggie. Sure, they've been divorced for years but that doesn't make it any easier for him to see Maggie in danger.

Maggie and Jack have already given the relationship thing a try and there were reasons why they divorced. Just how much have they changed over the years? They're having a hard time keeping their hands off of each other, but is there more between them than lust? What happens when Jack's visit comes to an end?

Witty, sexy and suspenseful, A FABULOUS WIFE is an excellent beginning to Dianne Castell's Forty and Fabulous series. Maggie worked hard to build a good life for herself and her son after her divorce. She's independent and perfectly able to take care of herself. Jack knows he deliberately courts danger, but would he ever understand the toll his career took on Maggie? It was obvious they never completely stopped having feelings for each other and I hoped they would find a way to resolve the issues that drove them apart in the first place. I loved meeting Maggie's two best friends and can't wait to read their stories as the trilogy continues!

This is Dianne's first in her new triolgy Forty and Fabulous, after reading A Fabulous Wife, I can't wait for the next two. This to me was about second chances and love lasting. After divorcing 13 years ago and not seeing each other in 10, Jack shows up early for his son's graduation with his parents in tow. He sees Maggie and realizes that he still loves her and wants her as much as he ever did. Maggie, even though she feels the same, is not going to admit it quite so fast. There is just too much going on in her life, her son is dating a girl that has his Mom totally worried, someone is trying to wreck her new business, they kidnapp her bull, who is adorable. Then Jack shows up, he wants to protect her and goes about it in a completely wrong way. Maggie gets frustrated because he is trying to take over and wants to be in control. She wants him to realize that she has handled all of her own problems, by herself, for a long time and that she can take care of herself and her family.
They both make mistakes, just like we all do, how they work out those mistakes is what makes this such a great read. It has romance, a little mystery, family angst, a little drama, and really nice love scenes;-). Truthfully, I can't wait for the next book in this trilogy.

The story - plot etc. was a joy to read.
I just can't believe that someone who is approaching 40 has remained so insensitive to their own emotions that they would surrender the love of their life for freedom of worry? 13 Years?
Especially as it ends up that Maggie has garnered soo many flying miles every time that Jack ended up in the hospital from wounds.

Thirteen years without her love and still has some worries.
Well it looks like Andy, her Buffalo bull is going to bring about some changes. No big city crimes here in Montana but cattle rustling can be dangerous if the thieves have guns.

I sometimes wonder how some of these women make it through life with putting themselves in danger. They just don't think. Of themselves and the trouble they get into or the danger to the ones that have to rescue them.

B.J and Dixie prove the be hilarious and excellent friends to Maggie. They sure go to extremes to bring about a reconciliation between the gorgeous Jack Dawson and Maggie Moran. Of course Jack is brought to the realization of the worry Maggie went through with his job [appears to be a woman's lot in life]and he did some serious thinking.

Ben, like all teenagers, causes enough agitation to his parents but seems to have paid attention to the given situations. Great kid.

Great supporting characters - silly women - great plot - very nice pace to the events.

Definitely Recommended - M - should be sexy enough for most readers.

Once again Dianne Castell have reach the tender emotions of the heart. This book is about family matters and second chances. She brings all the sensitivity, love and loyalty between friends and family and how life could be if we are brave enough to let love happen. This is a sexy, fun, heartwarming, down to earth story that will leave you wanting more. I recomend this book wholeheartely, you will not be disapointed.