Happily Ever After (An Avon Romantic Treasure) [Mass Market Paperback]

Tanya A. Crosby (Author)

Book Description

Series: An Avon Romantic Treasure | Publication Date: November 9, 1999

A Girlhood Dream

Sophia Vanderwahl had always dreamed a knight in shining armor would sweep her off her feet, but she knew this only happened in fairy tales. And when she discovers the truth about her philandering fiance, she decides to track the scoundrel down and confront him in person. So she hires adventurer Jack MacAuley to help her find her neglectful husbandto-be. But with every glimpse into Jack's seductive eyes, every tremor she feels at the sound of his voice, she finds her memory of her fiance fading away ...A Woman's Love

When the headstrong heiress offers him a king's ransom to find her long-absent intended, rugged Jack MacAuley figures it will be easy money. But nothing is easy when it comes to this willful beauty with the golden eyes and kissable lips, and soon he can't help but think of delicious ways to make her forget her promises to anyone else ... and to believe that happily-ever-afters really can come true.A GIRLHOOD DREAM

Sophia Vanderwahl had aways dreamed a knight in shining armor would sweep her off her feet, but she knew this only happened in fairy tales. And when she discovers the truth about her philandering fiance, she decides to track the scoundrel down and confront him in person. So she hires adventurer Jack MacAuley to help her find her neglectful husband-to-be. But with every glimpse into Jack's seductive eyes, every tremor she feels at the sound of his voice, she finds her memory of her fiance fading away

A WOMAN'S LOVE

When the headstrong heiress offers him a king's ransom to find her long-absent intended, rugged Jack MacAuley figures it will be easy money. But nothing is easy when it comes to this willful beauty with the golden eyes and kissable lips, and soon he can't help but think of delicious ways to make her forget her promises to anyone elseand to believe that happily-ever-afters really can come true.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Crosby (On Bended Knee) stays true to form in this lively late-19th-century romance about Sophia Vanderwahl, a Boston heiress funding her delinquent fianc?, Harlan Penn, who has gone off to explore the Yucatan and, as it becomes apparent, the joy of native women. Looking for retribution, Sophia sets out to find Harlan and give back his engagement ring. She hires Jack MacAuley, an overbearing adventurerAand old rival of Harlan'sAto take her to Mexico. Though suspicious of Sophia's motives in using him, Jack needs the money to finance an expedition of his own. Jack is convinced that Sophia is out to sabotage his boat, but before long, angry sparks turn into romantic ones. Gradually Jack and Sophia each learn to trust the other as both lover and friend. The entertaining banter of Crosby's characters will keep readers engaged in this humorous romance. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Each tale is magnetic." -- Stella Cameron

"Tanya anne crosby writes remarkable love stories." -- Lisa Kleypas

Enticing adventurous historical romance. Fans of historical romance will cherish Tanya Ann Crosby latest novel, HAPPILY EVER AFTER. The enjoyable plot centers on two wonderful lead characters struggling to keep their libidos and their growing attraction to each other in check. This leads to humorous and dangerous scenarios that bring the late nineteenth century to life. Sophie is a fabulous lady who dreams of a lifetime of happiness with a beloved mate. Jack is an exciting hero whose desire for Sophie fights with his ethics to do the right thing with his betrothed passenger. Ms.Crosby entices her audience to seek more of her entertaining novels. -- A reviewer - [e-mail]

Woman hires man to find her missing fianc but finds love instead. Sophia Vanderwahl had hired Jack MacAuley to search for her philandering fianc. On the voyage from England to Yucatan, Sophia's feelings for Jack grow strong, making her forget she had ever promised anything to her fianc Harlan Penn. The characters may have been typical, but the Yucatan settings and legends are most unusual. They work quite well here, which makes the book interesting and magical. Tanya Anne Crosby has come up with another winner! -- Affaire de Coeur [e-mail]

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (November 9, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380785749
• ISBN-13: 978-0380785742
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,954,347 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Rota, Spain to a Spanish mother and American father, at 5, Tanya didn't know a single word of English. Her first English words, courtesy of Grandma V were, "Many, many lights!" The airport was ablaze with them and hands plastered to the car window, nose to the glass, she was hungry to learn more. Language, she quickly discovered, more than planes or even actual bridges, was the thing that connected us all - no matter what walk of life we hailed from.

Fast forward to age 12: Lying anxiously in a post-op bed in a little hospital in Ponce, Puerto Rico, sans tonsils, all she could think about was her dad's typewriter. When the doc advised her parents to reward her with anything she wanted, ice cream lagged a distant second to the one thing she coveted most - that beautiful machine with the little metal arms that, when fingers pressed down upon the pearlescent keys, would stamp bold black letters on crisp white paper. To Tanya, that image was beauty incarnate. And so she began writing at age 12 - anything she could get her hands on - even thank you notes, to her parents' delight.

Tanya grew up a military brat, and, although goodbyes were never easy, she says she's grateful for the disparity in cultures she's been privileged to experience. And she believes every person she's met, every spoken word, every tear and every bit of laughter have all contributed to the canvas that is her writing.

Tanya is a bestselling novelist and an award-winning journalist, who friends and family sometimes refer to as "Pollyanna." But the name-calling is usually done with a healthy dose of good will, so she's OK with it. Those who know her best, however, know that Pollyanna is just half her personality (she's a Gemini, after all)!

Her first romance novel "Angel of fire" was published in 1992 for Avon Books. A New York Times bestselling author, she is a five-time nominee for a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award and her novels have been translated into Spanish, German, Italian, French, Russian and Chinese.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice to know there are Happily Ever Afters, December 2, 1999

By 

"dfischet" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Happily Ever After (An Avon Romantic Treasure) (Mass Market Paperback)

While I have enjoyed most of her books, Ms. Crosby scored a hit with me with 'Happily Ever After.' The author has drawn her romantic pair as warm, funny and, well... just plain sweet. Jack, the hero, was a NICE hunk and Sophie was a beautiful woman (who didn't know she was lovely) coming into her own. I really thought it was a nice touch at the end of the book to have Sophie writing her parents with her recipe for happiness. If you want a really enjoyable read that will make you laugh and make you cry(and not because it is sad), don't overlook this book. It's well worth the time.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars How to abuse the term "happily ever after"..., June 29, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Happily Ever After (An Avon Romantic Treasure) (Mass Market Paperback)

Sophia Vanderwahl is the beautiful yet empty-headed heroine of this novel, who, after discovering her fiance's philandering tendencies, concocts an ill-thought out plan to confront him with the aid of an adventurer she doesn't know, one Jack MacAuley. And that is just about the sum of this puerile plotline.

Sophie manages to irritate the reader throughout the novel with her foolish behaviour, which the authour tries unsuccessfully to convince us is for the sole purpose of the heroine freeing herself from the societal strictures imposed upon her. She also has a propensity for causing stupid accidents - the scene where she manages to fire the ship's cannon into the air only to land safely by going through her stacked chests of clothes stretches the limits of credulity.

Jack MacAuley's words to her early on sum up her character succinctly when he tells her "you're a spoiled rotton brat used to getting your own damned way", yet this promising sign of intelligence from him quickly fades as physical desire becomes synonymous with love in his head. However, to be fair to a hero who is not given much of an opportunity to develop in this story, his mental faculties would certainly be called into question if he came to desire her intellect, or more accurately, lack of, as well as her physical form.

If you must read this novel, do yourself a favour, borrow it from the library, and imagine a more fitting ending, one which includes a plank-walking scene, perhaps...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Happily Ever After, May 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Happily Ever After (An Avon Romantic Treasure) (Mass Market Paperback)

This was my first Tanya Anne Crosby book and I loved it! Sophia came from a rich, refined family, with a father that gave very good advice. Although she lived the easy life with servants to do everything for her, she had the determination to stand up for herself and her dreams and go on an adventure to tell her unworthy fiance she knew of his unfaithfullness and she wasn't going to stand for it! She pitched in to help on her journey, ending up dirty and smelling bad, but she was still a beauty in Jacks eyes. This was a great book, I highly recommend it