Customer Reviews

Like the First Time

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Wow - I just couldn't put it down. What a storyline. Ray is exploring twists and turns never before explored (at least in my reading world). :) I thoroughly enjoy Ray as a writer.

She does such a great job giving us just enough (and sometimes on the edge of not just enough) before switching back to the other characters.

I will say the ending, after 33 chapters (or less) came and ended too quickly - leaving me wanting more, more, more. I strongly recommend reading "Like the First Time".

My favorite character/couple was Claire and Gray - what romantics. John makes it extra special though. Brooke's materialistic sound though, comes a dime a dozen. She proved herself later on in the story...and gained some kudos with me when it came to Mark and Amy.

Even though fiction - it sounds very close to the world in which I live. The setting is very real - professional women out there trying to "make it happen"/succeed against the odds and here comes a layoff - if that's not a very familiar occurance in today's times - I don't know what is.

As well, we all have a passion/craft/hobby that we never thought could actually make us big money; Enough to turn into a primary source of income. If it were not for Lorraine's persistence and vision (as well as dear Margaret too) - Bliss would never have evolved and succeeded.

Ahhhhhh - what a refreshing and romantic novel. And, perfect to have read it during the summer. A great summertime read.

Read it for yoruself - to fill in all the blanks I left. :)

No, it's not Rona Jaffe's "The Best of Everything." It's not Jacqueline Susann's "Valley of the Dolls." It *is* Francis Ray's "Like the First Time."

Ms. Ray puts her own spin on the time-honored, popular theme in women's fiction. "Like the First Time" is actually more of a mainstream romance, which means none of the women gets so distraught over the actions of a man that she hangs herself or swallows a bottle of pills (like the aforementioned titles.)

Clare, a lonely 39-year-old virgin, gets close to Gray while conducting business, and the attraction grows. But Gray holds back because He's Been Hurt. A typical romance plot, but to her credit, Ms. Ray paints a valid picture of Clare that doesn't make her status seem as incredulous as it sounds. She also throws in a family complication in the form of a character you'll love to hate. Ms. Ray also skillfully gives Clare more confidence in herself, a little at a time, where by the end of the story she's barely recognizable from the meek little milquetoast at the beginning.

More interesting to me was Brooke and John. Brooke has no problem with confidence. She's also somewhat of a gold digger, but she's always likeable. John is a working stiff, a widower with two young children, including a very solemn son who was touchingly but subtly portrayed as being very deeply affected by the death of his mother. The outcome of these characters, like the first set, is never in doubt, but it's nice to see Brooke become a more caring person in the process.

Most interesting to me was Lorraine, mainly because her outcome wasn't so clear. Ms. Ray also manages to give the reader insight into her unsupportive husband's (Hamilton) psyche and make him less unsympathetic. I still didn't like him, but at least I understood him better.

As I write this review I realize this book's strength is its rich character development. There are a few secondary characters tossed in, your standard villians and bad guys, but Ms. Ray ties it all in beautifully in the book's closing chapters.

Because no book is perfect, I must mention the typos, particularly in first third of the book. Misplaced commas confused some of the dialogue, making me unsure if the name mentioned was the person being addressed or the person being discussed. This threw me out of the story as I tried to figure it out. I found this annoying because I was so into the story. Fortunately, after a few times it stopped. I did find it amusing that when given ten minutes to change, Clare took "a quick bath." I also wondered how Clare, who never had much money to spend on clothes, could tell with one glance that her nemesis was wearing an Armani suit. Was the label sewn on the outside? I notice these things because I savor a good story like this one, and whenever I read something improbable it stands out like someone wearing a kente cloth outfit to a funeral.

Anyway, minor quibbles aside, this was a great book. Read it and enjoy!

This was a phenomenal novel. As always I am never disappointed with a Francis Ray novel. My heart went out Claire who was forever trying to help everyone; even her brother who did not deserve her help and especially her love. If anyone in the story deserved love and happiness, it was Claire. She was the most profound character in the entire novel. I adored the maturity of the three heroines and the way they banded together to build their business and the strong bond they developed for each other. The children of John's were beautiful and adorable. This was a poignant and compelling novel which I could not put down until I had completed reading it. Excellent novel!!

With her sizzling romantic writings, prolific novelist Francis Ray has established herself as a powerhouse in the literary world. She continues in this tradition with her latest novel, LIKE THE FIRST TIME. Whether the reader is a romance junkie or simply desires to be captivated and transported to a dreamy romance filled place, where the language of love is the only one spoken, LIKE THE FIRST TIME is the ticket.

LIKE THE FIRST TIME is an absolutely unforgettable story which explores the hopes, dreams and desires of three enterprising women, who struggle to become successful in love and in the business world.

Brooke is a strong-willed, fiercely confident beauty who becomes strangely vulnerable as she tries to understand the workings of true love. Claire is inexperienced with affairs of the heart, but does not back down when she realizes the hidden feelings she harbors for her childhood crush may indeed be reciprocated. Lorraine has been like the Rock of Gibraltar for her husband throughout their marriage and assumes he would be the same for her, but is in for a rude awakening when she decides to live out her own dream.
The disappointments and successes they experience as they interact with the men in their lives and embark on their new business venture, is the highlight of this scintillating page turner.

LIKE THE FIRST TIME is a richly compelling read which is sure to please.
Chockfull of steamy sexual tension, strong willed, intriguing characters and an intricate plot, this incredibly engrossing novel is sure to keep the reader's attention.

Reviewed by Autumn
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

I will not begin my review with synonyms and/or descriptions of what some of the other writers wrote. I am very excited that several readers were just as delighted as I was when I finished the novel. I do, however, wish that some would have held back just a little because they tend to tell the story almost.

For anyone reading my review, go pick this book up and enjoy it with your favorite hot beverage, reading chair and/or office with a view....From the very beginning, you will not put this book down. Francis does a tremendous job with staying current (the troubled employment market, entrepreneurship, relationships taken for granted, success and best of all, feminine products/charm). Let me digress and point out that if BLISS doesn't truly exist, I am about to start it. The products make you want to run out and get them and how about the men? All 3 men in the book sound delectable to me and I am a happily married woman!

The book is inexpensive, well written and not so small that because it's so good you will finish it in one night like I often do.

This book is great for the sensitive male as well. Do go and pick up this book.

I was first introduced to Ms. Ray through my other favorite writer, Brenda Jackson, when they were both featured in a book with 4 short stories in it and along with Brenda, she made the book worth the money. Will not speak on the other authors included. I was hesitant about purchasing "Like the First Time" when I saw it in the store and in fact, it took me more than 3 months to purchase it, but after reading it, I was sorry that it took me so long to purchase it. I should have trusted in her writing skills all along, because she is an awesome weaver of love tales.

She puts so much emphasis into her characters that it makes me want a man like she writes of in the stories. My favorite couple was Claire and Gray. I was so glad when she found out that her brother was only using her and I hated that she did not catch on when she needed him the most. I also loved the way that Gray would not give up although he was fighting it at the same time, in the end it worked out. Larraine's husband made me want to hurt him myself with his selfish ways. Although he had good intentions, he was selfish when she wanted to do more with her life than she currently was doing and he should have supported that more. But it all worked out in the end. John was a great guy of a man trying to get on with his life after his wife died and left him a single parent.

I am now on a quest to obtain all of Ms. Francis' previous writings and I am depending on previous readers of her work to help me out by posting things concerning the books I am researching. And I hope that I can convince someone to purchase this book by her because it was a must read and I definitely shall be reading it again and again and again and again.

When I read the flap I was not too enthused about reading the book. It's not that it didn't seem to have a good enough plot, but I am not as thrilled with multiple characters compared to single characters as the sole focus of a novel . Ms Ray put my fears to rest with this wonderfully written book. I was caught up in each and every one of the women's lives. What I really enjoyed was that the characters were vastly different, ranging from classy, wealthy, middle aged to the sheek, sophisticated 20's. This book is definitely a winner.

This is a great read. The story line is never boring and shows so much realism in characters. With each situation and turn of the page, you were in tune with the storyline from beginning to end. This story shows how unplanned, unfortunate, unknown circumstances which at times seems good or at other possible terrible can bring about life altering changes that will have you looking deep within and doing things that you are not in the habit of doing. Your past can teach you lessons that will enhance your future. I would love to visit "Bliss" and this should not be a fictional place. Ms. Ray has totally done an excellent job, never boring. I definitely recommend this book. If you want an enjoyable read, pick this up. It is not a fairytale romance or a disheartening fiction, you actually feel and can visualize each character. Very Well done Ms. Ray

I took Like The First Time with me to Florida and read it in a couple days. A great love story about three strong women that became friends.Great read you won't be disappointed.

The storyline of this novel VERY closely parallels one of my most intimate life's dreams; To meet other women who are willing to work together to achieve our personal bests... to marry a man who loves me, and to have love and life that are challenging and rewarding. Therefore, I allowed myself to become completely immersed in it ... and it was WONDERFUL! Like the First Time is well organized, succinct, vivid and superbly written. THIS IS A GREAT WEEKEND OR TRAVEL READ!!!