Customer Reviews

And Mistress Makes Three

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As always Francis Ray has delivered a compelling story. Gina is a recently divorce woman with two children to raise, a selfish ex-husband and a travel business she's trying to save.
Max is a widower who trying to fulfill his deceased wife's dream of owning a Bed and Breakfast.
Gina has confidence issues, due to the constant emotional abuse from her ex-husband, Roger. She wants so badly to make her business an successful, since she feels like a failure after her marriage falls apart. Gina's best friend Celeste convinces her to visit Journey's End B&B for her travel business. Gina sees a lot of potential in the B&B, so Max asks her to help him make his B&B more inviting to his guests. In exchange he will improve her website to bring in more business for her. What starts out as a business relationship soon becomes much more.
The side story between Celeste and Alec was just as interesting. The reader gets to see both Gina and Celeste on their journey of growth.
Lastly, Roger(Gina's ex-husband) comes back realizing he wants his family back, for his own selfish reasons.
This is a really good story with great secondary characters. I definitely recommend reading it.

"And Mistress Makes Three" is a HEARTWARMING tale...the full cast of characters is endearing and UNFORGETTABLE...the storyline is ENGAGING and the dialogue is witty...I was CAUGHT UP in the various struggles that each couple had to endure while attempting to navigate through their budding relationships...it's quite a thrill to watch each character grow and/or change as you turn the pages of this emotionally-charged novel...Mrs. Ray crafts another SWEET, SENSUAL and TOUCHING treat with her Invincible Women series, that will definitely have you holding your breath and cheering until the last page...and I so ENJOY catching up with those Dunlap's and their ever-growing circle of family and friends...I'm looking forward to the next book in this DELIGHTFUL series...a HIGHLY recommended read!

Ms. Ray delivers a believable, memorable story of two women Gina and Celeste.
Celeste is the fiercely independent woman who has love all around her and has never really felt `it' until she encounters Alex. Gina is the woman whose marriage has gone bad - her husband leaves her and the two kids. The two main men in this story Alex and Max have their own demons to defeat and they do. Hurt and healing in all forms are in this story. Ms. Ray does an excellent job of describing Gina's life post divorce life for a single mom: the disappointment of the children with the absentee dad, dating, discipline, finances, self esteem and finally empowerment. Gina's life describes hundreds of thousands of black single mothers today. Overall: All the years of writing 40 books, Ms. Ray still has IT!
This story is tastefully done with both realism and romance = A HIT I LOVED THIS STORY!!!

Francis Ray has created a touching novel of four people who suffered crisis in their lives and the steps they took to move forward and find true love and happiness.

Recently involved in a turbulent divorce caused by an unfaithful husband, children who take her for granted, and a less than profitable travel business, Gina Rawlins feels like a failure because her life is spinning out of control. She confides in her best friend, Celeste de la Vega, but when Gina meets Max Broussard, she feels all hope is not lost. Coping with the untimely death of his wife, Max believes he's found another chance at love.

A devastating tragedy early in Celeste's life shaped her into the person she has become. Extraordinarily beautiful, she exudes success, self-confidence and personality. Even though Celeste has been engaged on three different occasions, she still dreams about the man who will ignite the passion within her. While decorating the home of a recently married friend, Celeste's eyes feast on Alec Dunlap. Needing time alone to battle his own demons, a relationship is the farthest thought from his mind, but the magnetic attraction they have for each other may be what he needs to heal.

It was a joy to be a part of the camaraderie between Gina and Celeste. Their relationship is one many women experience, or wish they could experience. The characters were easy to visualize and it was a pleasure to see each woman grow during their challenges. The secondary characters play an important role in making AND MISTRESS MAKES THREE a poignant, heartfelt story of self-discovery and love and I recommend it for an entertaining summer read.

Reviewed by Sharon Lewis
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

I loved this story! Gina Rawlins is a newly divorced Mom of 2 and has low self esteem because her husband mentally abused her plus cheated on her. He does not spend any time with the children plus is always late with the child support payments. Their oldest daughter blames Gina for the divorce and is constantly rude to her Mom. She has her own travel business but things are going slow for her and the bills keep coming. Her best friend Celeste is there for her and encourages her to go to the open house of the new Bed and Breakfast that is opening up to get their business for her home travel agency. The owner Max Chaneau is very handsome and a widow and readily accepts her ideas to improve the decor. It was his wife's dream to open one and he wants to follow through on what she wanted despite her early death. He is attracted to her but she is gun shy because of the way her husband treated her and still treats her. It doesn't help that her daughter is trying to get her Mother and dad back together and does everything she can to keep Max and Gina apart with help from her Dad who decides he wants her back after seeing the interest Max has for her. It backfires in the end and his children finally see what a mean and selfish person that he is. They see that it is all about him and his mistresses and no one else including his children.

The secondary story in this book with Celeste and Alex Dunlap is hot too.
I love that Francis included the characters from her previous books involving the Dunlap men, their niece Brooke and her husband John. Ryan (Maureen's son) and Traci. Justine and Dalton, Simon and Maureen,and Patrick and Brianna. I hope that she writes about Celeste's sister Yolanda next and Rafael Dunlap too. I love continuing stories and Francis Ray is one author who writes some of the best that I have read. Great read from the first page to the last.

Gina Rawling's life is falling apart. Her marriage of 14 years is over, her teenage daughter blames her, her ex husband is not doing his share, and her travel agency is barely keeping her afloat financially. When her best friend Celeste convinces her to attend an opening for a new B & B, Gina has no idea this is the event that would change her luck. B & B owner, Max Chaneau has finally stopped wallowing in grief long enough to start the Bed and Breakfast that was a dream of his and his deceased wife. He now has a new outlook on life and is ready to start living again.

Gina and Max realize quickly that they need each other. Once they stop fighting their attraction, they realize how much. An accident brings Gina's ex back into her house. The children are hopeful, Max feels hopeless, and Gina is pissed. Can these two find a way to make it work?

Celeste de le Vega is an interior designer that turns heads wherever she goes. Having been engaged three times, Celeste has not found a man that has made her hot until she meets Alec Dunlap. Alec is a policeman that is having difficulty doing the job he loves because he is feeling guilty about shooting a man. Alec is at his brother's house building him and his new wife a gazebo while they are on their honeymoon. Celeste is at his brother's house redecorating the couple's bedroom. This causes Alec and Celeste to cross paths constantly. Alec is trying to fight the attraction between them but Celeste is trying everything in her power to ignite the fire. When Celeste is taken hostage, Alec is forced to confront the feelings that have always been there.

And Mistress Makes Three is a compelling romance novel that has betrayal, guilt, friendship, and love. There are two main plots happening simultaneously. Francis Ray does an awesome job of developing both plots separately and together. The main characters and secondary characters are also very well developed. And Mistress Makes Three is a really well written novel that I feel is a must read.

Reviewed by Tenecia
for Urban Reviews

After 14 years and two children to raise, Gina Rawlins finds herself being divorced by her cheating husband, Robert. While trying to cope with all this, she is also trying to keep her travel business afloat. Enters Max Broussard who is trying to keep his deceased wife's dream by opening a bread and breakfast. Both find they need one another's help and also have an attraction for each other. Gina offers to help Max get his B&B together while he offers to set up her travel agency website. Things begin to heat up for the two from there.

Gina's children, Gabrielle and Ashton are wishing for their father's return, especially 13 year old Gabrielle who worked my one nerve throughout the book. When Robert has an accident and wants to come home to be cared for, all are faced with decisions, turmoil and truths that have to be dealt with.

It was good seeing characters from past stories in the series make an appearance as well. Francis has given us another good read worth waiting for and as with her many fans, I am waiting for more.

Just bought this book and so far i'm so into it that i can't put it down!!! The story is very interesting and i'm surprised that I've never heard about this author before I bought this book. Now I want to buy all her books in order just so i can catch up. Started reading at 6pm and I'm already at chapter 12 almost half way finished. Thats hard for a person such as myself who rarely finds a book with great story lines that's so intriguing!

This is your typical Francis Ray story with the "and love conquers all" theme. The story hardly lives up to its title, but it makes for fairly good escapist reading.

Francis Ray is one of my favorite writers!!! I love the way she writes not using what I call nasty language to explain a wonderful love making experience!! She always leaves adventure for you to travel with wonderful endings!! In this books she allows this woman to know she can fall in love again and be cherished!!!