Customer Reviews

Simple Riches (Zebra Contemporary Romance)

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This is the 2nd book by Mary Campisi that I've read and she is an author I will definitely be looking for from now on.

The story is as straighforward as the characters. It's filled with good and bad and in-between. It's a town that if you were lucky, you grew up in and if you are even luckier, are still in.

Old fashioned values, love of family, support of friends - all of these are new concepts to Alexandra Chamberlain when she comes to Restalline, Pennsylvania. She comes under false pretenses. She pretends that she is researching the town for a documentary when she really is intending to persuade some residents to sell their property so her uncle can level it and build a resort for the wealthy.

But slowly she comes under the spell of the town and tries to change what has already been put in motion. It isn't going to be easy - in fact it may even be impossible.

It's a story you will enjoy. You may even find yourself looking for other books by this author. She's worth it.

Helen and Walter Chamberlain raised their niece Alexandra after the deaths of the girl's parents. Unlike her parents, her guardians taught Alex that one must always be professional and work harder than anyone else does if they are to succeed. Alex adheres to that guidance as she kills herself in order to make her uncle proud of her accomplishments while working for his company, developers of luxury resorts.

Alex is investigating Restalline, Pennsylvania as the possible next sight of a WEC Management development property. She must buy land, but a key player Dr. Nick Androvich, who recently returned home a widow with an eight-year-old son, rejects her development project. As Alex and Nick argue over progress they fall in love leading to the dilemma of deciding between a chance for a lifetime of happiness and her life's goal to please her uncle.

SIMPLE RICHES is a simplistic contemporary romance that stays on the critical path of the interesting story line, which makes for a deep look at a character struggling with opposite pulls. Alex is the novel as she internally battles between her duty to her family, business, and a lifetime of lessons vs. her love for Nick, his child, and the townsfolk. The secondary cast is a strong group that includes Nick who though obviously important and in most scenes is an impetus to the emotional turmoil of the heroine. This is a strong tale by a powerful author who keeps the plot uncomplicated yet lucid and engaging.

Harriet Klausner

Apple pie . . .star lit nights . . . butterflies . . .These are the simple riches that make the world go around.

Alexandra 'Alex' Chamberlain was orphaned at an early age.
Her Uncle and Aunt raised her, and she grew up craving the
attention of her guardians. She discovered that the key to
obtaining the attention she craved were through working with
her Uncle. Her job as a Scouter, allowed her to seek out
future building sites for luxury resorts. Unknowingly to her
prey, she would move into the very town that she had pin
pointed out to learn secrets that would almost guarantee she
was successful in her venture. Her latest project was located
in the small quaint town of Restalline, Pennsylvania. A widow
and her son was the only thing that stood in her way from
gaining their prized land. What was to be an easy conquest
was met with resistance and emotion that she had never
counted on feeling.

Dr. Nick Androvich had returned to his hometown of Restalline
with haunting memories and a small son to raise. He had lost
his wife in a Chicago inferno that he felt was partially his
fault. He was intent on trying to pick up the pieces and
rebuild his shattered life. He relished the fact that life
never seemed to change in his loveable home place - no matter
how many years you stayed away. He was determined to make a
new life for both himself and his son.

The forces that brought Nick and Alex together are the ones
that will surely tear one of them apart. Which one of these
strong individuals would win out and accept the change the
other one offers?

This makes the second Mary Campisi novel that I have had the
privilege of reading/reviewing. As in fine wine, her writing
style only gets better with age. This beautiful story will
have you longing to revisit your home place. Her smooth
compelling plot will leave other authors green with envy.
Such flawless writing is to be commended.

Courtesy of A Romance Review

Simple Riches is a fiction of romance and relationships that packed with wonderful characters. The story is full of love, emotion, friendship, forgiveness and some insight on life. Through the eyes of a city girl, Mary Campisi brings out the beauty of simple riches (living, loving, hope, sacrifice, family, commitment and devotion) that touch your heart and soul.