Family Affair by Debbie Macomber / The Bet by Darlene Panzera

• Title: Family Affair
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Contemporary Romance
• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages (139 Pages to Family Affair / 151 Pages to The Bet)
• Publisher: Avon; Reprint edition (June 26, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 0061997137
• ISBN-13: 978-0061997136
• Author's Website:  http://www.debbiemacomber.com/

Notes: This is a novella (aka short story) with another short story by a different author included. This is not a full length story. Nothing on the book indicates this nor is it stated on Amazon. The only clue is a lower price.


 Lacey Lancaster went through a devastating divorce a year ago. She never saw it coming, but then most woman who are utterly in love with their not yet known to be cheating husbands don't. Now living in San Francisco trying to rebuild her life alone, she finds herself annoyed by her neighbor who appears to be just as bad as her ex. She's seen him cheating on his girlfriend, and he even had the gall to hit on her. As if she'd ever go out with the likes of him. She's been there, done that and didn't enjoy the ride. To make matters worse, his cat, Dog, seduced her cat, Cleo. Now she'll have to deal with him on a daily basis as he insists having visitation rights if he's to assist in paying for the pregnancy related vet bills. She sees through his ploy, but will she fall for his charm? Sometimes things aren't always what they seem and the best things in life are sometimes those we least expect..

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This was a very short and cute story, but it seemed a little rushed at the end. I felt like I got whiplash when Lacey went from not trusting the man to totally trusting him. I think one of the keys to making a  good short story great is to make sure everything is well balanced, and part of that is making sure the ending doesn't feel rushed. I think this one needed a little more added to make the transition from hate to love flow a little smoother. Granted an author is limited by space constraints when writing a short story so it is what it is. Overall, I gave this one 3 out of 5 roses. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one scores a BLUSH rating--at the beginning stages of romance where something is just starting to be stirred.

*************************************BONUS STORY*************************************
Title: The Bet
Author: Diane Panzara
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Notes: This author won the Reader's Story Contest and that is why it was included in the book.

Jenny O'Brien's loan on her land was due at the bank. She has only weeks until they foreclosed on her property. So her town's hot spot, the Bets & Burgers Cafe, was taking bets. Not on her losing her ranch, but rather on who she'd marry in an effort to save it. Several men had proposed to her and she was having none of it. She was determined to find another way to get the money. In an effort to put a stop to all the proposals and wagers over her love life, she entered the Cafe for the first time in over 6 years. The last time they'd interfered she'd lost her fiance. This time she was putting her foot down because she had had enough. She declared she wouldn't marry any of them. That's when HE put in a wager. A man she'd never before met...

"Ten thousand dollars says you'll change your mind."

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I really liked this story. Jenny was a strong fun character who wasn't going to let anyone get her out of debt but herself. Nick was a nice guy who had his own motives for attempting to get his hands on Jenny's land. I liked them both, but Nick was a wild card until the end when he redeemed himself in my eyes. This one had a touch of drama with a lot of humor mixed in that I found to be a very charming and entertaining combination. I wouldn't mind reading another tale by this author. I gave this one 3 1/2 out of 5 roses.  On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one scores a BLUSH--at the beginning stages of romance where something is just starting to be stirred.