It Had To Be You by Francis Ray

St. Martin's Paperbacks, April 2010
9780312365073
Reviewer: Missy
Rating: 5

Identity Crisis

Francis Ray returns with the family and close net friends that everyone has come to love and adore.

Laurel Raineau is a world renowned violinist struggling with her career after the lost of her father. Zachary "Rolling Deep" Wilder is a well known producer, working with some of the best artist in the business. Zachery is interested in working with Laurel but wants nothing to do with Zach and the reputation that follows him. Determined to find his goal Zachery works his way into Laurel's life keeping his identity a secret.

Laurel and Zach are not looking for love but love is determined to find a way. Will Laurel and Zach find their way to love when Zach true identity is revealed. Will Laurel be able to separate the man from the rumor. Will Zach win the woman despite his reputation.

Francis Ray writes an exciting story about two passionate artists, in love with their music yet too blind to see their love for each other. Will their love for music lead to the love of a lifetime.

Silken Betrayal by Francis Ray

Kimani Press, Feb 1999
9781583140949
Reviewer: LaShonda
Rating: 4

Lauren Bennett lived a life that consisted of her job as an executive secretary and being a single mother to 5 year old Joshua. Since the accident that claimed the lives of her husband and her mother, Lauren’s main concern has been to keep her son happy and safely away from his father’s influential parents.
Jordan Hamilton was a successful business man with a grudge against Lauren’s father-in-law. Jordan is determined to make him pay for the undo pain and humiliation his greed and lies caused to his family.

Lauren’s plus sized friend Sonja is trying to show her friend that it is ok for her to be a mom and love again. The blossoming love between Lauren and Jordan is mixed with mystery and intrigue as we learn just what harm Lauren’s father-in-law caused and tries to continue to cause in the lives of Jordan and Lauren. The mystery of Jordan’s grudge and how it will affect Lauren keeps you on edge throughout and has you routing for Lauren, Jordan and Joshua.

The relationship that Joshua begins to form with Jordan will pull at your heart strings as Joshua begins to experience things he was missing as a young boy growing up without a dad. Romance lovers will surely enjoy this love story told as only Mrs. Ray can. I recommend this book to readers of romance and Francis Ray. If you are looking to read an erotic work place drama this is the story for you.

And Mistress Makes Three By Francis Ray

St. Martin's Griffin, Jun 2009
978-00312573683
Reviewer: Missy
Rating: 4

Francis Ray has created a loving yet touching story about how far love will go to make people realize their needs for one another.

Gina Rawlings is the wife that most men would die for she never questions her husband about his coming or goings and always believes in him when he does not give reasons for things he does. She takes care of her home and put everyone before herself. When he walks away to go on to share his life with a better woman as he comes to bring to her attention she is left to pick up the pieces. With two children, no support from her husband and a business that has seen better days Gina finds
herself trying to hold on to her mental state.

With the opening of Journey's End, the bed & breakfast that his wife wanted, Max Broussard is taking his deceased wife's dream and making it a reality while still dealing with the fact that she is gone. When Gina goes to visit the B&B for her business, she finds a lovely location with lots of potential, in need of some touches to make it a step above the other B&Bs in the area. On the other end, Gina's travel agency needs help. If it were not for her family and friends, it would be making little to no income at all. Max knowing an expert eye when he sees one makes an agreement with Gina to help her with the technical side of her business if she would help him make the B&B the place he wanted to create for his wife. Max is very gentle to the eye and an instant spark flies between the Gina and Max but Gina and Max are both at war with these feelings. Max is not sure about her relationship with her ex-husband and Gina is at odds with her body due to the weight she has gained over the years.

Gina's best friend, Celeste de le Vega is an interior designer that many would call a heart breaker. She has been engaged three times but none of these men has made her heart stop and start again leading her down the aisle to forever. When Celeste meets Alec Dunlap, she realizes he may just be the one. However, Alec would not be easy. Alec, a dedicated police officer, is unable to perform his duties due to his guilt over the shooting of a man in the line of duty. 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 has to deal with his feelings and bring them to the table with Celeste.

And A Mistress Makes Three was not what I expected I totally love how Francis took each of her characters and made them stand out as individuals before bringing them into their unique places within the book. This book is great as a standalone but I get the feeling I am going back to look at the Invincible Women of Charleston, SC. As a Charleston native, I would say that Francis hit this on the dime and made everything visually stimulating. KUDOS to Ray for doing it again.

Not Even If You Begged by Francis Ray

St. Martin's Griffin, Jan 2008
978-0312948177
Reviewer: DD
Rating: 4

The voluptuous Traci Evans has an iron gate around her heart. Multiple wounds inflicted by her cheating deceased husband and her nasty mother have almost destroyed Traci’s faith in love, her trust in people in general. Despite all this, her attraction to the sexy Ryan Gilmore, her best friend and neighbor’s son, will not be denied. Traci is not Ryan’s type or at least he did not think so until he met her. Still Traci’s lush curves, generous breast, childbearing hips combined with a heart of gold makes Ryan want to know Traci inside and out.

The slim and trim, 59 years old, Maureen Gilmore loved her husband dearly. Now 4 years a widow she is missing the intimacy and the bond she had with her husband. Can the sexy police office, Simon Dunlap, fill the growing void in her heart despite the fact that he is almost 10 years her junior. Will Maureen let her feelings for Simon overcome doubts and fears due to the age difference?

Francis Ray has done it again. Not Even If You Begged is a page-turner from beginning to end. The characters in this book come to life so naturally you almost forget your reading fiction. I felt Traci and Maureen’s pain as they dealt with their personal struggles. I wanted them to find the love they both deserved with the hot men Francis Ray created to take my breath away. I fell just a little bit in love with both Simon and Ryan for they had qualities most single women look for when they imagine their life mate. The story itself flowed effortlessly. Francis Ray combined the budding romances with sub-plots that gave this story an essence of realness and gave you insight into the characters you can only see when they interact with people outside of their budding relationships. I closed the book wanting to read more but still satisfied with what I was given

(Book Originally Reviewed For BBW Reviews)