A Man She Can Trust (Harlequin Large Print Super Romance) [Large Print] [Mass Market Paperback]

A Man She Can Trust, a Harlequin SuperRomance, is the second book in Roxanne Rustand's "Blackberry Hill Memorial" series. This light romance is set in a picturesque, northern Wisconsin town of Blackberry Hill where, as in most small towns, the lives of the inhabitants intertwine and things don't stay secret for long.

A marriage on the rocks, fueled by small town gossip, rumors and misunderstandings has Dr. Jill Edwards wondering what's next? Jill struggles with several challenges including 1) she is on the verge of a divorce from her husband, Grant; 2) he hasn't forgiven her for miscarrying their baby, and 3) she has undertaken the expensive restoration of an old Victorian mansion, which she also suspects is haunted (books mysteriously appear and rocking chairs rock by themselves).

And, then, there is Jill's coworker and friend, Grace Fisher, Director of Nursing at Blackberry Hill Memorial, who is looking forward to her retirement only to find herself suddenly presented with the challenge of raising a 15 year old nephew, and the attention of two potential suitors, one of them is Grant's father, Warren, a local attorney in Blackberry Hill, who suffers a heart attack and ends up in the hospital. Jill discovers that she will be seeing more of her estranged husband, who is back in town taking over his father's law practice. When an angry husband of one of Grant's clients decides to take revenge on the attorney who sent him to jail, and threatens Jill's safety, Grant and Jill find themselves together again. Life suddenly turns when a snow storm causes an electrical outage in their Victorian home and they spend the night in front of a roaring fireplace. With their futures still uncertain, Jill discovers that she is pregnant with Grant's baby, and worries that he won't be happy about this new turn of events!

This was a pleasant read. Roxanne really has the ability to weave multiple plot lines which include warm characters, incorrigible pets, small town life, family drama complete with everyday struggles and fond memories that are all so true to life, you might know people like this in your own community. Living in a small Wisconsin town myself, I could really identify. I look forward to reading book #3 in this series.

Blackberry Hill is a great place to visit (and I WOULD like to live there) and it was fun to go back to town again and catch up on all the news. Grant and Jill Edwards are separated after education and career goals erode their marriage to the point that misunderstandings over babies, houses, and perhaps even another woman, drive them apart. We (that's me and the other characters) know they belong together and share their pain as circumstances throw them together again and provide an opportunity for them to rebuild their love and trust. Complications include that more than willing other woman, a scary vengeful stalker, and a ghost --- love that ghost!

Intertwined (and everything in small towns is) we have news about nurse Grace Fisher, who is about to retire and suddenly finds herself with a troubled teenage boy to care for and TWO suitors.

If you want to visit friends and family in Blackberry Hill again, find Almost A Family, the first in this series and watch for the third book, soon to come. Have a good trip!

A MAN SHE CAN TRUST by Roxanne Rustand

March 3, 2006

Amazon rating 4/5

"Jill and Grant are having a lot of problems with their marriage. In the prologue, Jill notices that her husband is late once again from work, and thinks she knows why. Earlier she had gone to Grant's office (he's a lawyer) where she heard Grant and a female client behind closed doors. She decided that the rumors floating around town were true and returned home angry. Aside from rumors of infidelity, the two argue over their careers and the little time they spend with each other, the problems Jill has had getting pregnant, and even the house Jill wanted to buy, an old Victorian rumored to be haunted.

Many months later, Jill and Grant are separated. Grant's father Warren, also a lawyer, is in hospital and Jill, who is a doctor, is checking up on him. Warren feels the separation was a mistake, but Jill does not see any reason why she and Grant should remain married. And she believes that the other woman is still in Grant's life." -- Complete review at BookLoons - M. Lofton

This novel kept me riveted, with characters I wanted to get to know and care about. Recommended.