Saturday Book News

 

Elaine Cantrell
The Wild Rose Press

http://www.thewildrosepress.com
http://www.elainecantrell.com

Jenna West has no idea what she might have done to her new tenant Mike Hightower. He's surly and hateful every single time they meet, and he looks at her as though he despises her.

He does despise her. She's from the Middle East, and people like her killed his friend Ramirez when the army sent them to Iraq.

Will the power of love work its magic to soften Mike's bitter hatred, or will he ignore his growing attraction for his pretty landlady?

 

Mike moved in the next day. His mother had given

him her old sofa, the one stored in the basement, and his

brother, David, had given him a bedroom suite. He went

to Super Mart, the local discount store, to buy some

lamps, a TV, some dishes, and a few towels, and he was

ready to start housekeeping. He needed a few more

things, but they’d have to wait until he got paid.

David had volunteered to help with the move into the

duplex, and he liked the apartment. “It’s plenty big

enough, and everything looks new.”

“Yeah, it’s close to work too. The only problem is the

landlady.”

“What’s wrong with her? Did she hit on you?” Both

Mike and David got that a lot. They’d been told it was

because their blond hair and beautiful blue eyes were

irresistible. Whatever it was, they drew women like flies

to honey.

Mike just snorted. “She’s one of the people who killed

Ramirez.”

“What?”

“You know; Middle Eastern.”

David looked shocked. “Mike, she’s probably a nice

woman. I know that Ramirez was your friend, but you

can’t blame an entire race of people for what happened

over there. If you don’t let go of this anger it’s going to eat

you up.”

Mike didn’t argue because David had willingly given

up his Saturday to help, but he’d blame anyone he wanted

to, and that included Jenna West.

They finished their work around lunchtime, and after

David went home, Mike made a grocery list. He had

almost finished when someone knocked on the door. That

surprised him. He hadn’t expected company so soon.

He opened the door, and frowned when he saw Jenna

West. “Can I help you?” He hoped she wouldn’t make a

habit of bothering him. If she did he’d have to move to the

Botany Arms, and he didn’t like that at all.

The woman gave him a big, sunny smile. “I know you

probably haven’t had time to go to the grocery store, so I

thought I’d offer you some lunch.” She held out a casserole

dish. “I hope you enjoy it.”

How dare she try to be nice to him. He didn’t want or

need her charity, but if he didn’t take it, he’d seem like a

jerk. “Thank you. I’ll return your dish,” he grumbled.

“You’re welcome. I was glad to do it.”

Mike watched her sprint back to her own half of the

duplex, and tried to decide what to do with the casserole.

He was starving, and it smelled great, but he didn’t really

want to eat something that she had cooked. She might be

dirty.

His stomach growled, and he actually took a plate out

of the cabinet before he decided that he wouldn’t risk it.

He dumped the whole thing into the garbage and ran

some water into the dish. Boy, it had smelled good.

With an exclamation of disgust, he grabbed his

grocery list and pulled on his coat. He didn’t have a bite to

eat in the whole house.

 

 

Reviews:

“What a delightful book! Ms. Cantrell has done an exceptional work in expressing how so many feel about these touchy subjects­both prejudice against people of Middle Eastern descent and unfit motherhood! This is a poignant story of a man's life changing because of war and a woman's life changing because of a lie!” - 4.5/5 Hearts by Brenda T. at The Romance Studio.