Because of Joe

by Liz Flaherty

Tell knew the moment he saw her that she was the one. He offered Rags eternal love, children and a seat in his hammock. It was a match made in heaven. How could she say no?

Even though things should have been perfect, each took wrong turns. Rags and Tell found themselves on a one-way street traveling the wrong direction. Their marriage collapsed in a sea of accusations and disappointment.

Years later, they meet again, their memories as fresh as if it were yesterday. Instant physical attraction and emotional connection blindside them, leading them back to that perfect place.

And then there’s Joe.

Genres: Contemporary

145 pages, Paperback

First published February 17, 2003

About the author

Retired from the post office, Liz Flaherty spends non-writing time sewing, quilting, and doing whatever else she wants to. She and her husband Duane live in the old farmhouse in North Central Indiana they moved to in 1977. They’ve talked about moving, but really…40-plus years’ worth of stuff? It’s not happening. It would require removing old baseball trophies from the attic and dusting the pictures of the Magnificent Seven, their grandchildren.
Liz thinks one of the things that keeps you young when you quite obviously aren’t anymore is the constant chances you have to reinvent yourself.

Reviews

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great second chance romance of older couple.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

a LASR 'BEST BOOK'!!

Marriage in the best of times is hard work, but marriage in the worst of times is often doomed, when the couple forgets about the love they shared, the promises they made or the ones they broke. But what if that couple has never quite gotten over each other, what happens when circumstances arise that put that to the test, well that’s exactly what happens to Tell and Rags Maguire it may work out this time if only they can forget that it was “Because of Joe”.

Ms. Flaherty has an amazing way of telling a story, a way that will keep her readers constantly turning pages no matter what else they have on their plates. Take it from me who delayed dinner by more than an hour just so I could finish the novel. She gives us a poignant story line, one that will reach into the hearts of a myriad of fans and is my very favorite kind of romance, that of second chances, she puts in the way of that romance many real life situations that cause our couple stress and problems. She gives us this novel with a dialogue that flows from page to chapter all throughout the novel, she uses the etiquette filled narrative that we associate with the south and brings to mind just a hint of “Driving Miss Daisy” and she does it in a scant 154 pages.

More, her characters are superb, they all shine, especially her hero Tell and heroine Rags who are characters that women of a certain age (like me) can really relate to. They also shine because Ms. Flaherty knows how to build and develop her characters so they become three dimensional friends to her audience.

The romance is one of the most touching I have read, where the characters' hearts are on their sleeves for the readers to see and experience, where we’re helpless to do anything but yearn and cry and laugh with this very enigmatic couple as they try for a Happy Ever After part two. The love scenes are very special, they’re no less intense of those very carnal in content, and the heat level is right up there but the tenderness and the familiarity of this couple can be felt at every touch and thought and the author is a master of letting her readers feel the passion between this man and woman.

No matter what kind of romance reader you are this one will appeal to you because it’s got everything that a romance addict needs for their specific “fix”. If you, like me, are an older reader and prefer your characters a little longer in the tooth, you’ll love this, if you love the second chance romance, you’ll love this, if you love the kind of couples who flail around after that all elusive HEA, you’ll love this. Oh heck, if you love any kind of romance, you’ll love this.

originally posted at http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

[Mimi Barbour · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! How can you not appreciate a love story written with so much appeal and sensitivity that it was hard to put down even in the dead of night when sleep couldn't be fought off any longer. This story of 'second-time around' drew out the pain and confusion that married couples get themselves locked into sometimes, and the chance to have a go at the partnership one more time doesn't happen often. But to Rags and Tell it did. This time they used the wisdom their empty years had given them and they shared their feelings instead of making up the other's truth in their own minds. Cleanly written, with wonderful lines that made me sigh and wished I'd written them myself, I would recommend this book to anyone.

[Racquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course this was beautiful and lovely. After all, Liz Flaherty wrote it.
(what is up with this weird cover change though? This one is hideous. The other one was at least bearable)

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short novella. Joe is a result of a HS fling, splits up Rags' and Tell's marriage. He's sick. Uplifting and moving novel.

[Janga · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful second-chance story. I don't understand why more people are not reading this author's books.