That Certain Boy

by Doreen Owens Malek

187 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1983

About the author

aka Faye Morgan

{From Amazon} "I am Doreen Owens Malek, author of over forty books and lifelong fan of romantic fiction. I live in PA with my husband and college student daughter, a mini dachshund and a sun conyer parrot. I would like to tell you a little about myself.

I came to writing by a circuitous route, starting out as an avid reader of JANE EYRE and WUTHERING HEIGHTS and GONE WITH THE WIND and REBECCA and any other similarly themed books I could find. I first worked as a teacher and then graduated from law school when I desired a more lucrative and independent career. I had always been discouraged from pursuing a writing career by the volatile nature of the business and the relatively poor chance for success. But the realization that I needed a focus for the future encouraged me to do what I had always wanted to do. I sold my fledgling novel to the first editor who read it, and I have been writing ever since. I have written all types of books for all types of people, but my favorite literary pursuit is and always has been romance. Nothing is as rewarding as hearing from my readers, so please use my website to communicate your thoughts and criticisms, as I am always eager to learn from you.

A romance novel rarely disappoints me: in an uncertain world filled with tragedy and sadness, reading about an appealing woman finding a strong man to love her and share her life is the perfect escape. I like to read and write stories in which the main characters overcome obstacles to get together, and then stay together because their mutual devotion cannot be denied no matter what else is happening around them. They always HELP each other and reinforce the quaint but enduring notion that love conquers all - at least in the fictional universe of my imagination. So pull up a chair and take down a book- or pick up a Kindle- and join me in a world where the heroes are tough and headstrong but never boorish and the heroines are feminine and sympathetic but never helpless."

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok--I am doing some scientific research. I loved this book as a young teen, so I found it on Thriftbooks, bought it, and reread it as an adult. My thoughts--although dated, it was still an enjoyable read. I think I know what I liked about it as a young girl. The love interest is Heathland Lindsay, IV, a new student at Gaby's school. He looks like a misfit because he was in military school and has the short haircut and strange clothes, a diamond in the rough. It turns out, his mother passed away, and his father thought Heath should go to public school near him. His parents were divorced. The catch is Heath's parents are super wealthy, so while his dad jet sets around the globe, Heath has a condominium to himself and a butler named Roger to tend to him. Enter Gaby who sees the cuteness potential in this fish-out-of-water guy. These two hit it off and date. Heath has money, and no one to really answer to (he is lonely), so he really courts Gaby well. He says she looks like Hippolyta, the Amazon queen and even brings the art book to her to show her. He is swoony and romantic. Meanwhile, basketball tryouts happen at school, and it turns out Heath can play--conflict rises as the new guy takes another guy's top spot. The story goes from there. Gaby is a likable girl despite having some insecurities. Her parents are a little pinched, and Mom cares a little too much about Heath coming from a DIVORCED home--oh the scandal! The gender roles are as you would expect in 1983, but the book still held up, and I really liked it. It was also not a formulaic read, so I commend myself on the ability to like something that was not prescribed. Kudos to my younger self and kudos to Doreen Owens Malek to write a book that stood the test of time.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet first love-- i read it when i was 13 and it was just as good then as it is now.