Second Wife

by Stephanie James, Jayne Ann Krentz

TO ERR IS HUMAN

Flynn Rammage had not behaved well. Eight months ago, hurting from the breakup of his marriage, he'd been angry at the world. That hadn't stopped his attraction to Heather Devany, but he'd loved, then left her.

Now he was back on her doorstep, wanting a second chance. But Heather wasn't interested; she'd been hurt too badly before. Flynn had just gotten custody of his young son. Did he really want her, or was he just interested in a desirable baby-sitter? Flynn had some very compelling answers to that question, and Heather was convinced. She soon found that forgiveness--and Flynn--were both divine.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Harlequin, Category Romance, Second Chance

187 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 1986

About the author

Jayne Ann Castle was born on 28 March 1948 in Borrego Springs, California. Her mother, Alberta Castle, raised her with her two brothers, Stephen and James. In 1970, she obtained a B.A in History at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and later she obtained a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University, where she met Frank Krentz, an engineer. After her graduation, they married and moved to the Virgin Islands. She worked in the Duke University library system, where she began to write her first romance novels. The marriage moved to Seattle, Washington, where they continue living.

Now, Jayne Ann Castle Krentz with her seven pennames is considered a pillar in the contemporary romance genre. For some years, she only uses three pennames for each of three different periods from time: "Jayne Ann Krentz" (her married name) from the present, "Jayne Castle" (her birth name) from the future and her most famous penname: "Amanda Quick" from the past. She is famous for her work ethic, beginning her writing by 7 am six days a week. Her heroins never are damsels in hardships, they are often heroes. Her novels also contain mystery or paranormal elements.

Enthusiastic of the romantic genre, she has always defended its importance. To help educate the public about the romantic genre she became the editor and a contributor to Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women: Romance Writers on the Appeal of the Romance, a non-fiction essay collection that won the prestigious Susan Koppelman Award for Feminist Studies. She established the Castle Humanities Fund at UCSC's University Library to allow the library to purchase additional books and has given money to 15 Seattle-area elementary schools to enhance their library budgets. She is also a member of the Advisory Board for the Writers Programs at the University of Washington extension program.

Psuedonyms:

Jayne Ann Krentz
Amanda Quick
Jayne Castle
Jayne Bentley
Jayne Taylor
Amanda Glass

Reviews

[Naksed · Rating 1 out of 5]

He pumped and dumped her after two weeks. Eight months later, he shows up on her doorstep with a marriage proposal. He conveniently forgets to mention his ex-wife just dumped their 4 year old kid on him and he needs a built-in babysitter/bedwarmer. When she confronts him with his lies, he has the nerve to turn the tables on her and accuse HER of lying. Wtf?

The kid isn't interested. The father-in-law accidentally calls her by his former daughter-in-law's name. The mother-in-law gushes that heroine is so lucky to move into a great house that was so tastefully and perfectly decorated by her former daughter-in-law. The heroine agrees with this whole mess, why?

Author goes to great length to drive the point that women in their thirties have few options and must settle for shopworn, second-hand goods. She has her hero glibly tell the heroine while he is COURTING her that she is not going to find better than him, and even if she did, the mythical man of her dreams would not think she had much to offer.

This is a romance book?????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[StMargarets · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh, boy. I really didn't like this. It's probably not fair to give it one star because it's not horrible, horrible. But the hero raised so many red flags for me and then the author threw in unnecessary suspense at the end and the whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth. I know this is early Jayne Ann Krentz, and readers love her, but this did not stand up well.

It begins promisingly enough with the construction company owner hero groveling. Seems he dumped the secretary heroine 8 months before when he went to Saudi Arabia for a construction project. He was not only running away from her but was in a rage from his ex-wife who got custody of his three year-old boy.

Our hero is in a rage a lot. Mad at his ex I can understand, but when he was angry at the heroine because he loudly asked her to marry him when the restaurant suddenly quieted and he felt humiliated, I thought - oh, boy - here's a man who can't handle any dents to his ego or show a sense of humor. Even the heroine reflects that they never had any humor in their relationship. Then he was angry when someone dinged his Porsche in the parking lot while she was driving it. He wasn't mildly irritated - he was mad and his son remarked on it and the heroine brooded about it all evening until she could kiss his anger away. But the sun sat and rose on his anger, because he went out of his way to tell the heroine about how the auto-body guys all agreed with him that the dent was a tragedy writ large. Let it go, man. This doesn't begin to list all the other times he was angry with the heroine and said horrible things to her - including after the big set piece of sex at the end where he lets her climb on top to show equality or some such thing and then loses it and flounces when the heroine is still hesitant about marrying him. (Only to return and beat up the bad guy who intruded in the half hour he was gone). So yeah - not a hero in my book.

The heroine was just as ridiculous - talking to her co-workers about divorced men and making sweeping judgments and labels so she could catch the hero acting like a "typical" divorced man. Case in point - the co-workers tell her that the divorced man's family will always call the new wife by the first wife's name. Hero's father calls her the wrong name. Score one for the heroine in her campaign to stop her treacherous body from giving in to his sensual lovemaking. *rolls eyes*

And don't get me started on how they treat the three year old. While the little guy is fighting sleep because he's afraid of the dark, the hero tells him all of his problems in getting the h back. (!) When he has the stomach flu the heroine makes a big deal about vomiting and then gives him milk(!) to drink - this is the first time he's met her, btw. And they get along just great. pfft. The H/h fight in front of him and the hero freely admits he's using the boy to get the heroine. Yuck.

The heroine rented her furniture in the past(?) and now has nothing in her fixer-uper (that is probably structurally unsound). A perfect metaphor for their relationship.

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flynn Rammage hurt the innocent Heather Devany eight months ago when he told her their affair had been fun while it lasted, but it was now over and please don’t make any scenes at work. Flynn was planning on taking a job overseas and he was finished w/ making Heather pay for what his ex-wife had done to him. Heather was hurt when Flynn broke it off w/ her as she had opened herself up to him and thought there was more there b/w them. Soon after he leaves for his overseas trip, Heather leaves the job as well. Over the next 8 months, Flynn had been trying to locate the absent Heather and beg for forgiveness. He now realizes that what he had kicked aside is what he had truly wanted; only he was still dealing w/ anger and resentment because his ex-wife had hurt him so much by taking his young son from him.

Flynn truly believed that he should have things his way and he continued to push for that throughout the story. He didn’t like it if he felt that Heather was trying to find reasons to resist him either. Flynn thought he should explain himself once and that should be it. Heather should then accept the status quo and go from there. His constant bullying got tiring, but Heather’s pull/push was just as annoying at some points. It would have been nice if there truly was OM on the scene to give Flynn something to truly go up against. There were some clichés about divorced men having baggage, looking for a caretaker for their children, or women dinging up the prized vehicle – seriously that didn’t even sound like her fault, but he still blamed her. LOL! It was a quick engrossing read that kept you interested. The added character of a stalker/villain was unnecessary and I would have liked it better if Flynn hadn’t been so overbearing in his my way and only my way stance and Heather had to her guns a bit more. BUT I have to say a guy who loves his child as much as Flynn did his and was willing to admit his flaws and explain himself as Flynn did seemed like a pretty decent H IMHO. Don’t get me wrong, Flynn is not perfect and he does snap and snipe at Heather when pushed, but he realizes what he did immediately and apologizes. Heather doesn’t seem to dwell on it much either and she is by no means perfect either.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars ~ The story opens with Flynn worrying how he was going to win back the heart of the woman he had brutally dumped eight months ago.  He'd been in a bad place after a bitter divorce and Heather had reached out to comfort the deep pain within him.  She'd offered her love, he'd taken it and then he'd smashed it by coldly ending their brief affair.  Away in Saudi Arabia, Flynn had come to terms with his bitter divorce and losing custody of his son.  He also reflected on his time with Heather and realized she hadn't deserved that treatment, especially when she'd given her heart openly and so passionately.  She'd haunted him.  When he's called back to the States as his ex-wife relinquishes custody of their son, Flynn comes to realize what a fool he's been over Heather.  But Heather doesn't want anything to do with him. 

He’d known she wouldn’t run back into his arms. He’d told himself to be realistic. But for the first time, Flynn faced the reality of the task that lay ahead of him. He’d burned her badly, and she wasn’t going to willingly risk returning to the source of the fire.

This is a very early Krentz romance, not as polished as her better known works, but very enjoyable none the less.  Flynn is a typical 1980's alpha hero, intent on getting his way and battling with his own impatience when he realizes he's too gung ho.  Heather's not sure whether she can trust her heart to him and though she holds tough to her shields, she can't ignore the sincerity of Flynn's regret on how he'd treated her.  I love a good alpha hero grovel and in this one, the hero finds himself constantly having to do so.  Fun read.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite Stephanie James, this one was published in 1986 and shows a growing maturity in Ms. Krentz's writing. Flynn Rammage is her usual tough male while Heather Devaney is a bit softer than her women usually are. With her usual flair for authenticity, Ms. Krentz portrays Flynn's practice of parking his Porsche as far away from other cars as he can, showing that she understands the male mind in a way that I rarely see in the other authors I read. My one disappointment was that there were very few scenes with Flynn's four-year old son, Jeremy. He was adorable.

[Booklover · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book but would have loved it if Flynn was not so bullying,liked Heather,she did not fall in bed immediately with Flynn made him work for forgiveness and win her back,the stalking thing was unnecessary,still it had me glued from pg 1 till the end wanted to know what happens next

Overall a good read,this was my first book by this author definitely not the last
Recommend it

[Lu Bielefeld · Rating 2 out of 5]

jerk

[Renana · Rating 1 out of 5]

so bad it made my teeth ache... stupid spineless heroine and horrible chauvinistic male lead. I did not relate to either. The plot and dialogue were ridiculous.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Flynn Rammage and Heather Devany had a brief affair 8 months ago, too soon after his bitter divorce.
It had not ended well. Now, he wants another chance.

[Erin Burns · Rating 2 out of 5]

Why on Earth did I used to adore this book?

[Katharine. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can’t do spoilers because I’m only at page 40. This is such a tired old trope that I don’t think I can make myself read the whole thing. A young woman is heavily courted by a sexy man and promptly gives it up. They have an intense sexual relationship and then he dumps her and takes off for Saudi Arabia. Eight months later he’s back and she’s just about ready to let him seduce her again. I don’t think I can do it. I don’t think I can make it. I guarantee she’s going to fall down and take on whatever it is he wants her to do. Right now we know he has a small child he expects her mother. Another trope.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dated but still classic Krentz.

[rivka · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[*CJ* · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Second Wife" is the story of Heather and Flynn.

Well well well, if it isn't a douche (the hero).

Hero and heroine have a fling while he is going through a divorce - which the heroine is NOT aware of. He then brutally kicks her out of his life, and runs away to saudi.
The heroine is heartbroken and struggles to get over him. She leaves her job, buys a new house and is setting up roots getting over her heartbreak.
9 months later he returns, demanding to be let in her life.. because get what, he now has custody of his 4 year old and wishes for a wife and mom which HAS to be the heroine. The rest of the book is him weaseling his way into her life, asking her to give up her established house and be a wife and mommy for him. Oh and there is OW and parent drama, as well as him shaming her driving skills for his "darling Porsche". I hated him, she was OK.

Safe
2/5

[Izzie d · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I liked about this story is the hero Flynn has come back to redeem himself so rather than him constantly hurting the heroine, Heather as is often the case, he is trying to make things up to her after he left her months ago.
So he admits he loves her but he has to prove it and what he thinks is a good plan to show her, often backfires as he is still arrogant and hasn't really thought about how much he hurt her.

[Chrissy Hale · Rating 1 out of 5]

I literally hated Flynn. Within the first chapter, he tries to force himself on Heather. She is saying no and he just keeps kissing and touching her. He is constantly telling her that she is stupid, a moron and an idiot. He is arrogant, ignorant, and a sexiest pig and she just falls at his feet. I was hoping he would get better as the book went on but nope he didn’t. Horrible

[Nelly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really didn't like it. The story was basically a grovel thing, they already had a backstory we didn't witness and the hero spent his time groveling, manipulating the heroine to get back together.
Heroine was not better with her push/pull ways.

Not for me.

[Myfanwy · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s just bad on so many levels.

[Lena Papanikolaou · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5

[Nikki · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nah, this is all bland then it gets bonkers. I don't think they really love each other, didn't believe any of that stuff. I say skip.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a messed up he had just divorced his wife and started going with her. But broke off with her due to his anger over his wife. The wife the new girlfriend didn't know about. Now months later he is back with his son and wants her to marry him to take care of his child. I would have put up with a bigger wall than she did.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flynn is determined to win Heather's forgiveness and her heart. If he has to, he will use his little son as bait.

The use of Stephanie James, an early pen name of Jayne Ann Krentz, indicates the characters will be dated. Granted, the stupid decisions made by her characters are realistic for real life romance. The plus side is the way Heather steps up in a crisis. Krentz has had from the start a knack for lively scene-writing.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I devoured these books in my teens. The are short reads with minimal love scenes, which was why I was allowed to read them. Stephanie James wrote a bunch of them. This one is pretty good, except the hero, Flynn, acts like a total douche a lot of the time, and his love interest, Heather takes it, somehow reasoning his doucheness is her fault. This book was published in 1986. Have women changed that much since then? I sincerely hope so!

[Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Her characters are always different than expected. I enjoyed all of her 80's books and took them for the era they were in and what was selling. I do wish they were all in Kindle Format!

[MJ4S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty outdated in some respects, but I found it a quite nice read, anyway. I also liked that the heroine took a stand for herself and that the hero had to grovel to get back into her good graces. I really enjoyed reading it.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has a little (I mean really little) mystery to it. It reads easily as do all this authors books, however it isn't quite as engaging as most of her books.
Second read same opinion.
Third read - thoroughly enjoyed.

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Modern

[Cem73 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Titre vf : Le pont de cristal

[Mara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring and it definitely doesn't stand the passing of time.

[Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

not bad... for someone who's looking for a real deal...