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Talk of the Neighborhood #6

Mother in Training

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Meticulous and by-the-book, corporate lawyer Jack Lever was used to order—not the dis order of two small children. When his babysitter abruptly quit, the single dad didn't know where to turn. He couldn't believe his good luck when Zooey Finnegan agreed to become his nanny.

Uninhibited and fun, Zooey was happy to take care of Jack's children instead of sitting behind a desk in her family's business. And to her surprise, Zooey soon loved the Levers like they were her own flesh and blood. It didn't take long for Jack's kids to fall hopelessly in love with her, either.

Their father could be a different story….

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

2 people are currently reading
50 people want to read

About the author

Marie Ferrarella

1,230 books276 followers
Marie Rydzynski-Ferrarella
aka Marie Charles, Marie Michael, Marie Nicole, Marie Ferrarella

Marie Rydzynski was born on March 28 in West Germany to Polish parents. She moved to America at the age of four. For an entire year, Marie and her family explored the eastern half of the country before finally settling in New York.

Marie swears she was born writing, "which must have made the delivery especially hard for my mother." From an early age, Marie's parents would find her watching television or tucked away in some private place, writing at a furious pace. "Initially, I began writing myself into my favourite shows. I was a detective on '77 Sunset Strip,' the missing Cartwright sibling they never talked about on 'Bonanza' and the 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.' before there was a 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.,' not to mention an active participant in the serialized stories of 'The Mickey Mouse Club.'" Marie began to write her first romance novel when she was 11 years old, although she claims that, at the time, she didn't even realize it was a romance! She scribbled off and on, while dreaming of a career as an actress.

Marie was only 14 when she first laid eyes on the man she would marry, truly her first love, Charles Ferrarella. During her days at Queens College, New York, acting started to lose its glamour as Marie spent more and more time writing. After receiving her English degree, specialising in Shakespearean comedy, Marie and her family moved to Southern California, where she still resides today.

After an interminable seven weeks apart, Charles decided he couldn't live without her and came out to California to marry his childhood sweetheart. Ever practical, Marie was married in a wash-and-wear wedding dress that she sewed herself, appliqués and all. "'Be prepared' has always been my motto,"the author jokes. This motto has been stretched considerably by her two children, Nikky and Jessi, "but basically, it still applies," she says.

In November of 1981, she sold her first novel for Harlequin. Marie, who now has written over 150 novels, has one goal: to entertain, to make people laugh and feel good. "That's what makes me happy," she confesses. "That, and a really good romantic evening with my husband." She's keeping her fingers crossed that her reader's enjoy reading her books as much as she enjoyed writing them.

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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Profile Image for Debbie Sue.
240 reviews1 follower
September 7, 2020
I used to think this authors books were favorites now I am wondering why I did. This one is a typical book of hers Sweet young thing meets grumpy dad and cute kids. sweet young thing convinces grumpy dad to hire her as a nanny. Grumpy dad treats her like dirt for 3/4 of the book until she finally gives up and quits. Then grumpy dad has an unconvincing ephinany and decides he cant live without her. he throws out the l word in a stilted proposal she says yes and they most likely live scrappily ever after. The leopard not changing its spots usually applies in Real life. wont read it again and dont recommend it
Profile Image for Joanne.
465 reviews13 followers
August 27, 2012
"Mother In Training" by Marie Ferrarella tugged at my heart-strings. I really wanted Zooey Finnegan to grow-up and find her way to being an adult. Jack Lever didn't understand what a family was suppose to be either though he was highly intelligent and college educated man. The Lever children understood the meaning of "being loved" though the adults needed a bit more time to understand the true meaning of Love.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews

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