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Romantic Traditions #9
Driven To Distraction
A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE…
Passing your fortieth birthday didn't mean you had to go off the deep end, did it? But there was no other explanation for the fact that usually sane single mother Maggie Burrows couldn't keep her thoughts — or her hands! — off a man who was nearly ten years younger than she was….
Of course, Tony Parnelli was drop-dead gorgeous, with a body that could melt the most sedate woman right down to her sensible shoes. But he was black leather and motorcycles, and she was mortgage payments and nine-to-five. Still, the tension between them could light up the sky — if only Maggie dared to believe in Tony…and herself….
Passing your fortieth birthday didn't mean you had to go off the deep end, did it? But there was no other explanation for the fact that usually sane single mother Maggie Burrows couldn't keep her thoughts — or her hands! — off a man who was nearly ten years younger than she was….
Of course, Tony Parnelli was drop-dead gorgeous, with a body that could melt the most sedate woman right down to her sensible shoes. But he was black leather and motorcycles, and she was mortgage payments and nine-to-five. Still, the tension between them could light up the sky — if only Maggie dared to believe in Tony…and herself….
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1996
2 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Judith Duncan
35 books16 followersWikipedia entry:
Judith Duncan is a popular author of romance novels published primarily by Harlequin Enterprises between 1983 and 2002. During the period when Duncan was actively publishing, she lived and worked in Alberta, Canada. She based many of her books in this region. She has been heavily involved in local writers groups in a variety of roles. In particular, she has been active in the organisation and running courses designed to develop writing and publishing skills
Judith Duncan is a popular author of romance novels published primarily by Harlequin Enterprises between 1983 and 2002. During the period when Duncan was actively publishing, she lived and worked in Alberta, Canada. She based many of her books in this region. She has been heavily involved in local writers groups in a variety of roles. In particular, she has been active in the organisation and running courses designed to develop writing and publishing skills
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 23, 2011
Driven to Distraction is all about Maggie and her finding herself beyond her role of a mother. Maggie is 43 years old and feels un-attractive, her two children are grown and off to college and her youngest Kelly who is fifteen has her own life.
Maggie moved in with her father twelve years ago after her husband left her and now her dad is gone. She works as an accountant but she's been depressed lately and when her new attractive neighbour Tony moves in it compounds it.
Their start isn't good, Maggie thinks he's some biker and calls the cop at night and then finds out that Tony is an ex-cop who is now running a shop with his NASCAR brother. Tony is Italian, attractive and she finds out nine years younger than her. Her daughter who loves cars, takes a shine to him but it is Maggie who is the problem, when he takes care of her when she's sick and comes around she is rude to him and then she feels guilty since the problem is with her and how she feels about herself.
Tony has no problem with her age even her children or with the fact that she can't and doesn't want to have anymore children. Maggie frustrated me at times with her fears but they were understandable, her life had always revolved around her kids and she feared what Tony made her feel and losing it even when he told her he didn't care. One main thing was her un-resolved issue with her ex-husband and I liked it how she finally confronted her problems with her self-esteem and realized that she was allowing her fears to win.
There was a lot of crying and self-doubt and I liked how Maggie's friend provided her the help she needed.
Maggie moved in with her father twelve years ago after her husband left her and now her dad is gone. She works as an accountant but she's been depressed lately and when her new attractive neighbour Tony moves in it compounds it.
Their start isn't good, Maggie thinks he's some biker and calls the cop at night and then finds out that Tony is an ex-cop who is now running a shop with his NASCAR brother. Tony is Italian, attractive and she finds out nine years younger than her. Her daughter who loves cars, takes a shine to him but it is Maggie who is the problem, when he takes care of her when she's sick and comes around she is rude to him and then she feels guilty since the problem is with her and how she feels about herself.
Tony has no problem with her age even her children or with the fact that she can't and doesn't want to have anymore children. Maggie frustrated me at times with her fears but they were understandable, her life had always revolved around her kids and she feared what Tony made her feel and losing it even when he told her he didn't care. One main thing was her un-resolved issue with her ex-husband and I liked it how she finally confronted her problems with her self-esteem and realized that she was allowing her fears to win.
There was a lot of crying and self-doubt and I liked how Maggie's friend provided her the help she needed.
July 26, 2011
Maggie Burrows isn't satisfied with her life. Her children are all grown up, the only one still with her is a teen and will soon be leaving for college. She has been divorced for over ten years and still she hasn't found someone to share her life with. And on top of everything some biker guy moved in the house next door. Of course after she calls the cops on him she finds out that he is an ex-cop and is one of the good guys.
Tony Parnelli is attracted to his new neighbor. But he has a lot of obstacles to overcome before they could be together.
I can't believe I'm typing this but I wish Tony was less understanding. He was a great guy, patient, generous, kind (of course he has a bad boy streak, but that makes him even more attractive). But Maggie kept rejecting him and he takes her back over and over again. I just wanted her to grovel a little.
So her husband left her and married a woman her junior, and she has insecurities and issues that are interfering with her life. But she kept hurting Tony and I started to hate her for that. And all the times that she kept changing her mind. Either be with him and stop that or dump him and leave him alone!!!!
At the end I finally let myself hope that she will at least beg him for forgiveness, but no dice. He just took her back.
And she spends a lot of time being miserable, not sleeping or eating, crying all the time. (I was having flashbacks to New Moon and Bella spending most of the book being depressed) It was incredible how she managed to ruin the otherwise promising book for me.
The rather generous rating comes from the fact that I liked Tony, and Maggie's daughter.
Rating:
2 stars
Tony Parnelli is attracted to his new neighbor. But he has a lot of obstacles to overcome before they could be together.
I can't believe I'm typing this but I wish Tony was less understanding. He was a great guy, patient, generous, kind (of course he has a bad boy streak, but that makes him even more attractive). But Maggie kept rejecting him and he takes her back over and over again. I just wanted her to grovel a little.
So her husband left her and married a woman her junior, and she has insecurities and issues that are interfering with her life. But she kept hurting Tony and I started to hate her for that. And all the times that she kept changing her mind. Either be with him and stop that or dump him and leave him alone!!!!
At the end I finally let myself hope that she will at least beg him for forgiveness, but no dice. He just took her back.
And she spends a lot of time being miserable, not sleeping or eating, crying all the time. (I was having flashbacks to New Moon and Bella spending most of the book being depressed) It was incredible how she managed to ruin the otherwise promising book for me.
The rather generous rating comes from the fact that I liked Tony, and Maggie's daughter.
Rating:
2 stars
May 12, 2009
Judith Duncan has written a gem of a book. The story is passionate and the love between the main two characters is strong and very loving. Sometimes the heroine Maggie was a little wishy washy and sad for no reason, but overall this books was great to read. Maggie is a 43 year old divorced mother of 3, 2 are in college and her youngest daughter is 15. She feels her life is boring and she is feeling lonely and old.... until 34 year old ex-cop Tony moves in next door and the sparks fly! tony is everything a woman would want in a man. He is sexy, loves animals and doesn't care that Maggie is older than him. Maggie has a big problem with being almost 10 years older than he is and it gets annoying because that is the only realy thing keeping them apart.
The chemistry between the two is practically scorching and Maggie's daughter Kelly is a mother's dream. There are mainy other secondary characters that also makes this book a fun read. You can find it on any on-line auction because it is out of print. Buy it!!
The chemistry between the two is practically scorching and Maggie's daughter Kelly is a mother's dream. There are mainy other secondary characters that also makes this book a fun read. You can find it on any on-line auction because it is out of print. Buy it!!
December 7, 2020
Love, love, love it!!!
I had the paperback of this book way back in 1992. After several moves, I lost my book. I finally found the digitally version a few months ago and I'm so happy about it. Maggie, the heroine, is 42 in this book. I'm now older than her and I can relate. It would be neat to see a follow up story with Kelly (Maggie's teen daughter) and her friend Scott. Did they end up together? And let's talk about Tony Parnelli: a scrumptious Italian neighbor that helps rescue stray cats. Oh my. RIP Captain Hook.
I had the paperback of this book way back in 1992. After several moves, I lost my book. I finally found the digitally version a few months ago and I'm so happy about it. Maggie, the heroine, is 42 in this book. I'm now older than her and I can relate. It would be neat to see a follow up story with Kelly (Maggie's teen daughter) and her friend Scott. Did they end up together? And let's talk about Tony Parnelli: a scrumptious Italian neighbor that helps rescue stray cats. Oh my. RIP Captain Hook.
February 28, 2023
this was nice, but the second part of the story dragged for a bit.
June 1, 2013
synopsis:
maggie is a single mother whose youngest child is in high school. she works for an accountant and does everything by the book. when she sees a motorcycle outside the house next door, she assumes that the new neighbours are going to be gangsters. when maggie hears someone breaking into the house next door, she calls the police. it turns out that her new neighbour is tony, he used to be a cop and that he is opening up a garage. he's also 10 years younger than she is. maggie is attracted, even though she doesn't approve of the age difference between them.
what i liked: i liked that maggie and tony seemed like people that you would meet in real life. the relationship build was well handled, and i liked the respect that tony showed to maggie.
what i didn't like: maggie's insecurities.
maggie is a single mother whose youngest child is in high school. she works for an accountant and does everything by the book. when she sees a motorcycle outside the house next door, she assumes that the new neighbours are going to be gangsters. when maggie hears someone breaking into the house next door, she calls the police. it turns out that her new neighbour is tony, he used to be a cop and that he is opening up a garage. he's also 10 years younger than she is. maggie is attracted, even though she doesn't approve of the age difference between them.
what i liked: i liked that maggie and tony seemed like people that you would meet in real life. the relationship build was well handled, and i liked the respect that tony showed to maggie.
what i didn't like: maggie's insecurities.
June 21, 2013
Good, enjoyable read. JD is one of my favorite authors. Always read her books more than once.
July 20, 2014
Older heroine, younger man romance.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews