What do you think?
Rate this book
To Have and To Hold #3
Tread Softly
Cady Densmore's love for her husband Rafe never dimmed. Not once in the months he lay paralyzed and she struggled to fulfill his seat in the Senate. Not once during the dangerous surgery that restored him. Not once on the long campaign for his reelection.
Rafe regards her efforts warmly and supports her firmly against malicious politicians and hostile family members. He holds her close to his side. But misunderstandings lie heavy between them, and he is quick to anger. Deep inside, Cady's heart is breaking. She's trying to tread softly on Rafe's dreams . . . but he is shattering all of hers.
Rafe regards her efforts warmly and supports her firmly against malicious politicians and hostile family members. He holds her close to his side. But misunderstandings lie heavy between them, and he is quick to anger. Deep inside, Cady's heart is breaking. She's trying to tread softly on Rafe's dreams . . . but he is shattering all of hers.
181 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1983
65 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 16, 2011
Booklover, every time you post a book I discover I already read it!! LOL, you remind me that I have to put a comment just after reading a book, otherwise I forget to do it.
This story was good for me. I think the wife was unable to communicate with her husband because for the 1st time she was the one in charge, after her husband was forced in bed for such a long time, and she wanted to show him and everyone else that she could face everything on her own and at the same time, protect him. I found her a very positive character.
This story was good for me. I think the wife was unable to communicate with her husband because for the 1st time she was the one in charge, after her husband was forced in bed for such a long time, and she wanted to show him and everyone else that she could face everything on her own and at the same time, protect him. I found her a very positive character.
December 17, 2011
Romance set amidst shark-infested political campaign ain't my cuppa. Fine writing but methinks the author's idol was Burt Reynolds, cuz this hairy actor was mentioned in both AC books I read. She really knows how to write luvable jealous-possessive heroes w/out going to the extreme. I luved how hero gradually stood up for long-suffering wife & started to see more of her worth, not just as a loving wife, but also as a valuable asset to his career, as the life-altering accident rekindled the flame in their marriage.
December 7, 2017
“Tread Softly” is the story of Cady and Rafe.
Basically the story is about a senator who goes into paralysis after a plane crash, how his wife and her decisions help him recover and well as save his political career, and then the estranged couple tries to work on their marriage.
My issues
- the heroine was an annoying IDIOT. I was sooo mad at her. 12 years she remains spineless, taking shit from what she thought was a philandering husband and shitty FIL and his friends, but as soon as she helps him, she starts throwing all her help back in his face while hiding dangerous things from him- including a blackmail, suspicious friendships and her feelings.
- The hero was no trooper either and seemed very bipolar with his hot and cold attitude
- The secondary characters were all despicable except Graf, the dog and the Butler Trock
- Nothing redeeming about this one. Two political romances in a day was a big mistake.
I hate self deprecating characters who spend all time lying and wallowing in self pity, and that’s what our heroine was.
Bad idea to read this one. The rating is because
1. The dog was mentioned
2. Rafe eventually bothered defending Cady
Safe?
.5/5
Basically the story is about a senator who goes into paralysis after a plane crash, how his wife and her decisions help him recover and well as save his political career, and then the estranged couple tries to work on their marriage.
My issues
- the heroine was an annoying IDIOT. I was sooo mad at her. 12 years she remains spineless, taking shit from what she thought was a philandering husband and shitty FIL and his friends, but as soon as she helps him, she starts throwing all her help back in his face while hiding dangerous things from him- including a blackmail, suspicious friendships and her feelings.
- The hero was no trooper either and seemed very bipolar with his hot and cold attitude
- The secondary characters were all despicable except Graf, the dog and the Butler Trock
- Nothing redeeming about this one. Two political romances in a day was a big mistake.
I hate self deprecating characters who spend all time lying and wallowing in self pity, and that’s what our heroine was.
Bad idea to read this one. The rating is because
1. The dog was mentioned
2. Rafe eventually bothered defending Cady
Safe?
.5/5
May 16, 2011
It was a okay read but i did'nt liked the heroin Cady at all,she kept all her insecurities,doubts and feelings to herself never said to her husband Rafe about how she felt and how much she was hurt and never trusted Rafe leading to so many complications in her relationship,even when she was blackmailed she went to stranger not to her huaband and kept shouting yelling fighting then crying ohh god i was so frustrated with her,i applaud the husband of hers that he was patient with her even stayed with her
Rafe is a good man,he is a lonely man in his big family,he is close to his brothers-sisters but they all cold and distant towards him,even when he was in hospital nobody came to see him it was only twice in a month or week,he was a jerk who sides always with his father which lead to fights with Cady
The story was good but cause of lack of communication and trust Rafe-Cady created problems for themselves and made each other miserable,Cady' loyalty and way she dedicates to Rafe when he is in hospital is applaudable and way she stuck with him through thick n thin
Okay read
once readable
Rafe is a good man,he is a lonely man in his big family,he is close to his brothers-sisters but they all cold and distant towards him,even when he was in hospital nobody came to see him it was only twice in a month or week,he was a jerk who sides always with his father which lead to fights with Cady
The story was good but cause of lack of communication and trust Rafe-Cady created problems for themselves and made each other miserable,Cady' loyalty and way she dedicates to Rafe when he is in hospital is applaudable and way she stuck with him through thick n thin
Okay read
once readable
September 16, 2023
This story had a lot going on and is a page turner, but I couldn't give it that extra star, which I'll explain in a minute.
This was a political novel as well as a romance, because the H, Rafe was a Congressman with plans to run for the senate, when he's involved in a near fatal crash that left him paralyzed for a time, then undergoing delicate, life-threatening surgery and needing a long recuperation period which included lost of physical therapy. Throughout all this, the H, his wife Cady, was strong and supportive, on his side when he chose the risky surgery that his father was against, helping him through the tough times and taking over his seat in congress until he was ready to resume his career. She develops more self-confidence and even finds time to pursue an interest of her own, by taking some archaeology classes.
She and Rafe are drawn closer together when she works hard to get the environmental bill passed that he was working on, despite opposition from colleagues who had their own agendas, and that includes Bruno Trabold, an associate of Rafe's father Emmet, and set to cause trouble.
However, (and this is where it loses a star) that closeness is threatened by Cady's friendship with Rob Ardmore, a congressman who she relied on to help her adjust to political life and the responsibilities of being a state representative. He also encouraged her interest in archaeology, which was something they shared. it's not surprising that Rafe became jealous, though cady never led Rob on and never felt anything more than friendship. rob was another story. he soon makes it clear he's fallen for her, and when things between her and Rafe hit some rough spots, he informs her more than once that he'll be there if her marriage should end, how he thinks they could be good together, etc. and if there's one thing I CAN'T STAND is when the OM presumes too much, and starts declaring his feelings like it's a done deal the h's marriage is over. When the h is married and has never said she didn't love her husband or wanted a separation, or anything of the kind. then he should KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until she says something to indicate she has romantic feelings for him, which was not the case here!
To make things worse, Cady's blackmailed by her creepy ex-boyfriend, Todd (she met Rafe right after she caught Todd in bed with her {so-called} friend, who gave him what Cady wouldn't) who used his photography skills to doctor up pictures and make it look like she and Rob were having an affair. He threatened to release the pictures to the media unless she withdraws her support of the environmental bill. He's working for someone, but who? It's imperative to find out, but does she tell Rafe what's happened? No, like a dummy she turns to Rob, which only makes Rafe more suspicious. It takes too long for her to fess up, and caused too many problems along the way.
There was an interesting side character, Albert Trock, Rafe's tough physical therapist who had a heart of gold. The pet dog, Graf, was entertaining, too. But I could have done without Rafe's brothers and sisters, with the annoying names: Gareth and Gavin, Aileen and Aveen, all with personalities even more annoying than their names!
How everything got resolved was good, if a bit on the hokey side. And the book gives you an insight into just how dirty a game politics can be, even disinfectant soap can't help. But there were too many trust issues between Rafe and Cady, which took away from their relationship, no matter how much in love they were.
Good, but flawed.
This was a political novel as well as a romance, because the H, Rafe was a Congressman with plans to run for the senate, when he's involved in a near fatal crash that left him paralyzed for a time, then undergoing delicate, life-threatening surgery and needing a long recuperation period which included lost of physical therapy. Throughout all this, the H, his wife Cady, was strong and supportive, on his side when he chose the risky surgery that his father was against, helping him through the tough times and taking over his seat in congress until he was ready to resume his career. She develops more self-confidence and even finds time to pursue an interest of her own, by taking some archaeology classes.
She and Rafe are drawn closer together when she works hard to get the environmental bill passed that he was working on, despite opposition from colleagues who had their own agendas, and that includes Bruno Trabold, an associate of Rafe's father Emmet, and set to cause trouble.
However, (and this is where it loses a star) that closeness is threatened by Cady's friendship with Rob Ardmore, a congressman who she relied on to help her adjust to political life and the responsibilities of being a state representative. He also encouraged her interest in archaeology, which was something they shared. it's not surprising that Rafe became jealous, though cady never led Rob on and never felt anything more than friendship. rob was another story. he soon makes it clear he's fallen for her, and when things between her and Rafe hit some rough spots, he informs her more than once that he'll be there if her marriage should end, how he thinks they could be good together, etc. and if there's one thing I CAN'T STAND is when the OM presumes too much, and starts declaring his feelings like it's a done deal the h's marriage is over. When the h is married and has never said she didn't love her husband or wanted a separation, or anything of the kind. then he should KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until she says something to indicate she has romantic feelings for him, which was not the case here!
To make things worse, Cady's blackmailed by her creepy ex-boyfriend, Todd (she met Rafe right after she caught Todd in bed with her {so-called} friend, who gave him what Cady wouldn't) who used his photography skills to doctor up pictures and make it look like she and Rob were having an affair. He threatened to release the pictures to the media unless she withdraws her support of the environmental bill. He's working for someone, but who? It's imperative to find out, but does she tell Rafe what's happened? No, like a dummy she turns to Rob, which only makes Rafe more suspicious. It takes too long for her to fess up, and caused too many problems along the way.
There was an interesting side character, Albert Trock, Rafe's tough physical therapist who had a heart of gold. The pet dog, Graf, was entertaining, too. But I could have done without Rafe's brothers and sisters, with the annoying names: Gareth and Gavin, Aileen and Aveen, all with personalities even more annoying than their names!
How everything got resolved was good, if a bit on the hokey side. And the book gives you an insight into just how dirty a game politics can be, even disinfectant soap can't help. But there were too many trust issues between Rafe and Cady, which took away from their relationship, no matter how much in love they were.
Good, but flawed.
Want to Read
July 19, 2020elibrary
May 1, 2016
it was not bad but i was not taken by all the political intrigue.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews