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Friends & Lovers #3
A Case for Romance
Ayanna Walker's life was her job and raising her two nephews. She barely had time to remember she even had a passionate side…and didn't expect that workaholic attorney Johnny Phillips would unleash it. But when Johnny's kiss curled her toes, she knew they would enjoy a summer fling neither would forget.
As soon as he met sweet, shapely Ayanna at his sister's wedding, Johnny knew she was the one. His game plan was shower her with his desires, his devotion, his dreams. But could a man planning forever and a woman still planning the moment find the right time for love?
As soon as he met sweet, shapely Ayanna at his sister's wedding, Johnny knew she was the one. His game plan was shower her with his desires, his devotion, his dreams. But could a man planning forever and a woman still planning the moment find the right time for love?
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 28, 2013
28 people are currently reading
110 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 24, 2022
not looking for love but it found her
Ayanna Walker had a different life than she had planned for herself. She stepped up and made a choice that would make her family a family sooner than she anticipated but well worth it. She was a great mom. She had a full life or so she thought. Her boys felt it was time that she had someone for herself. Johnny Phillips was just what the doctor ordered. Over the course of summer these two souls find that they can make a family more. Even with misunderstanding, illness, leaving the country and more. Johnny and Ayanna find that they make a serious case for romance.
Ayanna Walker had a different life than she had planned for herself. She stepped up and made a choice that would make her family a family sooner than she anticipated but well worth it. She was a great mom. She had a full life or so she thought. Her boys felt it was time that she had someone for herself. Johnny Phillips was just what the doctor ordered. Over the course of summer these two souls find that they can make a family more. Even with misunderstanding, illness, leaving the country and more. Johnny and Ayanna find that they make a serious case for romance.
August 16, 2014
I picked this up because it's been ages since I've actually read a contemporary romance and I wanted to remind myself what they were like, so this is probably an unfair review judging a single book for the character of its genre. (Melanie Schuster pls don't read).
That said it wasn't bad! The heroine was bland, the hero was improbably great in every way imaginable, the romance went from zero to eighty in two pages and then stopped building entirely until it suddenly zoomed to 200% in the last chapter, and there was zero drama until a kid suddenly became mortally ill out of nowhere, but it was pretty fun and it does all the stuff you want if you're reading a category romance (i.e. pretty clothes, pretty men, yummy food, spacious houses, happy families, sensuality everywhere, and everything in MC's life working out perfectly exactly when it should.)
I did appreciate that a) the book starts with a fakeout of MC reliving a waterfall-on-the-beach sex scene from her favorite romance novel from the same line, b) she spends her first real date with Lead Dude reading him her favorite romance novel from the same line, and he loves it, c) despite not having sex for ten years, she's a great lover, because of all the stuff she's learned from her romance novels in this line, and d) the only actual romantic dilemma is solved when Lead Dude randomly runs into MC's favorite romance writer and she explains his love life to him.
IDK if that level of joyful meta self-awareness is common in romances these days or it I just lucked out, but it was adorable. Also, I do enjoy the way an author's romances these days are often chained together so that a minor character in one book is the romance lead in the next one; it give the world a sort of linear depth, and it's fun to play spot the previous and future heroines.
That said it wasn't bad! The heroine was bland, the hero was improbably great in every way imaginable, the romance went from zero to eighty in two pages and then stopped building entirely until it suddenly zoomed to 200% in the last chapter, and there was zero drama until a kid suddenly became mortally ill out of nowhere, but it was pretty fun and it does all the stuff you want if you're reading a category romance (i.e. pretty clothes, pretty men, yummy food, spacious houses, happy families, sensuality everywhere, and everything in MC's life working out perfectly exactly when it should.)
I did appreciate that a) the book starts with a fakeout of MC reliving a waterfall-on-the-beach sex scene from her favorite romance novel from the same line, b) she spends her first real date with Lead Dude reading him her favorite romance novel from the same line, and he loves it, c) despite not having sex for ten years, she's a great lover, because of all the stuff she's learned from her romance novels in this line, and d) the only actual romantic dilemma is solved when Lead Dude randomly runs into MC's favorite romance writer and she explains his love life to him.
IDK if that level of joyful meta self-awareness is common in romances these days or it I just lucked out, but it was adorable. Also, I do enjoy the way an author's romances these days are often chained together so that a minor character in one book is the romance lead in the next one; it give the world a sort of linear depth, and it's fun to play spot the previous and future heroines.
January 28, 2012
Johnny has never had a real relationship with a woman, but he wants one with Ayanna. Ayanna is a single mother of two teenage boys and can't believe that Johnny is interested in more than an affair. They embark upon a steamy romance. Johnny knows Ayanna is the one he wants to spend the rest of his life with. His feelings get hurt when he thinks that Ayanna is only interested in him for sex. Johnny leaves to lick his wounds, but a crisis brings them back together again. I love this story as always, Ms. Schuster has created unforgettable characters that we want to find out more about.
August 11, 2013
This was an awesome read with an awesome storyline. The "Playa"...Johnny Phillips had to turn in his cards when single mother, Ayanna Walker, his sister Billie's best friend wooed him over. I love how she was able to overcome some serious self-esteem problem in order to be able to experience and share in a love that she deserved. This is a must read...I thoroughly enjoyed this love story and Ms. Schuster never disappoints her readers.
February 24, 2019
Sweet, sizzling and lots of fun! Ayanna is a generous and caring woman who gave up her dreams to raise her nephews after her sister is killed. Johnny is a world traveling, casual-dating kind of guy, but when he falls for Ayanna, he falls hard. However, Ayanna is all about protecting her heart and her "boys". Will Johnny (and his crazy sisters) be able to convince Ayanna to take from life what she so richly deserves? I love the part when she put Johnny's ex-hook-up in her place. Hilarious!!!
March 12, 2014
A CASE FOR ROMANCE
A CASE FOR ROMANCE
ANNYA AND JOHNNY'S STORY WAS WHAT I WOULD CALL STORYBOOK ROMANCE BECAUSE ANNYA REMINDS US THAT EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T THINK YOUR WORTHY OF LOVE. IT FINDS IT'S WAY TO YOU. JOHNNY IS THE TYPE OF MAN ANY WOMAN WOULD BE LUCKY TO HAVE AS A LIFE PARTNER.
A CASE FOR ROMANCE
ANNYA AND JOHNNY'S STORY WAS WHAT I WOULD CALL STORYBOOK ROMANCE BECAUSE ANNYA REMINDS US THAT EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T THINK YOUR WORTHY OF LOVE. IT FINDS IT'S WAY TO YOU. JOHNNY IS THE TYPE OF MAN ANY WOMAN WOULD BE LUCKY TO HAVE AS A LIFE PARTNER.
October 1, 2009
say what you mean and mean what you say. Great read!
December 10, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. I'm looking forward to reading more of Schuster's work. I recommend this one.
May 9, 2016
A Case for Romance
I loved the story of Ayanna and Johnny. Melanie Schuster is a terrific writer. I recommend this book to everyone who loves romance novels.
I loved the story of Ayanna and Johnny. Melanie Schuster is a terrific writer. I recommend this book to everyone who loves romance novels.
August 2, 2014
Very enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews