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The 39-Year-Old Virgin
It was a big world out there…
But was ex-nun Claire Santaniello ready for it? Her yearning for a home and family had her shedding her habit and moving back to California. But her true calling definitely wasn't with sexy single dad Caleb McClain. Was it?
The stunning redhead seemed uncomfortable in the crowded bar. She was also tantalizingly familiar. Caleb couldn't believe the girl he'd once loved was now a teacher in their hometown. Soon after he rescued her from the dance floor, Claire made it her mission to bring out his softer side, arousing feelings Caleb couldn't ignore. Was it finally time for them to create the future together they both craved?
But was ex-nun Claire Santaniello ready for it? Her yearning for a home and family had her shedding her habit and moving back to California. But her true calling definitely wasn't with sexy single dad Caleb McClain. Was it?
The stunning redhead seemed uncomfortable in the crowded bar. She was also tantalizingly familiar. Caleb couldn't believe the girl he'd once loved was now a teacher in their hometown. Soon after he rescued her from the dance floor, Claire made it her mission to bring out his softer side, arousing feelings Caleb couldn't ignore. Was it finally time for them to create the future together they both craved?
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 2009
About the author
Marie Ferrarella
1,256 books277 followersMarie 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.
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 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 17, 2012
Rating 3.5
I liked this book it was pretty short & sweet. The heroine has just left the order, after twenty-two years of being a nun and a nurse working in Africa. She returned home to take care of her sick mother and also because the calling had left her. At a meeting with friends, when a guy tries to get too friendly, the hero intervenes and he turns out to be someone she knew, she baby-sat him when he was younger.
The hero is five years younger than her & living through a fog ever since his wife died. He has been unable to get past his grief even for his young son & the heroine sees all of this and tries to help him and his son.
Soon they get into a routine, the hero helping around her house doing handyman jobs and waking up to life in general. He asks her out but she isn't sure, she is inexperienced and older than him.
Though the romance was a bit quick especially the marriage proposal at the end, the book was pretty sweet.
I liked this book it was pretty short & sweet. The heroine has just left the order, after twenty-two years of being a nun and a nurse working in Africa. She returned home to take care of her sick mother and also because the calling had left her. At a meeting with friends, when a guy tries to get too friendly, the hero intervenes and he turns out to be someone she knew, she baby-sat him when he was younger.
The hero is five years younger than her & living through a fog ever since his wife died. He has been unable to get past his grief even for his young son & the heroine sees all of this and tries to help him and his son.
Soon they get into a routine, the hero helping around her house doing handyman jobs and waking up to life in general. He asks her out but she isn't sure, she is inexperienced and older than him.
Though the romance was a bit quick especially the marriage proposal at the end, the book was pretty sweet.
July 4, 2012
4 1/2 Stars! ~ Since the age of 17, Claire had given 22 years of her life to God as a Dominican Sister. Discovering that her mother is ill with leukemia is the catalyst for her to revoke her vows and returning to civilian life, a move Claire had been struggling with for awhile. As a Sister, she'd spent much of her time in poverty countries in Africa where her skills both as a Sister and a nurse were valuable. Caleb is five years Claire's junior and when she was a teen she'd been his sitter. He'd always had a huge crush on Claire and she broke his heart when she left town before he could grow up and marry her. Now she's back, and Caleb is a widower with an eight year old son. He's numb from the tragic death of his wife, spending his time going through the motions. Until Claire steps in. She's a teacher at young Danny's school and she befriends him in the school yard. Seeing the boys sadness she just has to find a way to heal both father and son. Only when she barges into their life she hadn't bargained for father and son to heal her in return.
The book synopsis doesn't mention the part of Claire's mother's illness. I'm glad because I probably would have passed on this book, with my own mother's passing still so recent, and I would have missed this wonderful story. This book is pure magic and a perfect example of why Ms. Ferrarella is a favourite author for me. Claire is a take charge sort of woman and she has a knack for making you want to do things her way. Caleb is a good man, struggling with his loss, and though he loves his son very much, he's lost his connection. Claire shakes up his life and makes him feel again. Young Danny is a gem! He's the perfect character to show the grown ups the truths they are afraid to say aloud. My only complaint besides the cheesy title, is I would have loved an epilogue!
The book synopsis doesn't mention the part of Claire's mother's illness. I'm glad because I probably would have passed on this book, with my own mother's passing still so recent, and I would have missed this wonderful story. This book is pure magic and a perfect example of why Ms. Ferrarella is a favourite author for me. Claire is a take charge sort of woman and she has a knack for making you want to do things her way. Caleb is a good man, struggling with his loss, and though he loves his son very much, he's lost his connection. Claire shakes up his life and makes him feel again. Young Danny is a gem! He's the perfect character to show the grown ups the truths they are afraid to say aloud. My only complaint besides the cheesy title, is I would have loved an epilogue!
October 2, 2016
The blurb on the back of this book intrigued me. I mean, a 39-year-old, former nun as the heroine? That's something you don't see every day. Claire left the order because she felt that she'd lost her calling and begins teaching in her hometown. She encounters a man who she babysat as a teenager, Caleb McClain, whose wife died horribly the year before. Ever since he's been a closed off man, struggling to see the value in living even though he's still caring for his 9-year-old son, Danny. Claire comes in to their life again and sort of strong-arms him into feeling things again and he eventually starts feeling things for her.
This was, as I said, an interesting premise, and Claire's innocence and reluctance was different from the usual, since she's older and not completely naive, but she feels guilt for having sex before marriage (as one would expect). It felt like there was a lot going on, what with Claire helping Caleb and Danny, Caleb trying to get over his dead wife (and this aspect really wasn't explored deeply enough) and Claire trying to get on with her life without being a nun (another aspect that could have used more elaboration). There towards the end though, with the it starts dealing more with her reasons for leaving. And that was a fairly touching scene, had me choking up a bit, really. Kudos to an author who can do that to me.
This was, as I said, an interesting premise, and Claire's innocence and reluctance was different from the usual, since she's older and not completely naive, but she feels guilt for having sex before marriage (as one would expect). It felt like there was a lot going on, what with Claire helping Caleb and Danny, Caleb trying to get over his dead wife (and this aspect really wasn't explored deeply enough) and Claire trying to get on with her life without being a nun (another aspect that could have used more elaboration). There towards the end though, with the it starts dealing more with her reasons for leaving. And that was a fairly touching scene, had me choking up a bit, really. Kudos to an author who can do that to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2011
I had to read a harlequin for my Genre's class. It was awful! I like Austen's and Heyer's romance novels because there is wit, great characters, and observations on society and culture of the time. This harlequin was lacking all those elements. So glad this assignment is over!
For those of you interested in this genre (and I promise I won't judge you...it's just not for me), I learned n class that the steamy romance novels had red book spines. Pink spines were a little less steamy, and white and blue spines were relatively tame. This is a blue covered book, and it was still to steamy for me.
For those of you interested in this genre (and I promise I won't judge you...it's just not for me), I learned n class that the steamy romance novels had red book spines. Pink spines were a little less steamy, and white and blue spines were relatively tame. This is a blue covered book, and it was still to steamy for me.
November 4, 2013
I loved the unconventional, brave tropes of an older woman with a younger man, an ex-nun, a 39-year-old virgin heroine and no improbably pregnancy or insta-marriage. The voice was fun and warm, but the constant, at times paragraph-by-paragraph head-hopping made it difficult to really emotionally invest in each scene.
January 21, 2015
It was a good romance, sweet, and easy to read. I might have preferred a more detailed ending... and a happier note, but otherwise it was good.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews