Mandy and the Mayor

Upstate NY #3

by Jean C. Gordon

Whitmore Mills, a sleepy village in the Adirondack Mountains, is the last place Mandy Harris would choose to spend her summer. She far prefers city life. But the village needs a director for its summer recreation program, and the deal is too good to pass up. The compensation includes a grant to payoff her student loans, and the experience will look great on her teaching resume. The only difficult part is her boss, Mayor Whitmore.

Thaddeus Whitmore is intent on vindicating his family name and returning property to his dying hometown. His father plunged the community into economic decline when he closed the family lumber mill to meet the divorce demands of his “trophy” wife. Thad’s remedy is to turn the old mill buildings into a highclass resort. He has studiously planned for every imaginable obstacle except the arrival of Mandy Harris.

While Thad’s great Aunt Aggie plays matchmaker, Mandy and Thad clash on everything, from her hiring, to her recreation programs, to his resort plans. More than a few sparks fly in the process. But are they enough to burn through Mandy and Thad’s differences and ignite the flame of everlasting love?

183 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2002

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick read, with the characters having to learn not to accept people at face value and what is important in life

[Nadine Keels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of the three Upstate (NY) romances by author Jean C. Gordon, I think Mandy and the Mayor is my favorite.

Mandy Harris is determined to return to city life and never to give up her professional dreams for a man. Mayor Thaddeus Whitmore is determined to resuscitate his small hometown and not to let anyone get close enough to use him for his money.

These characters grew on me. Mandy is outgoing and sure of herself, which makes it all the more interesting to see when her antics bring about more than she's bargained for. And Thaddeus, though a grown man, of course, has a curious inward mixture of the boy he needs to get back in touch with to have fun and the boy who's still wishing for acceptance. While the last quarter or so of the book felt somewhat rushed to me, briefly mentioning a bunch of meaningful events that happen during the weeks the story skips over, it didn't hinder my enjoyment of the reading that much.

I'd recommend this book, and the two that precede it, to any fellow fans of sweet contemporary romance.
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I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[DJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mandy and the Mayor is a terrific story!

It’s a fun story to read — and I quickly got involved with the characters.

When Mandy Harris gets stranded in the small town of Whitmore Mills, she’s trying valiantly to stay out of jail… but soon everything works out and she is offered a summer job as director of the summer recreation program.

Thaddeus Whitmore is determined to keep from making the same mistakes as his dad. When he decides to stay away from Mandy, he finds out quickly that it’s more difficult than he expected it to be.

You’ll meet many colorful characters in the pages of this story — and some of them will most likely remind you of people in your own life. But keep reading! It just keeps getting better and better!

I can’t reveal much; if I do, I could spoil it for you. Download a copy today — and get started reading it.

Happy Reading!

[Jennifer Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story in Jean Gordon’s Upstate NY series. Mandy Harris is on her way back to the city when her car breaks down in Whitmore Mills. When sweet Aunt Aggie gives her a place to stay while her car is being repaired, Aggie’s great nephew Thaddeus questions Mandy’s motives, believing she is a gold-digger. As they get to know each other, they begin to fall in love and Mandy helps Thaddeus to loosen up a bit. As she gets to know the town and the people in it, Mandy starts to question if she really is a “city girl” at heart or if small town living is actually for her. This is a sweet, clean romance and worth a read.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really cute romance between a girl who is passing through town and a man who is straight laced and sees her as more of an annoyance. I love the Adirondack setting and it's the perfect setting for an unconventional romance with a surprise or two thrown in. This book is a perfect beach read or to cozy up with on a chilly afternoon. I was given a copy of this book for my honest opinion.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute story! The plot was simple and predictable. I didn't like the reference to immorality at the very end. I enjoyed the two main characters but it was sometimes hard to follow because the point if view kept switching back and forth between them every couple paragraphs. Overall, everything about this novel was very simple. Simple plot, problems and writing style.