Hello, It's Me

When an author sets out to write a story they never know who they may affect. While reading this story I found myself wondering if I would be in the same position. Of course, the romance part may seem unrealistic, but that is why we read these; right? We all want that perfectly wonderful prince charming epic in our own lives. The reason for the strange title of my review is because I did and felt these things as I was reading. I am a writer and thoroughly enjoy reading to take a break from writing. When I decide on a book, I will read the first two chapters. Hopefully, the book will "grab" me, because if it does not I'll still read it. I simply have to finish! Luckily, this book was an easy and fun read. I read it in about two hours. This is the first book by this author that I have had the pleasure of reading. It is all a matter of opinion of course, but I did like this and am in the process of ordering the rest of her books now. Thank you Ms. Markham.

What got my attention was the inside page when Annie calls her deceased husband's cell just to hear his voice on the voice mail and someone actually says "Hello".. I just had to buy it.. I love the fact that this book takes place in the Hamptons, Manhattan, and The Village. The author gives great detail into each of these areas and it really made me feel as if I were on the beach looking for buried treasure or in Thom's penthouse in Manhattan. Her friend Merlin is the best person to be with her and take care that she has work after Andre passes and she is now head of household. Her children are adorable and you can feel their lonliness at missing their father. This is a definite must have if you love romance novels with great upbeat endings. I for one have added this to my library.

I really enjoyed this book, but I wish the author would write in the past tense, rather than the present. It's disconcerting to say the least. Aside from that, however, the book is touching and sad and happy and pretty much a lovely read. After having lost several of my close family members in a short period of time, it was also a bit cathartic. It's not a "downer" kind of book, but do keep your tissues handy!

For a simple little fast read, Wendy Markham is way above most romance writers. Her books aren't filled with cliched characters or language but are simple yet evocative. I loved this book and actually re-read in a year after the first read. For someone who writes romantic suspense, this book was emotionally refreshing -

If you want a book that will make you cry a little, laugh a little, and smile a lot, this is the book for you. Annie Harlowe is raising her small children alone nearly a year after her husband's death. She's in debt and can barely afford the basics, yet she keeps her late husband's cell phone account open just to hear his voice. One night she calls...and it's not a voice message, it's him. There's a lot of static, but she hears him telling her to waitress for a friend at a Long Island soiree. There she meets Thom Brannock IV, who's feeling stifled by the privileged and boring pedigreed life he's expected to lead. He takes over businesses for a living, and now he's ready to take over and clean up Annie's messy life. The problem is she promised her late husband if he died she would never love another man. Thom has a problem too -- a society girlfriend he's trying to break up with. And how will he tell his snobby mother about this carefree widow with baggage? Annie and her two children wrench Thom's heart. Her daughter has night terrors, her son keeps trying to fly to Heaven to talk to his dad. For years before he died, Annie's late husband searched a stretch of beach in the Hamptons for buried treasure. With garbled messages from above, they continue his search, and what they find is worth more than money. After reading this, I searched out another Wendy Markham book that I'm enjoying just as much. Markham will be on my automatic Buy List from now on.