Off Season

"Off Season" is the story of Jenny and Rita who must heal themselves if they are ever to create a meaningful relationship. The setting takes place in one of Wisconsin's most scenic locations along Lake Michigan in Door County. There, Jenny works for her brother Joe in an antique mall, which he owns with his second wife, Cheryl. While grieving over the premature death of her partner, Jenny meets Rita. Unfortunately, Rita is also grieving over the loss of her mother's shocking death at the hands of her violent father, which Rita had witnessed. Weighed down by her own unhappiness, Jenny doesn't think she's strong enough to deal with Rita's as well. So, Jenny avoids getting personal with Rita. This opens the door for Pam and her flirtatious nature. After a couple of sexual exchanges with Pam, Jenny, despite her loneliness, realizes that Pam doesn't offer the loyalty that Jenny needs from a partner. Meanwhile, antiques have disappeared from the mall and from one of the summer homes on Sturgeon Bay where Jenny, Rita and Pam work as painters for Joe's off-season remodeling business. Bill Houseman, one of the antique dealers, is suspected of stealing the items. Pam, who is also suspected, searches for and finds them on Houseman's property. By now, Jenny has opened herself to Rita while Rita still struggles with her depessing memories. It takes Houseman, angry and unfriendly as he has been, to shake Rita loose from her demons. A good read for anyone who likes romance with a little borderline mystery.

This was my first JC book. It was light and easy reading. The intimate moments between her characters were sketchy and left plenty to ones imagination. Not a get "hot and bothered" kind of read but enjoyable just the same.