When a Man Loves a Woman

Rating:
Summary: Oh, the love of a good man!!!!
Review: Amanda & Zachary married for all of the wrong reasons, a night of trying to offer comfort had turned into a night of passion. After facing the tragedy, Amanda moved out, although she and Zach are still married. She loves him, but having had a troubled childhood she's afraid to totally open up to him because she's afraid she may end up like her mother. Zach is nothing like Amanda's father, but the pain from her past won't allow her to see that. On their one year anniversary Amanda send Zach divorce papers, determined not to lose his wife, Zach must make Amanda see that love does not equal pain, and that it can truly be wonderful, when a man loves a woman.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: Before I write anything else, I want to say that I almost NEVER read Arabesque books. The plot is usually unbelievable and the characters [unrealistic]. HOWEVER, reading Bette Ford's book made me change my mind. Zach and Amanda were great!! Zach's love and concern for Amanda was the stuff of fairytales (and excellent romance books) and it made me wish I knew a "Zach" in my world. I know a lot of women like Amanda and it's all you can do to keep your composure and hope they realize they have a good man right underneath their nose. I think anyone who picks up this book will be pretty pleased with Ms. Ford's ability to craft an excellent story. Sometimes I felt as if she should have fully explained some of the other chracters and their motivations (like, what would make Mrs. McFadden, Zach's mother, act like she did? There had to be a better reason. What about the other brother Bradford and cousin Barbara?) because I wanted more details on why they acted like they did, but to fully explain them would have taken too long. Zach and Amanda were the focus of the story and that's where she kept the story aimed.

Anyway, the book centers on Zach and Amanda's attempts to put their marriage together one year after the loss of both their baby and Amanda's adoring grandfather. I guess I should say Zach's attempts, since on their first anniversary, Amanda served him with divorce papers! Zach refuses to lose the woman he loves so easily and he makes a deal with Amanda: Live with me for one year and see if we can put our marriage back together. If not, you win and I'll sign the papers. Of course, reading the book you realize Zach has no intention of letting her go so easily. He moves into her condo and begins to woo her back. Meanwhile, Amanda must decide whether she will let her parents abusive marriage dictate her love for Zach or if she will let go of the past and try to make her marriage work.

The story also touches on some pretty important issues. Domestic violence, emotional abuse, chidren being raised by their grandparents, etc. were all touched on in this book and Ms. Ford does an excellent job of not sweeping them under the rug. I know I will be reading more books by Ms. Ford in the future. More characters like Zach and Amanda will keep me from writing off Arabesque books for good.

Rating:
Summary: Good Read
Review: Bette Ford's latest book WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN is true to its title. Amanda was brought up in a dysfunctional family of abuse. She suffered and witnessed physical as well as emotional abuse from her father. This has made her to not trust any man not even her husband. She is carrying so much guilt that she could not open up or decide if she was in love or ready to throw everything away. I must warn you that at times you just want to just tell her to get over it and accept the love that Zachery has for her.

Now Zachery truly loves Amanda, because he has more patience than any person could have. He gave her the space that she needed when she needed it. But he refused to give her a divorce until they gave their marriage a try.

I can't tell you everything that is going on. But like I said earlier that Amanda will make you want to throw the book down, It took me a while to finish because she was to weak for me and got on my nerves. But the ending made up for all my start and stops. I was glad that I stuck with it.

Rating:
Summary: Good Read
Review: I am a fan of Bette Ford and this book let me know that once again she is an excellent author. Zach has chosen to pledge his love to one woman and one woman only and he sets out to prove it. Amanda on the other hand has no problem doubting his true love and affection for her and sets out to prove him wrong. The chemistry between the two is amazing. The plot twists are not to wild but interesting none the less. An enjoyable read.

Rating:
Summary: Was my waiting in vain?
Review: I have always been a Bette Ford fan and anxiously awaited this book. She's among my favorite authors. Man, was I disappointed. The heroine, Amanda, got on my last nerve! How could a grown woman, a successful interior designer be so silly? Why would she think, a man such as Zach who has always been there for her, not really love her. Okay, so they slept together, created a baby that she lost. Did that automatically mean that he was lost as well? And why couldn't she believe that he love her, especially after NOT filing for divorce when she left him. This woman was not a strong black woman. When I read about romance, where there's drama, I expect for them to overcome and succeed despite the obstacles. In this novel, I wanted Zach to just leave her and move on! AAAAAHHHHH!

On the level of sensuality, I will give this book a 5. That much, Ms. Ford did manage to achieve. Zach was a very handsome, creative and sexy man. He deserved better than Amanda.

And why, WHY must we always have to deal with a crazy mother in-law? That's another thing that peeded me off. Amanda should have told Zach from the begining. Dang, when you marry, you leave your parents and your spouse become priority, after God. Duh!!

I hope the next novel Ms. Ford pens will be of the same calibur that we've come to expect of her.

Rating:
Summary: Okay Read
Review: I was dissapointed in this book. I thought it was dragged out and I was ready for it to be over with. I could have choked Amanda, I mean Zach didn't deserve that kind of treatment. It's like she forgot he also lost a child as well. I don't recomment this book but I will continue to read Mrs.ford books.

Rating:
Summary: Good Read
Review: I'm on a Bette Ford kick this week. I loved the story and plot. However I thought the story was draged out to long. Zach knew he wanted the marriage to work. Amanda was to blind to see that Zach was not like her drunk father. I wanted to reach in the book and SLAP her a few times. I also feel like a lot of info was missing. Like what was up with her mother? Why Zach's mom, brother, and a distance cousin didn't like Amanda? There was not a lot to go on. The ending kind of ticked me off. I feel like sequel to the book was need with Barbara and Brad. Maybe we could have had more history of the family. Like how the heck family gonna marry family. Over all a good read.

Rating:
Summary: Shades Of Romance Magazine Review
Review: If you are looking for a change of pace, fast reading romance novel, look no more. Then When a Man Loves a Woman by Bette Ford is the novel for you. It isn't your typical woman meets man, falls in love with man, loses man and finds him again. Oh no, this has a foine leading man, (then again when aren't they?) who is madly in love with the leading lady. Of course, she's in love with him, but too afraid to show it. These two knew each forever! I found this novel to be very entertaining and with a plausible plot with the right dash of romance thrown in. The sensuous romance scenes will bring a smile to your face because they were real and not ones from 'Fantasy Island.' You've probably made some these scenes happen yourself.

Except for the characters being rich, we have met this group of relatives in our own lives and that is what I liked about the book. Her development of a family with problems, but leaning on others to help reminded me of the extended families of old. You know the kind that helped one another.

Ms. Ford made us care for the broken relationship between the main characters and her exceptional character development of the main heroine explained her inability to trust men at all and I began wanting her to get it together. The resolution of the family drama between Amanda and her father should encourage anyone in an abusive relationship that there is a way out. It begins within.

Zachary McFadden had a little family drama himself, but we know that his resolution of the problem with his mother is from Fantasy Island. But, it was nice to read it anyway.

Just reading the back of the book would lead you to believe that Amanda Daniels McFadden was tripping and needed to get over it. Well, there was a lot more going on. I found Zachary McFadden to be very patient almost patient to a fault, but he did assert himself towards the end. This couple had to make choices that real life couples make every day and they were real enough for us to know that we have either been there, done that or know someone who has.

In the trend of most books today, Ms. Ford left us wanting to know more about the other two brothers. I could easily see this novel as the beginning of the family saga, much in the style of Rochelle Aler's Hideway Series or Brenda Jackson's Madaris brothers. If you liked any of the Aler's or Jackson's novels, you won't be disappointed with When a Man Loves a Woman. I would suggest that you read it whenever you have a free evening because you are going to want to get to the end of it. I am looking forward toher next novel. Enjoy, I did.

Rating:
Summary: True Love
Review: In real life no man would have the patience Zachary McFadden has in this book. Amanda Daniels had some serious demons to overcome, and when she realized she did love Zachary she was lucky he took her back. It was a good book.

Rating:
Summary: Test of patience
Review: In real life no man would have the patience Zachary McFadden has in this book. Amanda Daniels had some serious demons to overcome, and when she realized she did love Zachary she was lucky he took her back. It was a good book.