After The Loving

Rating:
Summary: Two Thumbs Up for the Big Girls Doing IT!
Review: I enjoyed this story very much. Being a plus size woman myself I could relate to the feelings of low self esteem that Velma had. If you have never been overweight, handicapped or suffer some other physical disability you wouldn't know what that person is feeling on the inside. Velma was lucky that that she found Russ, a man who loved her just the way she was, A beautiful, voluptuous woman. Having a sister that is tall, thin and beautiful had to have an effect on her psyche. I enjoyed this sequel that begins at the wedding of Alexis and Telford. Thanks Gwynne and I can't wait for Drake's story and more of Tara, Henry, Alexis and Telford in September 2005.

Patsy Nelson

Rating:
Summary: What could have been a hit was definitly a MISS
Review: I was so looking forward to reading this next offering from Mrs. Forster; Boy was I disappointed. I liked Velma except when she interacted with Russ. She wants to feel the love she sees him give the other characters in the story but he only has conditional love for her. It seemed that whenever Russ was put into the situation with her she became the poster woman for a doormat. How could a woman brave enough to burying her Mom, raise her sister, then start her own business have no opinion of her own and no backbone. I was further disappointed in the people around her who encouraged her to tame her spirit,hold her fellings and emotions and mold herself to his moods.I was surprised that her sister didn't recognize Russ' abusive nature based on her horrible experiences with her first marraige. What is the deal with a grown man, a successful businessman at that, using brownie points to grade a woman he is supposed to be interested in. ARE YOU SERIOUS. Velma, even with her dismorphia had much more to offer Russ than he had to offer her. I found Russ to be nothing more than an emotionally unavailable, abusive, egocentric, control freak whenever he was around Velma. How is she to open up to man who is so inconsistent and emotionally stunted? I put this one down easily several times. I kept pickin it up because I wanted to see velmas Light bulb moment.That didn't happen. It would have been nicer if the baby was his and he married Iris. That way Velma could have met someone patient who loved her out loud. I wont harp on the typos and inconsistent dialogue. I did enjoy Mr Henry and Tara again, they were highlights. I know all artist and authors have misses and hopefully the next book in the series is a hit.

Rating:
Summary: After The Loving
Review: Russ and Velma's story was wonderful. Russ won over Velma by just letting her know he cared and truly wanted to be with her,no matter what her size was. And Tara is such a sweetheart. I can't wait until September 2005 for Drake's story.

Rating:
Summary: What Next?
Review: With AFTER THE LOVING by Gwynne Forster, we are once again thrust into the world that is the Harrington brothers of Eagle Park, Maryland. In Once In A Lifetime we were introduced to this brooding group of brothers and their sassy cook, Mr. Henry. This time as the story opens, eldest brother Telford and Alexis, the former house manager, are preparing for their wedding, however AFTER THE LOVING centers on the middle brother Russ and Velma, Alexis' sister.

Alexis has arrived in Eagle Park to serve as a witness to her sister's marriage and is once again drawn to Russ. Russ is the brother who is engrossed in his work as an architect and has never dealt with his ill feelings towards his wayward mother, thus he will not allow anyone, especially a woman, to steal his heart. However, Velma has managed to get under his skin and when she stays in Eagle Park to keep Tara, Alexis' inquisitive five-year old daughter, Russ guards his heart with an ironclad fist, which makes for a strange courtship between the two. Once again little Tara is the voice of reason and she is a child who endears herself to those around her.

Gwynne Forster has developed a rich storyline of not just romance but other human emotions that make you take stock of what and who is important. Forster has managed to exhibit Russ' classic middle child tendencies with compassion and empathy. The imagery used of inner city Baltimore and the countryside of Maryland is vivid and arresting. The dramatics, foresight and understanding the characters bring to the pages can be classified as romance at its best. This second installment of the Harrington brothers and their significant others is an interesting tale simply because Russ and Velma both have uncomfortable issues and misunderstandings that prevent them from fully committing to their yearnings.

Reviewed by Dawn R. Reeves
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers