Paper Moon : Book One of The Moonstruck Series

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful tale of second love!
Review: Linda Windsor has a winner in "Paper Moon," Book One of the Moonstruck Series from WestBow Press.

Caroline Spencer is the divorced mother of 16 year-old Annie who, along with her best friend, Karen, want to take a school trip to Mexico. Naturally, they need chaperones, and Caroline joins them on the trip designed to promote family togetherness.

Blaine Madison barely makes the plane to join the school sponsored trip. Traveling with a group of Christian teenagers and their parents to Mexico makes Blaine feel uncomfortable. After all, he lost his faith in God after his wife died. But it will give him an opportunity to spend time with his daughter, Karen.

When he's seated next to Caroline on the plane, her natural humor has the stressed out Blaine smiling for the first time in ages. Then, the night of their arrival in Acapulco, the kids visit the disco club, Banditos, where no liquor is served. There his daughter Karen meets John Chandler, a senior at the University of California in Mexico City, and Blaine's parental instincts get into high gear. It's not only the difference in ages between his daughter and the college student that make him suspicious. There's something about John just doesn't sit right with him.

Unbeknownst to the travelers, John is involved in a ring of thieves who steal priceless stamp collections, meant to be sold abroad. John's goal is to find a naïve target: someone to mail the card carrying the stolen property from the States. Despite the rule of not accepting packages, Karen falls prey to John's request.

As the school group tours Mexico, Blaine finds himself turning to Caroline for help in understanding his daughter. The spiritual depth behind Caroline's words eases the guilt Blaine feels over the loss of his wife, and also helps bridge the gap between father and daughter. And Caroline finds herself attracted to the handsome, lonely widower. As the days pass, her attraction for Blaine continues to grow.

But when John discovers that Karen has lost the envelope he gave her, and then Karen and Annie disappear, Blaine blames Caroline. Caroline trusts in God to keep the girls safe. But is Blaine ready to give God - and Caroline - a second chance?

Linda Windsor has won numerous awards for her novels, including historical and contemporary romances, and after reading "Paper Moon," I can see why. "Paper Moon" is filled with adventure, suspense, marvelous humor and great sensitivity. To say I eagerly look forward to her next release is an understatement. This is definitely a not-to-be missed book!


Rating:
Summary: A Great Way To Start A Series!!!
Review: This read which happens to be the first in the "Moonstruck Series" deftly combines, suspense, romance, humor, and a strong spiritual message into a well rounded story that will have readers anticipating the next in the series.

Single parents Caroline Spencer, and Blaine Madison are both tackling to the best of their abilities of raising teenage daughters. When a on school trip to Mexico these two very different but damaged people find love but this new found love will be tested when their daughters are kidnapped. Will their faith in God, and in each other be strong enough to survive a parents worst nightmare?

Ms. Windsor has penned a very good character driven read. Caroline and Blaine are truly wonderful characters and her use of wit and humor helped to make them very real for the reader. These are not "perfect people" and as a result it was easy to see and believe that these two people were able to find love a second time around with each other. This is a read that I highly recommend you not miss.

Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com