FOR PETE’S SAKE
by Linda Windsor
When Ellen Brittingham is contracted to do the landscaping for the estate next door, she isn’t sure what to think. She instantly fell in love with the car the wealthy widower owns, but she isn’t sure what to think of the man—or his beauty queen “Barbie-doll” fiancée. Still she has an instant bond with Adrian’s eleven-year-old son, Pete.
Adrian Sinclair doesn’t understand the effect Ellen has on him. After all, he’s engaged to be married to his right-hand woman, and his bride-to-be is struggling to understand what makes his son tick.
When Adrian’s best friend is accused of stealing from the company, Pete and Ellen become really close while Adrian is out of town. Activities with the boy, draw Ellen and Pete together. But is Ellen ready to risk her heart to a man who’s as good as married?
FOR PETE’S SAKE is the second book in Ms. Windsor’s Piper Cove Chronicles. It is nice to revisit with the characters we fell in love with in the first book, Wedding Bell Blues.
Ellen is a realistic, fun-loving character, more comfortable with dirt under her fingernails and greasy hands than in dresses and high heels. She knows the best fishing spots, and lives on a houseboat. Adrian, on the other hand, is rich, but not real comfortable in the rich-boy image his position forces him to maintain. Ellen’s free-spirit attracts him, and the fact that his son loves her adds fuel to the fire.
FOR PETE’S SAKE is a fun book, sure to keep the reader engaged from the beginning to the end. A letter from the author and discussion questions is included at the end of the book. $12.95. 294 pages.
Reviewed by Laura V. Hilton
editor June 21, 2008
The book opens with Ellen Brittingham speeding down the road on her motorcycle. In a way, it’s a metaphor of her life. Her life is speeding along at break neck speed. She works for her parents in their nursery but her heart isn’t in it anymore. She wants to head out on her own, but doesn’t have the heart to tell them. Her parents could never run the nursery on their own.
She’s passed by a 2007 Atomic Orange Corvette. It is being driven by Adrian Sinclair. His life is also passing him by. He’s a widower, taking care of his son Pete, engaged to a beautiful woman. But his business has gotten so big, it’s running him instead of him running it. And his fiancé has no love for his son.
Two lonely people, passing on a highway. Their lives about to come together. They both turn down the same road, only Adrian can’t handle a turn and ends up in a field. Ellen comes to his rescue and gives him a ride home. His home ends up being just up the road from her parents. And so begins a chain of events that continue to bring the two of them together.
The story line is simple, and to some extent predictable. But it was fun to read and the author has a way of making you really care about the characters.
I highly recommend this book for all ages.
There’s a question on the book: “Can faith and friends transform a tomboy into Cinderella before love gets away?” Read the book to find out!
Reviewed by Lynn Worley