The Sweetest Thing - Softcover

Sensuality: 6

Successful entrepreneur Alex Carrigan's life is neatly organized and focused on building his company. But fate drops a series of bombshells when his eccentric grandfather appears on his doorstep to move in with him, the sudden death of his ex-wife leaves him with a precocious 12-year-old daughter he's convinced he didn't sire, and beautiful redhead Faith Christopher walks into his life.

Faith has her own set of problems. She's been in emotional limbo since the death of her fiancé several years before, and the ties to his family are growing increasingly troublesome. She's wondering if she should give in to family pressure and marry the second son when Alex wanders into her bakery looking for his grandfather. The physical connection she feels with Alex is instantaneous and mutual, making her question whether a marriage based on companionship is wise or even possible.

Meanwhile, Alex's grandfather has an agenda of his own. Fifty-six years earlier, he'd fallen in love, broken a piece of ancient Indian pottery, and brought a curse on himself and his heirs. He's convinced he must locate his lost love, return the pottery to its hiding place, and lift the curse, a plan Alex has heard many times before and doesn't want to get involved in. But Faith is intrigued by the elderly gentleman's tale and agrees to help him. Little does she know what life-changing forces have been set in motion by her decision.

Can a woman who wants commitment find happiness with a man who doesn't believe in love? Will Alex be able to accept that not only is Faith everything he wants but also everything he needs? If Alex and Faith don't help his grandfather solve the more than half-century-long mystery, will the curse doom the two lovers and all the people they love? And what about the child he doesn't believe is his but who needs him so desperately? It's a pleasure to read Freethy's answers to these questions and more, thanks to her charming writing style and expert plotting in The Sweetest Thing.--Lois Faye Dyer

Since turning her attention to fiction writing in 1988, Barbara Freethy has sold fifteen novels. For a former public relations professional and freelance business writer, fifteen novels is a dream come true.

Barbara most enjoys writing books about love and family with a little bit of magic. Her first novel for Avon Books, Daniel's Gift, a poignant tale about a little boy and his estranged parents, won the RITA award and has been optioned for a television movie. Barbara is currently working on her seventh novel for Avon.

Barbara resides in Northern California with her husband and two children.