Title: Dreaming of You
Author: Francis Ray
Published in August 2006, by St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 0312939736
Related Books: You and No Other Until There Was You
Every little girl has a hero, and as she was growing up, it was a position designated to her brothers and their best friend, Brandon Grayson. As she grew up, Faith McBride was a beautiful girl, voluptuous, shy, competent, yet and very much the stereotypical wallflower. With her brothers grown and often gone, Brandon stepped in, taking her to the school dances, proms, and many other activities. He thinks of Faith as his friend, but that's status she wishes desperately to change. Faith sees a huge problem looming on her horizon because she knows Brandon's mother has picked a woman for him, and is urging him to marry. She also knows Brandon bitterly and vociferously disagrees with her, and refuses to meet any of his mother's choices. He has no desire to get married, let alone fall in love. The Casa de Serenidad is only a short walk from where Brandon's restaurant is located, and as it offers great cuisine, Faith often recommends it to her guests. As a talented and successful hotel manager, Faith has taken the family owned business to a five star rating, and as such, she has attracted some of the best chefs. Brandon is often seen trying to entice Henri from her employ, claiming he needs an excellent pastry chef for his restaurant.
Faith knows her first class chef won't leave no matter how much Brandon cajoles, and she is always glad to see Brandon in spite of his efforts to steal Henri. Brandon's presence always makes her ache with a longing, and so she sets out on a plan of action to get into Brandon's heart, and into his bed. She is not quite sure how to do this, but figures the best way is through jealousy or his family. She sets in motion plans to update her wardrobe to attract him and enlists his sister, Sierra to help. She decides to see if artists of all kinds would be interested in using the hotel as a showcase for their fine art. To this end, Faith gets busy and contacts Brandon's sister-in-law Phoenix, a well known and respected artist. Faith explains her ideas about displaying her sculpture, and not only garners her interest, but also a recommendation for the Arts Council to sanction the showings. Meanwhile, she is shocked but thrilled to have Brandon spending time in her hotel itself. He is temporarily occupying one of the exclusive suites do to a problem in his apartment. For Faith, this is a golden opportunity, and she is ready and willing to make the best of the situation presented. Besides, if she wants to get Brandon Grayson to the alter before his mother's hand-picked bride shows, she'd better get moving and put plans into motion fast...
Brandon Grayson is a man on the run. His mother has been nagging him to find a girl and settle down. He doesn't understand why she won't let him alone. She says she wants grandchildren, but she has already maneuvered his two brothers, Luke and Morgan into marriage. Isn't that enough? Oh, they may be happy now, or claim to be, but Brandon is just not buying her reasoning. He doesn't want to get married. Why can't she understand that simple fact and forget about her conniving and manipulations? If she wants him to be happy, then why try to saddle him with an unwanted marriage? Brandon has enough responsibility running his restaurant, The Red Cactus, and doesn't need the extra responsibility or weight of a wife to nag him or pester him about coming home, going shopping, or any number of things that would take him away from his beloved business. He is a renowned chef in his own right, and the business he has runs well because he stays on top of it constantly. His employees trust him to make sure the food is great so they have customers who will return and give them good press. That is what is important to Brandon, and he doesn't need any distractions. He didn't get here overnight, it took a lot of hard work, and he is not about to give it up for a woman.
He looks at love and marriage as a huge bother, and just because his mother was happy, doesn't mean he will be, and he would just as soon stay single. Her excuse is she loves him, but nagging him to marry her choice of wife is hardly his idea of loving someone. She is a woman, and women are always angling for him to get married and trying to assure him it will make him happy. Can't they see he is happy now? Besides, he has found out that for the most part, women he dated don't really care if the man is truly happy. As long as they are satisfied, and get what they want, that is the total of what counts with them. He is tired of people butting into his life, and so Brandon decides he will play it safe. When a pipe bursts in his above-restaurant apartment, he asks his friend and hotelier, Faith McBride if she has any room space open. The Casa de Serenidad is within an quick walk from The Red Cactus, it is the ideal place to stay and be close to work, if Faith has the room, and can accommodate him while the plumber fixes the pipes. maybe he can hang out with Faith too, and maybe his mother will let him alone about marriage. Yeah, well, he can hope. At least he feels safe with Faith. She is a friend, and as far as that goes, maybe she would be open to an affair with no strings attached...
I have to give it to Francis Ray. The realism in her books is a treat, as is Ruth Grayson and her "mother knows best" philosophy. Although her intentions are good, a mother can only go so far, and the stories of the Grayson family push a person to the edge. Filled with frustration, good humor, and "mother problems," the latest in the saga, Dreaming of You, showcases the fight of the middle son, Brandon to stay single. Hilarity follows as his mother Ruth, twists, turns, and manipulates him. It is a tough sell to get Brandon to come around to her way of thinking, but she has places strategic pitfalls to encourage him on his way. The trials of Faith's family, their unsuccessful history dealing with relationships, have her dodging the marriage bullet as well. Although she longs for a home and family, she is afraid the curse will find her and she is not willing to suffer like her brothers and father. The McBride family seems cursed when it comes to happiness because both Cameron and Duncan have followed in her father's footsteps, seeming to find love, only to be left behind later with broken hearts. Faith finds herself wondering if Brandon's mother could work some of her magic for her. After all, Luke and Morgan are happy, and if Ruth has her way, Brandon will soon follow. If only Ruth would pair her with Brandon, she has loved him for a long time.
Dreaming of You is a great read for those who enjoy the Grayson series. For those of you who have never read a book by Francis Ray, you will find it an excellent introduction. This book simply provides the reader charming, delightful, and witty reading filled with strong characters. Ms Ray's stubborn men and enchanting women delight in the love they find no matter how rocky the road is leading them there. As for happy endings, the standard of the romance novel is carried out, but Ms Ray has a wonderful and unique way of bringing her couples together. The fun is just beginning, and in Dreaming of You, Ms Ray has provided us with another very entertaining winner in romance Grayson-style. Dreaming of You is coming out in August of 2006 from St. Martin's Press, so be on the look out for it at your local bookseller, or you can preorder it at Amazon.com! You will be glad you picked a copy of Dreaming of You, and will be looking for her back list too!
Yours in good reading,
Rose!
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