When young co-ed Joanna Ransome met married professor Jared Fowler, she never expected to become the "other woman." Even more unexpectedly, their love would survive four tumultuous decades until Jared makes a choice that has devastating consequences.
Excerpt:
When the music stopped, Joanna reached across the bed, snapped off the phonograph and the lamp next to it. Going to the window and raising it slightly, she rested her head on her arms and gazed outside across the campus, inhaling the crisp night air. It was so quiet she could hear the acorns drop through the branches of the oaks near her window, landing with tiny snaps on the piles of leaves below. She’d quickly fallen in love with this little college after her first visit. From her window she could see almost every one of the stately old buildings, nothing having changed much since Manning’s founding in the mid-eighteen-hundreds. It had become home, more home in many ways than her real one where as an only child she often felt the absence of someone to talk to, to share with. Here she’d found roommates, friends, Doris and finally this tiny room she called her own. Yet none of it was enough. She felt herself yearning for something more. Where was her life going? Sometimes she felt the winds of fate simply picked her up and carried her wherever they were blowing. Here she was, a year away from graduating as a teacher, and she wasn’t even sure that’s what she wanted to be. Worst of all, there was no one special in her life. Many of her friends, Beth included, were engaged and planning weddings after graduation. What was wrong? Why couldn’t she make a plan and stick to it? Set some goals; make more of an effort to meet new people; accept some of the offers instead of turning them down without giving the men a chance? What, or who, was she waiting for?
Excerpt
On Thursday and Friday, they walked the city, giddy as children on a school trip. Each day, they wound up at the Battery, taking the ferry ride over to Staten Island. Now, they could stand on the top deck without the weight of heavy coats, breathe the fresh air and listen to the sounds of seagulls and boat horns as they hung over the rail. Jared stood with his eyes closed, face raised to the breeze. Joanna touched his cheek, pulled his head down for a gentle kiss.
“‘Blindfolded, I could kiss a thousand mouths and know your lips,’” she whispered.
“Walter Benton,” Jared said, his eyes still closed. “‘I knew your eyes by heart after the very first reading.’ He must have known there would be a Joanna when he wrote his poems.”
~*~
All too quickly it was Saturday. Another farewell, this one particularly poignant in its finality.
“Who knows if we’ll ever come here together again,” Joanna said sorrowfully. “There’s so little time left.”
Professional Reviews
From Women on Writing by Joy Snyder
It's not your average predictable romance novel. A compelling book that creates characters so realistic you will share in their happiness, pain, frustrations and love. So emotional that you'll have to keep reminding yourself that it's only a book. A poignant look at the heartbreak and joy that a not so perfect love can bring. Make yourself a pot of coffee before you start this book; you won't want to put it down.
This book is an excellent read for those who prefer the realities of love over your typical boy meets girl fluff. Written so well, you'll find yourself absorbed in the all too realistic problems we've all seen or experienced in matters of the heart. Jeanne Howard is an inspirational writer who tells a story with passion and conviction. Keep your eyes open for the sequel to this story.
Congratulations, Jeanne, for a truly unforgettable book!
Heartstrings by Cheryl Jeffries
I won't soon forget this poignant and intelligent novel. Joanna and Jared's doomed love affair has left an indelible impression on this reviewer; I just wish I could shake off the yearning for a second chance at a happy ending, for a season that isn't colored by the awful pain of remembrance."
From amazon.com by Carole Imes
This novel could be another "Bridges" (Bridges of Madison County...lest you forgot!) if the word gets around. The author has done an outstanding job in putting together a unique plot in a distinctive format that is guaranteed to leave you breathlessly spellbound. She tells the poignant story of a forbidden romance involving Joanna Ransome, an attractive coed with a promising future and Jared Fowler, a handsome dramatics professor who teaches at the small college she attends. Unlike Robert and Francesca's meager four days together in "Bridges", Joanna and Jared's tale spans four decades. I won't go into too many details as you will want to see for yourself what fate has in store for this captivating couple who will tug at your heartstrings throughout the entire book. Ms. Howard is to be commended for her snappy dialogue and well-portrayed descriptions of scenes and characters that literally came alive in my mind throughout the entire novel. Keep that midnight oil burning...this one's a real page turner. And, spread the word. This is certain to become the next best seller!
A homonymless man writes shows what it's like to look up the laid he skirts when you’re lying prone(d) to the sidewalk, beer / joint / needle dangling from your hand /lips / arm.
