Amazon Category:  Romance Publisher: Publishamerica ISBN-10:  1413704182 Type: Fiction Pages: 158 Copyright: May 27, 2003 Lena Hawes, a forty-year-old insurance investigator becomes intimately involved with Bernard, a co-worker who is twenty years her junior. Lena's teenage son Thomas Jr. is intolerant of the relationship. Lena's life spirals out of control amid chemical dependency and personal tragedy. Excerpt The wind seemed more brisk than usual, leaves on the trees snapping to and fro to the tune of the Fall song. Clouds covering the sky so that only small seams of blue shown through. Pedestrians walking hurrily, pulling their outer garments tightly about them to keep out the cold, scampering across the streets just out of the path of oncoming vehicular traffic. Lena Hawes took in this view as she waited on the bus stop. Her back to the wind, the collar to her brown insulated all weather coat pulled snugly up covering her ears and nose as liberated strains of her hair stirred in the wind. She had not caught public transportation in years, but her car was in the shop for a much needed brake repair. In days of old, her husband, Tom would be driving her to work. They were now legally separated after a twenty-year union. Their marriage had slowly deteriorated and they had grown apart. Lena blamed herself mostly, married at the tender age of twenty-three she had not yet truly formed into the woman she was to become. Independence in the workplace and self-confidence had caused her to be self-assertive and demanding to be included in the decision-making role in the marriage. Tom was unable to accept this from the young subservient maiden he had married. In time as the physical lovemaking waned so did their love. Recognizing they were only man and wife on paper the decision was made to part amicably sharing custody of the only child of the marriage, Thomas Junior, who was sixteen years of age. In the beginning of the split she had felt the thrill of new found freedom, she was her own person again. It was liberating to make her own decisions and depend solely upon her own life problem solving skills. Later, though the loneliness and isolation invaded her psyche. She had for so long been part of a pair taking on the rigors of daily life knowing someone else would help to shoulder the burden. In the meantime she was learning to depend solely upon her own efforts. Finances were of the utmost importance now that her salary and a small child support check was all that she had to rely upon. There was a supervisory promotional position available at work and she would make it known to her boss that she was interested. The transit bus arrived and the passengers were boarding, Lena got in line to wait her turn to board. ***** Excerpt Book will be available Jan, 2004

A Worthwhile Read
Ms. Green outdoes herself in her newest book, Strained Relations. Her writing style is so filled with attention to detail. The book so in depth.
With so many twist and turns in this Romantic Novel, I found myself caught up in the trials and tribulations that the leading character, Lena Hawes must deal with. I thoroughly enjoyed the romantic scenes, especially with that of a younger man. A little bit taboo-ish, It breaks through some of the boundaries of the run of the mill Romance Novels I am use to reading.
The fantasies of my mind would wander as I followed these characters. I would get lost in the book and forget the time.
I must say this is a book well worth reading, Highly recommended for every fan of Romance.
On a rating scale of 1-5. I would say that Strained Relations should receive a 5+ rating. Well done, Ms. Green...well done.
Katlyn Stewart
Reviewer and author of Nightmares Echo