Review this Book   Amazon Raven West Author Category:  Romance Publisher: Lighthouse Press ISBN-10:  0971191530 Type: Fiction Pages: 365 Copyright: Sept 11, 2001 "First Class Male" delivers an intricate tale of a small town postmaster who becomes the target of jealousy, blackmail and revenge. There are over 825,000 employees of the United States Postal Service including 65,00 Postmasters, letter carriers, clerks and 72,500 agents of the United States Postal Inspector's Service. All of whom share one thing in common: a desperate need for a hero. Postmaster Alex Bentley of Crystal Lake, New York is that hero and "First Class Male" is his story Content with his life as a small town postmaster, Alex Bentley never intended to become a hero, much less a media sensation, but fate had different plans. When unpublished author Rachel Clark walked into his lobby to pick up yet another rejection letter, the disappointment in her vibrant green eyes compelled him to do whatever he could to help her realize her dream. Even secretly edit her manuscript. Little did he know his one impetuous act would lead him through a complex maze of jealousy, blackmail and revenge. From deep within the splendor of the Catskill Mountains, to the majestic skyline of Manhattan, "First Class Male" delivers an intricate tale of a small town postmaster who triumphs over a ruthless District Attorney, a mysterious adversary, an unsympathetic public and finally his own heart.

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Rachel Clark left her career as a New York lawyer for a shot at her dream of writing books. The man who had been her partner in the courtroom and her lover at home, Mark Greystone, refused to stand by her and left. For two Summers she rented a place in the small town of Crystal Lake. During that time the Postmaster, Alex Bentley, had witnessed Rachel's manuscripts for Legal Briefs be rejected dozens of times.

When Rachel mentioned giving up if the manuscript was rejected again, Alex broke several postal regulations by holding her manuscript for one full day and spending the night making a few little changes to the story. Changes that sold the book, launched Rachel's writing career, and hurt their friendship that had recently become more.

While Rachel was in New York promoting her new book and writing the next, Alex was promoted to Director of Postal Operations in Albany. The two are brought back together when Alex was arrested for allegedly embezzling two hundred and seventy-three thousand dollars from the post office while he worked in Crystal Lake! Rachel stopped everything to be his attorney, especially when she found out that Mark Greystone was the one trying to lock him
up!

**** This story combined small town life with the big city crowds. It showed surprising insight into the daily life of postal workers and readers will find the author seemed to do much research on the various duties in the job! The book has several sub-plots that will keep the readers involved and wondering what will happen next. However, the ending will leave many readers satisfied and many others frustrated! Very good reading within these pages! ****

The first class postage stamp is a bargain
Who would ever think such sexual passion is steaming up the mail-sorting room? I will never look at those public servants across the counter quite the same way, after reading Raven West's novel.

West has taken some rather common characters: postal personnel, attorneys, law-enforcement, and made them extraordinarily interesting. These are people with all the self-doubts and latent nobility in each of us. Postmaster Alex Bentley, Thoreau-esquely withdrawn in the secure world of upstate Crystal Lake, NY, commits a major USPS no-no...and pays the price. Talented and confused author/attorney Rachel Clark escapes the Big Apple for her Walden Pond period. She has been hurt in love before, and Crystal Lake is the place to recoup, so she mistakenly believes. Mark Greystone, like any good antagonist, is a complex, believable DA. His drive causes damage to Alex, Rachel, and himself.
The knowledge West has of the politics and internal affairs of the USPS is quite impressive. The way she shares that in FIRST CLASS MALE makes for a deserved appreciation of the people who are the best postal system in the world.