"Love at First Sight"

Annie has sold her house and is moving to a small cottage. She is glad to leave behind the memory of her husband's death two years before. She had loved him but found it hard to forgive him for all of the gambling debts he had left her. Her mother-in-law, Claudia, thinks her son was the perfect husband and Annie cannot tarnish her memories.

When Annie goes to pick up pizza and soft drinks for the movers, she comes out of the market to find a large dog in her pickup. She tries to entice the dog out but he has dined on her pizzas and refuses to move. Dog owner, Sam, finally comes to the rescue and meets his new neighbor. They are both immediately smitten with each other.

"There was something in her eyes, something in the sound of her voice, that seemed familiar. As if he'd waited his whole life to meet her."

Warren Bancroft is a millionaire from the small town and always trying to help out with scholarships and in this case, doing a bit of matchmaking. He loves Annie and Sam and hopes that they will be attracted to each other. Sam has been working on Wall Street putting his brothers and sisters through college. The days of being a well-heeled financial analyst are gone. He is broke and trying to pick up the pieces of his life.

A Soft Place to Fall is a very romantic book. Warren sets up the scenario and when Annie and Sam see each other, it is love at first sight. It is not easy for Annie because her family of in-laws have a difficult time releasing her to a new future. Her life has been wrapped about them and they do not want to see it change. Barbara Bretton is a talented author and makes the story come alive with emotion and romantic tension. The secondary characters are totally believable. I couldn't put the book down. It is the kind of a romance that we wish for ourselves and I loved every romantic word. Another winner for Barbara Bretton.

Reviewed by Marilyn Heyman
Posted December 16, 2001