Better Than by Leslie Esdaile Banks
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(Mass Market Paperback)
- Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corporation
- Pub. Date: June 2008
- ISBN-13: 9780758213303
- Sales Rank: 71,093
- 304pp
- Series: Dafina Contemporary Romance Ser.
Synopsis
For a woman on the verge of a new life, romance is at the bottom of her To Do list.
With a New Year beginning, twenty-five-year-old Deborah Lee Jackson has a major list of resolutions. Newly divorced, unfulfilled by her job, and carrying a few extra pounds, Deborah's ready for a mind, body, spirit makeover, and she's starting at the local University. From yoga to painting to healthy cooking, finding a man is the last thing on her mind. But fate has other plans.
A successful, free-spirited painter-not to mention gorgeous afro-wearing black king-Jason Hastings is devoted to his career. He's agreed to do a teaching stint to help out a friend, but nothing's going to mess with his concentration, which is why he's sworn off women-until a tall, voluptuous, sultry voiced sister adds a splash of color and spice to his bland classroom of conservative bored housewives. Now, despite Deborah's wounded heart and Jason's celibacy, a magical romance begins. But can it hold up when real-life interferes.?
Publishers Weekly
A holistic approach to the art of cooking and love marks Esdaile's latest heart-warmer (after No Trust) and soul charmer. Deborah Lee Jackson is 25, half-black and half-Cherokee, recently divorced and newly arrived in Philly. Eager for something more than her depressing water department job, Deborah embarks on a "complete self-help overhaul" by taking courses at the University Arts Center near her apartment. She meets Jason Hastings while buying supplies for her naturopathic cooking class, unaware he's also a substitute art teacher at the Center. Jason, who is black, asks Deborah to pose for him because he's determined to immortalize her in oil. Their mutual attraction blossoms into something very passionate and deeply fulfilling, but thorny conflicts rooted in their individual family histories soon arise. Esdaile explores the challenges the couple must face with sparkling sensitivity, interweaving spiritual issues with earthy, practical ones. (June)
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Leslie Esdaile Banks is a graduate of The University of Pennsylvania Wharton undergraduate program, and alumna of Temple University's Master of Fine Arts in filmmaking program. She has penned over thirty novels and ten novellas within genres as diverse as romance, women's fiction, crime suspense, and dark fantasy/horror, and regularly contributes to magazines and newspaper columns. She writes and lives in University City, Philadelphia, with her daughter.
Customer Reviews
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Better Thanby Anonymous
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August 14, 2008: 'Have you ever felt 'Less Than? Just about everyone has: 'less than' the people on the job who don't appreciate the hard work that you put in day fter day 'less than' seemingly perfect people who can wear anything they want and look fantastic in it 'less than' a human being worthy of love and respect. In this book, Ms. Esdaile weaves a delicious tale of a woman who's tired of having and being 'less than' and decides to change her life to attract positive energy so that she can have and be 'better than'. Better Than takes you on a journey of re-discovery for Deborah Lee Jackson and Jason Hastings. They've both been deeply wounded and made to feel like 'less than' by past significant others. Together they learn that they can have and be 'Better Than'. Fall in love with love again. I challenge you to read this book and begin your own 'Better Than' story!'
A Grown & Sexy Romanceby Anonymous
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July 09, 2008: WOW...when you pick up this novel you will be treated to an inspiring, exciting, amusing and EXTREMELY sizzlin' true-to-life romantic delight. I was TOTALLY caught up in voluptuous 'pretty Deborah' and free-spirited, sexy-as-all-get-out Jason's budding relationship from beginning to end. I enjoyed the fact that Deborah and Jason had 'old fashion' upbringing, both being raised by their grandmother's, they adopted many of their ways. Jason was very chivalrous and Deborah definitely knew how to take care of her man and was quite the 'homemaker' (putting her foot in it when she cooked and keeping a clean house) not many young people do these things anymore, it was REFRESHING. Ms. Esdaile has fashioned a very plausible plot and a cast of well-developed and UNFORGETTABLE characters. I found the conflict and drama that the characters, (main and secondary) had to struggle through made this novel that much more compelling and entertaining. It's the cutest thing when Deborah and Jason first meet, and even though their attraction is instant and mutual, Deborah decides to forgo any further contact with Jason. However, it appears fate has other plans for Deborah, and throws Jason all up in her life. But will Deborah allow Jason to mend her broken heart and show her that he is 'Better Than' ANY man that has hurt her in the past?!! And will Jason realize that despite his dysfunctional family secrets and betrayals, 'pretty Deborah' is ready and willing to be there for him, to share in his joys and pains, if ONLY he'll let her. Or will they both realize too late that their lives are better than, since they became involved with each other?!! Ms. Esdaile has created a captivating GROWN & SEXY romance about personal and professional growth, love and life, one definitely NOT to be missed!
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