Day (The Lies Lovers Tell
) spins an erotic but slow-moving tale of love in unexpected places. Beautiful, talented, and ambitious, 40-year-old divorcée Gwen Smith never thought she would be moving back to her California hometown to care for her aging mother, much less falling in love with a much younger man. Though Gwen is a likable, sympathetic character, 26-year-old single dad and “black Fabio fantasy” Ransom Blake is too inconsistent to justify her passion for him. Crude and awkward language undermines the love scenes. Day hints at conflicts, but few real troubles arise, and not even the return of Ransom’s former girlfriend will make readers truly doubt that Gwen and Ransom will get their happy ending. The story is only redeemed by a thoughtful examination of single fatherhood and some entertainingly over-the-top secondary characters. (Mar.)
