A FAMILY PORTRAIT - J.J. Massa

The Montgomery Family, Book 3

Love You Divine - www.loveyoudivine.com

January 2007

Erotic Paranormal Romance

Rating: Shooting Star

Somewhere outside Atlanta, Georgia ~ Present Day

Tavist Darke still grieves for the loss of his wife and son whose lives were taken by a drunk driver. Not a day goes by that he doesn't wish they were still here with him. For a long time after their death, Tav stopped living and stayed in wolf form. Then one day he watched another wolf manhandling a woman and her pups and it pissed him off. Ever since that day, Tavist has remained in the living world. Now it looks like fate has graced him with something he thought never to have again...a mate. He meets Tracey West, his new neighbor and her three children, Ashley, Jacob, and Christopher, when he returns something that Ashley dropped after two bullies dumped her backpack. Tavist sent them home with their tails between their legs and then followed Ashley home where he sees the most beautiful flame haired woman step out on the porch. The moment their eyes meet, Tavist knows she's his mate, now all he has to do is get the stubborn woman to see it too.

Tracey West and her children live in fear day in and day out because of her abusive ex-husband, Jack. He's in jail now, but when there's a threat he might get out, Tracey packs up the kids and moves some place else. When a sexy blue-eyed man walks into her front yard, Tracey's instincts demand she go outside and keep him from frightening her children. They suffered enough abuse at the hands of their so called father, and she plans to make sure none of them, including her, are ever victims again. However, Tavist Darke is different, and before Tracey knows it, the man has ingratiated himself into her children's good graces and, begrudgingly, hers as well. Tavist is gentle and careful with her, peppering her with sweet, soft kisses that leave her wanting more. But past experience has shown her that men turn ugly eventually and she's just waiting for Tavist to change.

Have you ever read a series of books containing the same characters throughout that touches your heart so deeply you can't wait for the next one to come out? Well, that's what this reviewer has discovered in J.J. Massa's The Montgomery Family series. Readers will recognize our hero, Tavist, from the first two books, ACTING LIKE FAMILY and FAMILY HARMONY. In A FAMILY PORTRAIT we watch our sad werewolf find love again and gain three wonderful children in the process. From the first moment Tavist meets this frightened family, he's smitten. The trust those children show him after being abused is endearing and will bring tears to your eyes. Tracey starts out as a skittish, scared woman, but as the book progresses, she learns to stand up for herself and take control. The love scenes between Tavist and Tracey are explosive and left this reader breathless.

A few familiar faces turn up in A FAMILY PORTRAIT -- all Montgomery's -- and a secret or two is revealed. Sue, a friend of Tracey's, is a force to be reckoned with and pushes Tracey into giving Tavist a chance. My favorite characters, besides the hero and heroine, of course, are Ashley, Jacob, and baby Christopher. Talk about resilient. With a little help from Tavist, Myles, and a couple of other Montgomery's, these little guys learn to trust again. To think about it brings tears to my eyes. It's so beautiful.

Once again J.J. Massa captivates with her stellar writing and charming characters. If you haven't picked up this series yet...what are you waiting for?

Sinclair Reid