New Year's Wife
by Linda Varner

Rated 4.0
ISBN# 0-373-19200-2
$3.25 USA; $3.75 Can
Reviewed 1/8/97 by Pam T.
Copyright 1/97

"New Year's Wife" by Linda Varner is an exhilarating story of true love breaking through all obstacles.

Julie Newman McCrae was born just minutes after midnight on January 1st. Each year along with the celebration of the new year, Julie's family throws her a large party to celebrate her birthday. All her family members try to be in attendance.

Tyler Jordan is an adventurous man. Hand gliding, air show stunts, and dare-devil ski races are his cup of tea. He's your typical hero: handsome, virile, bomber-jacket-wearing-stud. With his father's abandonment from his life before he was even born, Tyler holds a close relationship with his mother. As a result he has a difficult time relaxing around large families. They only make him feel uncomfortable -- and the Newman's are no exception.

Tyler and Julie meet on one of these new year's/birthday parties. Julie's brother Don brings Tyler home with him for the party. Introduction's are made and sparks begin to fly between Julie and Tyler. Tyler knows it's her birthday and that Don has two sisters, Julie and Kit. He also knows that one is four years older than the other.

Tyler and Julie have a few minutes of heated passion on the back porch. An interruption reminds them that cake is on the way. Tyler promises to join Julie inside in just a few minutes -- after he cools down. When he heads on into the house there is quite a surprise on the cake as to how old Julie really is. Shocked and embarrassed, Tyler runs off before anyone notices.

Eight years later, Tyler and Julie are thrown back together. Tyler wants badly to explain why he left so abruptly all those years ago, but Julie wants none of it. That was so long ago, a marriage ago for her, and it really doesn't matter any more . . . Then why is she so angry?? Even she isn't real sure of the answer to that.

Tyler and Julie are thrust into each other's company once again when he becomes the pilot for her father's business. A fault with the airplane during a flight leaves Tyler and Julie stranded miles from the nearest telephone.

Many fears need to be address before the two can have a happy life together. Tyler fears commitment and large families. Julie has already lost one dare-devil type adventurous husband, Cord, when his plane crashed. Can she risk that again? She wants love, marriage, and children.

Can they compromise their goals and meet each other in the middle?

A romantic story by Linda Verner. Sexual tension rages high, but mostly I loved the way the two characters were honest with each other regarding their feelings. They talked constantly in a sharing and loving way (and sometimes not so loving.)