Family Man

Jayne Ann Krentz

Katy Wade has worked as a personal assistant for Justine Gilchrist, the head of Gilchrist, Inc. for years. Now that Justine is older, she has to let go of the business. The problem is, the person she feels is best to take over, her grandson Luke, has had almost no contact with the family. She had banished Luke's parents before he was born, and all ties had been severed.

Katy is dispatched by Justine to try to get Luke to finally return to the family and take up the business. Katy knows the Gilchrist family, how moody they are, how stubborn they are, and the many problems that best them. She knows not to get involved with their dramatics, and has learned to live with them and laugh at them.

Luke declines Katy's "offer" to return and take over the restaurant business. After she leaves, he changes his mind and approaches Justine. He proposes a business relationship to his grandmother, not as a family member but as the top flight consultant he is. Justine accepts.

All the rest of the Gilchrist clan and Katy are appalled at the terms. It would appear that Luke is trying to get revenge on his grandmother. It is only after some time and attraction that Luke admits to himself that he took up the position because of Katy.

Of course the sparks fly between Katy and Luke. Katy has learned to hold her own against a domineering family. But she quickly falls in love with Luke, and has faith that he will do the right things for the business and his family. Luke ends up doing things for them because Katy convinces him they are the right thing to do.

This is a wonderful bit of fluff. It is obvious from beginning to end of Family Man what will happen...a classic romance in that sense. The real menace comes from a source outside the Gilchrist family that is trying to tear it apart. There were times that Katy or Luke were told lies about the other. This book, though, avoids the ploy of them believing the lies. I was glad for that. Their trust in each other as their relationship builds is absolute. At one time one says that while the lies may be true, the other can still be trusted, and the doom forecast will not happen.

Notice: Suggestive dialogue or situations

Trust Me by Jayne Ann Krentz
Witness by Sandra Brown
Masquerade by Janet Dailey