QUEEN OF BROKEN HEARTS
CASSANDRA KING
ISBN# (13)978-1-4013-0177-4/(10)1-4013-0177-0
March 2007
Hyperion Books
77 West 66th Street, New York, N.Y. 10023-6298
Hardback
$24.95
412 Pages
Women’s Fiction
Rating: 4 Cups

Clare Ballenger is a widow of several years, with a grown daughter and two grandchildren. Clare is a therapist, and holds meetings for women and men who are dealing with separation or divorce. Clare loves what she does, and is in the process of building a retreat to help her clients. Clare’s mother-in-law, who is bit eccentric, is happily helping with the retreat. Clare is happy she has her best friend, Dory and two very close friends Rye Ballenger her deceased husband’s cousin, and Lex Yarbrough. Dory keeps hoping that Clare will get romantically involved with either Lex or Rye, but Clare is just not ready for that.

Rye Ballenger is a cousin to Mack Ballenger, Clare’s deceased husband. Never been married and is wealthy, Rye really cares about Clare and was even envious of Clare and Mack’s marriage, and since his cousin’s death, Rye has secretly hoped that he could get Clare to become romantically involved.

Lex Yarbrough is a recently divorced sea captain who enjoys being with Clare. Lex is being hounded by his ex-wife to do more for his daughter and Clare is a calming balm to the pain his ex-wife gives. Lex knows that Clare sees Rye, and is a bit jealous of the relationship. Lex hopes to have Clare in his arms someday.

Clare is working hard on the retreat, she knows it is a lot of work, but will be well worth it. But as Clare is being pulled between her feelings between Rye and Lex, her daughter Haley goes through a very traumatic time with her marriage. Clare is about at the end of her rope, she feels like things are falling apart. Clare also realizes she is not letting Mack’s memories go and that she may be using the men in her life. Clare realizes until she comes to term with Mack’s death she cannot have a future, but as much as she has counseled other people on moving on, Clare is not sure she will be able to do the same for herself.

Queen of Broken Hearts is a fabulous heartwarming story, filled with interesting characters that will have you feeling all kinds of emotions. This book is inspirational as it helps the reader see that everyone has problems, and some can be fixed and some cannot. Clare is a great character who did great with everyone else’s problems, but had yet to face her own. This is one of those stories that make women want to get together and high five each other. You will laugh and you will cry, but mostly you will feel. An absolutely sensational tale that everyone should read.

Wateena
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books