Sybil’s review of Family Affair by Debbie Macomber
Contemporary Romance  published by William Morrow 04 Jan 11

This is yet another reissue of a New York Times Best Selling author in hardcover.  Family Affair was first published in 1994 in an anthology and here stands alone.  This is my first time reading the story and as it stands at under 100 pages, I don’t think it was expanded from the original.  It stands the test of time well and is a charming story.

Lacey Lancaster can’t get over her divorce and it pretty much colors all her actions: how she relates to men, her boss and her hawt neighbor who has been trying to date her since she moved in over a year ago.  She has managed to keep away from Jack, other than overhearing his fights with his girlfriend through the paper thin walls of their apartment building.  Well, she keeps away from him until his alley cat, Dog, knocks up her cat, Cleo. Suddenly Lacey finds herself with an unplanned pregnancy on her hands that she seriously didn’t see coming.  And Jack is only too willing to have Dog take responsibility for his actions, if it will help him get close to his sexy, sweet neighbor.

Family Affair is a cute short story and an amusing read.  But it doesn’t have anything new to offer and there is very little character development.

If you are a long time fan of Debbie Macomber, you will love this book.  If you like short, sweet love stories that are heavy on the ‘sweet’ side (aka the bedroom door never opens), you will enjoy this.  For an enjoyable read you will finish in an hour (and then most likely forget).  The thing to think about is the price tag.  This is a reissue in hardcover format. It resales for $16 and is currently at Amazon $9.17. I would not suggest this be your first  purchase by this author but to get it from the library or wait for the paperback.

Grade: C–

Lacey Lancaster has always longed to be a wife and mother. However, after a painful divorce, she decides it’s time to lay low for a while in her charming San Francisco apartment with her beautiful Abyssinian cat, Cleo.

Everything would be wonderful, except for her utterly impossible neighbor Jack Walker. When he’s not arguing day and night with his girlfriend, begging her to move in with him, he’s chasing down his cat named Dog, who seems determined to get Cleo to succumb to his feline advances.

Then Lacey discovers the awful truth—Cleo is in the family way and Dog’s to blame. She’s furious that neither Jack nor his amorous animal seem too upset about the situation.

But Lacey learns that things are not quite as they seem. Jack’s “girlfriend” is really his sister—and his intentions toward Lacey are very honorable. And though she’s not quite sure about Dog, Lacey begins to discover the tender joy of falling in love all over again.

Read an excerpt.