Designed for Passion

by Francine Craft

Curvy Melodye Carter runs a successful boutique dedicated to plus-sized beauties. The widow and mother of twin boys also has serious troubles. Her husband's mysterious death has been linked to another shooting, and now she's more than grief stricken...she's a little afraid. Detective Jim Ryman is drawn into her case, and soon Melodye and her mischievous boys are reawakening feelings he'd sworn off after his wife's death. He didn't think he could love...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373860579
• ISBN13: 9780373860579
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Harlequin Kimani Romance
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

Designed for Passion by Francine Craft

Review by Carlo Gabbi author of "An Amazing Story" Melodye Carter is a beautiful busty young woman. She is a widow with twin boys. Her mother Bettina, and sister Lucia, are succesful models but dissociates themselves from Melodye because of her larger figure. Detective Jim Ryman, who was Melodye school friend,is investigating her husband's killing two years ago. He is visiting her after new clues arise on the murder case. Meeting Melodye again has rewakened feelings. He thought he was incapable of loving again but he finds Melodye more beautiful that he remembered. Sitting close together they touch legs, and waves of electricity flash between them. He murmurs to her sweet words, letting her know his growing passion. He tells her how beautiful she is, which helps her to gain confidence in herself. With that casual touch, Melodye finds an unmistakable desire for the hansome man sitting next to her, and install a warm exitement in her. She try to resist to the new born passion, believing she is strong enough to control her senses. During Jim investigation she reveals that Rafael, her dead husband, had never been faithful to her. He was around in a drunken mood and the day she announced to him she was expecting her twin sons, he reacted to the news by asking her to have an abortion. Love for him died instantly and never missed such a husband. That day she wowed never to love again. Jim's and Melodye's love soon become tumultuos affair with their souls enveloped into a gripping passion. They were also confronted with contrasting miseries created by Melodye's mother and sister who desired to divide them. Francine Craft proves to be a capable story teller presenting Melodye as a strong character. Remarkably she present Melodye's insecurity over her abundant, but glorious curves, and her acceptance of her immage. We see also her tenacius win over the ostracism of her mother and sister. The author has written a gripping story, compelling the reader to keep on, page after page, in the anxiety to know what happened next. I'm well impressed by this book and I look forward to read more novels written by Francine Craft. Carlo Gabbi author of "An Amazing Story"

Designed For Passion

Designed is now one of my favorite books by Ms. Francine Craft. Since I am a plus-sized woman who really loves herself and gets a bang out of life, I could still identify with Melodye's hanging back because of her nasty mother and sister. But the psycological explanations rang true because I feel that behind every bit of human nastiness, there is often a sad story. The woman was a success, but with a bad marriage and a murdered husband, she was hurting. With grown children of my own, those twins Rachel and Randy were the bomb. They reminded me so much my own grandchildren. I fell in love with Jim. The chemistry between those two was explosive and Ms. Craft did a superb job of showing how they held back and fought falling in love although both knew they needed each other's friendship. This book left a pleasant taste in my mouth, and I found it one of the most enjoyable I've read all year. Saundra Woodard, Silver Spring, MD ---

Male Romance Reader

I got into Designed For Passion immediately. It sweeps you right along with power and passion. Melodye took over my heart even when I wanted her to fight back harder. Knowing a little bit about psychology, I know it can be difficult when those you love push against you. And Jim Ryman is a man I really liked. The grandparents took me, too, and added a warm perspective to the story. I'm a primary schoolteacher, so you know the twins got to me in a hurry. In fact, they remind me of my own. I've followed Ms. Craft's books for quite a while and this one just makes me know that she's one of the most interesting writers around. For sizzling passion and warmth of storytelling, I recommend this book highly.

Re-Decovery Passion

Francine Craft has pen together another great book. Once you start reading this book you will notice sexual attraction between the character but they each have they own issue to deal with. Melodye Carter is a plus size woman who runs her own boutique and is very successful. Melodye is the mother or twin and you are going to love. Melodye grew up with a thin mother and sister and for every day of her life she has been compare to her sister by her mother. If it had not been for her grand parent there is know telling where Melodye would end up. Not only did she deal with her mother and sister but she had to also deal with a husband who at every turn was tearing down the confidence. Jim is a friend and a detective who come home to help his mother but to also to put closure to a case he was working on a while ago. Jim gave Melodye the confidence she need he would tell her all the thing she need to hear and believe in herself. Although Jim help Melodye she also help Jim realize that he was not as hopeless has he thought. Jim has issue that deal with his father and with the help they both gave each other they was able to open up there heart and let LOVE IN AGAIN, and they both found the PASSION THEY WAS MISSING. As usually Francine gave us a story with a twist can't tell you to much about the book but BUY THE BOOK and you will not be disappointed. Louise

Designed for Passion

Melodye Carter is a young, beautiful, full figured young woman who has always been in the shadow of her sister Lucia and her trifling Mother Bettina. Her mother and her sister are both model thin and beautiful and have always belittled Melodye because she is not model thin like them. Her husband was killed 2 years ago and Detective Jim Ryman who is a high school friend of Melodye's comes back to open the cold case. Melodye's late husband cheated on her and also lowered her self esteem because she would not have an abortion when she became pregnant with his twins. She vows never to love nor trust a man again but finds herself falling for Jim no matter how hard she tried to fight it. Jim's wife died along with their unborn child and he always felt like it was his fault and vows not to love again for fear of hurting someone he loved again. Together they come to grips with their fears of love and to uncover the truth about Melodye's husbands murder. Of course her trifling mother and sister again try to interfere and lower her self esteem again but things don't turn out like they planned. This book is full of action and drama and you will be surprised what happens in the end. Once you start reading this story, you won't be able to put it down in order to find out how all the drama ends. Another great story by Francine!