Pat Ballard

Pat Ballard

About

Pat Ballard is the Queen of Rubenesque Romances and author of 10 Steps to Loving Your Body (No Matter What Size You Are).

Betrayal (Alex and Cassidy) (Volume 2)

Betrayal (Alex and Cassidy) (Volume 2)

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<p>There is no one to trust in Nancy Ann Healy’s thrilling new novel, <i>Betrayal</i>.</p><p>FBI agent Alex Toles is relieved to return to work at the NSA after a frightening on-the-job ordeal. Her life partner, Cassidy O’Brien, and Cassidy’s seven-year-old son, have also been instrumental in healing Alex’s wounds.</p><p>But their peace is short-lived when they discover that their good friend—and President of the United States—John Merrow, has been assassinated.</p><p>Little do they know, however, that President Merrow’s death is just the beginning. Even as Alex and Cassidy are forced to confront the loss of their friend and the ramifications that will have on the global stage, they must cope with problems much closer to home.</p><p>Battling intolerance over the nature of their romantic relationship and long-hidden secrets within their families, Alex and Cassidy must confront the truth of their pasts in order to build the future they seek.</p><p>On top of it all, they must confront a conspiracy that spans multiple governments, intelligence agencies, diplomatic services, and international corporations if they are to finally discover the truth about the mysterious group known as the Collaborative—and about themselves.</p>

Story Behind The Book

Reviews

<p align="right"> <em><font size="2" color="#111111" face="Verdana">Pat Ballard, the self-described “Queen of Rubenesque Romance,” herein tackles an entrenched stereotype of conventional romantic fiction — the perpetually skinny heroine — and successfully turns it on its bony derriere. </font></em> </p> <p align="right"><em><font size="2" color="#111111" face="Verdana">This collection of ten short stories feature women who are just that: all woman. There’s not one ultra-slim fashion model in the bunch. Their curves are all there and they make no apology for them, whether these ladies work their own cattle ranch, run an antique store or work as an executive secretary in the big city. What this means is that the vast majority of romance aficionados can relate very well to these shapely women who dare to wear larger dress sizes. Better yet, the handsome heroes depicted all appreciate curvaceous heroines, too. </font></em> </p> <p align="right"><em><font size="2" face="Verdana">In fact, some of these short stories could be more appropriately labeled “coming-to-terms” tales since they feature a young woman’s search for self-esteem that isn’t skin deep. In “Freedom” Molly’s boyfriend Mike is shocked when he discovers she comes from a family of large-sized women, because Molly has been starving herself for years in order to remain thin. When Mike issues an ultimatum that after they marry Molly had better not gain any weight, she realizes that he only loves her for her outward appearance and not because of who she is. Armed with this knowledge, she dumps him and eventually finds peace within herself and with her size.</font></em></p> <p align="right"><font size="2" face="Verdana"><em>Ballard doesn’t pull punches. She shows her heroines exhibiting ample will and tenacity to tell off those who would shame them into becoming something they aren’t just to blend in with society's narrow-minded notions of beauty. There’s no guilt in being a big, beautiful heroine in <strong>Dangerous Curves Ahead</strong>, and that is itself a formula for a classic happy ending</em>.</font></p><p align="right"><font size="2" face="Verdana">— <strong> C.APPEL </strong> •<strong>  FEARLESS BOOKS</strong><br />8-10/04 </font> </p>