Martine The Beginning (Cruising to Love #1)

MARTINE THE BEGINNING
***** Review
I loved the book
This was a fun compelling uplifting romance. I love the author’s writing style. It drew me in and kept me reading--the newness of romance and the sweetness of possibilities. Martine’s drive, determination and dedication to her dream of owning a gallery helped the progression of the story line. I am a hopeless romantic and the romance between Lucas and Martine helps me remember that true romance and love are not dead. I love the respect they showed for the sanctity of marriage. The true camaraderie among her girlfriends was delightful. The story was action packed, modern and kept me drawn into the novel until the end. This book was a great read.
By Sb Wharton on June 30, 2014

MARTINE THE BEGINNING is the story of a determined young woman with a dream. Al though she`s only nineteen, Martine has already started an Art Gallery, an homage to her mother. Rather than enjoy the carefree life her contemporaries were leading, Martine got a job as soon as she could leave school, and saved every penny toward the day she could open a gallery and give other young, unknown artists a platform to show their works. It was hard at first, but Martine gladly juggled her early morning job at the bakery, rushing to her new business at noon to open it and showcase the works that were hanging on her walls. Most of the art was provided by the students at the nearby art college. Belinda was beautiful, talented, with a penchant for painting nude men. Tom and Dan were outstanding talents, and Harold wasn`t far behind them. Martine didn`t have time for the romantic advances the male students made. She had to concentrate all her efforts on growing her business. There would be time for romance later, when she was established.

One rainy night a stranger spied a watercolour hanging in her shop`s window, and came in for a closer look at both the art and Martine. He was older, sophisticated, already making a name for himself in London`s business community. But he preferred tall blondes, or so he thought, until he met the fiery little redhead who had a work ethic and drive that matched his own.

Lucas planned to marry when he was thirty and a millionaire, but here he was twenty-five and smitten at first sight...

Sparks flew, he invited her to dinner, and so began a new chapter in Martine`s life. She`d never had a boyfriend before but Lucas was a man, not a boy, and suddenly her thoughts of `romance later` seemed in need of revision.


ABOUT EDWINA J WHITE
I am British, and live in Canada, just south of Vancouver. I was about eleven or twelve when I started to write -- I thought I was destined to be a bestselling author as I penned my Perry Mason type mysteries (I hadn't discovered boys in those days!). Other interests, travel and life in general intervened, and it was many years later before I sat down to write again. The results are now available on Amazon, both on Kindle and in Print, and I'm still hopeful of becoming a bestselling author.

My hobbies are quilting and cruising. I've lived in Australia and travelled extensively throughout many parts of the world. Any resemblance to me and the heroine of Francesca's Voyage is purely coincidental. Or is it? My sister isn't so sure...after all, the picture of my lucky slot machine on the Sapphire Princess is remarkably similar to one that's so lucky for Francesca in Francesca's Voyage. So she's asking me, what else happened on my cruise across the Pacific?

BOOKS IN THE CRUISING TO LOVE SERIES
Each book is a stand-alone romance, but characters pop up in most books...so it’s fun to read them in order, but not necessary.

MARTINE THE BEGINNING: The Prequel
PENNY’S DREAMS Book Two
FRANCESCA’S VOYAGE Book Three
ELIZABETTA’S JOURNEY Book Four
MARTINE’S ADVENTURE Book Five
LUCY`S LOVE Book Six
GEOFFREY`S GIRL Book Seven