THE LAST TIME I WAS ME
CATHY LAMB
ISBN# 13:978-0-7582-1463-8/10:0-7582-1463-4
May 2008
Kensington Books, published by Kensington Publishing Corp.
850 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022
Trade Paperback
$15.00
404 pages
Fiction
Rating: 5 Cups

Jeanne Stewart is a creative director at one of Chicago's leading advertising firms. At a conference for eight hundred thirty-four of the big wigs in advertising, she has a nervous breakdown. Her mother has passed away and she has just recently found out her boyfriend of two years has cheated on her with no less than sixteen women. She has every right to have a breakdown.

Jay Kendall is the governor of Oregon where Jeanne ends up. He is running for re-election and when Jeanne's brother tells him her qualifications, Jay is anxious to meet her and hire her. But as they soon find out, there is nothing like seeing the woman, who was running naked along the river at night, in the light of day.

Jeanne is facing a civil suit from her ex-boyfriend after she 'tampered' with his condoms, causing him to have an allergic reaction. Because of that, she is ordered by the court to attend an anger management class. When each of the four members of the class are given a task to perform, to take them off the path of their anger, Jeanne chooses to run naked at night. She ends up tackling the governor in the woods and telling him only part of her story. Jay is drawn to her honesty and promises to see her in two weeks. However, she ends up getting hired as his communications director and turns out, she is good at the job. But problems do arise and together, Jeanne and Jay face them head on and can only hope to survive.

A truly heart-warming read. Ms. Lamb brings a unique mix of murder, retaliation, love, and humor all together very expertly. From the first chapter we are shown the turmoil of the character Jeanne. I felt my heart breaking for all that she had been through and cried along with her. The supporting players as they appear in the story, add laughter, tears and love. I was hooked and finished this wonderful story in two days. I applaud Ms. Lamb for tackling the downside of a nervous breakdown. For showing how there is hope even when you are in a pit of despair. This is a wonderful story of survival and finding that you can live again after you believe that all hope is lost.

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