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If you've already read Chocolate Roses' back cover, you can skip the next paragraph, but I'm putting it here as a reminder.

From the back cover: “She’s in Love . . . He’s out of reach .. . Is there any hope?
“Janie Rose Whitaker’s world revolved around her chocolate shop until Roger Wentworth and his young daughter moved into the apartment across from Janie’s. Anyone would think Roger fit the mold of the “perfect” guy, but soon Janie discovers secrets that could keep them apart forever. Though she resists getting involved in Roger’s complicated life, they are drawn further into a bittersweet relationship.
“You will laugh, cry, and crave chocolate as you read this LDS parody of the classic novel Jane Eyre.”

When I started Chocolate Roses right after a re-read of Haunts Haven, I noticed a similarity. For both main characters, Joan chose attractive, single, self-employed, hard-working, young women who drool over handsome, unobtainable men. (Well, it took a while for one to discover hers was not available because he was dead.) Each elusive man had a less attractive but helpful brother. For a while I expected Roger’s brother to reappear, but he got dispatched after only a sentence or so.

Joan writes in the pleasing, informal way I love to read and would love to emulate. Joan jumps into action, taking me with her. She begins each chapter with a quote from Jane Eyre, with words that give focus and hope but, to me, never gives away the story line.

Okay, so I admit I've forgotten many details since I haven't read Jane Eyre for nearly sixty years. I'd been reading it at night when my two children were asleep, and took it to the hospital to finish during the lonely times. (My husband was recalled into the Air Force too close to my delivery time, and I missed him greatly.) I'd reached the story climax when they wheeled me into the delivery room. It wasn't the first time I'd read Charlotte Bronte's famous novel, and I hope it will not be the last. It's on my favorite book list.

Speaking of favorites, Joan Lisonbee Sowards is way up there on my favorite people list. My grandfather, John D. Wilcox stayed in Idaho, where I grew up, but his sister Aseneth Viola Wilcox and her husband William Passey moved to Arizona. When I got here, I thrilled to discover a slew of new relatives. Joan is my second cousin twice removed. Closely related, no?