Take A Chance Challenge - Challenge #5

I'm so excited to be participating in the Take A Chance Challenge hosted by Jenners over at Find Your Next Book Here. She has come up with 10 fun and clever tasks that involve books, reading, and even a little writing. This is my blog entry for Challenge #5.

Here are the instructions for this particular challenge:

5.Phoning An Author
Pick a random last name out of the phone book. Find an author with the same last name and read a book by them. Write about it. (I'm flexible ... if the first random name you pick is Xprxyrsss, you can pick again!)


I closed my eyes, flipped open the phone book, and pointed my finger. The random last name I landed on was Ray. Then, at the library, I went to the fiction section to see what I could find. What I found was this:

Julie and Romeo by Jeanne Ray


Julie Roseman is Jewish, 60 years old, with two grown daughters - Sandy, who has moved back home with her two kids after getting divorced, and Nora, the outspoken, gorgeous, married real estate agent. Julie herself is divorced, her husband having left her for a younger woman. Julie runs a florist that has been in her family for years, and right now, business is not going very well.

Romeo Cacciamani is Italian, catholic, 60 years old, with five grown children. He is a widow and lives in a duplex with his 90 year old mother, two of his children, a daughter-in-law, and three of his grandchildren. Romeo also runs his family-owned florist.

The Rosemans and The Cacciamanis; very different families who happen to own the only two florists in town. They also happen to be mortal enemies. As a little girl, Julie can remember her father spitting on the ground every time he heard the name "Cacciamani." These families hate each other. Come to think of it, though, Julie doesn't really know why they hate each other. No one ever explained it to her. It was just a known fact that the Rosemans hated the Cacciamanis and vice verse.

When Julie and Romeo both happen to attend a small business seminar on how to improve their shops, they run into each other face to face for the first time in many years. They make small talk and soon realize that there is no hatred between them. Instead, they are drawn together by an intense attraction and bond. Soon, they are sneaking around town going on dates. Julie, whose marriage was never that great, thought it was too late to find true, passionate love. Romeo, who adored his late wife, never thought he would find love again. They know that this thing between them is something special and they intend to pursue it (even if they must do so secretly).

Before long, their secret relationship is discovered by their families and all hell breaks loose. Nora calls her dad and flies him home with his young new wife to try and talk some sense into Julie. One of Romeo's sons comes to visit Julie and warns her to stay away from his father. And, Romeo's 90 year old mother sneaks over to Julie's garden in the middle of the night to salt her roses. The antics that go on to try and keep Julie and Romeo apart are crazy. Will they be able to withstand the trouble or should they give up their love to appease their families?

I immediately liked the characters of Julie and Romeo and rooted for them all the way. This was a light, sweet, and funny story with a happy ending.