Racing Against Time

Cavanaugh Justice #1

by Marie Ferrarella

Racing Against Time by Marie Ferrarella released on Sep 30, 2003 is available now for purchase.

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Harlequin, Contemporary Romance

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2003

About the author

Marie Rydzynski-Ferrarella
aka Marie Charles, Marie Michael, Marie Nicole, Marie Ferrarella

Marie Rydzynski was born on March 28 in West Germany to Polish parents. She moved to America at the age of four. For an entire year, Marie and her family explored the eastern half of the country before finally settling in New York.

Marie swears she was born writing, "which must have made the delivery especially hard for my mother." From an early age, Marie's parents would find her watching television or tucked away in some private place, writing at a furious pace. "Initially, I began writing myself into my favourite shows. I was a detective on '77 Sunset Strip,' the missing Cartwright sibling they never talked about on 'Bonanza' and the 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.' before there was a 'Girl from U.N.C.L.E.,' not to mention an active participant in the serialized stories of 'The Mickey Mouse Club.'" Marie began to write her first romance novel when she was 11 years old, although she claims that, at the time, she didn't even realize it was a romance! She scribbled off and on, while dreaming of a career as an actress.

Marie was only 14 when she first laid eyes on the man she would marry, truly her first love, Charles Ferrarella. During her days at Queens College, New York, acting started to lose its glamour as Marie spent more and more time writing. After receiving her English degree, specialising in Shakespearean comedy, Marie and her family moved to Southern California, where she still resides today.

After an interminable seven weeks apart, Charles decided he couldn't live without her and came out to California to marry his childhood sweetheart. Ever practical, Marie was married in a wash-and-wear wedding dress that she sewed herself, appliqués and all. "'Be prepared' has always been my motto,"the author jokes. This motto has been stretched considerably by her two children, Nikky and Jessi, "but basically, it still applies," she says.

In November of 1981, she sold her first novel for Harlequin. Marie, who now has written over 150 novels, has one goal: to entertain, to make people laugh and feel good. "That's what makes me happy," she confesses. "That, and a really good romantic evening with my husband." She's keeping her fingers crossed that her reader's enjoy reading her books as much as she enjoyed writing them.

Reviews

[Mojca · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first in the lengthy Cavanaugh Justice series. For someone (like me) who started this series somewhere toward the end, this beginning might seem a bit odd, since there's an important character (that does appear in the later books) missing. So I'm looking forward to see how that pans out.

But let's focus on this first book for now. A gripping, intense tale of a judge and a detective (who just happen to have a connection—they danced once and sort of clicked, though he was married at the time and nothing happened) racing against time to save the judges kidnapped daughter.

The plot and tension were tight, the characterization great, and the development of the romantic sub-plot rather realistic, if a bit rushed toward the end. I would not have minded for a little more time to have passed before the final 'showdown'.

Everything worked, though the story did drag a bit here and there, and I can't wait to read more about the Cavanaughs that were all nicely paired-off when I actually started reading this series.

[Pattianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

RACING AGAINST TIME - CAVANAGH FAMILY SERIES #1 - (Callie + Judge Brenton Montgomery) - Callie helps the judge whose daughter has been kidnapped, previous relationship. First book in the series. Very large family - as of book #22 - the family tree appears below:

[BOOK #1 Callie Cavanaugh, whose job it was to find Rachel. And when tensions grew hot between them, Brenton knew he'd have one helluva fight on his hands…and in his heart.

Every time the troubled single father touched her, kissed her, he made Callie's job that much harder. When this nightmare was over, how would she ever find the strength to walk away from this man and his precious daughter without wanting more?]

CAVANAGH FAMILY TREE - AS OF BOOK #22:

Cavanugh Family of police officers in the Aurora, California – Brian, Mike, Andrew, Sean (Cavelli/Cavanugh)

Brian & Lila (#12) [first wife Susan died of cancer]
Brian
Lila (McIntrye)
Dax & Brenda (#7)
daughter - Elizabeth
Zack & Krystal (#13)
Jared & Maren (#9)
Frank & White Bear (#14)
Troy & Delene (#10)
Taylor & Laredo (#16)
Janelle & Sawyer (#11)
Riley & Sam (#17)
-------------------------------------

Mike
Patrick & Maggi (#3)
daughter
Patience & Brady (#8)
Kyle O'Brien & Jaren (#15)
Greer O'Brien & Blake (#18)
Ethan O'Brien & Kansas (#19)
engaged
--------------------------------------

Andrew & Rose
Shaw & Moira (#6)
and daughter
Clay & Ilene (#2)
son – Alex
Callie & Judge Brenton (#1)
daughter - Rachel
Terrie & Jack (#5)
Rayne & Cole (#4)
and twins
---------------------------------------

Sean Cavelli
Thomas & Kaitlyn (#20)
Bridget & Josh (#21)
Logan & Destiny (#22)
Kendra & Matt (#21.5)
Birth order: Tom, Kendra, Bridget,
----------------------------------------

[Jennifer LaGrange · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall I liked this book! I thought the beginning was a bit slow but realistic to how an investigation would go. The author did a great job on showing the realistic feelings of what the father was going through throughout the book while his little girl was missing. The action and the relationship picked up nicely near the end though the couple did move a bit fast for my taste and the “showdown” with the villain happened quite fast. Overall a great book and I’ll be reading the next one! I love the Cavanaugh family moments and I hope there’s more to come.

[Pam Koenig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this when it first came out, and fell in love with the characters. Taking a break from, dragons, vampires, weres and such and reintroducing myself to the Cavanaugh clan and many Harlequin and Silhouette stories.

[Elizabeth Meadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been trying to get started on this series for a long time. I enjoyed it.

[Hina Tabassum Khatri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some bonds are simply meant to be. Irrespective of the circumstances you feel them having a real impact on you and your life. The same happens to Callie Cavanaugh and Brent Montgomerry. Brent, though married (unhappily) at the time he meets Callie in the middle of a ball and knows that their is bond that pushes them together. Callies feels the same but they both could do nothing and simply move with the flow of their lives.

Four years later, fate brings them together when they are on the search to find Brent's (who is a judge) five year old daughter. This is Callie's case (she is a police detective) and she feels that having Brent at her side is better for Brent because she can make sure he doesn't shatter in the time it takes to find the missing little girl.

All the time spent together makes them realize that they have to be together. That there simply is no other way.

[Livia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book One to the Cavanaugh Justice series was a quick introduction to the Cavanaugh family. The romance and kidnapping storyline was predictable yet interesting. I am looking forward to reading the subsequent books in the series.

[CLM]

This author did me a big favor once when I was writing an article and up against an urgent deadline...

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this story! Realizing this book is 12 years old, the story was well written. Can't wait to start the next one!