Flirting with Pete intersperses chapters from two different romances. Casey Ellis is a struggling psychotherapist in Boston. Her (out of wedlock) father was a prominent psychiatrist who never acknowledged her even though Casey followed in his professional footsteps. After his death, Casey is stunned to learn that he bequeathed her his Beacon Hill townhouse (some of the most coveted real estate in Boston), complete with funds to maintain it, and a maid and a gardener. This is fantasy territory for sure. Most of us would consider forswearing our actual fathers for a deal like this. The maid turns out to be a gourmet cook, eager to provide for Casey. The gardener maintains an exquisite private garden, and just happens to be incredibly sexy - and to start making eyes at Casey.

Meanwhile, in a remote village in Maine, Jenny waits anxiously for her father to be released from prison. She's been the outsider in her small community as long as she can remember; what she knows of normal human interaction she has learned from magazines and TV. Pete is a loner, passing through on his motorcycle. Meeting Jenny changes the direction of his life, and Jenny's too. Through Pete, she will be able to escape her suffocating small town and twisted home life.

These two trite-sounding stories are woven together skillfully by Barbara Delinsky, who creates a whole that is more than the sum of the parts. Sure, the events that happen to Casey (and Jenny) don't happen every day in real life, but that's not the point. It's what the characters do about them. Casey and Jenny change and grow in the face of these events - which bring bad things along with the good. Personally I'd get a little spoiled with the gardener and the maid, but I guess that's for the sequel.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. It drew me into the story from the beginning. The characters are very believable.

Jenny/MaryBeth - A troubled woman who had been physically abused by her mother and mentally and sexually abused by her father. Her struggles of day to day life make you empathize with her. Even when she becomes delusional and commits suicide... Or did it happen at all?

Casey - Her mother was hit by a car 3 years ago and was in a comatose state. Her father died and she never got a chance to know him, much less even speak to him in person. So why after his death did he leave her his townhouse?

Connie - The father Casey never knew while he was alive. Though he is dead, he is a major character in this book. The relationship between him and Casey forms beautifully proceeding his death. Why didn't he reach out to her when he was alive?

Caroline - Casey's mother. Casey visits her often in the care facility and in her mind has conversations with her. Most of them make her feel guilt... Or is it Casey refusing to let go of the guilt?

Jordan - The mysterious and sexy gardener. Bet you can figure out what part he plays in the story?! Well, he does actually... But so much more also.

Meg - The upbeat house keeper. Always full of questions, always full of spirit. Is it a facade though?

Pete - The man so perfect that you wonder right from meeting him whether he's real or not. Is he too good to be true?

I read the prologue and was a little disappointed that I did. As I began reading the book, I was still wondering about the characters in the prologue. When I was introduced to the characters, I immediately started trying to figure the book out. I knew instantly the mysteries that were being questioned as well as who it was. I was a little disappointed about that.

The story did have some pleasantly unexpected twists though. I kept turning page after page and wasn't disappointed for the most part. I will say that I felt a little let down at the end. I wanted to know more. I originally came on Amazon to see if there was a second book to this. But there's not as far as I can tell. So I'm left wondering what about Meg? I feel a bit as if the story started focused on one character, but ended focused on another. Although that isn't the case, I can't help but feel a little cheated nonetheless.

I do recommend reading Flirting with Pete. It was a good story and an easy read.

Flirting with Pete is definitely one of the most memorable books I've ever read. Lent to me by a friend, I was sort of reluctant to pick it up. It looked like a fluff romance novel, and I'd never heard of Barbara Delinsky. But I picked it up one night, and wasn't able to put it down again until I'd turned the last page! This is a fantastic story of discovery, loss, pain, and sharing. I'm so glad I began my acquaintance with Delinsky's work over this book. I highly recommend it (yes guys, you can read it too, it's not a fluffy romance novel).

I've since read several more Delinsky novels. This is the best one, by a long shot!

What do you get when you have a psychologist, a deputy, a gardener, a maid, a sexually and emotionally abused girl; a mother in a comatose state, a father you never knew that just died, a townhouse given to you by this father and a manuscript that you believe to be true? You get a wonderful and intriguing story that is hard to stop listening to.

Casey Ellis is the psychologist and she has inherited her father's townhouse worth $3 million. With her mother in a coma from a tragic accident, Casey tries to come to terms with her life. Finding a manuscript among her father's papers, Casey believes the story to be true and begins a search to discover if she is right.

The townhouse comes with a gardener, Jordan, and a maid, Meg, both of which her father's will asks her to keep on. Jordan keeps the garden alive with blooms and also triggers a bloom in Casey's heart. Meg is a wonderful cook and fills Casey's body with good food. Between them, they ground Casey and help her settle in the townhouse.

Ms Delinsky writes with twists and turns that keep you wanting to listen to more. Just when you think you have things figured out, Barbara throws another idea in. This keeps your interest high and the story alive. The tragedies she writes of are all too true in today's society which makes them all the more real and alive.

The reader, Linda Emond, is easy to listen to. She doesn't use a really deep voice to represent the men in the story, yet you know who is talking. The female voices are easier to tell who is talking as she gives them more distinctive inflections which would be easier as she is female herself.

I highly recommend picking up a copy of FLIRTING WITH PETE and settle in for a good evening of listening enjoyment.

Great two stories in one. Typical love and drama. Great reading