Because of Joe by Liz Flaherty

I’ve said it before: it’s all a matter of perception, we all see things differently. But what happens when you realize you have been seeing your spouse as you wish them to be, not as they really are? We all do this to some extent, but apparently Rags went overboard in her misconceptions of her husband. Because of Joe, his unknown child before their marriage, she learns his true colors…

Tell knew the moment he saw her that she was the one. He offered Rags eternal love, children and a seat in his hammock. It was a match made in heaven. How could she say no?
Even though things should have been perfect, each took wrong turns. Rags and Tell found themselves on a one-way street traveling the wrong direction. Their marriage collapsed in a sea of accusations and disappointment.
Years later, they meet again, their memories as fresh as if it were yesterday. Instant physical attraction and emotional connection blindside them, leading them back to that perfect place.
And then there’s Joe.

Rags (Clarissa Aloysius Ragsdale) grew up an orphan and didn’t even end up in a real home environment until her best friend’s family took her in during her teens. All she ever wanted was a home and family. She got that with her marriage to Tell Maguire. She got the house she wanted, three wonderful children and a loving mother-in-law in Ellis Ann. But she also got a workaholic husband and an overbearing, impossible to please father-in-law. She didn’t even realize how truly bad things had gotten until Joe showed up. She knew he was her husband child right away but was unsure enough to wonder if Tell had had an affair before finding out Joe was born before they married. What pointed out how different Tell was from how she saw him was the fact Tell wanted to follow his father’s advice and send Joe away. Rags already loved the poor child and was horrified by this attitude. She couldn’t believe that Harlan had hidden Joe for the past twelve years as it was. This ended up being the catalyst that broke up the marriage, even though they kept Joe.

Rags and the kids moved back home to Indiana while Tell and Joe stayed in Florida. They manage an amicable divorce for the kids, sending them back and forth for holidays and vacations. Rags and Tell had even seen each other at big occasions over the past twelve years, like graduations and such. But now that Harlan has died, Ellis Ann has asked Rags to come down and help her with arrangements and things. Since Rags is in the process of selling her clothing store chain, she has the time and can’t deny “Mama” her request. But this is the first time she will be spending any real time with Tell since the divorce…

What she finds is a shock… Tell has built her dream house on beach front property. He has semi-retired from Harlan’s company. And as she has some time to think, she realizes that not only was he different than she thought back than, maybe she was not what he thought/needed either… But where does that leave them now? Because the attraction between them has never gone away! She has never found anyone who could come close to Tell for her. And she has never seen him with anyone either… But can they find a way back to each other after all these years? And she must admit she has come to like being on her own as well but is lonely…

I would not call Because of Joe a second chance at love story as much as a mature love story. Rags and Tell had eleven years of marriage before their divorce. These two had some real blinders on during their marriage and seemed to be just going through the motions. One wonders how they didn’t end up divorce before…except for the children.

Because of Joe has some great elements. This is very emotional. Yes, there is the issue of Joe’s problem, but that is just the catalyst. Personally, Joe having diabetes and some complications was too close to home for me (I am a type one as well but still healthy so far). The real story is Rags and Tell’s growth, their coming to realize just what they really want out of life and being brave enough to reach for it. I love that saying or being “in love” doesn’t solve everything and that these two have to work for the happy ending. They messed up when younger and make sure that they don’t repeat past mistakes this time. (Come on, I’m not giving anything away. We all know their still in love and trying for a HEA by the blurb…)

Because of Joe will remind us not to take what we have for granted with others in our lives. Good relationships take work and honest respect. Liz Flaherty has done a great job of pointing out the traps we can catch ourselves in and the beauty of this family. I wanted to call all my family and tell them how much I love them after reading Because of Joe.