Karma Deception and a Pair of Red Ferraris

As a teen mum, already ass-branded by one husband both domineering and dumb as meat locker beef, Elaine stutter-stepped to independence via jobs typing letters and dialing phones for a series of mouth-breathers who believed a woman's place was under the desk spit-shining their assets.

A couple of decades later she had, by god, scratched out a role in the corporate testicle festival where she earned fat, man-sized paychecks.

Bought herself some respect and vindication. But her personal life was a dispiriting trail of relationship roadkill.

Her one faithful love walked on four legs and woofed for her breakfast.

Desperate for a peek at her future Elaine consulted an astrologer-psychic who fanned out her Tarot cards, did her California woo-woo thing and assured Elaine she would someday be blessed with the kind of love about which stories are written.

But with this caveat: ''Not until you're ready.'' Enter Jake Kingston.

Internationally acclaimed surgeon with a 100-acre ranch in the wine country, two Ferraris in his several garages, and enough love-life failures to make them as compatible as a Brazilian wax and a can of whip cream.

Was Jake the key to the love she sought? Yes. But in a way no one could have imagined. This is a transformational journey of healing and self-acceptance.

With her sassy, Lone Star attitude and a combination of raw, honest insight and self-deprecating humor, Elaine Taylor will have you laughing out loud as often as she breaks your heart.

Her ultimate discovery--that we cannot find love until we believe ourselves worthy of it--offers a roadmap for those of us who struggle to find romantic love.