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Published by: Laudan Press
Release Date: May 30, 2013
Pages: 358
ISBN13: 978-0985817701

 
Synopsis

What happens when you love everything about a man except for who he is?

A touching, tender, maddening, mystifying novel about love and a woman finding her inner strength.

After the death of her husband, Kate finally finds the courage to reenter the dating scene where she falls prey to Len. A powerful Wall Street banker, Len’s wealth and influence become the compelling aphrodisiac that draws Kate into his world. It’s not long before Len begins to strategically acquire Kate’s heart in the same calculated way he lands multibillion-dollar deals - by pouncing on the vulnerable and taking control.

Lured by the excitement and glamour she finds on Len’s arm, Kate struggles with what he can offer her and her children against what’s really important to her – love, respect and honesty. As Kate searches to find what matters most, she sets off on an extraordinary adventure. When she returns, will her open heart and a newfound strength allow her to be loved by a good man?

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Praise

"Woman on Top" —No, No, No— It's a Book! (A Very Good Book) Kate, who after the untimely death of her beloved husband, enters the dating world. She enjoys the thrill of meeting Leonard, a wealthy Wall Street banker.Excitement, glamour, greed and power she finds on his arm. But this girl yearns for love, respect, and honesty. Your mother used to tell you (some did, anyway) that it was as easy to fall in love with a rich man as a poor one. Is it?"
—Liz Smith Chicago Tribune, New York Society Diary

A Woman on Top of Her World
"Every now and then you find a book that you have difficulty putting down. Last month, I had that experience with the novel Woman on Top..."
—Huffington Post

"Woman On Top by Deborah Schwartz is a compelling account of how two men had an impact on the female heroine, Kate...The reader will go through a range of emotions but will not want to put this book down since Woman on Top is inspirational, entertaining, and heartbreaking as Kate straddles two completely different worlds."
—Working Mother

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Excerpt

Leonard told me that it was his mother’s fault, a result of the fact that she smoked throughout her pregnancy with him, that he would grow to a mere five feet five inches. Since I never saw a picture of her, I never knew if it was also her fault, although hardly preventable, that no woman on the streets of New York would ever turn her head if he walked by.

He had married a beautiful woman, his high school sweetheart, and considered their union as one of “Beauty and the Beast”. He had all the trappings of the little man, the Napoleon, who was to succeed grandly and existed to control those around him.

His wife had died after twenty-four years of marriage, although her cancer allowed her to linger for the final eighteen torturous months. But Leonard was not one to linger over anybody. Two months after her death he was reading the personal ads in New York magazine. It was there that he found mine.

Beautiful lawyer, 40 year old winsome widow in Ct. with two kids looking for love and laughter with a kind, professional man. Photo available.

Over the course of three weeks, I received forty letters in response to my ad. I threw away thirty-nine. The man who sent a picture of himself in a Speedo bathing suit with his muscular hairy chest bursting left nothing to my imagination. Several women failed to realize that a beautiful widow is a woman and sent me pictures of their cleavage. And, of course, the man incarcerated in Alabama who read New York magazine and sent a salacious letter was not what I had in mind when I placed the ad. Leonard’s letter arrived last, just when I had nearly given up all hope that a widow living in a small town in central Connecticut could ever find her next love.

The envelope was marked with the insignia from the Ritz Carlton Hotel.

Dear Young Widow in Ct.

I read your ad on the plane going to a business meeting in Arizona. I am a young 50-year-old widower who lives in New Jersey. I am a very personable, warm, kind, very intelligent, loyal, romantic, energetic, very athletic, emotionally and financially secure person with a great sense of humor and a high degree of integrity. Women generally describe me as ‘very cute’.

I love kids and enjoy family, friends, travel, sports, music, and theater. I have never responded to an ad before but I was struck by your being a widow and a lawyer (describing yourself as beautiful also helped). I am a real estate investment banker with a large U.S. based company. I have three great children, a son who is in medical school, a daughter who is a teacher and a son at Cornell.

I am interested in meeting a person who is refined, very sweet, warm, intelligent, articulate and very attractive – a woman who I can admire and who is comfortable in jeans or black tie.

While you will meet men who are better looking (and who have better handwriting) you will not meet anyone who is more personable, or a nicer, higher quality person.

Since I have not responded to ads I do not have stock pictures to send. I therefore am sending a passport photo type picture I had taken – which honestly does not do me justice even though I do not claim to be Robert Redford.

If my letter merits your interest call me at the following number. The best time to reach me is between 9 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. during the week – anytime on the weekends (although I frequently travel to watch my son play college football). I am an early riser so you may call me after 6:30 a.m. – if I do not answer I am either traveling on business or out jogging.

I am a non-smoker. I hope to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Leonard