Gretchen Galway’s Love Handles is an interesting twist on the old “falling for someone you work with” schtick.
When Bev inherits her grandfather’s clothing company, everyone wants and expects her to sell, but instead she decides to make a go of it, despite knowing nothing about activewear. As she works to understand the business, tries to win over her enemies, and deals with sabotage both at home and in the office, Bev learns about her new company, her family, and herself.
SPOILER
This is a major spoiler – do not continue if you haven’t already read the book.
Right near the end, there’s a big dramatic scene where Bev threatens Rachel with information that was never mentioned throughout the book. I know, because I used my Kindle’s search function in a vain attempt to find the key points mentioned (“Borrego Springs” and “twenty years,” to be precise). I was so intrigued and frustrated by what seemed like a gaping plot hole that I wrote to the author, who was not only kind enough to offer a detailed response, but also gave me permission to share it here.
Early on during her time at Fite, Bev reads all the personnel files to learn about the people at the company (before she has that meeting with the cupcakes and treats). She would’ve come across the files for current and former employees, especially one who worked there 20 years, and might have kept that thought in the back of her mind.
I decided that later Bev overheard that Rachel’s mother used to work at Fite, although not in any serious position, and that’s how Rachel got the job. It wouldn’t have meant anything to Bev until later, when she moves into Fite and comes across her grandfather’s personal effects.
There, she’s living in her grandfather’s private quarters, and she finds the photo of Rachel with her grandfather. At this point, she thinks it was a romance between Rachel and her grandfather — and it’s only later, during the confrontation, that she realizes it was Rachel’s mother who was involved with him.
I didn’t explain this outright because I was trying to add to the suspense of the final scene. Bev knows Rachel has been sabotaging her, but isn’t quite accurate about the reasons for it.
– Gretchen Galway