Reviewed by L.D.Y.

Mass market, 334 pages, 2002

Rating: 5/10

Reason for Reading: Hoping for some of the humour in Evanvich’s Stephanie Plum series.

Synopsis: Single mom Billie decides to take polo lessons while her kids are on vacation with their father, and finds herself being taught by rich playboy Nick. She’s attracted, but there’s no way anything can come of it – what would the handsome Nick want with a sixth-grade teacher with two kids of her own? Spurred by recent burglaries and weird noises in the night, Billie agrees to house Nick’s spoiled cousin, Deedee, until her wedding, and finds Nick is determined to use his cousin as an excuse to come over as often as he wants…

Why you should read this book: This is Evanovich’s first book, re-written and re-released, presumably with some of her trademark spark, and we do catch glimpses of that in Billie, and Deedee’s crazy antics – she’s engaged to a wrestler, Frankie The Assassin, and is determined to set up Billie with a wrestler of her very own. In the last hundred or so pages, the story takes a more suspenseful, Stephanie Plum-like turn, adding to this otherwise straight romance novel.

Why you should avoid this book: If you’re reading this book, it’s because you’re a fan of Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. But really, it’s not worth the effort. Most of the book is a straight romance novel, which isn’t a problem in itself, but Evanovich shows little of her gifts for pacing and tension, leaving the reader reading boring page after page of Billie pondering why a handsome man might want a single mother. The only drama in the book comes at the end, and even that feels tacked on in an effort to placate Plum fans.

Opening paragraph:

Nicolas Kaharchek surveyed his seven new polo students moving across the sandy practice field. He grinned as he watched an especially entertaining female named Billie Pearce.

Quotes:

Deedee sprayed her flame-red hair and postured in her slinky black dress. ‘I don’t know why you won’t let me get you a date for tonight,’ she said to Billie. ‘Embassy parties are always so much fun. Especially when you’re on the arm of a seven-foot wrestler. Everyone notices you.’ She pouted at the mirror and outlined her lips in glossy red lipstick. ‘I like to be noticed.’ She shot Billie a look in the mirror. ‘Sure beats sitting at home waiting for Nick to call.’

Joel sat at the kitchen table and wrinkled his nose at the bowl of smelly brown mush Billie had placed in front of him. ‘What is this?’

‘Lunch,’ Billie said, staring at her new engagement ring. It was beautiful. It was absolutely perfect. And the sight of it made her stomach upset.
Joel poked at the malodorous mound with his fork. ‘Yuck. It looks like dog food.’

Billie looked up and blinked. ‘What?’

You gave me dog food for lunch.’

‘That’s ridiculous. Why would I do a thing like that?’ She bit her lip when she saw the bowl sitting in front of Joel. ‘What happened to your peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich?’

Instead, try: Fly-Fishing by Sarah Harvey; Lola Carlyle Reveals All by Rachel Gibson; Divas Las Vegas by Belinda Jones.

Also by this author: Motor Mouth; Metro Girl; Hot Stuff; Plum Lovin’; Lean Mean Thirteen; Twelve Sharp; Eleven on Top; Ten Big Ones; To the Nines; Visions of Sugar Plums; Hard Eight; Seven Up; Hot Six; High Five; Four to Score; Three to Get Deadly; Two for the Dough; One for the Money; Full Scoop; Full Tilt; Full Blast; Full Speed; Full Bloom; How I Write; Back to the Bedroom; The Rocky Road to Romance; Love Overboard.

Author’s website: evanovich.com

© Lisa Yanaky 2003-2007