Holiday by Design - Patricia Kay (HSE #2296 - Nov 2013)

Series: Hunt for Cinderella (Book 9)

Turning thirty? Time for artist Joanna Spinelli to put her life plan into action! Will true love be on her to-do list?

Joanna Spinelli was determined to make her design dreams finally happen. Getting a show at Marcus Barlow's art gallery was key. Sure, the straitlaced businessman might be just a little too sedate for her taste. But just one look and she could feel herself melt like chocolate….

She was like a fresh breeze to his all-work, no-play life. And though Marcus appreciated her carefree lifestyle, he knew Joanna would have to change to fit into his world. Yet by asking her to become someone she was not, would Marcus lose the things he cherished in her the most? Or would he finally learn to loosen his tie -- and open his heart?

Good book, though I did have a hard time with the hero.  Joanna is ready to take the next step to make her dreams come true.  All she needs is a way to get her designs in front of the public.  Scoring a chance to show her work at Marcus's gallery is just what she needs.  She's not sure how well they'll deal together since he's pretty conservative and she's not, but she'll do her best.  She didn't expect the heat between them and was very sure that getting involved with him would be a mistake.  But Marcus doesn't seem to agree.

I really liked Joanna.  She knows what she wants to do with her designs and she is determined to find a way to do it.  I loved her visit to Marcus's gallery and the way she refused to be intimidated by the snotty manager.  Her excitement when she got his call was fantastic and gave her a nice boost in confidence.  That excitement dimmed a little when she met him because she felt that her sense of style was one that he didn't really approve of.  She wasn't too sure about his suggestion that she pair her designs with his sister's jewelry but was willing to keep an open mind.  That open mind paid off when she and Vanessa had a chance to meet and get to know each other and they discovered that they could work well together.  Joanna was a little disturbed by his disapproving attitude toward his sister.  She also found that there was a lot that she and Marcus did agree on and their attraction kept building.  There were some great scenes of them together when everything went well. I liked the charity dinner that they went to and how Marcus made a point of introducing her to so many people. There were also times when Joanna's insecurities caused her to feel that being with Marcus was not going to end well, especially when she had to deal with his snob of a mother.  I felt really bad for her when inviting Marcus and his sister to spend Thanksgiving with her family didn't go well.  I loved the fact that she stood up for herself and let him know that if he didn't like her the way she was that was his problem not hers.

I spent most of the book wanting to push Marcus into a really cold body of water to wake him up to what a jerk he was.  I felt a little sorry for him because he'd given up his own dreams when his father died and he had to take over the family business.  But he spent way too much time worrying about appearances and trying to control what his brother and sister did.  I did like the way that he used his gallery to help various artists get started and the way that he shut down the manager when she was snotty about Joanna.  He had a good eye for possibilities which is why he wanted to pair up Joanna and Vanessa.  I didn't like the way he treated Vanessa like a child when they were at lunch with Joanna.  Or the way he kept putting down his brother.  What really made me mad about him was the way he admitted his attraction to Joanna, but kept thinking about how he would have to get her to change certain things so that she would properly fit into his life.  When he went with her for Thanksgiving his attitude about her family was terrible.  It served him right when he later made a comment about her tattoo and she told him to take a hike.  It was satisfying when he finally realized what an idiot he was, and his "go big" moment was pretty darn good.  

Star Trek: Ishmael - Barbara Hambly (Pocket - May 1985)

Series: Star Trek (Book 23)

The Enterprise is on a peaceful mission at Starbase 12 when a bizarre cosmic phenomenon causes a Klingon ship to suddenly vanish--with Spock aboard for the ride. Spock's last message from the Klingon ship is cryptic and frightening. The Klingons are traveling into the past, searching for the one man who holds a vital key to the future. If they can kill that man, the course of history will be changed--and the Federation will be destroyed!

This is a really fun book combining two 1960s TV shows - Star Trek and Here Come the Brides.  It starts with the Enterprise at a Starbase when Spock becomes suspicious of some Klingon activity.  He has snuck aboard their ship to investigate when the ship leaves and then vanishes, right after the Enterprise receives a puzzling transmission from him.  The next time we see Spock he is in 1867 Seattle badly injured, with no memory and no idea how he got there.  Spock is rescued and nursed back to health by Aaron Stemple, a local mill owner.  Aaron quickly realizes that Spock is not of the Earth but it doesn't seem to make any difference to him.  Once Spock has recovered, Aaron gives him the name Ishmael, an identity as his nephew, and a job as his accountant.  Spock, as Ishmael, begins to get acquainted with the townspeople and build a life.  He gets occasional flashes of memory and feels that there is something important that he is supposed to do.  I loved seeing Spock's human side come out, as he didn't know to repress it.  There is enough of his true self there that his logical mannerisms and speech are evident and create some very humorous moments.  One of my favorites is when he and Josh are engaged in a mock battle involving spoons, catapults, tea cups and a lump of sugar.  Spock's mental comment to himself is:  “and besides, he had no intention of allowing a human to win at this game…”

The setting is Seattle during the time of Here Come the Brides and the characters are all recognizable from the show.  The Bolt brothers, some of the women such as Candy, Lottie and Biddy, and Aaron himself.  I really enjoyed seeing Spock's unintended influence on them as he simply accepts things that are foreign ideas to them.  I loved his complete acceptance of the idea of a woman doctor when it was something nearly unheard of to them, yet his attitude influenced their changing perceptions.  His biggest influence ends up being on Aaron himself, who finds himself changing thanks to Spock.  There is also an interesting connection between Spock and one of the residents of Seattle.

There is some time spent with the crew of the Enterprise as they work feverishly to figure out what the Klingons are up to and where Spock is.  Kirk's worry about his friend and fears that he is dead are a prime motivator for him.  His connections enable him to find people/beings who are able to assist him in his search.  He is assisted by Bones, Uhura and Sulu as they skate along the edges of the rules.  As is usual, they prevail just in the nick of time.

An interesting bit of trivia:  In the TV show Here Come the Brides, Aaron Stemple is played by Mark Lenard, the same actor who portrays Spock's father in the TV show and Star Trek movies.

Operation Blind Date - Justine Davis (HRS #1759 - July 2013)

Series: Cutter's Code (Book 3)

"When a loved one goes missing...and no one believes you..."
Weeping in front of customers isn't Laney Adams's style. She would have gone unnoticed if security expert Teague Johnson hadn't come to her grooming shop to pick up his boss's dog, Cutter. Something about Teague--or maybe it's the uncannily perceptive canine--compels her to open up about her best friend who's gone missing and how she feels responsible. The confession reminds Teague of his own secret guilt. He can't turn away. With the help of the Foxworth Foundation--and Cutter--Laney and Teague launch a dangerous search that leads to unexpected twists...and undeniable passion.

Another very good book starring the incredible dog Cutter.  Teague had gone to Laney's dog groomer shop to pick up Cutter.  He noticed that she seemed upset but figured it wasn't any of his business.  Cutter had different ideas.  Teague is familiar with Cutter's ability to detect people who need Foxworth's help and managed to convince Laney to open up.  She is worried about her best friend who she hasn't heard from in a month.  The police have been no help so she is surprised when Teague accepts her worry and offers to help.

Laney is skeptical about Cutter's abilities but won't say no to Teague's help.  I really loved her persistence in trying to find out what happened to her friend.  She also wasn't about to sit back and wait for Teague to do all of the work - she was going to be involved every step of the way.  She is feeling very guilty about introducing Amber to the man she thinks kidnapped her and beginning to not trust her judgment about men because of it.  It doesn't take her long to realize that she can trust Teague.  She also discovers that she is really attracted to Teague, but that he is fighting his attraction.  I really liked the way that Laney seems to understand him so quickly.  She gets his feelings and knows when to push for more and when to back off.  She gets really frustrated with him when he pushes her away claiming that it's all reaction to the situation.  I loved the culmination of the search and Laney's part in it.  I also loved the final scene with Teague, Laney and Cutter and Cutter's part in bringing them together throughout the book.

Teague has been working for Foxworth for several years and has come to trust Cutter.  He doesn't understand how the dog does what he does, but has learned to accept it.  Cutter's insistence on helping Laney is unexpected but after hearing her story Teague is convinced that she is right to be worried.  It also reminds him of the disappearance of his sister which contributes to his need to help.  He feels an attraction to Laney immediately, but his sense of honor won't allow him to get involved with a client.  I really liked the way that he appreciated her intelligence and sense of humor.  I also loved the way that he told her about things that he didn't usually tell people, as if he knew that she was going to mean something special to him.  He really fought his feelings, trying to convince himself that what she was feeling was simply reaction to the stress of the situation, but she wasn't going along with it.  I liked the way that he accepted her need to be part of the search and that he was able to include her even when he was worried about her safety.

I enjoyed the suspense of the story even though it wasn't particularly intense or dangerous until the very end.  It was far more about the friendship between Laney and Amber and how it caused Laney's concern over Amber's safety.  It was also about the developing relationship between Teague and Laney and the trust between them.  I love these Cutter stories and adore the dog.  I would really like to see Rafe's story come soon.

Daddy, Unexpectedly - Lee McKenzie (HAR #1452 - May 2013)

Series: Ready Set Sold (Book 3)

From Friends To Lovers To...Parents?

Claire DeAngelo's fantasy was the white picket fence and a husband and babies. She thought she'd found it, but now she's getting a divorce. Her ex's behavior is bordering on harassment, so it's lucky Claire runs into her college buddy-now undercover cop-Luke Devlin.

Luke can't believe his luck. He's investigating a smuggling ring, and Claire lives in the building he has under surveillance. What better way to keep an eye on the criminals than to move in! When Claire's ex becomes hostile, Luke's protective instincts take over and the attraction between old friends heats up.

Back in college, Luke was a carefree playboy. So when Claire discovers she's pregnant, she knows better than to expect Luke to be family material. She's finally getting that white picket fence and a baby...even if there's a piece missing!

Good book.  I've liked Claire since the first book and it's fun to see her get her own story.  She is busy dodging phone calls from her ex-husband who has been harassing her when she runs into Luke.   He is working undercover doing surveillance on a condo in her neighborhood.  They were study partners and friends in college but had lost touch with each other afterward.  As they reconnect there is a spark of attraction.  Claire decides to step outside of her usual way of doing things and accepts a dinner invitation from Luke, then invites him in.  While he is there her ex enters her home with a key he still had and makes a nuisance of himself.  The next day Luke offers to move in as protection until she moves.  He is also planning to use her place to conduct surveillance on that other condo without telling her about it.

I liked Claire's relationship with her friends and how well they worked together.  They also had a bond of friendship that showed whenever one of them needs support.  They have been great help for Claire during her divorce.  When she runs into Luke she remembers what good friends they were in college and how much she had liked him.  I loved the way that she embraced the the idea of doing something different and found herself enjoying the ride on his motorcycle.  She also felt her attraction to him flare up during that ride.  When they arrived back at her place I loved the way that she showed him that she wanted him, and didn't let her ex's interruption derail those wants.  Even though she didn't think her ex was dangerous he made her nervous enough to accept Luke's offer to move in, but also admitted to herself that she was really loving his presence for more than security.  The only problem was his declared intent that he would never marry and have children due to his own childhood.  Even though she knew there was no future she couldn't help falling for him and was furious when she found out about his deception.  She had to decide what to do about telling him about the baby knowing his feelings about having children.  I liked the way that she told him she wanted all or nothing from him.  Even though she loved him she wasn't going to trap him into marriage.  I liked her reaction to his appearance at the end.

I had a lot of respect for Luke.  Even though he was quite a playboy in college he had never been anything less than respectful of Claire.  Once he got out of college and started as a cop he finally took responsibility for his actions and dealt with his drinking.  Even through everything he and Claire went through he was able to hang on to that.  I loved the way that he was so protective of Claire when her ex broke into her place.  I also felt that that protectiveness is what took priority in his feelings rather than using her for surveillance.  I liked the way that he felt guilty about not telling her.  He was somewhat disturbed by the fact that his relationship with her felt different than anything he had experienced before, especially considering his commitment issues.  When he first found out about the baby he was angry, but her demand of "all or nothing" really made him think.  I loved his "all" at the end.

The epilogue was fantastic and I loved seeing the three women together with their families.  I'd love to see them make "guest appearances" in future books.