Jacqueline Diamond

Fun book that is a little different than the usual Harlequin American Romance. The story opens as Tara and her friend Denise make their way to a Halloween party but get lost and end up at a different party. The setting is unique, and Tara feels an odd connection to it. That oddness increases when she meets an intriguing stranger who sweeps her off her feet for the night. It seemed like a dream the next day, but that dream had very real consequences - her son Harry.

Seven years later, Tara works hard to make ends meet and raise her son alone. Harry is an unusual kid with what Tara believes is a vivid imagination. But imagination doesn't explain the occasional flying object - so she doesn't try. It does make her wonder about Harry's father. When Harry gets suspended from school because of an incident with a school bully, Tara has no idea how her life is about to change.

Chance has never forgotten the woman he spent one magical night with. When a news story about a strange incident at a school shows him his mystery lady, he's stunned. But when he looks at her little boy, he's blown away by the realization that he is most likely Chance's son. Knowing what he does about his own powers, Chance realizes he needs to become a part of Harry's life to protect and train him. That means finding a way to get involved in Tara's life.

I liked Chance. He is a financial whiz but uses his brain rather than his powers. He broke with his father after Ray tried to get Chance to use his powers in unethical ways. He has Harry's best interests in mind when he manufactures a job as his live-in personal assistant for Tara. He has an instant connection with Harry and uses that connection to instill a sense of right and wrong ways to use his gifts - not easy with such a young child. He knows he needs to convince Tara of the reality of Harry's gifts, but it is an uphill battle. And that's before confessing that he's Harry's dad.

I liked Tara, too. She's a terrific mom to a challenging boy. She's practical, level-headed, and determined to be the best possible parent for Harry. She also has a blind spot about his gifts, convinced that his "mind reading" is pure imagination and trying to ignore the whole levitation thing.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Chance and Tara. The chemistry between them is just as strong as seven years ago. Though Chance had done an excellent job of burying the memory of that night in Tara's mind, the more time she spent in his home and with him, the closer those memories came to the surface. There is also a deeper connection between them that comes into play as the book goes on. I liked watching Chance try to ease Tara into seeing the truth, but she is very stubborn. When another incident involving Harry makes denying the truth impossible, she's also faced with the knowledge that Chance is Harry's father.

There is some interesting push and pull between Chance and Tara over using magic and when it is and isn't appropriate. Chance had his doubts about her rules but wanted to make her happy. A near tragedy showed her that a compromise was possible. In the meantime, the attraction between Tara and Chance continued to grow. Something in the past hangs over them, making Chance believe it is better to keep their distance.

The ending was frightening as the perils associated with their gifts brought danger to Harry and Chance. I was on the edge of my seat until it was over, and everyone was safe. An unexpected benefit to what happened made it possible for Chance and Tara to look forward to a life together.… (mehr)

I don't know why I occasionally try this imprint. These stories are generally not for me. If I'm going to read short category romance I prefer the crazy soap operaesque Presents line. Otherwise I like longer contemporaries which are not a category line.

So this book was so so. It wasn't awful but it wasn't great either. Too much going on in their lives and not really enough focus on the romance. Ending was very abrupt with the hero changing his mind about being in a relationship between one breath and the next. No chemistry between the main characters.… (mehr)

A few months after giving birth to Allie, Buffy's husband wants a divorce and asks for a paternity test to prove Allie is his. That's how they found out the clinic mistakenly switched sperm donations and her husband is not actually Allie's father. After the divorce, Buffy thinks Carter (Allie's biological father) should know he has a daughter, so she leaves LA for Texas to tell him.

Buffy was used to her husband paying for the best of everything for her. Living in Los Angeles was a completely different world than where Carter lived in Nowhere, TX. She didn't know what to make of the small town where everyone knew everybody else. How does she tell him that he's a father? While she is trying to figure that out, she organizes the women in Nowhere to sew her designs and sells them in Carter's garage. He doesn't know what to make of this woman but is enamoured with the little girl. He can't get Buffy out of his mind either.

This story has wonderful characters. Carter was an exceptionally good man. I loved the way he was so good with the little girl. I didn't like Buffy at first because she was a bit snooty. After she got to Nowhere Junction and became a nicer person, I liked her a lot. Even the secondary characters were good and I would like to hear more about them. But I couldn't stand Buffy's husband and was hoping he would get a taste of his own medicine.

I have been a fan of Jacqueline Diamond for years so I was thrilled when I won this book. You have to read this unpredictable romance.… (mehr)