"A fun reading experience"

You'll be Mine in 99 by Jennifer Drew. Hiho, Ohio celebrates the town's centennial birthday with gala events including a beauty pageant. Though he detests his hometown, Joel Carter, ancestor of Hiho's founders, is the guest of honor. His employer Big Bert, owner of Vision Motors, decides that Katy Sloane is the perfect spokes person for a new vehicle, but the librarian refuses to enter the pageant whose winner will gain the car deal. When Katy and Joel learn that the hundredth birth date is next year, he blackmails her into entering the beauty contest. Joel and Katy fall in love, but can he persuade the small town librarian that they belong together? The Drew duo draws an amusing romantic romp that will remind readers of The Music Man.

The 100 Year Itch by Holly Jacobs. One week before Hiho's centennial celebration, Zoe Wallace works long and hard to insure success festivities happen while running the town's newspaper. Erie, Pennsylvania TV news reporter Theodore "Mace" Mason wants to cover big city news instead of "feely good" events like the Hiho gala, but that is where his boss sends him. Zoe and Mace meet and soon jointly investigate a rumor that instead of the "100 Year Itch" they are falling in love in 99. However he desires big city reporting and she fled his dream journalism for small town living. Ms. Jacobs provides a charming romance filled with plenty of laughs.

Both tales represent exactly what Duets has been all about as each contains plenty of amusement, delightful lead and support characters, and appealing romances; just avoid the Hiho beauty parlor.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted April 24, 2003

Summary

YOU'LL BE MINE IN 99 by Jennifer Drew

Librarian Katy Sloan doesn't know what to do when she realizes Hiho, Ohio, is actually celebrating its ninety- ninth, not one hundredth, birthday. Can she keep guest of honor Joel Carter from spilling the secret? Only if she slips into a bikini and enters the Miss Hiho contest!

THE 100-YEAR ITCH by Holly Jacobs

Meanwhile, the chase is on to discover Hiho's secret. Will Zoe Wallace, festival chairperson, be able to foil intrepid reporter Mace Mason's quest for the truth? Sure, he's an out-of-towner, but with each minute he's not only closer to the secret he's closer to Zoe, as well. How will this crazy couple ever fall in love and save the day?