"fun contemporary romance"

Former marine Walker Buchanan pledged to deliver the letter for his brother in arms who died in combat. However, he knows little about the recipient other than her first name. He temporarily leases a place that introduces him to male-distrusting independent Elissa Towers and her precious five years old daughter Zoe. They meet when he changes Elissa's thread bare tire for her before buying her a new one.

They are attracted from that first turn of the wheel nut, but neither welcomes the feeling. Elissa still classifies all men as clones of her ex and he wants no responsibility as he converts to being a civilian. Adding to their woes is that her daughter plays matchmaker while his grandmother is the child's matchbreaker trying to keep her grandson from this woman while demanding he join the family restaurant business.

The second Buchanan tale (see DELICIOUS) will prove IRRESISTIBLE to readers as both the Buchanan and Tower broods seem interchangeable (don't tell either side that) as no one seems able to get on with anyone else except for the lead couple in between disagreements that is. The support cast is superb but the fine story line belongs to the marine and the mom who both claim "I'm not in love" and each tries to prove it while being pulled by their respective families in a myriad of directions that yanks the reader into a fun contemporary romance.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted July 2, 2006

Summary

When ex-marine Walker Buchanan stops to help Elissa Towers change a tire, he tells himself it's just the neighborly thing to do. And when Elissa finds herself baking him a thank-you pie, she's just returning the favor...right?

Both of them have sworn off dating—Elissa's determined to protect her little girl, and that means ditching her taste for dangerous men...especially former marines with dark secrets. Walker knows he's not cut out for hearth and home...his own crazy family made sure of that. But the sparks won't stop flying.

Now the two of them are struggling to keep their relationship "just friends," but with every kiss, their rules fly out the window.