It Must Be Love

It Must Be Love
4 Stars

Despite some dated tropes, i.e, the hero smokes "shudder", and the patriarchal portrayal of gender roles, the opposites attract/love-hate relationship is satisfying.

The characters and plot are a mix of Jayne Ann Krentz and Kristen Ashley although the heroine is not as flighty as JAK's and the hero is not as much of an alpha-hole as KA's.

Joe initially comes across as a neanderthal whose preconceived ideas of the perfect woman - cool, calm, composed and willing to be a doormat - are particularly annoying and almost land him in the anti-hottie harem. Nevertheless, his past and close-knit family reveal his protective streak and tremendous capacity for love.

Gabrielle Breedlove, the owner of a new age shop selling show more essential oils and other knick-knacks, is the complete antithesis of everything Joe wants in a woman. She is open, honest, honest, fanciful and far too naive for her own good. Joe's domineering and condescending attitude makes her blood boil, but she finds herself attracted to him nonetheless.

Joe and Gabrielle's interactions are sweet and sexy, and Joe's groveling at the end more than makeup for his ass-hat behavior.

The minor suspense plot is intriguing although it is obvious from the start that Gabrielle's business partner is a complete crook using her as a legitimate front for his criminal activity.

Overall, an entertaining read that brings to an end my ongoing read of Gibson's backlist. I am very happy that it ended on a high note. show less

This story of ditzy Gabrielle Breedlove and undercover cop Joe Shanahan strays away from the predictable by having great fun characters who seem to enjoy themselves at every step.

When Gabrielle tackles her stalker, little does she know that in fact he's an undercover cop. He gets her to use him as a handyman in order to watch her business partner and they both find themselves too attraced. As time goes on the pretence of a relationship becomes hard to keep in the face of a real relationship that's building. But they're just so wrong, so different for each other.

Yes some of it is painfully obvious but the characters felt quite real.

Detective Joe Shanahan’s new assignment is stalking New Ager Gabrielle Breedlove. Of course, when she takes him out with a can of hairspray - the guys will never let him live that one down - the backup plan is to pose as her new boyfriend. Of course, on further evaluation of this wacky but alluring beauty, this could be the best gig he’s had yet - and not much of stretch for his acting abilities.

Gabrielle is very distressed by the notion that she must allow this totally sexy (but that’s besides the point) cop into her store to try to prove that her trusted friend and partner is a stolen art dealer. But she has no choice unless she wants to be charged as an accomplice; and she figures the only way to clear her friend’s name is to show more prove he’s innocent. But things start to heat up as she spends more and more time with her “boyfriend” and she just might be falling for real.

I liked this contemporary well enough. Sort of par for the course, but entertaining nonetheless. Sometimes contemporaries can be great reads, if only for the simply fact that they’re possible - they truly do allow you to dream. Besides, even in print Joe was a sizzling hot alpha male! show less

very mediocre; gibson writes some humorous moments but the problem are the characters...no chemistry whatsoever; the male hero is so condescending and the heroine is silly.

fun, fun, and fun! easy to read, and funny.

Fun, average Read

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