Just the Way You Are

There was a lot I did not like about this book. The hero was arrogant and insufferable. The language was incredibly stilted. A lot of the plot was just unbelievable, especially one part at the end. But, there was some funny in there. pp. 318-319: Hope says, "I got the clothes for sleeping with someone." Bunny responds "Honey, you can do better than that. The clothes aren't that nice." I remember enjoying the other two books in this series, but had I read them in order, I would not have gone further than this one.

Hope Prescott is 16 years old when she loses everything – her parents dead in a car crash, her siblings taken from her and her comfortable life gone in an instant. The story takes place 7 years later as we find Hope working at an answering service while taking classes with the intent of earning a degree in computer science (because “that’s where the money is”) so she can continue the search for her lost siblings.

Enter Zachariah Givens, a corporate raider, who keeps all but his family and one best friend at a distance. Zack’s longtime assistant is going on vacation and has set up an account at an answering service for the time she is gone since her boss is a technophobe (fax machines eat the papers, phone buttons flash show more confusingly…). The first time Givens calls the service and speaks to Hope, he is hooked – drawn in by her sultry voice, her friendly manner and her obvious caring for all of her clients. Only one thing – Hope thinks she’s speaking with Givens’ butler – Griswald. Oops. When Hope makes her thoughts clear regarding wealthy, uncaring employers – and Givens in particular – Givens decides to let the deception continue.

The story was entertaining, if a bit improbable. Hope’s a smart woman and yet she falls for Zack’s deception without hesitation. Moreover, she is more than a little gullible in other instances making for a frustrating read. Additionally, there’s a crisis that is completely unbelievable, unrealistic and unreasonable – also adding to the frustration.

The best part of the story is Aunt Cecily, Zack’s outspoken and outrageous aunt, as well as a scene in which Cecily and Zack’s parents discuss his problems as if he’s not even in the room (definitely a good chuckle). This is the first in the Lost Hearts trilogy. I may read the next in the series as I generally like books by Christina Dodd, but I’m not going to rush as there are more – and better – books on Mt. TBR waiting for me.

Rating: 3 stars show less

I liked this book. I had read it before from the library and when it was reissued I bought myself a copy. A nice story of involving a masquerade and a rich unfeeling man falling in love and becoming more human. The heroine was super sweet and everyone loved her. This is part of a series and I have read all the books. Just be aware that the situation with begins the book is not resolved in this one. Really the only thing that I find real fault with is the rather ludicrous ending. The rest of the book was good enough to overlook that part though.

Excellent

First, I hate billionaire novels, but this one worked for me. A Cinderella story, with a gutsy heroine and a repressed hero. Loved it.

The first book in the Lost Heart series about the four Prescott sisters.

When Hope Prescott's parents disappeared, her carefree teenage life vanished forever. She and her three siblings were separated and sent to different foster homes around the country. Now, seven years later, Hope is still searching for them. Hope is quite a character and very entertaining.

Hope Prescott
Zachariah Givens

I liked Zach, even though he was a huge liar though most of the book, he came back and made good in a big way. Hope is totally good for him and they are going to have a long an happy future and I would really like to see a peak at what happens after the epilogue.

3.5 Stars

Hot romance and good audio tho the guy voices are a little lame. Hope is looking for her family and Zachary is ich but pretending to be a butler