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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful, poignant story of opposites attract!, March 25, 2003
This review is from: A Bicycle Built for Two: Meet Me at the Fair (Zebra Ballad Romance) (Paperback)
Alice Duncan superbly recreates the 1890's in this terrific tale of two people from completely different worlds who find what they didn't know they were looking for in each other. Alex English is a fastidious, stuffy, proper gentleman farmer who is extremely proud of his participation in the World's Columbian Exposition being held in Chicago. For him, the Expo showcases all that is good about America and should be an educational and uplifting experience for all who attend - and he will not allow anything to taint it. But when a young woman who works at the Expo is attacked (and by her own father!), Alex is outraged and decides she has to go - can't have this sort of unpleasantness spoiling the Expo! For Kate Finney, the Expo is just an opportunity to make a bit more money to support herself and her mother. She's working two jobs, one at a fortune-telling booth and the other as an "Egyptian" dancer. But her worthless drunk of a father has not only threatened her life, but now her livelihood - for when Alex English shows up, she knows with dread exactly why he's come. But she's not going without a fight, darn it! Alex is completely unprepared for her outrage and her fighting spirit! He's never met anyone like Kate Finney! Once Alex gets over the shock of his initial meeting with Kate, he becomes curious about her and learns of her desperate family circumstances. Kate is waging a one-woman battle against poverty, an abusive, dangerous father and the tuberculosis ravaging her beloved mother. When Alex takes steps to make what may be her mother's last weeks or months as comfortable as possible, Kate is initially suspicious and resentful. But over time, she realizes that Alex is genuinely a nice guy with only pure motives. Gee, it would be real nice to have a man like that in her life, but he's not for the likes of her - poor Kate Finney from the slums of Chicago. As for Alex, he's come to admire Kate - she's smart, strong and beautiful and he longs to knock that chip off her shoulder and make her life better. Would she even let him? In a genre full of sometimes tawdry and empty stories with characters who manipulate and deceive one another, this was a breath of fresh air! Well developed characters that you really care about and a terrific story. Highly recommended!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A delightful story!, November 23, 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: A Bicycle Built for Two: Meet Me at the Fair (Zebra Ballad Romance) (Paperback)
This is the third and last book in the "Meet Me At the Fair" series by Alice Duncan. It's every bit as good as the first two were! This one tells the story of Kate Finney. In the second story, Kate's father attacked her and Belle saved Kate by beating her father with an umbrella. Now, this third book is Kate's story. It starts off with snobbish Alex English aghast that someone actually had
the audacity to do that at the World's Columbian Exposition. He decides
that he must go and meet this Kate Finney and let her know that things of
that sort are just not the thing! Alex has no idea that feisty Kate will
give him a run for his money! She's holding down two jobs trying to make
ends meet and taking care of her mother. She especially wants to keep her
mother's whereabouts from her father as her mother is very ill with
consumption and isn't long for the world. When Alex confronts Kate she gives him as good as he gives her so he
decides to investigate her further. He's shocked by what he finds and
decides then and there that he will help her and her family. The problem
is Kate will have no part of Alex or his help. After all she has her pride.
She has no way of knowing that when Alex gets his claws into something he's
like a bulldog! Both Alex and Kate have a few lessons to learn about each
other as well. This delightful story as well as the whole series was a joy to read. I
absolutely enjoyed the entire series of books and eagerly look forward to
what Alice Duncan will come up with to entertain us so thoroughly! Kathy Boswell, The Best Reviews
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A rollicking ride into the gay nineties, November 23, 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: A Bicycle Built for Two: Meet Me at the Fair (Zebra Ballad Romance) (Paperback)
A BICYCLE BUILT FOR TWO is a rollicking ride into the gay nineties and a look at life on the wrong side of the tracks. Alex is part of the rich aristocracy and quite the snob when it comes to associating with the unfortunate people of the lower classes. He has the absurd idea that the poor are simply down on their luck because they choose to be. He is exasperating and sometimes so naive that he frustrates me. Kate is an acid-tongued young woman who is rude and pushy to the extent you want to shake her out of it. When Alex's rose-colored vision of life meets Kate's every day reality there is an explosion of fireworks. Alex is brought down to humility and Kate is brought up to the realization that there is kindness in the world. Ms. Duncan has penned a fine adventure. A BICYCLE BUILT FOR TWO is a delightful story and not to be missed! Diana Risso, Romance Reviews Today
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