Catching Kelly [Mass Market Paperback]

Sue Civil-Brown (Author)

Book Description

Series: Avon Light Contemporary Romances | Publication Date: January 5, 2000

Eight years ago, ultra-sensible Kelly Burke left her zany family in a desperate attempt to lead a normal life. When she gets the news that a ruggedly handsome man has moved in on her grandmother -- and the family finances -- she rushes home to send him packing, without the Burke fortune!

But once back in the center of her beloved but outlandish clan--pet tigers and all--Kelly discovers that Seth Ralston is far more of a threat to her heart than to her family. For his smile makes her traitorous pulse race, no man should have a body that sinfully gorgeous, and his kisses...oh, those kisses create total meltdown. Suddenly Kelly discovers an unexpected aptitude for being "wild and exciting" herself-- and loving it. The question is, is this just a fun fling? Or is Seth a man who'll stay...for life?

Eight years ago, ultra-sensible Kelly Burke left her zany family in a desperate attempt to lead a normal life. When she gets the news that a ruggedly handsome man has moved in on her grandmother -- and the family finances -- she rushes home to send him packing, without the Burke fortune!

But once back in the center of her beloved but outlandish clan--pet tigers and all--Kelly discovers that Seth Ralston is far more of a threat to her heart than to her family. For his smile makes her traitorous pulse race, no man should have a body that sinfully gorgeous, and his kisses...oh, those kisses create total meltdown. Suddenly Kelly discovers an unexpected aptitude for being "wild and exciting" herself-- and loving it. The question is, is this just a fun fling? Or is Seth a man who'll stay...for life?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...The tone is upbeat, the breezes are warm, and the characters and dialogue crackle like lightning before a Florida thunderstorm." -- Oakland Press

"A powerhouse author." -- Melinda Helfer

"Funny and sweet, Catching Kelly handles a complex emotional tangle with grace." -- Sunday Herald, Halifax

"Her offbeat characters and humor are wonderful." -- --- Affaire de Coeur

About the Author

Sue Civil-Brown has been writing romantic stories since childhood. Now, having published two dozen books under the pen name Rachel Lee and won numerous awards, she is delighted to turn her attention to the light-hearted and humorous in love and life.

Sue lives with her own knight in shining armor on Florida's Gulf Coast, where the weather provides almost as much excitement as her dearly beloved, their children, and their Siberian husky.

Boredom, she says, is never a problem.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (January 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380800616
• ISBN-13: 978-0380800612
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 3.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,728,341 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars What Have I Just Read?, January 30, 2000

By 

paula_k_98 "paula_k_98" (Muskogee, OK USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Catching Kelly (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm not sure what I've just read. It was entertaining but I couldn't begin to tell you the plot line. Sue Civil-Brown always writes in an offbeat manner. That's one of the reasons I buy her books. However, this is just a little to much when you can't really figure out the purpose of the story. I didn't care for the heroine or hero. They didn't make an impression on me. I did enjoy the huge cast of secondary characters. If it hadn't been for them, I would have never finished this book. This isn't the best, neither is it the worst I've ever read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This is one of my favorite authors, October 23, 2002

By 

apoem "apoem" (Bosque Farms, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Catching Kelly (Mass Market Paperback)

SO I was dissapointed in this book. This was my least favorite of all the books by Sue Civil-Brown.

First the positive: The saving grace of this book was the zany, creative characters. There was an aunt who has tigers for pets, an uncle who paints and so on. The characters in this book gave me some chuckles. I also liked how there were characters from previous books interwoven into this book. It is nice to revisit old characters and see how their lives are moving forward. I particularly liked Seth in many ways, he was the adult voice that Kelly needed to hear. Also, because this is a Sue Civil-Brown book, my least favorite book of hers is far better than other author's best books.

And the negative:
Right from the beginning Kelly, the main character, was needy, whiney, somewhat self centered, and fairly certain she was the normal, sane person. Her family of aunts, uncles, grandmother were oblivious to her neediness. I couldn't help feeling that her family just needed to sit her down and explained in simple, honest terms that they loved her, were proud of her, that she didn't need to be a creative type to be important. If they had done that there would have been no story.

As it was, there really was very little plot. Kelly comes home to save her grandmother (and her grandmother's money) from Seth, a football star with a bum knee who has become a family friend. She is constantly on the lookout for the negative in him. Seth on the other hand has decided that Kelly has neglected her family and has no problem showing her his dislike for her.

Despite the initial dislike of each other, these two manage to gain respect for each other and eventually fall in love.

So, although this was my least favorite Sue Civil-Brown book, it isn't a complete waste of time or money to read. I just think that there are better books out there that are much more enjoyable.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars okay, January 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Catching Kelly (Mass Market Paperback)

I found that I did a lot of skipping. I liked the hero but the heroine mostly annoyed me. I didn't want her to end up with the guy. I would not recommend this one.