Customer Reviews

Considering Kate (The Stanislaskis) (Silhouette Special Edition No. 1379)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Considering Kate is a follow up from the Stanislaski series that Nora Roberts wrote a few years back (but is now re-released). Kate Kimball, the daughter of Natasha and Spencer (from Taming Natasha), is a ballet dancer, who has come home to open a dance school. Brody O'Connell is the contractor who fixes up the building for Kate's school. Kate and Brody automatically hit it off, but Brody is leary of a relationship because he is a widow with a 6 year old son, Jack, to take care of. Kate is flirtatious and pushes Brody to take her out, Brody on the other hand is trying to resist her, although he wants her. In Considering Kate all the characters are winners. You will fall head over heels for little Jack, not too mention the rest of the family. Considering Kate is a great read, and a great follow up. I really got into the whole family and at times found myself laughing and tearing up, which I think a good book should make a person do!

Professional ballet dancer Kate Stanislaski returns home to open the dance studio of which she's always dreamed. Tired of the harsh pace of dancing in New York, she's ready for the quite life. She didn't expect, however, to meet sexy Brody O'Connell in her mother's toy store almost as soon as she set foot in town. Nor did she expect to find their mutual attraction so powerful. Most men have taken a look at her delicate form and assumed romanticism and fragility. Seldom could they cope with what they really find--steel. Brody, however, is up to the challenge.

A widower, Brody's one priority for the last six years has been his son Jack. Fatherhood had "kicked the stuffing out of the arrogant, careless and often reckless boy. And it had made a man out of him." Soon he finds himself contracted to do the renovation on Kate's studio, and when he goes to the building, he sees Kate dancing inside. She absolutely dazzles him. Kate ignores Brody's protests that he's not interested in getting involved, intuiting where his real concerns lie. Brody might protest all he wants, but Kate gets what she wants. And she wants Brody has her husband and Jack as her son.

Rather than being put off by Brody's moods, Kate finds herself invigorated by the way he gets scowly and turned on at the same time--she believes it is both challenging and sexy. Kate gives as good as she takes, never hesitating to tell the director that he look like a pig, in the Ukrainian language, or Brody where to stuff it. She's accustomed to hard work, and doesn't shy away from darkened basements or the bottom line of a very expensive renovation, always keeping her eye on the goal. Indeed, Kate's fierce determination makes her character extraordinary and appealing. No self doubt for this powerful woman.

I'm blushing to admit this, but CONSIDERING KATE is the first novel I've read by Nora Roberts. Yes, I know she's one of the queens of romance, but this reviewer seldom reads by choice, instead I read what lands on my desk by request. After reading CONSIDERING KATE, however, I hereby consider myself an ardent fan and intend to spend more time on books by Nora Roberts! Roberts' independent and spirited characters, the wonderful Stanislaski family, and her sparkling narrative voice make this book a keeper. Very highly recommended.

Lovely and gifted Kate Kimball lived out her dream of being a prima ballerina. Now all she wants is to return home to West Virginia and set up her new school of dance in the town where she grew up. She has everything planned out and has factored in all the risks. She knows she can make a success of her new dream but she needs Brody O'Connell's skills to make her dream a reality. As the head of his own construction company, Brody's life revolves around his work and his six-year old son Jack. But he is drawn to the aggressive and persistent dancer who has entranced his son and who is captivating him in spite of his own reservations.

With "Considering Kate", author Nora Roberts takes her audience back to the heart-warming Stanislaski family. The plot of Kate's story draws heavily upon its predecessor, "Taming Natasha". Fans of this particular family will recognize the inversion and the nostalgia it invokes. For new readers, "Considering Kate" stands alone as a solidly written story with a determined and winsome heroine and an admirable and endearing hero. Though there is nothing creative or new about Roberts' plot, her characterizations are as strong as ever and Kate, Brody, Jack and a number of other secondary characters really help this story to stand on its own. Again, the author has a fantastic knack for skillfully drawing upon the Stanislaski family, which is rich with love and rife with emotional support. And though Roberts draws upon them extensively throughout the story, she never allows it to eclipse Brody and Kate's relationship. These two develop their affection for each other at a comfortable and credible pace without any unnecessary angst but with a great deal of charm.

I love Nora Roberts. I have read everything the woman has ever written, and will continue to do so. She has a formula that works for me. The thing about Nora is, when you have read about 15 or so of her books, it is very easy to pick out characters/stories that have similarities.

"Considering Kate" is no exception. As I was reading this I was reminded of "The McGregor Brides". I think it was Julia's story where she is working as a real estate agent and has to gut her house and then falls in love with the contractor. This story has several of the same situations even down to the kitchen remodeling ideas.

Kate is a direct woman who knows what she wants. She is the one of those Stanislaski's that we are all so fond of, and we get to check in on most of the clan. She has decided that it is time to retire from her career as a professional ballerina and start her own studio. Kate has purchased an old building in her parent's hometown, and the renovations begin.

Brody...what can I say except this man I want to meet! He is beautiful, sensitive, and in love with his son. He is a widower and has the sole responsibility of raising his little boy, Jack. Brody is the contractor hired to renovate Kate's dance studio. He is resistant to Kate's overtures at first, but of course he comes around.

If you like Nora's stuff you won't be disappointed.

Brody O'Connell is a widower with a 6 year old son. Kate Stanislaski Kimball is a dancer who has come home to open a dance studio. He is the contractor who is doing the renovations for her.

From the first moment she meets him, she "sets her cap" for him. But he is resisting every step of the way. It will take a delightful, determined 6 year old to come up with his own plan to bring them together.

A small book filled with good people - people you really care about. A real treat to read.

...and Considering Kate was no exception. Kate Kimball is returning home. She's opening a dance school in an old building which is sorely in need of renovation. Lucky for her Brody O'Connell is around to help her out. While he's renovating her studio, she sets to work renovating his heart.

I loved Kate. She's a forthright, determined woman with a capacity for love that can't help but win over Brody and his son, Jack. Considering Kate is a fantastic read, and a great opportunity to revisit the cast of favorite past characters!

It was fun revisiting all the previous characters from the other books in this series. You start to feel as if these people actually exist and you are somehow apart of it. Kate is a primadonna ballerina. She gave it up to be a dance teacher in her hometown. She is going to open the only dance school in town and Brody is her sexy contractor. The minute she sees Brody at her mother's toy store, she knew that she wanted him and she would do anything to get him. Brody on the other hand doesn't want anything to do with her....at first.... he can not fight the attraction and they fall in love...of course..the story of their ups and downs in love is the interesting part and Ms Roberts delivers a lot of ups and very little downs. Thanks again Nora for a great read.....

"Considering Kate" is an excellent addition to the Stanislaski series. It is a quick read, and yet still manages to contain well-developed characters. I have no qualms about recommending this novel, it is well-written and lots of fun.
The story revolves around Kate Kimball, daughter of Natasha and Spence from "Taming Natasha." Kate has given up her career in the spotlight as a prima ballerina and has returned to her hometown to pursue her new dream of opening a dance school. She buys a wonderful but run-down old building and needs to find someone to renovate it. Sexy Brody O'Connell seems to be just the man for the job, so Kate hires his company to do the restoration. The chemistry between these two all but sparks from the pages, and Brody soon finds himself unable to resist his attraction to Kate. However, with Brody comes his six year old son, Jack, and Brody, being a responsible and loving parent, is concerned about the effect his relationship with Kate will have on his son. Because of this Brody is determined to take things slowly. Kate quickly finds herself falling in love with both father and son, and she decides that she will not stop until both of them belong to her.
The romance between Kate in Brody is exciting and absorbing, and keeps the reader turning pages. The relationship that is portrayed between Brody and Jack is incredibly touching, and shows the reader how sensitive and caring this man really is. Kate's relationship with Jack, and Jack's proposal to Kate near the end of the book will warm your heart.
This is a relatively short story, but it never fails to amaze me how much emotion and romance NR can pack into her shorter novels. This book will touch your heart, make you laugh and give you several hours of pure enjoyment!

Considering Kate is a tale of the Natasha Stanislaski and Spencer Kimball's youngest child and her story reminds me of the way her parents met -- in her mum's toy store, with the hero buying a gift for his child. Brody is a sensitive guy with a young son to raise. Jack is precocious and is Brody's weak spot whom he's extremely protective of (don't you just love that in a man). Anyway, to cut a long story short, Kate hired Brody to renovate the building she bought to start her ballet school, and falls for him in the process. Kate makes most of the moves as Brody is afraid of being in another relationship after his wife died. The scene about her confronting him on whether they are in fact "dating" or not is hilarious. I've always enjoyed reading about a yelling session and this is a particularly good one with an even better ending.It's good to revisit the characters from Nora Roberts' previous novels on the Stanislaski family although Considering Kate works perfectly well as a stand-alone. I hope there will be a story on Brandon, Kate's older brother who is a ball player next!

A NEW DREAM

She's turned her back on glamour and fame and Kate Stanislaski Kimball had come home to begin a new life. The only thing more perfect than the beautiful - dilapidated - building she'd bought for her new dance school was Brody O'Connell, the frustrating, surprisingly fascinating contractor she'd hired for the renovation.

A man didn't often come across a woman as gorgeous, sensuous, provocative... and utterly irritating as Kate. But Brody was determined to resist her effortless allure. She was Natasha Stanislaki's pampered, perfect daughter, and not at all the right woman for him. But every fiber of his being longed to make her his...

[6th in The Stanislaskis series]