Customer Reviews

Head Over Heels

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

An enjoyable introduction to what looks to be a welcome trilogy about three former Marine buddies. This one takes place in Fossil Washington, and concerns the murder of Crystal Davis, the owner of the Baker Street Honky Tonk, her late father's tavern. The whodunnit itself wasn't that complex, since the reader is quickly able to eliminate most of the possible suspects, but it serves to provide the framework for the meeting between Crystal's sister, Veronica Davis who is a restoration specialist, and Cooper Blackstock, an ex-Marine of mysterious means and also the man hired to run the tavern. Their working relationship and developing romance is the main focus of the story.

Veronica and Cooper are both running from their past, yet both wind up in the town where they've been hurt the most. Each has unresolved issues with their deceased parents, issues which molded both of them and which also serve as a stumbling block to their growing attraction to one another. There is also the complication of Crystal's young daughter Lizzy - she's now motherless, her father has been charged with the murder, and now he's jumped bail. Adding to all that is the fact that Veronica now has to deal with settling Crystal's affairs, providing a stable homelife for her niece, and temporarily help out waitressing at the tavern (putting her in close proximity to Cooper, but also bringing back unpleasant memories of her teenage years). To make matters worse, Lizzy's father, Eddie Chapman, is also Cooper's half-brother, a fact which he has omitted telling Veronica. There is also a nicely done secondary romance between Veronica's best friend Marissa, a widowed mother of three, and a local businessman named Kody, who is afraid to commit.

This story was a bit more serious in tone than some of Ms. Andersen's other books due to the issues raised, but it still contains her excellent dialogue, amusing scenes, and fine character development. Unlike some authors, all of her main characters seem real, their behaviors true. They don't make the reader cringe in disbelief. The children in the story are real children, not discardable plot devices, but kids you could easily take to your heart. The relationship between Veronica and Coop flashed nicely, both in language and deed. Needless to say, both are good looking, smart and sexy, with strong independent streaks. I'd say this book is a keeper.

Judith, Judith, Judith. . .HEAD OVER HEELS is not the worst book SA has written. OBSESSED is the worst book she's ever written. HEAD OVER HEELS is great. You have our hero - who granted is a little different from her former heroes - but not nearly as bad as Judith's review indicates. Of course we have to have him resisting his attraction to our heroine (and she got in her verbal licks, too!), that's what makes the sexual tension heat up. This is a smart, sexy story. A good mystery which is not in your face obvious, and best of all - no psycho/rapist/serial killer!!! Let's face it! There are a lot of books out there with that plot and authors who keep reusing it. At least SA varies her plots and the characteristics and personalities of her main characters. If you want the same old thing time after time, read Jayne Ann Krentz (no, that's not a compliment). For another GREAT, SEXY read - try LONE RIDER by LAUREN BACH. I recommend this book in just about all my reviews, but it's a KEEPER and you'll thank me for the recommendation. HEAD OVER HEELS is a keeper, too. Can't wait for SA's next book.

I enjoyed this novel. The interaction between the characters was believeable and humorous. The murder sub-plot was interesting, too. I had no idea who killed Crystal until the end. I look forward to reading more Susan Andersen books.

Susan Andersen has an incredible talent for creating multi-dimensional, likable characters, a skill beautifully showcased in Head Over Heels. Even secondary characters have a richness to them that draws a reader deeper into the story.

Ronnie and Coop have pasts that reverberate in their behavior now. Each of them is forced to deal with their issues and work toward overcoming them as the story progresses and their relationship moves forward. Their actions and reactions are always true to who they are and always believable.

I've read all of Andersen's books now and I'd have to say this is definitely among her best. If you like a story with characters that feel real, Head Over Heels is a good choice.

All I can say is this is the first time that I have read a Susan Anderson book and I was hooked after I started reading it. This book was good. Funny with the banter and the bar scene about him being a good soldier for so long. And his growling voice. This book was good!!

I hadn't read any of this author's books before this one so I wasn't sure what to expect.I was thinking it would be a comedy but it's more of a romantic mystery and it worked really well for that. The heroine having to work the honky tonk she hated so much and the ex-Marine hero have a compelling, entertaining relationship.

I didn't like her enough. She got mad at Coop too easily and too frequently. I didn't care for the fight that separated them, described below. I enjoyed Coop, even though he was a little over-alpha. Because of the ways their parents treated them, both Ronnie and Coop had issues with trust and acceptance, which was the undercurrent for their conflicts. I'd recommend borrowing this rather than buying it.

Story brief: Crystal is murdered. Circumstantial evidence points to Eddie, her husband. Eddie goes on the run. Ronnie is Crystal's sister. Ronnie comes to town to take care of the six-year-old daughter Lizzie. The "Tonk" bar was owned by Crystal, and Ronnie oversees it until she can sell it to put the proceeds in trust for Lizzie. Coop is Eddie's half brother. He believes Eddie is innocent. He comes to town and takes a job as bartender in the Tonk bar. No one knows that he is related to Eddie or that he is a famous author. By keeping his identity secret, he hopes to uncover information to prove his brother's innocence.

CAUTION SPOILER:
Coop and Ronnie fall in love and are together for about a month before she learns that Coop is related to Eddie. She is mad that he didn't tell her sooner, and she breaks up with him. She plans to take Lizzie and move to Seattle within a couple of days. I think she over reacted. His reasons weren't that out of line. Sure he might have told her a little sooner, but this was not something to break up over.

Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: six. Setting: current day small town Fossil, Washington. Copyright: 2002. Genre: contemporary romance.

As of 6/20/08, I have read 3 Susan Andersen books, as follows.
4.5 stars. Be My Baby. Copyright 1999. My review posted 6/20/08.
4 stars. Baby, I'm Yours. Copyright 1998. My review posted 1/10/08.
2.5 stars. Head Over Heels. Copyright 2002. My review posted 6/20/08.

This book is honestly the best book I've ever read. It made you feel warm and fuzzy, yet mad and disappointed at times, but it ended with such a great conclusion. You couldn't ask for a better storyline. They should make a movie!!

I completely agree with the reviewer from Huntsville. The worst book SA wrote was OBSESSED. I had a hard time finishing that one. It is not at all the same with Head Over Heels. This book is fun and entertaining. I really liked the hero. Yes, he does keep some secrets about himself from the heroine, but please it was not like he was an ax murderer or something. He is also extremely sweet when he tries to redeem himself. The sexual tension between the two main characters was exciting. I felt it was a big plus that the secondary characters were also interesting. I would highly recommend this book.

This book was JUST what I was looking for... It was a quick read, but not shallow or formulaic. Great characters, engaging plot, interesting side-characters/plots, and absolutely thrilling romantic scenes. This is definitely a romance, but a well-done one. I'm fairly new to the genre, but this book was better than any other similar book I've read so far (e.g. Nora Roberts, who has some enjoyable books, but too many are very formulaic). If you're looking for sexy with substance, this is a great read.