31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable Beginning of a Trilogy, January 12, 2002
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.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
READ IT AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF!, January 17, 2002
By A Customer
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.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Entertaining!, February 23, 2006
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.
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