Just the Way You Are (Lost Texas Hearts, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Christina Dodd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 3, 2003

New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd, one of the most acclaimed authors of historical romance, makes a dazzling foray into contemporary fiction in this intriguing and sensuous novel about a hard-working young woman who mistakenly falls in love with Boston's wealthiest bachelor.

JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

When Hope Prescott's parents disappeared, her carefree teenage life vanished forever. She and her three siblings were separated and sent to different foster homes around the country. Now, seven years later, Hope is still searching for them. To support herself, she works for an answering service, and cares for her clients as if they were family. When wealthy businessman Zachariah Givens hires Hope's service, Hope initially mistakes Zack for his butler. Tired of being coddled and Þattered because of his money, Zack is charmed by Hope's candor, not to mention her sexy voice, and keeps up the charade. As their friendship turns into passion, Zack is determined to have her, even if that means the unthinkable -- marriage. But when Hope discovers his deception, Zack knows he must solve the mystery that haunts Hope's past in order to convince her that their futures lie together....

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Shining with all the humor of her historical romances-but with a sassy edge that reflects the story's modern setting-Dodd's (My Favorite Bride, etc.) first foray into the contemporary arena is nothing short of a success. Separated from her siblings since her parents' death seven years earlier, Hope Prescott works as an answering service operator and dreams of getting a job that will finance her search for her family-not to mention socks without holes. While calling in for his messages, Zack Givens, a Boston CEO notorious for his cold manner, accidentally leads Hope to believe that he's his butler, and her scorn for the rich and heartless as well as her warm, caring manner encourages him to continue the charade. Upon meeting Hope in person and realizing that she has a heart of gold, Zack's focus turns possessive and sexual, and his stratagems revolve around getting her in bed and then showering her with wealth. But secrets from Hope's past and Zack's distrust conspire to ruin their happiness. Zack's poor estimation of Hope's moral strength may disturb some readers, but his bewilderment and agony when he realizes his mistake will soften hearts. Aside from one farcical side trip-when Hope is kidnapped by a crime lord-Dodd's surefooted story is lively, sexy and certain to expand her readership.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

When Hope Prescott was 16, tragedy destroyed her family and sent her across the country to Boston. Seven years later, as a student and answering-service operator, she saves every penny to search for her sisters and brother. Takeover king Zach Givens, an aristocratic, technophobic snob, meets Hope through the answering service. Positive that the nice man on the phone is Givens' butler, Hope allows a telephone friendship to escalate to a hot encounter. When she is wrongly arrested for embezzling money from a local gangster, Zach sees her with one of his enemies and decides that she was just after his money; at the same time she discovers that he has been lying to her about his identity. By the time he comes to his senses, she has been kidnapped, so Zach and all the friends Hope has made answering phones band together to conduct a zany rescue. The warm characterizations and caperlike plot make Dodd's hot contemporary romance a delight, and the cliff-hanger ending will leave readers eager for the sequel. Diana Tixier Herald
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (June 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743456173
• ISBN-13: 978-1416514671
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #410,265 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #21 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( D ) > Dodd, Christina

More About the Author

Chat with Christina via Facebook and Twitter, and even better, join her mailing list to have her news delivered right to your inbox! http://christinadodd.com/lists/?p=subscribe

Readers become writers, and Christina Dodd has always been a reader. She reads everything, but because she loves humor, she likes romance best.

A woman wants things like world peace, a clean house, and a deep and meaningful relationship based on mutual understanding and love. A man wants things like a Craftsman router with attachments, undisputed control of the TV remote, and a red Corvette which will miraculously make his bald spot disappear. So when Christina's first daughter was born, she told her husband she was going to quit work and write a book. It was a good time to start a new career, because how much trouble could one little infant be?

Ha! It took ten years, two children and three completed manuscripts before her first novel, CANDLE IN THE WINDOW, was published. In the twenty-two years since, her novels have been translated into 25 languages, won Romance Writers of America's prestigious Golden Heart and RITA Awards and been called the year's best by Library Journal. Christina Dodd herself has been a clue in the Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle (11/18/05, # 13 Down: Romance Novelist named Christina.) Publishers Weekly praises her style that 'showcases Dodd's easy, addictive charm and steamy storytelling.'

Christina's 2011 releases include TAKEN BY THE PRINCE, #9 in the Governess Brides series, and in the tradition of Nora Roberts, a new romantic suspense series starting with SECRETS OF BELLA TERRA and REVENGE AT BELLA TERRA.

Christina Dodd is married to a man with all his hair and no Corvette, but many Craftsman tools.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A story of Hope..., June 7, 2003

By 

Sarah W "Sarah W" (Minnesota) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Just the Way You Are (Lost Texas Hearts, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is Christina Dodd's first attempt at contemporary romance and I have to say, she scored big. Just The Way You Are is a great story and if it is any indication, Dodd has a great contemporary future ahead of her.

This book is about Hope Prescott who lived in Texas until she was 16 and her parents were arrested for embezzeling, a fact which no one in the Texas town wants discuss. Her younger sisters and brother were seperated from her and put into foster homes and Hope drifted for 7 years until she decided to get her life back together. She came to Boston and enrolled in college and got a job as a telephone switchboard operator where she "met" Zach Givens.

Zach was enthralled by Hope's voice from the first moment he heard it, and being a rich man who always got what he wanted, he went after Hope, pretending to be his own butler. They got to know each other and fell in love. Unfortunately, events outside of their control pushed them apart.

The romance was the best part of this book. Zach and Hope had instant chemistry and it was great fun and very romantic to see their romance evolve. The owner of Hope's switchboard operation provided a wonderful secondary character, as did Zach's Aunt Cecily and Sven.

The only part of this story that put me off was the embezzelment storyline and the absurd "kidnapping" attempt at the end of the story. It just kind of ruined the buildup of the romance and all that had come before it.

But besides this minor story problem, I have to say this was a great great story. There will be a second one, and hopefully a third. Though I have always admired Dodd's historical romances, it takes great courage to break out of habit and Dodd's breakthrough into contemporary romance is a great one. She has a great future in both historicl and contemporary romance. This book is a keeper.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Witty dialogue and wealthy comeuppance, June 2, 2005

By 

Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Just the Way You Are (Lost Texas Hearts, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Zack Givens is used to barking orders and having people fall at his feet. A corrupt raider, he's used to bullying his weight around, but he's not prepared for the lady at the other end of his answering service, orphan Hope Prescott. She assumes when he calls in for messages that he's the butler and strikes up a conversation, immediately making fun of wealthy people, Zack in particular. Zack is completely enchanted by her candor, and decides to keep up the charade. Part of what keeps her working her odd jobs is her quest to reunite her sisters and brother. Thinking that she's carrying on with a man named "Griswold," Hope is enchanted with him. When she finds out that he's sick, she shows up on his doorstep with homemade chicken soup. Zack is shocked that such a nice person exists; she's surprised to find that a butler can be so young and sexy. His infatuation soon turns sexual (and of course she's a virgin), but he foolishly continues the charade, which can only come crashing down on him. Circumstances surrounding Hope's background, business enemies, scheming servants, and Zack's inability to trust conspire to keep them apart. Zack will have to be quick on his feet to get her to forgive his sins.

About the only thing that detracted from the story was the whole accounting scheme - it just did not fit, and the standoff was kinda dumb. I was also disappointed that the Prescott family was not reunited. I felt a little cheated that I will have to read two more books (also song titles: "Almost Like Bring in Love" and "Close to You") to find out how it all turns out!

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars good, but had some problems with this one..., July 17, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Just the Way You Are (Lost Texas Hearts, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I really enjoy Ms. Dodd's writing and I finished this book in no time. However, the main character, Hope, really "rubbed me the wrong way," and was so close to being TSTL (to stupid to live). So many things about her character made no sense to me:

a. Although she said over and over and over that she was "a minister's daughter," she had no qualms about her unprotected, premarital sex with a man she had only met a few days prior. But, golly gee, she really wondered how was she going to make time for the relationship.

b. I never remember her doing a lot to search for her siblings which was what her obsession was supposedly.

c. Hope was so annoying when she was spouting her political diabtribes such as: how Americans really know nothing about their own country/geography, much less that of the rest of the world, and how if they tried to learn more about the rest of the world we would be better off, blah, blah, blah. This coming from a character who was trying to make her way to Texas, ended up poor in Ohio, and ends up going back to Boston. Hello, why not buy a bus ticket to Texas instead of Mass.? Her comment about someone dying because they couldn't get cough syrup was really over the top. If you are in such sad shape, I don't think Vicks Formula 44D is going to do you much good.

4. And having lived in an orphanage you would think she'd be a little more street wise.

Overall, I enjoyed this book, finding Zach's character making up for Hope's annoying tendencies.