Sealed with a Kiss (Ty and Hunter, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The latest contemporary romance from bestseller Phillips is a warm, sexy whodunit featuring powerhouse lawyers Molly Gifford and Daniel Hunter, who, despite success in the courtroom, are still plagued by abandonment issues: years in foster care have left Daniel scarred, while Molly's boarding school experiences have left her desperate for a real family. After weathering another stunning disappointment from her mom, Molly leaves to track down her long-lost father, rejecting her smitten friend Daniel's heartfelt attempts to help. But just as Molly settles down with her father and a promising new family, her father is accused of murdering his best friend and business partner. Despite the hurt she's caused him, Molly successfully pleads with Daniel to join her on the case. Residing under the same roof—and the watchful, caring eyes of her new family—Molly and Daniel surrender to passion even as the case for the defense grows increasingly bleak. Phillips's quirky cast is delightful, especially an outspoken grandma (known as Commander) and a potty-mouthed macaw; meanwhile, the romance generates sufficient heat and the pieces of the mystery fall together to satisfying effect. (Oct.)
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From Booklist

Caliendo’s skillful reading resonates throughout this audio. Attorney Molly Gifford’s father is charged with murder, and Molly asks her former lover, Daniel, to defend her father. Daniel’s distrust of Molly is clear through Caliendo’s sarcastic, cryptic tones. She voices Molly’s father in a clear, commanding voice that befits his military officer status, though his confusion at the charges leveled against him is also evident in his somewhat defensive speech patterns. Caliendo portrays the teens in realistic voices that wisely lack a syrupy sweetness. One of  Caliendo’s greatest strengths is her ability to create romantic love scenes filled with sensuality through careful pausing and smooth lyrical vocals. This sequel to Cross My Heart (2006) will appeal to fans of the earlier title. --Sheri Melnick --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: HQN Books (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373772394
• ISBN-13: 978-0373772391
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #178,629 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 2 in The Ty and Hunter Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Light On Content, Heavy On Saccharine., October 2, 2007

By	Cherise Everhard (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Almost a year ago Molly left Hunter brokenhearted and a little bitter. They had had a long history of flirtation, mutual respect, attraction and chemistry. They were just beginning to have a real relationship when Molly experienced some personal setbacks and decided to step away. Hunter put his heart on the line and offered her everything but she chose to pack up in search of herself.

Molly and Hunter have not forgotten each other and now Molly comes back into his life because she needs his help. Molly's father is in need of the best criminal lawyer, and Hunter is that. Having no intention of getting his heart trampled on again, Hunter reluctantly agrees to take the case.

I have been a long time Carly Phillips fan and absolutely adored Cross My Heart (Harlequin Romance); the first book that introduces us to Molly and Hunter. Though Cross My Heart is Ty and Lacey's story, Molly and Hunter's characters really stood out; making me eager to read this second book.

The first third of this book started out great and I was really into it. Then somewhere along the way Ms. Phillips decided to kick up the schmaltz levels making this book a little too whiny and cheesy for my tastes. Hunter and Molly have all these childhood issues that are constant road blocks on the road to happily ever after. I just wanted to shake the both of them and yell "GET OVER IT ALREADY!"

Sealed with a Kiss is not quite the Carly book I have come to enjoy and it's definitely a disappointing follow up to Cross My Heart. Despite its flaws it was still an enjoyable read and I would have been sorry to have missed it. Perhaps I was expecting too much?

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Just missing something... but loved the macaw, October 5, 2007

By	Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In need of a change of scenery after yet another set back courtesy of her selfish mother, Molly discovers that the absentee father who has ignored her all these years is not her biological father. With mom off to Europe to find a new groom and armed with the name of her real dad, she leaves her friends, job, and boyfriend Daniel Hunter behind in upstate New York, traveling to Connecticut to connect with the father she's never known. Hunter offered to drop everything and follow her, but is once again devastated at being the disposable person he's always felt like since a childhood filled with pain and abandonment. With Molly's betrayal, he finds solace in alcohol and faceless one night stands.

Molly and the General (as opposed to his mother the Commander) immediately hit it off, much to the displeasure of teen half sister Jessie, but soon the honeymoon is over when dad is accused of killing his embezzling business partner. Molly returns to ask Hunter to defend her father, discovering that he has indeed moved on and has another woman warming his bed. After some cajoling from his friends, he heads to Connecticut to lend a hand. The sparks continue to fly as the two discover that its not enough that they provide reasonable doubt, they need to find alternate suspects too. But the deeper they delve into the case, the more they find that the General is hiding. Could he be guilty?

Phillips sure can write a sensual love scene, and there are aplenty! First introduced as secondary characters in Phillip's "Cross My Heart" (one of her better novels), I just didn't feel the same connection - the characters barely resembled the promising duo they were in the original. The chemistry and sensuality are there, but the story gets bogged down with too much emphasis on their tortured childhoods (thought Hunter definitely has her beat) and inability to commit. Comic relief is provided by scenery stealing Ollie the macaw. The epilogue is also totally awkward - suddenly in teen Jessie's POV, and no real mention of the killer's penance.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars enjoyable second chance at love contemporary romance, October 6, 2007

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Less than a year ago, Molly Gifford left her boyfriend Daniel Hunter, their hometown, and her profession behind because of a clue as to the whereabouts of her biological father. Daniel was heartbroken that Molly deserted him, but has begun to move past his loss.

That is until now. Molly has come back in need of Daniel, but not as her lover. Her father has been arrested on first degree murder; Molly believes Daniel is the best attorney to represent him. He reluctantly agrees not for her sake, but because he believes her dad is innocent. However, this time he plans to hide his heart as he rejects the notion of a second chance unlike his best friend Tyler (see CROSS MY HEART) with a woman who will leave once he completes her request.

This is an enjoyable second chance at love contemporary romance. The story line looks deep into differing relationships that compete for the affection of the prime key that ties everyone together. In this case the focus is Molly who is pulled by a desire to have her father in her life vs. her love for Daniel. The legal thriller subplot enhances the tangle of a triangle between a father, his daughter, and her beloved, who happens to be his lawyer.

Harriet Klausner