Somebody To Love (Hqn) [Mass Market Paperback]

Kristan Higgins (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 24, 2012 | Series: Hqn

After her father loses the family fortune in an insider-trading scheme, single mom Parker Welles is faced with some hard decisions. First order of business: go to Gideon's Cove, Maine, to sell the only thing she now owns—a decrepit house in need of some serious flipping. When her father's wingman, James Cahill, asks to go with her, she's not thrilled…even if he is fairly gorgeous and knows his way around a toolbox.

Having to fend for herself financially for the first time in her life, Parker signs on as a florist's assistant and starts to find out who she really is. Maybe James isn't the glib lawyer she always thought he was. And maybe the house isn't the only thing that needs a little TLC….

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A funny, poignant romance....Readers will be cheering for Harper all the way."

- Publishers Weekly, starred review, on My One and Only

"Cheeky, cute, and satisfying, Higgins's romance is perfect entertainment for a girl's night in."

-Booklist on Too Good to Be True

"Higgins (My One and Only) employs her usual breezy, intimate style, which is sure to engage her fans."

-Publishers Weekly on Until There Was You

About the Author

Kristan Higgins is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author and two-time winner of the Romance Writers of America RITA Award. Her books have been praised for their "genius level EQ, whippet-fast, funny dialogue and sweet plots with a deliciously tart edge" (USA TODAY). She lives in Connecticut with her heroic firefighter husband and two extremely advanced children, one shy little mutt and an occasionally affectionate cat.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: HQN Books (April 24, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780373776580
• ISBN-13: 978-0373776580
• ASIN: 0373776586
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (127 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,183 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Malone Speaks!!! 4.5 stars...... April 30, 2012

By L. Burns VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Single mom Parker Welles is flat broke thanks to her father's insider trading debacle. The only thing left to her name is a cottage on the coast of Maine that she inherited from an Aunt that she barely remembers. Visions of cashing in on some ocean front real estate are soon dashed though. The cottage is a ramshackle affair more accurately described as a shack. A shack that's filthy and packed to the rafters with junk, junk and more junk.

Enter James Cahill, her father's flunky/attorney. Turns out James is quite the handyman, and he's offered to help Parker fix up the dump (er, cottage) so she can sell it and hopefully turn a profit. But there's a catch...Parker doesn't trust James and is excruciatingly uncomfortable around the man. The old saying "beggars can't be choosers" comes to mind, and Parker finds herself sharing a house (and maybe more) with the handsome lawyer. Will the process of flipping a house end up turning Parker's life around as well?

Kristan Higgins really does write some of the best feel-good, humorous contemporary romances out there. Parker and James are very appealing characters, and we learn their history in small doses, almost like piecing together a mystery. The supporting characters, especially Parker's cousin Lavinia, really add a lot to the story. The third person point of view allows some good insight into James's personality and what motivates him.

A "typical" Higgins heroine is often desperately searching for love, a little needy and often pining after someone unattainable while ignoring the great guy that's standing right in front of her. Parker was a nice change of pace from all that. She's self-confident and while meeting "Mr. Right" would be nice, it's not a huge priority in her life.

Now I wouldn't be totally honest if I didn't say that one of the reasons I loved this story was a chance to revisit Maggie and Malone from Catch of the Day (Hqn). Malone speaks! You don't have to read that book in order to enjoy this one, but if you have read it you're in for a treat.

There are some very funny scenes in this book, and I like that the humor is more situational and doesn't always come at the heroine's expense. (I dare you not to laugh at the scene in the jail cell!)

This one hits all the right notes: great characterization, smart humor, realistic dialog and an interesting storyline. My only real gripe (and I know I'll be in the minority ) was the saccharine laced epilogue. Good grief, that was my sugar allotment for the next six months! A great read though and highly recommended.

Very occasional strong language and some very mild (non-explicit) sexual content.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I didn't want it to end! May 5, 2012

By Loves FAB Romance

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Single mom Parker Harrington Welles has led a life of privilege and wealth. She's a well-loved children's author who gives her profits to children's charities because she doesn't need the income. She's just finished the last book in her series and is looking forward to starting something new. Little does she know, the "something new" is going to be her entire life; her father, Harry, spent her trust fund (and her son's trust fund!) and is now headed to prison for insider trading. The Feds take everything, and all she's left with is a small amount of money in her checking account and a house she inherited from an aunt in Gideon's Cove, Maine. The plan is to `flip' the house and use the profits to buy a small home for her and her son, Nicky. The reality is the house is falling down and needs a lot of work.

James Cahill is one of Harry's two attorneys that never leave his side. Parker disdainfully refers to him as `Thing One' (to his face!!) and has no room in her life for a man who means more to her father than she does. What she doesn't know is that James believes he owes Harry a huge debt of gratitude for turning his life around and would do anything for Harry. When Harry goes off to prison, he vows to watch out for Parker and help her as best as he can. Luckily, James knows his way around a tool bench.

___________________

As you can tell from my 5/5 rating, I loved Somebody to Love! Parker is not your typical `spoiled little rich girl', she's down-to-earth, self-deprecating, and funny. She's angry at her father and angry at James, but she needs his help. She hates her children's series, and her relief at ending it is short-lived - her little characters, The Holy Rollers, won't get out of her head and their running commentary about the state of her affairs is so funny.

James is a great hero. He knows how Parker feels about him but feels badly for Parker; he likes her and doesn't think she deserves the circumstances she finds herself in. He's got a few demons of his own, and my heart broke as his backstory was revealed.

I loved the back-and-forth between Parker and James. Their attraction to each other despite their determination to dislike each other is absolutely delicious. But I also love the cast of characters in Gideon's Cove - Ms. Higgins has visited this town twice before and it's pure delight to be back. Even if this is your first Kristan Higgins book, you will enjoy the quirky residents of this tiny seaside town.

Great characters, great plot, great ending. Somebody to Love is definitely "Keeper Shelf" material - I'll be saving this to re-read when I need a pick-me-up.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Book by Higgins yet! April 24, 2012

By Cyndessa

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

After reading "Fools Rush In" and "Just One of the Guys" I was hooked on Kristan Higgins. I went and got all of her books at that time (early 2011) on ebook. Before now, Grace and Cal have been my two favorite, but this book is Kristan's best yet. It came out today and I sat and read the entire book with a glass (bottle) of wine in hand. I do think my husband was annoyed... I have not attempted to write many book reviews so please try not to laugh at me!

Parker and Thing One (James) are the best characters to come from Kristan Higgins so far. The story goes back and forth from Parker- who is an independent woman thrown into a difficult time and James- who is completely new. James is a big unknown at first to the reader and to Parker. Slowly you fall for him as you see beyond the initial impression... just maybe Parker will as well! Lets not forget that someone spends a night in jail- besides the obvious!

I hope my review does the book justice. Thank you Kristan for a wonderful book. I, along with all of your readers, look forward to many more characters to love and books to read over and over!