Customer Reviews

Underfoot

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Bellagio Shoes PR whiz Trina Roberts finds herself comforting jilted groom Walker Gordon, who was publicly humiliated when he was left at the altar by bridezilla Brooke Tarantino. He confides to Trina that the main reason he was marrying Brooke is their shared desire not to have children, since his childhood was marred with an inept and absent father. Far too many mojitos results in a night of passion neither remembers completely. Nine month later, Trina is giving birth to the wedding favor she received on his wedding night, while he is off in Paris concentrating his advertising efforts on the European market.

When Trina finds herself arriving late to a hastily called meeting, she comes face to face with the father of her child for the first time in 15 months. She holds him at arm's length, which confuses Walker since he knows that they had a consensual one night stand. But forced to work in close proximity, Walker soon is privy to Trina's secret, and though he has no intentions of making any claims on the child, he will provide financially. Trina, ever the independent woman wants nothing to do with his money. What she finds is that she wants his heart.

Banks fantastic sequel to "Feet First" maintains the magic and chemistry of its predecessor. Unplanned pregnancy is usually a trite plot device, but in Banks' very capable hands, it is elevated to a charming story laced with witty dialog and lots of sensuality. Followed up by "Footloose" which features Bellagio secretary Amelia.

The night Walker Gordon got dumped, on national television, he hooked up with co-worker and friend Trina Roberts for a night of drinking and hot sex. He doesn't remember a lot of what happened that night and he moved to Europe shortly thereafter. Now he's back in Atlanta at Bellagio Shoes and will be working closely with Trina. He wouldn't mind taking up where they left off fifteen months ago, but she turns him down. Then he meets her six-month old baby daughter...

As much as Trina prefers to keep the information from Walker, she also knows she must tell him that he fathered her child. She's taken aback by his attitude of "I won't be a father" but he suddenly has to change his tune when he learns Maddie is his. Now both Trina and Walker have a lot of adjusting to do as they learn to become parents together while fighting their mutual attraction.

Admittedly, two characters getting drunk, having sex and conceiving a child can be unsympathetic, but Leanne Banks gives Walker and Trina ample motives; Walker was just dumped by his fiancée and Trina is unaware she's in love with him. UNDERFOOT will leave you with a smile on your face as you laugh at the situations. Forget about the secret baby plot that sometimes appears worn in other stories. With snappy dialogue and intriguing characters who make you care, Leanne Banks breathes life into UNDERFOOT and makes it hard to put down. And who can resist a cute baby, or sympathize as Trina tries to cope as a single mom with the baby's daddy hovering around?

Get on your feet and run to the store as fast as you can to get your copy of UNDERFOOT. Don't miss the fun and laughter galore in UNDERFOOT.

Patti Fischer for Romance Reviews Today

Trina Roberts has been attracted to Walker Gordon for a very long time. Since he was engaged to be married to the boss's granddaughter, she never thought that he'd ever notice her. When Walker is jilted at the altar, a little too much alcohol and sympathy ends up in a one-night stand with long reaching consequences. In order to get over his humiliation, Walker heads to Paris for a year--little knowing that his one night with Trina has left him with daughter; a daughter he meets when he finally returns. The one thing in his life that Walker never intended to be, was a father, but slowly both Trina and his daughter begin to find their way into his heart.

Underfoot is perfect reading. Fun, yet sensual with a depth of feeling that left me feeling completely satisfied. Walker is the kind of hero I love, yummy but with issues that made me want to take him for my own. His initial hesitation when he meets his daughter shows, but it quickly passes and his doubts only made me care more about him as a character. Trina is a woman who is independent and more than happy to take care of her daughter on her own, but throughout I could feel the yearning she has for Walker. Underfoot kept me up late, unable to stop until I reached the end. I can't say too much more because I don't want to give away anymore of this story that should be a must read for romance lovers. Underfoot is wonderful book that is sure to keep you flipping the pages.


Melissa
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Trina Roberts, the Public Relations star of Bellagio footwear, comforts jilted groom Walker Gordon over a few too many Mojitos. Nine months later, Trina is the happy mother a cute carrot top daughter --- until Walker returns from Paris. Trina is determined to hide Maddie's paternity rather than to be saddled into marriage with a man who wants nothing to do with fatherhood. Waker is just as determined to find this cute baby a father and arranges a series of hilarious dates for Trina.

The messy comedy that ensues is even more funny than than the green spit-up Maddie adds to Trina's elegant gown. These professionals thought they had their lives all planned and under control, but all it took was one red-haired baby to turn everything upside down and instill in them real courage.

A fun, frolicking Contemporary Romance! The romance is as steamy as the Atlanta Bellagio office on a summer day --- and as delightfully humorous as life ought to be.

No thanks on Bellagio three inch heels from this reader but I will take a Leanne Banks Bellagio Romance any day.

From the back cover:

Bellagio, Inc, public relations genius Trina Roberts had been a bad, bad girl when she'd gone to bed with a recently jilted groom and wound up pregnant. She knew Walker Gordon wasn't looking for forever--at least not with her. So when he took a job overseas, she sort of neglected to tell him about the baby on the way.

Well, now he's back...and he's figured out the truth.

Walker had been reeling from a very public breakup when Trina had offered solace he couldn't deny. He'd never expected the result would make him somebody's daddy! Trina claimed not to need anything from him, but he was determined that his child have a father; he just didn't know if it should be him. Because a father's shoes...well, those he wasn't sure he could fill.

And my review:

First off, I'll state that while this book is part of a series, it also works as a stand-alone. I was never left feeling lost.

I'll admit that I came into reading this book feeling a bit jaded. I don't really like the "one-night stands that magically turn into love theme" much, but I decided to push past that and give this book a try.

And the first half was really enjoyable. Leanne Banks has an easy-to-read flowing style, sprinkled with humor and real-life moments. I also liked how the heroine decided to keep her baby, even if she had been a surprise, and how much she truly loved her child. Many women in the same situation would have been very resentful of an accidental baby, but the heroine wasn't. I also liked that the heroine refused to let her domineering mother take over her life. After reading so many "weak heroine" books, this was a welcome change.

I also liked that the hero was more than willing to own up to his responsiblities. Though he wasn't prepared to be a father to his daughter, his reasons were actually pretty unselfish. He truly believed that he'd be a bad father. But he was determined to find a father figure for his little girl, it just wouldn't be him.

However, after this promising beginning, I kind of felt that it went downhill. I couldn't really see why, apart from blazing lust, the hero and heroine should be together. Being good in bed together is not a solid basis for a lasting relationship. Yes, sexual attraction is necessary for a good romance, but it can't be the only thing pulling the hero and heroine together. That felt like the case here. Seriously, nothing but memories of their hot night of multiple sexual encounters was drawing the characters together. I need something more real than just flying hormones if I'm going to cheer for a couple to be together.

With a little more character development, and a more concrete relationship between the hero and heroine, I might have really enjoyed this book. As it was, I felt rather short-changed. I know I'm in the minority here, but I don't recommend UNDERFOOT.

Trina Roberts, PR for prestigious shoe company has a one night fling with Walker Gordon after he is jilted at the alter - a public jilting to boot. Trina has a cute little red headed baby from that one night but doesnt tell Walker as she knows he is not into commitment after the jilting and he definitely wants no kids as he comes from a long line of awful fathers.

Well Walker is back in her life due to job responsibilites and never suspects the little girl is his even tho red headed babies run in his family because he had a vasectomy before his jilting. Eventually his uncle points out to him, he should have a paternity test anyway and lo and hehold the little girl who is nicknamed carrot cake by her mom is HIS DAUGHTER. He offers to support the child but can't be a father as he thinks he would be an awful one.

Well, working together ignites sparks and Walker is convinced that maybe he can be a good husband and father after all.

First of all let me tell you that this book could be or not the second one of the series. You won't read anything from the first book but the characters. The second important think is that Trina's ex husband plot is lame in everything and at the end you won't know why he disappeared.
In the other hand the book'll keep you reading and having a merry time and that is great while reading a book. I think Trina's story could be very real in everything that happened to her.

In Atlanta fickle Brooke Tarantino, great-granddaughter of the founder of Bellagio Shoes, publicly dumps advertising contractor Walker Gordon at the altar. Good friend, Bellagio public relations specialist Trina Roberts sits at a bar drinking with Walker when after a ton of alcohol, they share a night of sex. Walker relocates to Paris to allow the public humiliation to pass while over nine months later Trina, not informing him, gives birth to a daughter Maddie with only the medical staff by her side.

To insure his firm keeps the Bellagio account Walker returns to Atlanta. He remains unaware that he is a father of a six month old girl though Trina knows she should tell him but remembers his babbling about the Gordon Curse that means men with his DNA fail at fatherhood. Trina does not want anything from Walker except secretly inside her heart she knows she would die for his love. Working together at work, Walker is stunned when Trina tells him and he does not believe her at first, but begins to want more from her as he finds immense pleasure holding Maddie.

UNDERFOOT, the sequel to the fun Feet First contemporary romance is a delightful tale starring two likable characters whose relationship changes over time. Walker is a terrific person who once he recovers from the public slam dunk returns home to insure that his company keeps the Bellagio Shoes account, as he knows he cannot afford to do otherwise. Trina is a brave soul as she revises her plans to include a baby, knows her mom will object, and expects the father will never want her or the child though she owed Walker the truth when she learned she was pregnant. Fans will appreciate this fine contemporary tale.

Harriet Klausner

4 out of 5 stars!! The chemistry between Walker & Trina is palpable, I just couldn't get enough of this pair!! =0)

Review By: From Me to You ... Book Reviews
(read more of this review and two teasers on my blog)

I love this whole series and the author great. its a wonderful read and i enjoy it alot. it made me laugh and cry but totally worth it i read it in the bath during me time. Made my bath that much better. Moms you will love this