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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
enjoyable late nineteenth century Americana romance, December 19, 2002
This review is from: Whatever It Takes (Leisure Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)
In 1894 Pepper Cloud Missouri, widow Maddy Potter plans to never remarry. Instead, Maddy is a do-gooder always rescuing some needy person or animal. Her latest charge, seven-year-old Katie, gets inside Maddy's heart so she wants to adopt the child, but knows a single woman has no chance of approval. She concocts a plot to insure her success because she believes that a female engaged to marry will persuade the adoption board into believing a man is there to take care of the child. Maddy hires a gentleman to woo her, propose, but jilt her at the altar. Her friend sends her brother Clayton Kincaid to act as Maddy's beau. Clay thinks that Maddy is another of his mother's matchmaking ploys, but after seeing her in a revealing dress, he agrees to her whirlwind courtship idea. As Maddy and Clay fall in love, he doubts that her home is safe enough to raise a child. Even if it costs him his heart he will insure that Katie is protected. What makes Winnie Grimes latest tale more than just an enjoyable late nineteenth century Americana romance is the eccentric cast who bring to life the era as few novels do. Maddy is a delightful character using the armor of widowhood to fend off males and to enable her to live an off-center lifestyle. Maddy's bunkmates (human and animal) provide the means for the audience to see the depths to Maddy's soul. Clay has flaws, "debts", and concerns that turn him into a caring person. Sub-genre fans will win with the amusing with a serious underlying theme WHATEVER IT TAKES. Harriet Klausner
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Charming historical romance -- Highly recommended, December 7, 2002
This review is from: Whatever It Takes (Leisure Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)
Maddy Potter will do whatever it takes to gain custody of seven-year-old Katie. Friends have long encouraged her to put away the widow's weeds she has worn for the last seven years, but Maddy has vowed to never marry again. So she hires a proper gentleman to court her and leave her at the altar. Such a plan will provide the necessary respectability to see her through the adoption hearing in four weeks. When he arrives, however, Clayton Kincaid is too handsome and too potent for her comfort, making her wonder if the citizens of Pepper Cloud will believe he is sincerely interested in her. Clay suspects that this honoring of a family debt is actually nothing more than another of his mother's matchmaking schemes. He arrives in Pepper Cloud a day early to catch Maddy unprepared. He finds her modeling a daring dress for a dressmaker, revealing her passionate nature. Clay agrees to court her for a few weeks, but refuses to allow her dictate every move he makes. Moreover, he has never met a woman so obviously immune to his charms. Furthermore, he worries that Barrows House might be an unfit place to raise a child. He certainly will not repay a debt of honor by compromising a child's future. Author Winnie Griggs pens an engaging historical romance in WHATEVER IT TAKES. Maddy's eccentricities make her character sparkle, from her poker playing to her unorthodox housemates. Further, Maddy has long worn her widow's weeds as a shield of protection, but Clay's arrival blows away her carefully built walls. Indeed, Maddy's proper appearance conceals a marvelously free-spirited heroine, who has touch the right of touch of hoyden to make her truly interesting. Clay longs to release the slightly naughty woman from her self-imposed strictures. He also conceals a weakness that makes this powerful hero all too human. His sincere concern for Katie's well-being likewise brings his character vibrantly alive. In addition, the fun secondary cast brings the background to life, especially the Pepper Cloud Propriety Police. Indeed, rich characterizations complete with endearing vulnerabilities and emotional depth, will inevitably capture reader's hearts. Light hearted and entertaining, WHATEVER IT TAKES comes highly recommended.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Not Excellent, But Better Than Good, December 4, 2005
This review is from: Whatever It Takes (Leisure Historical Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)
A very cute romance. Based on the cover, and not having read one of Winnie Griggs novels before, I thought there would be more steamy moments than there actually were. While there were no real cheek-flushing moments, the romantic tension between the characters was enough to keep me interested, and I'm sure that is what Griggs' intention was. This was a welcome change of pace from the many other "sex-scene" laden novels that are so readily available. A good, wholesome romantic read.
Taking place in 1894 Missouri, Maddy Potter is ready to adopt Katie, a 7-yr-old who came into her care 6 months prior. But with the majority of her small town frowning upon the eccentrics she is friends with (and also lives with), Maddy feels having a man in her life will help to secure Katie's future with her. Enlisting help from her acquaintance Judith, Maddy hires her (Judith's) brother to court her, pretend to be her fiance, and to ultimately leave her at the alter. However when Clay Kincaid presents himself to Maddy, he is not at all how she anticipated, and she is very concerned the townsfolk will not believe their courtship. After all, she has been in mourning over her late husband for seven years, and Clay is in NO way like Winston, in looks or personality. Frustrated, Maddy begins to dictate to Clay the EXACT way she wants her plan to be carried out. Clay, expecting to find a helpless drab widow, is only agreeing to this outrageous scam to repay a family debt of honor, and in ensinged at the mere thought of being told what to do by a woman. Thus a fervish match of wits and pride ensues between the characters.
I laughed aloud several times during the quick, trivial spats between the two, and also the reactions all of the neighbors have to both Clay and the "relationship." Especially enjoyable to me was the first meeting of Maddy and Clay. A number of colorful characters include but aren't limited to: Miss Fanny, an elderly widow who sees and holds conversations with her late husband; Miss Adeline, an aging actress from a traveling theater whose costumes change from day-to-day; Miss Olive, a seamstress who sells her dresses to local saloon gals; and Cybil Flaherty, Mayor's wife and president of the Pepper Cloud Ladie's Society, and out to condemn Maddy for all it's worth.
As events unfold, Clay begins to judge Maddy without knowing her, questioning just how wholesome and good of an environment she has actually created for raising a child. Eventually the two do fall in love, but without the other knowing, and with personal obstacles of each of their pasts standing in the way. Will they fully be able to trust each other? And what does this all mean for little Katie? Just when you think you have it all figured out, Griggs throws in an unexpected twist that leaves you wondering humorous and heartfelt happenings will come next.
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