It was as if someone had mixed up the casting calls for a flowery chick flick and Terminator 5. With people she doesn’t, she “shrinks in both size and personality” like a “spooked turtle.” An artist, she meets the very large, muscular, and very dangerous-looking Mick, a security specialist, while he is in charge at an art exhibit.Īnd look at them, for Christ’s sake. With people she knows she is smart, funny, and cute. Sophy is very shy to the point that she suffers from debilitating social anxiety. This is an unapologetic romance with a bit of mystery thrown in to keep things moving. I was surprised but not surprised to find she is a native New-Zealander, when all this time, based on her books, I thought she was a native Londoner.

This one is set in New Zealand, and I was impressed that this setting seemed as authentic as her London milieu. Her ability to drop the reader right in the middle of her world has been part of her appeal for me. I’m used to her glittery sophisticated London-based books revolving around the theatre and other rarefied venues. This was Lucy Parker’s first book, and it was self-published under what I assume is her real name. **4 1/2 stars.** For what it is, a light harlequin-style romance this was excellent. “Did you get that last bit from Oprah?” “A magazine at the hair salon.” “You’re a wise woman, Ma,” she said lightly after a moment. And it doesn’t mean that you should make some sort of pre-emptive strike against taking the risk in the first place.” Sophy let out a sigh, examining the toes of her shoes as they scuffed in the gravel. But that doesn’t automatically negate all the good stuff.

Artistic license by elle pierson