Former child star, Cilla McGowan has turned her back on the glitz of Hollywood to pursue a new passion of fixing up and flipping houses.  She chooses her legendary grandmother's Virginia farm getaway as a challenging place to start since it has gone to ruin in the past thirty years since Janet Hardy's untimely death.  In the process she hopes to learn about the grandmother who haunts her dreams although they never met.

Graphic novelist/serial cartoonist, Ford Sawyer is unsure what to make of his lovely new neighbor who insists on living in the midst of her chaotic reconstruction.  Along with his quirky dog, Spock, he sparks a friendship and more with Cilla.  And he's up for the challenge of helping unravel the mystery when Cilla uncovers some old love letters to her grandmother from a married man.  In the process of learning what really happened to Cilla's famous grandmother thirty years ago, the two battle paparazzi, Cilla's mistrust of love and marriage, and threats from whoever is threatened by the letters.

 I cannot say enough about how much I liked this book.  The characters were funny, flawed and downright likable.  With the involved plot of mystery AND romance as well as detailed characters---including the story-in-the-story of synopsis of Ford Sawyer's creation, "The Seeker" and the new hero he creates based on Cilla, "Brid, Warrior Goddess", Nora Roberts gives her characters not just flesh and blood but heart as well.  Though we may not be former stars or famous cartoonists, we can relate to their ever so human side with their foibles and emotions.  This was just plain an enjoyable read cover to cover.

Reviewed by Amy Jolley the Road to Romance

October 15, 2008