Monday, May 01, 2006

Baby Don't Go by Susan Andersen

Rule One: Don't Let Him In

When photographer Nick Coltrane saunters into Daisy Parker's office, all she sees is the man who broke her heart nine years ago. Never mind that he wants to hire her as his bodyguard—ah, security specialist — or that her fledgling company desperately needs the cash flow. She'd once broken her own rules, only to watch his sexy self go running for the door. Providing round-the-clock protection for him now is out of the question ... right?

Rule Two: Always Be Able To Walk Away

Nick needs Daisy around to keep the hired thugs that are out for his blood from actually getting it. If he can make amends for the way he screwed up nine years ago in the process, then so much the better. Except time has done nothing to dull the memory of how Daisy once rocked his world off its axis and her cocky attitude and mouthwatering curves still have the power to turn his brain to mush. Well, that doesn't mean Nick can't handle living hand-in-glove with the one woman he's been obsessed with for years. Yeah. Sure he can.

Some Rules Were Made To be Broken

In the city by the bay, two people who once were friends and used to be lovers will discover if love and trust can come from a passion that breaks every rule.


While I've had four or five books by Susan Andersen for about a year this is the first time I picked one up. Mostly because I never knew if any of them were connected, they all have "Baby" in the title, so one would assume they were connected. And even after Holly assured me they were stand alones I still had the need to hear it directly from SA. So I emailed her and now I can tell you all, they are not connected. lol.

So picking up Baby Don't go I was hoping to be in for a real treat. I won't say I was let down but it was not what I expected. I think I thought she'd be a more experienced writer, and honestly I don't know how long she's been writing, but I felt it was a bit amateur.

As a young child Daisy watched her mother go from one marriage to another always looking for the man to complete her, in watching her mother she realizes one thing. She too believed there was a man out there for her but instead of bouncing from one man to another she was going to save herself for that one special man.

So why if she promised herself this did she find herself so easily wooed and in bed with Nick? After one night of dancing and flirting at a wedding she had given him her virginity and her heart. Only to have him walk out on her after telling her the words he spoke to her during sex, 'I love you', were only that....sex talk.

Nick asked himself why he acted like such an ass to Daisy over and over maybe it had been because after watching his father marry some many women and mess up all of their lives he knew he wouldn't be cut out for marriage. And everything about Daisy made him want turn against what he knew was the truth. He wasn't cut out for marriage. So he walked away and tried to forget that one night...tried to forget Daisy.

Nine years later...

Daisy had been a cop and although she was good at it she didn't like playing the politics game. So deciding to do it her way she retired from the force and opened her own security business. Struggling yes, but she was determined to make it work, and she was the best at what she did.

Nick was never without his camera, known for catching the perfect moments on film he was wanted by all. In the top of his profession he was heading up...until his sister called needing his help. Never before had Nick even considered selling any of his pictures to the tabloids. But when Mo called he knew it was the only fast way to get the money she needed. But when he starts a biding war with the tabloids he becomes the target of a rising politician that will stop at nothing to keep his reputation clean.

Nick needed a bodyguard and he needed affordable, and no matter how hard he looked one name kept coming at him....Daisy. She was the best and since she was just getting started she was what he could afford. Expecting only to help Daisy out with some cash flow at the same time get the protection he needed he seeks her out. Never did he expect how hurt she'd be...still. Or how much he would still want her. Was it to late to make amends for what he did nine years ago?

The last thing Daisy wants is to work for the man that taught her how tough and hurtful love is. The man that broke her heart. But she cannot turn down the job, she needs the money. Surely she can be professional. But the more time spent protecting Nick the more and more she needs to protect her heart, it seems the effect he had on her nine years ago has not worn off.

This book had a really great storyline I think. And I think it could have been very good. Instead it hit me as only okay. There was to big a jump between who Daisy and Nick were as teenagers and who they became. You never saw Daisy and being violent at all, she always seemed like a soft girl. So to jump from that to badass bodyguard threw me a just a little bit. And Nick? He seemed the jock type. Not the artistic photographer. The guy who goes the extra mile for all his clients.

If not for these unrealistic jumps I would have loved the book. There was a good amount of suspense in the plot of the story, and of course a lot of sexual tension then hot sex. Also had you laughing a few times the transvestite and gay best friends having to help Daisy every time she needed to look girly. Loved the ending, which made up for some of my mixed feelings.....but you'll just have to go out and get the book to see what how it all came together.

Grade: C-

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