Lawson’s review of How to Score by Robin Wells
Contemporary romance released by Grand Central 1 Jun 09
To take a break from the historicals Sybil gave me, I got this one. I’d read Wells’ Between the Sheets, though this is in no way a sequel or connected. While series can be fun to see characters grow over a few books, meeting new characters and being in different settings is great from time to time from an author. There are some slapstick moments and some of the funnah, so those of you who like a cute comedy, I’m sure you’ll be interested in this one.
FBI Special Agent Chase Jones is helping his brother Luke Jones while Luke is in Witness Protection. Luke is a life coach, but Chase thinks the people that seek the services of a life coach just need to get a life and not be babied. When Sammi Matthews calls Chase hears her story, but her sexy voice makes him want to see her in person. When he goes for an early morning run to get a glimpse of Sammi he gets tangled up due to Sammi’s dog (literally) and is very attracted to Sammi.
Sammi’s luck with men has been non-existent in the recent past and she seeks the help of Luke to coach her through her tendency to maim her dates. Though she likes talking to Luke and getting his advice, Chase keeps sending her mixed signals and that doesn’t help her self-esteem much. Taking a risk in her personal life is as hard as taking a risk in her professional life as she’s having a hard time in her new job against the woman she’s replacing.
As Chase keeps getting tangled in Sammi’s life, both as “Luke” and himself he has a harder and harder time living the double life. But when someone is out to get his brother, even though he’s in Witness Protection, Chase worries that Sammi may get into the line of fire.
Sammi was kind of a contradiction. She was confident in many parts of her life and went after things she wanted, like the Art Deco house she lived in in Tulsa, but when it came to standing up to her boss about her treatment she backed away. Things for her were worse in her dating life as she’s given one date a black eye and another a cracked rib. She feels insecure about herself after dating a jerk of a guy she caught cheating on her and she hadn’t had worthwhile men before that. There is the idea of the behind closed doors people are different, but if she can do things like organize a protest about her house, couldn’t she be more confident in her dating life?
Chase was a good hero, though. While it’s not feasible to me that an FBI agent would be so open about his cases, especially if he mainly worked organized crime cases, he is a very good guy. Growing up with an abusive father, Chase basically raised his brother as well as becoming a reliable agent and someone loyal to all his friends. He’s got a very high standard of the type of woman that he wants to be with and no one so far has lived up to it. When Sammi fits his criteria plus much more he doesn’t know what to do about it since he’s lying to her so much.
While it took a bit too long for me to see Chase come clean, he at least is practical about it and knows he’s got to suffer the consequences to get Sammi to be with him. Sammi also overcomes many of her preconceptions about gun-toting law enforcement types really fast while still having her insecurities about herself, which didn’t really ring very true to her character.
Overall though it’s a cute read, especially with Sammi’s dog Joe, her sister Chloe, Chase’s partner Paul and his wife Melanie, the client Horace and his mother issues and the growth of Sammi’s boss Arlene Arnett and her landlord Walter Landry. This is a good beach or poolside read, or even a car trip read, as I read it in a morning in the car on a trip to Florida.
Grade: C+
Summary:
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HER LIFE COACH
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Museum curator Sammi Matthews isn’t just in a dating slump, she’s putting men on the injured list. After giving one date a black eye and cracking another’s rib, Sammi decides she needs professional help. Enter life coach Luke Jones, who advises Sammi on how to overcome her klutziness. And their phone sessions work! Sammi soon meets a sexy FBI agent who seems to know just what she needs.
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IS CHANGING HER LIFE
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When his brother Luke goes into federal protection, FBI Special Agent Chase Jones agrees to cover for him. Then Sammi’s hot voice sizzles down the line, and the usual “phone only” rule is out. With “Luke” coaching her by day, and Chase dating her by night, Sammi’s confidence soars, along with her appeal. Chase falls hard, but how will Sammi feel if and when he comes clean? Chase would rather she break all his bones than risk breaking her heart.
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IN WAYS SHE’S NEVER IMAGINED!
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Read an excerpt.
