Sandy M’s review of Beauty and the Black Sheep (Moorehouse Legacy, Book 1) by Jessica Bird
Contemporary Romance published by Silhouette Special Edition on 1 July 2005

You know, as much as I love Jessica Bird’s alter ego’s vampire series, having read every one so far, I’ve been missing out not reading her lovely contemporary romances. This is my second one this month and she’s got me hooked. I’m going to be scouring around looking for more.

What I like best that Bird does is she gives her main characters, most especially her heroes, a terrible, deep-down ache in their hearts that makes readers love them more than they ever thought they would. In this case, Nate is one of those sexy men who’s also a gentleman, is going after what he wants in life, and is his own man after giving up the family fortune, but he has a secret that aches in him to his core and that has made him skittish as far as commitment is concerned. Sure, he still enjoys a great roll in the hay, but long-term and marriage are no longer part of his dreams. Once his pain was revealed, he just burrowed that much further into my heart.

Frankie has a pain of her own that is quite similar. She’s been trying to keep the family B&B open since her parents’ deaths, but things are catching up with her and it may not be much longer before she has to give up and sell out, something that will break her heart. Especially because she also has her sister and her grandmother to care for. And especially because of her secret she’s borne for so many years.

At the point Nate comes into Frankie’s life, she’s had one hell of a day. The ceiling in her office literally opened up and rained down on her due to broke pipes in the old home that houses her inn. Later she’s just burned dinner and her guests are not happy in the dining room. When Nate knocks on her door, her life is about to change, starting with the fact that he takes over and prepares one of the best meals ever and her guests leave satsified. The man’s a chef and has saved her butt; however, for some reason, Frankie just can’t seem to feel grateful.

Thus starts a relationship that goes through many changes over a few weeks, one that finally pushes these two independent people closer together and to open up and share their pain, to learn that life goes on and still holds happiness in the future for them both. It’s especially gratifying to see Frankie finally give in because she holds out so much longer than Nate, refusing to acknowledge her feelings, even though she feels he’s the one who may make her happy. I thoroughly enjoyed this entire book, even the little side trips we take with Frankie’s family. I’m looking forward to their books next.

Grade: A-

     FROM THE BACK COVER:

     The force of those eyes hit Frankie Moorehouse like a gust of wind. But she quickly reminded herself that she had dinner to get ready, the staff of White Caps B&B (such as it was) to motivate. She didn’t have the luxury of staring into a stranger’s face.

     Although, jeez, what a face it was.

     And wasn’t it just her luck that the owner of that face, Nate Walker, with his rebel attitude and distaste for authority was the chef her restaurant desperately needed, and he was staying for the summer?

     And it was a bit too tempting to let this breath of fresh air sweep her off her feet. Because all work and no play had been Frankie’s motto for much too long!

     Read an excerpt here.