Like others I expected this book to be chick-lit which I'm not fond of but someone recommended it to me so I tried it. I'm glad I did because it is not chick-lit it is a romance pure and simple. So if you're expecting chick-lit you probably won't like it.

I loved the character of Amanda. I loved how she was looking for something better in her life and how she learned and grew. I loved how Danny saw himself as boring but in reality he was a steady, dependable man, the type of man who appeals to many women who are not looking for a bad boy but a life partner. It was light and funny, but touching and there was not a lot of angsty trauma for the characters to overcome. I also love a story that shows a man loving his child. It just makes me say aww...

The book was well written and moved right along. ( )

Erin McCarthy is a hoot. SOP for her books is lots of humor, memorable characters, and quirky attitudes. ( )

2 1/2 stars

I probably wouldn't have picked this one up on my own, but it was left up for grabs at our work castoff table so I figured I'd give it a shot. The plot line was farfetched in a lot of ways, but it was funny and light and just what I needed right now.

A rich heiress runs off to a middle of no where town named Cuttersville trying to escape her problems and boredom. Now if I'm bored regardless of being rich or not Cuttersville, Ohio is not the first place I would think of to go, but okay I went with. The story took off pretty quickly after the first page and you learn that Amanda, the wealthy heiress, is surprise, surprise much deeper than what she is given credit for. Of course Danny, the poor farmer, sees this deepness right away. *rolls eyes* As if that farfetched plot is not bad enough the author decided to throw in a crying ghost for the hell of it. Mmmm hmmm, I'm still trying to work that one out.

Despite all this I still enjoyed it. I found lines like this one: "Men are alike. Different dick, but still the same prick" funny. Plus, the smuttiness of the novel more than made up for its silly premise. Mmmm, I never thought farmers could be so sexy, but yeah there you have it. ;) ( )

A rich girl from the city on vacation in the country gets cut off from her father’s money. She gets a job as nanny and housekeeper for a local farmer and falls in love.

What was supposed to be a light, mindless read turned into a wonderfully engaging story. Characters, especially our heroine Amanda, are well-conceived and entertaining. It’s a sweet and funny story, with as much emphasis on Amanda’s self-discovery as the developing relationship between her and farmer Danny. If this book is any indication, Erin McCarthy will be finding her way onto my 'Must Read' list. ( )

The heroine Amanda is a rich girl whose father has cut her off in an attempt at tough love. Danny gets a big surprise when his eight year old daughter Piper, who he had no idea existed, is dumped on his doorstep. Danny is a wonderful beta hero who becomes an instant father and knows instinctively how she is starved for love and attention. I'm not crazy about children in romance but as long as they are well behaved I can tolerate them. Piper has been terribly neglected and emotionally abused and it doesn't take Danny and Amanda (and the reader) long to fall in love with her. Amanda was a bit shallow and I didn't completely buy her transformation from a spoiled rich girl whose only concern is her clothes, hair, shoes, etc. into a responsible adult that takes care of Piper while Danny works on the farm. The humor was good and not too silly but I didn't see the need for the paranormal aspect with the ghost. I loved the way Amanda related with Piper and understood her needs. Amanda's character growth was believable but the ending resolution with her father was a bit too convenient. (Grade: B) ( )