Open Season

This book is really more a romance than thriller. Clever dialogues, compromising situations and combustive chemistry makes this book a must read for every in search of a light-hearted romp.


Warm and funny   May 16, 2003
4 out of 6 found this review helpful

I loved Daisy Minor, the combination of intelligence innocence and honesty was wonderful. This is one of the few books I have read that made me wish for a book 2.


A little light reading   November 24, 2002
dubvet (New Jersey)
17 out of 19 found this review helpful

Somehow, romance authors have turned to writing romantic suspence, and I like it. This is the story of Daisy Minor, who is a small town librarian, and still lives with her mother. She is an educated woman, but has fallen into a pattern which at the start of the book she decides that she has had enough of. She moves out (much to the scandalous delight of the gossipy neighbors) and into a house of her own, which isn't in the best part of town, but the rent is cheap. She gets help in her makeover by a man that the town is convinced is gay, since he knows what the shade puce is (Who came up with puce?!? - it sounds horrible.) She also has a run-in with the new sherrif, Jack Russo, who comes to the library to use the computer. And of course, these two people who couldn't be more different have a clash of wills, and sexual tension.

There is a scam going on, run by the mayor of the town, who is importing Mexican girls in a slavery ring. They think they are coming up to do domestic work, but they are sold off as sex slaves. Sherrif Russo and one of the neighboring sherrifs are worried about girls who are given knockout pills and raped. Russo is also worried about Daisy when he sees her out at a bar. But when Daisy witnesses a murder without realising it, she becomes a target of the Mayor's hitman as a loose end. This of course bring the two protagonists together quickly, and Russo takes on the protection of Daisy, and trying to figure out who is trying to kill her and why.

A very satisfying read, if a little bit short. Howard does a good job, as always of brining together two disparate personalities and making them work together in a believable manner. Neither is intimidated by the other, and you can get a sense of caring between the two, as they work together.