Millionaire Next Door

Boston general Chief of Surgery George Stimson informs surgeon Hudson Stack that he worries that Stack, recently named "Boston's Hottest Bachelor" will suffer a stroke because his medical numbers are all in the red zone. Speaking as a friend George tells Hudson to take at least a month of vacation fishing. He arranges with a pal from medical school to get Hudson a place to stay as far from Beantown as possible. When he goes home to tell his family, Hudson overhears his daughter Bethany innocently state that she tells everyone at school the chauffeur is her dad. Hudson announces that he and Bethany are going fishing together.The Stacks travel to Cottonwood, Texas where Hudson plans to rest and enjoy time with his neglected by him daughter. When he meets Realtor Amanda Dewhurst, Hudson finds a new interest, but must overcome the bounced check he gave her. As he and Bethany become closer, the Stacks also love the workaholic Amanda. However, will the Boston Brahma and the small town Texan find a way to make it permanent?THE MILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR is an amusing yet serious contemporary romance that provides plenty of laughter with the message that people must balance their lives. Hudson is an intriguing lead character who, if he does not change his lifestyle, will lose his little girl and is an obvious cardiac arrest waiting to happen. He learns what life is all about in Texas as does Bethany, who frets over money. Though there is no major action or conflict, what Hudson does to just get his beloved to spend time with him is the fun in a fine contemporary tale.Harriet Klausner

Hudson Stack doesn't want a vacation, he's sure he doesn't need a vacation but when his boss tells him to take one or lose his job, millionaire surgeon Hudson decides to comply--even when his boss suggests a small-town fishing trip with just Hudson and his daughter. Fishing is all very well, but beautiful neighbor Amanda Galloway sees nothing but a high-potential bum. She can't understand why Hudson won't even try to get a job, won't do something to better himself. Of course Hudson does nothing to end the confusion--and let Amanda know that she's falling for Boston's most eligible bachelor. Amanda Dewhurst started with no advantages. Still, she's supported herself and even paid for her younger brother's college. She knows that you can succeed if you put your heart to it and work. She simply can't understand how Hudson can waste his potential. Still, when Hudson manages to persuade her to relax, she can start to see the appeal of spending time with a real family. At least Hudson really does love his daughter. When she learns that there is no mother in the picture, Amanda's imagination sees herself in that role--but dare she risk everything she's built to fall in love with a man like her father--a man of dreams but with no substance? Author Kara Lennox delivers a completely enjoyable tale. Both Amanda and Hudson have to find a balance in their lives, but each resists it to the max. Even when the truth comes out, the two know that they can never really be right for one another--she's small-town Texas and he's big-city Boston. Still, Lennox makes you care for the characters and keep your fingers crossed for a way to make it work. Lennox adds just enough humor to give THE MILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR an enjoyable spice and a hint of adventure to keep the pages turning. It's a heart-warming story by one of Harelquin American's top wirters.