The Billionaire Boss's Secretary Bride

I don't know why everyone else's reviews have been so lukewarm, but I really enjoyed this book. I thought that Brooks really brought something new to the normal romance formula. Who picks up abandoned puppies after getting dinner? The writing style was excellent and the plot line was similarly fantastic. The denouement was masterfully done. I'm glad that I took the time to read this book, and I'm sure to reread it many more times.

first: the peeve. He's not a billionaire. He's not really the boss. She is not a secretary - she's a PA. Though she does become a bride, it's not until the last few pages of the book. (sorry if that spoils the "surprise ending" for anyone). Yo, Harlequin: Are you TRYING to live up to the shoddy rep that romances have for a large percent of the population? end rant. OK, back to the review. I've said before that I like Helen Brooks. She reminds me a great deal of Betty Neels. Her stories are sweet. Her heroines have real figures. Her heroes often are much enamored of the heroines throughout the entire book, but the heroine remains completely blind to it. And it always works out in the end. Sigh. I was very slightly disappointed in this entry of the formula. First of all, this is the first time I didn't really like the hero. Harry is very immature - though we find out at one point that he really has reason for that. Gina is very mature, but when she finds out what we know, it doesn't make her think like it should. So I was also slightly frustrated with her. But it was still a very sweet story. I'd really like to see the character Candy again - she was a real breath of fresh air in the ending of the book. Deus Ex Machina, and all that. All in all, a nice little romance (*)>

this is a slow five. After a year of working together, Gina Leighton has been in love with Harry Breedon for a year she finally throws in the towel, and decides that she will be better off away from him, than eating her heart out watching him every day. So Gina quit her job. Harry realizes as soon as she does he can't live without her, but he isn't willing to admit it even to himself. So he waits for Gina to change her mind, when her last day comes and she gets her things together he realizes she is really leaving. Harry starts to take her out, he makes one overture after another to get her to stay in York. When she tells him about this guy that she is in love with, who doesn't love her, Harry starts bad-mouthing him. Not realizing he is talking about himself all the time. Gina put up with too much crap from Harry. She gives into him so often, I was surprised he was too stupid to know he was the man she was running from. But Ms Helen Brooks brings the book to a sweet end, that more than makes up for the stumbling hero.