Oh, the ties I have with this book: My mother was born and raised in a small Southern town where everyone knew each other and where our Northern family visited each year for a couple of weeks. My younger sisters are identical twins. And finally my husband grew up in San Antonio playing Texas high school football. All of these themes – small towns, twins, and Texas high school football – make up the foundation of this romance.
On her deathbed, Faith Aldridge’s mother tells her she’s a twin and her sister is living in Bramble, Texas. Stunned, Faith waits until after the funeral is held and the estate is settled to jump in her Toyota and drive to Texas from her home in Chicago where she is a computer programmer. She can’t wait to meet her other half, the sister she never knew existed.
When she gets to Bramble, however, the townfolk immediately peg her as Hope, her twin who went away to Hollywood to become a star, and they refuse to believe any different. She meets high school football coach and Hope’s longtime friend Slate Calhoun.
Slate knows almost immediately that Faith isn’t Hope when he kisses her and sparks fly. That never happened with Hope, even though they went together in high school where she was the small community’s darling and prom queen, and he was the star quarterback.
The town is thrilled to see Slate and Hope together again since as far as everyone is concerned, they were meant to be. To help the romance along, they steal her car, secreting it away until she and Slate come to their senses and marry. They don’t want her running back to Hollywood without him.
So begins Faith’s journey into a foreign culture. At times the author lays on the country so thick that it nearly becomes a parody of itself, which is sad since everyone in the small town is well-meaning and not malicious. Except Hope, who is furious when she returns home and finds someone has stolen her fella and the town’s heart.
Until Hope comes home, the book is an enjoyable romp with Faith trying to convince everyone she isn’t her sister and in turn having them like her more and more – even commenting on how her stay in the city has mellowed her and made her more charming.
Slate too is a wonderful down-home character, trying to help Faith deal with the townspeople as he falls in love with her. Finding someone who looks like his good friend Hope, but with a better personality and feeling the sparks they set off is pure heaven to him.
Even Faith and Hope’s parents, who gave away one of their daughters when they knew they couldn’t support them both, are understandable and likeable. How they could have raised the self-indulgent, egotistical Hope and how she could be called the town darling, however, reach past the suspension of disbelief. Even the friendship and loyalty of her best friend, a trophy wife who loves her older husband, strains credulity.
Despite the unlikeable Hope, this book is a fun, down-home read. Lane, however, has a hard row to hoe in the next book which features Hope as the heroine. I wish her luck.
Sensuality: Warm
Publication Date: 2011/04
Recent Comments …
Yes, sorry, I meant e-books – I don’t read anything else these days. My library is county-wide, too, but I…
You’re welcome. If you want to know more, I can add some information to the spoiler, just let me know.
Thanks for sharing that insight, Caz. I haven’t read *spoiler* but it’s helpful to read your thoughts as I assess…
Is that true for ebooks as well? Because my library (bless it!) is part of a county-wide system for ebooks,…
I loved their interchanges. It is a lovely romance. I so wish there would be a second season!
I’m glad you liked it! One of my favorite exchanges: Jack (to Belle): Would you like to perform a dangerous…