Rating: 
Summary: An Excellent Surprise
Review: This was a book that I picked up on a whim while in the bookstore because I had a few extra dollars and I thought that it might be mildly entertaining. It has one of those pink cartoony covers that seems to denote a certain style of romance that is usually rather light. As a result of that impulse, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself reading a very entertaining book and discovered a new favorite author. Autumn Adams is an unloved daughter who makes a death-bed promise to her journalist mother to carry on her helpful hints column. Audie, as she's known to her friends, has no homemaking skills whatsoever, but she is photogenic and becomes a star in her own right. Unfortunately for her, someone is planning to kill her. Into the story enters Detective Stacey Quinn, and the story traces their mutual attraction, his family, the threats on her, and the family history that has stunted her emotions. The main characters are engaging, the dialogue is fast-paced and realistic, the secondary characters are sufficiently developed to make them interesting, and the mystery works well to drive the plot (even though I guessed early on who the bad guy was). I wound up liking the characters in the book, liking the way the relationship developed, liking their quirks and foibles. It's one of those books that once you start it, you have to finish it. And, based on the included teaser for Ms. Donovan's next book, I'll be buying that one also.
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Summary: Looking forward to her next book!
Review: This was a great book-funny and steamy with a slight mystery. It was nice to be familiar with the surroundings since its based in Chicago.Looking foward to the next book by this author.
Rating:
Summary: Loved this book
Review: This was a really light and enjoyable read - funny and sizzling as well.
Rating: 
Summary: This is just a knock off.
Review: This was so bad, I didn't care what happened to the characters and accidently left it at my sister's and told her not to return it. I am now swearing off all books with cutesy titles and cartonnish covers. Maybe I would like one, but I haven't found it. I'm a slow reader and want some quality in the writing. This was just bad bad bad. Should have been NO star.
Rating:
Summary: Sweet and Hot!
Review: What a suprise this book was! I had never read a book by Susan Donavan so I didn't expect anything great. I love good contempoary romance and picked this book up because it looked like it would be something to tide me over until Susan Andersen or Rachel Gibson wrote another. I expected to be disappointed but now I can't wait for Susan Donovan's next one. It had everything! A twisting and turning suspense plot, great quirky characters, interesting and realistic dialoge, and romance that was as sweet as it was HOT! I've never written a review before, as you probably can tell, but I felt I had to recommend this to all of you! Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Terrific contemporary romance.....
Review: What a terrific book, along with a refreshing story line. There's a lot going on in this book, aside from the police investigation, as to who's responsible for the threats to Homey Helen. We have the baseball and soccer events, the great Irish family get-togethers, and of course the romantic angle. For a new author, keeping all this in balance and still remain unequivocally entertaining, says a lot! As the relationship develops between Audie and Quinn, you find yourself rooting for them to succeed as a couple. Audie needs a real family, and who better to give that to her than Quinn? I fell in love with Quinn and his family. The background characters were well developed, and were almost a story within a story. Also, given the intensity of the threats against Homey Helen, the humor in the other parts of the story keep this book from becoming too bogged down. Plus, the finger points in more than one direction as the identity of the stalker, and keeps you guessing right up to the end. Can't wait for Susan Donovan's next book!!
Rating:
Summary: Another terrific, funny, thoroughly enjoyable Donovan read
Review: When writing about Irish-American families (and I am of Irish descent) there's a thin line between pride in one's heritage and ridiculous cliches and stereotyping (one reason I hated the movie The Brothers McMullen - oh yes, we always wear Aran sweaters, Guinness T-shirts and carry our shillelaghs!). With the Quinn family the author walks to the edge, but doesn't cross the line - well maybe a toe or two over. Police detective Stacey Quinn is from a large rambunctious Irish family very free with the laughs, hugs and tears. Autumn "Audie" Adams is from a wealthy, cold and dysfunctional WASP family, which has had the unconscious effect of sabotaging her relationships with men. Audie's mother was Chicago's version of Martha Stewart, Homey Helen, and since her death the year before, Audie has reluctantly stepped into the role. She'd rather go back to her teaching and soccer coaching, but she made a deathbed promise to her mom to carry on with Helen. But when she begins to receive death threats and sick gifts, it looks as though someone does not like the new Helen. Audie is finally persuaded to involve the police, so enter detective Quinn. Quinn and his partner have been assigned to her case, and Quinn is attracted from the word GO! She's his fantasy come true - a combination of Martha Stewart and Carmen Electra - or so he thinks. But the more he gets to know her, the less she fulfills that fantasy. Oh, she's beautiful and sexy, but she's no Martha. She can't cook or keep house, she's a bit of a slob and has definite klutz tendencies (she refers to herself as "kind of a spaz"). So why does his attraction keep getting stronger? Audie is no less attracted to Quinn, but to her chagrin, part of his investigation includes digging into her (failed) past romantic relationships in case one of her ex-boyfriends is the stalker. How humiliating, now he'll find out exactly how much of a spaz she really is! But to her surprise, his interest has not waned and after a few dinners and a sail on Lake Michigan she finds herself meeting his family. What a revelation that is! These people are warm, gregarious, feisty and fun - nothing like her sterile, cold unemotional family. It's almost too much for Audie - that feeling of belonging, warmth and joy. Is it possible for her to be a part of that? Is she capable of loving someone and being a part of a family? Her doubts cause all sorts of problems. And there is still a stalker to be caught, and since one of the suspects, one of her ex's, is also a guy Quinn has hated since childhood, is he able to be objective or are there other suspects that make more sense? Who would gain the most if Audie quit being Homey Helen? Read this book and find out! Susan Donovan is fast becoming a favourite author for me. I also loved her second book Take a Chance on Me. I enjoy her sassy sense of humour and her warm, often quirky way with characters. I look forward to reading her 3rd book, Public Displays of Affection, when it comes out. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Amazingly well-developed romance
Review: With "Knock Me Off My Feet," Susan Donovan gives us one of the better contemporary romances I've read in quite some time (and I read most of the major ones that hit the market). The two main characters are very believable and appealing. Donovan manages to write some of the better developed main characters I've seen in years. In addition, the minor characters are accessible and attractive. The romance between Audie and Quinn crackles with wit, heart, and sensuality. Donovan gives us some great love scenes, as well as wonderful romantic development. The "suspense" plot, however, stumbles a bit; the motives and personality of the eventual villain aren't fleshed out well. In addition, while the romance between Audie and Quinn is generally developed well, the final resolution doesn't quite have the punch I would have liked. Still, this is a top-of-the-line contemporary romance with a great deal of wit and some very accessible characters. Definitely recommended.
Rating:
Summary: You Are Going To Love This Book!!!!!
Review: You are going to love this book. There is nothing not to like really. Audie is fun, sassy, and likable, and Detective Stacey Quinn is YUMMY! These two people are so opposite in personality, social situation, and family that it is fun to read about them falling in love. Audie is being stalked by someone that reads her "Homey Helen" column. She does not know who the stalker is and finally takes the advice of her friend and co-worker to get the police involved. Detective Stacey Quinn is brought on to the case and he can't believe that he is looking at his dream girl a Martha Stewart/Carman Electra cross. He basically falls in love with her as she falls at his feet literally on the first meeting. These two people soon find themselves not only hunting for Audie's stalker, they are also trying to solve Audie's mother's murder, and trying to do their best to fall in love. This was a fast paced page turner full of laughs, tears, and good old fashion chemistry. This one will Knock You off Your Feet!
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