Rating: 
Summary: Just the way you are
Review: I have always enjoyed Christina Dodd's books and this one was no exception. She combines all the elements for an entertaining book, lots of laughter and spice.
Hope is a sweet, too trusting girl searching for the family, her siblings, she was separated from when she was just 16. She is a very poor struggling student who always seems to find time to help all the customers of the answering service where she works as an operator. Zack, a super rich business tycoon, was originally attracted to Hope after hearing her sexy voice over the phone but later realizes he cares more for her honesty and caring spirit. Ms. Dodd fills the story with a collection of strong secondary characters, like Aunt Cecily, that will keep you laughing. I liked the book a lot and look forward to the it's sequel.
Rating: 
Summary: A story of Hope...
Review: This is Christina Dodd's first attempt at contemporary romance and I have to say, she scored big. Just The Way You Are is a great story and if it is any indication, Dodd has a great contemporary future ahead of her. This book is about Hope Prescott who lived in Texas until she was 16 and her parents were arrested for embezzeling, a fact which no one in the Texas town wants discuss. Her younger sisters and brother were seperated from her and put into foster homes and Hope drifted for 7 years until she decided to get her life back together. She came to Boston and enrolled in college and got a job as a telephone switchboard operator where she "met" Zach Givens. Zach was enthralled by Hope's voice from the first moment he heard it, and being a rich man who always got what he wanted, he went after Hope, pretending to be his own butler. They got to know each other and fell in love. Unfortunately, events outside of their control pushed them apart. The romance was the best part of this book. Zach and Hope had instant chemistry and it was great fun and very romantic to see their romance evolve. The owner of Hope's switchboard operation provided a wonderful secondary character, as did Zach's Aunt Cecily and Sven. The only part of this story that put me off was the embezzelment storyline and the absurd "kidnapping" attempt at the end of the story. It just kind of ruined the buildup of the romance and all that had come before it. But besides this minor story problem, I have to say this was a great great story. There will be a second one, and hopefully a third. Though I have always admired Dodd's historical romances, it takes great courage to break out of habit and Dodd's breakthrough into contemporary romance is a great one. She has a great future in both historicl and contemporary romance. This book is a keeper.
Rating: 
Summary: Good¿ but not her best work¿
Review: Seven years ago, under suspicious circumstances, Hope Prescott's parents disappeared and were declared dead. Hope was sixteen at the time with three younger siblings. All the siblings were separated and put in foster care homes across the country. Now Hope attends college, and works for an answering service to fund her ongoing search for her brother and sisters. Boston CEO, Zack Givens, who takes over other companies, is known for his cold, calculating and ruthless demeanor. He's also a technophobe. His secretary sets him up with an answering service to take his calls. Hope is the first person he speaks to when checking his messages, and he's immediately drawn to her sultry voice. Hope doesn't believe for a minute that Zack would lower himself to retrieve his own messages, so she believes him to be the butler. He decides to continue the charade, even when she shows up unannounced at his home. Once Zack realizes Hope's beauty goes further than her voice, he's determined to make her his mistress. Noting she dresses in rather worn clothing, he decides to shower her with what his money can buy, while she's warming his bed. After things heat up between them, Hope is mistakenly accused of embezzling and arrested. But Zack's distrusting nature kicks in and he doesn't initially believe in her innocence. Realizing his mistake, he plans to set things straight, but before he can do this, Hope is kidnapped by a crime lord. Will Zack ever be able to convince Hope he now believes in her, especially after his deception? I believe this may be Ms. Dodd's first foray into contemporary romance. She did have a very early book called "The Lady in Black", which I haven't read, but it may have been a contemporary. I don't have overwhelming feelings about this story one way or the other, which is unusual, because I'm a big fan of this author's work. It started off really well, and I enjoyed the character of Hope and the secondary characters. The love scenes were quite sensual, which I've come to expect in her stories. My two problems were with Zack's character, and the kidnapping by the crime lord with subsequent rescue. Zack's decision to make Hope his mistress was a little bothersome to me, especially since his plan to share his wealth felt like he was making her his personal prostitute. Also, it was difficult to read his treatment of her when he thought she was after his money, even though he had deceived her. The kidnapping and rescue was not really funny to me, but rather silly and awkward. It just didn't flow with the rest of the story. I believe this is the first book of a new series, and even though this wasn't her best work, in Ms. Dodd I trust. I have every confidence the next story will be better, and I will keep reading her books.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect!
Review: After reading this book, I'm surprised that Mrs.Dodd has taken this long and had her doubts on writting contemporary. This book exceptional.
It has been a long time since I actually read a book that I could NOT, and I mean NOT put down.
Hope has had a very hard life since her parents died. She was separated from her family in the worst, most hurtful, possible way.
Seven years after the brutal removal from her family, Hope is in Boston working for a answering service, where she takes messages for the clients of the agency.
Enters Zach. A very prestigiuos, rich, powerful and heartless business man, who happens to hate technology (I found this hilarious). He becomes a client of this agency since he cant work an answering machine, voicemail, computers, etc.
The minute he hears Hope's voice he feels his body react to her. The minute he calls she assumes he is Zach's butler.
So they stablish a relationship through the phone (non romantic). Then they meet and that's where it all gets hot.
They are extremely attracted to each other, but Zach keeps the farse. Hope opens up, for the first time in seven years, to Zach and Zach finds himself feeling extremely possevive of Hope.
There's plenty more to the story, but I cant give you the whole enchilada. That's part of the beauty and appeal of the book.
I loved this book so much, I HAD to finish it ASAP. It is my favorite CD's book and it surapssed all my expectations (and beleive me they were high already).
Go buy this book, you wont regret a minute of it!
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Summary: "You can't rip my bodice! It's the wrong century."
Review: Ms. Dodd's first contemporary romance is sweet, hot, heartbreaking, and ultimately satisfying. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is that I'm leaving some room at the top for Dodd to master this sub-genre, the way she mastered medievals (The Greatest Lover in All of England, Outrageous, A Knight To Remember) and the Victorian era (That Scandalous Evening, the Governess Brides series, and many more to come - I hope!) Like another reviewer, I'm not usually a fan of contemporaries; historicals make it so much easier to accept my enjoyment of all the ravishment, bodice-ripping, and other politically incorrect male behaviors that make sexual fantasies sizzle). But I will read anything by this author, and I knew I wouldn't be disappointed. No, there's no bodice ripping in "Just The Way You Are," but there is some involuntary nakedness (bathtime will never be the same). It took me a few pages longer than usual to become fully engaged with this book but from the first hint of flirtation between Hope and Zach, I was hooked. Zach is the kind of sexy antihero that Dodd does so well: infuriating, arrogant, thoughtlessly cruel, and so cold on the surface that you can't wait to see him thawed out. Like other delicious things, he's crunchy on the outside, but soft and chewy on the inside. He just needs the right woman to make him feel like a jerk. Heroine Hope is determinedly independent, but so lonely that she is vulnerable to any show of kindness by calculating Zach. As always, Dodd populates the couple's lives with a marvelous cast of characters. So often, secondary characters get in the way of a romance. But if you've read a few Christina Dodd novels, you know there's a surprise twist waiting for you, often involving one of these minor characters, even if it's in a later book! (You may recall how, in "That Scandalous Evening", the heroine has a gorgeous but seemingly empty-headed younger sister, who shows up decades later in the Governess Brides series as the wily, intuitive matchmaker who ends up buying the Academy of Governesses). "Just the Way You Are" is clearly set to be the first in a series involving Hope and her foster brother Gabriel's search for the siblings who were taken from them after their parents' mysterious death. If the series is anywhere near as engaging as the Governess Brides, we have years of sexy fun to look forward. Thanks, Ms. Dodd...By the way, fans of Christina Dodd will probably enjoy Connie Brockway and Judith Ivory, both of whom have a similar way with humor, sensuality, and infuriating male leads.
Rating:
Summary: Great Story
Review: I really enjoyed this story. I would highly recommend. Hope Prescott has had a very tough life. When she was 16, her family was torn apart when both her parents were killed. Her brother and sisters were split up and placed in different foster homes. Hope survived, but today as an adult she is still struggling. She barely makes any money, and is trying to work her way through college. She finally has a job she enjoys though working for an answering service. Zack Givens is rich and very hard nosed. His secretary leaves on vacation for two weeks and Zack is stuck using an answering service for his messages. Zack meets Hope on the telephone and is immediately attracted to her. There is only one problem Hope believes Zack is actually his butler. This is a beautiful "Pretty Woman" type romance.
Rating: 
Summary: ehhh blah
Review: well, since plenty of people have already written the whole story/plot line i won't do that....but i will tell you that this book i not all that great, it sounds promising and cute or just good for a weekend read, but it's not.... the romance/love story is pratically non-exsistent....they meet and w/in a week she's giving up her viginity to him, and he doesn't even seem that great of a guy! i just..didn't like this book....don't waste yourtime on it
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Summary: It's "Bells Are Ringing" Again -- a tribute to a musical
Review: "Bells Are Ringing" was filmed in 1960 starring Judy Holliday and Dean Martin, a musical with great tunes by Jule Styne, directed by Vincente Minnelli. The 1956 Broadway version garnered a Best Actress Tony for Holliday plus a Best Supporting one for Sydney Chaplin (in the role Martin later played in the movie) and a satisfyingly long run. The well-known classics "Just In Time" and "The Party's Over" came from this show. The storyline of "Bells Are Ringing": an beautiful, warm-hearted but naive answering-service operator gets involved in the woes of her clientele, especially a dashing handsome man-about-town. After her unwitting participation in a shady business situation lands her in trouble with the police, her appreciative clients rally 'round and save the day. Sound familiar? "Just The Way You Are" is a novel from that story. I have no problem with remakes, tributes and revivals -- some of the best movies have been from Broadway hits, and occasionally vice versa. The fifties-flavor of this novel becomes much more understandable. It's not really a "contemporary" in the twentyfirst century sense. This is a story, hearkening in some measure back to roots in the Cinderella fable, where the sweet sunny-hearted heroine meets her dream prince masquerading as a humble workingman. The heroine is whisked away into high society and lives happily ever after. Oops, did we overlook "Pretty Woman"'s storyline, as well? Themes from Cinderella (true love sees past humble circumstances) and Beauty And The Beast (true love redeems and transforms a man) are romantic staples forever because they satisfy our desire for virtue-triumphant and love-conquers-all. Nonetheless, I've adored quite a few Christina Dodd historicals, starting with Candle In the Window as well as Castles In The Air, both from the early 1990's. Also, her later governess series ("Rules Of ...") are all much stronger than this novel. This one is fine as a beach book, a pick-up-and-lay-down amusement, but don't let it color your impression of Dodd's other works. In fact, if you do find this novel amusing, take a look at the video of "Bells Are Ringing", or listen to the original Broadway cast album. Judy Holliday singing, "I'm Going Back", a lament about her misadventures with men and her plan to give up her answering-service job to return to her old job at the Bonjour Tristesse Brassiere Factory -- is a treasure in itself.
Rating:
Summary: Skim Through It
Review: At the end of a book, I know there is truly a problem when I skim through the epilogue, not caring what has happened to the hero and heroine down the road. Hope is too fresh-faced, saccharine-sweet, and naive to truly be interesting, and it's not clear why a man like Zach would fall for her. The kidnapping plot was ludicrous, the supporting characters weren't as fun as they were clearly meant to be, and the book was entirely too long for such an uncomplicated and obvious plot. The beginning of the book showed promise and humor, but about halfway through you realize that that's all you're getting out of it.
Rating:
Summary: Delicious Read
Review: This book was wonderful. The characters, Zack Givens & Hope Prescott were people I would like to call my friends. This is a case of mistaken identity, and the author asks us to accept some pretty far-fetched stretchs (a preacher's daughter giving herself to a man that she knew by only one name...within a week of meeting him...), but they all work. The secondary characters were wonderfully rich, themselves. You will not be disappointed in this story. As far as I was aware, prior to this novel, Ms. Dodd only wrote historicals. This is a great jump into contemporary! Please, keep them coming!
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