Just the Way You Are

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down!
Review: I thought this book was great and was quite suprised to see it got less than 5 stars. Perhaps it is because I have not read her historicals, thus had different expectations. Whatever the reason, I very much enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who likes contemporary romance.

Rating:
Summary: Hot and fun!
Review: JUST THE WAY YOU ARE is a classic romance, with a virginal heroine and a dynamic hero who is absolutely ignorant of love and who finds out the hard way that a good woman is hard to find. I wish Dodd hadn't left the story hanging with such a lead into the next story, but it in no way detracted from the sexuality and the sweet, hot discovery of love between Hope and Zach. Dodd should have been writing contemporary sooner; she needs to forget historicals and write what she knows.

Rating:
Summary: Great Romantic Story
Review: Hope Prescott is a minister's daughter. At 16, her parents were killed in an auto accident. After their deaths, they were accused of stealing money from the church. The "good" people of the town that Hope had always considered her friends turned their backs on her. Hope and her two sisters and foster brother were ripped away from each other and sent to different parts of the country to live with no word where the others were. Seven year's later; Hope's biggest goal in life is to find her brother and sisters. Hope has forsaken a personal life to work long hours as a operator at an answering service and go to school so she can get a high paying job when she graduates and find her family.

Zach Givens was born wealthy. Early in life he learned a hard lesson about people only befriending him for his money. Although he could live off his family wealth, Zach is dedicated to the family business, Givens Enterprises. He is somewhat of a corporate raider who is ruthless. Zach is also a technophobe. When his secretary goes on an extended vacation, she sets Zach up with the only answering service left in Boston, the same one Hope works at.

From her dealings with the wealthy townspeople who turned their backs on her, Hope has preconceived notions about rich people so she assumes Zach Givens is an arrogant jerk. When the caller ID at the answering service reveals that the Givens residence is calling to pick up messages, Hope assumes she is talking to the butler, Griswold, because the great Mr. Givens would never stoop to picking up his own messages. Zach is however on the other end of the phone. Although initially offended by Hopes rude comments about himself, he quickly warms to her sexy voice and charming manner so he lets her keep thinking he's Griswold. Hope really cares about the people who call into the answering service and her goodness comes through. When Hope brings Zach/Griswold chicken soup when he's sick and the two see each other for the first time, Zach knows he has to have Hope for his own.

I thought the story was very interesting and well written. Zach was a good romantic hero even though he was a bit to overbearing at times for my taste. Hope was the perfect heroine of the story, she was not overly pretty like so many romantic heroines but because of her personality she was the most beautiful woman Zach had ever known. With the relationship between the two main characters starting out just talking over the phone, they were able to develop a relationship based on the inner person before looks got involved.

Rating:
Summary: Ugh ¿ Beneath Her Talent
Review: This is an overly simplistic story that reuses, reduces, and recycles romance novel stereotypes to their lowest common denominator.

Hope Prescott, our one-dimensional heroine, has had a rough life. At the age of 16, her family was torn apart and sent from Texas to different locations. Hope ended up in an orphanage in Boston. She grew up to be a good and caring person, even though fate dealt her a losing hand. Scrimping and saving, her one goal was to get her family back together. To that end, our still pure heroine attends college classes, lives in a slummy neighborhood, and works at a wacky phone messaging service, complete with a wacky owner, and a wacky gal pal, so she can get a good job, make money, and find her siblings. She takes care of so many other people, and hardly spares a thought for herself. Her name is Hope, she is filled with Hope, and fills others with Hope. She is practically a saint who practically makes you want to [throw up] with how saccharinely sweet she is.

Enter Zack Givens. He is a multi gajillionare who always gets what he wants. But he is so lonely as no one has ever loved him for himself. He has hardened his heart against love and women. When he calls the messaging service and talks to Hope, his world changes. The two begin a whirlwind courtship based on lies and filled with dull ... scenes. He misleads her into thinking he is his own butler so he can test to see whether a woman will like him for him. She thinks that he is a big strong man and she likes that he takes care of her. He is a poor carbon copy of the jaded rake we have seen time and time again..

Does all this sound familiar? It should. It's a poorly executed basic plot of the worst kind of romance novels lightly brushed off and given a modern look. It is so beneath the incredible talent of Ms. Dodd, whose Regency stories sparkle with wit and originality. The ending of this book even incorporates the cast of wacky secondary characters in a wacky plan to save our heroine. Unfortunately, Hope is completely unlike the heroines in Ms. Dodd's other books like Samantha in "My Favorite Bride" and Jane in " That Scandalous Evening," who are well-developed and multifaceted characters. Even in the short story platform, such as "Once Upon a Pillow," her heroines are ladies whose romances with their heroes are endearing and memorable. I should have left "Just the Way You Are" just where it was.

Rating:
Summary: High hopes but disappointed
Review: I was very excited by the release of a contemporary by Christina Dodd. I has such high hopes for the story. I enjoyed the beginning, getting to know the characters. About halfway through though, I was disconcerted by the lack of contraception. For a rich man who must have been wary of being trapped by a paternity suit he was very unconcerned with the possibility of a pregnancy. Even though she was unexperienced she should have been aware of the need for protection as well. Not once in the whole story did the subject of contraception come up. This bugged me tremendously. It also bugged me that she was just a little too quick to forgive and he didn't grovel enough to make up for her humiliation. Granted he was hurt by the misunderstanding as well but he still could have groveled a bit more. Hopefully the next one in the series will be a little smoother.

Rating:
Summary: GREAT, if you stop reading at page 297...
Review: I loved the first 297 pages of this book. The story plot flowed evenly, the characters were consistent, and it was fun. Then Ms. Dodd wanted to finish the story. She changed Zack's personality, developed ridiculous scenes, and added new plots for future stories with a vengeance. It was not a pretty sight.

Rating:
Summary: Hope gets some hope...
Review: Miss Hope Prescott has not lived the best of lives. Her parents died when she was only 16, her siblings ripped away from her and sent to different foster homes, and the peacful life as a minister's daughter stolen from her. Now she lives in Boston going to school, working for an answering service and looking for her brother and sisters. She doesn't have time for any men in her life no matter how bad her boss what her too...Until...

Mr. Zachariah Givens is a very weathy CEO of his own corporation. He's ruthless, heartless, care for nobody (expect maybe his family) who knows not to trust anybody. But then his secretary leaves for vacation and hires him an answering service. And then he hears her, Hope, and is instantly drawn in ways not even he fully understands. Zach also knows that if she were to know that he was who he was, she would never give him a chance because she stated quite clear that she doesn't care for the weathy. So instead of telling her who he is, he lets her believe that she's his butler. Then things start happening and Zach finds he wants to know everything there is to know about Miss Hope Prescott and protect her from harm. She's very closed lip about her past and family. Can he get her to tell all? She's still such an innocent to everything and still has morals. What will she do when she finds out who he really is and that he lied to her???? Well reader, I'm afraid you'll have to read the book to find out yourself!

Over all this was an EXCELLENT book. I LOVED IT! The characters are amazing, the plot is great. I couldn't put the book down! Christina Dodd has outdone herself again! I wasn't sure that would be possible after the great books that she's writen before but she's done it!!! I give this book 5 stars and it deserved every one of them! I do hope Ms. Dodd writes books for the other siblings also for I'm sure their tale will be just as good!!

Rating:
Summary: 1/2 Stars
Review: I really enjoyed reading this book. I was hesitant at 1st, because the storyline seemed worn, but it was in my recommendations and I purchased it.

I can not wait for the next one!! She managed to make Zach very appealing and vulnerable while being a major jerk! I don't beleive I can tell you about this book and make it sound good, I know that it didn't for me, but I was desperate to read something, and I bought it. This one may even make my keeper shelf if the sequels are as good as I think they are going to be.

Try this one, it is worth full price!! I also just read Body Check, by Deidre Martin and it was a really fun read too!!!

Rating:
Summary: charming, often humorous, romantic romp
Review: JUST THE WAY YOU ARE is a major surprise for this reviewer as the queen of governess romances Christina Dodd easily switches into a delightful contemporary tale that, as far as I know, is her first modern day story.

When their parents were declared dead after vanishing, the three Prescott sisters were separated by the Texas foster care system as each went to a different home. Seven years later, Hope lives up to her first name as she optimistically searches for her two siblings and somewhat pessimistically her parents.

Hope works for a telephone service in Boston, but knows she needs a better paying job to finance the expensive search that is her obsession. When CEO Zach Givens calls for his messages, he acts so cold and aloof, Hope concludes he has to be the business mogul's butler. He continues the masquerade and when they finally meet, the attraction lights up New England. However, neither trusts in love so anything permanent seems out of the question.

Though a kidnapping sidebar slows down the tale, this is a charming, often humorous, romantic romp with moral and social questions to serve as a strong base. The lead couple is a fine pair needing each other in every way one can imagine yet unable to put faith in love or their beloved. Fans of the contemporary sub-genre will welcome Ms. Dodd's sequel(s) starring a lost sister or two.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Great book
Review: Just the Way You Are is a great book. I am hoping that this means the old Christina Dodd is back! Her last couple of books have been lacking in imagination and I was a little hesitant to pick this one up. I was glad I did and I look forward to the others in this series.