From This Day Forward (Silhouette Special Edition, No 1388)

Rating:
Summary: Fairy tales can come true -- recommended
Review: Annie Smith didn't mind the wait at the bank teller's line. She enjoyed imagining careers and lives for the people around her, able to enjoy a self-employed, unhurried life. People watching led to be the first to notice the man in the Ronald Reagan mask entering the bank. As Annie lies belly down on the pine smelling concrete floor, she contemplates the possibility of death, She resolves that life is too short to continue to postpone its pleasures. She wants double double chocolate fudge ice cream, really nice, full priced shoes, and to feel the wind in her hair. Most of all, Annie wants to fall in love.

Griffin Chase thought of Annie as the housekeeper's little girl. When the call came to pick her up after the robbery, he was quite surprised. But with no other family to call, the number must have come to her automatically. So he happily obliged in picking her up at the police station. And immediately knew he was in real trouble. Because if although he wasn't a superstitious man, he promptly knew he was life was never going to be the same. Perhaps it was her request for gourmet ice cream. Or it could have been her decision to toss her discount tennis shoes at out of the convertible as the wind blew in her hair. Then again, maybe it was when she pulled off her over sized shirt, revealing the black, v necked T-shirt beneath, and then wiggled out of her cheap underwear bra, also tossing it out of the car. What ever it was, life would be never be the same.

When the adrenaline wears off and Annie finds herself without underclothes, but with Griffin standing on her front porch, she regrets her impulsive actions. She has wanted to get his attention for years, but what she doesn't realize is that she's finally succeeded. As reality returns, Annie finds realizes that her childhood friend isn't just some ordinary guy. He's the vice-president of Chase electronics, the biggest employer in time, and the object of every Cinderella fantasy she's ever had. And when Annie realizes that she may know the man who committed the robbery, Griffin quickly finds himself acting as the knight in shining armor.

FROM THIS DAY FORWARD is a delightfully fresh love story. Taking chances and persuing exciting opportunities allows a fun plot and spirited characterization to come together with flair. As the housekeeper's daughter captivates the man from the big house, the reader can't help the occasional giggle. Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: As sweetly sinful and deliciously tempting as Godivas!
Review: It's all Christie Ridgway's fault--I want that understood right from the start. See, I woke up early this morning and thought to myself, "Maybe I'll just read a little more of that new Christie Ridgway book I bought yesterday." Well, 2 HOURS LATER(!!) I turned the last page--and realized I was going to be late for work. Annie, the sweetly sinful heroine, was so determined not to "wait" anymore to experience life and love. And Griffin made a deliciously tempting--and tempted!--hero who was so determined both to protect Annie and NOT to succumb to love. It was pure delight to read their struggles to avoid the inevitable. In fact, it was un-put-downable. So...that's why I was late for work today. It was all Christie Ridgway's fault for writing a story that was too good to stop reading. You think the boss will accept that excuse???