Duets # 25 (The Bachelor Trap/Custom Built Cowboy) (Harlequin Duets)

Rating:
Summary: A delightful pair of light, fun reads
Review: The problem, for me, with most anthologies or paired-up books is that so often I might like one story, but not the other(s). Not so with this duo of romantic comedies. Both THE BACHELOR TRAP by Kristen Gabriel and CUSTOM-BUILT COWBOY by Carrie Alexander feature sophisticated, witty prose that was both fresh and fun to read; fanciful, lighthearted plotlines; and endearing, appealing characters whose antics -- and dialogue -- brought several chuckles.

In THE BACHELOR TRAP, food critic Nina Walker has a Godzilla-sized wrestler-turned-"chef" on her case, big-time, for dissing his less-than-stellar culinary talents in her newspaper column. When she realizes "the Bonecrusher" is going to be one of the entrants in a major contest out-of-town -- a contest at which Nina is one of the judges -- she figures perhaps it wouldn't hurt to have a bodyguard, aka former boxing star -- and dedicated bachelor -- Jake Callahan. Except, Jake's Aunt Sophie, a fortuneteller wbo runs the Cafe Romeo, has read the pair's coffee grounds (no tea leaves for this lady!) and determined the pair is perfect for each other, even if the "pair" in question begs to differ!

Although the couple never "gets in on" within the context of the storyline (though not for lack of either opportunity or desire), there's a lot of sizzle between the gentle, protective Jake and the driven, smart-as-a-whip Nina. And this is one of the most perfectly paced books I think I've ever read -- each scene flows effortlessly into the next. I just zipped through this story.

And in Carrie Alexander's CUSTOM-BUILT COWBOY, what's city-born-and-bred, cowboy-crazed Grace Farrow to do when Shane McHenry, the man of her dreams, saunters into New York City to sell her a horse. . .and ends up stealing her heart? Of course, there's this minor problem of her having just accepted another man's marriage proposal, the perfect man for a Farrow. . .

Shane is one of the dearest heroes I've read in a while, strong and quiet and appreciative of Grace's ebullience and idiosyncracies. And while Ms. Alexander deftly handles Shane's introduction to the big city, she resists the common impulse to make the cowboy look like a yokel in his flashier surroundings. Shane has no problem holding his own in nutso New York! And Grace is adorable, despite -- or more likely, because of -- her penchant for getting herself in trouble without even trying. Only Grace could lose an engagement ring in such an "engaging" manner!

If you're looking for realism, forget it. Both books are pure fantasy, plot-wise -- especially as both take place within unrealistically short time-frames. These stories are strictly for fun, to make the reader smile and giggle and otherwise just have a good time reading. I enjoyed the heck out of both of them.

And by the way, both stories are the first in two miniseries, so in future months, we not only get to see Jake's two equally commitment-shy brothers fall prey to their aunt's coffee-ground readings, but Grace's two best friends -- her cohorts in the "Cowgirl Club" -- find their perfect cowboys, as well.