Throwback Thursday: What Dreams May Come by Kay Hooper

Author: Kay Hooper
First published in 1990 by Bantam; Reissued in 2016

Just a week before her wedding, Kelly Russell’s world falls apart: A car accident leaves her fiancé in a coma from which doctors predict he will never awaken. At first, Kelly doesn’t believe them. But as the years pass, she comes to accept her fate and mourn the love of her life. What she doesn’t anticipate is for passion to lay dormant, hidden beneath the surface all this time—only to rise again when she least expects it.
 
After a decade of slumber, John Mitchell opens his eyes to a world that’s different from the one he remembers. Kelly has changed, though his deep love for her hasn’t. Gone is the carefree girl he planned to marry, replaced by a resilient survivor who moved on without him. Mitch asks for a little bit of time—a month—to prove that they’re still meant to be. But as his dreams come true, a nightmare waits in the shadows. Now, granted a second chance at happiness, Mitch must risk everything to keep Kelly safe in his arms.

What Dreams May Come is a re-read for me.  My opinion on the book didn't much change upon the second reading.  This is the third in the "Once Upon a Time" series and is based off a combination Sleeping Beauty/Rip Van Winkle plot.  The story opens with John "Mitch"  Mitchell left in a coma after a car accident and his fiance trying to reconcile the possibility that he may never wake up.  She decides to  move on with her life.  9 years later, "Mitch" miraculously wakes up still loving Kelly and wanting to get her back.

This is a sweet second chance story. However, I would have loved it more had it been longer.  I would have like to see more of Kelly and Mitch together before the coma to see how they were then, rather than being told.  It would have made for their changes to seem more significant later when they get back together.  There is also a little mystery with her ex-husband, but that was kind of anti-climactic.  So, while I did enjoy it, it could have been better with more to the story.

Throwback Thursday: The Glass Shoe by Kay Hooper

Author: Kay Hooper
First published in 1989 by Loveswept.  Re-issued in 2016 by Loveswept

Beautiful heiress Amanda Wilderman insisted she didn't believe in princes, yet shed agreed to attend the masquerade ball as Cinderella.

Dashing entrepreneur Ryder Foxx had no use for fairy tales but made an impossibly handsome Prince Charming. He never expected to meet a mysterious, masked enchantress who would steal his heart in a moonlit garden—and leave only a glass slipper behind to persuade him she'd been magically, passionately real! 

Amanda reveled in Ryder's fierce possession, adored being pursued for herself alone and not her wealth, but she knew the fantasy would end as the clock struck midnight...or would it? 

When Ryder arrived without warning at her Wyoming, ranch Amanda wondered how long her secrets would be safe from this hero whose caress overwhelmed her—and made her dare to dream. Ryder's love was a prize worth winning, but could she trust this dangerous, irresistible knight enough to admit she longed for happily ever after?

The Glass Shoe was a recent re-read for me.  I read this a number of years ago when I was on a Kay Hooper binge.  It was recently re-issued by Loveswept in November of this year.  I have read this whole series, but going back was a lot of fun.  Her Once Upon a Time series is a spin on some of the more famous fairy tales.  This one being Cinderella. In fact, it includes a ball, a glass slipper and a prince who is dying to find the woman in the mask.

I enjoyed this one just as much the second time around   Since it is a take on a fairy tale, there is insta-love, but that only adds to the fun of it.   I like both characters and thought their romance was sweet.  Was it one of the best romances I have read? No, but it's a nice escape for a little while.  

Throwback Thursday: Golden Threads by Kay Hooper

Author: Kay Hooper
First published in 1989 by Loveswept. Re-issue on November 29, 2016

Imprisoned by fate -- and the FBI -- in a strange town with a new identity, Lara Mason longed to escape the painful memory of her father's murder. Playing Rapunzel in a local production would distract her, she hoped -- until broodingly sensual Devon Shane was chose as her prince in the play...and cast himself as her bodyguard when shadows from her past threatened her. Captured by his sapphire gaze and a voice that compelled her surrender, Lara had trusted no one with her secret, but Devon drove her wild with sensation, demanded and took what belonged to him. Furious at being a pawn in his dangerous game, Lara told Devon she wouldn't run anymore -- but could he keep her safe? Desperate to end the limbo that denied them a future, Lara was willing to gamble with her life ... but not his love. Devon had scaled her tower and won her, but now he had to set her free. Could she show him that taming his savage heart was the only happy ending she wanted?

I originally read this back in 2008 when I was on a Kay Hooper binge read.  I think I managed to track down every early work by her and devoured them in a span of a month.  Loveswept is re-issuing this one as well as other early releases in November, so I thought it might be fun to go back and re-read some.  

Golden Threads is the first in her "Once Upon a Time" series.  Each book has a mysterious match maker who manages to get the right boy with the right girl.  There is usually a bit of trouble along the way.  Re-reading Golden Threads reminded me of why I like older romances. They are sometimes a bit cheesy, but usually they are just plain fun.

The romance in this one is really fast.  I'm talking a week.  But I didn't mind.  There is also a mystery as well. Lara is in witness protection, but someone may have found her.  Devon seems to be someone she can trust, but who should she listen to, her head or her heart?  I say trust the cat, Ching. I do recommend this early one. Keep an eye out for it in November!

Throwback Thursday: Rebel Waltz by Kay Hooper

 

Author: Kay Hooper 
First published in  1986 by Loveswept (Bantam Books)

With its antebellum setting and gallant history, Jasmine Hall was more than just a business for Banner Clairmont. The lovingly preserved plantation-era inn had been home to the Clairmont family for generations. But the realities of modern real-estate had made it time to sell even the most priceless treasures. So it was hardly with a great deal of enthusiasm that Banner led real-estate speculator Rory Stewart around the property. How could this stranger—whose southern charm and universal good looks made it impossible to entirely distrust him—have any idea of Jasmine Hall’s true value?

I'm a big fan of Ms. Hooper's older books.  While they are over 25 years old, they are timeless.  They have just the right amount of cheesy romance factor to make them fun to read.  Rebel Waltz is no exception.  

I enjoyed the romance between Rory and Banner.  Rory falls hard and fast when he meets Banner.  His pursuit of her was amusing.  I'll admit that I liked Rory more than I like Banner.  I thought she gave him too much of a hard time about things.  Personally, I thought the "practical joke" that she plays on him to get back at him for helping her was in very poor taste.  I didn't see the humor in it.  Anyway, while it's not the best of her early works, it is an enjoyable read.

Throwback Thursday:Rafferty's Wife by Kay Hooper

Author: Kay Hooper
First published in 1987  by Loveswept

Sarah Cavell is a beautiful, brilliant cryptographer with the uncanny ability to crack any code. But her most daunting challenge may be reading the true feelings of her new “husband,” Rafferty Lewis, the secretive federal agent to whom she’s just been assigned. Sent on a perilous mission to a Caribbean nation teetering on the brink of revolution, the two must go undercover as husband and wife to make contact with a shadowy informant passing on cryptic messages that could trap a terrorist.


Rafferty's Wife is the third book in the Hagen series that was published by Loveswept in the late 80s.  This one was just OK for me.  I'm not sure I bought the love connection between Sarah and Rafferty.  It was just too quick.  For me, it felt like lust at first sight, not love. While they had a nice HEA, I was still pretty much underwhelmed by it.  There really wasn't any action and no suspense at all.  I figure if there are spies or undercover agents involved, there should be some suspense.

I'm not sure how much further I am going to go with this series. Hagen runs a secret government agency.  He recruits men and women to work as agents for him.  Yet, he never tells them all of the facts that they should know before going into a situation.  Wouldn't you want your operatives to succeed?  How can they do that without all of the facts needed?  I am hoping that in his motivations will be explored more maybe in the next book.  It looks like Zach is the next of Hagen's target.  Stay tuned!

Throwback Thursday: In Serena's Web & Raven on the Wing by Kay Hooper

The cover on this throwback from Ms. Hoopr is very giggle worthy.  How can you look at the cover and not giggle?  I am a big fan of Kay Hooper and have read most of her books, both old and new.  She is a great writer.  So, I was a little disappointed in this first book in her Hagen series.  In Serena's Web (First published in 1987 by Loveswept) was a very underwhelming story.  Not much happens.  It had the great potential to be a good romantic suspense, but the suspense fell very flat.  The reader never really has the sense that Serena is in any danger until the very end.

When I started the book, I felt like I was missing something.  Almost like I had walked into a movie about 30 minutes after the opening credits. Eventually things are explained, but by then it was too late for me to even care.  The characters were pretty boring.  Serena is a smart woman, but came across to me like a spoiled debutante.  She is in love with Brian, so she tries to make him jealous by flirting with another man.  Really? She is 26, not a 16 and still in high school.  Brian seems to want her but is ambivalent about it through most of the book.  Even the HEA at the end was a bit boring.  Honestly, I was more intrigued by Josh and his penchant for blondes than I was by Serena and Brian.

I'm never one to give up on a series if the first book is so-so.  So I did end up reading Raven on the Wing (First published in 1987 by Loveswept), which is Josh's story. This one was much better than the first in the series.  I loved Josh and Raven.  Josh is literally knocked over by pretty brunette, Raven and it is love at first sight.  He will do everything he can to win her heart and make her his.  The problem is that Raven seems to be living a double life. 

There is pretty good suspense plot woven into this romance.  I loved the twist at the end!  The reader is also introduced to Josh's friends/employees who look to be the subjects of the later books.  I knew all I had to do was trust in the author and the books would get better.  I'm looking forward to catching up with the rest of the series.

Throwback Thursday - The Haunting of Josie

Author: Kay Hooper
First published in 1994 by Loveswept

She was a woman of secrets in a house of shadows and he held the key ....

Marc Westbrook would have made a good warlock, Josie Douglas decided--with his raven-dark hair, silver eyes, and even a black cat in his arms! She'd chosen the isolated house as a refuge, a place to put the past to rest, but now her gorgeous landlord insisted on fighting her demons ...and why did he so resemble the ghostly figure who'd beckoned to her from the head of the stairs?

In a novel that sparkles with her unique blend of romantic mystery and spicy wit, Kay Hooper once more demonstrates her talent for seduction and suspense. Will her bewitched hero succumb to his lady's sorcery or enchant her forever with a spell of his own?

Many of you may be more familiar with Kay Hooper's Bishop/ Special Crimes Unit series. If you are a fan, then you might want to try her earlier works, a lot of which are being reissued. The Haunting of Josie was reissued in 2007. It is a pretty quick read. The romance is believable. Marc and Josie are very likable characters. Their chemistry is very steamy! This story has a little bit of a supernatural element to it and the HEA is very satisfying. I have to admit that this book is what got me out of my reading slump a few years ago. While it isn't a spectacular book, there was just something about it that got me back on track. If you want a quick, cute romance with a ghostly twist, pick this one up!

-- Kari