TURN MY WORLD UPSIDE DOWN

Author: Maureen Child ISBN: 031299754X 8/2005 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: ST. MARTIN'S PRESS

Jo Marconi has her hands full working hard at the family business and struggling to get her belated college degree. The last thing she needs is a ten-year-old boy to look after. But that's exactly what she gets when her stepbrother comes to live with her. It's clear Jack needs a father figure. But why must he seek out Cash Hunter-the one man Jo can't stop thinking about! Cash has a reputation as being the sexiest man in town, and Jo refuses to become another notch in his belt. At least, that's what she tells herself... Cash Hunter has risked his heart in the past, and he's not about to make the same mistake again. He vows to keep the irresistible Jo at arm's length-until the attraction between them gets too hot to handle. And when Jo reveals a secret from her past, Cash knows it's time to step up to the plate. Jo is the woman he wants, and he'll find a way to show her once and for all-even if it means losing her forever...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Jo is one of three sisters running the family construction business. Secretly, Jo has been working on her college degree and is finally close to graduation. After dropping out of college when her mother became ill nearly ten years ago, Jo is nearing completion of a long-held dream. Complicating her life is her father's revelation of a son he fathered with another woman when Jo's mother was near-death. When that half-brother, Jack, comes to live with her, Jo's responsibilities are almost overwhelming. On top of that - Cash Hunter, local hottie and playboy, takes an interest in Jack . and Jo, and is a distraction Jo is having a terrible time ignoring.

TURN MY WORLD UPSIDE DOWN is an endearing story of love, forgiveness, and rekindling of relationships. Cash is an extraordinary hero, in that he's much more than a hottie. He has an uncanny way of knocking through all of Jo's defenses to get to the "real girl" inside. The close friendship of the three Marconi sisters enhanced the story, and gave the reader some great insight into the family dynamics. While I was able to predict much of what occurred in the story, I didn't find it boring or slow. Quite the opposite, in fact. A page-turner, I was totally swept up into the tale and only came up for air at the end. Ms. Child found a way to make what seems on the surface to be an ordinary story into something special. I highly recommend this book!

Kendra Patterson