Crazy Kind of Love

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 3 JAN 2005

An author of 75 books in various genres (paranormals, Victorians, Wild West romances, etc.), Child is at her most charming in the contemporary romance series that began with 2004's And Then Came You: Sam's Story, the first in a trilogy about the three Marconi daughters (all workers in their family construction business) and involving several emotionally volatile and very funny Italian families in the fictional all-American town of Chandler, Calif. This second installment follows ace plumber Michaela "Mike" Marconi, who's a wisecracking extrovert professionally but mysteriously skittish about long-term love relationships. When equally career-driven scientist Lucas Gallagher buys what a miffed Mike considers her personal dream house, she inserts herself into his house-planning with what the "Rocket Man" considers infuriating confidence, but shies away almost pathologically from their growing mutual attraction. In truth, there's little suspense about the pair's personal secrets and, title notwithstanding, nothing particularly crazy about their love. But it's sassy repartee, not psychological depth, that's the plot's strong point; as a lighthearted read that's as heavy on humor and warmth as it is light on complexity (aside from subplots involving four additional love relationships), the book is a frothy delight. FYI:Child also writes under the pen names Ann Carberry, Sarah Hart and Kathleen Kane.