Julie Ortolon Unforgettable

Unforgettable

Julie Ortolon

Signet, Sep 2007, $6.99

ISBN: 9780451222046

When she left Hope, Texas with no hope for her future at least there, Riley Stone vowed to never return. Eleven years later, Riley ponders the irony that she lives in Hope in her grandmother's house and sings at a restaurant.

Riley left the small town hopelessly in love with Jackson Hope, but he apparently did not reciprocate her deep yearning. She assumes that maturity will enable her to put aside her fantasy until she sees him for the first time since she left, as she now knows the fantasy was actually her believing she no longer wanted him. A lawyer Jackson is attracted to the adult Riley just like he was when they were teens and he hid his feelings from her out of nerdy shyness. This time he will not let her go without telling her how much he wants her, but they disagree on what to do about an old music hall. He wants to tear it down to build on the site while she wants to renovate it.

This well written small town Texas romance is a fun tale to read because of the lead couple, who as adults are in love just like they were as teens, but this time plan to act on their attraction. However, instead of shyness keeping them apart, the music hall prevents the duo from fulfilling the full promise of their relationship. Riley hopes the second time around proves eternal while Jackson knows whatever he does with the hall she will remain eternally UNFORGETTABLE inside his heart. Julie Ortolon provides a charming contemporary romance.

Harriet Klausner