Leanne Banks Feet First

Feet First

Leanne Banks

HQN, Sep 2005, $6.99

ISBN: 0373770189

Design artist Jenny Prillaman works at Bellagio Shoes where she is an assistant to Sal of the Sal Amore line of shoes. Manager Marc Waterson asks Jenny where Sal is; she covers for him saying he ill when she thinks he is drunk. When he asks if Sal has sketched any special shows for the upcoming wedding of the century, she says yes, but hands him her sketches insisting they were done by Sal. He has her stay when the bride, his spoiled cousin Brooke Tarrentino arrives. Marc is impressed as she handles Brooke with ease. Afterward he tells her that Sal called from a rehab center praising her and insisting it was her work.

As they work on the wedding that will be filmed as a reality TV show Marc finds himself impressed with Jenny. His admiration begins to turn to desire; Jenny has salivated over Marc form the first moment she saw him, but assumes someone who cannot resist a second and third Krispy Kreme has no chance. Besides if he ever learns that her r sum is a fabrication created by Sal, he would dump her even if he miraculously fell in love with her as she has him.

FEET FIRST is a fun contemporary romance starring two likable lead characters and the cousin from hell. The amusing story line focuses on how Marc's feelings towards a too confident Jenny evolve as he observes her competence in shoe design and handling people starting with his cousin the Frankenstein bride, her ailing boss, and eventually him. Readers will never look at shoes the same way as Leanne Banks designs a fine tale.

Harriet Klausner