Kathleen O'Reilly, Breakfast at Bethany's.

Breakfast at Bethany's

Kathleen O'Reilly

Harlequin Temptation, May 2004, $4.25

ISBN: 0373691750

Not long after the four young women made their bachelorette pact, two of them have since walked down the aisle (see IT SHOULD HAPPEN TO YOU and PILLOW TALK). The third young lady, Bethany "Beth" Von Meeter wants to join her pals Jessica and Mickey in happy matrimony, but refuses to wed for anything less than love.

Not feeling positive vibes with any of the men in her life, Beth places an ad on the internet. Reporter Spencer James, on assignment, responds. He wants to follow her exploits in on-line dating as she seeks a mate through cyberspace. Beth agrees in exchange for Spencer providing her an improved personal advertisement. However, neither one expected love to blossom between the subject and the journalist, who is becoming jealous of the dates that the ad brings.

Like the stars of the first two tales, this is a top quality contemporary romance starring two likable protagonists. The story line is quite enjoyable as Spencer does not know what he wants except that he does not want anyone but him kissing Beth. In turn she knows exactly what she wants and that is love if only the reporter would open his eyes beyond the story. The return of the other three females adds to the overall pleasure and gets readers ready for the finale in which Cassandra runs the anchor of what so far have been three fine stories.

Harriet Klausner