Christina Dodd, Almost Like Being in Love

Almost Like Being in Love

Christina Dodd

Pocket, Jun 2004, $6.99

ISBN: 0743456181

When their parents died in a car accident the four siblings were sent to different foster homes. The oldest sixteen years old Hope always hoped she would one day bring them back together, but over a decade later has failed. Eight years old when her parents died, Pepper spent years rotating through the foster child system until elderly Idaho rancher Mrs. Dreiss took her in.

Pepper has become Jackie Porter, successful landscaper using the motivating words of General Jennifer Napier to be all that she can be. At a book signing, Jackie meets her heroine, but when she returns to get a book signed for Mr. Dreiss, she sees the General kill her aide Major Otto Bjerke. Jennifer realizes a witness saw her commit murder, but Jackie escapes.

Jackie is dead and Pepper is reborn as she flees to Mrs. Dreiss' ranch only to learn that her guardian angel died; neighbor Dan Graham has cared for the spread that she has inherited. Though Pepper wants Dan to leave her alone, they fall in love. Jennifer is coming, but so is Hope as both have found Pepper, but who will get to her first.

This engaging romantic suspense will hook readers from the moment Jackie flees for her life. Pepper and Dan are a fabulous pair and the return of Hope and her now husband Zack is terrific. Readers will wonder why Pepper failed to know that Mrs. Dreiss died and also question why the general is selling top secret info without being caught (kept secret for most of the book). Fans will roots for Pepper to survive her ordeal and have a family welcoming with Hope.

Harriet Klausner