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Rating: 
Summary: A charming Valentine story -- Recommended
Review: For thirteen years Dylan has carried a secret about his father that created distance between himself and his family. Now Dylan arrives home, where he'll visit for six weeks while recovering from surgery, not expecting the profound changes he finds. His mother is taking belly dancing lessons, died her hair blond, got rid of her glasses and lost weight. The house has likewise been transformed, and Dylan isn't necessarily happy with all the changes. Worse, his mother's new job has her working as a "romance coach." Dylan blames the changes on the influence of his mother's boarder Maddie Lamont. Dylan hasn't seen Maddie since she was fourteen, and her transformation is also profound.Dylan would like to be the advice-filled, world-wise big brother, but he hasn't been around enough to nurture a relationship with his brothers. Indeed, he leaves his island paradise not so much to reconcile with his family, as to flee a woman who wants to take their relationship to the next level. Although he initially fights his attraction to Maddie, he finds himself quite challenged to get close her. Maddie has been casually seeing someone else for six months, and she doesn't want a man who's not going to stick around. But then, she's never reacted to anyone the way she reacts to Dylan. Pamela Bauer pens a character driven romance in 14 VALENTINE PLACE. In the beginning, readers may feel a bit ambivalent about Dylan as he initially presents himself as superficial. Dylan doesn't like the changes in his mother, his youngest brother's life altering decisions, or Maggie's influence. As a result, he acts like a thirty-one-year-old spoiled, petulant boy until a brother reminds him that he's the one who chose to absent himself from their lives. As he becomes honest with himself about his feelings for Maggie, however, Dylan becomes the hero romance lovers expect. The key to 14 VALENTINE PLACE is honesty. As characters become honest with themselves about their feelings and desires, and then with one another, the magic of love does the rest, whether the magic occur within a romantic context or between family members. In addition, Maddie makes a captivating heroine with her charming stubbornness and determination. Further, secondary characters truly sparkle, especially Dylan's mother whether adorned in her belly dancing costume or giving love advice. Recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: I love a love story
Review: If you haven't read a good romance lately, take a look at Pam Bauer's latest. I've been a fan of Bauer's since I read WALKING ON SUNSHINE. Her characters are real people who grab you by the heart with their problems. Maddie is an independent woman who refuses to let her teenage crush on the hero tempt her to lose control. Well, she does try. And I love the way she loses! This book has more depth than the usual light romance. It's a very satisfying read that has more to it than a happy ending. Living in a boardinghouse with the hero an unexpected fellow guest creates some interesting situations. I give this book 5 stars. H. White
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