How
does a man woo himself back into the good graces of the woman he dumped so
unceremoniously just the night before? Not easily, in the case of Gabby and
Reed. All he wanted was to protect the seemingly innocent Gabby from the
dangers of his current mission by distancing the lovely accountant from
himself and the hazards of being associated with a man working undercover in
a covert department that is an offshoot of Homeland Security.
But he screwed up – not only in Gabby’s eyes, but in his superior’s as
well. Apparently his mission was less about investigating her and more
about protecting the innocuous little accountant. Now he has just one day
to find a way back into Gabby’s life and stay close by her side. But Gabby
isn’t making it easy for him, despite the undeniable attraction between them
– an attraction that burns even hotter now that he’s had a chance to see the
fierce little spitfire hiding beneath that oh-so-controlled exterior she
usually shows the world… If he fails? Gabby may lose more than her man,
she may lose her life.
I
was first introduced to HelenKay Dimon’s work with her title Your
Mouth Drives Me Crazy, a book which showcased this author’s talent
for writing romantic suspenses with a hefty does of fun. She captures those
same elements in her newest book, Right Here, Right Now with
two captivating characters that never fail to entertain, even when (maybe
especially when) they are at each other’s throats.
Because that is where this novel begins, with the hero and heroine at each
other’s throats. OK, maybe Gabby is at Reed’s throat and he’s just trying
to understand and fend her off, but the man deserves everything Gabby dishes
out and more. Then again, as the story progresses and we learn exactly why
Reed acts the way he does, it is easier to understand his purely altruistic
motives behind everything he does in regards to his heroine. Not only that,
but each new revelation had this reviewer falling for him a little more.
Reed is immensely likable, there is no denying that. From chapter one,
where he is adorably clueless in the face of Gabby’s justified ire, it is
apparent that there are depths to this man that go far beyond the façade his
mission requires he wear. As he finally unleashes the passion he has been
harboring for Gabby from the day they began dating, Reed becomes more and
more irresistible, to both Gabby and the reader.
Gabby herself is a heroine I find myself cheering for with each page. From
the moment Reed attempts his misguided break-up with her, she cuts him no
slack, something she takes even further when he inexplicably begins
attempting to reconcile with her the very next day. Of course, being in
love with him, she is by no means immune to his pleas for forgiveness and
his attempts at seduction, but she definitely makes the man work hard for
it, preserving both her self-respect and the respect of the readers, as well
as delivering some great comedic moments.
In the end, we enjoy a perfect happy ending for this pair, courtesy of the
talented HelenKay Dimon. She wraps up their story with some unexpected
events that proved simultaneously surprising and richly satisfying.
Romance readers who enjoy sassy, capable heroines and dominant, good-hearted
heroes will find Right Here, Right Now is more than a
must-buy, it is a book guaranteed a permanent place on the bookshelf.
Reviewed by Jennifer
