Can't Take My Eyes Off of You (Zebra Book) [Mass Market Paperback]

Rich girl heiress Shelby, a Philadelphia Main Line socialite, flees by bus to reconsider her pending marriage to rich boy jerk, Parker the IV. She lands in East Wapaneken, PA and decides to have a bit of an adventure. Having her platinum credit card canceled by the Jerk in a move to bring her back, puts the adventure in a new light. She successfully copes with learning "to go Dutch," shopping in a department store from the clearance racks, and earning a living working as a hostess in a family restaurant. During the course of the book, she develops a taste for Snapple, Tastykake snacks, and bowling.

Poor boy Quinn, who is actually co-owner of a security service, avoids handling the R and R (Rich and Repulsive) cases. But with his blue-blooded partner sidelined with an injury (you'll just have to read the book to discover what and how), he has to take this case of locating and protecting the heiress, without her knowing of course. He poses as a writer, rents an apartment in the same building as Shelby's, and falls in love.

Shelby's dysfunctional family consists of brother Somerton, who controls the money; his "very good companion" Jeremy, who lives in the family mansion; and Uncle Lush, er Alfred, who also winds up in East W., when Somerton pitches him out. Uncle, who is between allowance checks, takes a job as busboy in the same restaurant.

Roommate, Brandy; her fiancé of 12 years Gary, his Mama keeps postponing the wedding; elderly mayor Mrs. Brobst, who drives a '67 Caddy; the regulars, a group of graying unemployed Viet Nam Green Beret vets; Joseph and Francis, two goons who are making sure Uncle doesn't skip out on his gambling debts but assist with the music for the benefit Shelby organizes, among others augment the cast of characters.

If you've read the other reviews, you already know that Shelby Taite is a poor little rich girl with a gay brother; she's engaged to marry, but the wedding is really more of a business merger. She had an alcoholic Uncle Alfred who inspires her to sample life's zest before she "settles," and a chauffeur named Jim who unwittingly points her in the direction of a small town (known as "East Wappy" to the locals). As the trailer says, "the bride takes a hike" - straight to nowheres-ville. Her relatives hire security expert and bodyguard Quinn Delaney to track her down and make sure she stays safe until she comes to her senses and returns. We get to watch what happens along the way.

This book felt like it was spending a lot of time pulling my leg. The characters start out so stereotyped that I felt as if I were watching a farce. HOWEVER - and here's where I got hooked - they all proved themselves to be more than their surface appearances. I liked watching Quinn's evolution from a cynical bodyguard, to a man hopelessly in love (and KM's writing during those scenes was beautiful). Somerton, Shelby's brother, turned out to be more than the sum of his parts, with some unexpected concern and gumption. Jeremy, Somerton's significant other, was just plain funny, although along with Shelby's fiance' from hell (Parker), he was among the most sterotyped of the characters. Uncle Albert, with his charmingly affectionate personality sadly flawed by too much love for alcohol, turned out to have surprising depth and an ability to reflect this back onto the others.

There isn't a real slam-bash ending to this book; in fact, it's fairly predictable and anticipated. The strength of the story lies in the character development and the evolution of the love relationship between Quinn and Shelby. This is a sweet story that kept me coming back for more and turned out to surprise me, so I gave it 5 stars. Enjoy it.