Runaway Bay [Mass Market Paperback]

It's bad enough getting dumped via voice mail, by one's boyfriend....but to have it happen right before a planned, romantic getaway to an exotic Caribbean island resort?? That's what Jackie Barnett was faced with.....she couldn't believe Ben would call her a "stick-in-the-mud boring person".....just cuz she was organized and mythodical.....So what did she do to assuage her pain?? The same thing most of us would do.....run to the freezer and grab that gallon of triple fudge ice-cream...... Should she go to St. Sebastian alone??? Being a finalist in the Farley Phelps (medical research) Grant, and finding out that he would be staying at the same resort as she........helped make her decision to go-it alone........that, and the fact that another competitor, Reade Hunter, would also
be there!
So begins a delightful, romantic romp.....with engaging, colorful characters, including Reade's romance-reading,hypochondriac loving mother (who has VERY good taste in books.....) The bantering double entendres between Reade and Jackie couldn't have been better..........so very reminiscent of the Doris Day/Rock Hudson and Hepburn/Tracy comedy movies I adore! So nice to see a beautiful heroine who isn't a size 3 for a change.......Jackie is a full size 16-18 and a knockout in a bathingsuit she (unwillingly) purchased at the resort!
Did I mention the love scenes? I never knew anyone could make love like they did, right through their clothes! Had me holding my breath.....even breathing a bit heavily I admit.....
This is not an every-day average read......Yes, it's comical...fun......entertaining......but something else shows right through which is harder to define......but this author can drag us into the story, so much so, that we feel as if we are right there with the characters......I think each of us can see a bit of ourselves in Jackie's character.....who wouldn't mind having a hero like Reade! I'll be talking about this book for a long, long time....
TO MARRY AN IRISH ROGUE by this author, has been on my All-Time Most Favorite Read List since it first came out........Now, RUNAWAY BAY is on the same list......I say, RUN OUT and get yourselves a copy to "make your day!" (and nights......)
I would love to see Reade's two brothers, Kit and Ash, get their own story.....

Dr. Jacqueline Barnett was about to walk out the door for a rare vacation when her boyfriend of two years broke up with her by voice mail! Jackie considered canceling the trip. After all, who wanted to spend two weeks alone at a Caribbean resort? Then she found out Farley Phelps would be at the same resort! Phelps would be the one to decide who would get a million dollar research grant! Even so, Jackie still would have canceled the trip if one more piece of information had not came up. Dr. Reade Hunter, her main competitor for the grant, would be there as well!

Reade's mother, Lenore Hunter, really believed she was sick. Reade, however, thought her simply depressed. A Caribbean holiday to cheer her up was the perfect excuse for him to be in St. Sebastian. If he just happened to meet, make nice to Phelps, and win the grant ...

***** Oh, Lisa Hendrix writes SOOOOOO WELL! I could not stop reading! Two romances are blooming in this book and the co-characters are as delightful as the main ones! The competition between Jackie and Reade, in more ways than one, make the story even more tantalizing! This is NOT one to miss! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch.

Jackie Barnett is devastated over the sudden unexpected
breakup with her boyfriend. He carelessly leaves a message on
her answering machine stating he doesn't wish to see her
again or go on their planned trip to St. Sebastian. Jackie
has two choices - to ask for a refund or to go on the trip
alone. Her decision is quickly made for her when she
discovers Farley Phelps and Reade Hunter are both scheduled
to be at the same resort that she has pre-made reservations.
Farley is the one who will make the final decision as to who
is awarded the one million dollar Phelps Grant. Reade is her
number one competition; he will stop at nothing to ensure he
is given a winning slot. Throwing caution to the wind, she
embarks on a journey that will lead her on an unexpected
adventure.

Reade Hunter plans to go to St. Sebastian on the pretense of
finding a suitable mate for his mother. As an added bonus, he
plans to seek out Farley Phelps and convince him why he is
the best candidate for the Phelps Grant. He was unprepared
for the arrival of his quick-witted, razor-tongued, sexy
competitor, Jackie Barnett. Jackie is not what he had
anticipated. He imaged her to be an uptight, straight-laced,
by-the-book researcher. The goddess's body standing before
him was crying out to explore her uncharted territory.

Lisa Hendrix's RUNAWAY BAY is a light, fun read that will
have you laughing out loud. Her delightful fresh approach is
laced with memorable characters, witty dialogue, and tons of
humor. I predict that with all these highly entertaining
elements contained in this book, it will be the best romantic
comedy that I will read in 2002.