Under the Boardwalk [Mass Market Paperback]

Courtesy of WWW.Loveromances.Com

Here's a great beach read to pass the time away on a long lazy summer afternoon: Carly Phillip's UNDER THE BOARDWALK. It's the story of an identical twin that returns home after years of living apart from her family, to find her twin sister that has gone missing. The novel is funny with a little bit of intrigue and adventure and some romance as well, as Ariana Costas, the main character, does her best to find her sister.

Ari has never felt that she belonged with her crazy family. Her parents, cousins, aunts and uncles are all a bunch of crazy Greeks who enjoy a good con job to make some instant cash. They don't see their actions as doing anything wrong. They are just trying to earn a living the only way they know how. In addition, as the reader gets involved with the hi-jinks of the Costas family, it is not difficult to fall in love with this zany family. However, Ari always felt she had to be straight-laced and clean, and could not stand living with them. She was embarrassed to be a part of this family. Years ago, she had made a decision to be different from the rest of them, and left home to become a professor at a college in Vermont. Her only reason to return home to New Jersey was because of her sister. Although the two were not as close as they once where, blood is thicker than water.

Upon her arrival back in town, Ari runs into a good looking man that thinks Ari is her sister Zoe, and although there is some confusion at first, Quinn Donovan realizes it has to be the other twin. Their meeting occurs while Ari becomes a target as live bullets are firing upon her. Quinn saves her life and makes his introduction. Ari finds out that Zoe and Quinn worked together at the local Casino, and Ari feels that the casino holds the clues to her missing sister. While Quinn tells Ari to go home, because she is putting herself in danger by staying, Ari does the opposite and gets herself a job at the casino. She soon finds her life on the line, as she gets closer to the truth about Zoe.

In the mean time, there are sparks flying between Ari and Quinn, but Ari thinks it's because she has dressed herself up to look more like Zoe, who was always been the more glamorous of the two. Quinn, who unknown to Ari is an undercover detective, finds himself drawn to Ari. There are a number of steamy scenes between the two, amidst the action at the casino. The book ends with a climactic scene at the casino, Ari learns the truth about her sister and as with all romances, there is a happy ending.

This reviewer enjoyed UNDER THE BOARDWALK for what it was, a beach read. While it wasn't the perfect book, as a casual read it fit the bill. The mix between the mystery behind Zoe's disappearance, the adventures in the casino and the romance between Ari and Quinn did not work well for this reviewer. The book may have been better if there was more emphasis on comedy, especially the Costas family (including their silly little monkey) and less emphasis on the serious themes, such as the subplot of the young foster child that gets involved with the Costas. Although the story was touching, and it helped show off Quinn's personality, this reviewer felt it might have been better to make that story a separate book. Despite these negative points, there were plenty of positives in UNDER THE BOARDWALK, and as a beach read, it's a recommended read. This reviewer gives the book 3 and a half stars.

Quinn Donovan is stunned to see Zoe's sister walking on the beach as Zoe promised that Ariana would never come home. Someone fires a shot at Ariana, but Quinn reacts and knocks her down. After he reluctantly gets off her, they talk. He tells her he worked with her mother and her sister at Damon's Casino, but hides his instant attraction to her and that Special Agent Zoe is safe. Ariana informs him she will stay until Zoe comes home. Quinn worries she will destroy his undercover work at the casino trying to prove illegal happenings. As Ariana and Quinn fall in love, he breaks the rules of undercover work for her while worrying about her safety and their future together.

This exciting police procedural romance works on several levels but readers will especially feel the attraction between the two lead protagonists as well as that of a secondary couple. The vast cast adds depth as Ariana learns what family means through the reactions of a street teen to her likable con artist kin though her constant insistence that she does not belong amongst loved ones becomes irritating. Romantic suspense readers will take immense pleasure with this fine suspense laden tale starring a lovable You Can't take It With You cast.

Harriet Klausner