Reviewer: Janet Davies
Title: Discovering Dani - Book 1 in the Jamesville series
Author: N.J. Walters
Publisher: Samhain Publishing Ltd
ISBN: 1-59998-011-8
Release Date: March 2006
Genre/Sub-genre: Contemporary Romance
Year/Setting: Present Day - Jamesville
Overall Rating: 4.5
Sexual Content Rating: Subtle
Language (Profanity) Rating: None
Violent Content Rating: None
N.J.'s Website: www.njwalters.com
The first meeting between Dani O'Rourke and Burke Black is hardly romantic. He mistakes her for a man. Always flattering for a woman. The second meeting does not improve matters much when he accuses her of breaking and entering. Neither is impressed with the other. However it’s a single kiss between them that is no mistake. So what to do about it?
Dani lives in Jamesville, a small town in America’s heartland. She supports her two younger brothers by cleaning houses and apartments. Life is not perfect but they have each other and they get by. She doesn’t have time for romance. Besides, maybe it is old fashioned, but Dani does not want just any man. She wants the ‘one’ and she won’t settle for less. And her protective brothers are prepared to see Dani gets only the best.
After a serious car accident, Burke, the rich, successful business man trades in the high life for a dose of reality in Jamesville. Despite all his money and power he realizes he is missing vital elements in his life - a loving family and real friends. Burke is carrying around so much emotional baggage, he is not even sure he can even recognize what he needs to make his life complete. He is not at all averse to female companionship, but he’s not looking for a forever type of commitment.
Christmas in the Jamesville bring Dani and Burke together. He begins to relax and enjoy the simple pleasures in life. He has never met a woman like Dani before. The women he has been acquainted with in the past are shallow and self serving. Dani is completely the opposite. She is sweet and innocent. And that is a problem for Burke. Lust he understands. But he is not looking for love. Dani will not settle for lust alone. She wants the whole package – love and commitment. She may be falling in love with Burke but that does not mean she is ready to jump into bed with him.
But ugly questions and doubts arise. Are Dani and Burke attracted to each other for other reasons? Is she a gold digger? Is he taking advantage of her inexperience? Can they trust themselves enough to trust another unconditionally? They may be attracted to each other but it’s all a question of wanting, and wanting on whose terms. Is the emotional cost too much?
I have to admit I felt a little less jaded as I read Discovering Dani as it's such a sweet story of old fashioned courtship between polar opposites. It’s also a change to read something that is not overtly sexual. I liked the in-depth background details on the characters lives. It made me understand the way they thought and their motivations. And I absolutely hated the spoilt Cynthia James who gives Dani a hard time. She is a character you want to boo and hiss she is so nasty. You’ve got to like that.
Discovering Dani is a feel good story. It’s romantic and old fashioned without being corny. I think it’s the perfect book to read when you want to believe in something more. Okay, so maybe life isn’t a romance novel all the time but every so often it’s nice to dissolve into a charming, romantic fantasy. I look forward to reading the rest of the Jamesville series.
Janet
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