review 1: By Hook or by Crook is a beautifully written and complex story about a woman of means that has been hurt in the past and has allowed her experience to color her view of the world. What I respect most about this book is the fact that it doesn’t try to soften the blow in its characters imperfections. I felt like the development of the story was able to give me a complete purview as to of why the characters thought or behaved a certain way. This is important to allow us to connect with the characters and to remain engaged in the story. The plot was interesting and kept us wondering what would happen next. I really liked some of the unexpected surprises within the story, such as some of the dialogue with Pock. I felt that neither Ivy nor Daisy really addressed the major issu... morees with their father and that was a bit disappointing. Joe was a sexy leading man with scorching scenes but at the end I felt that I knew “of” him but that there was definitely more to him. I would have liked to see growth in Ivy and Daisy evidenced through the achievement of a resolution that didn’t involve their father. It has strong potential and is a good weekend read. review 2: All trust baby Ivy Smithson wants to do is catch up with her younger sister to talk her out of marrying someone wrong for her. All former cop Joe Dunham wants to do is get Ivy to her destination so he can get paid. Something gets in the way during the mission, though - their unexpected feelings for each other. In this fast paced romp involving money, gangsters and a few other oddball characters, opposites really do attract. The question is whether or not they can in time to save the day If you like your romance with a serving of danger and a side of humor, give By Hook or by Crook a try. less
