The Book Date : In Your Dreams. Kristan Higgins

In Your Dreams
Kristan Higgins
Publisher: Harlequin
Date: 30th September
Format: e-ARC
Pages: 480
Genre: Contemporary romance
Source: Little Bird Publicity via NetGalley

Everyone loves Jack Holland, but Emmaline Neal needs him. Her ex-fiancé is getting married in Malibu and, obviously, she can't go to the wedding alone. In Manningsport, New York, tall, blond and gorgeous Jack Holland is practically a cottage industry when it comes to rescuing desperate women. He knows the drill, Em figures, so he won't get the wrong idea.

What Jack needs is an excuse to leave town. Ever since rescuing four teenagers from a car wreck, he's been hailed as a hero and the attention is making him itchy, especially since his too-pretty ex-wife is back, angling for a reunion. He's always liked Emmaline. She needs a weekend date? No problem.

So when they wind up in bed together, Em chalks it up to red wine and chocolate cake, just one impulsive night not to be repeated. But Jack's pushing for more, and if she lets down her guard, either she'll get her heart crushed again, or discover that Jack's worth more than just dreaming about.

In Your Dreams by Kristan Higgins is #4 in her Blue Heron series. I loved this one and was delighted to note at the beginning that this book is dedicated to Robyn Carr. Another favourite writer of mine.

Everything about this book felt right to me, from the dedication, to the wonderful cover, the plot, the characters and the humour. Another aspect that I like about this book is that it is romantic and sexy without being over the top. I think this could be the book I like best in the series.

The plot moves along at a very good pace, there is always something happening, no dull patches anywhere. There is a bit of mystery that is slowly uncovered and witty dialogue and situations that made me laugh out loud more times than I can count. There is a scene in O'Rourkes that I loved when Emmaline the heroine is out on a date, very funny. However the scene I laughed the most was in the pool during a weird wedding. The wedding was Emmaline's ex and she had gone with Jack as her partner.

Jack the hero is Mr Nice Guy and a "Greek God". He has three sisters that want to hook him up with someone perfect for him and those sisters are not shy about giving their opinions. He has a gorgeous pup - Sarge and a miserable cat Lazarus that he has taken under his wing. Unfortunately he too has an ex- and she is a doozy. She is back and wants to suck him right back in. At the moment Jack is hiding just how stressed he is - mainly from being a hero.

Emmaline is one of the local cops. She has problems with her parents and a sister that is different but whom she loves. She loves living in Manningsport and feels really settled there. However she has not quite gotten over her previous relationship and now she has been invited to his wedding. It creates all kind of stress for her. Of course Jack is set up to take her there. The relationship develops from there, it has its rocky patches but eventually it all works out perfectly.

Of course we meet up with past characters and see how life is developing for them. One character that added to the comedy is Everett. He is another local cop and he is totally hopeless at his job. He reminded me of the policeman in Doc Martin a British TV comedy.

A book for my keeper's shelf, I know I will enjoy rereading this series again at some time in the future.