That Certain Spark

Hakes, Cathy Marie

That Certain Spark

Gooding, Texas is about to gain a double blessing -- a veterinarian and a doctor. But when siblings Enoch and Taylor Bestman arrive, the discovery that Taylor is a lady doctor has the town up in arms. Especially Karl Van der Vort, the town blacksmith, who becomes the first patient...against his will.

Though hesitant to believe in Taylor's doctoring skills, Karl finds himself oddly protective of this surprising woman who dares to drive about town on her own, wearing the colour red, for heaven's sake! Taylor, on the other hand, wants only to prove that doctoring is her life's calling, despite the town's opposition. The result? Pride meets attraction head-on, and sparks begin to fly.

THIS IS SUCH A FUNNY BOOK FULL OF TWISTS AND TURNS AND LOADS OF COMEDY. HAKE EXCELS AT WITTY REPARTEE! SARCASM FLIES BETWEEN TAYLOR AND HER TWIN BROTHER, ENOCH. EVERY TIME SHE'S WITH KARL THEY ENGAGE IN A BATTLE OF WITS. HER QUICK TONGUE EVEN WAGS LOOSE IN THE MOST DIRE OF CIRCUMSTANCES. THAT CERTAIN SPARK WAS SUCH A FUN READ!

KARL AND TAYLOR ARE SUCH OPPOSITES THAT AT FIRST I DIDN'T KNOW HOW HAKES WAS GOING TO GET THEM TOGETHER BUT SHE DID IT EXPERTLY WITH LOTS OF HUMOUR AND A BIT OF DRAMA ALONG THE WAY.

ENOCH STOLE THE ROMANTIC LEAD, THOUGH, IN A HEARTBREAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL DECLARATION TO THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE...IN MULTIPLE SCENES, IN FACT. HIS MORE SERIOUS SIDE STORY PROVIDED A TENDER BALANCE TO THE TURMOIL IN HIS SISTERS LIFE AND THE COMEDY THROUGHOUT THE BOOK.

THE INFURIATING, SMALL-MINDED, PIG-HEADED MEN OF GOODING, TEXAS HAD ME RANTING OUT LOUD! TAYLOR'S FIGHT TO WIN THE RESPECT OF THE TOWNSPEOPLE AND EARN THE RIGHT TO PRACTICE MEDICINE DEFINITELY HAD AN AIR OF AUTHENTICITY. I LOVE HOW KARL SLOWLY COMES AROUND -- THE INNER BATTLE THAT RAGES AS HE TRIES TO RECONCILE HIS IDEAS OF WHAT A PROPER WOMAN SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T DO WITH THE REALITY OF WHAT THE WOMAN HE IS FALLING IN LOVE WITH ACTUALLY DOES.

GREAT BLEND OF HUMOUR AND DRAMA -- AND I SO WISH I HAD HAKE'S ABILITY AT SNAPPY COMEBACKS AND ARTFULLY FUNNY CONVERSATIONS. I BET IT'S NEVER DULL AROUND HER DINNER TABLE!