KNOCK ME FOR A LOOP – Heidi Betts
Chicks with Sticks, Book 3
St. Martin’s Press
ISBN: 978-0-312-94673-9
February 2010
Romantic Comedy

Cleveland, Ohio – Present Day

Months before, television host Grace Fisher and her fiancé, hockey star Zack Hoolihan, had a major blow up when she caught another woman in his motel room. She went berserk, broke off their engagement, and swore that she’d never forgive him. Unfortunately, Grace and Zack still share mutual friends, and when he’s injured while playing hockey and is immobile, it’s Grace they look to in order to help him. She reluctantly agrees, though she won’t admit there’s still a flicker of feelings for the man. Of course, this means she’ll have to move in with him—and hope she can keep him at arm’s length.

Zack has spent months trying to get Grace out of his system. She won’t talk to him, and she took his dog Bruiser, renamed him Muffin, and dressed the poor animal in pink sweaters. Now Zack’s laid up with a bad injury and nothing excites him about getting well. Then, Grace walks back into his life, telling him she’s going to move in and whip him back into shape. Closeness proves to provide more than a little temptation, even if Grace provides him with no invitations. Will she allow Zack the opportunity to redeem himself and get back into her good graces, or is their relationship at a dead end?

Readers who read TANGLED UP IN LOVE and LOVES ME, LOVES ME KNOT are familiar with Grace and Zack and their breakup. Also back in the loop is Charlotte, the irrepressible lady with the magical yarn who knows that Zack and Grace will get back together. They’re far apart now, even if they retain a link through their mutual friends. Zack thought he was getting over losing Grace, but deep down, was his injury related to possible distractions the past few months? He considers himself a macho man, and he’d do anything to win his Grace back. Even knit. However, he has to respect her “do not touch” request when she moves in. Soon they are getting along—almost—like an old married couple. Will this closeness revive their sexual feelings for each other?

Grace wants to pretend Zack means nothing to her. Yet, she took his dog, and she stepped in to help him recover. Can she get past his unforgivable transgression or even believe him when he says nothing happened? Grace tries to bury her feelings, but being close to him drags them to the surface again. She’s hardheaded in not wanting to deal with her emotional pain head on, but KNOCK ME FOR A LOOP has Grace knocked off her feet after not too long. The sparks between Grace and Zack are there—but is their love reparable?

Heidi Betts has once again created two wonderful, endearing characters in KNOCK ME FOR A LOOP. Zack might be a big star in hockey, but he’s a man who’d do anything to win Grace back. Grace is independent and saucy, but learns that two hearts are better than one. Will love prevail? Readers get a chance to catch up with the previous characters from the Chicks with Sticks series. Is a happily-ever-after in store for everyone, including Charlotte?

Ms. Betts does what might be the impossible in bringing Grace and Zack back together in KNOCK ME FOR A LOOP. Even if you’re not into hockey, this is a story that you’ll have fun reading and won’t want to put down. Grab yourself a copy of KNOCK ME FOR A LOOP today.

Patti Fischer