CALLING ALL THE SHOTS – Katherine Garbera
Matchmakers, Inc , Book 4
Harlequin Desire #2196
ISBN: 978-0-373-73209-8
November 2012
Series Romance

New York City – Present Day

Television producer Willow Stead and television host Jack Crown have known each other since their high school days in Texas. In fact, he stood up Willow for a big date back then, and she's never forgotten the painful rejection. Both are now working together on a television show, Sexy & Single , and Jack has been putting the moves on Willow, but she's resisted so far. To pay him back for what he did to her in high school, she plans a bit of revenge against him by going out with him and making him fall for her, then dumping him. The plan starts out perfect enough, but with one complication…Willow begins to find herself attracted to Jack. Will sleeping with him destroy her sense of retribution?

Jack is much in demand as a television host, but he's determined to see Willow as much as he can. He doesn't understand why she has turned him down numerous times, so when she agrees to a “date” he's excited. Willow is a challenge for Jack because she is self assured and smart, yet she keeps a part of herself hidden from him. As their relationship develops, he begins to grow restless with unexplained feelings, as this confirmed bachelor has no intention of settling down. Yet Willow has him thinking about a future with her, but with their careers keeping them a continent apart. Is there any chance for them? And what will happen when Jack discovers Willow's plan of revenge?

While working together on the show, Sexy & Single, Willow and Jack watched their friends and others find their perfect matches. Willow never forgot being stood up by Jack, so it's left her angry at him, though she never lets him know this. Jack is charming and affable, but it's Willow he wants. He never told her the real reason why he didn't show up for their date years ago, so she only sees him as Jack the Cad. Their bantering back and forth as she fends him off finally has her cooking up this revenge idea, but it backfires on her. Jack may be outwardly charming, but there is more substance to him than she ever realized as she begins to see another side to him. Willow is there to help when Jack has a personal crisis involving a friend. But the closer she gets to him, the more she wants to push him away, even though she'd rather do just the opposite.

Part of the Matchmakers, Inc series by Katherine Garbera, CALLING ALL THE SHOTS could be read as a standalone, but with several scenes involving past characters, I highly recommend reading the others in the series. Check out www.katherinegarbera.com for the titles. CALLING ALL THE SHOTS is apparently the final book, with everyone brought together in the epilogue.

Past history between Jack and Willow play an important part in CALLING ALL THE SHOTS, but it is their future happily-ever-after that is at stake. An engaging romance, pick this one up before it's gone from the bookshelves.

Patti Fischer