Discovering Dani
By NJ Walters
Samhain Publishing
http://www.samhainpublishing.com/discoveringdani.shtml
ISBN: 1-59998-011-8
Contemporary Romance
189 pages
Available March 14, 2006
Dani has spent the last seven years, after her parents past away, raising her two younger brothers, Patrick and Shamus. Not an easy task for an 18-year-old girl, but Dani is driven to keep what is left of her family together. Determined to provide them with a stable home, Dani opened her own cleaning service.
Burke is a successful, powerful businessman that after recovering from an almost fatal accident has come to a crossroads in his life. Something is missing; he has no idea what it is. He has money and lots of it, the big house, expensive cars….what else could there be? Taking some time for himself, he packs some clothes and heads for the quiet, small town life of Jamestown.
Dani is surprised to see that the tenant has checked in early, but luckily, doesn't appear to be there. She lets herself in and sets out to get everything clean. Arriving back at his cabin, Burke finds a woman elbow deep in paperwork found in his briefcase. Outraged she would break in, he questions her motives. Only a few minutes later, he realizes that it was a misunderstanding and he is desperate to make amends for his behavior. This decision lands Burke in a new environment: Dani, her brothers, and the unconditional love and sense of family they have for each other.
Discovering Dani opens with a misunderstanding and continues that trend throughout the entire story. Whether that uncertainty or confusion comes from Burke, Dani, or someone else, the consequences are the same regardless: they are left struggling to understand and fix it. Dani is a compassionate woman that has an enormous heart and personality. Although she is a successful and confident businesswoman, these traits do not roll over into her personal relationship with a man. Burke is a lonely, empty man that wants desperately to find what is missing in his life. He may be bitter and angry at times, but he's also tender and passionate. The instantaneous attraction between them is breath-taking and the emotions they experience while opening their hearts to someone else is rewarding, touching, and sincere. There will be moments during the entire story that draw readers in, making them love either Burke or Dani more. They are characters that readers remember even after finishing the novel and the secondary characters are a wonderful addition. With the conclusion of Discovering Dani, readers will be overjoyed with the journey they take with Burke while he discovers himself and what he was missing: Dani. I was pleasantly surprised that not only did I love both main characters but also Patrick and Shamus. I hope that there are some more Jamestown stories out there just waiting to be read. NJ Walters has done a remarkable job writing a beautiful contemporary romance worth reading more than once and keeping forever. 5 out of 5
Jessica Pittman, gottawritenetwork.com
January 2006
copyright Jessica Pittman & GWN
