PRINCE OF FROGS

Author: Barbara Plum ISBN: 0821777734 10/2004 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: ZEBRA

Double The Pleasure CEO Ben McDonald is doing his best to raise his little daughter Molly after the untimely death of his wife. Buttoned-down Ben doesn’t have time to fool around—but he just got his black socks knocked off by a woman in white: Dr. Risa Taylor, a statuesque pediatrician who has a way with kids and a wonderful sense of humor. Risa is gorgeous, funny, and definitely available—she’s kissed a lot of frogs and she’s sure he’s a prince. So what could possibly go wrong? Triple The Fun Everything! Risa’s adopting three bundles of joy—and Charlie, Tom, and Harry have more bounce to the ounce than any babies she’s ever seen. Midnight feedings, morning burps—isn’t it romantic? Well, Ben seems to think so…

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

First off, I really liked the premise of this book with its everyday themes and situations most readers can relate to. Having raised several children myself, I also thought Ms. Plum did a very good job of portraying Molly and Jason, the two bubbly 4 year-olds, who seem to show up just enough and in all the right spots without stealing the spotlight from the adults. The fact that Risa is more a size 14-16 and a "normal" working woman like the rest of us was another big plus (no pun intended), while the widower, Ben, seemed to be a very likable, non-egotistical fellow struggling to juggle between business responsibilities and raising his motherless daughter. The fact that he's willing to accept a set of triplets for the woman he loves, makes him a honor badge member in this reader's book of contemporary heroes.

However, there was one item about PRINCE OF FROGS that bothered me and made it a slow-go read for me. The stories I enjoy most are those told in a flowing prose, stories whose cadence sweeps a reader along from page to page, chapter to chapter. In PRINCE OF FROGS, all too often there seemed to be a break up of the writing rhythm, especially pertaining to the dialogue between Risa and Sam. There were too many descriptive references to the characters feelings of "lust" and "sweating" and "panting", etc., spaced too close together, seeming to crop up just as a conversation was really getting interesting. Instead of pulling me into the blossoming relationship between Risa and Ben, it pushed me further away. Sometimes, subtle nuances here and there will pace a story more evenly, and at the same time a little description can go a long way. In this case, the constant references to the physical became more of a distraction, more than once breaking this reader's connection with the two main characters.

PRINCE OF FROGS is a more character driven read, and Ms. Plum does a fine job of rounding out her secondary cast of supporting players. I enjoyed the storyline and I think Ms. Plum is definitely on the right track. Anyone who enjoys a romance that relates to everyday life will surely enjoy PRINCE OF FROGS.

Nancy Davis