MR. DESTINY

Author: Candy Halliday ISBN: 0446614564 11/2005 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: WARNER FOREVER

When Officer Anthony Petrocelli literally drops down off his horse and lands at Kate Anderson's feet to announce he's her destiny, Kate figures it's just another typical day in New York. Besides, no hunky Italian on a stallion talking about his grandmother's "marriage vision" (in tea leaves, for crying out loud) is going to disrupt Kate's plans. And that's a prudent marriage to a corporate attorney (whose difficulties in the bedroom are sure to be temporary). Luckily, Anthony isn't in the market for a bride. He just wants the already-engaged Kate to meet his family and disprove their silly prediction once and for all. Problem is, steamy thoughts of Anthony have been running nonstop through Kate's head. Beneath her well-bred sensibility, a new, passionate, unpredictable Kate is beginning to think that maybe love shouldn't be practical. And that a cop named Anthony could be just what the Fates have planned for her after all...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Candy Halliday tickles my funny bone.

Not only does Ms. Halliday have a gift for comic timing, her slightly quirky sense of humor is a real treat.

MR. DESTINY genuinely sparkles with Ms. Halliday's flair for the wild and crazy.

Aside from the humor, there are several nice things going on within this story. At the core of MR. DESTINY is a pretty special romance. And even a more dynamic hero. NYC police officer, Anthony Petrocelli, is just yummy. A potent mixture of brains and brawn, Tony is a real sweetheart. A guaranteed heart melter.

Ms. Halliday captures the essence of true love between Tony and his heroine Kate Anderson. The sometimes bumpy romance between these two is a melding of hearts, a spiritual union of kindred spirits.

Oh, the plot and most of the characters are fairly standard stuff in romance land—trying-to-be-normal female of two free-spirited parents hooks up with a straight arrow, boring sort of guy then meets a real heartthrob—but it's what Ms. Halliday does with the characters that makes this story really appealing.

The often chaotic camaradire between three college friends and the warmth of Tony's large Italian family are all well-done. Ms. Halliday brings the story and the characters to life with some special touches. And some interesting twists.

There is a secondary mini "romance" going on in MR. DESTINY. To be honest, I wasn't too anxious for Harold Wellington, Kate's ex-fiancee—a cold, nasty, budding sociopath—to have his happy ending. However, haughty boy Harold does indeed get his just rewards.

Funny, breezy, sexy and often touching, MR. DESTINY is a guaranteed charmer. And Tony Petrocelli is a dream guy.

Debbie Jett