IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT

Author: Lisa Dale ISBN: 9780446406901 11/2009 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: GRAND CENTRAL

Sometimes love finds you when you least expect it. Lana Biel has always wanted to shake the dust of Vermont off her feet and see the world, one exotic country after another. But when a lighthearted spring fling changes her life forever, she turns to the one man whose strong shoulders can lighten any burden: her best friend, Eli Ward. Eli has always been there for Lana—after all, that's what best friends do. But Lana isn't the only one hiding something. Eli is keeping secrets of his own that threaten their relationship. Yet as summer turns to fall, new desires awaken between them, even as old fears tear them apart. Then, when another Vermont winter fills the valleys with snow, Eli and Lana are given the chance for an adventure greater than they ever dreamed possible...and a love that will last for all time.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Lisa Dale is, I must admit, quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She has a writing style that is flawless, and a way with characters and situations that draws readers fully into the plot. I loved her first book, SIMPLE WISHES.  If possible, I loved IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT even more.

This is a heartwarming story of love and life, and the way one might lose sight of what really matters from time to time. Two sisters, each with divergent views on what they want out of life, and where they want to be when they get it, show that sometimes what we think we want isn’t exactly the thing our heart desires most. Karin and Lana seem as different as night from day. When Lana becomes pregnant and is forced to make decisions about not only her life, but her baby’s life as well as Karin’s, things get dicey.

I hesitate to say much more, not wanting to give anything at all away about this book. It would be a disservice to take even one second’s enjoyment from the reader. This book deserves to be read, and each delightful morsel discovered in relative comfort and, might I suggest, a whole afternoon free with which to enjoy it! The characters are so realistic the reader will feel like they are family, the setting is so perfectly drawn that it leaps from the page, and the plot is so enchanting there is no way to turn away from the page.

I loved this book! The ending was both a nail-biter and heart-stopper, and I believe anyone who likes a solid romance will not be able to put this book down. Once again, I only had one problem with this author’s book. I hated to see it end! Now I’ve got to wait for the next story from this talented author—my hope is that I won’t have too long to wait! Bravo!

Kay James