"Another great book by Harlequin Duets for their 100th volume"

YOU'LL BE MINE IN '99 by Jennifer Drew

Hiho, Ohio is celebrating its centennial with festivities galore, beginning with the beauty pageant. What no one knows is that Hiho is really only 99 years old and if word leaked out, the town would be crushed.

Joel Carter is the great great grandchild of Hiho's founders, Hiram and Hortense Hump. He is representing his ancestors by presiding over events as the guest of honor. He's also a man on a mission: his boss, Big Bert, owner of the up and coming Vision Motors, is looking for a spokesmodel for his new vehicle, the Incline. Joel has no desire to be there, for he positively despises small towns. He grew up moving from small town to small town, always being "the new kid" and the brunt of all the bullies' taunting and abuse. Hiho brings back those bad memories for him, and he has no desire to be there for two weeks, preferring the hustle and bustle of big city life. Until he sees her...

Katy Sloane is the children's librarian for the town, and a volunteer on the pageant committee. When Bert sees her, he is determined she is the perfect woman to represent his new vehicle, and commands Joel to see that she wins. Unfortunately for Joel, Katy has no desire to compete, finding beauty competitions to be insulting and demeaning to women. She much prefers her simple small town life and her job at the library.

Joel's got his work cut out for him, trying to figure out how to convince Katy to compete. When the two of them discover Hiho's real age, Katy promises to compete if Joel will keep the secret about the town. Though he feels slightly guilty over her reasons for entering the pageant, she volunteered, so he isn't above using that to his benefit.

Joel takes on the job of being Katy's coach, pleased at the opportunity to spend more time with her. However, neither counted on one of the fringe benefits of their forced closeness... falling in love. Katy is convinced Joel only wants her to win because he thinks her unattractive, like the "butt-ugly" vehicle she'd be representing. He is reluctant because of her strong ties to the town that epitomizes everything he hates. So how does he convince Katy he truly loves her, knowing he could never agree to stay, or ask her to leave?

This was a delightful story! The writing duo that is Jennifer Drew, has penned a comical story that one will love to read. Joel and Katy are enchanting, as is the whole town. From Edna the gym teacher to loud Petey the car salesman, from "mature" contestant Sadie to cute Brandi and her domineering mother, the whole town is full of people the reader can't help but care for. Hiho is a lovely town, so characteristic of small towns all over the country.

This tale has everything the Harlequin Duets line is known for, making it a perfect choice to be included in the landmark 100th volume. If one loves sparkling wit and humor, lively characters and fun stories, this is a prime choice! This story is this reviewer's first glimpse of Jennifer Drew's work, but it certainly won't be the last.

THE HUNDRED YEAR ITCH by Holly Jacobs

It is the week before Hiho, Ohio's huge centennial celebration. Zoe Wallace, formerly of New York City, who came to Hiho in search of happiness and less stress in her life, is the Chairperson of the committee organizing activities. She is busy working hard to make things run smoothly and really doesn't have the time to show around a visiting news reporter, but agrees to do so, as long as it does not interfere with her responsibilities to the committee and running the town's weekly newspaper, The Herald.

Theodore "Mace" Mason is feeling hindered in his job as a news reporter for TV channel, WMAC "where nice news matters," in Erie, PA, and longs for the bigger and brighter opportunities only available to him in a big city. The last thing he wants is to spend a week in a podunk town like Hiho (founded by Hiram and Hortense Hump of Erie, PA), reporting on something as insignificant to him as its centennial. Mace's boss is adamant that he covers the celebration, and the preparations leading up to it, also using Hiram as the subject of the next edition in his documentary series, "Chronicles."

Mace goes reluctantly, planning to use the week to evaluate his options for what direction he wants his career to take. Then he meets Zoe, complete with her "big" teased hair and horrendous makeup (the result of a makeover she grudgingly agreed to for one of the beauty shops in town). The entire time they are talking, he uses all of his willpower not to even crack a smile at the image before him, winning Zoe's respect when he doesn't poke fun at her appearance... until she overhears him insult her adopted home.

Zoe doesn't like Mace's attitude, even though she finds herself attracted to him. She captivates him, in spite of the fact that she is just a small-town woman, the antithesis to what he always thought he wanted. They are thrown together when it is brought to Zoe's attention that Hiho may not be 100 years old after all, but actually 99, which would have a huge negative impact on the local library and college, who are counting on funding to be granted from the Pawley Trust, upon the town's centennial. Zoe and Mace have to work together to find the answer, even tough they are each not quite sure how the other will handle it. Attraction grows between them, but they wonder if anything can come of it because of their conflicting views.

As always, this story is another winner for Ms. Jacobs. THE HUNDRED YEAR ITCH is full of everything indicative of her personal style and flair. There are loveable characters who come to life, a charming storyline, and an abundance of the humor one has come to associate with Holly Jacobs' books.

Zoe and Mace are a perfect match for each other, their respective personalities complementary, while providing plenty of conflict as they try to understand each other's dreams. The town of Hiho is populated with colorful characters like the cloak-and-dagger prone Bertram, sisters Cora and Ida MacIntosh who are infamous for their apple pie, and disgruntled over the selection of the toothless Tom Walters as judge for the festival bake-off. In addition, how can one forget Jed, the love struck bull?

Be forewarned though; take care in choosing the time and place to read this amusing tale, or the reader may find oneself bursting with laughter at rather inopportune moments. This reviewer speaks from experience -- having done just that at a business conference. Rush out and buy this book today! There is certainly no danger of disappointment in that.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, March 2003. All rights reserved.

Reviewed by Kelley Hartsell
Courtesy Love Romances
Posted April 8, 2003

Summary

YOU'LL BE MINE IN 99 by Jennifer Drew

Librarian Katy Sloan doesn't know what to do when she realizes Hiho, Ohio, is actually celebrating its ninety- ninth, not one hundredth, birthday. Can she keep guest of honor Joel Carter from spilling the secret? Only if she slips into a bikini and enters the Miss Hiho contest!

THE 100-YEAR ITCH by Holly Jacobs

Meanwhile, the chase is on to discover Hiho's secret. Will Zoe Wallace, festival chairperson, be able to foil intrepid reporter Mace Mason's quest for the truth? Sure, he's an out-of-towner, but with each minute he's not only closer to the secret he's closer to Zoe, as well. How will this crazy couple ever fall in love and save the day?