ACCIDENTALLY YOURS
Susan Mallery
HQN
ISBN: 978037372056
January 2008
Contemporary Romance

Susan Mallery offers readers another sparkling example of her exemplary talent as a contemporary romance author. Kerri Sullivan is a widowed hairdresser who has been raising her son by herself. Afflicted by the fatal Gilliar’s Disease (a fictional disorder—I looked it up) Cody’s prognosis is poor. Kerri is obsessed with the possibility of research that could offer a viable treatment. The only laboratory that has done the work closed down after a disastrous fire. No longer operative, if offers the only hope of a possible cure.

Kerri is a plucky, driven, ordinary looking lady who cooks up the idea that she will somehow convince billionaire Nathan King to fund more research. She banks on the idea that because of his personal experience he might be interested in this; Nathan’s own son died of the disorder six years before.

Kerri tries to get Nathan’s attention by posing as a waitress (unsuccessfully and hilariously). She then decides that if she says he is donating millions to the cause and fabricates the award letter on his stationary, he will be compelled to donate the money.

Nathan, a thirty eight year old, emotionally shut down man is furious at Kerri’s attempts to get money out of him. Rather than let his attorney’s handle the situation he makes the trek to the small town of Songwood, Washington, and is immediately bombarded by the single minded perseverance of Kerri and her charming, but very ill wheelchair bound son, Cody.

While many authors might struggle with developing a novel themed around a child’s terminal illness, Susan Mallery manages to pull off a heartwarming, evocative story about very ordinary people caught up in extraordinary circumstances. The character development in this book is excellent with readers gaining an understanding of the enigmatic Nathan and the relationship phobic Kerri. Their chemistry is palpable in the writing and makes for a terrific romance.

Bravo to Susan Mallery who takes a potentially depressing story and makes it an uplifting tale that will bring readers to tears. Once more she is offering us a gem of a novel to enjoy and savor. I thought about this one long after the reading was finished.

Reviewed by: Jeri Neal
Rating: 4 ½