Review

The hero’s name is Harry Porter not Potter. Thought I’d clear that up right at the beginning before you start picturing him in a dark cape holding a magical wand.

No, in Sarah Mayberry’s Suddenly You Harry, who we first meet in All You Need (he’s the heroine’s brother) is all man. Tattooed, worn jeans, t-shirt wearing and sometimes fierce-looking 100% testosterone driven man.

But as it ends up, Harry doesn’t know his best bud Steve as well as he thought he did. You see Steve bailed on the heroine, Pippa, when she told him she was pregnant with his child. And the birth of his daughter doesn’t change his feelings on the matter. I got to tell you, I didn’t warm to Steve at all in this book.

Anyway, back to Harry and Pippa. Their acquaintance is renewed when he stops to help her when her car breaks down (damn head gasket). She’s a bit uneasy about the meet ing because he is her exes best bud but his concern and total willingness to help her touches her. But Pippa has her pride and refuses his help. Getting a new head gasket will cost about $1000, money she doesn’t have.

The next time Harry drives by the spot her car broke down and still sees it sitting there, he figures out why it’s still there and fixes it himself. From that point, communication between Harry and Pippa becomes quite regular.

Which is one of the biggest reasons I totally fell for Harry—his absolute selflessness. He steps up and helps a struggling Pippa out when his friend won’t. And he does take Steve to task on this. But of course, while he’s Mr. Fixit / Knight-in-shining-armor man, his attraction for her grows. As does hers for him.

For Pippa, Harry’s kindness belies his appearance. The Harry she knew when she was dating Steve was a player—like her ex—but that’s where their similarities end. Harry is good to the core. Kind beyond measure. Oh, and sexy as hell. And she’s attracted. But there’s no way she’s going to start something with her exes best friend, right?

This is one of the many reasons I love a Sarah Mayberry novel. She can make it work—the impossible sounding romances—and make it look effortless. Nothing appears contrived and so far-fetched, you’re rolling your eyes. The romance that emerges between Harry and Pippa is a slow, sensual build. The sexual tension is taut and their love scenes are both hot and deeply romantic.

And let’s face it, there’s nothing like a hero who is good with your six-month-old baby daughter and doesn’t run in the other direction at the first sign of commitment. Well that’s Harry. Which is why Harry is such a fantastic hero and why Pippa would be an utter fool to let him go. Thank goodness Pippa is a pretty smart cookie. ;)

All in all, I adored Suddenly You. It has Ms. Mayberry’s trademark heat and tug on the emotional heartstrings. Harry is definitely the kind of hero I fall in love with on a regular basis and Pippa’s grit, pride and heart will make you love her and them as a couple.