Mar 31 2011
REVIEW: Two Against the Odds by Joan Kilby
“You’re being audited.”
That’s hardly his most winning opening line, but Rafe Ellersley isn’t here to make friends. He’d promised himself-’and his boss-’that this audit would be different. This time, he would be the consummate Australian Tax Office investigator. Cool, detached, professional. He’d bring Lexie Thatcher, tax-dodging artisan, to justice with ruthless efficiency. No more bending the rules. It’s the only way to save his job.
But Lexie proves a far greater challenge than he’s been prepped for. Her world is a crazy canvas of chaos and confusion, complexity and color, unlike anything he’s ever known. So who can really blame a tax guy like him for what happens next….
Dear Ms. Kilby,
I know I’m not alone in dreading the thought of getting that first line of the book blurb delivered to me. Years ago in an episode of “Roseanne,” she and her husband Dan were trying to get their taxes done and every time the IRS was mentioned, there was this ominous Da Da DUUUUUM! music played in the background. But on the other hand, I love to see accountants made sexy so the same blurb made me want to dive right into this one.
From your author bio, I noticed that you’re Canadian yet the book, the last in a trilogy that I want to go back and read the first two at some point, is set in Australia. What? Are there no hot accountants in Canada? There must be. Show of hands- who knows an accountant from Canada they’d jump in a heartbeat? All right, enough joking and playful banter. I’ll get to the review.
I’ve been reading romances for years and there are few tropes I’ve not come across nor ways into or out of conflict. Usually I see the resolution coming from a mile away and can almost write it myself. I’m used to characters being presented with potentially awful outcomes yet somehow things miraculously come about. Here, I honestly didn’t know what you were going to do and how things would turn out. The twists and turns actually surprised me and made me amazed at the risks you’ve taken in a romance book. I’ll bet that some people aren’t going to like the reality that you slap the characters with but I found it refreshing. I will issue a warning that people who have had trouble conceiving might want to think hard about reading this book. That’s all I’ll say.
One of the main conflicts in the book is that he’s a practical accountant while she’s a new age artist. So it was important to me that we see Lexie and Rafe at work and that this is an integral part of the story. For Lexie it’s ‘being blocked,’ sketching to clear her mind, dreaming of the inspiration for the background of her current painting, and how much effort she puts into not only the actual art work but also getting it ready for show.
Rafe has his spreadsheets, receipts and computing. There isn’t as much of him as fisherman but you do include his methodical hunt for the perfect boat. I like the
interesting twist about Rafe and his job – the guy has a heart about audits and it costs him. His dream comes at a price and the dream isn’t springing into being full fledged and perfect from the start. It’s another reality check but so different from usual “character takes a chance and everything works out instantly.”
Another conflict in the story is the age difference. It’s a big one – twelve years. You have some fun with it though. I love that Lexie is sexually secure and willing to go for it and tell Rafe what she wants and when. And even though Rafe initially sees it as her offering favors for a better audit, they have fun in bed as well as great sex.
Rafe doesn’t act all noble about the sudden pregnancy entering his life. He acts trapped – like a 26 year old single man with dreams might. He says some awful things to Lexie which they’ll have to get over yet he’s honest with her about how he feels instead of lying about it. And then he does come through with the child ceremony which I thought was touching.
The book has a lot of humor too but it’s the low key, natural style I adore. The scenes of Lexie’s mother Hetty asking Rafe for a man’s advice about her marriage and how to spice it up are hilarious. And while I don’t think Rafe’s ever going to go for peppermint tea, he likes the crystals in Lexie’s windows. I love her cats, Yin and Yang.
I love the sexiness, love the humor, love the fact that the characters don’t just fall into the prescribed romance patterns. Rafe really isn’t ready to be a parent yet and no amazing sonogram is going to change that. There are no instant parental bonding moments here where nature takes over. Let me just say “wow” about that. Lexie wants to be a parent but the timing is off for her too with her career demands. Will these two make it work? Who knows but as they say, the odds are 50/50 anyway and they could be in love, could still be together despite age difference. I also love that they are realistic about the odds and things stacked against their long term survival. Though those are a bit sobering the fact that they’re still trying despite everything says something. They are attracted but do want more than just the great sex that they have.
The story has bittersweet accents – Rafe’s parents and his father losing his dream while his mother got her’s in a different way. Lexie just might never be able to have children at her age. The fishing charter business will need a lot of effort to work out. Hetty and Steve are still working on their marriage. But last page seems very optimistic to me. B for a book I’m very glad I took a chance on.
~Jayne
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Mar 31, 2011 @ 14:08:40
Actually, Mrs. Kilby lives in Melbourne. She’s a native Canadian but moved to Australia. I really like her Summerside stories.
Mar 31, 2011 @ 14:35:06
Joan Kilby – and the whole Superomance line – has been my discovery of the year. I really adore the subtle humour, her down to earth style and her well drawn characters. I am reading Two Against the Odds at the moment and am completely hooked. I really like new agey Lexie and the little bit geeky Rafe. Having read the previous books, I am also enjoy the sub plot of Lexie’s parents.
The Superomance line has never been on my radar, but I’ve discovered some great writers. It’s still as tight and as focused as my other favourite Harlequin lines, but with an added dimension of more room for development for secondary characters too, which make the romance and the community so much more real.
Mar 31, 2011 @ 16:57:44
Julie wrote, ‘It's still as tight and as focused as my other favourite Harlequin lines, but with an added dimension of more room for development for secondary characters too, which make the romance and the community so much more real.”
That’s exactly why I read the line too. Joan Kilby and Sarah Mayberry are favourite authors of mine.
Mar 31, 2011 @ 17:59:46
Joan Kilby is my neighbour, my friend, and an awesome writer! I love her natural, clean writing style, and her sense of humor is so sly and subtle sometimes I’m smiling before I even realise it. So glad you enjoyed this book.
Mar 31, 2011 @ 18:19:02
@ClaudiGC: Ah that explains it.
Mar 31, 2011 @ 18:22:53
@Julie:
Totally agree with you here. I’m looking forward to reading more from her.
Secondary characters and, sad to say in some cases with the other lines, primary ones as well.
Mar 31, 2011 @ 18:24:03
@sarah mayberry: She’s a definite “find” and if she is like her writing, she must be a great neighbor to have.
Mar 31, 2011 @ 18:26:17
I love the depth of the SuperRomance series.
(both Joan Kilby and Sarah Mayberry have fabulous voices!)
This book is on my TBR pile!
Mar 31, 2011 @ 20:44:58
Okay you’ve convinced me. I passed on this one yesterday because I don’t like stories about pregnancy and babies. I can, however, deal with realistic portrayals where the whole world isn’t a part of a womb-worshipping cult.
It’s always nice to read books set in Australia (even if they are usually Americanised)!
Apr 01, 2011 @ 01:51:39
I loved this series. I won the first one from the SuperRomance Authors Blog and was hooked. I was really curious to see if she’d pull this story off because it was not ‘typical’ at all. I wish there a 4th in the series!
Apr 01, 2011 @ 06:50:04
@SN: Trust me, you will never find me worshipping at the altar of the Holy Womb.
Apr 01, 2011 @ 06:51:36
@Babs:
Not typical at all which is one of the reasons I liked it so much. ;)
Apr 01, 2011 @ 08:02:50
This book totally had me at the blurb! I’m so glad it lived up to that excellent setup.
I don’t read the HSR line as much as I should, but I’m rarely disappointed when I do. Thanks for the review, Jayne.
Apr 01, 2011 @ 09:11:43
As an auditor (one with a heart!) I never thought I would see the day. Thanks for the review – this one is definitely for me.