My Thoughts
Sweet, fun, great dialogue with a unique, compelling twist.
Synopsis
When Kate Watts abandoned her law career to open a food pantry in Northeast Minneapolis, she never dreamed it would be this difficult. Facing the heartbreaking prospect of turning hungry people away, she is grateful for the anonymous donations that begin appearing at the end of each month. Determined to identify and thank her secret benefactor, she launches a plan and catches Ian —a charismatic hacker with a Robin Hood complex—in the act.
Ian intrigues Kate in a way no man ever has. But after learning he’s snooped around on her personal computer, she demands retribution. Impressed with her tolerance and captivated by her spirit, he complies and begins to slowly charm his way past her defenses. Time spent with Ian is never boring, and Kate soon finds herself falling for the mysterious hacker.
But Ian has enemies and they’re growing restless. In the hacking world, exploiting a target’s weakness is paramount, and no price is too high to stop an attack. And when Kate learns exactly how much Ian has paid, she’ll discover just how strong her love is for the man who has hacked his way into her heart.
My Review
This is a different side of Tracey Garvis Graves—a lighter, sweeter side that delivers a story that had me grinning ear to ear. The novel was simply fun to read. The magic was in the dialogue, as two very likeable characters fell in love one look, one jest at a time. Their banter was wonderfully entertaining and intimate, keeping me engaged throughout. From the very beginning, intrigue combined with tenderness and humor drew me in, as Ian and Kate’s story unraveled.
First we meet Kate Watts, who left her life as an attorney to become executive director of a food pantry in Minneapolis. She’s determined to prove herself to everyone who doubted her career move, determined to help those in need. But the pantry is struggling and so she makes a last-ditch plea for donations on TV as winter looms.
Super hacker Ian sees Kate and anonymously drops off a sizable donation, and then again the next month. When Kate catches him in the act, an unlikely connection sparks, but the more Kate finds out about Ian and how he tiptoes the line of legality, the more she figures she needs to stay away from him. But there’s something exciting about Ian, something alluring and wholly charming. Ian makes Kate laugh, weakening her resolve with every sweet and humorously suggestive comment.
Before too long, however, Ian’s dangerous entanglements threaten their quickly intensifying relationship, and Kate must decide if she’s willing to put her heart on the line for the hacker she’s irrevocably fallen for.
I quickly fell in love with Ian. He was CHARMING in every sense of the word. And Kate was sweet, funny and entirely adorable. Their connection was palpable. It was a very fast, lighthearted read, a good option for readers searching for an enjoyable, effervescent experience.
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Excerpt
She’d locked the door and was halfway down the street when she heard the footsteps. She slowed her pace, and when she looked nonchalantly over her shoulder, she observed a man trying to open the door of the food pantry. He rattled the doorknob in irritation and cursed under his breath as he turned to go. She scanned the street. Every meter was full, but there wasn’t an old blue car in sight. Maybe he’d left it in the ramp around the corner.
Afraid he would leave before she had a chance to talk to him, she started running, meaning only to reach out and grab his sleeve. Unfortunately, she was wearing ballet flats that didn’t have much traction, and since she’d built up a bit more momentum than she’d anticipated, she slid right into him. In an effort to maintain her balance, her arm became wrapped around his throat.
“Gah!” he yelled. “You’re choking me.”
“Sorry,” Kate said. She disentangled herself and took a step back.
He massaged his throat. “What is
wrong with you?”
“I’m just excited because I thought my plan had failed, but it didn’t. It worked!”
“Your plan?”
“To catch you in the act of making another donation. You
are here to make a donation, aren’t you?”
“That was my intent, yes.”
Kate clapped her hands together excitedly. “Now I finally know who you are. Oh, Helena is going to be so happy for me.”
“Is Helena insane too?”
“I’m not insane. I’m determined.”
“I’ll say.” He looked at her warily. “So, what’s my name? You said you know who I am.”
That took a bit of the wind out of Kate’s sails. “I don’t actually know your name. Not yet. But I know what you look like.”
And speaking of that.
How in the name of all that was holy could Helena have failed to mention so many crucial details about his appearance? Helena had guessed his age as early thirties, and Kate would agree. Helena had said he was tall, and that was also true. Kate was five nine, but even if she were wearing heels, he’d still have several inches on her. Helena had been right about his hair being somewhere between blond and brown. Dirty-blond, Kate decided. It was long enough to cover his ears and graze his shirt collar, but too artfully messy to be called shaggy. The scruff on his face was also carefully cultivated; this was not a man who was simply between shaves. His eyes were a mesmerizing shade of green, and they stood out against his fair skin. He was wearing jeans, an untucked white button-down shirt, expensive-looking loafers, and a brown leather jacket.
He was stunning.
“How long have you been trying to… catch me?” he asked.
“This is my first attempt,” Kate said. “Initially I’d assumed your donation was a onetime thing. It was only after the second one that I realized there was a pattern. I’ve been waiting for you all day.”
He seemed to be considering the information. “I see.”
“What’s with all the secrecy?” she asked. “Why have you never given me the opportunity to thank you?”
“I hadn’t decided whether or not I was going to introduce myself.”
That was a strange thing to say. “But you did see me on TV, right? That’s why you’re making the donations?”
“When you wore the short skirt? Yes, I saw you.”
Kate’s face grew warm. “That was Helena’s idea. We figured it couldn’t hurt. We were desperate.”
“Do you frequently employ the use of sex appeal for personal gain?”
“It was for the babies. And shall I point out that it worked? You’re here, aren’t you?”
He smiled. “Ah, you’re feisty. I like that.”
Kate’s eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”
“Just a man with a mission.”
“Independently wealthy, or does the money grow on a tree in your backyard?”
“I steal from the rich to give to the poor.”
“So, your name? Is it Robin Hood then?”
“Clever, but no. My name is Ian.”
“Ian…?”
“Just Ian.”
“I’m Kate Watts.”
His expression was quite patronizing. “Yes, I know. You were looking right into the camera when you said your name.”
“I wasn’t sure you caught it.”
“I did, Katie. I catch everything.”
“Kate,” she said firmly. Katie made her think of pigtails and strawberry lip gloss. Sneakers and training bras. Kate was partial to lipstick and blowouts. She wore the best lingerie she could afford under her jeans and casual tops, and when she dressed up, her stilettos were sky-high.
“So,
Katie,” he said, handing her a paper bag. “I trust you can put this to good use.”
“I can. We desperately need it, and I’m truly grateful. I told Helena that if you made another donation I wouldn’t get upset if I didn’t get the chance to thank you. But since I have, I want to tell you how much this means to me and especially to the people who count on this food pantry.”
“You’re welcome. Glad I could help.” Lazily, he looked her up and down. “You look good in jeans, but I like the short skirt better. I’ll see you around, Katie.”
She stood there openmouthed as Ian laughed and made his way down the street, and she watched him until he turned the corner and disappeared.
Connect with Tracey
Tracey Garvis Graves is a
New York Times,
Wall Street Journal, and
USA Today bestselling author. Her debut novel,
On the Island, spent 9 weeks on the
New York Times bestseller list, has been translated into twenty-seven languages, and is in development with MGM and Temple Hill Productions for a feature film. She is also the author of
Uncharted, Covet, Every Time I Think of You, and
Cherish.
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