This HaBO request is from Dawn, who is searching for this contemporary romance or possibly romantic suspense:
I just finished reading Julie James the thing about love, and it made me think of a book that I read.
The hero camps out across from the heroine’s apartment because it got broken into and he wants to make sure she’s safe. Even though she doesn’t want him to be there, she ends up taking Donuts to him and stuff to snack on. They may have dated at one time or they’re going to date eventually.
I think he was a private investigator or something.
While I’d never turn down a donut, I feel like taking them to someone staked out would blow their cover. Worth it?
Not exactly the same but there was a similar scene in one of the Miss Fortune books by Jana DeLeon. Book 2 or 3.
I feel like this may be one by Lauren Layne – her New York’s Finest series.
sounds like a great story
Laura Kaye’s novella, “Ride Dirty”, has a similar premise (but probably isn’t the HABO book). In this one, the hero (who belongs to a motorcycle club) stakes out across from the heroine’s house after she is mugged and experiences other issues with a stalker. She gives him peanut butter cookies, and eventually invites him into her home so he wouldn’t be outside in the cold (story takes place at Christmas).
a similar premise (but probably isn’t the HABO book).
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If there’s one thing I’ve learned from reading HaBO devotedly (even though I never, ever know the solution) it is this: No matter how bizarre, arcane or off-the-wall the premise, someone will know of another title or ten with an amazingly similar setup.
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This sounds kind of like one of the Stephanie Plum novels? I can definitely see her bringing donuts to the cop she had the on-again-off-again thing with, and she was kind of a private investigator?
I have definitely read this one (I think). She is the property manager of a building and he is a private investigator. She is blonde, I think, and she doesn’t want to be romantic with him because of her job. And she always wears high heels. His business may actually be a security company for high end and/or exotic jobs and the cover is that he is a normal private investigator. I sort of think it’s part of a series. Will see if I can find it in my Kindle.
@Carol, I’m thinking the same thing. I also think she has brothers (other books in the series?) It’s just on the tip of my tongue…Christie Craig?
@Louise: I posted a similar comment on today’s other HABO: I knew of a book that had a very similar (but not exact) setup as the inquiry. To quote Ecclesiastes, “There is nothing new under the sun.”
I think the book that Carol is referencing is Accidentally on Purpose by Jill Shalvis but instead of donuts she brings him Thai takeout. I think there is a scene though with donuts in another one of Jill Shalvis’ Heartbreaker Bay books…
Run the risk by Lori Foster?
@Carol could you be thinking of Helenkay Dimon’s Playing Dirty? I’m sure it’s not the only property manager secret agent pairing. Don’t know if its the OPs book though. I don’t remember donuts, there was defiantly a bioterrorism plot that I found memorable.
On second thought Jill Shalvis’ Accidentally on Purpose is a much better fit. I might be to sleepy to play this game.
Long shot,but could it be a Tessa Bailey? She usually has cop/pi type heroes.
Alternately, what about Rachel Gibson, It Must Be Love? I’m remembering him staking her out for antique thefts and her being a “quirky new age hippie” who brings him snacks?
Sorry, probably no help at all.
@Amy YES! It is definitely that one. @Alyssa have not read that one — I would definitely remember a heroine called “Yoshi”!
Might this be Fast Women by Jennifer Crusie?
I have no idea who might be the author, but I do admit to a little amusement at the HABO title: “Heroine takes hero donuts while he’s staked out.” I couldn’t help but visualize the guy with arms and legs tied up, on an ant hill, under a broiling desert sun!
@Maria
I am so glad that I was not the only one thinking that!
@ Maria and @ Critterbee – I was thinking about that scene in a Julie Garwood historical where the heroine bring some warm clothes to someone her brother (the bad guy) had staked outside on a cold Scottish night.
Chiming in with the ant hill! I immediately imagined her using the donuts to attract the ants. She must have been really angry at him at the time.
I was thinking maybe one of Laura Griffin’s Tracer series. I think there was one similar?
My first thought was definitely one of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels… hmmmm 🙂 Seems familiar at any rate!
I’ve read most of these mentioned and love them ! It seems like maybe he has a brother who runs a bar and the hero has to move to go to a new job with a super Elite undercover training thing LOL