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You are here: Home / B Review / Review: It Happened One Night – Lisa Dale

Review: It Happened One Night – Lisa Dale

November 9, 2009 by Mandi 24 Comments

Lana Biel longs to leave her family’s Vermont wildflower farm so she can travel and see the world. And her sister Karin wants nothing more than to put down roots and conceive the child she and her husband just can’t seem to have. When a lighthearted fling with a mountain biker leaves Lana expecting, she finds herself tumbling headlong into motherhood while her sister Karin can only look on.

For help, Lana turns to Eli Ward, a professional meteorite hunter and her best friend for the last ten years. But Eli’s keeping secrets that could turn their friendship on its head. As the Vermont seasons change and the flowers in the wildflower meadows begin to fade, Lana must make some meaningful decisions about her family, her friendships, her love life, and her dreams.

It Happened One Night – Lisa Dale
November 1, 2009
Contemporary Romance
368 pages, paperback
Forever
Book was sent by publisher

I received this book for review and didn’t know a thing about it. For some reason, I thought it was a historical romance, maybe because of the font on the cover. Of course, the couple wearing blue jeans should have tipped me off. When I read Lana taking a pregnancy test on the first page, I said Smexy, we are not in the 19th century. I did a little nose wrinkle, because a contemporary about a pregnant woman did not appeal to me. However, like any person obsessed with books, I persevered and I if I could, I would yell this from the rooftops – this book is adorable. ADORABLE. Let’s get into it.

The blurb does a good job summarizing but it needs to be stressed that Lana and Eli have been best friends for ten years. The absolute best of friends, having only stepped over the friendship line once in college. That night they gave into temptation and slept together, however, Lana is so terrified to lose Eli, the next night she pretends to seduce someone else to scare Eli away. Their friendship survives that night, however and since then, Lana has gone through many boyfriends, most recently Ron, who accidently gets her pregnant. Ron is the type of boyfriend who stops by on a whim when he is in town, and he doesn’t show up again. Lana confides in Eli, terrified to tell her sister who is desperate herself to have a baby. Lana herself is terrified to have a baby and doesn’t think she will make a good mother. Eli is in love with Lana and has been for a long time but now that she is pregnant, he doesn’t know if this is the time to tell her.

I rarely read straight-up contemporaries but I have to say It Happened One Night was a nice change of pace. Lana had a rough childhood – her mother died when she was young and Lana and her sister, Karin, move into the boarding house her father owned. Karin ends up raising her, since her father bascially makes sure they were fed and clothed and that is it. Except for her sister, who is extremly overbearing, Lana has been left by everyone she thought loved her. Now as an adult, deep down she still has that fear. She has stayed at her sister’s farm more out of feeling she owes her sister something while all Lana wants to do is explore the world and go on an adventure. Ironically, she pushed Eli away in college and now Eli travels the world.

Let’s talk about Eli for a moment. I love my alpha men, but I have a special place in my heart for betas. I made Marcus Worth from Kate Noble’s Revealed, and Harry Valentine from Julia Quinn’s What Happens In London scoot over to make room for Eli. He is such a cute beta hero and I totally fell in love with him. He is the sweetest person – so in love with Lana but never finding the courage to tell her. His internal emotional turmoil when he finds out Lana is pregnant by another man is so raw, but he holds it all in to make Lana’s life easier. He is there as a shoulder for Lana to cry on, when all he wants to do is give her a happily ever after. When he does admit his feelings– when the romance between them has a chance to grow, it is some of the sweetest pages I have read. His love for her was so intense, you just want to push Lana towards him knowing he will make her happy for the rest of his life.

There were a few times Lana overplayed the “friend” card and I wish she would have given in to her feelings for Eli sooner. However, her not giving in gave the book a build up of tension and I found myself sneaking peeks ahead to see when they would finally be together. Yes, I peek, and I’m not ashamed! Not only do Eli and Lana have to sort out their friends vs. lovers feelings, but they also have to deal with the fact that Lana is pregnant with another man’s baby. My favorite moment from the book is when Eli confesses his love to Lana, and she realizes it is not just her and Eli in this equation, but the baby inside of her too:

She stepped away from him, got her bearings. As she looked down-to make some distance between them if only for a moment-the curve of her belly was there, round as the curve of the overhead sky. It came as a surprise to remember reality. She put a hand on the crest of the half-sphere, felt the warmth coming from her own skin.

She looked up at him, the question on her lips far too complicated to speak.

“I know,” he said.

Oh Eli.

The secondary story of Lana sister, Karin also added to the emotions in this book. You could feel the panic coming off of Karin to get pregnant. I thought her desperation to have a baby, which leads to thoughts of adopting Lana’s baby for herself was a little much though. Her character is a wonderfully written flawed character– controlling with bursts of rage and I felt that was enough to bring to the story. I loved that Karin stays consistent throughout the story, almost a character you don’t want to like, but works it works really well in this setting.

The addition of Lana and Karin’s father who comes back to town didn’t do a lot of me either. At first he acts very creepy and I wasn’t sure as a reader where his path was going. He turns out to be just a lonely father, but I didn’t ever feel a connection with him and his daughters. He wronged them in the past, and I think he would have been better staying there.

Lisa Dale is a new author to me, but I am definitely sticking with her. It Happened One Night is a delightful, romantic story that I highly recommend.

Rating: Four Stars.

Lisa Dale’s Website

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Filed Under: B Review, Contemporary Romance, Four Stars, Lisa Dale

Comments

  1. Mary says

    November 9, 2009 at 9:09 am

    Great review. I'm ordering it today!

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  2. Blodeuedd says

    November 9, 2009 at 9:48 am

    Great review :D
    It truly does sound like a sweet read

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  3. RKCharron says

    November 9, 2009 at 10:23 am

    Hi :)
    Thank you for the thoughtful review.
    I have IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT on my ToBeRead list.
    All the best,
    RKCharron
    xoxo

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  4. Cecile says

    November 9, 2009 at 10:41 am

    Good Morning Mandi!! I just bought this book this weekend. My friend ~ Host ~ recommended it to me… And I knew it was meant for me to get.. Cuz when I went **book** shopping this weekend it was out of place and just sitting there looking at me! So, I knew it was meant for me! =) So, I skimmed your review because I can not wait to read it and come back and talk book shop with you!!!
    Hope you had a great weekend honey!

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  5. Leslie says

    November 9, 2009 at 11:00 am

    I read good reviews for her first book and have been eyeing this one. Your review convinced me to give this author a try. Thanks!

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  6. Lily Child says

    November 9, 2009 at 11:17 am

    Aw, this story sounds adorable! I will most definitely check this book out! Lovely review! :)

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  7. Smokinhotbooks says

    November 9, 2009 at 1:06 pm

    Beta's need lovin too! In real life my independent nature would not fare well with a Alpha type personality, I cringe just thinking about being told what to do. I need a little break from all the PNR books I've been reading lately, especially after I saw Paranormal Activity! Another good one to add to my tbr pile.

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  8. Book Chick City says

    November 9, 2009 at 1:06 pm

    This does sound like a sweet love story. I may have to give it a go. I'm fed up reading typical chick-lit with ditzy heroines but this sounds as though it has a bit more depth. A proper romance story. Great review.

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  9. Erotic Horizon says

    November 9, 2009 at 1:10 pm

    This sound right up my street – warts and all…

    Beta male – definately some of the best males around…

    E.H>

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  10. Randi says

    November 9, 2009 at 2:47 pm

    Hi Mandi,
    You write the BEST reviews!! I'm tracking this one down :o)

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  11. Danielle87 says

    November 9, 2009 at 4:18 pm

    I checked this book out after seeing it in your 'currently reading' box and was really intrigued. Your review has sealed the deal – I'm buying a copy.
    Thanks for the recommendation!

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  12. Mandi says

    November 9, 2009 at 5:01 pm

    Mary – Hope you enjoy it!!

    Blodeuedd – It is a very sweet read!

    RK Charron – Move it up in the tbr! ;)

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  13. Mandi says

    November 9, 2009 at 5:05 pm

    Cecile – Awesome!! Can't wait to talk to you about it!

    Leslie – I am going to have to go back and get her first book. She is definitely on my radar now.

    Lily Child – So adorable…Eli is sooo cute.

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  14. Mandi says

    November 9, 2009 at 5:20 pm

    Smokinhot – I love Betas and Alphas…I want one of each, is that ok?

    BCC – Thanks!!

    EH – sigh..betas are super sweet, yes yes!

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  15. Mandi says

    November 9, 2009 at 5:22 pm

    Randi – I hope you like this one!

    Danielle – awesome – let me know how you like it!

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  16. orannia says

    November 9, 2009 at 9:20 pm

    Thank you Mandi. Oh, I have a dilmena. This books sounds very good, but it also sounds like a tear-jerker…it's not, is it? I don't think I could cope…

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  17. Lisa Dale says

    November 9, 2009 at 9:41 pm

    Mandi,

    Thank you so much for posting this review of my new book! I like the spunk and verve of the way you review–not afraid to bring your own voice to it.

    Oh–and of course I also liked the part when you said you liked It Happened One Night. :-)

    I'm off to tweet this warm and generous review. You've made my whole day!

    Much love!

    Lisa Dale

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  18. Patti says

    November 9, 2009 at 10:34 pm

    I've recently started reading contemporaries and this one is on my "to be bought" list. It just sounds like such a nice story. Great review!

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  19. heidenkind says

    November 9, 2009 at 11:19 pm

    Great review, Mandi. But have the same reservations as Orannia–if it's sappy, do not want. :(

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  20. Mandi says

    November 10, 2009 at 12:52 am

    I don't consider this book a tear jerker – but let me say – I rarely cry when I read books..but also – there is a HEA! Not saying it is not a tough road to get there..but all works out. :)

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  21. Marissa says

    November 10, 2009 at 8:19 am

    Great review, I really like the sound of this one, it is going on my wishlist!

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  22. SusiSunshine says

    November 10, 2009 at 8:48 am

    This sounds so wonderful. Me wants now!
    Great review!

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  23. Sparklybearsy says

    November 10, 2009 at 1:54 pm

    Oh Mandi you evil evil book pusher! I have to add Jill Myles to my to be bought list now :P

    Evilness i tells ya!

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  24. prashant says

    November 11, 2009 at 10:01 am

    Thank you for the thoughtful review. Lingerie Affection

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