Reilly’s Return by Tami Hoag
Contemporary Romance
June 22, 2010
Paperback, 288 Pages
Bantam

Reviewed by Tori

Jayne Jordon lost her husband one year ago and is still recovering from the grief. Concentrating on her work, she has moved back to her hometown to rebuild her spirit and soul. But Pat Reilly has other plans. Gorgeous movie star, Pat Reilly, has loved Jayne from the first time he saw her. But she had been married to his best friend. Reilly knows that he and Jayne were meant to be together…he just needs to fate a small nudge. But Jayne isn’t sure she can get past the or the fear to allow herself to love again.

Tami Hoag’s latest book-Reilly’s Return-is a sweet sexy contemporary romance. Jayne Jordon had her whole life ahead of her when her husband boarded his last overseas flight and never came home. A well read movie critic, she decides that Hollywood is not for her and heads back to her hometown to find herself. But fate has other plans for Jayne. And his name is Pat Reilly.

Reilly told her after her husband’s funeral that he would come see her
in one year. And that year is up. Pat Reilly, international movie star and sex symbol, is everything Jayne is scared of. Incredibly sexy and smart-she was powerfully attracted to him when they first met. Reilly is convinced they fell in love the first day they met and now that one year has passed since they buried her husband, he needs to see if that "something" is still there. But he and her husband were best friends and Jayne has felt guilty for her attraction to Reilly ever since. As she and Reilly dance around each other, it is soon evident that the passion and attraction that first held them spellbound has not
diminished. But can that be enough? Both of them hold secrets that threaten to destroy what has yet to be discovered.

I have always adored Tami Hoag’s books. She is a multi talented author
who’s stories have held me enthralled for years. In this recent debut,
we are introduced to Jayne and Reilly. Two souls who met at the wrong time but are given another chance at a future together. Jayne is struggling to overcome fears of what life with Reilly would represent. She projects her fear of the unknown on him, channeling it into a flaw on his part. Reilly comes off as being very suave and debonair, but he’s really scared that Jayne will not give them a chance.

I found Jayne to be enjoyable in the beginning and had great hopes when she finally allowed Reilly into her life and bed. But then she falls back on her mistrust of him and you never get a real feel for WHY she mistrusts him. There is nothing in the story or alluded to that I found to be worthy of her mistrust. A mistrust that colors her perceptions of him and allows her to make assumptions. It becomes rather repetitive after time.

Reilly I enjoyed immensely. Ms. Hoag portrays him with a wild, larger then life personality and he really takes over the book. Between his sexy Aussie accent and consist sexual innuendos you can’t help but fall in love with him yourself.
He exhibits a vulnerability that softens him and makes him more a man
then a myth. Jayne picks up on in the beginning but then nothing. It’s
as if she forgets all about it.

The secondary characters add definite flair and personality to the story; though I would have loved to see more of Jayne friend’s in this story. Even though this is a stand alone-you do see characters from other books. Which is great. But the few scenes you see them in are written in a fashion that makes you flip back through the book thinking you missed something. Ms. Hoag’s word play is smooth and descriptive; drawing you into the story and into their love affair. You feel the passion and chemistry between Reilly and Jayne and root for them to make it in the end. And that is what makes the romance enjoyable.

Rating: 3.5/5

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