Catch of the Day by Kristan Higgins Paperback Review copy provided by DMCPR Media Harlequin Mira, October 2012 (new edition) Synopsis- What's the market price on a decent guy these days?Maggie Beaumont's luck is about to change. Sure, she's known for her bad romantic choices—her former boyfriend broke up with her by bringing his new girlfriend home for a visit. And then there was the crush she had on a gorgeous young Irishman, who turned out to be Father Tim, the parish's new priest.But romantic salvation has arrived in the form of handsome, if surly, fisherman Malone. It turns out there's a heart of gold underneath his barnacle-clad exterior. Will this catch of the day turn into the dish of a lifetime? Review- I received a copy of Catch of the Day by Kristin Higgins which has just been released in a new edition with a funky new cover. This is the first title of hers that I’ve read, though I have heard a lot about her novels via other romance readers.Maggie Beaumont is single, 32 year old cook who owns Joe’s Diner and is on the lookout for love. When she bumps into handsome Irishman, Tim O’Halloran it’s practically love at first sight. Maggie tells everyone that will listen that she’s possibly found the one- until she arrives at her local church only to find the love of her life is the Father Tim, the parish’s new priest.Maggie has a classic problem with speaking before thinking and says whatever comes to mind. For example while on a blind date, Maggie blurts out:“Yes, uh-huh. We’re twins. Identical twins, you’re right. She’s older by two minutes, but I like to say that Mom loves me best because I weighed less. Christy was nine pounds. Came out of Mom like a bullet. Caused some pretty nasty tearing.”No wonder I’m still single.“I see,” says Roger. His smile has faded.Friend Chantal, brother Jonah and sister Christy are all on the look-out for a potential date for Maggie and in a small fishing town there isn’t an abundance of choice. Twice in the same day, a local fisherman named Malone was posed as a potential candidate for Maggie. Typical of Maggie, she blurts out her opinion carelessly among friends at a pub:“Malone is surly, scary and ugly,” I say. “So I’m gonna pass on him, if you don’t mind.”Only to find he is standing right behind her.Despite Maggie’s big mouth, she’s quite likeable and I couldn’t help but laugh at her blunders and cringe at some very awkward situations. Her voice is light-hearted and witty and easy to connect with. I was a little wary of the first person account and the little bit of information dumping at the beginning of the story, but as Maggie found her voice, my concerns about that disappeared quite quickly.Malone is a likeable hero, even though he’s broody, lacking in some serious social skills and has difficulty responding to questions with more than one word- he’s a softy underneath and he really cares for Maggie. I don’t feel like I got to know him much better by the end, but it left me feeling hopeful that Maggie and Malone would be able to work things out and get to know each other as their relationship progresses.A fun, witty romance novel with a Bridget Jones flair and a happily ever after- Catch of the Day is sure to suit the romantic at heart. I look forward to picking up one of Higgins many backlist titles in the future.
Overall Rating
4/5
"I loved this book!"
Catch of the Day can be purchased from Fishpond and other leading book retailers
