THIGH HIGH

SIGNET (2008), 383 pages, $7.99 (paperback)
The setting is what readers will really fall in love with in “Thigh High.”
New Orleans comes alive in this contemporary story by Christina Dodd, and even if you’ve never crossed Bourbon Street or walked along the French Quarter, you’ll find yourself wanting to be there.
Nessa is a native of New Orleans, growing up in an historic house as a member of an historic family. Her two 80-something aunts are beloved eccentrics who define the city as much as Mardis Gras and gumbo.
Nessa is a friendly, honest woman who works in a bank managed by an aggravating, manipulative and less than honest woman. During Mardis Gras each year, other branches of her bank are robbed by costumed, eccentric robbers, who only ask for small amounts of money.
The bank owner isn’t nearly as amused as many of New Orleans’ residents.
That owner, Mac, decides to come to New Orleans to investigate the robberies – incognito. And since Nessa is his No. 1 suspect, he tags her to assist him in the investigation.
His suspicion of her is the problem.
Of course, Mac falls for Nessa. And vice versa. But Mac never relinquishes his suspicion of Nessa, never trusts her – and never reveals his identity.
Mac had ample opportunity to rescue Nessa from her nasty boss, to ease her anxiety and be a 10-plus hero. But he never did, at least not until the very end. In fact several times, he was the source of her sadness and anxiety.
And for one short period of time he was quite unforgivably nasty to her.
But he learned that you don’t mess with genteel, weathered Southern ladies. Especially a protective 100-year-old housekeeper who knows how to twist ears.
The story is humorous, thanks mostly to those genteel, weathered Southern ladies. There’s a bit of mystery to it, and Nessa is so likeable that you want her to get her man. You just might find yourself wishing a time or two that it wasn’t Mac she wanted.




Overall rating: 3-plus of 5 hearts. Nessa and her loveable and eccentric supporting cast are enough to make this a worthy read. But Dodd does an exceptional job taking readers to New Orleans, and that’s what will make you glad you read “Thigh High.” As for the romance? Good enough, although there are a couple of drawbacks there.


Hunk appeal: 10-minus. Speaking of drawbacks….Mac definitely has his rough spots, and there are times he makes readers very angry. He redeems himself somewhat at the end, but after some of his antics there just isn’t enough groveling to pull him up all the way. Some readers may not like the way Mac worked his way through college. Although Nessa didn’t seem to mind.

Steamy scene grade: XXXXX. Nessa definitely didn’t mind.

Happily-Ever-After: Good. Miss Maddy (the 100-year-old genteel Southern lady) makes Mac pay for his transgressions better than anyone. And he makes some pretty sweet declarations at the end.


Also this week …

BOSS MAN, by Diana Palmer (2005, paperback) – 3 of 5. This one is attached to Palmer’s series about the cowboys in Jacobsville. Blake Kemp is the town lawyer, a curmudgeonly sort who lost his first love years before. Violet is his secretary, and can’t understand the contempt her boss seems to hurl her way. Of course readers recognize it as a sign of true love, but it does take Kemp a while to begin treating Violet nicely. Mr. Romance he never becomes, but Violet seems to be happy by the end.