Author Spotlight Review: Baby, Don’t Go by Susan Andersen

Posted November 16, 2009 by Holly in Features, Reviews | 1 Comment

Publisher: Avon, Harper Collins

Holly‘s review of Baby, Don’t Go by Susan Andersen

Rule One: Don’t Let Him In
When photographer Nick Coltrane saunters into Daisy Parker’s office, all she sees is the man who broke her heart nine years ago. Never mind that he wants to hire her as his bodyguard — ah, security specialist — or that her fledgling company desperately needs the cash flow. She’d once broken her own rules, only to watch his sexy self go running for the door. Providing round-the-clock protection for him now is out of the question … right?
Rule Two: Always Be Able To Walk Away
Nick needs Daisy around to keep the hired thugs that are out for his blood from actually getting it. If he can make amends for the way he screwed up nine years ago in the process, then so much the better. Except time has done nothing to dull the memory of how Daisy once rocked his world off its axis and her cocky attitude and mouthwatering curves still have the power to turn his brain to mush. Well, that doesn’t mean Nick can’t handle living hand-in-glove with the one woman he’s been obsessed with for years. Yeah. Sure he can.
Some Rules Were Made To be Broken
In the city by the bay, two people who once were friends and used to be lovers will discover if love and trust can come from a passion that breaks every rule.

It’s been several years since I read this book, but I recall not enjoying it very much back then. I think it had something to do with the hero hiring the heroine as a body guard and then not trusting her to protect him. It made the hero seem too weak and the heroine too tough.

As it turns out, that wasn’t really the case. I don’t know why I thought it was, but in reality the story was much stronger than I gave it credit for.

Yes, Nick does hire a bodyguard aka “security specialist” to protect him from some goons, but he only did so because they’d dislocated his shoulder and he couldn’t protect himself. Ergo, not weak.

Yes, Daisy does throw off major attitude, but she has cause..Nick ran out on her after taking her virginity 9 years before. Plus, Nick doesn’t listen to half of what she says about his personal safety (which worked in the context of the story). Looking at it that way it’s no wonder she acted the way she did.

I really liked Nick. At first he seems self-absorbed and shallow, but it isn’t long before we realize there’s more depth to him than that. As the story wore on, I felt he really grew. I especially like that he admitted his feelings first.

I also really liked Daisy. Not many authors could write a likable, believable bodyguard heroine, but Andersen really pulled it off. Though Daisy was tough, she wasn’t so tough she became stupid with it. She knew her own strengths and weaknesses, and she wasn’t afraid to make them work. I did question her professionalism several times, however. It seemed she really let Nick get the best of her, almost to the detriment of his safety or her own. While I understand that was kind of the point, it frustrated me a time or two.

The suspense plot was actually pretty well done. The villain was a bit over the top – I can’t believe he’d hire goons to go after a photographer but no one would catch on to his true nature – but he worked within the context of the story. A few things did bother me, like the way the police acted when Nick tried to report things, but I was able to move past it.

One thing that drove me nuts was Nick’s lying to Daisy. I understood his reason in the beginning, but as they’re relationship progressed I found myself getting more and more upset with him for not telling her the truth. I was completely satisfied with the final resolution, though. Although he was wrong, I felt he made up for it in the end.

Overall this was a fast paced, fun contemporary. Although it wasn’t perfect, I did really enjoy it.

4 out of 5

This book is available from Avon. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

Little Known Fact: Although Andersen has 3 titles with the word “Baby” in them – Baby, Don’t Go, Be My Baby and Baby, I’m Yours – they aren’t connected in any way. All three are standalone novels. They don’t even have honorable mentions of the characters from the other “Baby” books.


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One response to “Author Spotlight Review: Baby, Don’t Go by Susan Andersen

  1. This is one of my favorites by Susan Andersen. I think it may be the first one I read by her, and it prompted a glom of major proportions.

    Isn’t it interesting how one’s opinion can change over time? I’ve had it happen both ways: a book I loved the first read but didn’t like the second, and vice versa.

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