It’s been quite a long time since I’ve read Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella. I’m reading it for this month’s entry in Nath’s Re-Read Challenge of 2009 and I am falling in love with Jack Harper all over again. I’m almost done with the book and goodness, I’m loving Jack and his American arse all over again.

It’s surprises me that I’m featuring a chick lit hero because you don’t get to know the chick lit heroes as much as you do the romance novels heroes because in chick lit novels, the story is told from the main character’s POV and the main character is usually a woman. A woman learning her way in life and going through that journey to self discovery.

In this book, we get to know Emma Corrigan and she’s a fantastic character and I loved when we met the man who’s described as this bit of goodness:

The man in the seat next to mine hasn’t even looked up yet. He’s wearing jeans and an old sweatshirt and is staring out of the window. As he turns to answer I catch a glimpse of dark eyes, stubble; a deep frown etched on his forehead. ‘No thanks. Just a brandy. Thanks.’ His voice is dry and has an American accent. I’m about to ask him politely where he’s from, but he immediately turns back and stares out of the window again.

So mysterious, no? Who doesn’t love a good ol’ American boy in faded jeans and an old sweatshirt? What’s sexier than a man who’s comfortable in his own skin that he doesn’t get dressed up to fly anywhere. As sexy as that is, don’t you want to know what color his eyes are? What color his hair is?

Well…

‘We’re going to die.’ I stare into his face. This could be the last person I ever see alive. I take in the lines etched around his dark eyes; his strong jaw, shaded with stubble.

He’s got dark eyes, now we’re getting somewhere. A strong jaw, YUM…and it’s shaded with stubble, oh yeah. So physically, we know that he’s a good looking fella now let me tell you how he’s a fantastic man, one worthy of being this month’s Hero of the Month.

Women everywhere love a man who pays attention to the small details, a man who cares enough about the small details and simply wants to bring a smile to your face, make your day a little better, it’s at those times when these small details make me love the man behind the small details all the more.

Jack Harper is a man any woman would be lucky to have. He makes Emma’s story so much better and he was the perfect man for her because he seriously loved her for who she was. He knew every little thing about her and loved her anyway. She had absolutely no secrets from him, he knew every good thing and every bad thing about her and still loved the hell out of her. I mean, check out this scene where Emma’s in charge of their date and the date goes straight to hell, only a good man could save the date like this:

I gape as he produces a small, stainless steel cocktail shaker and two matching cups. He unscrews the top of the shaker and to my astonishment, pours a pink, transparent liquid into each cup.

Is that …

‘I don’t believe it!’ I gaze at him, wide-eyed.

‘Well, come on. I couldn’t let you wonder all your life what it tasted like, could I?’ He hands me a cup and raises his towards me. ‘Your good health.’

‘Cheers.’ I take a sip of the cocktail … and oh my God it’s yummy. Sharp and sweet, with a kick of
vodka.

‘Good?’

‘Delicious!’ I say, and take another sip.

He remembered that she wanted to taste the drink from their first date? How sweet is that? But more than the small details, that speech he gives her when he tells her all of his secrets will always melt me into a puddle of lust for this one.

It’s Jack, coming towards me, striding fast across the courtyard, determination on his face. I haven’t got time to think, or prepare.

My heart really is racing. I want to speak or cry or … do something , but I can’t. He reaches me with a crunch of gravel, takes me by the shoulders, and gives me a long, intense look.

‘I’m afraid of the dark.’

‘What?’ I falter.

‘I’m afraid of the dark. Always have been. I keep a baseball bat under the bed, just in case.’
I stare at him in utter bewilderment.

‘Jack—’

‘I’ve never liked caviar.’ He casts around. ‘I … I’m embarrassed by my French accent.’

‘Jack, what are you—’

‘I got the scar on my wrist by cracking open a bottle of beer when I was fourteen. When I was a kid I used to stick gum under my Aunt Francine’s dining table. I lost my virginity to a girl named Lisa
Greenwood in her uncle’s barn, and afterwards I asked if I could keep her bra to show my friends.’

I can’t help giving a snuffle of laughter, but Jack carries on regardless, his gaze fixed on mine.

‘I’ve never worn any of the ties my mother has given me for Christmas. I’ve always wanted to be an inch or two taller than I am. I … I don’t know what co-dependent means. I have a recurring dream in which I’m Superman, falling from the sky. I sometimes sit in board meetings and look around and think, “Who the hellare these guys?”‘

He draws breath and gazes at me. His eyes are darker than I’ve ever seen them.’

‘I met a girl on a plane. And … my whole life changed as a result.’

Aside from Jack Harper being a complete and total stud, the book is a gem of a book. It’s so funny, so cute and you really won’t regret reading this book. It’s got everything in it, plenty of laughs, lots of great characters and a strong heroine who muddles her way through life and finally finds the person she is and the person that she’s proud to be at the end, so really, read this book and meet Jack Harper for yourself if you haven’t already because seriously, he rocks my socks so let him rock yours.

Until next month…enjoy.