Taming the Troublemaker

Kadie
Scott
Genre: 
Contemporary

Autry Hill’s parents bet the family home he is too wild to remain dateless and chaste for six months. He thinks he will win easily until he meets Beth Cooper. They went to school together, but he never noticed Beth because he thought her sisters were prettier. Now Beth is full-grown, beautiful and has entrancing blue eyes. During a flood, she tries to save a drowning caged animal and almost falls into the river. Autry is able to saves Beth and the animal, which turns out to be a skunk. A fight erupts between Autry and Dan Fogelman, who is trying to kill the skunk. Beth finagles community service for Autry’s punishment — mentoring an orphaned boy in her class, which also puts the sexy cowboy in her presence often. Now Autry is having second and third thoughts about that bet.

“Taming the Troublemaker” presents us with two polar opposites as the hero and heroine. Autry is wild, while Beth is quiet and settled. As the story progresses, we see how well they complement each other. There are many characters in this book including Autry’s parents, four siblings, their assorted spouses and Beth’s sisters. Unfortunately, none of them are given enough time in the story to develop in personality or depth. Beth never seems to say what she really means, which causes drastic repercussions. She expects Autry to read her mind. The highlight of the book is the orphaned boy, Dylan Marsh. He is a solemn, repressed boy who blooms into a normal, well-adjusted child with Autry’s mentoring and love. “Taming the Troublemaker” is a beautiful showcase of Ms. Scott’s eloquent romance novel writing.

Belinda Wilson