Trust Me

Veterinarian Carly Martin cares for the animals belonging to an eccentric millionaire. When the old man falls into a coma, and Valerie discovers she's to inherit his fortune, the man's illegitimate grandson of accuses her of being a gold digger--until he falls in love with her. Original.

It's not hard to figure out who's the villain in Craft's lightweight debut romance, as there's only one shady character in the sunny San Francisco depicted here. But Craft's full-bodied portrayals of entrepreneur Max Giordano and veterinarian Carly Martin more than compensate for the story's dearth of strong supporting characters. Max meets Carly when his grandfather Henry, whom he has never met, ends up in a coma after "falling down the stairs" in his mansion. If Henry dies, Carly stands to inherit the mansion and a great deal of money to start a foundation for animals. Max suspects Carly of attempted murder and the worst kind of feminine wiles, but as he gets to know her, he senses that her motives are far from malignant. In truth, her goodness stretches the bounds of belief. Not only does Carly put up with Max's constantly renewed suspicions that she tried to kill Henry, but she must also deal with the insecurities he's had since growing up in foster care. A few mildly surprising twists and tender scenes (such as when Max interacts with Carly's boisterous family) beef up this bare-bones plot, but anyone expecting more than a few sparks and a smidgen of suspense may be disappointed.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Although he was raised in foster homes, Max Giordano became a self-made millionaire. Recently he discovered that he has a grandfather living in San Francisco, but he is reluctant to contact him; then learns that his grandfather has had an accident that rendered him unconscious. Apprised of his will, Max is astonished that the mansion and a healthy portion of his grandfather's money will go to a veterinarian, Carly Martin, to take care of the many strays he has acquired and establish a shelter. Max confronts Carly, certain that she is a gold digger preying upon an old man, but Carly is no such thing. Instead, she is warm and open, everything Max has ever hoped to find. But Max doesn't fully trust his feelings, and when his grandfather's accident begins to look deliberate and all the evidence points to Carly, Max is unable to overcome his distrust. Craft's well-written romance is a poignant ode to trust and to man's best friends. Maria Hatton
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