Once in a Lifetime

The Blaines and the McCalls of Crockett, Texas #3

by Ginna Gray

A totally terrorized vacationing Abigail Stewart grabbed her tiny terrier and ran-to David Blaine's bachelor boat. But the supposedly reputable U.S. agent gave his stowaways a salty reception, swilling beer and singeing Abby right down to her sensible walking shorts! Heavens, between gun-toting goons and David's volatile masculinity, bookish Abby's daring once-in-a-lifetime jaunt was in tatters!

David was annoyed with the prudish spinster and her mangy pooch. Still, he had a soft spot for females in a jam, and naively sexy Abby appeared the victim of an international setup. Besides, the lady proved a feisty dame in a pinch...the kind who came around maybe once in a lifetime...?

Genres: Romance

250 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 1991

About the author

Ginna sold her first novel in 1983, after winning the Golden Heart Award, given by Romance Writers of America for the best unpublished novel in a category. She has been working as a full-time writer ever since. When she finishes her current contracts, Ginna will have written 33 books. She has also given many lectures and writing workshops, and judged in writing contests.

A native Texan, Ginna lived in Houston all her life — until 1993, when she and her husband Brad built their "dream home" and moved to the mountains of Colorado. Ginna also enjoys other creative activities such as oil painting, sewing, sketching, knitting, and needlepoint. "But my first love will always be writing. It is simply part of who I am."

Reviews

[Miranda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I truly wanted to give this a higher rating but could not bring myself to do so. Maybe I just had to much going on while trying to read this book, which made me lose interest. David and Abigails love story could have been so much better! Abigail was made to look like a silly unattractive girl in the beginning, towards the end she bloomed like a flower, and she became this unstoppable, beautiful woman. David in the beginning and most of the way through seemed like a total jerk . I still wonder how Abigail came to love a man who was so rude to her throughout. It was tiring nonsense how they would act like they love each other and the next minute despised one another. It reminded me of two high school love birds, and supposedly they are in their 30’s?.. it was too much of the same thing , I love you but I can’t, I still love you but I still can’t, the end oh well let’s love each other anyway. Their story could have been amazing and beautiful, but I was just too annoyed with their childish games to see past it all! So this book took me way to long to read, not enough to fully interest me.

[Saly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Okay so I will admit the hero was a jerk at first but he grew on me. When the heroine who has just turned 30 and always played it safe goes on her first foreign vacation, she finds her room being robbed and runs. She is told that the hero is a secret agent that can help her. The hero is no saviour; he is former FBI and on vacation and in the mood to carouse and when the buttoned up heroine and her dog crash on to his boat he is not happy. He is all ready to dump her when two men try to kidnap her and they have to run and hide and solve the mystery of what is going on. This book was a delight, as always I like Ginna Gray's writing and the heroine really comes on to her own. She really turns the hero's life topsy turvy and blasts all his plans to hell. Her nifty handbag, amazing dog were all stars of this book.

[CANDEN333 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical of a lot of books during its time written. Macho, grumpy man meets and rescues high strung, nippy woman. Actually the dog in the book was nippy. The woman just prudish! But she loosened up…a lot!! The guy not so much.
It had a comedic flair but not enough to save it from being average.

[Diane ~Firefly~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, nothing like reading an old favorite...

Prim and prissy Abby goes on vacation and ends up on the run from the KGB. A local points her at David, saying he is an American agent and will help her. But David is recently retired and doesn't believe her at first, but quickly realizes she does need his help.

Abby grows quite a bit, she starts off very naive and prissy but comes into her own as she matches wits with David (and hides his cigarettes to help him quit smoking). She also has a Yorkie in her purse who is a great character. David is a softie under a gruff exterior.

[Janet · Rating 2 out of 5]

One and a half stars would be more accurate -- the book was just fine if that was what I was in the mood for but it didn't stand out. I need to stop buying books at my fave library thrift shop on a whim because hey, too many books, too little time!