I should let you know that contemporary romances are not my strong suit. Once in awhile I run across one that makes me wish I was the heroine and the story was mine. This is not the case. The premise is acceptable; just be aware that the narrative is a little dated. John David 'JD' Marshall is a good-looking computer nerd who has trust issues. When the story begins he is living in LA, has a business partner and is trying to finish writing a program that will change the banking industry and make them millions. But shady men want his knowledge and, compounding his problems, he just found out he is a father. On the run with his computers he changes his course to AZ, panics, and takes his son.We soon find the two guys in Kentucky and JD is injured in a crash with another vehicle. Nina Toons, a local high-school teacher, witnesses what happens and takes them into her home. Believing them to be brothers she is at odds with herself. Leery of JD she wants to help Jackie, the teenager. JD makes her a deal: he'll pay her an obscene amount of money (for that time) as rent if they can stay at her house temporarily. He'll also help her with her dream of developing the property into a botanical garden. Unfortunately trust issues fly in the face of this romance. Still farfetched, I enjoyed it up to this point but neither JD or Nina have faith in the other and it starts to erode the storyline. I wanted to like GARDEN OF DREAMS but the main characters friction and quick-fix ending put a damper on the book. I'll try some other of Patricia Rice's romances because I believe she has potential to write a better fiction.
