Kiss Me, Katie
by Robin Lee Hatcher

ISBN#0-06-108388-7
Rated 3.5
Reviewed 1/29/97 by Pam Tullos
Copyright 11/96

"Kiss Me, Katie" by Robin Lee Hatcher is an entertaining story involving two people who have been best friends for years and upon a long overdue reunion find out that their love for each other could possibly go deeper than the friendship they have cherished for so long.

Katie Jones is an extremely strong and independent woman. She is heavily involved in the woman's suffrage movement - equal rights for women including obtaining the right to vote. She has been away for years attending school, but has continued correspondence with her childhood friend, Ben "Benjie" Rafferty.

Katie comes home to find that Benjie has grown into a handsome man and she isn't quite sure of her feelings for him nor what happened to the young boy who left years before. It isn't until she learns that he has been seeing another woman steadily that she feels jealous feelings stirring within her. She still holds firm to her beliefs that she would never marry - she is just too independent and she will never succumb to any man, not even for love.

Ben has missed Katie while she has been away. She was just a child when he himself left for school years ago. He is altogether shocked to see what a beautiful woman she has become. He is unsure of the extent of feelings he has for Katie. He has always loved her, she was his best friend, but soon he realizes that his feelings for her are more than just love for a friend, he wants her to become his wife. He is willing to compromise so that she can hold on to her independence. He sets out to win her over, but it doesn't come as easily as he thought it would. He never asks for more from Katie than she is willing to give, but adamantly Katie refuses to marry.

It takes a moment of passion to get Katie to admit she desires Ben, but a few misconceptions are what lead them into marriage. Ben feels so sure that she will soon admit her love for him, that they will be happy, and of course settle into a life together including children. By this time though, Katie has already declared that she is going to run for office - a District Seat in the House of Representatives is her goal.

Ben has always stood by Katie and supported her in every endeavor she has undertaken. But for the first time in his life Ben secretly wishes that Katie will fail. He wants more than anything to settle into life family life with her. Hard feelings are carried around and anger builds until a confrontation is inevitable.

I adored Ben and held high regards for Katie and her independence. She is a strong woman and I give her a lot of credit for it. I loved the fact that she was the first person in her home town to own an automobile, much to her father's dismay. Ben was a caring and loving individual. His love for Katie was obvious, even from the start, and it warmed my heart that he was so sensitive to her feelings and goals in life.

I had a bit of trouble accepting all the talk about the woman's suffrage movement. I am all for equal rights for women, believe me, but I just don't seem to get into reading it. I couldn't understand Katie's loyalty to her independence and gaining rights for other woman, over Ben's love for her, her love for him and the possibility of sharing their lives together. Putting all that aside, I enjoyed the story very much. As well as the story being well-written, I liked the characters and all the sub-characters very much.