Sookoo pens a lighthearted, yet complex contemporary romance with Not Just Make Believe. Andrea Petercheff is an assistant manager at the Stansbury, a fancy hotel in Indianapolis, Indiana. When she runs into Maxwell Gildenthall (literally) in the lobby, she doesn't realize she's set off a slow fuse in his heart until she's assigned to watch over his nine-year-old precocious niece, Piper.  Piper and Max live in the hotel due to the nature of his work on Wall Street. It's Christmas time, but Max always seems to working. When he take a trip across the pond, Howard, Andrea's boss, assigns her to watch over Piper. Piper is a handful. A princess of mischief, Andrea realizes she has to use all the tricks in her arsenal to keep up with the little pistol.  Soon Piper and Andrea strike up a friendship. When Max returns from England, the sparks between him and Andrea ignite. Will Piper finally have the family she's longed for? One thing is for sure: It's not just make believe when it comes to Andie's heart.

Sookoo's writing shines. The story is told in the first person by Andrea, and Sookoo has captured Andrea's voice down to every nuance and rhythm. The plot moves well and there's never a dull moment in Andrea's world.  Sookoo's characters are rich and complex. Andrea hides behind a sarcastic quick wit to cover up her insecurities. Max is equally complicated, finally forced to deal with his feelings of loss from a previous tragedy and his newfound attraction. It's a hard spot for him. Piper is absolutely endearing. She lives in a hotel and loves to watch Disney movies. She comes to believe the prince always gets the princess, and is heartbroken when Andie and Max hit a rough patch. The novel is "sweet" for CRR readers with several steamy kisses. Overall, Not Just Make Believe will make you believe in the power of love.