My One and Only: Book Review

My One and Only (Hqn)

About the Book:

Divorce attorney Harper James can't catch a break. Bad enough that she runs into her ex-hubby, Nick, at her sister's destination wedding, but now, by a cruel twist of fate, she's being forced to make a cross-country road trip with him. And her almost-fiancé back at home is not likely to be sympathetic.

Harper can't help that Nick has come blazing back into her life in all of his frustratingly appealing, gorgeous architect glory. But in Nick's eyes, Harper's always been the one. If they can only get it right this time, forever might be waiting—just around the bend.

My Comments:

What happens when ex-spouses are "forced" into taking a cross-country trip together?  Guess?  They are either going to kill each other or.... and in this case they do a little of both.

I liked the characters in this book.  Harper's mom abandoned the family when Harper was thirteen, and she's kept people at arm's length since them.  Nick fell in love with Harper when they first met, and is the all-around  good guy everyone wants, except that Harper gave up her life and dreams to marry him, and he worked all the time.  Dennis is the blue-collar boyfriend, all around nice guy that everyone likes--but he hasn't shown any inclination to take the relationship to the next level.  BeverLee is the step-mother who wears her clothes cut too low and hair poofed too high. Willa is the step-sister who goes from one disaster to the next.  Father Bruce is the community Catholic priest, and a friend of Harper.  

One thing that comes out in this book is how much our childhood affects who we are as adults, particularly in relationships.  

One thing I didn't like about this book was Harper's favorite expletive.  While better than some of the alternatives, I guess, I got tired of reading her say "Crotch".  

While the book is mass-market romance and it clear that unmarried people are intimate, we aren't invited into the bedroom.  

I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.  I was not obligated to write any review, much less a favorable one.  Grade:  B.

Book Review: All I Ever Wanted

Sometimes when reading a contemporary romance novel, I have this urge to shake the heroine's shoulders and say "Just grow up" and this is one of those books.  Callie Gray works in advertising and is in love with her boss, who just happens to be the guy who, many years ago, gave her her first kiss in the closet of  a friend's house. Unfortunately, other than one short fling, he has never returned her feelings, and is now engaged to a client, who is also a new employee.  Needless to say, things at work aren't going well.  

There is a new vet in town and he is anything but warm and fuzzy, though he is attractive enough that every single woman's pet suddenly had to be seen.  He wants nothing to do with any of them, but ends up hiring Callie to help him build his business--it seems that those single women didn't like the way he treated them.  

Subplots include Callie's parents' relationship and Callie's relationship with her grandfather.

It is interesting how writers can use language to set a mood.  Callie is an ex-cheerleader who will easily tell you that everyone likes her.  She is cheerful and upbeat and tries to make people happy.  Ian, the vet, says its like she's always working the room.  The book is like a cheerleader--peppy, upbeat, almost breathless at time, but hard to take seriously.

It is mass-market romance.  While there are no vivid sex scenes, unmarried couples do go to bed, and there are lots of references to blood flowing to Callie's "girlie parts".  "Four-letter" words are also used, often in places where I just don't think they were necessary.  

All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins is a fun light read if you don't mind crude language and non-marital sex.  

Thanks to FSB Media for providing a complimentary review copy.  

Grade:  B