Author: Tracy Brogan
Publisher: Montlake Romance
ISBN: 9781611098884
Website: http://www.amazon.com
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
I was flip-flopping on trying this author out. (I know it's a free book. But I still have to spend my valuable time to review it, you know.) So what did I do? I checked out the reviews for her older books, of course. And the overall responses were on the positive side. And after finishing the book, I have to agree with many of the reviewers about this author. She definitely have the knack of combining humor, romance and drama into one package.
Libby Hamilton has come home with her tail between her legs. Recently losing her job and boyfriend, she was "volunteered" to help her father transform a run-down schoolhouse into a ice cream parlor. The unexpected bright side was restoration specialist, Tom Murphy. Recently widowed, Tom was not interested in a relationship. His only interest was in restoring the relationship with his daughter. As they worked together, love has a way of breaking down walls around the heart.
I'll be honest - this was your run-of-the-mill contemporary romance. The plot moved along the path one would expect. But there were some unexpected drama that kept the romance just a bit off kilter. However, why 4 stars then? I will give you the 2 main reasons to pick this book up. The artistry of the writing and the eclectic cast of characters. The writing was awesome - snappy dialogue, well used descriptors and not verbose. The first sentence set up the overall tone and the rest will keep you hook. Plus, there was the occasional metaphor that made me laugh or smile. Let's just say that these unexpected one liners definitely lighten an "intense" moment. Next, the cast of characters were definitely "interesting" and brought life, emotion and entertainment to this story. With Libby and Tom being on the serious side, the others help create a balance. I looked forward to the scenes that involved Libby's eccentric family. Libby and Tom were a decent couple. Their romance was little rushed considering the time span but luckily, lack unnecessary drama (except at the very end). There was too many things going on to develop their character growths. The chapters were varied but primarily were short, making reading a breeze. For those who don't like children in their romances, Tom's daughter was not as predominant as expected. But she was ever present.
If you like Brogan's previous books, this latest romance will live up to its predecessors. And if you haven't, give it a try. It has a great cast, humor, drama and enough heat to satisfy most tastes. However, is this a book to go out and get right now? Not particularly. But if you are looking for a filler book, this should be high on the list. All in all, worth a one time read.
Note: I would like to warn the few readers that there was occasional use of foul language and this is not a clean book.
Second Note: I received this ARC from the Amazon Vine program for an honest review.
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