5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
So very funny..., 15 Nov 2006
By Ana Muhandis - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Hot Dish (Mass Market Paperback)
I love Connie Brockway's historical romances, and picked this book up expecting it to be her venture into the contemporary romance genre. Well, it is....but not in the way I expected. The romance is kept to a minimum (though still very well done). The focus of the book is Jenn's relationship with her 'hometown,' and Steve's growth into a man who can commit to a woman for a long-term relationship. The 'butter head' (a bust of Jenn carved in a large block of butter when she was in high school) is a recurring theme, and almost every reference to it made me laugh out loud (unfortunately for my seat mate on the plane). Ms. Brockway has such a deft touch in describing the Minnesota small town's inhabitants; I almost felt like I knew them.
One of the funniest books I've read in a long time.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Painful to get through, 20 Nov 2006
By Tammy - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Hot Dish (Mass Market Paperback)
Ok, I was really excited to read this as I love her historical romances. The premise on the back of the book even sounded like something I'd like to read (I'll refrain from doing a plot summary here, as it has been summarized by many other reviewers on this page).
For starters, this book never really "captured" my interest, as it had way to many chapters with too many points of view (from minor characters). That was the first thing that bugged me. I figured it would get better if I just gave it a chance, but, alas, it never did. Also, If you like 20/30 year old main characters, be forwarned that the girl is 40 and the guy is nearing fifty. That fact didn't bother me as much as it might bother some, but I figured I'd warn prospective readers.
I never really connected with this book or it's plot. I did make myself finish this book (because I really hate buying a book and not reading it), but I found it truly painful to finish. Think twice before picking up this book! I hope I can expect better from Connie Brockway in the future!
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Painful to finish, 17 Dec 2006
By book worm "labony" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Hot Dish (Mass Market Paperback)
Oh, how I miss Connie Brockway's older books after having read this one. I have read every one of her previous books and have several on my keeper shelf, so I was anxious to give her contemporary romance (if that's what it was) a try.
It is the story of how a woman spends some twenty years of her life trying to reclaim the feeling of security she lost when her well-to-do parents lost everything they owned (except for a cabin in Minnesota) in Las Vegas.
It was a story full of too many irrelevant details about too many goofy secondary characters. The romance was barely given a chance to develop before the end of the book and the one sex scene was about as unromantic as they get. There were a couple of laugh out loud moments that reminded me of the old Connie Brockway books but they were few and far between. The plot was very silly and the book was very difficult to finish.
I have given the book 2 stars only out of respect for Connie, but I can only say that her contemporary fiction is not my cup of tea.