A waste of time ( )

This book is a disappointing read. Gibson is repeating the same plot from four of her other books (Truly Madly Yours, Simply Irresistible, Daisy's Back in Town and I'm in No Mood for Love) which is wearing quite thin. Threadbare, in fact. The plot, as it were, is woman comes back to town of her childhood, where man who broke her heart and done her wrong years ago still lives. They are attracted to one another, feel they shouldn't have sex because of what everyone might think. There is always a young female - 12 or 13 who is either a niece or a daughter who is impressionable and one of the many reasons why these two adults canNOT have the sex - this is a big plot detail - sex with no-strings attached. Guess what? They have the sex! It's fantastic! A little bit of angst is thrown in when the woman, who insisted on the no-strings attached sex, develops feelings for man. Eventually, young impressionable girl finds out, woman leaves town, but not before finding out she is pregnant. Man finds out she is pregnant, follows her to wherever she is, proposes, and all is well.

The first time Gibson wrote this plot (Truly Madly Yours) it was great. Now here in her 12th book, this recycled plot is simply annoying. For some reason (I guess to make it slightly different from her other books that follow this plot), Gibson inserts a paranormal subplot into this story. It adds nothing and is annoying and preachy. It feels as though it was added because the story didn't meet the page number requirements and she had to add something, so instead of making the main male character decent and a worthwhile human being, Gibson added this subplot.

Much of the story is told instead of shown and though we have no evidence to support what we are told (these two people fall in love, for example), Gibson just keeps telling us, as if repetition will make it true.

An egregious point is made when the Adele, the main female character, is talking to her niece, Kendra, about healthy food and Kendra replies with "That's gay." (page 87). Adele considers telling her niece that stating that something you don't like or don't agree with is gay "is not p.c.", but then Adele is afraid her niece will think *she* is gay. I find this disturbing. If Gibson's point was to raise awareness about homophobia and how hurtful the statement is, she failed miserably. If we are being shown insight into a character's nature and we are expected to identify with this character and believe she is good and a worthwhile human being, then Gibson again failed miserably. Certainly, raise awareness that language coded to mean derogatory, unwanted, and something to be ridiculed is hurtful and not an acceptable way to express your own fears. Certainly expose people's irrational fears about being considered Other and therefore less than. But to raise the issue and then to let it slide, or worse let it stand as okay? Not acceptable.

I wish I could give this book negative stars. ( )

The last time successful sci-fi writer Adele Harris saw her first love he told her he'd gotten another girl pregnant. Now, years later, she runs into him coaching her old high school's football team when she returns home to help her older sister through a difficult pregnancy. Sparks fly when the two so much as get into the same room, and love inevitably results. Laugh out loud funny with interesting characters, a realistic setting and believable plot. Another great one from Rachel Gibson. Maybe even her best yet. ( )

one of my favorites; part of the "writers' series".....characters are humorous and clever; very light and quick read ( )

The characters were easy to like! Great story of past loves reuniting. ( )