Sherrill Bodine

Seriously, it reminded me of a mediocre soap-opera. The problems and resolutions were so melodramatic and blown-out of proportion that they bordered on ridiculous. On top of that, they characters were difficult to warm-up to and weren't very memorable. If you're looking to take a break from life (one were all brain function ceases) then, by all means, give this fluffy bit a try. I found it diverting enough to finish it, so it's not irredeemable. It wasn't my cup of tea though and I won't be show more following up to find out what happens in the next books about Athena's sisters. show less

As the saying goes, it’s not personal. It’s business. In Sherrill Bodine’s latest contemporary romance, her heroine, Venus, completely disagrees. She decides to make things very personal. Venus believes that Connor Clayworth O’Flynn and his company ruined her father’s reputation by firing him unfairly with false accusations. She’s willing to do anything, even cozy up to one of her least favorite people, Connor himself. She has a stroke of luck when she buys an antique broach from show more Connor’s Aunt Bridget. The broach turns out to be a key piece in a three-decades old mystery, and Connor believes it should be back with his aunt. Despite a longtime lust/hate relationship, they agree to work together. Venus will return the broach if Connor helps to clear her father’s name. In the meantime, sparks fly…

ALL I WANT IS YOU is part romance, mystery and suspense in one. The strained relationship between Connor and Venus made for some spicy chemistry. Venus was fiery and determined to clear her dad’s name, while Connor played it cool as much as he could. They both had their own agenda for “playing nice” together, but neither could deny the strong attraction growing between them. Considering how much Venus was supposed to hate Connor, they moved from friends to lovers very quickly. I was never convinced they actually despised each other. Connor was way too sweet on her. I think my favorite part of the story was the brouhaha over the remarkable broach, which added a cozy mystery flair to the mix. I couldn’t wait to find out how the mystery played out. ALL I WANT IS YOU is a light and fun contemporary romance. Other related books: TALK OF THE TOWN and A BLACK TIE AFFAIR. show less

Gossip Queen Rebecca Covington is the "gossip Queen Bee", she knows her stuff and is sitting pretty at the Daily Mail - until one faithful day - she is told by her quivering boss that she is being terminated. Rebecca cannot believe it!!! she spends some quality time in the washroom getting herself "together" and decides to accept the offer of a "lower" position at the paper - that of food columnist. The only problem is, Rebecca cannot really cook and she mainly lives on Diet Coke! Yet, she show more is determined to prove to all, especially her new CEO David Summer, that she will always be "the queen of gossip" and is due her rightful place at the head of THAT column.

With a wonderful sense of humour, this book takes us through Rebecca's trials and tribulations as she tries to prove to everybody that she still has "it". Of course, to add to the mix is the sexy potential pairing up of Rebecca and David who eventually meet face to face and feel an instant, if not annoying, physical attraction to each other. Will the new CEO follow his heart? or will he put his professional career ahead?

This novel is charming and what I truly enjoyed about it is the fact that the main character is ALWAYS nice. She is somewhat clueless for most of the book, but I love that even at her worse, she just picks herself up and keeps going - with a smile (albeit a fake one) on her face.

This book is funny, funny and the speed of the narrative is non-stop - not too many dull moments here. The storyline was a tad predictable, but that's part of the fun of these romantic comedies. I would qualify this book more of a romantic comedy and less of a chick lit book - but if you are looking for an uplifting read, this is a good bet. I really enjoyed it show less

Oh, but I loved this book. Ms. Bodine has a way of bringing you into the world of high fashion couture dresses and making any girl feel all giddy inside. I loved the descriptions of these fantastic gowns. Oh, to just twirl around in one of them (a girl can dream right?) obviously sans the poison.

I loved the chemistry between Athena and Drew - it was flirty, it was sweet and very romantic. I especially liked how you read a little bit about their past together in short increments making you show more come to terms with how their relationship ended and have you rooting for them to have another go at it and make it work. Between the mystery of the gowns and the romance between our characters it definitely keeps you on your toes, making this a very quick read. This was a light, fluffy romance, with great characters, witty banter and an underlying mystery to solve. I thought it had a little bit of everything needed to make it a very enjoyable read. show less