I'm in No Mood for Love

I'm In No Mood for Love
4.5 Stars

After catching her fiancé in flagrante delicto with the repairman, Clare Wingate gets rip roaring drunk and awakens in an unfamiliar hotel room. Unfortunately, the occupant is no stranger, but Sebastian Vaughan, the bane of her childhood existence who has turned into a sexy and successful journalist. While Clare is determined to forget the embarrassing episode, Sebastian has other ideas and isn’t shy about showing Clare exactly what she’s been missing ...

Although contemporary romance is not a preferred genre of mine, every once in a while a series comes along that grabs me. This is one such series.

Clare is an endearing heroine and one cannot help sympathizing with her feelings of loss and betrayal at show more her fiance’s actions. Sebastian is completely commitment phobic, but certainly knows how to lay on the charm and does a really good grovel, which makes for a wonderful ending. Their romance is sweet and spicy as they have excellent chemistry and their banter and bickering makes for entertaining reading.

My one small caveat is that Clare and Sebastian spend lengthy periods of time apart and these sections are too drawn out. They are definitely better together.

All in all, a lovely romance and I look forward to reading Maddie’s book next. show less

Clare Wingate arrives home unexpectedly only to discover her fiance in flagrante delicto with the washing machine repairman. She doesn't have time to focus on this catastrohe because she has to act as bridesmaid to her good friend so she decides to deal with Lonny and his infidelity (and sexuality) later. But later turns out to be after an extended amount of time and drinks in the hotel bar and Clare can't remember much of the rest of her evening, knowing only that she has awakened naked in a hotel room. Worse yet, it appears she has awakened in the bed of her childhood nemesis Sebastian, now a gorgeous reporter who has chased important and dangerous stories around the globe. When she assumes that the two of them slept together, show more Sebastian doesn't disabuse her of the idea, thinking it's rather fun to see perfect, monied little Clare flustered.

There is a reasonable amount of friction between the two characters but there is quite a lot of time spent on each of their seperate development and growth and not nearly as much as might be expected in a romance on the actual relationship and its evolution. It is interesting that Gibson chose to make Clare a romance author who can't even command respect from her mother given her choice of subject matter despite the fact that her rather over the top prose has made Sebastian hot and bothered. The story doesn't follow the traditional arc of a romance but it also doesn't work as anything other than a romance novel and so this deviation from the conventional, instead of being a strength, ends up weakening the story and leaving the eventual resolution feel a bit rushed. It is also a tad wearying that the character who is unable to sustain the concept of "friends with benefits" is Clare, causing Sebastian to panic until he realizes that he too needs more than to stay the cliched commitment-phobic male. Romance fans will likely not be ambivalent about this one, either hating it for its tepid relationship or loving it for its ability to show major change and growth in the main characters independent of each other. Personally I'm rather wishy-washy about it, appreciating the attempt but ultimately finding that the attempt created flaws that wouldn't otherwise have been as evident. show less

Read by Kathleen Early, this audiobook is the perfect length for a rom com at 8hr 36min. I enjoyed this more than 3.5 but not 4, so because it was a pleasant surprise I've erred on the favourable side. I like the way the heroine made a firm decision at the end where she decides she can't stay with someone who doesn't return her love. Which of course he does when he gets past everything that makes him stuck.

It's the story of Claire Wingate, a romance writer, and Sebastian, a reporter and war correspondent. They were childhood friends, who meet 10 years later, and the chemistry is funny and electric.

I liked how the characters recalled their past as children with their teasing and their now adult versions of it. Enjoyed the various scenes that Clare found herself in the beginning of their relationship. It was nice how Sebastian's thoughts added to the story. I don't like the "friends with benefits" concept but understand why it was used in this story.

I'm in No Mood for Love by Rachel Gibson (Audio Edition)
Narrated by Kathleen Early
The Writer Friends #2

4.5 Stars - I was happy to see Clare finally get her happily ever after. She had to work through some large emotional moments in this book and I liked that Sebastian was there to help her through it. These two had a wonderful spark between them.

There were some funny parts, and some super sweet parts (which were perfectly suited for a romance writer!) I totally enjoyed this story. Kathleen Early did a great job with narration! I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

~ Paragraphs and Petticoats ~

Original review posted at: http://paragraphsandpetticoats.blogspot.ca/

Clare Wingate discovers that her fiancée is gay on the same day as her friend Lucy's wedding! She drinks away her misery at the wedding and ends up getting incredibly drunk and in bed with childhood friend/nemesis Sebastian Vaughan... Their paths cross several times afterwards and while Clare is most definitely in no mood for love she struggles with the attraction she feels for him physically. And then, of course, he kisses her and she likes it.. Nice read.

When Clare stumbles on her fiancée and the Maytag repairman in the closet together needless to say it is quite a shock. Almost as much of a shock as waking up the next morning in a hotel room with her childhood nemeses, Sebastian Vaughan, without any clear recollection of what happened, but one heck of a hangover. For Sebastian stumbling upon the cause of his exile at the age of 12 from his father's home in a bar was the surprise of a lifetime. Neither Sebastian nor Clare had any intention of being more than passing acquaintances, but sometimes there is nothing you can do to escape attraction. Even if you're no mood for love.

Once again I have enjoyed Ms. Gibson's contemporary tale. Although the story did seem to drag a bit in places, show more overall I found it to be well written and it kept my attention. I will definitely be reading more by Ms. Gibson in the future and would not hesitate to recommend her to fans of contemporary romances. show less