Review: A Cute- Opposites- Attract Story
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 26, 2014
*Written By Laura Phillips*The arrival of a friend’s newborn baby has forced together the sworn enemies Skeeter Cooper and Randi Lynn Brown. These two have spent a lifetime getting on each other’s nerves and, essentially, irritating the bejesus out of one another. Randi Lynn has her sights set on a big, fancy modeling career once she can escape the trappings of her tiny hometown. Skeeter, on the other hand, loves those trappings and intends to stay put in his trailer, running the bait and tackle shop until the moonshine runs dry. As her dreams of city life reach closer to reality, Randi Lynn’s insecurity is the only thing that stands in her way. Skeeter has even agreed to help get her to her first interview. Randi Lynn just has a few small town hoops to jump through first. She can handle a little bass fishing tournament, right? And camping?? In a tent??? Sure…This is a classic story of the country boy and the would-be city girl who couldn’t possibly agree on what movie to rent on a Friday night, let alone where they want to finally settle down with the right one. Randi Lynn and Skeeter are surrounded by a group of close-knit friends, who have caught on to their mutual attraction long before either is willing to admit it. The abundance of friends can be a little tough to keep track of, but the main characters eventually stand out. Skeeter fits the bill as a laid back commitment-phobe who abhors the thought of having to give up his good time for anyone, although several thoughtful gestures betray him. Randi Lynn manages to be both high maintenance and totally loveable, a feat many women are certainly hoping to accomplish with such allure. She and Baylee Jean have the sort of sister relationship I love, keeping each other in check. I’m not sure, though, who’s keeping Aunt Callie, the woman with a possum fetish, in check.The book’s cover has a bit of a young adult feel, although I will admit the fishing hook is pretty cute. The cover reveals that this is part of the Possum Hollow Series, which helps explain the large group of friends…lots of opportunity for sequels! I must say, why anyone would want to live in a place named after possums is completely beyond me. Is this town inhabited by a passel of possums? Overrun, even? Aren’t you concerned you’re going to be innocently taking out the trash some night to find a possum in your yard staring at you with its beady eyes? No? I’m the only one? Hmm. Ok. I’m not sure if the aunt’s intense interest in possums is a result of the town’s moniker, but the family’s propensity for casting spells seems to come out of nowhere. I’m generally not a fan of suspended reality, so I found it a bit out of place in my contemporary romance environment.If you can get over the presence of the euphemism “diddling,” you’ll find a cute, opposites-attract story. The main characters are likeable and sweet, although they’re not nearly as alarmed by someone being turned into a possum as I thought they should be. Have I mentioned I don’t like possums? I’m also never a fan of men having all the fun while the women sit around waiting for them to run out of wild oats to sow. Go out there and get yours, girl! Hopefully a sequel-to-come will regale us with T-Bone or Summer’s adventurous exploits. Read this book on a road trip, imagining which towns along the way might be harboring the redneck of your dreams.RatingsPlot: 3 starsCharacters: 4 starsCover: 3 starsOverall Thoughts: 3 starsWriting: 3 stars