Review: Fun, sassy and delightfully romantic
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 17, 2013
A terrifically fun Cinderella story right down to the sensational shoes, Tawny Weber's contribution to Harlequin & Cosmo's Red Hot Reads is fun, sassy and so delightfully romantic that it is bound to earn her a wealth of new readers.Gia Renyard is doing pretty well for herself. She has a tech job that challenges her and a group of best friends who will be there for her no matter what happens. They've even developed a book of rules for managing any situation in which a girl might find herself. But Gia's life is missing adventure, mostly of the fantasy kind, and she's tired of pretending she doesn't care. So, just this once, she's going to try living the life she's always secretly wanted. With help from her friends, she transforms herself into the sultry and irresistible Vanna, and sets out to seduce her long-time crush, Luke Monroe.Luke isn't sure what he did to get lucky enough to catch Vanna's attention. Not only is she everything he's ever wanted in a woman, she challenges him not only in bed, but she gets under his skin in a way he's never experienced. But when he wakes up after the most heady, sensual and mind-blowing experience of his life and finds her gone, Luke is crestfallen.It was only supposed to be a weekend of passion, but neither Luke nor Gia can forget a moment of their time together. But when they both return to their normal lives, is there any hope for them to find each other again?I wasn't quite sure about Gia's disguise plan at the story's opening, but Tawny Weber is careful to show the real connection that she establishes with Luke that goes far beyond looks or lust. Despite their short time together, there is something beautifully real about this Cinderella story that makes the reality even better than the fantasy.Her friends provided a wonderful supporting cast, rounding out Gia's character and providing the impetus she needed to make her dream come true. Their sense of fun was inspirational, but their ability to see Gia's heart proved their dedication and made me quite eager to meet each of them again soon.Luke similarly starts off as a playboy who doesn't seem to be quite worth the effort that Gia is willing to make. However, once the layers of pretense and, frankly, complacency that he's accumulated fall away, it's clear that Luke is a fascinating man who is more than capable of rising to Gia's challenges. When the doors close, leaving our lead couple with nothing behind which to hide and the sparks begin to fly, the magic isn't simply physical. Their relationship has a surprising emotional depth as well, and changes both of them for the better, forcing them to face who they really are, and what they truly want going forward.I also really appreciated the fact that Tawny Weber managed to make a meaningful romance feel so effortless and still emotional. The light, flirty tone never falters, and still manages to hit all the right notes, from sizzling tension to swoon-worthy sweetness. She knows when to show and when to tell, and keeps the plot moving and the good times rolling. I haven't read much of Ms Weber's work, but I know I can't wait to get caught up while waiting for her next sizzling story!Reviewed by Bridgetfor TheRomanceReviews.com