Review: Unforgettable Characters!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 14, 2013
I am seriously running out of ways to say just how much I adore both Rachel Harris and her books, guys - but I do. I love her books.Continuing her stories about the incredible cast of characters introduced in Taste the Heat, SEVEN DAY FIANCE offers just as much heat and even more steamy romance than that of its predecessor. While reading, this happily married lady imaged just what sort of man she would like to lay her hands on if she had ever been given the opportunity to win the date of her dreams with the guy of her dreams. (Of course, I would want it to be my husband *wink wink* but when reading about "fictional" situations and thinking about it hypothetically, it is okay for a girl to dream, right?)We were introduced to Colby Robicheaux and Jason Landry in Taste the Heat, SEVEN DAY FIANCE follows the story of Angelle Prejean and Colby's brother and Jason's best friend, Cane Robicheaux. Oh my, if you thought Jason was H-O-T in Taste the Heat, just you wait until you get a load of what Cane has to offer! In addition to an award-winning set of abs, he also has a personality that will make any girl with a pulse swoon. What I loved discovering while reading SEVEN DAY FIANCE is that hidden beneath Cane's rock-solid exterior is a cuddly teddy bear that will set every reader off into romantic fits.As with the turn of events in Taste the Heat, SEVEN DAY FIANCE unveils it's plot in layers, only feeding the reader bits and pieces at a time. Though we know that Angelle is needing the irresistible Cane to become her "fiancé" for seven days (the title tells you that much), the story doesn't reveal that fact until a number of pages in. I enjoyed reading early in the book as the auction leading to Angelle's "possession" of Cane took place - but where I REALLY fell in love with this book was once Angelle and Cane reach Angelle's hometown and interact her family and friends. Rachel writes about the small town and the people within it as though they were were really a part of her home. You can tell that Rachel knows and loves these characters dearly, and the way she writes about them ensures that the reader will come to know and love them, too. (Think Sweet Home Alabama, or perhaps Where the Heart Is - only Cajun-style.)I appreciated the rebellious spirit that lay within Angelle - the little, red-headed firecracker. I think it was this spirit that ultimately led her to Cane. Also, I found it ironic that Angelle left home to "find herself" and to do things that she she was always afraid to do at home, but it was after returning back home that she found the one thing she'd needed all along... Yeah... OK, Cane had a bit to do with it, too... But I digress.Rachel writes contemporaries with finesse. She shows how to create real problems for her characters - and she finds real ways for them to work through those problems. I may have found Colby and Jason's problems to be more exciting and quite a bit more of a challenge to get through, but there is plenty of drama to be had in SEVEN DAY FIANCE. As I said before, reading about the small town where Angelle grew up alone is more than worth the price of the book. (And there is Cane, too...)Later in the book, a series of misunderstandings drive the story to its inevitable conclusion. While I did see the end coming a mile away (this is a romance, guys) I enjoyed every minute of the journey. Not to mention, Rachel shows just how much fun can be had when your fake fiancé is as tempting as someone like Cane. Plus, how many lies can one tell before the truth is found out? ...Or before the lies become the truth?In Summary: A good, clean, solid romance is what I wanted going in - and a good, (mostly) clean solid romance (topped off with stellar writing and an unforgettable cast of characters) is what I got!...and when it comes to fantastic romances, what more could you want?(Aside from your very own Cane, of course.)