Review: Cassandra by Starlight - The Good, The Bad, and the Snuggly
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 1, 2012
I was in the mood for a good romance when I picked upCassandra by Starlightto read and I was not disappointed.  It was not only a good contemporary romance but was also exciting, mysterious, and suspenseful at times.  As it was quickly paced, I read the entire book in no time, feeling quite satisfied when I was finished.The Good:  The heroine, Cassandra (Cassie) really reminded me of my girlfriend from the U.K.  I guess that is why I giggled occasionally as I read the British euphemisms since they reminded me of talking to her.  Cassie is a Londoner, divorced and  lives on her own, and she is oh-so-tired of the dating mill.  She has a terrible accident that almost kills her after which  not one but two charming and handsome men become quite enamored with her- Ian and Bennett.  Ian is one of the doctors there at the hospital with a selfless, caring soul.  He is fairly quiet and is someone you can always count on.  Bennett, on the other hand is a temperamental yet sensitive and emotional actor who loves the fame and fortune his career brings. Both of them fall in love with Cassie, but how should she choose?  And who will she choose - Sweet, dependable, yet a little bit (dare I say it?) boring Ian or younger, energetic, and dramatic Bennett?  (Personally, as a reader, I love Bennett but IRL?  Probably Ian.:)At any rate, the mysteries take off from there and the storyline has plot twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your proverbial seat.  Cassie is such an appealing character that you cannot help but relate to her.  Ms. Mac Nicol does a great job making the 'bad guys' appropriately evil and believable.The Bad:  There were a few blah spots in the plot but overall it was well paced.  Ms. Mac Nicol seemed to draw out scenes that could have been a little faster for my taste. Perhaps she was trying to flesh out  the character's and their relationships more, I'm not sure.  Occasionally I felt like I'd missed something and would try to go back and find it, only to discover that that part of the storyline was not there to miss.  It was not enough of a problem though, to take away from my overall enjoyment of the book.The Snuggly:  The flirting throughout the story was fun and enticing.  The sensuality and sex was appropriate for the genre without being crude or too erotic and it served to further the storyline rather than just being gratuitous.  Don't worry though, it is sufficiently hot to keep your complete attention.Final Thoughts:  While I mentioned a couple of things I wish were different, overall I really enjoyed this book.  It is what it says it is - a Contemporary Romance - plus a little more.Cassandra by Starlightis a book for ages 18 and older due to the tasteful sensuality and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a good romance novel.  Enjoy!