Review: Just try to ruffle this butler's bow tie
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 5, 2012
4.5 starsIf you are a mover and a shaker, and stay at the Native Sun Casino, you will most likely meet Antonio Cruz, head butler extraordinaire. Whatever your wants or desires are, Antonio will do everything in his power to obtain them. Join him and the staff of the casino as they do their jobs for one not so ordinary weekend. This weekend will stretch Antonio's many talents to their limit; thankfully he has the help of the security manager, Mark Ford and their staffs.Antonio and company will make sure an up and coming starlet remains incognito, try to keep themselves and her rapper boyfriend by being mauled by a hoard of adoring teenage fans, chase down the elusive paparazzo called  Kamikaze Cam, deal with an eccentric high roller and do it all with a smile and an unruffled bow tie. Settle back and enjoy the rollicking ride that is just another day at the office for Antonio and company.Mr. Fields takes us on a wild ride in the weekend of the life of this unflappable butler who is joined by a cast of eccentric, slightly off center supporting characters. We meet Antonio as he is preparing a suite the beautiful young actress Shannon Moon and her rapper/DJ boyfriend Brandon will share.  Brandon is scheduled to perform in one of the casino's nightclubs the next night, which is guaranteed to bring in big money.Eccentric big roller Max Allen is also expected to be there to play in the high stakes poker challenge the casino is putting on. As a superstitious gambler, Max will only be greeted and escorted to his room by Antonio himself. Antonio must juggle Ms. Moon's arrival and get her settled in her suite, greet Max and get him settled, then deal with Brandon's adoring fans and get him settled as well, all in the course of a few hours. Not only is Antonio up to the challenge, he deals with all the upcoming disasters with the aplomb that only the best butler's can manage.Antonio reminded me of a mix between Hector Elizondo in Pretty Woman, and Bob Hoskins in Maid in Manhattan. Nothing seemed to faze him, and he handled everything that came his way as if it were just as easy as picking out flowers. There is a little mystery about him. How did he learn the things he could do, was he really an ex-seal? He'll never tell, but it was fun speculating about him. His supporting casts of characters were just as fun to get to know.I particularly liked the head of security, Mark Ford. He was the total opposite of Antonio, but just as good at his job. Watching the two play off each other was a riot. There is a rich supporting cast of characters, all of whom deserved getting to know in their own right. Brandon and Shannon gave us a glimpse into the strange lives of the Hollywood elite; I liked Shannon - hated Brandon. I loved Max, the man had issues, but he was so endearing that I just fell madly in love with him. I don't think I was the only one either.This book is just one fun disaster after another, all played out in the glitz and glamour of the casino/hotel where the rich and famous play. I found myself laughing out loud on more than one occasion and in the end wanted more. Mr. Fields, a veteran of the casino scene himself, assures us that this is not all beyond the realm of actual events. I'm not sure that all that happened on this particular weekend would happen on the same weekend in the real world, but I can certainly see each and every incident actually having happened at one time or another.If you like fun, bizarre characters who are larger than life, almost slapstick comedy, and a little bit of romance, this is most definitely the book for you. Mr. Fields tells us there is another episode in the life of Antonio in the works, and I can't wait to find out what our intrepid butler finds himself up against next. I'm sure it's going to be just as fun and exciting as this weekend was.Reviewed as a Member of the Paranormal Romance Guild Dual Review Team