Review: A great read!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 19, 2010
I won't summarize the plot too much (very well done elsewhere) but I do want to add my own 2 cents/review.This is not my normal reading material (I've been saying that a lot since getting my Kindle).  I had downloaded the first book in the series (Venus in Blue Jeans) as a freebie a long time ago and never got around to it as it's not my normal fare.  However, I spotted this one on another website and realized that it's part of a series, and every title sounded like fun reading--and oh joy,  I already had the first one!  I was in the mood for fun and different (for me) so I wiped the electronic dust off the first book and dove in and enjoyed it so much I immediately downloaded the rest.The first four Konigsburg books focused on four brothers who made their way to Texas from Iowa.  This one is number 5 and the main female character is the cousin of the female lead from Venus in Blue Jeans.  With all the intertwined characters I really like how the author pulls in the previous characters in a normal fashion.  A lot of times when reading a series like this the previous characters get minor and/or contrived cameos.  Here the old characters play big enough roles so you can get a real sense of what is going on with them (and that their Happily Ever Afters remain in place) but their presence makes sense within the context of the story.Another thing I noticed, and liked, is that the details surrounding the main story really keep the book a cut above the mundane.  Smaller town living, smaller town politics, Texas, vineyards, veterinarians as well as tons of fascinating minor characters really fill out the books.  The details really make the difference between run of the mill reading and something like this, which is just better.In any case, for a lighter read with a lot of fun and amusing characters this book fits the bill.  If  you haven't read the previous titles yet I would recommend going in order--things make just a little more sense in terms of the recurring characters (except one that that may have had a gender change somewhere in the writing...I need to go back and figure that one out...).  Oh, and for a 'hotness rating'  I suspect it is a little mild when compared to some of the other Samhaim published works... I would call this a strong R.  Details enough to know exactly what was going on, but not enough to overwhelm the story and the language was not too explicit.To sum up, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.  (And I don't usually read straight up contemporary romance)JTG