Thursday, July 18, 2013

Book Review: Anything but Sweet by Candis Terry

Title: Anything But Sweet
Author: Candis Terry
Publisher: Avon (HarperCollins)
Release Date: June 25, 2013
Where to Buy: AmazonBarnes and Noble
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars



From the book:


He's stubborn and thoroughly male . . .

If Charlotte Brooks thinks she and her TV makeover show can turn Reno Wilder's hometown upside-down, he'll be happy to prove her wrong. The ex-Marine has seen too much turmoil and he likes Sweet, Texas, just the way it is. Traditional. Familiar. A little dull. Everything Charli isn't. But instead of backing off from his scowls like everyone else, Charli digs in her skyscraper heels.

She's tenacious and wickedly tempting . . .

Reno Wilder is a one-man unwelcoming committee, but Charli isn't budging. It's clear the gorgeous cowboy needs an overhaul just as much as Sweet. Someone needs to break him out of that gruff shell and show him how fun and rewarding a little change can be.

They're about to find that love is anything but predictable.


My review:

This is the first book about reality TV that I've read, and I enjoyed it. I'm not a huge reality TV fan - except for HGTV, which is exactly what ANYTHING BUT SWEET is based on. The writing was quick, witty, and fun, and the characters were believable. Each back story was clearly well thought-out by the author, and she gives it to the reader in perfectly-rationed doses throughout the book; I felt I really understood where Reno and Charli came from, and what they hoped to achieve in their lives without having to suffer through the typical flashback mechanism.


Charli is a fun, admirable character who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to go get it. In the overwhelmed market of stronger-than-thou alpha heroines, it's actually nice to see a sweet, nice woman who's career-driven but wants to find a life balance, who won't take any flack from anyone, and who loves her life but recognizes when it's time to change things up a bit. Charli is positive throughout almost the entire novel, and that is the best thing about her. She's not sticky-sweet, she's not cutesy, and she's not fake - all of which one might expect from a TV hostess. She broke every expectation I had of her, and I loved that.

Reno tends to fall into the more typical alpha hero mold. He's an ex-Marine (read: stubborn, handsome, brave, loyal) and a Texas cowboy (read: sexy, loves his family, shoulders lots of responsibilities). His gradual fall into Charli's arms is a slow, highly resistant one - and it's believable because Charli's positivity infuses everything and everyone around her in an honest way. She doesn't pressure Reno into anything, but she consistently disallows his stubborn ways to derail her own plans.

Sweet, Texas is a well-crafted place full of southern charm and welcoming people. You definitely get the feeling that once you decide to make a life in Sweet, the people would envelop you in its arms, offer you a glass of sweet tea and dance in the hot summer breeze late into the night. The Wilders are the backbone of this community, and I look forward to reading about Reno's brother, Jackson, in the next release (SWEETEST MISTAKE, January 2014). 

This is a fun read, but there's no plot that drives any outer conflict, which is something I really love in my escapes from reality. However, this is a well-written, character-driven book - and I did enjoy it. It's a perfect book for a girls' night in, so I give it three and a half out of five stars.

GIVEAWAY! 
(edited - this giveaway is closed.)
I have four hard copies of this book to give to my readers! All you have to do is comment below and tell me the top quality you look for in a heroine, and I'll choose four winners at random. Happy commenting!



Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased and truthful review.

11 comments:

  1. I'll be honest I typically like a heroine I can relate to. Someone who in the beginning is a little unsure of herself but then throughout the story discovers that there is more. She breaks out of her shell and becomes confident and a little daring. Now I'm not against stories that have a female dominant character and the male is the one that needs to wake up. It's just nice to read stories that remind me its okay to be myself and who knows escape from my reality every once in awhile.

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    Replies
    1. Katie - those are usually my favorites as well!! This book changed the heroine up a little for me, which was refreshing. I'd say Reno needed a wake up call, and Charli gave it to him in a "kill-him-with-kindness" way. Not a style I usually see in contemporaries, but I liked it.

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    2. Katie, you won a copy of Anything But Sweet!

      You can send me your mailing address via email:

      nancyscanlon1980@yahoo.com

      Delete
  2. That she is realistic and is a complete character without the hero.

    heather{at}coulter{dot}gmail{dot}com

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    Replies
    1. YES! Heather, that's a perfect way to explain it. I am not a big fan of the heroines who need someone else to be complete!

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    2. Heather, please be sure to check your email! You won a copy of Anything But Sweet!

      You can send me your mailing address via email:

      nancyscanlon1980@yahoo.com

      Delete
  3. I like your review Nancy. I like a heroine who knows her own mind, who doesn't need a man but definitely can appreciate one. Whether said hero fixes her kitchen sink or gives her a hug when she needs one and doesn't realize it.
    Thank you,
    Ginger

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Ginger! (I do love a hero who's handy with tools yet sensitive enough to hold a woman when she needs it. Great blend of masculinity and sensitivity...)

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    2. Ginger, please send me your address to my email below - you've won a copy of Anything But Sweet!

      nancyscanlon1980@yahoo.com

      Thanks for commenting!

      Delete
  4. My favorite heroines are always extremely independent and CAN live without a man, even if they end up not wanting to by the end of the book! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jackie, please send your address to my email below - you've won my last copy of Anything But Sweet!

      nancyscanlon1980@yahoo.com

      Thanks for commenting!

      Delete