What She Wants by Sheila Roberts
Harlequin MIRA
March 2013
Format: ARC e-book, 400 pages
Source: Requested from Netgalley
First line: Working in such close quarters with a woman that you could bump knees (thighs, and maybe even other body parts) was probably every man’s dream job.
Summary: “What “do” women
want?”Jonathan Templar and his poker buddies can’t figure it out. Take
Jonathan, for instance. He’s been in love with Lissa Castle since they
were kids but, geek that he is, she’s never seen him as her Mr. Perfect.
He has one last shot–their high school reunion. Kyle Long is equally
discouraged. The pretty receptionist at his office keeps passing him
over for other guys who may be taller but are definitely “not” superior.
And Adam Edwards might be the most successful of Jonathan’s friends,
but he isn’t having any success on the home front. His wife’s kicked him
out.
When Jonathan stumbles on a romance novel at the Icicle
Falls library sale, he knows he’s found the love expert he’s been
seeking–Vanessa Valentine, top-selling romance author. At first his
buddies laugh at him for reading romance novels, but soon they, too,
realize that these stories are the world’s best textbooks on love. Poker
night becomes book club night…and when all is read and done, they’re
going to be the kind of men women want!
My thoughts: This is the 4th book in Sheila Roberts’ Life in Icicle Falls series and I thoroughly enjoyed this latest visit. In a twist to the usual way she tells her stories, this time, Sheila Roberts uses men as the main characters, giving us the male’s perspective on just what women want in a man.
Jonathan, Kyle and Adam are all trying to figure out what women want. Jonathan has been in love with a girl since forever and is hoping that with the upcoming reunion, he will finally be able to impress her enough that she notices him not as the boy next door, but as the guy she can be with. Kyle is in love with the office secretary, but it’s another instance of him not being noticed. Adam has the girl of his dreams, but she is fed up with him and throws him out. Can these guys figure things out and get the girls they want before they lose them forever? And are they all after the right girls?
It turns out Jonathan thinks he’s found the perfect love coach – the romance books that local author Vanessa Valentine has written. He smuggles one of her books out of his sister’s house and starts his ‘research.’ Taking notes as he reads, he comes out with a list that he believes will help him. At first, he keeps this to himself, but Adam soon finds it while he is bunking on the couch after being kicked out of his house. Soon, Jonathan has a bunch of his buddies reading these books and poker night turns into book discussion night.
I loved that this book was told from the male perspective. It was funny, touching and really gave a different perspective on just how difficult that dating world is. Just like girls, guys will go to great lengths to get the girl they want and every once in a while, they realize that the girl they originally wanted is not really who they thought they were.
This is a fun read, one that had me laughing out loud at times. There are also some really touching moments throughout the book, ones that are not only heartwarming, but at times, heartbreaking. There’s also quite a twist thrown in – one that I definitely didn’t see coming but think completely adds to the storyline. Have you ever read a book where the twist took you by surprise? Does this add to your enjoyment?
Books in this series:
- Welcome to Icicle Falls
- Better Than Chocolate
- Merry Ex-Mas
- What She Wants
I also enjoy twists, and don't like to be able to predict everything that happens in a book. Great review, Kristin! This sounds like a wonderful book.
Thanks Suko.
I like twists when they add to the story. This sounds like a great book and fun series. I'll have to check it out.
It's a great series…hope you enjoy it!
The premise of this books has my attention even though I have not read the first three books. Does that matter?
I think in this case it doesn't matter as much as it would in other series. These books tend to be pretty independent of each other.
Wasn't this fun? I thought Sheila hit it out of the part with this book! I like twists but I like them to be somewhat plausible, you know?
Yes, she certainly did! And I agree – the twist definitely needs to be plausible in order to keep me interested!
I'm adding this to my list of fun books, especially after having read a heavier one. Yes, I like twists that take me by surprise.
This is definitely a fun book. Have you read any of the other books in this series?
Sounds like a fun book, I love that it's told from the perspective of the men trying to figure out what women want. Great review, you have me intrigued and I'd like to read it!
It really was well done!