Serena recs 'The Wedding Game,' 'Cinderella Screwed Me Over'
Longings fulfilled, skepticism overcome, love found, and big helpings of sarcastic humor fill the pages of these fun contemporary romances.
The Wedding Game by Amy Matayo
What it's about (courtesy of the author):
Cannon James has a plan: Sign on as a contestant for his father's new reality show, marry a blonde, hand-picked by the producers, and walk away two million dollars richer. It's all been arranged. Easy. Clean. No regrets. Until Ellie McAllister ruins everything by winning the viewer's vote. Now he has to convince America that he's head over heels in love with her. Not easy to do since she's a walking disaster.
Ellie McAllister has her own problems. She needs money, and she needs it now. Despite her parents' objections and her belief that marriage is sacred, she signs on to The Wedding Game…and wins. Now she's married to a guy she can't stand, and if she wants her hands on the money, she has six months to make voters believe she loves him. Not easy to do since he's the most arrogant man in America.
It doesn't take long for Ellie and Cannon to realize they've made a mess of things…even less time for their feelings for one another to change. But is it too late for them? More importantly, can the worst decision they've ever made actually become one of the best?
Why you should read it: Someone must have been eavesdropping earlier this fall as I whined about the lack of romantic comedy being published in the inspirational market. As you can imagine, I was thrilled to get my hands on The Wedding Game by debut author Amy Matayo. What fun!
It's not very often I can use the word "sexy" in reference to an inspirational novel, but I'm gonna go ahead and throw it out there for this one. Even though the bedroom door doesn't stay open for the most intimate moments, the dialogue, attraction, kisses — and even the fine-line-between-love-and-hate arguments between Ellie and Cannon! — have an undeniably sexy sort of draw that shows the humanness of two characters as they sputter through a growing and in-crisis faith journey. The faith thread is mild enough for mainstream romance readers, but adds both depth and relevance to the story without being preachy.
The Wedding Game is rom-com at its edgy inspy best! From snort-out-loud laughter to grab-a-tissue poignancy, author Amy Matayo pings a range of reader emotions with witty dialogue, snarky humor, and a well-played reluctant romance that will have readers sighing, laughing, and begging for more from this talented debut author.
Cinderella Screwed Me Over by Cindi Madsen
What it's about (from publisher Entangled Select):
Darby Quinn has a bone to pick with Cinderella. Burned one too many times by ex-boyfriends, Darby has lost all belief in the happily-ever-after that the fairy-tale princess promised her. She's sworn off love, Prince Charmings, and happy endings and she's happy about it. Really. Or at least she was…until she met Jake, her gorgeous neighbor and the manager of her favorite restaurant. But Darby has rules about dating, ones she's culled from her years spent with so-called "princes," and starting something with Jake would break all of them.
Charming, fun, and unwilling to give up on her, Jake doesn't fit any of the profiles Darby has created from her case studies of ex-princes-gone-bad. Finally presented with her own Prince Charming, can Darby take a chance on a happily-ever-after?
Full of wit and sarcastic humor, Cinderella Screwed Me Over proves that sometimes the perfect love, like a perfect pair of shoes, is just within your grasp.
Why you should read it: Ohmigosh, that title. Love. It! And the cover is pretty fun, too!
Darby is a very easy-to-like lead. I love how she fills readers in on the fractured fairy-tale romances of her past by way of a "character profile" within the chapter. In these profiles, she compares her love-interest-gone-wrong to a popular fairy-tale hero (Prince Charming, The Beast, Aladdin, Prince Eric, etc.). The way Darby lists the detrimental aspects of both the "real" man and his princely counterpart is in turns sarcastic and touching, but always thoroughly entertaining.
It's not a big mystery who Darby's true Prince Charming will turn out to be, but so what? You'll have a blast going along for the ride while she figures it out for herself. Readers will identify with Darby's friendly-but-jaded sarcasm and will root for her to put aside her skepticism and take the leap into love.
This is a clean mainstream romance with only a bit of language and innuendo to bring it to PG-13. With a few nods to chick-lit (Darby does love her shoes!) and a heaping dose of well-played comedy, this romance is a keeper that will beg to be read again and again.
The Rancher and the Rock Star by Lizbeth Selvig
What it's about (from publisher Avon Impulse):
To the world, Gray Covey is a rock superstar. But to his runaway son, he's simply the father who never has any time for him. To prove that he's more than his rock star lifestyle, for the next few weeks Gray must put aside his fame and become...a farmhand?
Abby Stadtler has built the perfect, quiet life for herself. Neat and orderly is the name of the game for her and her beloved farm. When Gray shows up on her doorstep, looking like he stepped straight off the front cover of a magazine, she is determined that he won't upset her routine.
But what neither counts on is the love that springs up between them. Abby knows that life on a ranch in Minnesota can never compete with an exciting world tour. But for Gray, it's time to decide what's really important. With Abby's help, will he be able to decide, once and for all, that love and family are the answer?
Why you should read it: I have been planning to read this February 2012 release (and 2010 RWA Golden Heart winner!) since I was lucky enough to meet and later interview its author as part of a panel discussion for the five-part Romance & the Modern Woman feature here at HEA.
The Rancher and the Rock Star is a glimpse into single-parent romance with a fun, celebrity-gets-dropped-into-normal-life twist. I was impressed by the way the author integrated the importance of Abby's faith into her daily life — and how it caught Gray's attention and made him want to be a better guy around her — and eventually even when they were apart.
Abby is a great mom and a hard worker, determined to make a good life for her teen daughter. Her compassion on Gray's son, Dawson, and on Gray's struggling attempts to learn how to be a father pretty late in the game, is endearing, as is the way the author portrays Gray's insecurities and burgeoning independence from those who have "taken care of" him and his career.
Readers (like me) who balk at the open-bedroom-door approach to fictional sex may be surprised by the level of sizzle and steam rising from a certain campfire about three-quarters of the way through the book. Considering the importance faith is given in the building of Abby's character, I was a little taken aback by the way she internally rationalizes the — ahem — thorough consummation of her romance with Gray — especially considering her no-highway-option stance on other issues relating to the practice of her faith. Though not on the level of erotica, by any means, the campfire scene was enough to send me out of my intimacy-on-the-page comfort zone, so I simply clicked through the sex to where the story resumed and continued to enjoy the unfolding of the deeper love story beyond the campfire's heat. A surprising event near the end had me white-knuckled and glued to the page until it was resolved, and the ending — oh, that ending — was hand-to-your-heart romantic awesomeness.
Lizbeth Selvig has a wonderful way of weaving emotion, vulnerability and passion into her words. The Rancher and the Rock Star is a sweet-with-heat celebrity fish-out-of-water romance, and a solid debut. Lizbeth Selvig recently released a second title with Avon Impulse, Rescued by a Stranger, which is available now.
A writer, performer and accomplished partaker of dark chocolate, Serena Chase lives in Iowa with her husband and two daughters. She is the author of The Ryn, a romantic YA fantasy retelling of the classic Grimm fairy tale Snow White & Rose Red. You can find out more about her at serenachase.com.