Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Book Review & Author Guest Blog: Famously Engaged by Robyn Thomas


Famously Engaged by Robyn Thomas
Publisher: Entangled Indulgence
Publish Date: July 8, 2013
eBook 187 pages
Fiction, Contemporary Romance
 ISBN: 9781622660681

Today I welcome Robyn Thomas, author of the new Indulgence title, Famously Engaged, a fun contemporary that places a rock star in the life of a chef.  Robyn's here today to talk about how the characters in Famously Engaged are attached to certain things and how that affects them.  Check out her guest blog and then check out my review.  And also make sure and stop by Robyn's Rafflecopter to enter to win a Fossil Women's Stainless Steel Pink Dial watch.




Privately Attached by Robyn Thomas
 
Sometimes activities and inanimate objects assume significance beyond their usual worth. Beth Carlisle, my heroine in Famously Engaged, feels this way about her home. It’s full of history, and it guards precious memories of family members who are no longer living. She draws strength from its timelessness and has never envisaged living anywhere else. It’s her rock – the thing she’s most sure of – and nothing could tempt her away from it.

Enter Jake Olsen, award winning front man of UK rock band Five Awesome Emperors. It’s not his intention to drive a wedge between her and what she values most, but that’s precisely what he does. He’s more appealing than her home, more comforting, warmer and more necessary. He’s also impossible to hold onto. Knowing she shouldn’t rely on him isn’t enough of a deterrent. Fate has sent him to help her through the worst moments of her life. Maybe it doesn’t matter that he won’t stay? He’s here now!

Although their lives are very different, Jake has a similar connection with his music. It’s what defines him. Fame is a hardship but it allows him to write and play and record. He can’t give it up and still be who he is. Leaving Beth behind will tear him apart, but he can’t stay and she can’t leave. 

Have you ever been attached to something in the same way as Beth and Jake?             




My Review:
Okay so I looked at the reviews for this book before I started reading it and they are honestly a mixed bag.  But I challenge you, if you enjoy a good rock star love story then this is just the book for you.  I really enjoyed reading Famously Engaged and after reading it I realize that we all have different opinions of books we read.  So now I'll talk about what worked for me.

Character Development:
This is a short book, so I knew going in it, it would not have the character development of a 300+ page book.  The author just can't do that and move the story along in 180 pages.  However I found that I was able to get to know Jake and Beth easily during this story.  Their quirks, their history all were presented through the book so the reader is able to get to know them.  Yes they get together kind of quick, again this is a limitation of a shorter novel and I didn't have a problem with it. I understood the characters and their motivation.  I actually really enjoyed watching Jake and Beth fall for each other and begin to change themselves, not for the other person but as a modification to fit another person into their lives.  It was a great story to watch unfold, fireworks and all.

Plot:
The plot revolves around the characters falling for each other and the problems Jake being a rock star presents.  The engagement from the beginning was a great plot device to me and as I mentioned I really enjoyed watching the story unfold.  It was fast paced and I finished the book during the evening while my son was at Boy Scouts with his Dad. 

Final Thoughts:
I found Famously Engaged to be a heartwarming and fun book. It has interesting characters in Jake and Beth (and those surrounding Jake as well).  It has a fast moving plot that made the book an easy read.  I was into the book from the first page and enjoyed it to the end.  It had conflict, it had sarcasm and joking between characters,  it had the spark between the characters and it had some steamy sex.  What more do you need?

My Rating: 4.5/5.0


About the Book:


A chef and a rock star. They couldn’t be from more different worlds…

Rock star royalty’s favorite son, Jake Olsen, couldn’t help but interfere after listening to his future brother-in-law talk non-stop about his ex-wife, Beth Carlisle. Jake decides that the only way to get the groom’s mind off his ex-wife is to give her a fake fiancĂ©.

Before Jake can convince Beth of his plan, he's forced to move in with her to avoid the paparazzi. Their instant attraction makes for a sizzling "first date", but soon Jake’s fame gets in the way and Beth wants out. Too bad Jake's figured out just why her ex is so obsessed with her, and he's afraid he's not going to be able to give her up either.

Now it's up to Jake to convince this chef together they make the perfect recipe.


You can find Famously Engaged at:



About the Author (from Goodreads.com): 
Robyn is a cheesecake connoisseur, caffeine addict, and mother of two boys. Happily married, she lives in Melbourne, Australia. Writing romance helps her balance the effects of living in an all-male household. Robyn loves romantic comedies, art glass, cooking and browsing in quirky gift shops.



Giveaway:
Robyn is giving away a Fossil Women's Stainless Steel Pink Dial watch.  Enter at here Rafflecopter.




***I received this book from the publisher for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any other way except receiving the book for free.  ***