Believe It or Not [Mass Market Paperback]

Tawna Fenske (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 6, 2012

Do you believe in...accounting?

Numbers never lie, so Violet McGinn found safe haven in the most boring profession she could find. Until her renowned psychic mother lands in the hospital and Violet has to run her business. Now you can have your taxes filed and your aura read, in one convenient location.

Do you believe in...music?

Drew Watson is the jaded owner of the local hot spot next door, and doesn't need a single thing except a good crowd to dance to what he's spinning on Saturday night.

Do you believe in...love?

The only thing Violet and Drew seem to have in common is that neither believes in that psychic hoo—hah. Except Drew seems to play exactly the right song at exactly the right time. And truth be told, it makes Violet's heart dance just a little ...

Praise for Making Waves:

"Fenske's wildly inventive plot and wonderfully quirky characters provide the perfect literary antidote to any romance reader's summer reading doldrums." —Chicago Tribune

"A zany caper ... Fenske's off-the-wall plotting is reminiscent of a tame Carl Hiaasen on Cupid juice." —Booklist

"Fenske's uproarious romantic caper ... will have readers rolling on the deck. Great fun from an inventive new writer." —Library Journal

"Quirky, sexy, and funny." —A Good Addiction

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fenske hits all the right humor notes... She handles the cast of oddball characters well, making them sympathetic, funny and very real. 4 1/2 Stars" - RT Book Reviews

"Snappy, endearing dialogue and often hilarious situations unite the couple, and Fenske proves to be a romance author worthy of a loyal following. STARRED Review" - Booklist

"Witty and charming with lots of twists and turns that will have you spitting tea out of your nose from laughing so hard." - Minding Spot

"For fans of romantic comedies, swoony romance, magical realism, 80s butt rock, male strippers, psychics, and funny one-liners, BELIEVE IT OR NOT is a must read that will have you laughing out loud and grinning from ear to ear." - YA Bound

"Sexy and sweet with just the right amount of humor and emotion mixed in, Believe It or Not is a lusty hit of a novel." - A Good Addiction

"Explosively good..." - NetGalley Reader Review

"Zippy dialogue laden with sexual innuendo... Make a date to spend some time with Violet and Drew and a host of oddball characters in Believe It Or Not." - Bookloons.com

"Anyone who loves a romance, should read this! It's so hilarious-you WILL enjoy this novel!" - Sarah's Point of View

"A thoroughly entertaining read with a mishmash of fun characters." - Debbie's Book Bag

"A couple of fun characters, some entertaining banter, a healthy dose of sexual sizzle, and a guaranteed Happily Ever After... Funny, sexy, and light." - One Good Book Deserves Another

"Anyone who loves a romance should read this! It's so hilarious-you WILL enjoy this novel! A Night Owl Reviewer Top Pick" - Night Owl Reviews

"Sassy, cute and funny as hell..." - Seriously Reviewed

"Good, campy fun... the pages just fly by and you keep a smile on your face all the way through." - A Girl, Books, and Other Things

"The story feels realistic and the dialogue between the characters is creative, alternating between sexy, romantic and comical. " - Dark Divas Reviews

About the Author

Tawna Fenske traveled a career path that took her from newspaper reporter to English teacher in Venezuela to marketing geek. An avid globetrotter with a fondness for the sea, Tawna is the author of the popular daily blog Don't Pet Me, I'm Writing and lives in Bend, Oregon.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Original edition (March 6, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140225718X
• ISBN-13: 978-1402257186
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.2 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,133,464 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

A third-generation Oregonian who can peel and eat a banana with her toes, Tawna Fenske has traveled a winding career path from journalist to English teacher in Venezuela to marketing geek. She's the author of the popular daily blog "Don't Pet Me, I'm Writing" and a member of Romance Writers of America. Her debut novel, MAKING WAVES, hit shelves August 2011 and was nominated for Best Contemporary Romance by RT Book Reviews 2011 Reviewers' Choice Awards. The Chicago Tribune noted, "Fenske's wildly inventive plot and wonderfully quirky characters provide the perfect literary antidote to any romance reader's summer reading doldrums."

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Psychics, Butt Rock, Male Strippers, Kooks, and Hippies =) March 6, 2012

By R. Harris

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This book manages to be an entire romantic comedy starring John Cusack, with a ton of music references, a touch of magical realism, and a heavy dose of swoon thrown in for good measure.

I first discovered Tawna on Twitter because she shares an agent with Kiersten White (PARANORMALCY), and then I found her daily blog. I knew that if Tawna was half as funny and charming in her books as she is on Don't Pet Me, I'm Writing--where she routinely makes me snort completely unladylike and spit drink onto my computer screen--then I was gonna be in for a treat. And y'all, she's even better.

BELIEVE IT OR NOT is a funny, music-filled adventure filled with psychics, butt rock, male strippers, kooks, and hippies. It also touches your heart. It's about a woman, Violet, who has run from her family legacy of spiritual enlightenment to become a boring accountant across the country. When she returns to run the store after her mother's hospitalization, she meets the sexy, not-gay owner of the bar next-door that happens to spotlight male strippers several nights a week. She also discovers an interesting connection between his music of choice, 80's butt rock, and her newfound spiritual gift.

This story hooked me from the very beginning and I loved every minute of it. I had no clue where Tawna was gonna take me, but I knew it would be entertaining. What I didn't expect was all the warm gooeyness buried inside, the real journey each of the characters went on, the almost innocence threaded through the lives of all the minor characters. Who'd a thunk a book about male strippers could be so endearing? That's the magic of Tawna Fenske, and the magic embedded in BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

Tawna's voice is straight-forward and honest, and the pacing is fast--though she does know when to slow it down, gifting us with a twenty page love scene that is not only steam up my Kindle screen hot, but involves an unfortunate (and unforgettable) stripper pole accident. Really, does it get any better than that?

BELIEVE IT OR NOT is told via third person with both Violet and Drew being equal narrators. We really get to know them both, and they are both extremely likeable and relatable. I completely rooted for them to get together, but for once I actually also enjoyed the many roadblocks thrown into their path. Normally that drives me nuts and gets tiresome, and feels like an excuse just to keep tension and extend the length of the book--but in this case, every start and stop, every hiccup the couple encountered, not only made story sense, but it peeled back another layer. And it was freaking hilarious.

For fans of romantic comedies, swoony romance, magical realism, 80s butt rock, male strippers, psychics, and funny one-liners, BELIEVE IT OR NOT is a must read that will have you laughing out loud and grinning from ear to ear. Just a bit of a warning--be careful eating or drinking while reading. You never know when you may come across something that'll make you spew in hilarity. Friends don't let friends drink and read a Tawna Fenske novel.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Original Boy-Meets-Girl. VERY original March 26, 2012

By Jill Lovelace

Format:Kindle Edition

When Violet's mom winds up in the hospital, she returns home to take over her psychic shop. Little did she know that the owner of the strip club/bar next door would be so hot! Unfortunately, he REALLY does not fit the normal, boring (cough cough) image she's looking for. Violet does not fit his bimbo airhead standards. Can they get over their differences for true love?

My first thought of this novel was-wow, never thought I'd read a romance about a straight guy owning a bar that employs male strippers. I was wrong. My second thought-he must be really confident in his sexuality. I can honestly say this is one original book!

I absolutely love Violet. She's quirky (even though she strives to be normal), she's funny (in a dry wit sort of way), she's delightful (in a oh-poor-her-come-give-me-a-hug way). And she is a hilarious drunk! My god, I hope I never, ever dance on table if I were to ever become drunk (I'd hate to see how alcohol mixed with my many many meds). Drunk Violet is even better than sober Violet. She is, in fewer words, quite crazy (again, even if she wants to be "normal"). There is nothing wrong with a gorgeous, funky, crazy gal! She is my favorite character of all time-even if my favorites are usually lesser characters.

Wanna know my favorite part of this fun adventure? When Violet and drew are on separate dates and they just "happen" to meet each other at the exact same restaurant. They are all making introductions, and that is when I first realized Drew had no idea what his dates name was! This was their THIRD date! All through the date he is trying to figure out her name and it is so funny! Oh, the joy.

Recommendations??

Anyone who loves a romance, should read this! It's so hilarious-you WILL enjoy this novel!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Winning combination of mismatched lovers March 6, 2012

By Kim Adams

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Here's something to think about: How come you never see a headline like 'Psychic Wins Lottery'? - Jay Leno

Both Violet McGinn and Drew Watson would agree with Jay Leno. They come into contact, and share this opinion, when Violet's mother, Moombeam, has an accident. Moonbeam offers psychic services in a studio next to Drew's bar. But not just a bar, but a hot spot featuring exotic male dancers on the weekend.

Moonbeam, believing her daughter has the gift, blackmails Violet - she'll consider modern medicine for recovery if Violet takes over her psychic business. Granted, Violet fled to the other side of the country to pursue a "normal" life as an accountant. Yet Violet accepts, assuming she can bluff her way through appointments while her mother recovers under the care of a medical doctor (not a witch doctor).

The bar's wall thumping music from 80s hair bands seem to give Violet clues to solving local mysteries that satify Moonbeam's customers. Likewise, Violet's heart thumping body distracts Drew - he has no intention of getting involved with a straight laced accountant, especially if she is his cooky neighbor's daughter.

Ah, love works magic on these mismatched lovers. BELIEVE IT OR NOT delivers pop culture, sexual inneundos, quirky characters, and laugh out loud moments that make it an entertaining read.

Fenske follows up her successful debut, MAKING WAVES, with another charming story of love conquers all. Sourcebooks provided an ARC for this review.