Customer Reviews

Dream Guy (Warner Forever)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I seem to be the minority here but that is ok. This is my first book by this author and I did like it and was not disapointed by it. I just did not see it as much of a romance. There was sexual tension throught the whole book. There were also lots of laugh out loud moments, it was pretty funny. Collin was one of my favorite characters from the book.
I just did not feel a strong connection from the main characters. You could tell they were in lust but when did we get to see their feeling for eachother grow and them come together and all that? They were almost too busy making eachother jealous to get together. Until Annie walks in on Matt at his house and things take off from there. Only it did not get all that romantic, it was sexy yes, but not really romantic.
I felt more romance from Rico and Helena in the end. Although Helena was a little over the top.
So, while it was an entertaining story and ws laugh out loud funny, I thought it needed alot more romance. It was a great book, but I thought it fell in more with light romantic comedy. So that is why I gave it 3 and a half. Its a good book, but not the ammount of romance I had expected. Mrs. Halliday is a good author and I will get her books again, I just know what to expect now.

Candy Halliday's clever opening paragraph will suck you in and keep you reading! After being dumped via video tape by her latest looser boyfriend, video game designer Annie turns her lemon of a love life into a lemonade of an idea. She creates the perfect man! "Joe Video." Joe is an interactive boyfriend on DVD designed to give women the support and romance they don't get from their "live" mates. The owner of Paragon Technologies thinks her novel idea will rack up sales, but Matt, Annie's boss and romantic mistake from the past, thinks her idea is a joke. But when the owner of the company dangles a big promotion in front of them, Annie and Matt must work together to make "Joe Video" a success. Sparks fly, tempers soar, and the sexual tension rises in a real life battle of the sexes between Matt and Annie. Throw in a few quirky and memorable secondary characters and you have a witty, sexy romance as entertaining as HOW TO LOSE A GUY IN TEN DAYS or SOMEONE LIKE YOU. This one is going on my keeper shelf!

I found this one of the best romances I've read in a while. The characterizations were strong, interesting and believable. I really liked Matt, and Annie was equally well done. I liked her. Her reasons for doing things were well thought out and made sense, something that's been lacking in many romances I've read recently.

Matt's character was very sexy and fun, and yeah - he's definitely a character I can believe Annie would fall for. Hell, I'd fall for. Great job!

I laughed out loud while reading this a number of times. I loved Collin - he's a character that could so easily have come across as too heavy-handed, but he was just perfect as were Matt's reactions to Collin and the dialogue between the two of them. Even Rico's behavior made sense in the frame of reference for him the author had set up.

Overall, this was a really fun read that was cleverly written by an author who obviously took the time to know her characters really well beforehand. Once I started I had a hard time putting this book down. Looking for more books by Candy Halliday.

'Dream Guy' by Candy Halliday is a fun romance novel. Annie and Matt work together and had one-night together but never talked about that night. They have started a project together to make interactive boyfriend video game. Lots of great characters and many laugh out loud moments. Check out all Candy Halliday books; 'Mr. Destiny', 'Your Bed or Mine?' and 'Dinner First, Me Later?' coming out - Jun 1, 2007.

Loved it! I haven't read a contemporary romance in a while, and certainly not a contemporary chick-lit type. This one was definitely a winner. At first, I thought, "Ugh, video games. So not my style," but it wasn't ABOUT video games. Duh. I should have known that romances are always about the romance! I fell in love with the characters as they fell in love with each other, and I thoroughly enjoyed the modern spins on everything from descriptions to point of view to dialogue. Great, fun read!

After a long line of loser boyfriend's Annie Long gets dumped again. But this time her ex gives her the ingenious idea for a one of a kind CD ROM game-Joe Video. The perfect man, who says what you want to hear and never talks back. For her it's the dream guy. Or is it? Her heart longs for Macho to the Max Matt Abbington, but he'll never see the light of day. Especially since they're at each other's throats over Joe Video, an idea he thinks will make Paragon a laughing stock and sink their division.

The he said, she said is hilarious and when things work out for multiple bada bings, they scorch the pages. Needless to say, the happing ending (what else did you expect?) gives the reader a sense of ah.

DREAM GUY has a little something for everyone. A true die-hard single guy; a financially loaded gay (...) Eye wantabe; a feminist mother; a love quandaried heroine; a Cuban Fabio; and a sultry, spandex clad vixen. Even if the reader can't identify personally with one of these characters, the plot has enough basic day-to-day life experiences that anyone could relate. But the fresh and invigorating twists Ms. Halliday combines are out of this world. With a witty, twenty-first century voice she takes the cast (and reader) along for a roller coaster ride full of blind, barrel turns and careening drops that make hearts pitter-patter until the end on overdrive.

If you want something fun and up beat pick up a copy! You'll love it! This was the first book I'd read by Ms. Halliday (who's broadened out from serials) and I can't wait for MR. DESTINY! November can't come soon enough!

Halliday is a hoot!

I chuckled, snorted and laughed my way through Ms. Halliday's DREAM GUY. With several outrageously funny characters and Ms. Halliday's definite gift for comic timing, DREAM GUY fairly sparkles with good cheer... and oodles of sexual tension.

While the romantic couple, Annie and Matt, stumble their way toward love, several of the secondary characters almost steal the show. Most noteworthy among some nicely sketched (often kooky) characters are Collin, the gay friend of the lead couple; Rico, every woman's dream fantasy; and Helena, Rico's Latino bombshell girlfriend.

This character driven tale is wonderfully paced as well. DREAM GUY never falters, never drags. The characters and the situations they find themselves in keep this story moving along quickly.

So if you like sexy, well-written romantic comedies, DREAM GUY is the book for you.

Of that, I am certain.

Debbie Jett, reviewer
Romance Reader At Heart

Ms. Halliday has a winner here. She has taken the age old question of men vs. women and put her own spin on it. The end result is a laugh out loud read that will have the reader glued to the pages in order for them to see just how Matt and Annie end up!

Annie does not have the greatest track record with men. She thinks that she currently has a winner with Dave, but a flower/video delivery later puts that theory to rest. What's a girl to do now??? She gets even and creates her very own dream guy. Okay, she comes up with this idea for work but hey, it could work. A video Joe that will treat a woman the way she wants to be treated. No being dumped by this virtual hunk!

Matt, Annie's boss thinks that this is the dumbest thing he's ever heard of. It's never going to fly and what's worse...they might just be laughed at right out of a job! Matt could not have been more wrong, and now Annie and Matt are going to have to team market the video game. Since these two have a history...one night of scrap you off the ceiling sex...and...nothing. Matt is all about staying single and Annie is all about the house, white picket fence, dog, and kids. They couldn't be more different. Or are they really wanting the same thing???

This was a great character driven read. Collin (co-worker and best friend to both Matt and Annie) is a riot and a wonderful addition to this colorful story. As is Annie's mom, Rico, Helena...well, you get the picture. Ms. Halliday has taken various social, and relationship issues and has created a wonderful story. I highly recommend Ms. Halliday's latest effort. Be prepared to laugh out loud and at time even agree with the characterization!

Offical Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com

Encouraged by her friends at Paragon Technology to welcome her boyfriend home in seductive style following Dave's one month stay on business in San Francisco, Annie Long spends a fortune on food, drink, and clothing. However, her boss in the Creative Department Matt Abbington informs her she will have to attend the afternoon production meeting because he has a groin pull. Angry because she was to meet Dave, Annie gets Matt to give her permission to pitch a concept though she has none in mind instead of copycatting someone else's flavor of the month creation.........................

Dave sends Annie a video message informing her that their relationship is over. Irate, Annie decides no more men in her life, which leads to her conceptualizing Joe Video, an interactive perfect male. The production meeting attendees love the concept. As Annie hires a hunk to play Joe, Matt realizes how much he dwells on their one hot evening together especially her flirting with the actor although she has written off men...............................

DREAM GUY is a lighthearted contemporary war of the sexes using technology to further the skirmishes. Matt is a solid key support player as he competes with a handsome actor and Joe Video for the affection of the woman he loves. Annie is the center of that triangle and in turn the story line as she covets her boss who she also detests, but finds the remote easier to relate to than with Matt or the hunk. Fans will enjoy this fun tale that is one click away from providing the DREAM GUY..............................

Harriet Klausner