7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
SOLID FUN IN A BOOK!, June 1, 2005
This review is from: Love Is All Around (Zebra Debut) (Paperback)
I'm not a professional reviewer. I'm a writer. And I'm a reader. And I'll add to that: I'm a very opinionated, selective, nit-picky reader. I've tossed more books across the room than I've finished. Those were the ones I wasn't bothering to skip through to the ending. It sometimes gets to the point where I don't much care if the hero and heroine got together at all. That said, I'm still a consumer of the written word. If it's written, and I bought it, I'm making the effort to read it. And if I'm interested enough to skip to get to the ending, then I'm skipping. How much can I miss anyway?
I have to admit first of all, that I read every word of LOVE IS ALL AROUND. Every one. That's how much fun this book is.
I won't go into the plot. Other reviewers are much better at that than I could possibly be, and I hate synopsis writing anyway. In brief: Patsy Clark thinks she knows what she wants. Just about everyone else in town (and readerdom) know better. That much is crystal clear. Good thing she comes to her senses before I had to step in and kick some butt! That's what happens when you read Lori Devoti's book, LOVE IS ALL AROUND. You get involved. You care. You really like this Patsy, faults and all, and you want the ending to arrive, but you don't want it to come too fast and ruin everything! You want it to be oh so right.
Here's my next confession. I read this book in one (split) sitting. I only put it down because I had to go pick up one of my children at a party, and I was late for that! I was pretty un-neighborly, too, when I arrived, but I was getting back home for a reason. I was hooked on LOVE IS ALL AROUND.
I have to admit next that I am so, so, so, so, NOT into contemporary romances. I'm a historical romance fan. Always was. Always will be - although I will read other genres if the story's right and grabs me. In fact, when I first saw this book, nothing about it intrigued a historical romance fan like me. Nothing. Boy! Am I ever glad I overcame any prejudice and bought it! Debut author, Lori Devoti has a way of linking words together that's indescribable. It's akin to treating yourself to a large helping of decadent chocolate when you're supposed to be on a diet. There were two parts that had me laughing out loud, even, and then I actually stopped reading to look around and make sure I wasn't caught at it. (and I was alone!) That's how delicously funny this book is. Like I said, I am not into contemporary romance. It always seemed to be a bunch of scenes, somewhat related - or not - that got to a very predictable ending. I want larger-than-life heroes, take-your-breath-away heroines, and scenes of destruction and mayhem. Admittedly, not your usual contemporary setting, and not remotely like LOVE IS ALL AROUND. This one is in such an everyday setting, I thought for sure it would bore the pants off me. Was I ever wrong!
*****In closing; as a very opinionated, selective, nit-picky reader that doesn't much care for contemporary romance, surprise! LOVE IS ALL AROUND is such a wonderful, encapsulated trip into Patsy and Will's life, and the way Ms. Devoti writes is so hypnotic, that I have no choice but to Highly Recommend her for contemporary romance fans, and yes, even the historical romance fan will find themselves guilty for thoroughly enjoying themselves, too.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good debut!, May 6, 2005
This review is from: Love Is All Around (Zebra Debut) (Paperback)
Patsy Lee Clark has a passion for local history, weaves baskets to relax, and wants nothing more than to get out of little Daisy Creek in southern Missouri. Daisy Creek is a dying town and Patsy has no intention of dying with it. There is nothing in Daisy Creek worth staying for. Then Will moves back into town.
Will Barnes sold his internet consulting business for plenty of cash. If he never works again he will never be able to spend it all. Will finally decides that he is going to do whatever it takes to make himself happy. So he breaks his engagement to money-loving Cindy and moves back to Daisy Creek. Will plans to begin a new internet business, but this time it will be fun instead of a chore. Yet as he is settling down in his "fix-er upper" old Victorian mansion, which the green-bean brigade of neighbors are determined to help him remodel, the woman he wants most is about to flee to a St. Louie job.
**** This is Lori Devoti's debut novel. It slows down about mid way in, but not for too long. The secondary characters are spunky, Patsy's granny and aunt are scheming riots, and the author even added a couple of sub-plots to keep things moving forward. Well worth your time and money to pick up! ****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Charming romances--this is a heart-warmer, April 15, 2005
This review is from: Love Is All Around (Zebra Debut) (Paperback)
Patsy Lee Clark wants one thing out of life--to get out of Daisy Creek, to put the mistakes she's made in her past, and to get on with a career. Too-sexy bad-boys are not part of the plan. Even if they were, Will Barnes wouldn't be. For one thing, he's actually moving into Daisy Creek. For another, the evil Jennifer has already staked him out as her own turf--and Patsy has already played that game.
After selling his Internet consulting business, Will decided on a change. He's returned to a town he lived in briefly as a teen, and that still holds positive memories for him. He plans to connect with his roots, work with his hands, spend time with nature, and figure out what he wants to do with his life. One thing for sure, he's happy he's put ex-fiancee Cindy into his past.
Author Lori Devoti brings the Ozark region of Missouri to life--with its small-town charm and prejudices, the kindness of its people and the hopeless wreck of its economy. Patsy's ambivalence about her hometown and her future rings true throughout the story. Throw in a caring but buttinski family and some close friends and you've got a charming romance.
LOVE IS ALL AROUND is Devoti's first novel and a few rough edges still show, but bear with her--this is a heart-warmer.
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