Not Another Bad Date (Avon Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Rachel Gibson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 27, 2008 | Series: Avon Romance

What does a gal have to do to get a good date in this town?

Adele Harris can't even begin to answer that question. She's had so many lousy dates that she's sure she's cursed. Why else would every man she goes out with suddenly act like he's lost his mind—and his manners? Adele thought life couldn't get any more confusing . . . until she learns the marriage of her seemingly Miss Perfect sister is on the rocks. So she goes back to their hometown to give her a shoulder to cry on, only to run smack into Zach Zemaitis . . . the one who got away.

Texans love God, family, and football, though not always in that order

Zach, a former pro star, knows all about football. As for the other two, well, he's doing his best. But when Adele comes charging back into his life—still all lush curves and beautiful, big blue eyes—he wonders if his best is good enough. After all, he did her wrong. Can a woman with her track record ever really believe that he's serious this time . . . or is he destined to be another bad date?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This yummy lovefest from Gibson (after Tangled Up in You) focuses on a familiar dilemma: how to end bad luck in love. At 35, successful Idaho SFF novelist Adele Harris has had it with losers who make fun of her big fat ass. She feels cursed—and she was, by old rival Devon Hamilton-Zemaitis, who stole Adele's first love, football star Zach Zemaitis. When Devon dies following an accident, she must remove the curse that's prevented Adele's happiness so she can go to heaven. Meanwhile, Adele gets a frantic call from older sister Sherilyn, who's divorcing her husband and has moved back to their old hometown of Cedar Creek, Tex.—where Zach now coaches high school football, and where Sherilyn needs help with her 13-year-old. Gibson keeps the action light but dead-on delicious in Adele's and Zach's sizzling second-chance-at love. (June)
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About the Author

With the publication of New York Times bestselling author Rachel Gibson's first book, readers discovered one of contemporary romance's freshest voices. Four of her novels were named among the Top Ten Favorite Books of the Year by Romance Writers of America. She has won numerous awards, including Borders Bestselling Romantic Comedy, National Reader's Choice, and two RITA^® Awards for the Best Single Contemporary Romance Title of the Year.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon; First Edition edition (May 27, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061178047
• ISBN-13: 978-0061178047
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #233,691 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

With the publication of New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rachel Gibson's first book, readers discovered one of contemporary romance's freshest voices. Four of her novels were named among the Top Ten Favorite Books of the Year by Romance Writers of America.

Rachel's storytelling career began at the age of sixteen when she ran her Chevy Vega into the side of a hill, retrieved the bumper and broken glass from the ground, and drove to her high school parking lot. With the help of her friend, she strategically scattered the broken pieces and told her parents she'd been the victim of a hit and run. They believed her, and she's been telling stories ever since.

When not writing, Rachel can be found boating on Payette Lake with Mr. Gibson, shopping for shoes, or forcing her love on an ungrateful cat.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Whenever I date a guy, I think, "Is this the man I want my children to spend their weekends with?-Rita Rudner, May 30, 2008

By 

Cherise Everhard (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Not Another Bad Date (Avon Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

14 years ago Adele Harris gave her heart and virginity to Zach Zematis, up and coming football star. He took both, and then returned her heart broken. She left college mid term, unwilling to face him day after day. She got over him, eventually, but unfortunately she has been unlucky in love ever since. For the past three years she has gone on dates that start off good than turn to just plain bizarre. Convinced she is cursed to make all potential suitors nutty, she has sort of given up on love.

When her sister phones her to come home to Texas to help her during her pregnancy and divorce, Adele does so. She doesn't want to be in Texas again, but she knows her sister needs her. When she bumps into Zach all she wants to do is run in the opposite direction. She has no feelings, good or bad, left over from her first love, but that doesn't mean she wants to create any new ones, either.

I really, really enjoyed this story. Having enjoyed Adele's crazy dating disasters and weird stalking ex boyfriend from the previous stories in this series, I loved finally knowing the reasoning behind all of it. I thought it was extremely clever and humorous idea and it added an interesting mix to this story.

The relationships in this story, not just Adele and Zach's, were compelling in their own right, and extremely realistic. Zach and his teenaged daughter, Adele's niece and friends, the sisters, I teared up a few times and laughed a whole lot. I think this is my favorite story out of the series and I found it really hard to put down; I struggled between one more chapter and responsibility several times, luckily I'm not that big on responsibility. I love books that make you giggle and this one had me belly laughing quite a few times. I thought this book was equal parts sweet and charming, sexy and sassy, fun and hilarious... Not a bad combo.

Although it's part of a series, it's written in a way where you can easily read this one on your own and not be lost. Enjoy!

Sex, Lies, and Online Dating

I'm In No Mood For Love

Tangled Up In You

Cherise Everhard, May 2008

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed, June 12, 2008

By 

B Frank "Bookaholic" (Orlando, Fl) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Not Another Bad Date (Avon Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

Many people do not understand why there have been such low reviews for this book, hopefully I can explain.

1. I love Rachel Gibson because she makes me laugh and makes her books believable. Yes, there were a few laughs in the first half of the book, but not enough--after all she's known for writing romantic comedy. Usually when she writes a book, the reader gets to see why the main hero/heroine loves the other. The reader didn't really get to see that. We were TOLD that. It was not believable that Zach just fell in love with her once she came back to Idaho. And for that matter, what did Adele love about Zach so much? I got the vague feeling that she loved him because he was her first. To me, that's total BS considering what century this took place in and how the writer tried to portray Adele.

2. I don't mind the hero's infidelity in the past, but he wasn't shown as a changed character. In RG's previous book, "Truly..." Nick showed that he was in love with the main heroine even though he was previously a player. The reader got the feeling that he loved her and would never think of cheating on her. There's not the same sense that I got here.

3. Zach gets away with everything. He doesn't grovel for his misgivings but expects Adele to forgive him. I like strong heroines. Not ones that are as malleable as the wind pushing a thin tree branch. I'm not saying that there shouldn't be a compromise but in each of her previous books, when the man or woman screws up... They apologized and showed that they cared in a big way. Especially since there are scenes depicting Adele as someone who doesn't take crap from anyone (i.e. when she confronts her brother in law in the hospital).

4. I liked the addition of teenagers but you didn't get to see Adele and Tiffany's relationship grow. I don't understand how someone having your father's children makes you like them instantly. Again, we were just told.

5. There was no point to Devon's character being in the story. PERIOD. If so, her storyline lacked development. Now don't get me wrong, I love the paranormal genre. But ask yourself honestly... If the ghost scenario hadn't been put in the book would it have really taken away from it? I would have much preferred it if those chapters were taken out and chapters were put in for the reader to understand Zach more. To make him more favorable to the reader.

All in all, I guess why I'm so disappointed is because I used to read RG's books and go to my hubby-- "Why can't you be like him?" much to his dismay... LoL. And this time, I read the book going, "I'm so glad you're not like that character."

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Why the ghost?, May 27, 2008

By 

Cheryll Falcone "Cfalcone "middle brow bo... (Fort Worth, Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Not Another Bad Date (Avon Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)

What has happened to Rachel Gibson? She used to be one of my favorite Romance authors. I have read "See Jane Score" too many times to count.

The main complaint I have is the ghost of the hero's wife seems tacked on. Why try to be paranormal when the rest of the book clearly isn't? I liked the hero, as he was a man with flaws just like a real man. The heroine was OK, but her character needed lots more development to make me care more about her. The teenagers were sweet, but also needed more devolpment. I'd skip this.