Customer Reviews

Sexiest Man Alive (Warner Forever)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The much anticipated sequel to Make Me a Match is well worth the wait. Author, Diana Holquist has penned another romantic romp that is sure to please a wide variety of fans.

Jasmine Burns is a disaster when it comes to attractive men; she can't talk and she's a klutz. When she's told by her psychic sister the movie star, Josh Toby is her fated match, she is flabbergasted! It just can't be possible; she's a shy wallflower who doesn't attract handsome men, much less a movie star. Of course, now that she has the job as his dresser, it makes things even more uncomfortable for her, but Josh has other ideas.

Rousing fun and an original storyline makes Sexiest Man Alive one entertaining book that is difficult to put down. Jasmine is a personable woman that this reader felt great empathy for. She is afraid to believe she could attract such a "larger than life" gorgeous man and yet wants so badly to believe. Josh is a super sexy hero that grabbed a piece of my heart right away with his determination to show Jasmine he really did care about her. Bravo, Diana Holquist; this book is sure to be a fan favorite.

Shame on me, I haven't read Make Me a Match. But I will now. Sexiest Man Alive is a great romance read. It's got humor, love, and hello the title says it, the Sexiest Man Alive! I love how shy and awkward Jasmine is and how Hollywood Hunk Josh wants to be the man help her overcome that. Of course like any romance, there are obstacles for each of the characters to hurdle, but Diana Holquist has a fantastic way of taking you along for the ride! I found myself laughing on the first page and smiling through to the ending. It's just amazing! I can't wait to read more from this author!

Great follow up to debut novel Make Me A Match! Studly action hero Toby and shy costumer Jasmine know perception can be vastly different from reality. By knowing this about themselves, they help the other overcome their fears and reach their potential. The subplots show the main relationship from other perspectives and add depth to the story. Great read, can't wait for more.

Jasmine is not just shy around men. No, she suffers from a social anxiety so bad that she gets tongue-tied, freezes to the spot and pukes if she has to any spend time around men - especially handsome ones. So while her dream is to become a grand costume designer, for now she caters only to women.

But what's a poor girl to do when she has a job interview with one of the most gorgeous theater directors around? What any other self-respecting shy costume designer would do, of course - she drops her portfolio and flees. Fortunately the theater director mistakes her nervousness for arrogance and self-confidence: "My work speaks for itself," and as he likes eccentric artists, he hires her on the spot - meaning she has to work for Josh Toby.

Josh Toby - the actor twice voted as the sexiest man alive. Josh Toby - who also just happens to be the man her psychic sister has declared to be Jasmine's One True Love.

Josh has his work cut out for him getting Jasmine to feel at ease around him. He thinks she's a great girl, and would like nothing better than to spend time with her in peace and quiet, but unfortunately his fans don't agree, and the press will do anything to get a photo of the star - especially when they start suspecting a new love affair.

Add to the mix a jealous co-designer, a fake girlfriend with a crush and a librarian who's convinced that everybody else is insane, and you end up with the entertaining and fast-paced story that is Sexiest Man Alive. The perfect chick-lit for when you just want to forget all about real life for a while and disappear to a world where the good girl always gets her guy.

While the ending does get a bit unrealistic and makes use of a deus ex machina (see note) to get everything sorted out properly, it does not diminish my enjoyment of the book at all. By far the wittiest, smartest and hottest book I've read all year. This book fairly sizzles!

NOTE: Deus ex machina literally it means "god in the machine." It's used when a new aspectis introduced at the very end - when something comes totally out of the left wing and saves the day. The expression originated in Greek tragedy where a god would come down from the sky (via a crane to make it seem like he/she was flying - therefore the `machine') to rescue the poor hero who'd gotten in a completely hopeless situation

Armchair Interviews says: Who doesn't need some sizzle in her life?

Jasmine couldn't believe it when her psychic sister Amy told her that Josh Toby is her One True Love. Josh, the world's biggest movie star, her true love, never! However, suddenly she gets a new job as his costume designer. Now she meets the real man behind the public figure. He is intriguing and makes her feel like a real woman, but is there a chance for a relationship between them?

Ms. Holquist with SEXIEST MAN ALIVE delivers another funny and highly entertaining story, that will keep you glued to the pages because you want to know how the situation between Jasmine and Josh. One never knows what will happen next.

Jasmine and Josh are both intriguing and very realistic characters. Josh has problems in trusting that Jasmine really wants him and not his public image like all the other women. She has a lot of persuading ahead of herself.

And then there are all the wonderful secondary characters that add even more fun to the story.

This book is the great sequel of Make Me A Match. It can be read as a stand-alone, but to fully understand the role of Jasmine's sister Amy you really should also read Make Me A Match.

So if you want to spend an evening with a funny and entertaining book, than SEXIEST MAN ALIVE is the perfect book for you!

This reviewer can hardly wait to see what will happen when Amy finds her own One True Love! This will be fun.

Courtesy of Loveromancesandmore.com

I wondered how Diana holquist would follow up the delightful Make Me A Match and she doesn't disappoint in Sexiest Man Alive.

The characters and the storyline are quite engaging and I spent a lazy sick-day afternoon lost in Jasmine's world. Oh! What a world! Sort of Notting Hill-esque.

I cannot wait to read what she puts out next!

Up-and-coming designer Jasmine Burns has a slight problem. Deathly afraid of men to the point that it is a phobia, she has a hard time communicating with them. A man can talk to her and she clams up and rushes away every time. Then, to make matters worse, her older sister claims to be a gypsy and considers herself a psychic of sorts. Her specialty is supposedly being able to tell people about their "One True Love". Amy supposedly can touch a person and instantly tell them the name of their true love. When Amy invades Jasmine's apartment as she is preparing for a job interview with a famous costume designer, Amy tells Jasmine her love's name: Josh Toby. Of course, that is the just his name. Amy doesn't know which person out of all the Josh Tobys in the world Jasmine's true love could be. As Jasmine's luck would have it though, the one Josh Toby she finds herself attracted to and friends with turns out to be a movie star and dubbed the "Sexiest Man Alive".

Josh Toby is tired of constantly being scrutinized and belittled for the movie roles he has undertaken. Those same roles made him a household name and while he enjoys the perks of the trade, he wants to be known as so much more. Slipping into New York City when he should be overseas, Josh is working towards getting a part in Romeo and Juliet, which is being put on by an off-Broadway theater. Meeting with the costume designer in order to find a disguise so no one knows it is THE Josh Toby at auditions, Josh is surprised to meet a quirky, somewhat shy woman named Jasmine. When she rushes away, he can't help but be intrigued by the one woman who didn't seem impressed about his star status nor interested in his bank account. In fact, she is perfect for what Josh thinks he needs. Only what he thinks he needs and what Jasmine actually gives him are so totally different he didn't even see it coming.

Jasmine and Toby unite to try and keep his identity secret. However, forces are working against them and their covers are blown. Will Jasmine be able to handle Josh's public identity without getting overwhelmed? Will Josh be able to handle Jasmine's fears? It seems the Sexiest Man Alive just might have his work cut out for him.

Diana Holquist grabbed my attention with this book. Enthralled from beginning to end, I couldn't help but laugh, then cry, and then smile. Sexiest Man Alive was entertaining, often hilarious, but seemed so very real. Jasmine endeared herself to me from the first scene of her `practice' interview and her fears and shyness were written in such a way that wanted to grab her and just hug her. Josh Toby was also very personable and not without his hang-ups. I loved watching the man who was supposedly perfect be imperfect.

Sexiest Man Alive was witty, sexy, and just entirely wonderful. I can't wait to read more from this terrific writer.

Talia
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

This book is a really fun read. You fall in love with the characters and the plot is creative. I loved this book from start to finish.

Diana Holquist's book "Sexiest Man Alive" is a reminder why I no longer do research on author or the book prior to reading. The reason is I'm no good at prejudging a book. I'll give you an example of what I mean.

Take the book cover. See the hunk of a fellow on the cover? Hot, right? The woman is grabbing him from the back made me think of the song by Arrow "Hot, Hot, Hot." I conjured up graphic sex scenes. Imagine my surprise to find out the main character, Jasmine Burns, is actually shy, so much so that she has anxiety attacks anytime she is near a hunk. Right away, I knew this was going to be interesting.

To add to the mix, her sister, Amy, is a psychic and not just your Sylvia Browne model. Amy specializes in being able to hear the name of the person you are destined to be with, your life mate, if you will. Of course, there is a catch. When Amy hears the name, let's say, John Smith. This could be the John Smith, a wino down the street or John Smith, the billionaire. What a twist!

Diana Holquist's sense of humor tops the laugh charts in this comedy romance. The giggles started on page six turned to laugh-out-loud funny before the chapter was done. I even woke my husband from a dead sleep before I was done with my laughing jag. And the prologue at the end with the first chapter of her next book is completely priceless!

After reading "Sexiest Man Alive", I discovered this was Diana Holquist's second book. Her first, "Make Me a Match", also has the gypsy sisters and it's Cecelia Burns who finds her one true love. Her next book, titled "Hungry for More" will be out in fall of 2008. I'm putting it on my wish list!

This is such a feel good happy go lucky book!
The heroine Jasmine loves to design clothes, lives in Manhattan and seems to have it all. Well, she has a tiny problem. Jasmine is so shy around handsome men, rather men in general from an experience that scarred her from when she was a teen. Every time she is around a "hunk" she stutters and almost passes out. This is a first in any book I have read and was very cute and original. But, this problem could stop Jasmine from getting her dream job because her boss is one of those drop dead gorgeous types.
She also has a sister Amy who is a physic and happens to know who's someone true love is. And guess who's Jasmine's so-called true love? Josh Toby, actor extraordinaire of the big screen and the ultimate cutie.
Mr. Toby has his own problems. He doesn't want to be known as a pretty boy in the movies. He wants to really act and be taken seriously. Whether it is fate or just a crazy coincidence, Jasmine and Josh meet. Their interactions with each other are beyond adorable. Josh is sweet and not a part of the Hollywood elite. He is such a nice guy. Jasmine is also sweet but still has the little problem of being shy. Josh decides to help her with this. And she will help him get over his stage fright.
Sexiest Man Alive is a great read to make you laugh and cheer you up. Diana Holquist has quite a future in romantic comedy and with this book, her skills show great promise.
Josh and Jasmine are truly perfect together. A job well done!

Katiebabs


Make Me a Match