Customer Reviews

Wanting What You Get (Stepp Sisters, Book 2)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Love and as a result was able to see her quirky nature in her great characters. This only made the read more entertaining.

Ellie Stepp is not perfect, at least not in her opinion. She's a little chubby, a little short, and a librarian. Could she be a sadder stereotype? She is living in her small Maine hometown and life is good, at least by Ellie standards. It could be better but...than at her sisters wedding reception the unthinkable happens...Mason Sweet the object of her childhood love, and Millbrook's very handsome mayor flirts with her...on purpose!! Her, Ellie Stepp. Something must be wrong. Way wrong. But actually everything is very right. At least it will be once she manages to get her act together. Than she finds out that one of the towns leading citizens wants a new football field at the libraries expense. Ellie screws up her courage and asks Mayor Sweet to help her. He will...but it's going to cost her...

Mason can't believe that he is seeing Ellie in a whole new light. She is beautiful, giving, and warms him like no one else has in a long time. When she comes to him for help, he makes a rather indecent proposal...and is floored when she agrees! Well, he can handle this...no problem. Right? Well, it won't be an easy relationship given that it must be kept secret from the town and Ellie's sister. But than nothing worth having ever comes easy right?

Ellie and Mason are wonderfully real characters. Ellie has more issues than vogue magazine when it comes to security and self-confidence. Mason has a tendency to bury his pain in a bottle. Each of them sees the best in the other, and their relationship is sweet as a result. This is a read that will speak to your emotions and one that I highly recommend.

Ellie Stepp was never a part of the 'beautiful, in-crowd' in high school, while Mason Sweet was 'Mr. Popular'. Now, Ellie is the town librarian and Mason is the town mayor. When Ellie discovers that the city council might cut the library budget in order to fund a new high school football field, she asks Mason for his help preventing it. Mason tells Ellie that he'll help her, if she sleeps with him. To his surprise, Ellie accepts his proposition. She has always had a crush on Mason and sees this as a way to finally live out her fantasies. They end up having an affair, which Ellie agrees to keep secret at Mason's request. Naturally, the fact that Mason refuses to acknowledge their relationship in public, does little for Ellie's self-esteem.

Mason has a secret of his own, he has a big drinking problem (although he certainly doesn't see it as a problem). It's very, very difficult for an author to write an alcoholic hero and still make him likable to the reader. Yet, this author managed to pull it off. I was very impressed by that.

What I wasn't impressed about was the fact that his drinking problem was so obvious and yet, both the heroine and the hero took *forever* to figure it out. Then later in the book, there is another situation (I won't tell what it is so that I don't spoil it for anyone) that again is very obvious, but the hero and heroine are totally oblivious to it. As a result, frankly, I questioned their intelligence at several points during the book. I spent way too much time waiting for them to wake and face facts, and that irritated me. Hence-less stars...

I read the first one and I liked it. But I was really looking forward to this one, and I was not disappointed. I rate how much I like books on how long it takes me to read them, and this one took me 2 hours. Ellie was an amazing woman who wasn't exactly perfect but she was real, and since I am sick of thin, beautiful, waifs she was a nice departure of the mainstream. But the character I really loved was Mason. You don't get many books were the hero is perfect on the outside but is really not perfect on the inside. He has a real problem(alcoholism) and he was depicted acurratly, and not like some guy who sweeps his problem under the rug. This was one of my favorite books of the year, and I imagine the wait for the next one will be well worth it.

I read the first book in the trilogy and loved it so I went to get this one right away. i knew I would like it, but I ended up loving it.
This book is about Ellie and Mason's story. We meet both characters in the first book and now it is their turn. I really really liked Ellie. She was cute. Mason was real. I liked how we really got into their heads. I liked how the author made the characters get into their own heads. It is so much more real and makes it easier to go with the story and feel like you are right there.
This story has two "real" people with real problems that we can all identify with. It is also about choices and the paths in life and what can happen when the right choices are not made. It covers the highs and lows of life. It also shows us Abby and Chase again, whom I love and we get to see a little more of Marty, the third sister and third story. This story also showns us more of the town and of small town life.
The romance is top notch and very sweet. The plot is good and the story is just bottom line the bomb. Needless to say, I HIGHLY recommend this book.

"Enjoying What I Get"
By SG Cardin

Ellie Stepp has lived in Millbrook, Maine all her life. It's a small town and overweight Ellie has watched many romances come and go as the town's librarian. She never thought she'd have her turn.

Mason Sweet has been burned by love and he's in no condition to fall in love again - until he decides to give Ellie a shot. Only Mason doesn't realize how complicated true love can be.

Mason and Ellie embark on a "secret" affair but it's an affair that touches their hearts. Through their trials and tribulations both Ellie and Mason realize that love can bind one together forever but it's something that's easily lost if it's not nutured in a healthly way.

Mason and Ellie are delicious simply because they are so human and suffer from a lot of the same human failings we all do. Ellie is overweight which leads to self esteem issues. Mason hides his pain in a bottle. Only when they look their demons in the face, can they embark on their true love affair.

Love is a delightful author. Full of wonderful descriptions she easily draws you into her characters. I truly enjoyed her story of a more realistic romance. (I must admit to having a "secret" romance myself in my younger days) Love always wins in the end and Love proves it without a shadow of a doubt!

Thankfully I was fortunate enough to find this gem when I looked for it at a local bookstore. I'd wanted to savour it over tea during the Christmas holidays but instead I was instantly sucked into Mason and Ellie's world and didn't emerge until a few hours later - story finished.
Love has created a novel that transcends modern romance fiction and stands apart from the formulaic standards. The reader is treated to passion, romance and angst without the distractions (verbosity, boring plots or excessive setting descriptions) that assail many readers. Almost immediately you fall in love with the heroine - identifying with her struggle for self-worth and her inability to see herself as the world sees her. You're at once cheering her on while you take stock of your own self-esteem. Ellie Stepp is not the ugly Stepp sister, but the reality of every woman inside, at one time or another.
The object of Ellie's affection and obsession is so well- realized that he breaks the mold of romantic hero.
This novel stands alone as the most honest and passionate story I've read that is sold under the canopy of romantic fiction. It clips along at an exciting pace without ever missing a beat.
I found myself laughing and crying and caring about the characters as if they were old friends falling in love. And if there is any bit of voyeurism in you, you'll be pleasantly surprised about every intimate moment Kathy Love's characters share...The printed word leaps off the page filling your imagination with a completely satifying vision of this exciting relationship from beginning to end.
I highly recommend it as a great escape...

Wanting What You Get tells the moving story of the middle sister, Ellie Stepp.

Ellie, local librarian has always been the good one. At her sisters wedding she is paired with best man Mason Sweet. Ellie has had a crush on Mason since he stood up for her in grade school. She can't believe Mason seems to be flirting with her.

Mason Sweet the towns golden boy has grown up to become mayor. Lately he cannot get thoughts of Ellie Stepp out of his mind. Mason is convinced he is no longer the man for a serious relationship. So he offers Ellie an affair, shockingly she says YES.

Ellie and Mason both have problems from their past to deal with before they can make this affair turn into something more. It takes a serious wake up call for Mason to admit he has a problem.

Wanting What You Get is an emotional, funny and sexy book. There are traits in both characters that will pull at your heart. I really could identify with Ellie, we need more real characters. And Masons drinking problem was written very true to life.

Looking forward to Marty Stepp's story.

'Wanting What You Get' by Kathy Love was the second book of the series. This novel tells the story of Ellie Stepp the middle daughter. Ellie always felt fat and hated high school. She was always in love with Mason Sweet the high school football star. Mason is now the Mayor of her small town in Maine and Ellie is the local librarian. The Library funding is threatened so she goes to the mayor for help. He suggests a trade of services. I found myself reading this book in an evening and both characters have many issues that they work through to make it work. Enjoy!

'Getting What You Want' by Kathy Love was the first novel and
'Wanting Something More' was the last book of the series.

If I could give a rating of 3.5 stars I would feel "right" about my rating. This is book 2 of the Stepp Sister's trilogy. I absolutely LOVED "Getting What You Want" and was eager to read about the shy, romantic, librarian Ellie Stepp. Mason was also of interest to me because of meeting him in "Getting What You Want" as Chase's best friend.

The good is that Kathy Love's writing continues to be very strong. I couldn't put this book down and it was a very quick read just like the first book was. I wish I would've liked Ellie and Mason as well as I liked Abby and Chase.

Ellie is my worst nightmare as a female. She is HORRIBLY insecure and caring for everyone else but herself. She is constantly second guessing herself and what she knows she wants. A "weak woman" would pretty much sum her up. I was waiting for her transformation....to come into her own skin and to start believing in herself and her worth...she never really did. She looked to Mason to define her beauty and worth. A very sad lady indeed...your typical codependent.

Mason was your typical alcoholic. Selfish, undependable, abusive, and totally protecting his addiction at the expense of all who were around him. His "rock bottom" comes at the end of the book and I thought his recovery was a bit rushed.

I liked this book, but Ellie and Mason both just bothered me too much to love this book. At the end they get their HEA, but I just wasn't convinced that it was one that would last.

Ellie is a somewhat shy, definitely chubby and arguably dull librarian in small-town Middlebrook, Maine. She grew up as a bit of an outsider, but always had a crush on gorgeous, hometown hero Mason Sweet, who's now the town's mayor. Ellie's gotten real used to being attracted to him, just like she's gotten used to telling herself she's too chunky for any guy to be interested in her.

So, imagine her surprise when, at her sister's wedding reception, Mason very obviously flirts with her! Rather than being thrilled, she's baffled. She had to be mistaken...right? Flash-forward a few days--Ellie has just discovered that a local "good ole boy" wants to get the town council to siphon money from the library to pay for a new football field. In a panic, Ellie goes to Mason to ask for his help to convince the council members that the library's worth saving.

Mason's a little surprised when Ellie shows up at his house, but he can't deny that he's been thinking about her constantly since the wedding--and his thoughts haven't exactly been the lily-white variety. Thing is, he's also a little drunk, so when the tempting little librarian comes pleading for his help, he makes a request of his own: Ellie in his bed in exchange for his help.

Thus, we enter into the fast-paced, well-written world of Kathy Love's "Wanting What You Get." I'll admit that I love a good slow build to a story, but Kathy Love doesn't waste any time with preamble here; within four or five pages, you're well-ensconced in the story, Mason's already giving into his newfound attraction to Ellie--while Ellie's busy pinching herself to make sure she's not dreaming.

This is the romance genre at its finest, in my opinion. What I absolutely love is that Kathy Love knows good dialogue; it's snappy, witty, and cleanly delivered. That dialogue brings the characters to life just as much as her well-delivered internal dialogue. What Love delivers is a unique turn of phrase and "voice" that comes right off the page and curls up in your lap like a favorite cat. :)

In terms of the plot: the crux of the matter is that Mason had a horrible marriage and has decided he's not relationship material. The only problem is that he can't seem to get Ellie out of his head, so even after he backs out of the "sleep with me to get my vote" deal, he STILL wants her. Trying for chivalrous, he keeps turning Ellie down--even though she says she's fine with a one-night stand or a casual (i.e., only sexual) relationship, he knows she's too sweet for that.

Still, after resisting for a while, they finally fall into bed together with the agreement that their relationship--or lack thereof--will be their little secret.

Okay, fine...but once Mason starts having feelings for Ellie, he's too afraid (or something) to come right out and say he wants to be in a relationship with her, so he just beats around the bush--all while drinking everything in sight. Oh, yeah...this leading man has a drinking problem.

As my friends would say, this is "straight up, real stuff."

Anyway, I wasn't quite able to figure out why, after Ellie has made it clear that she'd be interested in anything he has to offer, he's STILL afraid to just tell her he wants to be with her, but it made for some nice, tense moments, so I won't complain.

***SPOILER ALERT***

The one real gripe I had was Ellie's pregnancy at the end of novel. I totally saw the coming from the first mention of her being overly tired (I mean, really, I'd be a bad romance reader if I hadn't picked up on those clues). The problem I have with it is that it really served no purpose in the plot; if the pregnancy had been a catalyst for either Ellie taking a stand to get Mason to stop drinking OR if that pregnancy had been why Mason actually DID stop drinking, then fine. But, really, it was almost a periphery aspect of the plot, which bothered me a bit.

[END OF SPOILER ALERT]

In terms of Kathy Love's writing style, I love how fast-paced the story is, and the fact that it's packed with heroine/hero one-on-one time. She tends to skip the nitty-gritty of the love scenes, which is fine with me because there's a lot of chemistry between these two. BUT she also tends to skip over the most tense moments in the story (i.e., arguments, etc) and jumps forward a few hours/days/weeks/even months later. I really didn't mind that for most of the story, but near the end, I found myself wanting "more"--more interaction/discussion/arguing between Ellie and Mason. And, actually, the last chapter or two just seemed a bit rushed. Almost everything is solved in retrospect, meaning we're brought into the story months down the line and either Ellie or Mason would think back about how things were "fixed" during that time period. Yeah...not exactly conducive to, what's the word, emotional closure as a reader. :)

I must admit, though, that at the end, I felt let down, not because of the book's ending, but because of the way it ended. Ellie and Mason spent a good half of the chapter apart, then, on the last two pages, get together and everything's honky-dorey. I'm not one for a chapter-long make-up session, but between the pregnancy and Mason's drinking issues, they still had A LOT to talk about.

All in all though, it was a great, fun read that I finished in about a day-and-a-half simply because I was genuinely interested (dare I say excited?) about seeing these two finally get together.