Customer Reviews

Whole Lot Of Love (Silhouette Desire, 1281)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a lovely story that makes use of a common plot line: a less-than-physically-perfect woman falls for an incredibly handsome man, who slowly convinces her of her worth. The best thing about this book was that the female protagonist is not a pushover; she did not spend the entire book wallowing in self-misery or "poor, plain little me" sentiments. Another thing I also liked was the fact that she did not "magically" lose weight by the end, like several other books making use of the same premise (Jude Devereux's "Wishes", for example). This is a great, real, warm read that I highly recommend!

Layla Laraway telephones Ethan Winslow asking if he'd be willing to be auctioned off at a date auction fundraiser for Alzheimer's research. Ethan is captivated by Layla's silky, sensual voice and her equally smooth, friendly but persuasive manner.

Layla knows how it will be when Ethan sees her in person, though; it happens every time. His face will register his shock and disappointment that her body doesn't match her sexy voice. After all, she is a big woman--5' 10" and not at all thin. I picked this book up at the recommendation of Mona and others on Romance Readers Anonymous--I was so glad to finally find a romance with a large size heroine!

However, at first, I felt kind of gyped that this large size heroine was probably only a size 14, maybe 16 (numbers aren't given). To me, a size 28, that's almost as alien as a size 8! At first I felt like, "What the hell is she bitching about, she probably doesn't weigh more than 160 or maybe 175 at most!" But then I remembered how I felt back in the days when I was that size--I thought I was huge, and everyone else thought I was too, and didn't hesitate to tell me. I had boyfriends just like the jerk Layla dated, Wayne. So I got to be okay with Layla being big but not super size. However, I still feel kind of sold out that her physical fitness was so emphasized. Yes, being fit is A Very Good Thing, and certainly one needs to be fit to sail (as she and Ethan do)... but it made me feel like, okay, she's fit so that makes her being large acceptable--if she wasn't fit, she wouldn't be acceptable.

Overall I'm VERY pleased that Justine wrote this and that it got published. I know that a few years ago editors and agents felt that the market wasn't ready for a queen size heroine. I'm glad that someone big (different kind of big ;) and respected in the genre (Justine has won a few RITAs) could start pushing at the market limits and show that yes, we readers want some characters like this! It's a step in the right direction, just not as big a step as I had hoped.

I am also impressed by the cover. I usually ignore covers as best I can because the artist's renderings rarely match up with the picture I have of the characters in my mind's eye. On this one, the heroine is actually shown as described--black dress, blond hair up (tho I hope she did the front of it better than the artist did), and--gasp!--not thin! Not fat by any means, but very curvy and well-rounded. Yay!

A WHOLE LOT OF LOVE isn't just for big women, of course--it's for anyone who likes a touching story of real people, told by a master who not only gives her characters growth, but teaches the reader more about herself. I enjoyed Layla and Ethan's banter and the way they *talked* to each other (and listened!) and had a good time together. The Alzheimer's part (both Layla and Ethan work in different aspects of Alzheimer's research) was VERY well done--one scene near the end brought tears to my eyes--and I think could serve well as a guidebook of how to act and not act around people afflicted by Alzheimer's and similar conditions.

Thanks to the folks on RRA-L for the heads up on this book. Thanks to Silhouette for publishing it. And very very big thanks to Justine Davis for writing it--I think for this one you deserve another RITA.

Kimberly Borrowdale, Under the Covers Book Reviews

I read mostly historical romance, with a smattering of contemporary and series romance. Most often, a series romance is like snack food for me, and not a true meal. Sorry about the food references in regards to this book, but the analogy is generally fitting. However, Justine Davis' A Whole Lot of Love, which features a handsome and brilliant executive who just so happens to be kind as well, and a woman who's been told all her life that she has "such a pretty face!", is definitely more than snack food.

This is my first book by this author, and I've already decided she's worth a glom, because she managed to create real people in this book. There's no hero who does hurtful things in a fit of pique, there's no heroine who behaves in accordance with the story as opposed to the story progressing naturally because of the characters. And, thank goodness, there's no villain or suspense sub-plot.

No, there's just two people who are more than their appearances would lead you to believe - two people who have to work through painful issues that are holding them back.

I recommend this book strongly, and hope author Davis will write a story for the heroine's best friend and another for the hero's sister. They deserve to find love too!

TTFN, Laurie Likes Books

Publisher, All About Romance

I'm a longtime fan of Ms. Davis. She's written some of my favorite series romance novels that have "imperfect" characters. She handled amputees wonderfully in two previous books, and now she has a heroine of whose type is not very common in the tiny-waisted, perfect bosom world of romance: A plumper! Amen, sister! I look forward to the day when plump heroines are common enough that the weight isn't the central conflict for the heroine!

In any case, Layla has a sexy voice, but men go,"Oh, never mind" when they see the large gal behind the killer voice. Ethan is a successful man who's had a hard life--orphaned, raised his sisters, worked to make a fortune. His conflicts tie in with Alzheimer's disease and to certain unconscious qualms about Layla's size.

Alzheimer's is a major issue in the story and, while it got a bit preachy in parts (like some brochure for the disease), there were touching moments dealing with this terrible affliction, which affected the lives of both Layla and Ethan.

Ethan has got to be one of the most appealing heroes to ever grace category romance. He's smart, he's hunky, he's friendly, he's chivalrous, he's not sexually predatorial (thank heavens!), he's family-oriented, he's loyal, he's generous, he's patient. What a guy! If you don't love him, your heart has gone on vacation!

Layla is no wallflower,whiny fatty. She's articulate and athletic and competent in her career. She's sexy in her bodacious way, and has charming insecurities. (Who wouldn't if they were big in this thin-obsessed society?)

Ultimately, this is a very gentle romance from Ms. Davis, who has written some pretty spicy, fast-paced, suspenseful ones. The romance is believable in how it unfolds, at a rather modest pace. The issues are handled well, although Ethan's best friend is a bit of a one-dimensional stereotype of the anti-fatty, shallow guy, and Layla's best friend is too good to be true. The scene where Layla is about to confront her insecurity about lovemaking and consummate her affair with Ethan is very touching in it's vulnerability.

That said, there was too much sex crammed into the END of the book. This romance was a gentle, modest one (you'd think SWEET) and then--bam!-- love scene after love scene in a short space of time. It gave the novel a lop-sided feel. I think one well-wrought love scene would have been much better, one dealing with vulnerabilities on both sides, and reaching a satisfied, eased consummation.

All in all,a nice category read from a dependable series author, one with a heroine to make us plumpers feel cheering. :D

*Mir*

What a wonderful book and what a pleasant surprise that the heroine, "who is not a size 8" gets to stay that way for the entire book! Poor Layla has been hurt very badly in the past by people judging her on her looks as have many of us "larger women" who have also heard what Layla did - the "But you have such a pretty face" etc. hinting that IF ONLY we were thinner.....

I've been a Justine Davis fan for years, but I have to say I don't know when I've enjoyed one of her books more. First, for the hero and heroine, who unlike most characters in books, have AND admit to, some character flaws and do some serious soul searching,but also for her sensitive and beautiful treatment of Alzheimers and the tragic destruction it causes.

All of the characters in this book were believable and real. I enjoyed Ethan's realization that his friend Bill is a total jerk due to his obsession about Layla's size and I loved Layla's best friend, beautiful, kind hearted Stephanie.

Here's hoping that Stephanie gets a book of her own so that she can find that "special someone" who appreciates that she is much more than a beautiful face.

Thanks again, Ms. Davis. Can't wait for your next book.

When Layla was described, I pictured someone like Kathleen Turner or Kirstie Alley. Voluptuous with a sexy voice etc... but so much of a deal was made about "how could he be with her" that it was distracting. I LOVE the idea of a heroine who is not model thin, but both Layla and Ethan seemed to have trouble with it for a while. I really liked how they had other things in their lives, interesting jobs, sailing, biking...they were interesting characters. But dump the friend Bill! What a jerk. I'd like to see more books with larger woman as heroines. This is a nice start, but I'd like to see their size be an issue to address not an overwhelming obstacle....then again I'd like to see that in real life!

A WHOLE LOT OF LOVE is a beautiful story revolving what modern day society would call an "odd couple". It's sad but very, very true.

You see, Kayla is not your average sexy heroine with a to-die-for body. No, she is like many of us, beautiful in so many ways but made to feel the opposite due to her size. Granted many readers may think that a size 14 or 16 isn't very big, well, for those of us who are that size, it's definely a big deal. I for one range between 14-16 and it's definitely been a problem not only socially but emotionally. But I must say, after reading this wonderful story, I felt truly blessed. I was reminded that unquestionable love does indeed exist. That there is that one special person that will see you for what you are inside and will let that emotion reflect upon how they see you on the outside. I guess that's why I absolutely adored Ethan. He's every woman's dream come true. And you know what? He's really out there just waiting for YOU to see inside of HIM.

I cannot express enough the joy I felt after reading this book. It was truly an inspiration and motivator. But find out for yourself. Purchase it and treasure it. I know I will.

Luciano

I just received this book last night and ended up reading it in one sitting with no distractions. I was that caught up in it! It moved me to tears! Yes! I actually cried! The author really captured the true emotions of what it's like to be a larger woman than the ideal and I caught myself nodding at it in total amazement that here was my heart described so plainly in a book! As of last night, I now have a new favorite book!

By the time I read this, I already knew that the female lead -- Layla -- wasn't going to be the sort to wallow in her weight but simply be herself, weight and all. I loved that about her. I thought the book was intelligent, the treatment of Alzheimer's was dignified and blunt, and that the characters had really good chemistry. Layla's weight was a great touch or realism to a romantic lead. I'd definitely recommend it -- it's a solid romance novel.

I loved this book! It was so refreshing to have a heroine that was not physically perfect, and to read how insecure she was because of it. I loved Ethan. He fell in love with Layla, helped her overcome her insecurities, and made her feel loved and beautiful.