Friday, July 12, 2013

Tasty Review & Giveaway: Anything But Sweet (Sweet Texas Series) by Candis Terry




Anything But SweetA man who doesn’t like change . . .
The Wilder family is something of a Sweet, TX institution: between their yearly BBQ blow-outs and their Hardware and Feed store, they’re an institution—an institution that ex-marine Reno Wilder has tried to preserve, in honor of his lost loved ones. But it seems like he’s the only one who’s got any respect left for traditions when a new TV makeover show rolls in to renovate Sweet to bring in more tourists. Everyone is pleased except Reno—and this cowboy is determined to keep everything just the way he likes it.

A woman who wants to change everything . . .
Inquisitive. Stubborn. Smart. Drop dead gorgeous. That would be makeover show host and designer, Charlotte Brooks—the woman Reno has declared war against. And yet, he can’t seem to keep away from her, or to get her off his mind. Charlotte isn’t afraid to back down from a challenge—of any kind—and she’s promised to prove to Reno that change can be sexy, hot, and very, very sweet, if Reno and Charli learn to let go of their pasts and grab hold of a future full of promise. 

**My Review**

Ms. Terry is an exceptional writer. I was very impressed with her prose, with her dialogue, with her balance of everything. As far as writing, this was a perfect book. I fell in love, absolute love, with the town and its members. I chuckled many a time at the antics and just the way Ms. Terry described some things...an example would be the old man's stiff Wranglers. LOL

You got to read it for yourself, but the prose is pretty good. It's solid writing laced with humor. 

The banter between the hero and heroine is fantastic too. They're constantly ribbing each other--even if they don't mean to, and it's funny at times.

But I wanted to read this as soon as I saw the words TV show. I like watching those shows where people go to others' houses and tear it down, rebuild, etc. So I was hoping for some more details about shooting the shows themselves. Surprisingly, there was very little of that. I mean,  yea, she sews curtains and stuff, but as far as onset drama, TV crew, cameras (where are they?), there was very little of that.

I was also hoping for more than just a romance. I like romance, but I confess halfway through this, I was ready for something besides the hero and heroine pussyfootin' around. I prefer there be some kind of side story going on. I found myself waiting for someone to sabotage the show, steal the paint supplies, her dog to run away with his dog and start a massive dog search, just something besides "he finds her attractive, she finds him attractive, they go to a barbecue and talk".

My only other quibble: It got a little over-pounded into our heads that she wanted a home, was tired of moving around, was never home, her dad was a Marine and they moved around a lot... It felt like every conversation she had with someone, it just managed to come up that she'd never had a real home. I got it the first time...and the second...and third. ;)

But a solid, sweet read. If you don't at least fall in love with the town, you'll get a few chuckles.



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Author Info

Candis Terry was born and raised near the sunny beaches of Southern California and now makes her home on an Idaho farm. She’s experienced life in such diverse ways as working in a Hollywood recording studio to chasing down wayward steers. Only one thing has remained the same: her passion for writing stories about relationships, the push and pull in the search for love, and the security one finds in their own happily ever after.

Author Links


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6 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for hosting my blog tour today!

    And just a behind-the-scenes tidbit? I had more of the behind-the-scenes stuff and crew in the book. Alas, it got left on the cutting room floor. :(

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    1. That really sucks!!!! I'm disappointed. Do you think you'll ever post the cuts on your blog or something?

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    2. That's a great idea! Never thought of that. Will try to get it done after I get off this book deadline! Thanks!

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  2. Good afternoon ladies.
    Book sounds wonderful and I look forward to reading. And, as my son is a Marine, even more so.
    Have a great weekend!
    Ginger

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    1. Thank you robertsonreads! I got all my Marine info from the real deal -- one of my daughter's very good friends and an amazing young man. Please give your son my thanks for his service and heart!

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