The Damsel in This Dress

I found this at a used book store and picked it up. I read it in one day, neglecting the house and my family in the process. I'll skip the plot line since it's been gone over in previous reviews. This was just a great book. The dialog is fantastic. I loved the scene at the Chinese buffet and the fortune cookie sayings. So funny. And the Dick and Jane style bantor they did a few times kind of a running gag throughout the book. "See Betsy. Betsy is satisfied. The Detective is good" "Look. Look. Look. Look at the detective. He is ready to go again". I can't wait to read Taylor and Clair's story in "Sighs Matter".

I've read so many romance books over the years that it really takes a lot to get me to laugh out loud - but I was laughing to the point of crying when I read what Soldier and Betsey wrote at the writers workshop! Yes, some of the "punny" humor seemed a bit forced, but it was very cute just the same. Betsey handled her mother very well, and I loved her relationship with her schizophrenic father. I'm also looking forward to Marianne Stillings' next book!

I gave this book a pass 2-3 times as I was browsing. Then, I bought it on impulse at Walmart. Am I ever glad I did! What a wonderful read! I love Soldier and Betsy. I hope that Ms. Stillings is hard at work on a story/stories for Taylor and Claire. After reading two books in a row that drove me nuts, I was beginning to think there was something wrong with my "reading bone". Not so! It just took some excellent writing, some interesting characters and a neat plot to gather me back into the fold. The first hint that I was going to enjoy the heck out this book was the result of the writing workshop that Soldier and Betsy attended. I laughed so hard that my eyes would tear up and I'd have to read it again. It took me several minutes to be able to get through it. It was priceless. I thought that would be my favorite part of the book. However, it was soon transplanted by the Dick & Jane type dialog the pair engaged in. Who knew a children's primer could be so sexy? LOL I like the way that the villain isn't given away till nearly the end. And the fact that said villain didn't get in the way of a neat romance. Although just about everybody else did when things were about to reach their peak. If you catch my meaning. Can we say frustrated? So, I am ever so happy to give this book the complete 5 star rating. I will be on the lookout for Ms. Stillings's next books.

If you'd like to know what this book is about, here's the back cover blurb: "Port Henry Ledger Book Review by Betsy Tremaine: WRONG GUY HAS THE WRITE STUFF IN TORRID LOVE STORY "Let me tell you, dear reader, I've rarely been subjected to such drivel as I have in the novels of bestselling tough-guy cop-turned-author J. Soldier McKennitt. The man himself, however, is considerably more interesting. Having finally met him at a recent writers' conference in Seattle, I am pleased to report that Soldier is a tall, dark, and gorgeous hunk of literary superstar. To my surprise, he became quite the charmer once his self-righteous indignation evaporated ... Could it have been this critic's blonde hair and hourglass figure that brought about such an abrupt turnaround? Or perhaps our Soldier boy was simply vanquished by this reviewer's intelligence and caustic wit. In any case, due to the recent emergence of a crazed stalker, this plot has since thickened uncomfortably, and Detective McKennitt has brashly assumed the role of my knight in shining Brooks Brothers. "Bottom Line: The only thing standing in the way of a beautiful relationship in this love story is the fact that the two protagonists are so deliriously, passionately wrong for each other!" -------------------- I hope you enjoy the book --- Marianne Stillings website: www.mariannestillings.com

Set in Washington State. Detective J. Soldier McKennett has become a best selling author while he is on desk duty, after the death of his partner. Everyone seems to love his novels except the Port Henry Newspaper Editor Betsy Tremaine. She continues on her previous path and rips his fourth novel to shreds in his reviews. He and his brother concoct what this reviewer must look like and have a good laugh. Betsy lives alone in the house she grew up with. She is currently dog sitting her mothers Chihuahua "Piddle". She was promoted to Editor 5 months ago after the previous editor disappeared. She writes the book reviews on the side. She is very self conspicuous about her looks as she is not a "stick woman" which seems to be what everyone is looking for today. Even her mother says that her hourglass figure is not desirable. Just before Betsy leaves for the Northwest Crime and Punishment Writer's Conference it is determined that she has a stalker, which Betsy is trying to convince herself is not really happening. Betsy and Soldier meet up at the conference after being immediately attracted to each other only to figure out their connection. Soldier fights his attraction to Betsy as he has vowed that he will not be like his late partner and leave someone behind if there is an accident. But, as he protects her from the stalker he figures this is not going to happen. As things heat up both with the stalker and with their love life watch the sparks fly. Betsy is not afraid to tell Soldier when he is being stupid or not living in reality. Case in point is when he is determined to get her life history for background with the stalking and asks her about "her first time" she determines that he is not being as impersonal as he thinks he is and makes up wild stories that have him seeing cross-eyed. I found this book fantastic and fun to read start to finish. I also admit I didn't figure out who the stalker was until just before it is revealed. I like heroines that have a lot of spunk and are not "jellyfish" when their hero is around. I also like hero's who can be taken down a notch and still come back giving as good as they get. This book has all of that. While there is a frightening stalking sub plot there are enough other character interactions that made me find this book almost lighthearted while dealing with a dark subject. I highly recommend this new author. My only issue is that her next book does not come out until next year.