The Thrill of It All

I think this has been my favorite CR book of all. Title says it all, definetely a "thrill". I'll take a Michael Magee anyday!

This was my first book that I've read by Ridgway and it definitely won't be my last. This book was really fun with lots of the intimate details that make the personalities come to life. Wonderful job with balancing the comedy and tense character relationships. I would have done a 4.5 stars if I could have. Great book for a fun exciting read!

This was my first Christie Ridgway novel. The storyline starts with Felicity Charm at a crossroads in her life, winning the "Joanie" for best on-air host of her GetTV shopping channel show. She is determined to turn her back on the Charm relatives who raised her from an orphan at age 4 once and for all after having made it in the glitzy world of television sales. While driving her new prize Thunderbird she gets a call from Aunt Vi asking for her help in finding her wayward cousin Ben. Insisting to herself that this is the last time she will involve herself in these family problems, she turns around and ends up losing control of her car (on a road seeded on purpose with nails by her Uncle Billy to enhance his auto repair business) and crashing into another vehicle. Alone in the desert in the pouring rain, cold, hungry and surrounded by tarantulas outside the jeep, Felicity (or Lissie as Michael calls her) takes to Michael, the stranger who seems to have brought her back to life in more ways than one. After leaving Michael and their almost sexual encounter behind when the tow truck arrives, she is shocked to find that she and Michael Magee have more of a connection through the Charm family. As Felicity struggles to try to turn her back on the backward world of Half Palm California, she finds it difficult to resist the allure of Magee, a former rock climber with more talents than she realized. It is the journey of Felicity putting behind her pre-conceived ideas about people and letting herself lead with her heart that takes the story full circle.

First off, I'm a rather large fan of Ms. Ridgway. Her ability to create characters that the reader can connect with and laugh with is what sets her apart from other authors. In her latest effort this does not change. We are introduced to Felicity Charm and Michael Magee. Both are characters that do a fairly good job at hiding who they really are. That is until Lissie and Michael run into each other literally. Now all bets are off, and both need to face the fact that what they thought they wanted and needed might not be exactly how they figured. Felicity comes from a family of...con-artists and scammers. She has worked real hard at getting rid of the "charm" in her life. She is a very successful shopping network hostess. She has just won the "Joanie" (this equals the golden globe in T.V. awards) and feels that she can now work on the idea of proving to Drew (her boss) that she is worthy of being a little more to him than an employee. But...all of this comes to a crashing end when she gets a call from Aunt Vi and a trip back home is put into play. On said trip home she crashes into Michael and this is truly the beginning of a new and more realistic Lissie. Or is it? Michael can't believe that his very own piece of bad karma has just crashed into his Jeep. He knows that his life is over as he knows it. He has to keep a promise and although it's not exactly what he wants a promise is a promise. Oh, and this promise does not include the sexy, sweet Lissie. Saved by a tow truck (you'll just have to get the book) Michael goes his way and Lissie goes her way...right to the same place. Now Magee is in more trouble than he ever was climbing mountains and rocks. He has a bad case of "Lissie" and she is making his life miserable. He wants her but can't have her...or can he? Magee and Felicity are great characters. The reader will truly be able to connect with them both. Neither is too pretty, or perfect and this makes their realationship all the more fun to read. They both make bone headed mistakes (just like us fellow mortals) but are able to see the truth in the end. Secondary characters such as Ashely and Jack add to this compelling storyline with one of their very own. This is not to say that this is a story steeped in reality...it's not but it's a wonderful way to escape if only for a little while. I highly recommend Ms. Ridgeway laugh and loved filled reads! Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com

This book was great. I really connected with all of the characters. I loved the relationship between Lizzie and Magee. The sex scenes were awesome and Ridgway did a great job of having the sexual tension throughout the whole book. Great if you want some sex and fun.