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bikes_books_yarn's review
2.0
The nicest thing I can say about this book is that all the characters were pretty equal in their insanity, so no one character really stood out as extra douchey. A resounding MEH to this book.
tiredcat's review
4.0
Great character development. This book was not a formula romance novel. Very quick read.
jacquelinec's review
3.0
Victoria Dahl has written some well-received contemporary novels in the past year. I particularly like the first two in her Tumble Creek series, [b:Talk Me Down|4716621|Talk Me Down (Tumble Creek, #1)|Victoria Dahl|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1236471929s/4716621.jpg|4781036] and [b:Start Me Up|6187851|Start Me Up (Tumble Creek, #2)|Victoria Dahl|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266561851s/6187851.jpg|6368141], for their memorable and funny characters. Again, she does pretty well here with her plot and characters - all except for Max, the hero. He's quite boring and a bit weak. I did enjoy the book while reading it and I still wanted him to get it together with Chloe. Not my favorite Dahl book, though.
readingtheend's review
2.0
whew this is definitely very much an early Victoria Dahl book. it's about this girl who goes with her BFF to stay in a lake house to retreat from the world that has fastened on her as the Latest Big Gossip Thing due to her fiance faking his own death to get out of marrying her. while she's there, she meets and falls for this guy who is ALSO trying to get away from his life. the premise was a fun one but I felt like the execution wasn't quite there yet.
bbckprpl's review
4.0
A strong, funny heroine, whose life gets complicated (through almost no fault of her own) meets a hero who has a need to fix complications (but is closed for new business): I really enjoyed the whole thing. Probably in no small part because I recognized myself in Max, the constant fixer who smiles and nods while his internal dialogue is saying things like "Get away from that edge... why don't we just move over here...Of course I'd love to do this extremely dangerous thing with you (because otherwise you will obviously die and it will be my fault)!"
salene27's review
2.0
Normally I love VD's books, but this one was lacking alot. It had a few funny moments, but for the most part the amin characters grated on my nerves. max was beyond annoying and I have no idea what Chloe saw in him. Also the whole story line just seemed unrealistic and fell flat.
33p3barpercent's review
5.0
Can Victoria Dahl write a bad book? So far, I don't think so. Laugh out loud funny, relatable but not cookie-cutter characters, and an intriguing plot line? What more could I ask for? I love her. I love her for writing these fabulous books and these fantastic characters.
In this one, you've got two great romances for the price of one! Four excellent characters with flaws that make you want to squeeze them and hug them like puppies.
Max Sullivan: Today Max Sullivan had discovered that he only had two speeds: fake and charming or freakishly awkward. Jesus. He’d spent so many years pretending to like women he didn’t care for that he couldn’t manage the most basic interaction with a girl he really did.
Except that it wasn’t that simple. Max was nothing like anyone she’d ever known. Charming and grumpy at the same time. Laid-back and constantly worried. He was complicated, and the layers fascinated her.
Max takes responsibility for anyone and everyone. He's got a bit of a control issue, and though it doesn't sound adorable, I couldn't stop giggling and saying, "He's... so... cute!" Chloe's the only one to see through this, so, of course, she's perfect for him.
Chloe Turner: She’d told Max she’d been a good girl in high school. The truth was that she’d always been good. Always. And look where that had gotten her. Screwed over, knocked around and left on the side of life like road kill. She was a laughingstock and an infamous bitch, and she didn’t even know what she’d done to deserve it.
And this is what she has to learn: I am peaceful. I am beautiful. I’m calm and confident and definitely not a Bridezilla hated by the whole world. And I am having a vacation fling with an adorable treasure hunter with control issues.
Max finds out about who Chloe is at the middle of the book, which I appreciate. There's nothing more trite than a big bust-up over fake identities at the end to give the couple just one more obstacle to get over.
Then we've got the best friend of Chloe, Jenn, and Max's brother, Elliot, who also have issues and are also perfect for each other. This book is written excellently, and I love how the multiple plots blend together seamlessly.
Read this one. Now.
In this one, you've got two great romances for the price of one! Four excellent characters with flaws that make you want to squeeze them and hug them like puppies.
Max Sullivan: Today Max Sullivan had discovered that he only had two speeds: fake and charming or freakishly awkward. Jesus. He’d spent so many years pretending to like women he didn’t care for that he couldn’t manage the most basic interaction with a girl he really did.
Except that it wasn’t that simple. Max was nothing like anyone she’d ever known. Charming and grumpy at the same time. Laid-back and constantly worried. He was complicated, and the layers fascinated her.
Max takes responsibility for anyone and everyone. He's got a bit of a control issue, and though it doesn't sound adorable, I couldn't stop giggling and saying, "He's... so... cute!" Chloe's the only one to see through this, so, of course, she's perfect for him.
Chloe Turner: She’d told Max she’d been a good girl in high school. The truth was that she’d always been good. Always. And look where that had gotten her. Screwed over, knocked around and left on the side of life like road kill. She was a laughingstock and an infamous bitch, and she didn’t even know what she’d done to deserve it.
And this is what she has to learn: I am peaceful. I am beautiful. I’m calm and confident and definitely not a Bridezilla hated by the whole world. And I am having a vacation fling with an adorable treasure hunter with control issues.
Max finds out about who Chloe is at the middle of the book, which I appreciate. There's nothing more trite than a big bust-up over fake identities at the end to give the couple just one more obstacle to get over.
Then we've got the best friend of Chloe, Jenn, and Max's brother, Elliot, who also have issues and are also perfect for each other. This book is written excellently, and I love how the multiple plots blend together seamlessly.
Read this one. Now.
ancientdebra's review
4.0
As I started to read my first Victoria Dahl book, Crazy for Love, I didn't really know what to expect. I imagined humor, I imagined steamy love scenes, but I certainly didn't expect to find a hero with anxiety issues. But, find him I did - and I loved Max for being strong, true, and admirably struggling to live with his control issues.
Max and his brother Elliott have decided to take a much-needed vacation. Elliott is a divorced workaholic from the CDC and Max is a sea-faring treasure hunter who feels responsible for the safety of everyone he encounters. Everyone!
Max has managed to hide his anxiety by playing the charming playboy and the ploy has always worked, until he mets Chloe, a fellow tourist in the cabin next door. She sees right through his act and makes him face the truth about himself and his life.
What Max doesn't know is that Chloe has a secret of her own. A month ago, she was supposed to be getting married, but then her fiance died in a plane crash. Suddenly, she finds out he hadn't died after all - he had staged the accident to escape from marrying her! That's when the rumors start flying and suddenly Chloe is a national tabloid star as Chloe the Bridezilla! When Chloe's identity is revealed, she and Jenn are forced to return home to prepare for the ex-fiance's upcoming trial.
Reading Crazy for Love was a wonderfully refreshing experience. Dahl masterfully creates a main character that is strong, handsome, and neurotic. His anxiety issues reveal his true nature and make him endearing as we see him struggle to live with the worry that he battles 24/7. Chloe understands him and loves him, while also trying to help him be honest with himself as he starts thinking about changing his life.
Another of the Harlequin's Big Summer Reads off the list - but now I have all the other Victoria Dahl books to look forward to! So long, housework!
Max and his brother Elliott have decided to take a much-needed vacation. Elliott is a divorced workaholic from the CDC and Max is a sea-faring treasure hunter who feels responsible for the safety of everyone he encounters. Everyone!
Max has managed to hide his anxiety by playing the charming playboy and the ploy has always worked, until he mets Chloe, a fellow tourist in the cabin next door. She sees right through his act and makes him face the truth about himself and his life.
What Max doesn't know is that Chloe has a secret of her own. A month ago, she was supposed to be getting married, but then her fiance died in a plane crash. Suddenly, she finds out he hadn't died after all - he had staged the accident to escape from marrying her! That's when the rumors start flying and suddenly Chloe is a national tabloid star as Chloe the Bridezilla! When Chloe's identity is revealed, she and Jenn are forced to return home to prepare for the ex-fiance's upcoming trial.
Reading Crazy for Love was a wonderfully refreshing experience. Dahl masterfully creates a main character that is strong, handsome, and neurotic. His anxiety issues reveal his true nature and make him endearing as we see him struggle to live with the worry that he battles 24/7. Chloe understands him and loves him, while also trying to help him be honest with himself as he starts thinking about changing his life.
Another of the Harlequin's Big Summer Reads off the list - but now I have all the other Victoria Dahl books to look forward to! So long, housework!