Monday, July 5, 2010

Review: Kiss Me if You Can by Carly Phillips

Sam Cooper (“Coop”) has just become the most eligible bachelor in New York City. Now that he has foiled a jewelry-store robbery and has been rewarded with the ring of his choice, single women all over the city are fawning over the crime reporter. But Coop isn’t interested in the admirers sending racy underwear his way. His attention is centered solely on Lexie Davis, the only woman in the city who claims not to be interested in his bachelor status.

Instead, free-spirited Lexie is interested in Coop’s antique ring, and its – potentially scandalous – history in her family. But Coop is quickly becoming more than just her route to the ring. When his investigation starts to uncover the truth, will she trust her heart – and her family secrets – to this most eligible bachelor?
Kiss Me If You Can, a contemporary romance by Carly Phillips, is the first book in her Bachelor Blog series. This is the amusing story of how Sam (Coop) Cooper and Lexie Davies investigate a ring's mystery, reveal old family secrets that changes lives, and in the process fall in love.

It all begins with a heroic act by Coop as he stops a jewelry store robbery. As a consequence of this heroic act, a few events take place: Coop is caught on television and his actions become public; when a reward is offered, he chooses a ring; and, he's chosen as the "bachelor of the week" by the popular Bachelor Blog. Within a day, poor Coop is swamped by invitations from women trying to get his attention and women's pictures, letters, and underwear arrive in the mail by loads. In the meantime, Lexie and her grandmother Charlotte see Coop's television interview and while both are taken with his gorgeous looks, Lexie focuses on the ring Coop chose as his reward. It looks similar to a necklace her grandmother prizes and wears daily. She decides to contact Coop and purchase it as a gift for her grandmother's 80th birthday.

Lexie and Coop are attracted to each other immediately. I like that they're both upfront and direct about their attraction for each other and willing to act on it, as they decide to date while working on the case of the stolen ring. Both Lexie and Coop carry baggage from previous relationships, particularly Lexie who travels constantly and doesn't even own an apartment, yet their attraction is such that they are willing to act on it on a temporary basis. From the beginning, there's great chemistry between Coop and Lexie and you can almost feel them click. However, the conflict here is one of differing personalities and personal goals. These are two very different people who can't seem to compromise and avoid addressing real issues.

The secondary story and characters in Kiss Me if You Can were quite entertaining. Charlotte, Lexie's grandmother, is portrayed as an eccentric character full of life and interfering. Together with her best friend Silvia, she makes their part of the story a fun one. Sara, Coop's cop neighbor, had a small part to play, but I liked her protective and direct style.

Kiss Me if You Can is a romance with great potential and front loaded with steam. As Phillips develops the relationship, and with the focus of the story changing to the investigation of the ring's theft, sexual tension and some of that heat between Coop and Lexie is somewhat defused. Still, this is a quick paced romance with some heat, humorous moments and witty dialogue, and I couldn't help but enjoy the secondary characters -- Charlotte and Silvia are a hoot. I'll be reading the second book in this series, Love Me if You Dare.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Bachelor Blog Series, Book 1
Release Date: June 27, 2010
Source: Requested from NetGalley
Grade: B

Visit Carly Phillips here.

7 comments:

  1. It was a fun book, but you're right. The whole plot with the ring and grandmother just defused the tension between Coop and Lexie. It wasn't a bad thing, but I would have liked for them to communicate more :(

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree Nath. I enjoyed the storyline with the grandmother and the investigation too. It was fun. But something happened there and after a while, although still good, Lexie and Coop's moments didn't have that same intensity.

    Their communication was great at the beginning too... loved their direct approach. Then that also deteriorated and the avoidance began, but that seemed more part of their conflict, I think.

    Definitely a fun book, I'm looking forward to reading Sara's story. I really liked her. :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I liked this one too - my first Phillips so I wasn't sure what to expect. I definitely want to read Sara's story.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Orannia, you're welcome. :)

    Leslie, me too! I liked Sara and just from the bit we got at the end this book, her upcoming story (and the hero) sound really good.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hmmm. Carly Phillips has been hit or miss for me, with the hits earlier and the misses later. I haven't been tempted by her titles for awhile.

    what to do, what to do...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nicola I haven't read Phillips' backlist. This is a new series for her -- I would place this book under fun contemporary romance. At least the secondary characters gave it that "fun" feel.

    It wasn't a wowzer for me, but it was a straight contemp/romance (not chick/lit or chick/lit(ty)) and that's something I really appreciate these days. I liked the premise for the series and will read the next book.

    ReplyDelete

Anonymous Users disallowed due to large influx of spam.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.