 |
| Gabby Revealed by Amy Gregory Finding Perfect #2 March 25, 2014 Genre: Contemporary Romance (Contains: strong language, sex) Source: Complementary copy from publisher for Honest review Cover Design: The Killion Group, Inc. Event Organized By: Literati Author Services, Inc. |
Book Blurb:
Gabby James didn’t have the idyllic childhood many in her little hometown of Renlend, Kansas had. High school was a living hell, but when she graduated she couldn’t bring herself to leave Renlend. The town was her prison, but her family’s bookstore, The Looking Glass, was her one true love. It was the place she could run to, and escape the prying eyes of the ones who taunted her.
Shane Compton was a literary agent in one of the most prestigious publishing houses in New York City. He found no greater rush than finding the next big talent, someone who could take the written word and turn it into an art form. In the span of one rude phone call Shane was drawn into the mystery of just who the fiery new author from Kansas was. When everyone else in the office refused to deal with her, Shane willingly accepted the challenge. There was no logic to the madness, but every time he had contact with her, she drove him wild.
Gabby tried every trick in the book to keep Shane at arm’s length, but he had made good on his promise to come to Kansas. He wanted to pull her out of anonymity, he wanted her in the public eye. Now here he stood, on the sidewalk in front her bookstore, and one look told her he was everything she was afraid he’d be. Too bad she was anything but who he thought she was.
Gabby quickly discovers Shane has more on his mind than just books and with a little help from an ornery matchmaker, he shows her a whole new life through her looking glass.
My Review:
From Amy Gregory's previous books, I have fallen in love with her characters, and Gabby Revealed (GR) is no exception. We met Gabby in Mike's Way Back (MWB), but GR can be read as a standalone. We very briefly see Mike and his gal from the previous book, so no fear of spoilers if you want to read MYB after GR. And I loved Mike's Way Back, so I'd recommend going back to that one if you like Gabby Revealed.
As far as Gabby goes, I loved getting to know her in this small town setting. The pain of her high school years, the walls she built up, her passion for writing, her love and care for John, and then the breaking down of her walls by Shane. I could feel Gabby's mix of emotions from the pages from all she endured, but also the hope and love that started to bloom within her. She's such a mix of a character, and I liked both her brash and her sweet sides. Then there's Shane, Mr. New York, who is a wonderful addition to book heroes. It's so refreshing to read about a guy like Shane. He's thoughtful, sincere, smart, persistent, and hasn't let the difficulties of his past ruin his future. He's the perfect match for Gabby. And I loved their banter, interactions, and chemistry. And don't forget John, the sweetie pie who will wriggle right into your heart.
The story itself is well done, weaving together Gabby and Shane's unique relationship with external factors affecting their lives. Gabby, in particular, must undergo not only the healing of her past, but grief in her present. But the whole story blends together really well, and there is not extraneous subject matter. It is a wonderful story, right down to the perfect ending. If anything, I would have liked just a bit more, because I liked getting to know them so much. I also would have liked to see more of Mike from the previous book, because I loved Gregory's previous books (Racing to Love series) that created such a great family feel and I was hoping to find that again here. But I still thoroughly enjoyed Gabby Revealed and the story I had difficulty putting down. We also get a peek at the characters for book 3, and I'm looking forward to their story.
4 STARS
Book Trailer:
Finding Perfect Series:
Book Links:
Mike's Way Back #1
About the Author
When asked ‘when do you have time to write’, Amy Gregory simply laughs. The real answer is, “in bits and pieces”. She and her husband live in Kansas City with their three fantastic kids that keep them running in three very different directions. Because she sits so much, she always carries a notebook with her at all times.
She has an off the wall, snarky, off the cuff sense of humor that often shocks even those who’ve known her for years. And she loves that her children have all been blessed that ability to make others laugh as well. At least she’s grateful most of the time! Her husband often teases her about how she “makes this stuff up” when he’s reading a piece of her work. … The answer—“it just comes to me when I’m typing”. Scary thought, huh!
looks very interesting, love the cover too
ReplyDeleteGreat review! Thank you for participating in the tour!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for taking the time to read Gabby... she's my favorite smart@$$ so far! And your kind words mean so much, I truly appreciate it! MUWAH!
ReplyDelete