Jun 14 2006
REVIEW: Betting Hearts by Dee Tenorio
Dear Ms. TorinoTenorio:
Jorrie Spencer mentioned on her blog (in the comments no less) that your book was inching its way up the bestseller list at Samhain. I went to your blog and saw that the book was a friends to lovers theme. I love those. Plus it also had a Pygmalion thread. To quote Sybil. Squee.
Cassandra Bishop (or CB to nearly everyone) and Burke Halifax have been friends since they were kids. Over the years, Burke has had his girlfriends and CB fell for Luke Hanson and stuck by him despite frequent breakups. A couple of weeks before their wedding, Luke skips town, leaving a note for CB that he is gay and cannot live the lie anymore. CB takes time to recover from being jilted and humiliated. A year later and Luke shows back up in town with a fiance -a blonde bombshell. CB is crushed, not because she still loves Luke but because she begins to have doubts as to whether anyone views her as a woman. Luke claims that being with CB was being gay because she is not feminine in anyway.
CB vows to show Luke just what a lady she can be. She enlists the help of various people but mostly Burke. Burke has a vested interested in CB’s transformation because he was responsible for putting her car on the line in a bet against Luke. Burke’s idea of transforming CB is to rent old movies and practice eating dinner. CB’s ideas are more superficial tending toward buying clothes, make up and shows.
The story line was especially fun because Burke and CB are actually friends and have no hidden feelings lurking underneath at the beginning of the story. They’ve never thought of each other in a sexual manner. When CB begins the transformation, Burke begins to have some decidedly un-friendly thoughts about her and her body. As CB begins to believe in her own feminity, so to does Burke. Burke has a very difficult time in embracing his new feelings and CB’s changes. He is disengaged from his own family and CB’s family has become his own. The changes to CB affect not only his relationship with CB but his part in the Bishop family that he perceives as his own.
This book strikes the right balance between humor, character growth, and sexual tension. I am anxiously awaiting your next release. B for you.
Best regards
Jane
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Jun 14, 2006 @ 18:26:21
I’m guessing Dee will be so thrilled with this review, she won’t even care that you misspelled her name, lolol.
Dee Tenorio
And I’m glad you liked the book, this was Dee’s first, she did good, didn’t she?
Jun 14, 2006 @ 18:39:57
ROFL, Angie! What name? Who’s name? LOL!
Jane–I’m so glad you enjoyed the book! This was my baby, so it means tons that someone who enjoys this type of story liked it so much. :)
Many hugs!!
Dee
Jun 14, 2006 @ 19:23:51
Thanks for the correction. To steal from Maili *headdesk*. You can address your comments to Dear DumbAss: Please get the spelling of the author’s name right.
Jun 14, 2006 @ 19:29:15
Hee hee, Jane! I’m not offended, you wouldn’t believe how many people don’t get it right the first time. I congratulate the folks who do! LOL!
Torino is MUCH better than Mrs. Tornado! LOL!
Dee
Jun 15, 2006 @ 02:36:31
Congrats, Dee!
I knew you’d do well!!
Jun 15, 2006 @ 16:52:50
Will have to get this one next. Thanks Jane!
Jun 17, 2006 @ 00:39:53
I don’t have this. poor me
But I got quoted by Dear Jane so all is well *g*. Great review! (notice the ! squee should have a ! the period is so killjoyish – sez I)