NOT ANOTHER BAD DATE

Author: Rachel Gibson ISBN: 9780061178047 6/2008 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: AVON

What does a gal have to do to get a good date in this town? Adele Harris can't even begin to answer that question. She's had so many lousy dates that she's sure she's cursed. Why else would every man she goes out with suddenly act like he's lost his mind—and his manners? Adele thought life couldn't get any more confusing . . . until she learns the marriage of her seemingly Miss Perfect sister is on the rocks. So she goes back to their hometown to give her a shoulder to cry on, only to run smack into Zach Zemaitis . . . the one who got away. Texans love God, family, and football, though not always in that order Zach, a former pro star, knows all about football. As for the other two, well, he's doing his best. But when Adele comes charging back into his life—still all lush curves and beautiful, big blue eyes—he wonders if his best is good enough. After all, he did her wrong. Can a woman with her track record ever really believe that he's serious this time . . . or is he destined to be another bad date?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Fans of Rachel Gibson will be delighted to read her latest and last story about a group of four writer friends in NOT ANOTHER BAD DATE. In this story, fantasy author Adele Harris meets up with an old flame from her past, retired football player Zach Zemaitis, and things heats up very quickly between the two.

Growing up in the West Texas town of Cedar Creek, Adele Harris never fit in with the popular crowd. But one girl in particular, Devon Hamilton, made it her business to terrorize Adele any chance she got—and took the practice to the grave and beyond! Years later, at college, Adele met and fell in love with hunky football star Zach, who happened to be Devon's ex. But after two months, Zach broke things off as Devon turned up pregnant and he had to do right by her. Ten years after that, Devon is killed in a car accident and sent up to the pearly gates. But before she is granted entrance, she must do a good deed to right her earthly wrongs. Instead of doing something good, Devon decides to continue in her wicked ways and curses Adele with bad dates.

So for three years, every man Adele dates turns into a jerk. She doesn't know that she has been cursed, but sure feels like she has. Then, Adele's pregnant sister, Sherilyn, calls to tell her that her husband has left her for his dental assistant, and she is moving herself and their thirteen year-old daughter, Kendra, back to their hometown of Cedar Creek and needs Adele for moral support. Adele doesn't want to go, but she won't abandon her sister in her time of need, either. So she moves back to Cedar Creek. Then, her sister becomes sick and has to stay in the hospital for the remainder of her pregnancy, and Adele is faced with taking care of her niece! It's not long before Adele lands herself on the doorstep of her onetime love, Zach Zemaitis. 

Adele remembers all too well just how hard she fell for him years ago, and wants to protect her heart from the pain she endured for years after their break-up. But the attraction between her and Zach is just too potent, too hot , and sooner, rather than later, the two find themselves locked in each other's arms, reliving that past but all the more sweeter now in the present. There is the added complication of Zach's teenage daughter, Tiffany, who is the spitting image of her mother. As Adele juggles the pressures of her sister's illness, taking care of her niece, and writing, she also has to deal with new, but all too familiar, feelings for Zach. Can you get close to someone without losing your heart in the process? Adele thinks it's possible, but Zach wants her to think again!

This book was great! I love Rachel Gibson, her style of writing, and the fun characters in her stories. She is always an automatic buy for me so I had set very high expectations for this novel. And one day later, as I turned the last page, I was not at all disappointed. Adele and Zach are characters that will warm your heart with their insecurities and idiosyncrasies.  Adele is not looking for a repeat performance of her past with Zach, but she cannot resist his Southern charm and good looks. As for Zach, ever since first laying eyes on Adele in a college classroom, he has been infatuated with every aspect of her, especially her wild, curly blond hair. These two characters were so fun to read and I didn't want the novel to end.

You will L-O-V-E this book, I guarantee it. Rachel Gibson's NOT ANOTHER BAD DATE is not only a keeper, but a novel you will go back and re-read many times after the first!

Maame Kanbi