"A fun, light read, like lemonade on a summer's afternoon"
Charlotte "Charlie" Jeeves is the only member of Port
Grable not enchanted by the town's newest resident: Jeeves
Allencaster, breakout television star and Hollywood's
Flavor of the Month. Charlie has worked hard to create a
peaceful life in Port Grable, and refuses to let anyone--
especially a fly-by-night like Allencaster--disrupt it. I enjoyed many things about Let me Call You
Sweetheart. The dialogue was fun and snappy, and I
could practically smell the muffins in the bakery. The town
of Port Grable is populated with several interesting
characters, foremost among them Charlie's best friend
Myrtle and her devoted husband Sam. Charlie and Jeeves (yes, the hero and heroine share the
same name, a fact which is remarked upon early, then,
thankfully, dropped) are nice people. They are the sort of
folks you might find living next door, or in the house on
the corner. While I enjoyed their romance, I felt as if I
didn't know the characters all that well. This is where I felt the novella length really hurt the
story. For example, the reason for Charlie's fear of change
is revealed late in the story, and isn't explored in depth.
In addition, we know very little of the hero's pervious
life in Los Angeles. He came to Port Grable to get away
from Hollywood fakery, but we don't know what, if anything,
prompted this change of heart. Make no mistake, Jeeves
Allencaster is a charming character. I just wish Ms. Hayes
had been given the space to develop both of her leads into
compelling people. All in all, Let Me Call You Sweetheart is a fun,
light read, like lemonade on a summer's afternoon. I think
Ms. Hayes is an author to watch, and I'll be interested to
see what she can do in a less restrictive format.
Reviewed by E S Hanson
Posted May 23, 2011
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Hollywood made him a star. She makes him want to be a better man.
Charlotte Jeeves, “Charlie” to anyone not pulling her over or collecting her taxes, is the only one in town who’s not excited about her new neighbor, TV actor Jeeves Allencaster. It’s not “cute” how they share a name, and so not charming that he steals her muffin before they’ve even met. The last thing she wants is some slick Hollywood type turning her safe, small-town haven into a circus. If the locals have their way, though, she and Jeeves will be dating by…well, it depends on who you ask—and how much they’ve invested in the betting pool. Jeeves hates Hollywood. Mostly he just hates the way it’s changed him. Port Grable is the total opposite of LaLa Land—the perfect place to rediscover himself. His plan didn’t include hooking up with the bitter—yet undeniably lush—girl next door. She’s not his type, yet he can’t get her off his mind. Trouble is, to thaw the ice around her heart, he’ll have to show her the real man behind the Hollywood charade. If he still exists… Genre: Contemporary Romance Warning: Baked-good larceny is prohibited by law in many states. Please seek competent legal advice before trying this at home.
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