Kathy Love: Wanting What You Get

Wanting What You Get
Series: The Stepp Sisters Trilogy, Book 2
Author: Kathy Love
Original Release: November 1, 2004
List Price: Retail unavailable

Read: January 9-9, 2010
My Rating:


Author Homepage | Amazon.com

SUMMARY (from back cover)
IS HE FLIRTING WITH ME? I must be imagining things. Why would Mason Sweet, the gorgeous mayor of Millbrook, Maine, the man I've secretly been in love with since seventh grade, flirt with me? He's the town golden boy, and I'm, well, the local librarian. The Stepp sister who stayed close to home. The one who bakes brownies . . . then eats them all. My thighs make that whick-whick-whick sound in pantyhose. He can't possibly be flirting with me. So why is he giving me that melt-you-where-you-stand look? Why is he pulling me close? And what is he whispering in my ear . . .

IS HE FLIRTING WITH ME? I must be imagining things. Why would Mason Sweet, the gorgeous mayor of Millbrook, Maine, the man I've secretly been in love with since seventh grade, flirt with me? He's the town golden boy, and I'm, well, the local librarian. The Stepp sister who stayed close to home. The one who bakes brownies . . . then eats them all. My thighs make that whick-whick-whick sound in pantyhose. He can't possibly be flirting with me. So why is he giving me that melt-you-where-you-stand look? Why is he pulling me close? And what is he whispering in my ear . . .

MY REVIEW
Saying that Wanting What You Get is one of the best romance books I've read this year doesn't mean much, since it's only January 9, 2010 - so I will go ahead and say it's one of the best I've read in two years, if not more.

There are too many good things to say about this book and frankly, I don't want to say too much since you should just read it and see for yourself. Mason and Ellie are wonderful leading characters. They are three-dimensional, complex, and both flawed, but wholly lovable and they are --- surprisingly --- perfect for one another. I especially love books where the quiet/shy/wallflower girl gets the guy, and this is definitely that type of book.

Ellie has serious body image issues, since she's always been slightly overweight, and Love deals with this issue very well. You really see the transformation that Ellie undergoes as Mason shows her that what she expects/thinks he wants and what he actually wants are two very different things and she begins to see herself through his eyes. It's especially realistic because it's gradual, so you don't have one week of Mason telling her she's beautiful and Ellie suddenly puts aside 30-years of self-consciousness and self-doubt --- instead, as Ellie becomes more comfortable and secure with Mason and his feelings for her, she also becomes more comfortable with herself and her own body.

Mason has the extremely serious issue of alcoholism to deal with and I thought that this was well incorporated into the book. The way that it affected their relationship, his refusal to admit he has a problem, how everyone deals with it and what ends up happening and changing things around seemed, again, very realistic. The fact that the two main characters are dealing with real everyday problems instead of some evil psycho-murderer or plan-spoiler in the background trying to ruin their lives made the book that much more enjoyable since you can actually imagine all of this truly happening.

In addition to Ellie and Mason being amazing characters on their own, the relationship that develops between them is absolutely wonderful and just writing about the book in this review makes me want to pick it up and read it again. There are so many scenes between them where your heart will go seriously pitter-patter and the banter, as well as serious conversations, that take place really make their romance one of love, not just lust. There's also a lot of humor, which is a must, and the lingerie-bathroom scene had me literally laughing out loud.

AVAILABILITY
This book is very hard to find - out of print on Amazon, so only used copies are available and they start in the $20 range, PaperbackSwap.com didn't have any, neither did my local library system, and I finally resorted to buying a used copy on Amazon.co.uk (no new ones there either). It cost me a total of $16, but oh was it worth it!!

"STEPP SISTERS" SERIES
1) Getting What You Want - Abby and Chase
2) Wanting What You Get - Ellie and Mason
3) Wanting Something More - Marty and Nate

BOTTOM LINE
If you're a romance reader, give yourself a late holiday present and somehow get your hands on a copy of this book!!! It is fabulous (*****^*) and I can't wait for the next time I read it.