BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY

Author: Cathie Linz ISBN: 0425218317 10/2007 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: BERKLEY SENSATION

Leena may be down on her luck—but big girls don't cry. They get even... Leena Riley has returned to her hometown of Rock Creek with her tail between her legs. Her fabulous plus-size modeling career in Chicago never took off, and now the only job she can land is as a receptionist in a veterinarian's office. She has to be desperate to work for Cole Flannigan. Being two years older than Cole never spared her from his taunts in school. Now all grown up, Cole is still the golden boy, a sexy charmer with commitment issues and a short attention span—until Leena and her curves strut into his life. And though she turns his office upside-down, he can't resist the animal attraction that makes him look at Leena in a whole new light.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Cathie Linz is one of my favorite contemporary authors. Her writing is smart, witty and sexy. I know that when I pick up one of her books, I'm in for a great read! Her new release, BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY, is no exception. Cathie Linz once again writes a romantic comedy that has me laughing out loud!

Plus-sized model Leena Riley just returned back to her hometown of Rock Creek, Pennsylvania. Not that she really wants to be there, but her modeling contract has been terminated and she's broke! Lucky for her, the veterinarian practice needs a receptionist and Leena's one great skill is organization. She doesn't realize that the veterinarian is the boy she once sucker punched in school and is now a very handsome man!

Cole Flannigan is the small town veterinarian and remembers Leena quite well. Everybody seems to remember Leena, too—unfortunately, they all remember that she knocked him out when they were young. Now that they're both adults, he is overcome by her attractiveness and the fact that she still has that bossy attitude.

Leena and Cole are such a great couple! As insecure as Leena is about her body, Cole can't seem to get enough of it. In this little town, everyone knows everybody else's business. It doesn't take long for the townspeople to figure out that Leena and Cole have a fling going on. However, Leena doesn't want to stay in Rock Creek, and Cole has some settling down issues.

There are a few other characters that are definitely memorable in BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY, and if you have read BAD GIRLS DON'T and/or GOOD GIRLS DO, many of them will be familiar to you! Julia, Skye, Luke, Sue Ellen and Angel all play some role in this wonderfully romantic and simply funny book. There's nothing better than a book full of genuinely, unique characters that are all likable and engaged in a plot that is both comical and romantic.

I just loved BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY by Cathie Linz. She's an exceptional author and her books never disappoint me. If you like reading contemporaries, than this book is definitely a must read for you.

Julie Kornhausl