BARBIE & THE BEAST

Author: Linda Thomas-Sundstrom ISBN: 9780505528131 4/2009 PARANORMAL Publisher: DORCHESTER

A HAIRY SITUATION Barbie Bradley was swept off her feet—literally. One moment the twenty-something was traversing Forest Lawn Cemetery in the dead of night with her best friend, the next she was thrown like a sack of potatoes over a man’s shoulder. True, she and Angie had come to this odd locale for a singles party, but this wasn’t quite how she’d planned to get picked up. HELLO, DOLLY! Darin Russell found “Ms. Right” at work, which was surprising because girls in the cemetery were usually a tad, in a word, stiff. Not that this one couldn’t stand to loosen up. She seemed particularly sensitive about being named after the Mattel toy, and before he popped the question he had to know how she’d react to his furry little secret. You see, though he had a tuxedo and a Porsche, he had more in common with the residents of the Miami Zoo than Ken. And if things went according to plan, Barbie was going to see his animal side.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

If you're looking for a cute, lighthearted romantic comedy, BARBIE & THE BEAST just may be the book for you. It's filled with lots of quick dialogue, silly situations and enough girl's-only inside jokes to make the reader feel like she's been invited to a slumber party.

Barbie and her best friend Angie put on heels and short skirts and go trekking through a cemetery at night in search of a party where, in Angie's words, there will be "m-e-n" who will need to be impressed by their shapely legs. What Barbie finds in the boneyard instead of a party is a tight hand on her wrist, then a journey slung like a sack of potatoes over a very strong man's shoulder. The man? None other than the night cemetery worker, Darin. He's got a secret, and doesn't get out much, but he's smart enough to recognize his attraction to Barbie when it hits him.

These two make a cute pair. His no-sex rule, and his tucking her into bed, is unusual but, hey, he's not exactly ordinary. Watching what happens when a woman named after a toy meets a werewolf is amusing. I can suspend disbelief enough to enjoy this story, although I did wish Darin confessed much earlier than he did. It felt like he wanted to share his secret, but couldn't, which made me feel a little bit like he was more chicken than wolf. Still, the premise is fun, the characters zany and this little tale moves at a very fast clip.

All in all, a nice way to spend a rainy afternoon. I hope to see more fun romances from this author.

Kay James