ALL I EVER WANTED

Author: Kristan Higgins ISBN: 9780373774586 8/2010 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: HQN

One Happily-Ever-After Rocking Chair… and no sign of any forthcoming babies to rock in ol' Georgebury, Vermont. For Callie Grey, turning thirty means coming to grips with the fact that her boss (and five-week fling) is way overdue in his marriage proposal. And way off track because Mark has suddenly announced his engagement to the company's new Miss Perfect. If that isn't bad enough, her mom decides to throw her a three-oh birthday bash in the family funeral home. Bad goes to worse when she stirs up a crazy relationship with the town's not so warm and fuzzy veterinarian, Ian McFarland, in order to flag Mark's attention. So Ian is more comfortable with animals…. So he's formal, orderly and just a bit tense. The ever-friendly, fun-loving and spontaneous Callie decides it's time for Ian to get a personality makeover. But dang, if he doesn't shock the heck out of her, she might actually fall for Vermont's unlikeliest eligible bachelor….

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Kristan Higgins sets her contemporary romance ALL I EVER WANTED in the very small town of Georgebury, Vermont, where eternal optimist and public relations creative director Callie Grey works for Mark (the man who was her first kiss in high school) and pines away with her unrequited love for him. It all comes to a head on her 30th birthday when he gives her a beautiful bracelet and then announces to her that he’s seeing the daughter of their biggest client, and it looks serious. This is almost as big of a shock as when they had a one-night stand the previous summer, and then after a month of watching her adore him, he invited her over for dinner and announced that he didn’t want to date her because the timing wasn’t right. She decides she’s finally over him, and her two BFFs convince her to find someone new to date. Of course, the only new guy in town is the new vet, and every other single woman in town suddenly has a pet that is feeling “off” and needs Dr. Ian MacFarland to check it out. Sparks fly instantly between Ian and Callie, but he’s so shy (and a little standoffish)! Callie offers to help him with some PR to win back all his rejected suitors as happy pet parents. Will he be able to open up enough to allow Callie entry to his heart? Will Callie be able to prove to him that she’s really over Mark?

Higgins has a terrific sense of humor and the absurd. Who else would go to the DMV on her birthday, mascara running and eyes puffy right after a guy has broken her heart, to get the worst driver’s license picture ever? Callie. And who would be standing right behind her in the line from hell while he has to listen to her tell her tales of woe over her cell phone? Ian. So it isn’t the most auspicious first meeting. It seems like wherever Callie goes—blind date with a guy who makes art out of woven human hair; the vet’s office to scope out the new guy; kayaking on the lake past his private dock—she’s in the middle of another embarrassing moment and Ian is there to see it. I just had to root for them after it’s revealed that his recently divorced wife is getting remarried—to her best girlfriend and roommate from college. He needs an optimist like Callie after all he’s been through, and she needs the steady stable influence of Ian. If only they can keep Mark and one of Callie’s frenemies out of the picture long enough to cement their relationship.

ALL I EVER WANTED is the perfect antidote for a dreary day. Higgins has filled it with bright, sparkly dialog; humorous scenes; touchy-feely romance; and gosh darn it, a gal who eats cake batter when she’s blue! Readers who like to laugh out loud while reading will truly enjoy this funny romance.

Susan Barton