Veena’s review of Ripped (Miller Sisters, Part 1) by Sarah Morgan
Contemporary Romance published by Cosmo Red Hot Reads from Harlequin 26 Nov 13
When the first paragraph of a book starts off with “I was going to burst out of this pukey-yellow tube” … “a fashion equivalent of a condom” …but “I would prefer not to find myself revealing all Victoria’s secrets” you know it’s going to be a great ride. From funny to sweet and tender, this story hits all the right notes for what you should expect in holiday seasonal fare.
Poor Hayley, it really could go from bad to worse. She’s attending her ex-boyfriend’s wedding to her ex-best friend – as the bridesmaid, no less. Her cheap, ugly, tight dress explodes and her sister, instead of coming to her rescue, is rolling in laughter. Fortunately, the best man is paying attention and he quickly wraps her up in his jacket and takes her out of there, ordering her a cab to take her home.
I love Nico’s droll comment to her about how he had to arrange for ambulances and EMT personnel to come to the rescue of all the old geezers who were having heart attacks. Thank you very much, no Viagra needed.
Resolved to put the awful incident out of her mind, Hayley makes a New Year’s resolution to go for lust instead of love. When thanks to her Santa-playing sister her Christmas wish for a vibrator called Niccolo brings the man himself to her door, she knows her Christmas is guaranteed to be a happy one.
I think the chemistry between the two characters is superb. The holiday metaphors as she rips open his shirt like she was ripping open her present and his comment about Merry Christmas when he finally gets inside her are so apropos.
I thoroughly enjoyed this short, sweet, funny escape.
Grade: A
Summary:
“”Wardrobe malfunction”” doesn’t begin to cover it.
With a rip louder than the “”I dos,”” Hayley’s hideous bile-yellow bridesmaid dress explodes. She’s always had enviable curves, but nearly naked wasn’t quite the look she’d been going for at her ex’s wedding.
She’s rushed from the altar under the best man’s designer tux jacket. Hayley’s expecting a blast of icy disapproval from sexy, sophisticated Niccolò Rossi—his usual reaction to anything she does. What she gets is a kiss that nearly melts what’s left of her polyester nightmare gown.
It’s impossible on a million levels. Exuberant engineer Hayley and buttoned-up lawyer Nico have never seen eye to eye—but skin to skin? Oh, mio… So when Nico shows up at her flat on Christmas Day to give her a fabulous gift—himself—Hayley’s delighted to do the unwrapping. But it’s just a holiday fling. By New Year’s Day, she’ll come back to her senses…unless Nico’s sensual skills tear away all her resolve.
Read an excerpt.
