Sandy M’s review of The One I Want by Nancy Warren
Contemporary Romance published by Brava 1 May 08

Okay, taking a spoiled rich Brit whose parents have washed their hands of her, plopping her down in Austin, Texas where she’ll open a business to do the dirty work of breaking up relationships for people?  I really didn’t think it could be done.  Especially when I first met Chloe.  Dumb blonde was the first thing that flitted through my mind, on top of being so richly spoiled.  But props to Ms. Warren. She pulled it all off beautifully.

Chloe is a woman who’s broken three engagements.  She has no idea what to do with her life.  She’s started and stopped several careers, nothing holds her interest.  Her friends are also of the upper crust, but they seem to have a hold on life.  So when Chloe’s parents finally put their foot down on her recklessly spending their money, a brainstorming session with her friends sends her off to the colonies, the Lone Star to be exact, where she opens The Breakup Artist.

The one thing Chloe is good at is knowing who’s good for each other for a lasting relationship.  Well, she’s good at it with everyone else except herself.  Having found something she can succeed at gives her confidence and she starts cutting a swath across Austin advertising her new adventure.  It’s her new clientele that add so much to this book.

But first there’s Matt, her landlord.  And her very sexy next door neighbor.  Matt is an ex-cop, sidelined when he was shot in the line of duty and couldn’t abide doing the desk thing, so he flips houses now.  He also has a girlfriend when Chloe meets him, so it’s hands off when she feels a spark of attraction, which is very difficult for her because she knows Matt and Brittany do not belong together.  But they haven’t asked for her services, so she keeps Matt in the dark about her occupation, especially when he comes snooping around thinking she’s into something illegal.  They’re, of course, thrown together in different situations that makes their attraction grow, and I so enjoyed Matt’s antics to avoid Brittany at times or Brittany’s efforts to give Matt’s home “color.”

Stephanie and Rafe get caught up in Chloe’s business while they’re caught up with each other.  What a great couple they are.  It’s instant attraction between them at first sight and with the reader.  Too bad they won’t have their own book.   Deborah and Jordan are the couple we meet to give us a true taste of what Chloe does as the Breakup Artist when Jordan hires her.  The ensuing antics are fun, but there’s also some heartbreak in store for everyone.

This was a fun book.  I really enjoyed it.  Even as spoiled as Chloe is, you like her.  She has a great outlook on life, even when things don’t go right, either for her, her friends, or anyone else.  You just can’t help but like her.  It helps that she does change just a tad when she comes into her own with her new business.  Matt is her antithesis, being responsible and steadfast, even in a bad relationship.  And he’s just a really sexy cowboy!

Ms. Warren did a great job of ridding me of my skepticism at the beginning of the book and she gave me a fun and sexy read.  This is my first book by her and I look forward to reading others.

Grade: A

Summary:

Lucky for Chloe Flynt, everyone knows it’s harder to get out of a bad relationship than it is to get in one. But when it comes to hot, steamy, long-lasting passion, even Chloe is at a loss—until this British playgirl comes face to face with a true-blue Texas cowboy who tempts her to toss away her commitment phobic habits one and for all for a walk down the aisle…

Falling in love is much harder than breaking up…

With three broken engagements under her oh, so fashionable belt, it’s high time London party girl Chloe Flynt gets a job. Unfortunately, Chloe isn’t exactly qualified for anything, except dumping a Mr. Wrong or two (or three!) with a little dignity. Realizing she needs a new beginning, she lands in Austin, Texas and opens a company breaking up bad relationships.

Too bad Chloe’s tall, tough-talking and take-charge landlord, Matthew Tanner, isn’t interested in her expertise. Because anyone can see that his girlfriend is clearly all wrong for him. Not that Chloe cares. She and Matthew have nothing in common—other than mind-blowing attraction, that is. But when his girlfriend requests Chloe’s services, all hell breaks loose. If there’s one thing Chloe knows for sure, it’s that just because she’s good at breaking up bad relationships doesn’t mean she has a talent for putting together good ones. Maybe it’s finally time she gives it a try…

Read an excerpt.