LauraJ’s review of I Love This Bar by Carolyn Brown
Contemporary Romance published by Sourcebooks Casablanca 1 Jun 10
I was a little hesitant to pick up this book. I had tried to read her earlier release, Lucky in Love, and could not just get into the book. I knew others had loved it, but after a week I put it down and never picked it up again. The title of this book caught my attention (one of my favorite Toby Keith songs), so I checked out the blurb on the back and it sounded kind of cute. I didn’t, however, pick it up right away. After a few days of trying to find something I wanted to read and striking out, I went back and decided to give this book a shot.
Daisy O’Dell owns a bar simply named the Honky Tonk. She inherited it from a woman whose only rules for Daisy were to offer cold beer, good music and no men in the apartment that was attached to the bar. She’s had enough of men as far as relationships go, so those rules should be simple enough to follow. Simple enough until she runs into cowboy Jarod McElroy, literally.
Jarod is in town to take care of his crotchety uncle who is suffering from Alzheimer’s and can no longer run his ranch. Jarod and his uncle butt heads constantly over this and that and needing a break, he ends up at the Honky Tonk. He’s has been engaged three times and has vowed never to get tangled up again. Barmaids are number one on the list of no-no’s and female bar owners even higher. But, when his uncle mistakes Jarod and Daisy for being married, they can’t help but play along to settle the mind of an old man.
It took me a little time to get into the story. Ms. Brown uses a writing style that was one I’ve not encountered before. Most of the books I have read, the transition between the characters’ point of view are obvious, however there were what seem like sudden shifts between them and I would have to back up a little to figure out when it shifted. After a couple of chapters, though, I figured out the rhythm of the story and I was glad I stuck with it. There were a couple of places that seemed rushed or that part of the story was lacking but not really enough to take away from the whole story.
The h/h are enjoyable but it’s the secondary characters that kept me glued to the story. Jarod’s uncle Emmett, identical triplet brothers, a woman named Chigger, who dresses like a prostitute, and a couple of old pool hustlers were just as much a part of the story as the h/h. Pretty much every character Toby mentions in the song comes through the Honky Tonk at some point. Small town American life at its best, its worst and every where in between.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series (Hell Yeah- August 2010, closely followed by two more books in the series after that) and I won’t be so hesitant to read it.
Grade: B
Summary:
She doesn’t need anything but her bar…
Daisy O’Dell has her hands full with hotheads and thirsty ranchers until the day one damn fine cowboy walks in and throws her whole life into turmoil…
He’s looking for a cold drink and a moment’s peace…
Instead he finds one red hot woman. She’s just what he needs, if only he can convince her to come out from behind that bar, and come home with him…
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
