Title: Plan B
Author: Erin Stevenson
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: #1 St. Clair Family
Publisher: Happy Jack Publishing
Release date: 8 August 2018
Pages: 129
PURCHASE AT
Amazon US | Amazon AU
iTunes | Barnes & Noble
About the Book
Kelsea Anderson is a jilted bride with nothing left but a battered heart and a plane ticket to the Caribbean. The only part of her doomed wedding that she had any say in was the honeymoon. She paid for it, and there’s no reason she can’t come to the romantic resort alone, so Kelsea jumps on a plane the day after New Year’s to escape the icy St. Louis winter and come up with a Plan B for the rest of her life.
Landon St. Clair was left at the altar on New Year’s Day at St. Louis’ social event of the season. He wants nothing more than to lick his wounds in solitude and figure out a Plan B, and intends to keep his reservation at the St. Jardin Honeymoon Resort, even without a bride. With the owners’ reluctant approval, Landon takes on an assumed identity and cuts all ties to home for the week.
Lottery winners Rose and Ike Goldman, married for 53 years, never looked back when they left Brooklyn, NY for the Caribbean where they bought a honeymoon resort three years ago. Rose was something of a matchmaker in Brooklyn, and once she meets Kelsea and “Brandon,” she knows she has her work cut out for her. She has only a week to convince them that sometimes, Plan B is the best plan of all.
Take a quick getaway to St. Jardin! Plan B is your ticket to a tropical paradise filled with beautiful gardens, merriment, and romance.
Excerpt
“Those are the Wilders and the McFaddens,” Rose said, pausing briefly. “I’ll introduce you later. Come with me.” She smiled and nodded at people as she dragged me behind her. “Oh, there’s my Ike. Yoo hoo, Ike!” Her face lit up and she waved. “Here he comes with your dinner companion.”
I stopped dead in my tracks. I needed a dinner companion like I needed a third eye. I could barely manage shadow, eyeliner, and mascara for the two I already had, not to mention the hassle of the accompanying eyebrows. “Oh, Rosie, no. I don’t need—”
She tugged on my hand. “It will be fine, dear. Trust me.”
This would not be fine. My stomach gave a painful spasm and I took a deep breath, sending up a prayer for patience. I would have stayed in my room and skipped dinner altogether, but I’d hardly eaten over the last four days, and suddenly found that I had an appetite, which had now vanished.
Rose stopped as a white-haired man with bright blue eyes approached us. My stomach dropped when I realized who was with him. My seatmate from the bus, Mr. Rude Seat Hog.
Review
Well, it definitely wasn’t love at first sight for Kelsea Anderson and Landon St. Clair! “You’re insufferable, Brandon St. Fair!” she shouted. “If they crossed a gopher with a baboon, you would be the result!” Yep, match made in heaven. Lol.
Erin Stevenson has exactly the sort of lively, engaging writing style that I love to read in contemporary romance, and she’s one of those writers who can pull off first person point-of-view effortlessly. The situation her characters are in also happens to be the perfect excuse to let the sass and sparks fly, with Kelsea and Landon forced to play at being happy newlyweds when, in fact, they’re total strangers who’re “honeymooning” alone after being jilted and therefore feeling a little jaded about this whole “love” gig. It meant that they weren’t always putting their best foots (feet?) forward initially, but there were enough glimpses of their true personalities to reassure readers that they aren’t always that irascible!
In any event, a lot can change in a week…which felt a little quick in some respects, but also seemed in keeping with these characters’ personalities. The second half of the story had some surprising developments that led to a rather dramatic climax. Great reading if you love a good showdown (and I do!), but with the caveat that I had to suspend disbelief a little at this point, as it relied on a few coincidences to come together the way it did and I felt as though the hero and heroine took certain things a little too much in their stride. I would have been all, “Whoa, wait a minute here. I gotta process!”
In summary, a quick, lively, and engaging read for contemporary romance lovers who don’t mind a little bit of drama.
I received a copy of this novel from the author. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
About the Author
Writing is like breathing to Erin. Stories are running through her mind during most of her waking hours, and by the time she sits down at the computer, the words flow and time ceases to exist.
Erin was raised in Illinois and has lived in many places in the U.S., including on both coasts, but is a Midwest girl at heart. She spent many years as an educator from pre-school through college levels, and currently works in training and internal communications for a major global corporation.
When she’s not writing, Erin loves spending time with her children and grandchildren, and playing in the garden (which equates to mostly pulling weeds) at her central Iowa home. Her secret indulgence is plain M&Ms.
This does sound fun. Great review.