Book Lovers Inc.
Romance Novel Reviews, Author Interviews, Commentary
Review: All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins
Filed in Kristan Higgins , Review , The HEA Lover Posted on August 16, 2010 @ 10:00 am
7 comments
Format Read: eARC from Netgalley
Number of Pages: 409 pages
Release Date: July 27th 2010
Publisher: HQN
Formats Available: Paperback, eBook
Purchasing Info: GoodReads, Amazon
Book Blurb:
Summary: 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 3-0 birthday bash in the family funeral home.
Bad goes to worse when she stirs up a relationship with the town’s most eligible — yet not so warm and fuzzy — veterinarian, Ian McFarland, in order to flag Mark’s attention. So Ian’s 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…
My Thoughts:
This is the first book I read by Kristan Higgins, but it will not be the last, that’s for sure! (I kinda already ordered 2 of her books *looks innocent*) From the first page I was captivated. I couldn’t put this book down. I really loved it to pieces. I have a thing for small town stories so it was perfect for me. This book made me laugh (a LOT!), but it also made me cry (a bit!) and it also made my heart break.
Callie (Short for Calliope) is in love with her boss, Mark. Well she’s been in love with him since she was 14. They had an affair for a few weeks but he broke up, saying the timing was wrong. Callie believed him and kept hoping for months…until he announces he’s engaged to the daughter of one of their clients (oh and she will be working with them! AH!). After the news was broken to her (on her birthday) she is devastated, and decides the best way to act is to try to make him jealous. And what better man to use for this plan than the new guy in town…the new vet!
I love Callie, she is very funny and adorable. Everyone loves her. She has a winning personality and she tries very hard to be loved by everyone. She often has internal dialogues with the ‘two parts’ of her personality (I’m a bit like that too). Not that she is suffering from schizophrenia, but she sees herself as part Betty Boop and part Michele Obama. I laughed a LOT! These ‘discussions’ were hilarious.
The first time she meets Ian (the new vet), is unforgettable. Hilarious! And I knew from there that I would love him. Ian is Callie’s exact contrary. Let’s say he’s not really a people person, but bring him a dog and they’ll be best friends. Callie often refers to him as a ‘Russian Killer who could end you with one finger’ lol. He is blond and arctic but I couldn’t stop myself from loving him! This is one of the cutest book I’ve read in a while. I kept smiling and laughing and more than a few times you could have heard me ‘Awwwwwwwww’.
The book is not only about Callie’s love life, it’s also about friendship and family. I love Callie’s family, they are weird and likable and hilarious. This book is also filled with amazing secondary characters, the funniest (and my favorites!) being Noah (her grand-father), Freddie (her brother) and Louis…. AH Louis! LOL He works with her mother as a mortician. He is creepy and very very funny.
There’s only one thing I’m not used to…it’s the ‘next morning’ scenes. I’m used to reading smex scenes, and it’s always frustrating to come upon a book where they go in their room, start kissing and BAMMM…’ ‘the next morning’! lol Maybe that’s just because my mind is too dirty. lol I’m sure I’ll get used to it *wink* at least for next book I’ll be prepared lol.
I can’t recommend enough this book. It’s perfect, it’s sweet, it’s just amazing. In short…It’s all I ever wanted in a book! *wink* I will gladly reread it and I can’t wait to read other books by Kristan Higgins. Two thumbs up!!
I give All I Ever Wanted 5 Bookies!
***FTC Disclaimer: Most books reviewed on this site have been provided free of charge by the publisher, author or publicist. Some books we have purchased with our own money and will be noted as such. Any links to places to purchase books are provided as a convenience, and do not serve as an endorsement by this blog. All reviews are the true and honest opinion of the blogger reviewing the book. The method of acquiring the book does not have a bearing on the content of the review. All our links to the online bookstores are affiliate links. The money earned with these accounts is spent on books for contest exclusively.
Share This Post
Subscribe and stay up-to-date
7 Comments
Join the Discussion
Previous Post
« Guest Post by Author Kat Richardson + Giveaway Next Post
The Good, the Bad and the Are-You-Kidding-Me? »
« Guest Post by Author Kat Richardson + Giveaway Next Post
The Good, the Bad and the Are-You-Kidding-Me? »
Our Sponsors
Our Giveaways
Unfortunately Google Friend Connect will stop working for non Blogger blogs at the start of March.
To stay up-to-date use one of the other options above to subscribe to the newest Book Lovers Inc. action.Thank you!
| |||||||||
| 5 Stars: Perfect! I Love It! | |||||||||
| 4 Stars: Awesome Book! | |||||||||
| 3 Stars: I Liked It! | |||||||||
| 2 Stars: Not bad, but maybe not for me. | |||||||||
| 1 Star: Didn't like it! Did Not Finish it. | |||||||||
 | | | | | |||||
Blog RSS Feed
Follow Me on Twitter
My Facebook
5 Bookies? Yay – I've got this in my TBR. Kristan Higgins is an auto-buy for me. (She's only written one book I didn't care for) I am reading this one soon for sure!
@Patti Oh which one didn't you like much? Since I wrote this review I read 'Catch of the Day' it was really good but not as good as this one! Talk about brooding hero *drools*
I have Just One Of The Guys waiting for me…but I've been warned that it's a tear-jerker!
All I Ever Wanted is so damn cute! I really loved it. It's just perfect in my eyes. =) I can't wait to know what you think of this one!
Wow, no smex and still 5 Bookies?!! This must be one darn good book!! LOL 🙂
Some of my most beloved romances have 'fade-to-black' love scenes too. Julie James', Just The Sexiest Man Alive, comes to mind.
I am definitely going to pick this one up. Have only heard rave reviews!
@Scorpio M. Yep it's THAT good! lol And i do LOVE my smex in a book so it's saying a lot! =P
I am horrified to find the 'next day' smex or the 'fade-to-black' kind, but this one makes it up to us. 😉
This is the cutest book i've read in a long long time!
Ohh I do want to read the Sexiest Man Alive! (even with the 'no sex' lol)
Thanks for the great review. I'll definitely add this to my TBB list.
I know about family funeral homes as my father was a funeral director and owned one.
@Andrea I Ohhh this is very not common! I loved it in this book because they talked about very gruesome things from work and grossed the family out. It was very very funny.
This is on my top 10 books of 2010. It's soooooo good. =) I can't stop saying that it seems *wink* I loved it
Thanks Caro so much for recommending Kristan HIggins' novels to me, I read All I Ever Wanted and LOVED it to pieces, just like you! Discovered a new favourite author 🙂