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Jasmine has a phobia about being around men, becoming so nervous in their presence that she often throws up, stutters and is generally unable to function. Therefore, rather than being the top fashion designer that she has the talent to be, she is a tailor, doing needlework out of her New York apartment. Her ¼ gypsy sister, Amy, who has the gift of divining a person’s One True Love, sets her up on an interview with the fashion designer for a Broadway showing of the play Romeo & Juliet. Despite running away from her interview, she gets the job on the strength of the portfolio she accidentally left behind and discovers that she also has the job now of helping screen star Josh Toby remain incognito in New York. If having to disguise the tabloid proclaimed “Sexiest Man Alive”, was not enough, Josh Toby is also the name of her One True Love. How can a painfully shy, introverted woman be the One True Love of a mega movie star? Or is there another man named Josh Toby somewhere in the wings? This book is the second in Holquist’s trilogy about three sisters, all ¼ gypsy, who find their One True Love. The first book, Make Me a Match, covered the story of Cecelia, the eldest sister, when the sister in crime from her past, Amy, returns to tell her that her fiancé is NOT her One True Love. This time, Amy is working her magic (scam?) again, telling sister Jasmine that her One True Love is Josh Toby. Despite the racy cover art and book title, I did not find this to be a highly erotic book though some sexual content does exist. One interesting facet of Holquist’s stories is how very different and distinct each sister is from the other. Jasmine is a lady with major social hangups. She is so traumatized when in the presence of men that even her lunches with her girl friends are at a café that men never frequent. I’m not sure that the trauma in her background really explains the severity for her neurosis, but she is an endearing character you want to cheer for, even when her behavior also makes you want to shake her. Josh is an interesting mix of the mega movie star in public with his own secret issues and soft heart underneath. He comes across somewhat lost concerning what he needs in life to find happiness and seems to still be searching for acceptance and approval from others instead of reaching within to understand and embrace who he really is. After several totally improbable and outrageous scenes, the reader settles in for a delicious read, accepting that this romance will be pure fun, with real life taking a back seat to the groans of a romantic comedy where the characters all seem to be having a Really Bad Day as chaos reigns. Even Oprah gets in on the farce, setting up a concluding chain of events that no one could ever expect. If you like deep stories with meaningful psychological development between the characters and a tightly woven plot where logic rules, this is not the book for you. However, if you are ready to abandon reason and flow wherever the author chooses to take you, I think you will find Sexiest Man Alive to be a diverting read. Amy, Jasmine’s gyspy sister, is a strong quirky character that has never seen a scam she couldn’t pull. Her book is the third of the trilogy and should be one to look for in September.Reviewed by Crystal |
SEXIEST MAN ALIVE
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