Review: The Icing on the Cake By: Alison Kent + Giveaway

THE ICING ON THE CAKE
by Alison Kent

Pub. Date: September 2010
Publisher: Health Communications, Incorporated
Format: Paperback , 264pp
Series: True Vow Series
Genre: Reality-Based Romance™
ISBN-13: 9780757315350
ISBN: 0757315356
Websites: True Vows, Book Depository, Goodreads


Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match . . . dot com! An on-line dating service is not Michelle Snow’s idea of how to find love but when the Big 3-0 hits, Michelle decides she has nothing to lose since she hasn’t brought a date home in ten years, she’s professionally burned out, and her climb up the corporate ladder has come at the expense of abandoning her sweet dream: to own a boutique cupcakery.

Todd Bracken, early 30s and a successful technology consultant, isn’t exactly a player after being off the market for ten years, and pours himself into his dual passions of martial arts and home-sweet-home renovations. Only there’s no one to come home to so he decides to give Match.com a try. Todd isn’t so sure the Internet dating scene is his thing—until a message pops up in the wee hours on a weekend night: “I like your smile.” Todd likes—a lot—the whole package that glides into a French bistro in Washington, D.C.

It’s serious mojo-at-first-sight but there’s a glitch: Todd and Michelle live in different cities. Will love find its way in the digital age with a You’ve Got Mail courtship when video cam kisses just aren’t enough? And when Todd challenges Michelle to not only go for her dream but let him share it, will they be able to make it happen together despite obstacles more plentiful than a shower of rainbow sprinkles?

My Thoughts

 

Starting this book was something that actually made me nervous at the beginning. I’ve never been a big fan of contemporary romance. Reality is just not something that I really cared to read about. Why was this one so different? What made me give the icing on the cake a chance as opposed to the other contemporary romances? Well, because this isn’t just a contemporary romance, this is a Reality-Based Romance™ a true love story. This is a story of how Michelle and Todd met and how they fell in love. And I will just say, this is the true life romance. It makes it even better knowing that these people really do exist, and this really happened.

We get to meet Michelle, your average career woman, whose joys in life are family friends and cupcakes. She’s a strong independent woman who’s OK with being by herself, already feeling complete in her own. But after any evening with her Gals she starts to wonder if she will start to feel alone the rest of her life. So Michelle’s friends convince her to try match.com Upon which she sees the smile of Todd. During all of this Michelle has a dream to one day opener own cupcake bakery, does she dare to take the steps to live her dreams AND open her life to another?

Todd…. Todd is much like your average Joe or in this case Todd (lol). He’s a hard worker, loves to travel, a joker, and spends a lot of this time fixing up an old house he bought hoping one day he’ll get the chance to resell it. Then one day he gets a quick little message from Michelle’s saying she likes his smile. After a relationship that lasted for years not turning out, he wonders if what he has with Michelle could be something more.

Some of the main things I really enjoyed about this book, are we get a glimpse into both sides, and the thoughts that run through their heads as they meet, and a relationship blooms. It’s nice to see men and women really do have the same concerns, and doubts when meeting that special someone. It’s refreshing to see there are still men in the world that can be romantic, and not be afraid to show it. Someone who wants to do everything in their power to make someone happy no matter what it takes. Even if it’s forcing yourself to eat a bunch of cupcakes “wink wink”

True love really can happen that fast. You meet someone, and BOOM!!! Sparks fly. Next thing you know a week’s past, and you feel like you’ve known a person your entire life. Michelle and Todd have done just that. They’ve found the other person that makes everything feel right.

My overall thoughts, this has truly been an excellent read! Never did I think I would be a fan of more contemporary style romance, but Michelle and Todd have given us a glimpse of what true love looks like, and it was wonderful read about their road to happily ever after. No matter who does the laundry!

 

Links:

The True Vows website: http://vows.hcibooks.com/

Chapter giveaways : http://vows.hcibooks.com/chapter-giveaway
Submit your own story: http://vows.hcibooks.com/submit-your-story/

Now for the giveaway!

One Lucky commenter will win all 3 books!!!

WOOOOO HOOOOOO

Yep, you read that right!!!

Just leave a comment answering the question:

Do you believe in Real Life Romance?

Please share with us!

1 Winner will be choosen sometime this weekend from commenters.

**US/Canada only, No PO Boxes

***FTC Disclaimer: Some books reviewed on this site have been provided free of charge by the publisher, author or publicist. Some books I have purchased with my 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.