No Dress Required by Cari Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Title: *No Dress Required
Author: Cari Quinn
Series: n/a
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Format: ebook
Date/Year: December 2011
Reviewed by: ElaineReads
*This book was provided to me by the publisher for review.
Summary from the publisher:
After years of ho-hum dating, Noelle Gregory is tired of fooling around. There’s only ever been one guy for her—Jake Conroy, her best friend’s older brother. Now that Jake’s back in town, she’s headed to his sister’s New Year’s Eve party to make her move. Purse full of condoms? Check. Sparkly dress guaranteed to show Jake the sexy woman she’s become? Check.
Carjacker that makes off with both two hours before the party? Check.
When Jake finds Noelle stranded on the side of the road—looking sexier than ever in her striped socks and silly holiday shirt, damn it—he’s glad for the snowstorm that cancels his sister’s party. His and Noelle’s friendship has tormented him for years, and now, Jake wonders if he should dare to sample what he’s always wanted…and if he’ll be able to walk away when it’s over.
My Musings:
Noelle has been in love with her best friend’s brother Jake for years. Unfortunately, he always saw her as another pesky little sister until it was too late and he was involved with someone else.
Now, Jake is alone once more and it’s New Year’s Eve. Is it possible that Jake and Noelle will start the New Year with a bang?
My initial reaction to the “best friend’s brother” plot was not again. However, one of the reasons it is used so much is that it works. Can any straight girl say that she did not crush on the older, unattainable guy at some point? I know I can’t.
I am not a fan of short stories/novellas and this book is only 61 pages long. However, the author does an excellent job of developing the relationship between Jake and Noelle given the the limited time available. There is even a bit of a mystery involved in why did Jake’s girlfriend leave him.
The best thing about this story is that it is fun. I particularly liked when they realize Noelle has thrown away Jake’s only condom in a fit of temper and he refuses to go through his baby sister’s stash to get another one.
Cari Quinn has several books published and I will definitely try another. This book made me laugh out loud and who can ask for more than that?
Elaine Reads . . . constantly! 