Unwrapping: Review of RESCUE ME by Rachel Gibson

Okay, okay, I've said it before that I am not a great fan of contemporary romance but every once in a while one comes along that takes me by surprise. Avon recently sent me an ARC of RESCUE ME by Rachel Gibson and I have to admit that after reading her novella, CRAZY ON YOU, I wasn't overly eager to read this one. However, I started reading another ARC and it was a little tougher to get into than I expected so I set it aside and picked up RESCUE ME. In the mood of the book, I'll just say that I'm just tickled pink with it. I actually liked it very much and will even go so far as to say that I kinda loved it.

Blurb for RESCUE ME:

She’s 33, unmarried, and stuffed into a Bubble Yum pink bridesmaid dress. And the whole town wants to fix her up with anyone with a dental plan…

Who’s going to rescue Sadie Hollowell now?

Everyone in Lovett, Texas knows Sadie has always been a ‘notional’ kind of gal. She got a notion to leave town asap , and never visit her daddy (bless his heart). Now, she’s back and got the notion to invite a good-looking, hard-muscled, total stranger to her cousin’s wedding. Better a stranger than some of the losers she’s dated.

Vince Haven got his muscles the hard way—as a Navy SEAL in Afghanistan. He’s staying in Lovett to visit his crazy aunt—the proprietor of the local Gas N Go. Before he can get the heck back out of the small town, his aunt makes him an offer he can’t refuse. Maybe he’ll stick around Lovett for a while. Maybe he’ll make a ‘go’ of the Gas N Go. Maybe he’ll rescue Sadie out of that pink dress!

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Sadie Hallowell has returned to Lovett, Texas begrudgingly. She's only come back long enough to be in her cousin's wedding and then plans to head back home to Arizona as soon as possible. Unfortunately, complications arise when her father is injured during the breeding of a mare. Sadie hadn't expected to remain in Lovett but she also hadn't expected to meet the tall, dark, and handsome wall of muscle named Vince Haven on her way into town. She also hadn't expected to have him give her one of the best times ever in the bride's room at her cousin's wedding. She fully expected never to see him again.

Vince Haven has come to Lovett, Texas to give his sister and nephew some quality time with her ex who has decided to come back into their lives and be a husband and father. Vince isn't happy about it but is willing to give them their space. He's come to Lovett to visit his aunt who owns the Gas 'n Go only to find that she wants him to buy it from her so that she can spend the rest of her days playing. He agrees and sets about remodeling the old place into something he can sell and make a profit. Having spent time as a Navy SEAL, lost friends, and now bears physical and emotional scars, he's not ready even after all this time to allow anyone too close to him. Meeting Sadie Hallowell seemed like a simple solution. He's attracted to her, she's attracted to him and neither wants anything but sex. Friends with benefits, you might say - well, actually it's what Sadie does tell herself that she and Vince have together. That it's the only thing that she and Vince have together. Great sex with no complications - or so she keeps telling herself as does he.

RESCUE ME by Rachel Gibson is a great read. It's funny, it's real, it's believable. I laughed out loud several times. I appreciated the southern sayings since I'm a southern gal, too, even if not from Texas - southern is southern. I have to admit that I found myself in tears, not once but twice while reading this book. Dang it all, I enjoyed the dickens out of this book and it had me smiling like a schoolgirl on a picnic even as it brought tears to my eyes!

In RESCUE ME, Rachel Gibson has created believable characters, believable situations and heartbreakingly believable relationships. It isn't difficult to relate to Sadie as an independent woman who knows what she wants and knows how to get it. Vince is likable and sexy as all get out! The supporting characters are sweet as molasses just as you'd expect them to be and create an indelible image of this sleepy little town.

RESCUE ME by Rachel Gibson is a fun-filled tear-jerker story that will have you giggling your way through Sadie's wearing a Bubble Yum colored bridesmaids dress, in need of a cold shower while reading the hot sex scenes, and reaching for a full box of tissue at other times. I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a romantic comedy with a touch of tear-jerker thrown in to read this upcoming release from Rachel Gibson. It's so good, y'all can sweeten your sweet tea with it.

Happy Reading Everyone and congrats to the WINNER of UNDER A VAMPIRE MOON by Lynsay Sands  ...  DJ/Deana!

RESCUE ME by Rachel Gibson, from Avon Romance, release date - May 29, 2012. Available in print and ebook format.