So you don't read romance novels?

books:


	• Sexiest Man Alive (Warner Forever) Diana Holquist Forever, 2007 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 18 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

So you don't read romance novels?

This definitely isn't an ordinary romance novel - it is very funny, and an interesting psychological study of the main characters . Other reviewers here have summarized the plot, so I will just add that you should try something new if you don't read romance novels, and if you do, this one should be at the top of your list.

Sexiest Man Alive

Up-and-coming designer Jasmine Burns has a slight problem. Deathly afraid of men to the point that it is a phobia, she has a hard time communicating with them. A man can talk to her and she clams up and rushes away every time. Then, to make matters worse, her older sister claims to be a gypsy and considers herself a psychic of sorts. Her specialty is supposedly being able to tell people about their "One True Love". Amy supposedly can touch a person and instantly tell them the name of their true love. When Amy invades Jasmine's apartment as she is preparing for a job interview with a famous costume designer, Amy tells Jasmine her love's name: Josh Toby. Of course, that is the just his name. Amy doesn't know which person out of all the Josh Tobys in the world Jasmine's true love could be. As Jasmine's luck would have it though, the one Josh Toby she finds herself attracted to and friends with turns out to be a movie star and dubbed the "Sexiest Man Alive".

Josh Toby is tired of constantly being scrutinized and belittled for the movie roles he has undertaken. Those same roles made him a household name and while he enjoys the perks of the trade, he wants to be known as so much more. Slipping into New York City when he should be overseas, Josh is working towards getting a part in Romeo and Juliet, which is being put on by an off-Broadway theater. Meeting with the costume designer in order to find a disguise so no one knows it is THE Josh Toby at auditions, Josh is surprised to meet a quirky, somewhat shy woman named Jasmine. When she rushes away, he can't help but be intrigued by the one woman who didn't seem impressed about his star status nor interested in his bank account. In fact, she is perfect for what Josh thinks he needs. Only what he thinks he needs and what Jasmine actually gives him are so totally different he didn't even see it coming.

Jasmine and Toby unite to try and keep his identity secret. However, forces are working against them and their covers are blown. Will Jasmine be able to handle Josh's public identity without getting overwhelmed? Will Josh be able to handle Jasmine's fears? It seems the Sexiest Man Alive just might have his work cut out for him.

Diana Holquist grabbed my attention with this book. Enthralled from beginning to end, I couldn't help but laugh, then cry, and then smile. Sexiest Man Alive was entertaining, often hilarious, but seemed so very real. Jasmine endeared herself to me from the first scene of her `practice' interview and her fears and shyness were written in such a way that wanted to grab her and just hug her. Josh Toby was also very personable and not without his hang-ups. I loved watching the man who was supposedly perfect be imperfect.

Sexiest Man Alive was witty, sexy, and just entirely wonderful. I can't wait to read more from this terrific writer.

Talia
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

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Pleasant and compulsive

Jasmine Burns is about to get the biggest break of her fledgling career - the chance to assist the famous costume designer Arturo Mastriani for the off-Broadway production of "Romeo and Juliet." There's only one catch; she also needs to disguise the play's Romeo from being recognized, since he's Josh Toby, the Sexiest Man Alive and one of the biggest moviestars on the planet. It should be every woman's dream come true, but Jasmine is severely phobic around attractive men. She doesn't want the job. Especially when her gypsy sister tells her that her One True Love is named Josh Toby.

This book surprised me. I had been charmed by an excerpt I read elsewhere, so I decided to pick it up and give it a try. While it's not as funny as the excerpt I'd read, I was still amused and swept along with the characters. The entire book was incredibly compulsive reading, and I couldn't put it down until I'd finished it. It's hardly perfect - Jasmine's whining about her problems with men gets old 2/3's of the way through - but I liked that I was fairly uncertain what direction the author was going to go with the romance most of the way through the story. I enjoyed almost all of the characters, though I'm going to say I'm not picking up the next book because it's about the gypsy sister Amy and she was the sole character in the entire book I disliked. Not because she was flat, but because I just didn't like her manipulative nature and personality.

But I finished the book with a smile on my face, which ultimately was the goal, I'm sure.

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So-so

The book's plot is fairly good but the problem with the story is that Jasmine repeats once and again what was her problem and that make your reading boring. How many times can you read that she is afraid of any handsome man?
On the other hand if you like love stories you'll enjoy this one but not expect too much of it. The book won't make you think of it if you have anything else to do but you'll finish it.

P.S. The end is fairly predictable.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4

Shy No More Worksheet
Name: Jasmine Burns
Imagine the person who intimidates you. Naked. I'm intimidated by Josh Toby, the world's biggest movie star. Who has to imagine him naked? I've seen it on a forty-foot screen.
Breathe deep. Did I mention he's Josh Toby? As his costume designer, I'm supposed to dress him. And undress him. Oh, and my psychic sister Amy, who has never been wrong, named him my One True Love. Breathing is completely out of the question.
Ask for what you want. What I want is for him to stop being so...irresistible! I want not to fall in love with a man who's stalked by the paparazzi, whose washboard abs could cut glass, and whose movie star girlfriend is the most stunning creature ever.
Believe you can do what needs to be done. Then do it. So, all I have to do is believe I can resist Josh Toby. Resist those deep violet eyes, those strong, muscular arms, and the way he makes me feel like the only woman on earth. Couldn't be easier. Yeah right...

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