TEST
I love a story with a military flavour, and while this book didn’t indicate that there was any military connection on the back blurb, the minute I started reading this book, I was hooked from page 1. This was one of the first LaVyrle Spencer books I read, and rereading it for about the fifteenth time, it is just as pleasurable as the first time. I’ve always loved this book.
Theresa Brubaker is a quiet, shy, and sensitive woman who’s been handed a body that she hates with a passion. Why did she have to inherit her mother’s build? It’s not that she’s overweight – in fact, she’s not. She’s a tiny woman with a Dolly Parton figure, and men just won’t stop drooling around her. She hates it. She’ll do anything to hide herself from the comments, the leers, the stares, the whistles. She’s uncomfortable with her body, and now, her brother Jeff is bringing a stranger home to spend Christmas with the Brubaker clan.
Theresa’s first impression of Brian Scanlon is that, unlike all other males, he never looks at her below the neck. Brian looks straight into her eyes all the time. It’s not that Brian is any less a man, he’s just an informed one, thanks to his best friend, Theresa’s brother. Brian and Jeff have spent many an evening back in their barracks talking about Jeff’s sister in the years they’ve been together in the Air Force. Jeff wants the very best for his sister; he wants her to be happy, and he thinks that Brian Scanlon is the answer to his prayers.
I love this book and have passed it on to many, and recommended it to many others as a “must read.” In fact, one of my best friends read this story and then told me, “I made my husband read this book because every man should be required to read this book.” I think that says it all. Being a woman who’s certainly been endowed with more than others, I felt for Theresa Brubaker and her hatred of her body. She was the girl in high school that we all knew the boys all said was “easy” because she was built like a brick …, well, you know what I mean. She’s the girl that everybody talked about, but most of the rumors were untrue. With her massive insecurity problems, Theresa is uncomfortable with Brian Scanlon being in her home, yet she is definitely attracted to him. After all, men only like her because of one thing – maybe I should rephrase that – two things, and she’s sure Brian is no different than any other man.
This book made me cry because Brian Scanlon is a true hero in every sense of the word. He accepts the Theresa inside, the outside packaging is irrelevant. He loves her sensitivity, and her love of music, which is one of the things they have in common. He’s really loved Theresa since the first time Jeff told him her story. Guess you could say this was love before first sight. This is a book that will always be on my keeper shelf. Oh, and the B+ rating is because I think that the author really failed towards the end of the story. It’s not a bad ending or anything, she just seemed to throw a bit of a curve into the story that I don’t think worked as well as it could have. If you haven’t read Sweet Memories, I won’t spoil it for you, but this is a book everybody should read.
Grade: B+
Book Type: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Subtle
Review Date: 12/06/98
Publication Date: 2003
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.