Back to Basics

Smoky Mountain Romance #1

by Erin McCarthy

Angel Weiss can’t believe that her old friend Brian has stood her up at their wedding, for a stripper no less, ruining her plans to collect on some old college bet money. If you can’t trust a man to follow through on a fake wedding, who can you trust? So maybe she is a little uptight and suppressed, as Brian points out, but after watching her father run through six wives, she can’t help but be a little bit of a control freak. Who never intends to get married for real. Rick Dengler did the marriage thing and the only good thing that came out of it was his daughter.

Otherwise, it just left him broke and disillusioned. So he isn’t looking for anything but illegal campers when he’s doing rounds through the park on his job as a ranger. What he finds is a sexy blonde in heels frozen in the path of a black bear.

Which leads to them both covered in poison ivy. Which leads to stripping down to what nature intended in a heart shaped hot tub. Which leads Angel and Rick to conclude that maybe they’re not out of the woods yet when it comes to falling in love with a person all wrong for you..

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Adult

264 pages, Paperback

First published July 18, 2012

About the author

USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has since written over a hundred novels and novellas in teen fiction, new adult, and adult romance. Erin has a special weakness for high-heeled boots, beaches and martinis. She lives in Ohio with her family, two grumpy cats and a socially awkward dog.

Reviews

[Saly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short fun contemporary. I especially loved reading about the heroine's six crazy siblings and how inept she was in the woods, being a city girl and all. The hero is a ranger whose marriage broke up since his wife was a city person and he regrets not seeing his daughter often. The heroine kind of meets him in her wedding dress when her groom doesn't show up for her wedding. She is actually not marrying for love instead it is for bet money which will help her adopt(she can't have kids). The flirtation between them was fun and sexy especially when all her siblings walk in on them.

[Rochelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

OMG - this was TERRIBLE. Erin McCarthy is an author I like, and this was so not up to her Fast Track quality.
The "heroine" was at times clumsy/indecisive/wishy-washy/insecture and it just made for a blah book. This was supposed to be a short read but it took me 4 days because it was so bad; I should have quit long before the end!

[Krista Jenks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back to Basics is the story of a girl named Angel and the crazy things that happen to her after she gets stood up at the wedding by her finance. In the beginning we find out that Angel is getting married to her fiancee named Brian for all the of the wrong reasons. Brian is a long time family friend that she has known for most of her life and has been almost part of the family for many years. The story begins by telling you that the reason that Angel is marrying Brian is for two reasons there is an old college bet among friends that they each put in $100 in the beginning and who ever marry last will get the pot of money. Angel has decided to marry Brian because they are the last two to get married in the group so they can split the pot and its a very nice amount of money because the person in charge of the money invested very well. Angel has very specific plans for her money. You will have to read the book to find out what they are.

After Brian leaves Angel at the alter she decides to go in search of him. she is mad and a very determined woman She is being told the reason Brian did not show up for the wedding is because he married a strip on his last night out drinking before the wedding. Needless to say Angel is pissed. Angel starts out looking for him at the cabin that Brian rented for the honeymoon. Angel runs in to many snags along the way of just getting to the cabin. The first thing she does is get lost getting there so she stops of at a park area and is waking down a trail when guess what happens she meets a bear. OMG . She is terrified and doesn't know what to do. This is where our new friend and my most favorite character Ranger Rick comes into play. He here is screaming and he comes running what he doesn't expect to see is a woman in a wedding dress and a big bear. He eventually get the bear to go away but not before some crazy things happen to both of them. You learn that Rick and Angel kind of have an instant attraction.

My favorite qoute in this book: "The little angel had a devilish side to her but she wasn't as in control as she'd like to believed."

I so loved this book it had me laughing at time by the crazy klutzy things that were happening to Angel. And also sad at times for angel and rick and the many things that they had to go through to get where they are now. This was a fun and easy read. This was little different from other books i have currently read by Erin McCarthy but makes me interested to ready many more

I encourage you to read this book. You will not want to put it down. Have fun reading.

I give this book five stars because i just couldn't put it down. I am also hoping there is more books to come. I love some of the other characters in the book.

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back to Basics by Erin McCarthy is a quick and super cute read! Erin never disappoints with her fun and quirky characters and her awesome stories. Back to Basics is no exception. I really enjoyed this story and hope that Erin will write more stories about some of the other characters that we meet in Back to Basics. I'm dying to read more about Angel's Brother Luke!

Angel is all dressed and ready for her wedding to Brian. Her brother Luke tells her that Brian won't be showing up for the wedding, because he ran off with the stripper from the bachelor party the night before and married her instead! Angel needs to marry Brian, because once they get married they will win a bet they made with their friends in college. Winning the bet comes with $20,000.00, which they have agreed to split. Angel goes off in search of Brian and ends up in the woods with a bear staring her down. Luckily a park ranger shows up just in time and saves her from the bear, only to have them both end up in poison ivy! As Angel and Rick suffer the itching together, they realize that their poison ivy rashes aren't the only thing that needs scratching. The two of them can't stay away from each other, and it isn't long before Angel is forgetting all about Brian and the bet.

Angel and Rick were so cute together! I felt like they were perfect for each other. Rick was sexy with his twangy accent and he was sweet also! Angel was fun to read about and I loved her interactions with all of her quirky siblings. Angel and Rick were hot together and I really believed that even though they weren't together long and despite the circumstances of their meeting they had a real relationship. I finished this one up quickly because I just didn't want to put it down. I highly recommend that you pick this one up if you love a fun and flirty romance filled with laughs and banter between the hero and heroine. Another great read by Erin McCarthy proving once again what a great writer she is! Check this one out, you won't be disappointed!!

**Provided by author for honest review**

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aw Back to Basics was a cute little novella with fun characters that I really grew to like. Angel's just been abandoned at the alter by her future husband and while trying to track him down nearly become bear bait and ends up being rescued by one Ranger Rick who is all kinds of yummy manly goodness and sparks feelings in her she never expected.

I really enjoyed all of the characters. Rick and Angel were both pretty simple and real. They don't have flashy jobs and they struggle with things that happen in real life--infertility, divorce, etc but they take a risk on each other and I loved watching them open up and grow through the novella. I really loved her crazy siblings as well. They're a hoot, very loyal and loving and I'd really love to hear all of their stories one day.

My only complaint, and this didn't ruin the read for me obviously just bugged me a little, was that I didn't love her reasoning for going into a sham wedding to win a bet b/c she needed the money. It just didn't seem all that well thought out on Angel's part . She wanted the money so she could adopt a child and I don't think an adoption agency would have really been wild about a quickie marriage/divorce since they'll want stability for the child. .

Other than that though Back to Basics is great if you're looking for a fun sweet read between longer books and like a bit of humor added into the mix.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Angel finds out on her wedding day that the man that she is supposed to marry isn’t coming…he is with some stripper!! So Angel decides to go find him thinking he went to the cabin where they are supposed to have their honeymoon…but Angel doesn’t find Brian she finds a bear in the woods, Ranger Rick and a Norman Bates looking cabin that Brian had booked for their honeymoon. Rick on the other hand is just trying to get away from a fellow female co-worker who has a crush on him when he first runs into Angel…and the bear. That’s when everything beings for them! The story was short…I personally wish it was longer just because I’m not a fan of the 2 – 4 day romance stories…if not longer at least an epilogue….the ending kinda left me going…”Okay…..that’s it?” But overall it was still an AMAZING read and if Erin ever gets contracted to do more she left potential to make it into a series using Angel’s siblings as the main characters. Although short, it is still a must read Erin McCarthy book!

[Franjessca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Review posted on Book Lovin' Mamas

Back to Basics is such a sweet contemporary romance story about Angel Weiss, who is trying everything to have a normal life, but she does not believe in happily ever after. She has set up to marry her friend Brian so they can get the money that their friends did back a long time ago. Whoever was the last to get married would get the bet money they put together in college.

I give this book 4.5 moons and highly recommend it to contemporary romance readers, who love stories with a happily ever after, with two different characters, you will enjoy Back to Basics.

Favorite quotes from Back to Basics -

“Bet you’ve never had a bear down your pants before. Though I’m kind of a bear in bed.” He winked.

“Good. Because Ranger Rick and his Campfire Girl have a fire that needs to be started.”

[Jay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute read. I hope the fact that itt's called back to basics is a clue that Erin McCarthy is going back to writing straight contempos - not series and not paranormals. She's lost me after the 4th Not-Nascar book and I never followed her to paranormal land, so I'm glad to have read this. Even though the page count was pretty short - less than 150 pages on my reader - the story didn't feel rushed or unbelievable. A testament to McCarthy's talent since I've found that short story romances work best for me when the h/h already know each other before the beginning of the book. Even though I don't love series, I wouldn't mind reading about the rest of Angel's quirky brothers and sisters in the future.

[Clong Clong · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was supposedly an Erin McCarthy work. The cover was cute. The story was far from cute. Thank good it was a short story otherwise i would have bawled and just skip towards the last chapter. There was a lot of disappointment going on with the story and the plot and the weak characters to compare it with the adrenaline rush i felt while reading the Fast Track installments.

The plot was not just as realistic. No one gets married for money when one can easily embezzle it...sorry or rather borrow it from rich parents just like that just so you can adopt because you can't have kids. It was dragging and the romance side was pathetic for both. Sorry i could not expound anymore.

[Jennifer Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Erin McCarthy is a must buy for me, and she doesn't disappoint with this book. The characters are hilarious. I hope that each of the siblings will get their own story.

Angel is about to get married when the groom doesn't show. She isn't upset that her fiancé ditched her, Angel really wanted the money that she would get from an old college bet. Trying to locate her wayward fiancé leads her to a honeymoon cabin. She meets Ranger Rick in the woods when a bear has her in his sights. Hilarity ensues when you add poison ivy, five meddling siblings and a stuffed bear butt.

You will not be disappointed with this book!

[Debbie Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute quick story. I love it when I can laugh out loud while reading and I deffintly did that here. Very enjoyable.

Although there were many awesome quotes in this story, the one that sticks out the most is the one that made me laugh out loud te loudest.

"Now I'm talking to dead animals!...What is the matter with me?"

Gotta love the frustration :P

[Kobie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read Chapter 1, wondered if this was the same Fast Track author, found another review questioning the same, and decided it wasn't worth another minute. Even in Chapter 1, there were holes big enough for a truck...why would her brother, knowing what had happened, still be dressed for the wedding?

Bummer, cuz Fast Track #2 is one of my all-time favorites.

[Ballerina60 · Rating 2 out of 5]

for EM, this is was below standard (sorry, EM). for me, this was very very slooooow and booooring! there were possibilities from the beginning, but they never panned out. i usually absolutely love this author---especially the True Believers series. but i would not recommend you waste your time on this one.

[Latte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of my favorites from the author. I can see the setup for a full series with all the Weiss siblings featured. There was nothing that I particularly disliked in this storyline but at the same time, nothing really drew me in either.

[Melissa Spears · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun read...especially since I have been to Smoky Mountain National Park. I love when a book takes me back to fun paces! Fun read where you can feel the love:-) Thanks again Erin for another great read:-)

[I.Heart.Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars! Grrr, no epilogue!

[Beeg Panda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, sweet, fun. Hope we get sequels for secondary characters. Well written, typical Erin M

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an ok read but the ending seemed rushed and left too much up in the air.

[Diane Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

short and sweet. Want more about the rest of her family and was expecting more at the end!

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute book.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute and easy read. I would have liked an epilogue, but I'm going to assume each sibling will get their own story.

[Neha Oberoi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoy how accident prone the female lead was. And Big Bear Butt also added to my merry enjoyment of all the bizarre situations she constantly landed herself into.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, cute read.

[Chayong · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot is simple and predictable. Funny lines. But the author can only put so much of it in a novelette. Cute though.

[Tammy Yenalavitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny. I loved it. Erin is one of my favorite writers.

[Meem · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too light.

[Widala · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 star, rounded up. Loved Ranger Rick.