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Crazy For Love
Chloe Turner thought she was going to marry the perfect man—until her fiancé's plane crashed. And then she got the really bad news: he'd tried to fake his own death to avoid marrying her. Now America's most famous bridezilla (a tag she most definitely does not deserve), Chloe escapes to a remote island to avoid the paparazzi. And right next door is a man who just might be the cure for Chloe's heartache....
A magnet for wild, complicated women, Max Sullivan is relieved to have finally found someone "normal." Chloe is his girl-next-door fantasy come to life, and best of all, she gets him. With her, he can be himself, a treasure-hunting millionaire who desperately wants out of his sexy but reckless job. But when Chloe's notoriety catches up with them, will their torrid romance make it to the mainland?
A magnet for wild, complicated women, Max Sullivan is relieved to have finally found someone "normal." Chloe is his girl-next-door fantasy come to life, and best of all, she gets him. With her, he can be himself, a treasure-hunting millionaire who desperately wants out of his sexy but reckless job. But when Chloe's notoriety catches up with them, will their torrid romance make it to the mainland?
376 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2010
22 people are currently reading
1025 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Dahl
65 books2,002 followersI have my mother to thank for my passion for writing. My mom is an avid reader of popular fiction, and I began reading highly inappropriate books around the age of eleven, I think. (Thanks, Mom, for always leaving those delicious books strewn about!)
To Tempt a Scotsman, a Golden Heart winning historical, was my first published book. Here I am signing the cover! A Rake's Guide to Pleasure (which was excerpted at the back of Scotsman) is my second.
Due to my all-around goofiness, my agent suggested I also try my hand at a contemporary romantic comedy. Boy, is my agent smart! I had a great time writing Talk Me Down, the story of a young woman who goes back to her small hometown in Colorado and causes a huge stir with her secretive career and her burgeoning relationship with the chief of police. Not only did I have a great time writing it, but Tara Parsons at HQN liked it too! So if you like cold weather, hot sex and dirty jokes, be sure to check out Talk Me Down (out in January 2009).
Speaking of cold weather, my family and I live in a beautiful ski town in
Utah. No, I don't ski. I prefer to sit inside with a hot toddy and a good
book while the snow falls. It's especially beautiful to watch when from the inside!
I have a wonderful husband and children, and the house is kind of crowded, what with the dukes, Scotsmen, police chiefs, and naughty ladies running around, but my family is very understanding about my imaginary friends. Good thing, since they refuse to leave!
To Tempt a Scotsman, a Golden Heart winning historical, was my first published book. Here I am signing the cover! A Rake's Guide to Pleasure (which was excerpted at the back of Scotsman) is my second.
Due to my all-around goofiness, my agent suggested I also try my hand at a contemporary romantic comedy. Boy, is my agent smart! I had a great time writing Talk Me Down, the story of a young woman who goes back to her small hometown in Colorado and causes a huge stir with her secretive career and her burgeoning relationship with the chief of police. Not only did I have a great time writing it, but Tara Parsons at HQN liked it too! So if you like cold weather, hot sex and dirty jokes, be sure to check out Talk Me Down (out in January 2009).
Speaking of cold weather, my family and I live in a beautiful ski town in
Utah. No, I don't ski. I prefer to sit inside with a hot toddy and a good
book while the snow falls. It's especially beautiful to watch when from the inside!
I have a wonderful husband and children, and the house is kind of crowded, what with the dukes, Scotsmen, police chiefs, and naughty ladies running around, but my family is very understanding about my imaginary friends. Good thing, since they refuse to leave!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
February 6, 2017
“Chloe Turner, I think you’re the sweetest girl I’ve ever gotten to third base with.”
Sweet and sexy!
Once again, Victoria Dahl delivered, hooking me from the first page. I enjoyed almost everything about this book. There was an interesting plot, great storyline, and adorable characters. The story’s atmosphere certainly hit the mark for me.
Chloe Turner used to be a normal girl and have a normal life until her fiancé faked his own death in order to escape marrying her. It was the worst humiliation she’d ever been through. The press called her ‘Chloe the Bridezilla’ and the paparazzi wildly and crazily chased her down. Her life had turned into a chaotic mess since then.
So what was she going to do? Of course, she escaped this nightmare by spending time with Jenn, her best friend, at the isolated Virginia island resort where she was finally able to get some peaceful time, away from prying eyes.
But unexpectedly, an irresistibly hot neighbor, Max Sullivan, just showed up on the porch of her seaside cabin. He introduced himself to her and this man really had no idea who she was. They both felt attracted to each other, so it didn’t seem like a bad idea for her to have a vacation fling with him.
However, Max had anxiety and control issues. He couldn’t stop himself from worrying about everything or feeling responsible for everyone he met, and that was why he was unable to turn his back on the troubled women who were always attracted to him. Taking care of everyone was exhausting. So when he met Chloe, he felt so thankful that just once in his life, he got a chance to be with a normal woman who would never want him to fix her problem. And that made him feel completely at ease.
But what will happen next between them when the truth comes out? Are they really meant to be together?
The plot itself was a bit far-fetched, but the characters were very loveable, which was the best thing about this book. These characters had their own problems, and those problems directly affected their everyday lives. In some ways, I think Max, Chloe, Elliott, and Jenn, were all the broken souls. And after they met, for Max and Chloe, they had become an integral part of each other’s life. And for Elliott and Jenn, they had found the solace in each other’s company.
That was very heartwarming.
You can’t go wrong with the author’s sex scenes. They were all smoldering hot, filled with love and passion. Hot damn, I couldn’t ask for more!
And the ending… Oh, it was so beautiful! I loved it!
Hell, he didn’t need air. He had Chloe Turner. In that moment, Max was certain that normal, average girls were completely overrated. Chloe was just screwed up enough to love him, and he could live with that kind of craziness. “Thank you,” he whispered.
All in all, this was a fun, lovely, sexy, and emotional read. If you’re looking for a nice mix of romance, humor, drama, and a touch of mystery, then I recommend this book to you.
Sweet and sexy!
Once again, Victoria Dahl delivered, hooking me from the first page. I enjoyed almost everything about this book. There was an interesting plot, great storyline, and adorable characters. The story’s atmosphere certainly hit the mark for me.
Chloe Turner used to be a normal girl and have a normal life until her fiancé faked his own death in order to escape marrying her. It was the worst humiliation she’d ever been through. The press called her ‘Chloe the Bridezilla’ and the paparazzi wildly and crazily chased her down. Her life had turned into a chaotic mess since then.
So what was she going to do? Of course, she escaped this nightmare by spending time with Jenn, her best friend, at the isolated Virginia island resort where she was finally able to get some peaceful time, away from prying eyes.
But unexpectedly, an irresistibly hot neighbor, Max Sullivan, just showed up on the porch of her seaside cabin. He introduced himself to her and this man really had no idea who she was. They both felt attracted to each other, so it didn’t seem like a bad idea for her to have a vacation fling with him.
However, Max had anxiety and control issues. He couldn’t stop himself from worrying about everything or feeling responsible for everyone he met, and that was why he was unable to turn his back on the troubled women who were always attracted to him. Taking care of everyone was exhausting. So when he met Chloe, he felt so thankful that just once in his life, he got a chance to be with a normal woman who would never want him to fix her problem. And that made him feel completely at ease.
But what will happen next between them when the truth comes out? Are they really meant to be together?
The plot itself was a bit far-fetched, but the characters were very loveable, which was the best thing about this book. These characters had their own problems, and those problems directly affected their everyday lives. In some ways, I think Max, Chloe, Elliott, and Jenn, were all the broken souls. And after they met, for Max and Chloe, they had become an integral part of each other’s life. And for Elliott and Jenn, they had found the solace in each other’s company.
That was very heartwarming.
You can’t go wrong with the author’s sex scenes. They were all smoldering hot, filled with love and passion. Hot damn, I couldn’t ask for more!
And the ending… Oh, it was so beautiful! I loved it!
Hell, he didn’t need air. He had Chloe Turner. In that moment, Max was certain that normal, average girls were completely overrated. Chloe was just screwed up enough to love him, and he could live with that kind of craziness. “Thank you,” he whispered.
All in all, this was a fun, lovely, sexy, and emotional read. If you’re looking for a nice mix of romance, humor, drama, and a touch of mystery, then I recommend this book to you.
July 5, 2010
Hmmm...not my favorite by this author (and I love her other stuff!) but something about this one didn't fully work for me. In some respects it was similar to her previous contemporaries (Talk Me Down, Start Me Up, Lead Me On)--there were traces of humor ("Holy ass cheeks, Batman" had to be my favorite line), some hot sex (but not a whole lot), and quirky characters. But I had some problems with the plot and the hero was just too messed up for my tastes.
As far as the plot? Let's see, in a nutshell...Chloe Turner is an accountant whose fiancee faked his own death in a plane crash in order to get out of marrying her. Then he told the press he did it because she had become a "Bridezilla" (not true). Now she's in hiding (along with her nervous best girlfriend who's keeping a big secret from Chloe) from the paparazzi on a remote Virginia island until everything dies down and she can get her life back. On the island she meets up with a hunkalicious treasure hunter who has some secrets of his own. They hit it off and have a hot affair until Chloe's notorious past comes between them.
My main problem with the plot? I just didn't buy that the paparazzi would be all that interested in Chloe, at least not to the extent that they are in this book. I'm imagining the author got the idea from some real-life runaway bride story, and replaced it with a runaway groom, but c'mon, in this book Chloe is treated like she's Britney Spears or something! As for the fiancee? As far as I could tell, he wasn't famous either. Of course he was famous for faking his death, but I just couldn't see the national press following this story for more than a few days. Anyway, that made it kind of unbelievable for me, and took away from my reading enjoyment.
The other problem that I had with the book, and I can't believe I'm saying this, is the hero. I love Victoria Dahl's heroes (Ben from Talk Me Down, Quinn from Start Me Up, and my favorite--Chase from Lead Me On)--these guys were great! But Max Sullivan? Whoa, he was a bit messed up. He was attracted to messed up women that needed 'help'. He would give them his 'help' and then he would move on from the relationship. He needed to be needed. He wasn't true to himself. He wasn't honest with what he wanted. He was a giant worrywart. He also had these "issues" about control and feeling responsible for everyone's safety, even at work, where he was a dive supervisor on a treasure hunting ship. At first it comes off as kind of cute, about how much he worries over everything. But as the story goes on you can see he has a real problem, and I kept thinking "he needs professional help". For some readers this may not be a problem, especially if you're tired of the strong, alpha types. Kudos to the author for coming up with something different and a bit quirky for her hero, but I like my heroes with a little less problems, thank you.:)
There is a side romance in this book between Max's nerdy (but hot), recently divorced, scientist brother Elliot and Chloe's shy best friend Jenn that I found sort of sweet, and wished it could have been developed even more, but Chloe and Max are the main story here. They have a couple of hot sex scenes but all the while leading up to them I kept wondering if Max's worries would affect his abilities in the bedroom, you know? But other than a worry about getting Chloe pregnant? Not to worry, because Max was fully functional there.
There is a HFN in this book (more believable than an HEA in this case). I would have liked to have read that Max was getting some professional help for his compulsions though, because no matter how loving and patient Chloe is, and no matter how sexy and adorable Max is...I think sooner or later he would drive any woman crazy! 3 1/2 stars
As far as the plot? Let's see, in a nutshell...Chloe Turner is an accountant whose fiancee faked his own death in a plane crash in order to get out of marrying her. Then he told the press he did it because she had become a "Bridezilla" (not true). Now she's in hiding (along with her nervous best girlfriend who's keeping a big secret from Chloe) from the paparazzi on a remote Virginia island until everything dies down and she can get her life back. On the island she meets up with a hunkalicious treasure hunter who has some secrets of his own. They hit it off and have a hot affair until Chloe's notorious past comes between them.
My main problem with the plot? I just didn't buy that the paparazzi would be all that interested in Chloe, at least not to the extent that they are in this book. I'm imagining the author got the idea from some real-life runaway bride story, and replaced it with a runaway groom, but c'mon, in this book Chloe is treated like she's Britney Spears or something! As for the fiancee? As far as I could tell, he wasn't famous either. Of course he was famous for faking his death, but I just couldn't see the national press following this story for more than a few days. Anyway, that made it kind of unbelievable for me, and took away from my reading enjoyment.
The other problem that I had with the book, and I can't believe I'm saying this, is the hero. I love Victoria Dahl's heroes (Ben from Talk Me Down, Quinn from Start Me Up, and my favorite--Chase from Lead Me On)--these guys were great! But Max Sullivan? Whoa, he was a bit messed up. He was attracted to messed up women that needed 'help'. He would give them his 'help' and then he would move on from the relationship. He needed to be needed. He wasn't true to himself. He wasn't honest with what he wanted. He was a giant worrywart. He also had these "issues" about control and feeling responsible for everyone's safety, even at work, where he was a dive supervisor on a treasure hunting ship. At first it comes off as kind of cute, about how much he worries over everything. But as the story goes on you can see he has a real problem, and I kept thinking "he needs professional help". For some readers this may not be a problem, especially if you're tired of the strong, alpha types. Kudos to the author for coming up with something different and a bit quirky for her hero, but I like my heroes with a little less problems, thank you.:)
There is a side romance in this book between Max's nerdy (but hot), recently divorced, scientist brother Elliot and Chloe's shy best friend Jenn that I found sort of sweet, and wished it could have been developed even more, but Chloe and Max are the main story here. They have a couple of hot sex scenes but all the while leading up to them I kept wondering if Max's worries would affect his abilities in the bedroom, you know? But other than a worry about getting Chloe pregnant? Not to worry, because Max was fully functional there.
There is a HFN in this book (more believable than an HEA in this case). I would have liked to have read that Max was getting some professional help for his compulsions though, because no matter how loving and patient Chloe is, and no matter how sexy and adorable Max is...I think sooner or later he would drive any woman crazy! 3 1/2 stars
September 23, 2013
Crazy for Love I’ll be blunt. I’ve never read a more idiotic excuse for a premise and plot in my life.1. Why would paparazzi follow a nobody? Besides, aren’t Bridezillas in fashion? Isn’t there a reality show on the theme?2. Why would a guy fake his own death just to not get married? Sorry, but the explanation in the end didn’t gel with me.3. How can someone be so freaking weird as the hero? Hasn’t he heard of therapy? Sorry, but the explanation for his “quirkiness” (which was anything but quirky for me) also didn’t gel.4. And what was with the heroine’s best friend? Hasn’t she heard of therapy?
Sheesh! This book was one major issue in itself. Besides the idiotic premise, idiotic plot, idiotic issues (the only characters I actually liked were the heroine and the hero’s brother), idiotic explanations for idiotic actions, it had the most un-freaking-believable ending ever. Why would she stay with such an issue-laden guy? How can she be sure he’s with her because he wants to be or because he needs to be due to his “quirkiness”? Because the last few sentences sure weren’t reassuring.
Sheesh! This book was one major issue in itself. Besides the idiotic premise, idiotic plot, idiotic issues (the only characters I actually liked were the heroine and the hero’s brother), idiotic explanations for idiotic actions, it had the most un-freaking-believable ending ever. Why would she stay with such an issue-laden guy? How can she be sure he’s with her because he wants to be or because he needs to be due to his “quirkiness”? Because the last few sentences sure weren’t reassuring.
July 14, 2010
This was a very refreshing change of pace for me. I'm not a big contemporary reader, but when I heard a new contemporary Victoria Dahl was released I just had to have it.
Max was so adorable. I just wanted to grab him and cuddle him. I loved the scene where he was busted by Chloe! He was such a faker. Everyone thought he was such a bad boy because he always hooked up with "bad" girls and had an adventurous life. No one ever saw how he joked and laughed and flirted his way into getting people to do what he wanted. And what did he want? Safety for everyone! He couldn't stop involving himself in dangerous situations because he felt responsible for everyone's safety. The facts about danger that he knew were hilarious. Especially the one about sand tunnels. I thought it was cute, but sad that he was so afraid to be a father because he knew he'd be the worst type of freak with his kid.
I'm so glad that Chloe was so accepting of Max. Yeah, she kept calling him a freak, but she thought it was cute too. When we first meet Chloe, we learn about the recent scandal, but she seems really together about it. I'm glad that we got to see her vulnerability about the situation later in the book. Being stalked like that would give anyone issues. I don't blame her for wanting to pretend she was normal. What a horrible situation to find yourself in, especially when none of it was your fault. I felt so bad for her when she started to analyze her previous actions because of her reputation.
Even though I could see Chloe's side, I could also see Max's side. I know that was a nightmare to him when he finally thought he had escaped his bad habits. I really appreciated getting a hard look at his feelings on the issue. Even though some of them were hard to take I'm glad we got to see them. I could really appreciate what a vicious cycle he was part of. The best part was Chloe realizing exactly what role she started playing in his life the minute he found out about her. I loved the conflict she had about wanting to be that girl he helped and hating it too. I was so glad the situation turned out how it did.
I am not usually a fan of books that take place in a short amount of time. I don't enjoy watching them fall into bed quickly. Having said that, I have to admit that I was totally sold on it with this book. I felt that the time line was perfect and the feelings following that time line didn't outpace it.
I liked the little side relationship we got to see. I was really nervous about the hints we were getting about Jenn. I wasn't disappointed with how it turned out, but I've got to admit Jenn was a piece of work. The scene where Jenn bursts into tears - It was so horrifying, but so hilarious! It was like watching a train wreck!
If you're looking for something fun, but still complicated, I recommend picking up this book.
*One last thing: I really preferred the covers on this author's other contemporaries. I always recognized her work, the covers were distinctive. This cover was a bit of a shock to me, and I'm still not sure it I like it.*
Max was so adorable. I just wanted to grab him and cuddle him. I loved the scene where he was busted by Chloe! He was such a faker. Everyone thought he was such a bad boy because he always hooked up with "bad" girls and had an adventurous life. No one ever saw how he joked and laughed and flirted his way into getting people to do what he wanted. And what did he want? Safety for everyone! He couldn't stop involving himself in dangerous situations because he felt responsible for everyone's safety. The facts about danger that he knew were hilarious. Especially the one about sand tunnels. I thought it was cute, but sad that he was so afraid to be a father because he knew he'd be the worst type of freak with his kid.
I'm so glad that Chloe was so accepting of Max. Yeah, she kept calling him a freak, but she thought it was cute too. When we first meet Chloe, we learn about the recent scandal, but she seems really together about it. I'm glad that we got to see her vulnerability about the situation later in the book. Being stalked like that would give anyone issues. I don't blame her for wanting to pretend she was normal. What a horrible situation to find yourself in, especially when none of it was your fault. I felt so bad for her when she started to analyze her previous actions because of her reputation.
Even though I could see Chloe's side, I could also see Max's side. I know that was a nightmare to him when he finally thought he had escaped his bad habits. I really appreciated getting a hard look at his feelings on the issue. Even though some of them were hard to take I'm glad we got to see them. I could really appreciate what a vicious cycle he was part of. The best part was Chloe realizing exactly what role she started playing in his life the minute he found out about her. I loved the conflict she had about wanting to be that girl he helped and hating it too. I was so glad the situation turned out how it did.
I am not usually a fan of books that take place in a short amount of time. I don't enjoy watching them fall into bed quickly. Having said that, I have to admit that I was totally sold on it with this book. I felt that the time line was perfect and the feelings following that time line didn't outpace it.
I liked the little side relationship we got to see. I was really nervous about the hints we were getting about Jenn. I wasn't disappointed with how it turned out, but I've got to admit Jenn was a piece of work. The scene where Jenn bursts into tears - It was so horrifying, but so hilarious! It was like watching a train wreck!
If you're looking for something fun, but still complicated, I recommend picking up this book.
*One last thing: I really preferred the covers on this author's other contemporaries. I always recognized her work, the covers were distinctive. This cover was a bit of a shock to me, and I'm still not sure it I like it.*
July 1, 2010
Crazy for Love is a light, funny, read for the summer. Victoria Dahl brings to life the joy of finding romance in a crazy, quirky, fun way.
I had a hard time placing my feelings for this book. While I enjoyed it a lot, I was not in love with it. Sure it had some of my favorite elements: humor, hot steamy love scenes and a cute quick side romance. However there were some things that just did not gel together well enough for me.
Chloe Turner has had a rough past. She found out her fiancé did not die in a plane crash but instead faked his death, claiming her “bridezilla” attitude was the reason for his outlandish behavior. Since then she has been hounded by the media and resorted to an island with her best friend, Jenn to escape and gather her wits. What Chloe found was Max Sullivan, a hot treasure hunter, looking to untangle himself from his complicated life.
Max had a hero complex. He felt the need to help and save the people in his life. He had this real annoying way of making sure people around him never got hurt physically, emotionally or any other way. At one point, I had to wonder if this was a serious illness and why didn’t the author go further into his problems. Sure, Chloe was the only one to spot his issues but once they were acknowledge, there was no resolution or outcome to it. Even when their romance continued on the mainland, Max’s OCD was brushed aside as something he will eventually work out.
I enjoyed the premise of the story. I have never read a contemporary about a woman escaping the paparazzi because her fiancé claimed she was a lunatic bridezilla. The whole scenario was quite amusing. It was a great way to get the main characters to meet. The characters had an immediate chemistry but their own personal issues sometimes clouded the romance in the story. After a while, I was tired of hearing about Chloe complaining over the issues with the media and Max complaining how tired he was of taking on other people’s burdens and responsibilities. I wanted to learn more about the characters and I was slightly disappointed.
Some of the more interesting story parts were between Elliot, Max’s brother who went on the vacation with him, and Jenn. The nerd and the shy blonde bombshell seemed to be a perfect match. I actually wanted more time to develop their romance. Since Jenn was so shy, it took some time to see any action between them. Elliot had experience a painful divorce that had left him a little unconfident. It just felt like it was something the author added onto the bigger storyline and left hanging a bit.
Overall the story was interesting. It gave me a new take on Victoria Dahl. I would recommend Crazy for Love to contemporary fans. I plan to read more from this author in the future.
I had a hard time placing my feelings for this book. While I enjoyed it a lot, I was not in love with it. Sure it had some of my favorite elements: humor, hot steamy love scenes and a cute quick side romance. However there were some things that just did not gel together well enough for me.
Chloe Turner has had a rough past. She found out her fiancé did not die in a plane crash but instead faked his death, claiming her “bridezilla” attitude was the reason for his outlandish behavior. Since then she has been hounded by the media and resorted to an island with her best friend, Jenn to escape and gather her wits. What Chloe found was Max Sullivan, a hot treasure hunter, looking to untangle himself from his complicated life.
Max had a hero complex. He felt the need to help and save the people in his life. He had this real annoying way of making sure people around him never got hurt physically, emotionally or any other way. At one point, I had to wonder if this was a serious illness and why didn’t the author go further into his problems. Sure, Chloe was the only one to spot his issues but once they were acknowledge, there was no resolution or outcome to it. Even when their romance continued on the mainland, Max’s OCD was brushed aside as something he will eventually work out.
I enjoyed the premise of the story. I have never read a contemporary about a woman escaping the paparazzi because her fiancé claimed she was a lunatic bridezilla. The whole scenario was quite amusing. It was a great way to get the main characters to meet. The characters had an immediate chemistry but their own personal issues sometimes clouded the romance in the story. After a while, I was tired of hearing about Chloe complaining over the issues with the media and Max complaining how tired he was of taking on other people’s burdens and responsibilities. I wanted to learn more about the characters and I was slightly disappointed.
Some of the more interesting story parts were between Elliot, Max’s brother who went on the vacation with him, and Jenn. The nerd and the shy blonde bombshell seemed to be a perfect match. I actually wanted more time to develop their romance. Since Jenn was so shy, it took some time to see any action between them. Elliot had experience a painful divorce that had left him a little unconfident. It just felt like it was something the author added onto the bigger storyline and left hanging a bit.
Overall the story was interesting. It gave me a new take on Victoria Dahl. I would recommend Crazy for Love to contemporary fans. I plan to read more from this author in the future.
July 4, 2011
This was a disappointment. There was little character development, and a shell of a story that was basically dumb in my opinion. It starts off with two women accountants fleeing the paparazzi to a vacation getaway. They are chasing …..um I just finished the book ½ hour ago and I cannot recall the heroines name…hmmm…anyway…chasing her because her fiancé faked his death to get out of marrying her, and then when he is found out, he made up a story that she was a bridezilla of epic proportions. Of course she says she wasn’t, yet you aren’t really given much back story to understand if she really was or not. She comes off as shallow, as does her friend who is all wishy washy annoying the entire book. They hook up with two guys in the cabin next door for the week of their vacation. Each couple falls for each other, and then here the story starts to get weak as the point of view switches between the two women without warning, or maybe I was just bored, and I’d forget who I was reading about. The men also have short sections of their POV. Why? Max is supposed to be so interesting—he’s a treasure diver—and he’s really a nervous bumbling geek underneath this public persona that he is playboy. I never saw any evidence that he was a player, sexy, or even worthy of her attention.
I made myself power through this because there was a question I wanted answered, and it was still unsatisfying. That turned out lame too! If this is your first Dahl book, please put it down now! Go get Tumble Creek, Start me up, or better yet, Lead me On. All much better reads! Thank you for reading my rant…
I made myself power through this because there was a question I wanted answered, and it was still unsatisfying. That turned out lame too! If this is your first Dahl book, please put it down now! Go get Tumble Creek, Start me up, or better yet, Lead me On. All much better reads! Thank you for reading my rant…
September 5, 2010
....yet another delightful book from the delightful Victoria Dahl. I picked this one up because I wanted to read something sweet, funny, engaging, and easy. And I was not in any way disappointed! yippee!
The story follows the perspectives of three characters: Chloe Turner, her best friend Jenn Castallan, and Max Sullivan. Chloe has just gone through a very messy, public breakup and even messier public humiliation. Jenn drags her best friend to a secluded island off the coast of Virginia, far from the public eye....where both ladies soon discover something very interesting in the beach-side cabin next to their own: a pair of exceedingly cute brothers.
Of course, all four of these people have their own personal issues that hinder potential pairings. Chloe's reeling from her recent disaster; Max is a closet control-freak who can't help but try to over-protect everyone he meets. Jenn is intimidated by guys, most especially those that find interest in her; Elliot is a workaholic and divorcee (the former condition causing the latter) who's lost his confidence regarding women. Complicated people call for complicated situations, right? :o)
As with the previous two Dahl books I've read (both from the Tumble Creek series), the characters are well done and a delight to follow. Even with some fantastical situations or characteristics--as with Chloe and Max, respectively--the people themselves feel natural. The interactions between Chloe and Jenn are a pleasure to follow...fun at some times and touching at others. Another great dynamic was that between Chloe and Max. Oh, and between Jenn and Elliott. Darn it, Ms. Dahl is just great with character dynamics overall. It was just very...easy to read about and easy to enjoy.
As a random side-note...the overall story gives off a hint of "paparrazi are evil lying scum" and perhaps even "what you read about celebrities might just be absolutely misleading." I wonder if Dahl was deliberately trying to send a message? ^_^ Just an observation...neither here nor there.
But anywho. Once again, I finished a book with a smile on my face and a song in my heart. I truly cannot wait to see what other contemporary romances Dahl will bring us in the future...as far as I'm concerned, she's batting 1000 so far. ^_^
The story follows the perspectives of three characters: Chloe Turner, her best friend Jenn Castallan, and Max Sullivan. Chloe has just gone through a very messy, public breakup and even messier public humiliation. Jenn drags her best friend to a secluded island off the coast of Virginia, far from the public eye....where both ladies soon discover something very interesting in the beach-side cabin next to their own: a pair of exceedingly cute brothers.
Of course, all four of these people have their own personal issues that hinder potential pairings. Chloe's reeling from her recent disaster; Max is a closet control-freak who can't help but try to over-protect everyone he meets. Jenn is intimidated by guys, most especially those that find interest in her; Elliot is a workaholic and divorcee (the former condition causing the latter) who's lost his confidence regarding women. Complicated people call for complicated situations, right? :o)
As with the previous two Dahl books I've read (both from the Tumble Creek series), the characters are well done and a delight to follow. Even with some fantastical situations or characteristics--as with Chloe and Max, respectively--the people themselves feel natural. The interactions between Chloe and Jenn are a pleasure to follow...fun at some times and touching at others. Another great dynamic was that between Chloe and Max. Oh, and between Jenn and Elliott. Darn it, Ms. Dahl is just great with character dynamics overall. It was just very...easy to read about and easy to enjoy.
As a random side-note...the overall story gives off a hint of "paparrazi are evil lying scum" and perhaps even "what you read about celebrities might just be absolutely misleading." I wonder if Dahl was deliberately trying to send a message? ^_^ Just an observation...neither here nor there.
But anywho. Once again, I finished a book with a smile on my face and a song in my heart. I truly cannot wait to see what other contemporary romances Dahl will bring us in the future...as far as I'm concerned, she's batting 1000 so far. ^_^
May 25, 2015
One of the most frustrating books I've read this year. Victoria Dahl's works usually resonate well with me but this book is just as crazy as the title says. The scenario is too unbelievable and the characters while sometimes cute are too unhinged and problematic for me to connect with them. The only reason I was able to finish was because of the writing.
Do not read this as your first Victoria Dahl book.
Do not read this as your first Victoria Dahl book.
May 19, 2010
I was dying to read this book since Victoria Dahl’s Tumble Creek series is one of my favorites but this book fell a little short of that.
Chloe meets Max while they are both vacationing on a secluded island. Both have issues of course. Chloe’s fiancé faked his own death to avoid the marriage and the media has been hounding her ever since the discovery that he is really alive. She’s reeling from the realization that her life wasn’t what she thought it was and doesn’t know if she can trust her instincts anymore.
Max has a savior complex. He’s always picking the girl who needs rescuing and is constantly trying to avoid accidents and save those around him. His last girlfriend was full of drama and he wants to avoid it that at all costs and takes a vow of abstinence even though he has a reputation as a sexy globetrotting treasure hunter.
Hmmmm. I just never connected to this couple. They are both nice and they have some very steamy sex scenes and were believable as a couple but the circumstances around them seemed contrived. Every conceivable obstacle that would push their buttons seemed to pop up to keep them apart.
There was another romance developing between Max’s brother Elliot and Chloe’s best friend Jenn that I found much more interesting. No one does sexy geeks better than Dahl! I wish there was more of them or that they had their own story. Again it seemed like a contrived plotline to fit the bigger story.
Once the vacation is over, Max has to decide if he will stand by Chloe under the media scrutiny when they get back home. Her former fiancé and all those associated with him are under investigation for faking the accident and possibly for bigger crimes.
It was an interesting angle and believable that she would become the main focus of the media circus. “Jilted lover – man fakes death to avoid marrying crazy bridezilla!” We live in weird times that we are obsessed with other people’s lives. I just got sick of hearing how hard her life was and Max whining about how hard it was to worry about everyone.
It was a fast read – not too deep and because of the steamy side of things I think it would make a great book to take to the beach.
Loved: This is strange but I loved the scenes of Chloe and Max fighting - they really said what they were feeling and I just liked the raw emotion. Very steamy love scenes. Elliot and Jenn made a cute couple.
Nitpick: I wasn’t crazy about the media circus plotline and I would have liked to have known Max more.
Not bad but the story just didn’t grab me.
Chloe meets Max while they are both vacationing on a secluded island. Both have issues of course. Chloe’s fiancé faked his own death to avoid the marriage and the media has been hounding her ever since the discovery that he is really alive. She’s reeling from the realization that her life wasn’t what she thought it was and doesn’t know if she can trust her instincts anymore.
Max has a savior complex. He’s always picking the girl who needs rescuing and is constantly trying to avoid accidents and save those around him. His last girlfriend was full of drama and he wants to avoid it that at all costs and takes a vow of abstinence even though he has a reputation as a sexy globetrotting treasure hunter.
Hmmmm. I just never connected to this couple. They are both nice and they have some very steamy sex scenes and were believable as a couple but the circumstances around them seemed contrived. Every conceivable obstacle that would push their buttons seemed to pop up to keep them apart.
There was another romance developing between Max’s brother Elliot and Chloe’s best friend Jenn that I found much more interesting. No one does sexy geeks better than Dahl! I wish there was more of them or that they had their own story. Again it seemed like a contrived plotline to fit the bigger story.
Once the vacation is over, Max has to decide if he will stand by Chloe under the media scrutiny when they get back home. Her former fiancé and all those associated with him are under investigation for faking the accident and possibly for bigger crimes.
It was an interesting angle and believable that she would become the main focus of the media circus. “Jilted lover – man fakes death to avoid marrying crazy bridezilla!” We live in weird times that we are obsessed with other people’s lives. I just got sick of hearing how hard her life was and Max whining about how hard it was to worry about everyone.
It was a fast read – not too deep and because of the steamy side of things I think it would make a great book to take to the beach.
Loved: This is strange but I loved the scenes of Chloe and Max fighting - they really said what they were feeling and I just liked the raw emotion. Very steamy love scenes. Elliot and Jenn made a cute couple.
Nitpick: I wasn’t crazy about the media circus plotline and I would have liked to have known Max more.
Not bad but the story just didn’t grab me.
July 10, 2010
I LOVE this book. This is my favorite Victoria Dahl so far, and I've loved all of her books.
I really crave good contemporary romances. Sure, I love historicals, paranormals, and urban fantasy--but a novel that is grounded in the real life here and now is my favorite. Unfortunately, I just have not found many contemporary romance authors that strike my fancy. Usually, I find contemporaries silly and full of nonsensically contrived plots.
Victoria Dahl, OTOH, writes characters that are real. Situations that are funny without being stupid and unlikely. I lurv her.
Okay--so THIS hero <> is just the CUTEST!! I really dig on damaged heroes. This guy is a control freak of the first order. He is such a control freak that he has contrived to find a way to manipulate people without them ever knowing that he is trying to "keep them safe." While appearing to flirt and check out chicks, he is actually subtly manipulating them into a "safer" situation. While appearing to be a globe-trotting adventurer, he is actually a guy that feels responsible for everyone's safety so he finagles his way into every adventure just to have the opportunity to ensure everyone's safety.
Darn cute.
The heroine just happens to be a normal girl that has suddenly made become paparazzi fodder due to her fiance's faking his own death just to get out of marrying her.
Obviously these are screwed up people, dealing with some (sort of) real issues. I was charmed from beginning to end.
Victoria Dahl's take on friendships, relationships, characters, and even plot makes for always entertaining reading.
I really crave good contemporary romances. Sure, I love historicals, paranormals, and urban fantasy--but a novel that is grounded in the real life here and now is my favorite. Unfortunately, I just have not found many contemporary romance authors that strike my fancy. Usually, I find contemporaries silly and full of nonsensically contrived plots.
Victoria Dahl, OTOH, writes characters that are real. Situations that are funny without being stupid and unlikely. I lurv her.
Okay--so THIS hero <> is just the CUTEST!! I really dig on damaged heroes. This guy is a control freak of the first order. He is such a control freak that he has contrived to find a way to manipulate people without them ever knowing that he is trying to "keep them safe." While appearing to flirt and check out chicks, he is actually subtly manipulating them into a "safer" situation. While appearing to be a globe-trotting adventurer, he is actually a guy that feels responsible for everyone's safety so he finagles his way into every adventure just to have the opportunity to ensure everyone's safety.
Darn cute.
The heroine just happens to be a normal girl that has suddenly made become paparazzi fodder due to her fiance's faking his own death just to get out of marrying her.
Obviously these are screwed up people, dealing with some (sort of) real issues. I was charmed from beginning to end.
Victoria Dahl's take on friendships, relationships, characters, and even plot makes for always entertaining reading.
June 27, 2010
I really thought the "guy who craves safe & normal meets girl who IS pretty normal but wrapped up in scandal that isn't really about her (but about her crazy fiancee)" plot was going to work for me...
In some ways it did, because I've never read a "bad" V.Dahl book! This one had plenty of funny moments, the plot wasn't entirely predictable, and I liked a lot of it. It's just... Things were just off.
I couldn't get past the media "frenzy" over her. I understand the fiancee who faked his death being newsworthy, but staking her out for months? Not getting it. Why would they all care? Why would people say she was a 'bridezilla' just because the media got involved? Neither of them were celebs, so why the feeding frenzy? Seriously - Richmond, VA? Not exactly LA with the "pappers" crawling all over... I just didn't buy it.
Then all the drama/mystery/oh nos surrounding the facts of the ex-fiancee were held in until the end (for dramatic effect?) except by the time it was revealed I didn't care.
Overall? This one just didn't work for me. Much as I like Victoria Dahl, this one just wasn't great for me.
In some ways it did, because I've never read a "bad" V.Dahl book! This one had plenty of funny moments, the plot wasn't entirely predictable, and I liked a lot of it. It's just... Things were just off.
I couldn't get past the media "frenzy" over her. I understand the fiancee who faked his death being newsworthy, but staking her out for months? Not getting it. Why would they all care? Why would people say she was a 'bridezilla' just because the media got involved? Neither of them were celebs, so why the feeding frenzy? Seriously - Richmond, VA? Not exactly LA with the "pappers" crawling all over... I just didn't buy it.
Then all the drama/mystery/oh nos surrounding the facts of the ex-fiancee were held in until the end (for dramatic effect?) except by the time it was revealed I didn't care.
Overall? This one just didn't work for me. Much as I like Victoria Dahl, this one just wasn't great for me.
September 22, 2018
I have found several of Victoria Dahl's books enjoyable, if not exceptional. In this case, though, I have one question: WTF did I just read? EVERY SINGLE PLOT, SUBPLOT, CHARACTER, ACTION, AND MOTIVATION WAS LUDICROUS. I would tag this as "put the fun into dysfunction" but living with the H would be a trial to everyone except for the most intrepid psychologist.
July 13, 2010
I just finished this book and It is official, I have an official girl crush on Victoria Dahl! Ever since I decided to get out of my paranormal comfort zone and read het Tumble Creek series (and loved it, review HERE), my reluctance against contemporary romances has been much smaller. Specially when it comes to Dahl’s books, in that case I just rush forward and get the book hehe.
Crazy for Love is a very unusual but very compelling story. Victoria puts her main characters through the ringer and gives such a depth to them that it’s impossible not to care.
In this book we two-for-one in the Romance department. We have the main romance between Chloe and Max, and a secondary romance between Max’s brother Elliot and Chloe’s best friend Jenn.
Chloe is an accountant from a middle-class family with a very normal life. That is until her fiancé decides that the best to end their 2-year relationship is to fake his own death and when people find out, to blame Chloe and label her as too much of a Bridezilla for him to handle. That’s when Chloe’s life spirals out of control and she is plastered all over the media, hounded by paparazzi and basically unable to live her life in peace.
We meet Chloe when Jenn rescues her for a week getaway on an island, away from the photographers pestering her life. But the girls down time takes a left turns when Max and Elliot, the Sullivan brothers, settle in the cabin next door. Neither woman will know what him them…
Max is a treasure hunter, whose life seems to be one huge adventure. However, things are never as it seems and he is actually a man with serious control issues victim of circumstances that just wants a normal life for himself, but seems unable to get there.
Max and Chloe are HOT! But they are also so perfect and cute together. Their interactions and conversations are such a treat to read. Jenn and Elliot don’t fall that much behind, even though they get less stage time, their story is just as great. I hope Dahl writes their story.
I LOVED this book! I read it in one sitting and had a smile through out the whole novel. Dahl’s writing is flawless and hilarious, her characters are extremely flawed, but also adorable and lovable. She has such a knack for writing amazing character driven stories that can’t help but capture your heart and have you hang on her every word. I laughed, I cried and I felt like I knew these people. I can’t read to read more Contemporary Romances from her.
Crazy for Love is a very unusual but very compelling story. Victoria puts her main characters through the ringer and gives such a depth to them that it’s impossible not to care.
In this book we two-for-one in the Romance department. We have the main romance between Chloe and Max, and a secondary romance between Max’s brother Elliot and Chloe’s best friend Jenn.
Chloe is an accountant from a middle-class family with a very normal life. That is until her fiancé decides that the best to end their 2-year relationship is to fake his own death and when people find out, to blame Chloe and label her as too much of a Bridezilla for him to handle. That’s when Chloe’s life spirals out of control and she is plastered all over the media, hounded by paparazzi and basically unable to live her life in peace.
We meet Chloe when Jenn rescues her for a week getaway on an island, away from the photographers pestering her life. But the girls down time takes a left turns when Max and Elliot, the Sullivan brothers, settle in the cabin next door. Neither woman will know what him them…
Max is a treasure hunter, whose life seems to be one huge adventure. However, things are never as it seems and he is actually a man with serious control issues victim of circumstances that just wants a normal life for himself, but seems unable to get there.
Max and Chloe are HOT! But they are also so perfect and cute together. Their interactions and conversations are such a treat to read. Jenn and Elliot don’t fall that much behind, even though they get less stage time, their story is just as great. I hope Dahl writes their story.
I LOVED this book! I read it in one sitting and had a smile through out the whole novel. Dahl’s writing is flawless and hilarious, her characters are extremely flawed, but also adorable and lovable. She has such a knack for writing amazing character driven stories that can’t help but capture your heart and have you hang on her every word. I laughed, I cried and I felt like I knew these people. I can’t read to read more Contemporary Romances from her.
March 23, 2011
Crazy for Love was my first read by this author, and I think I picked the wrong book to try her out. I liked the writing, but the plot was completely implausible to the point of being almost ridiculous, and that ultimately affected my enjoyment.
It’s pretty easy for me to suspend disbelief in most genres, but that’s much harder to do in straight contemporary where the characters, settings, lifestyle and circumstances are more ordinary and current, and therefore immediately relatable. Unfortunately, the plot in Crazy For Love was inconceivable.
Chloe Turner has become a prime target of the paparazzi after her fiancé faked his own death and then blamed Chloe’s ‘bridezilla’ antics for his actions. Now, if either Chloe or her ex-fiancé were in any way, shape or form famous, important or otherwise significant, I could accept the extreme and rabid attention she was receiving, but they were not.
As it is, the story might have warranted some minor attention from the press for a couple of days, and then everyone would have moved on. But in Crazy For Love, Chloe is being hunted and hounded like she’s Britney Spears mid melt-down, and it’s still going strong a month later. The press are even still camped at her house and her parents house. I just couldn’t buy it - it wouldn’t have been that big a deal.
I also think Max’s ‘issues’ were over-written. Yes, he was adorable and I did really like him, but the guy had a debilitating condition that was profoundly affecting his life and he needed professional help. Having a partner that he could finally be honest with is great, but patting his arm and calling him a cute control-freak wasn’t going to help with his problem. That made it harder for me to buy into a HEA for them.
I did enjoy the writing and humour within the book, and I am definitely interested in reading more from this author - it was the plot that ruined this book for me, not Victoria Dahl’s writing.
It’s pretty easy for me to suspend disbelief in most genres, but that’s much harder to do in straight contemporary where the characters, settings, lifestyle and circumstances are more ordinary and current, and therefore immediately relatable. Unfortunately, the plot in Crazy For Love was inconceivable.
Chloe Turner has become a prime target of the paparazzi after her fiancé faked his own death and then blamed Chloe’s ‘bridezilla’ antics for his actions. Now, if either Chloe or her ex-fiancé were in any way, shape or form famous, important or otherwise significant, I could accept the extreme and rabid attention she was receiving, but they were not.
As it is, the story might have warranted some minor attention from the press for a couple of days, and then everyone would have moved on. But in Crazy For Love, Chloe is being hunted and hounded like she’s Britney Spears mid melt-down, and it’s still going strong a month later. The press are even still camped at her house and her parents house. I just couldn’t buy it - it wouldn’t have been that big a deal.
I also think Max’s ‘issues’ were over-written. Yes, he was adorable and I did really like him, but the guy had a debilitating condition that was profoundly affecting his life and he needed professional help. Having a partner that he could finally be honest with is great, but patting his arm and calling him a cute control-freak wasn’t going to help with his problem. That made it harder for me to buy into a HEA for them.
I did enjoy the writing and humour within the book, and I am definitely interested in reading more from this author - it was the plot that ruined this book for me, not Victoria Dahl’s writing.
July 17, 2010
Who wrote this book? I was looking forward to reading a book by the Victoria Dahl who wrote 'Lead Me On' and 'Talk Me Down' and 'Start Me Up'. Those books were great! 'Crazy For Love', however, was not! All 4 characters were so pathetic. I don't mean to put down people who seriously have a problem like Max, but don't write a romance about it! That's not sexy! It's annoying.
The sex scenes were still hot, but not enough to recommend this book. I don't know what Ms. Dahl has planned for her next book, but I hope the old Victoria returns to write it!
The sex scenes were still hot, but not enough to recommend this book. I don't know what Ms. Dahl has planned for her next book, but I hope the old Victoria returns to write it!
July 22, 2010
This was a cute story. Typical Victoria Dahl. Light, airy, a little on the silly side with a nice side of steamy sex. I liked the characters enough, but the story itself was, well, silly.
Still, it's a good summer read and a nice escape from reality. :)
Still, it's a good summer read and a nice escape from reality. :)
May 23, 2012
The nicest thing I can say about this book is that all the characters were pretty equal in their insanity, so no one character really stood out as extra douchey. A resounding MEH to this book.
Read
February 9, 2018This is going to the did not finish shelf. Narrator is not making any effort to differentiate between the 2 female leads and 2 male lead characters and its confusing AF.
December 19, 2011
I'm really glad that I gave another read of Victoria Dahl's work, because I might be the only one who wasn't crazy for...okay, I might as well say I didn't care for them except for "Start Me Up"...the Tumble Creek series, but I ended up liking this quite a bit.
"Crazy for Love" is a light romance romp featuring charming characters, though each of them have their fair share of issues. The novel revolves around Chloe Turner and her best friend Jenn, two women escaping a horde of paparazzi to a tropical island getaway. Chloe's involved with a very public breakup after her fiancee faked his own death then claimed that she was the cause - claiming her to be a "bridezilla" of sorts. She wants nothing else than to leave the scandal behind her, at least until it blows over. That's when she meets Max, a scuba diver with his own issues (suffering from neurotic tendencies/possibly OCD). Max has kept the secret of his respective issues for much of his life, but after meeting Chloe, he thinks she's the one he feels most comfortable being himself around. The novel focuses on his and Chloe's growing relationship alongside Jenn's relationship with Max's brother, cute nerd Elliot (who I thought was awesome despite him having more of a background role in the novel).
The premise itself might seem a bit out of the ordinary or unbelievable, but to be honest I did believe that Chloe would be mixed up in something like this. If you hear about reality TV shows, internet videos going viral, and celebrities being formed in that way, it's really not that farfetched in contemporary society. I thought it was hilarious the way Chloe tries to make herself over as "island Chloe" and how sweet her relationship with Max comes across, even with some of his issues leading to awkward moments between the two. I did somewhat wish that his tendencies were a little more concrete, because while Dahl doesn't beat the reader over the head with Max's issues and presents it in a realistic way, she never really comes out and says that he's neurotic or OCD or whatever (aside from it being noted as "control issues".) It's realistic in the sense that he doesn't really fully admit that he has the respective issue, but I don't understand why Chloe doesn't make the observation in her perspective? Hmm.
My issue with the Tumble Creek series was that there was too much focus on the sex and not as much the characters lives and development, whereas with "Crazy for Love" - I didn't have that issue - the balance was better between character lives/thoughts and the sensual scenes. The sex scenes didn't fail to make me blush, and the chemistry between the leading characters was solid. One awkward aspect of this novel for me were the transitions between the perspective characters. Chloe and Max's perspective switches were fine, but I wasn't always sure when the perspective would switch to Jenn, and considering she had less time in the book, I don't know if it featured best balance/development of the main characters. I would've liked to have seen more scenes with her and Elliot, maybe even in a separate story of it's own measure, but I think that was a minor quibble compared to what the novel was able to do in its respective scope.
The other quibble I had was probably the wrap up of the major plot threads toward the end, which came across as a bit haphazard in spurts (and the fight between Max and Chloe towards the end seemed a little forced to me, even given Max's respective issues).
Still, I enjoyed this novel and I'm likely to give Dahl's future works a go.
Overall score: 3/5
"Crazy for Love" is a light romance romp featuring charming characters, though each of them have their fair share of issues. The novel revolves around Chloe Turner and her best friend Jenn, two women escaping a horde of paparazzi to a tropical island getaway. Chloe's involved with a very public breakup after her fiancee faked his own death then claimed that she was the cause - claiming her to be a "bridezilla" of sorts. She wants nothing else than to leave the scandal behind her, at least until it blows over. That's when she meets Max, a scuba diver with his own issues (suffering from neurotic tendencies/possibly OCD). Max has kept the secret of his respective issues for much of his life, but after meeting Chloe, he thinks she's the one he feels most comfortable being himself around. The novel focuses on his and Chloe's growing relationship alongside Jenn's relationship with Max's brother, cute nerd Elliot (who I thought was awesome despite him having more of a background role in the novel).
The premise itself might seem a bit out of the ordinary or unbelievable, but to be honest I did believe that Chloe would be mixed up in something like this. If you hear about reality TV shows, internet videos going viral, and celebrities being formed in that way, it's really not that farfetched in contemporary society. I thought it was hilarious the way Chloe tries to make herself over as "island Chloe" and how sweet her relationship with Max comes across, even with some of his issues leading to awkward moments between the two. I did somewhat wish that his tendencies were a little more concrete, because while Dahl doesn't beat the reader over the head with Max's issues and presents it in a realistic way, she never really comes out and says that he's neurotic or OCD or whatever (aside from it being noted as "control issues".) It's realistic in the sense that he doesn't really fully admit that he has the respective issue, but I don't understand why Chloe doesn't make the observation in her perspective? Hmm.
My issue with the Tumble Creek series was that there was too much focus on the sex and not as much the characters lives and development, whereas with "Crazy for Love" - I didn't have that issue - the balance was better between character lives/thoughts and the sensual scenes. The sex scenes didn't fail to make me blush, and the chemistry between the leading characters was solid. One awkward aspect of this novel for me were the transitions between the perspective characters. Chloe and Max's perspective switches were fine, but I wasn't always sure when the perspective would switch to Jenn, and considering she had less time in the book, I don't know if it featured best balance/development of the main characters. I would've liked to have seen more scenes with her and Elliot, maybe even in a separate story of it's own measure, but I think that was a minor quibble compared to what the novel was able to do in its respective scope.
The other quibble I had was probably the wrap up of the major plot threads toward the end, which came across as a bit haphazard in spurts (and the fight between Max and Chloe towards the end seemed a little forced to me, even given Max's respective issues).
Still, I enjoyed this novel and I'm likely to give Dahl's future works a go.
Overall score: 3/5
March 15, 2015
I absolutely loved the first half of this book. It was very funny and charming.
Max was adorably cautious and protective. I disagree with the reviewer that said she couldn't reconcile Max's addiction to the thrill of SCUBA diving with his need to take care of people. Max states his reason for being in this dangerous career is because when he is underwater it is the only time he feels calm regardless of the stress of worrying about the safety aspect. He isn't attracted to helpless damsels, but he can't turn them away without helping them. He, in fact, is attracted to Chloe because he thinks she's peaceful.
Chloe calls him on his OCD early on and it leads to my favorite scenes in the book. She sees the real him that he has been hiding for nearly 30 years and he feels relief that he can be himself around her. These two really connect and I felt like I was watching them fall in love rather than being told about it.
I also really liked the secondary romance between Chloe's best friend and Max's brother.
The second half of the book dimmed my grade a bit. The focus jumps largely to the Bridezilla/not-dead fiancé aspect of the story and I wasn't completely happy with the way things happened. After that plot gets wrapped up, the two couples work out their relationship difficulties in a realistic way.
Max had already begun to change his life before meeting Chloe because his OCD and habit of worrying about everyone he meets was killing him. He continues to work on himself and isn't magically cured by love.
During the first part of the book, I often found myself thinking, "Awww," about Max and was worried he wouldn't come across as sexy. I was wrong to worry. This author knows how to write a hot love scene and Max definitely has it going on.
I look forward to more by this author.
Max was adorably cautious and protective. I disagree with the reviewer that said she couldn't reconcile Max's addiction to the thrill of SCUBA diving with his need to take care of people. Max states his reason for being in this dangerous career is because when he is underwater it is the only time he feels calm regardless of the stress of worrying about the safety aspect. He isn't attracted to helpless damsels, but he can't turn them away without helping them. He, in fact, is attracted to Chloe because he thinks she's peaceful.
Chloe calls him on his OCD early on and it leads to my favorite scenes in the book. She sees the real him that he has been hiding for nearly 30 years and he feels relief that he can be himself around her. These two really connect and I felt like I was watching them fall in love rather than being told about it.
I also really liked the secondary romance between Chloe's best friend and Max's brother.
The second half of the book dimmed my grade a bit. The focus jumps largely to the Bridezilla/not-dead fiancé aspect of the story and I wasn't completely happy with the way things happened. After that plot gets wrapped up, the two couples work out their relationship difficulties in a realistic way.
Max had already begun to change his life before meeting Chloe because his OCD and habit of worrying about everyone he meets was killing him. He continues to work on himself and isn't magically cured by love.
During the first part of the book, I often found myself thinking, "Awww," about Max and was worried he wouldn't come across as sexy. I was wrong to worry. This author knows how to write a hot love scene and Max definitely has it going on.
I look forward to more by this author.
October 2, 2010
Chloe was quirky and funny, even while going through one of the worst times of her life. The fact that she was able to show as much strength as she did after having her whole life blow up in her face made me really like her. Watching her grow into her own person and find her way through the muck made me cheer - and I haven't cheered for a book in a while.
Max kind of made me want to slap him repeatedly even while I laughed at his attempts to control everything while still trying to maintain the illusion that he's cool as a cucumber. It was interesting to see the two totally different sides of himself - the one that he allowed the public to believe and his true side. I really loved seeing him slowly let his guard down and showing Chloe who he truly is.
The chemistry between Max and Chloe is immediate and hot, but I did have to suspend my disbelief a bit because she had just gone through hell with her ex-fiance. Still, she was on vacation and trying to get away from all the crap in her life. So, suspending my disbelief wasn't difficult.
I really loved the side story with Jenn and Elliott, although one specific part on the beach made me both laugh out loud and cringe. I think they were the perfect fit for each other, just the way that Max and Chloe were the perfect fit.
The story flows well, doesn't move too fast or make my head spin, nor does it move so slowly that I get bored. In fact, I couldn't put the book down! I read the first 11 chapters in one sitting - the only reason I stopped was because I had to pack for New York. I finished the book within 30 minutes of the flight and found myself upset because I wanted to see the post-HEA bliss of the two couples.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book, and recommend to anyone - especially if you haven't picked up any of Victoria Dahl's books... you don't know what you're missing!
Max kind of made me want to slap him repeatedly even while I laughed at his attempts to control everything while still trying to maintain the illusion that he's cool as a cucumber. It was interesting to see the two totally different sides of himself - the one that he allowed the public to believe and his true side. I really loved seeing him slowly let his guard down and showing Chloe who he truly is.
The chemistry between Max and Chloe is immediate and hot, but I did have to suspend my disbelief a bit because she had just gone through hell with her ex-fiance. Still, she was on vacation and trying to get away from all the crap in her life. So, suspending my disbelief wasn't difficult.
I really loved the side story with Jenn and Elliott, although one specific part on the beach made me both laugh out loud and cringe. I think they were the perfect fit for each other, just the way that Max and Chloe were the perfect fit.
The story flows well, doesn't move too fast or make my head spin, nor does it move so slowly that I get bored. In fact, I couldn't put the book down! I read the first 11 chapters in one sitting - the only reason I stopped was because I had to pack for New York. I finished the book within 30 minutes of the flight and found myself upset because I wanted to see the post-HEA bliss of the two couples.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book, and recommend to anyone - especially if you haven't picked up any of Victoria Dahl's books... you don't know what you're missing!
January 29, 2011
Four stars for this book because I loved the hero, Max. Or perhaps more accurately, I love the way Victoria Dahl handles the character of Max. Dahl has written a humorous book, but she stops short of make fun of Max and his OCD issues. While the plot was unlikely and even a bit silly at times, Dahl managed to make Max a truly warm, sympathetic character. She manages to make his actions at once funny and sad, and she keeps him from being a cardboard character. As a parent of a child with OCD and anxiety issues, I appreciated the compassion with which this character was written. Like Max, my now adult child can generally handle her issues with wry humor and self-awareness. But occasionally things can get overwhelming, and we've learned no one with these issues changes overnight.
Chloe was well-written, too, although in some ways we don't get quite as much insight into her as we do Max. Jenn was a good character, and again liked how the author deal with both her and Elliot, making them more than just stand-in secondary characters even if they had relatively small parts. I figured out the little "mystery" fairly quickly, but that didn't effect my enjoyment of the story.
Overall, a fun, mostly lighthearted book that I would normally have rated 3 to 3.5*. But I give it 4* for the surprisingly insightful handling of what could have been a caricature. Max was definitely, for me, a unique and interesting character that brought this book up a notch and gave it something unique.
Chloe was well-written, too, although in some ways we don't get quite as much insight into her as we do Max. Jenn was a good character, and again liked how the author deal with both her and Elliot, making them more than just stand-in secondary characters even if they had relatively small parts. I figured out the little "mystery" fairly quickly, but that didn't effect my enjoyment of the story.
Overall, a fun, mostly lighthearted book that I would normally have rated 3 to 3.5*. But I give it 4* for the surprisingly insightful handling of what could have been a caricature. Max was definitely, for me, a unique and interesting character that brought this book up a notch and gave it something unique.
July 12, 2010
Like a lot of other people, I found the hero a bit too problematic. When he kept warning chloe about his saftey consirns I found myself rolling my eyes. There comes a point when a person has to let go of thier fears and it kinda bothered me that Max didn't do so in this book.
As the book went on I found myself aplauding Chloe for staying with this troubled man. I don't know how anyone could do it, but I guess that's what love is really about. Staying with someone despite their annoying faults and habits.
The storyline was interesting enough. It was definately the first time I read about a "Bridezilla" and I got a kick outta that.
I really would've enjoyed it if the ex had played a bigger role in this. The accusations of embezzelment came sort of out of left feild and Victoria Dahl should have done a better job of tying those charges into the story. Jenn's betrayal, something that should've been emphasized, was something that just got brushed under the carpet. That part of the story bothered me, but not so much that I didn't enjoy it.
I applaude Victoria Dahl for writing about a new and interesting topic while at the same time questioning her choice of a hero. Overall, not a bad read. It's definatly not something that I regret.
As the book went on I found myself aplauding Chloe for staying with this troubled man. I don't know how anyone could do it, but I guess that's what love is really about. Staying with someone despite their annoying faults and habits.
The storyline was interesting enough. It was definately the first time I read about a "Bridezilla" and I got a kick outta that.
I really would've enjoyed it if the ex had played a bigger role in this. The accusations of embezzelment came sort of out of left feild and Victoria Dahl should have done a better job of tying those charges into the story. Jenn's betrayal, something that should've been emphasized, was something that just got brushed under the carpet. That part of the story bothered me, but not so much that I didn't enjoy it.
I applaude Victoria Dahl for writing about a new and interesting topic while at the same time questioning her choice of a hero. Overall, not a bad read. It's definatly not something that I regret.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2021
Because her fiance jumped out of an airplane pretending to kill himself, the heroine has been labeled a super-bridezilla (mostly because her teen cousin likes to see herself on TV). She's gone to an Atlantic island resort with her best friend to hide out, and meets the hero and his brother. The hero is an over-the-top control freak who feels responsible pretty much for keeping the whole universe safe. He's charming about it, though. He invites himself to the girls' bonfire building to keep it from blazing out of control. He builds sandcastles with a kid on the beach to keep him from falling in the hole he digs. And the heroine is the first one who ever notices what he's doing and why. And she calls him on it. And they click, because of it. There's a bit of a secret involving the ex-fiance, and a secondary romance with the brother and the best friend. There's some angst and anger over the over-the-top paparazzi. This is a light-weight-feeling romance, which is perfectly fine. It's a nice read, and a nice, fun time. I liked it.
September 20, 2012
Book #58 of 2012
I... really didn't like this book. The last 1/4 was OK, which is pretty much the only reason it got two starts instead of 1. Chloe, I actually liked. Max... I hated. Very very much. I don't know if his need to control E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. is an actual real problem that people have or not, and I get that Dahl was trying to make him "nuanced" or whatever, but I would have punched him after five minutes. I HATE it when people treat me like a child, and Max spends the entire book treating Chloe like she is one. Don't dive, it's dangerous. You don't have a smoke detector in your bedroom. No, don't go into the water, even a teeny tiny bit at night. UGH! Plus, I just never really got into the story and pretty much just had to force myself to finish the damn thing so I could move onto something else. Not even the "romance" scenes did anything for me except make me roll my eyes, that is how much I didn't care about the characters. Normally I like Victoria Dahl's books, but this one is a complete and total dud for me.
I... really didn't like this book. The last 1/4 was OK, which is pretty much the only reason it got two starts instead of 1. Chloe, I actually liked. Max... I hated. Very very much. I don't know if his need to control E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G. is an actual real problem that people have or not, and I get that Dahl was trying to make him "nuanced" or whatever, but I would have punched him after five minutes. I HATE it when people treat me like a child, and Max spends the entire book treating Chloe like she is one. Don't dive, it's dangerous. You don't have a smoke detector in your bedroom. No, don't go into the water, even a teeny tiny bit at night. UGH! Plus, I just never really got into the story and pretty much just had to force myself to finish the damn thing so I could move onto something else. Not even the "romance" scenes did anything for me except make me roll my eyes, that is how much I didn't care about the characters. Normally I like Victoria Dahl's books, but this one is a complete and total dud for me.
May 27, 2010
Victoria Dahl is a true Contemporary Romance genius. Her Hero's are lust worthy and sweet while her Heroines are hilariously realistic and likeable and in this novel there are double the heroes and double the heroines so it's double the Hottness!
This is probably Dahl's best book yet and the humor never ends which is a great pairing with the romantic style of all Victoria Dahl books. There were moments when I had to cover my face with embarrassment for the Heroines while saying "Oh my gawd, she didn't!"
You might think that the characters would be a repeat of Dahl's previous contemporaries but you will be pleasantly surprised that these characters are fresh and new.almost shiny even. If you are a fan of Dahl's you feel a new justification for it and if you aren't one yet after this book you will be.
This is probably Dahl's best book yet and the humor never ends which is a great pairing with the romantic style of all Victoria Dahl books. There were moments when I had to cover my face with embarrassment for the Heroines while saying "Oh my gawd, she didn't!"
You might think that the characters would be a repeat of Dahl's previous contemporaries but you will be pleasantly surprised that these characters are fresh and new.almost shiny even. If you are a fan of Dahl's you feel a new justification for it and if you aren't one yet after this book you will be.
January 31, 2011
I loved all the characters in this book, but my adoration for neurotically overprotective Max knows no bounds. For example this, after he tried to kiss her to prevent her from dangerous night swimming:
"She shook her head. 'I'm an adult. You're not responsible for me. I can do whatever I want.'
'That's the problem!' His hands flew wide, gesturing around him, as if drawing attention to the whole world. 'You can do anything you want, so I have to make you want something else.'"
I can't actually express how hot I find that.
"She shook her head. 'I'm an adult. You're not responsible for me. I can do whatever I want.'
'That's the problem!' His hands flew wide, gesturing around him, as if drawing attention to the whole world. 'You can do anything you want, so I have to make you want something else.'"
I can't actually express how hot I find that.
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June 19, 2013I didn't get it at all. The premise of this so-called Bridezilla being pursued so relentlessly by the press would only work if she was famous. Why would they care so much otherwise? I kept expecting to read she was the daughter of the president or something. But no. Despite all the nice writing and - I did love the character of Max - all I could keep coming back to - was - there is no basis for this story. I could go on, but I won't.
December 25, 2010
I really liked this authors 3 previous books (Tumble Creek), but this one was just so so. It was missing the witty, snappy dialogue the others had. Max with his control issues annoyed me, he couldn't seem to handle a normal person. Not that Chloe's situation was normal, no matter that she was. The whole secondary story line with Jenn was boring and fairly predictable.
July 3, 2010
I think I actually liked this one more than LEAD ME ON. Light, fun, summery read - Victoria Dahl's contemporaries are an auto-buy for me, and this one did not disappoint. I enjoyed Max and Chloe (and their issues) and adored the romance between Jenn and Elliot.
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