Book Review: Winning Mr. Wrong by Marie Higgins

This story is a delightful winner!
Winning Mr. Wrong
by Marie Higgins

• File Size: 325 KB
• Print Length: 97819 pages
• Publisher: Walnut Springs Press (January 1, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B00514HJLS

Genre: Contemporary Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: January 1, 2010
Whoever said the quest for love wasn't comical never met Charlene Randall. Charley is looking for a man who wants to start a family, a man who will take her to the temple. Problem is, she has never dated a man for longer than three months. When she reads an internet article called "Ten Ways to Win Your Man," she decides to try it on her new coworker, Maxwell Harrington. Max was her crush in high school, but the superstar sports anchorman doesn't even remember her.

Enter ladies' man Damien Giovianni, Charley's handsome neighbor, who agrees to help her win Max over. What follows is a hilarious tale of mishaps and misunderstandings where Charley learns that what she really needs may be right in front of her.

Review:
Charlene Randall is a young woman who has struggled through several boyfriends. She wants someone who can be serious marriage material who will share commitment to family and her religion.  She reads an internet article “Ten Ways to Win Your Man” and decides to but the plan in action. She thinks that her new coworker, Max, her old high school crush, is the perfect target for her campaign. The problem is she gets completely tongue tied around Max and her attempts to get his attention soon turn into unintended danger and disaster.

Charley is aware of her handsome neighbor, Damien, an Italian charmer, but she’s seen him playing the field with a different blonde every night. Yes, he’s a nice guy but he’s surely not serious marriage material.  When Charley is mugged at her doorstep it is Damien who comes to the rescue.  He steps in further to build a friendship and even agrees to help her pursue Max.

But Damien has had enough of women chasing him for money.  The more he is around Charley the more he respects her honest values and sincere commitment to family and her faith. He is beginning to believe that it is time for him to settle down and he thinks that Charley is the right woman for him. But how can he get her to look at him as a potential mate rather than focusing on Max? And how is Charley going to react if she learns that he has omitted a few facts about his business and a past relationship?

Charley is a delightful character. She is sweet, natural and a bit inclined to stumble into trouble. The mishaps that occur as she tries to follow the ten steps to win her guy are hilarious. Meanwhile it is heart warming to watch Damien focus his charm in a serious effort to win Charley’s heart.

This story reads smoothly with great humor and charm. Ms. Higgins shows Charley’s determination to maintain the commitment to her faith as a basic part of who she is. There is a point of revelation for Damien when he recognizes that he has gone far from God and misses his relationship. However there is no preachiness that should offend anyone. So any romance reader who enjoys humor and a light, sweet read would enjoy this story.  I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this author.

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These are words I thought and jotted while reading this book:
                           Charming, cute, a little sappy, sweet, fun, delightful.

Charley’s initial view of Damien:

Women still flocked to him like dieters to a chocolate factory, and they devoured his charm just as quickly. Location 41.

Charley’s reaction to Max:

She moved from the file cabinet to her chair so she wouldn’t end up on the floor like warm JELL-O. Location 521.

A final question: (you’ll have to read the book to get the answer.)

“So, what do you really think about that Internet article? Do you think it works? Did I win your heart?” Location 2071.

I received this title for an honest review from the Publisher, Walnut Springs Press.

This story is set in Sacramento, CA for my Where Are You Reading Challenge. I will also add it to my New Author challenge list.