Alright ladies, prove me wrong! GIVEAWAY & review of "Picture Perfect" by Janice Thompson



So I'm REALLY curious what the average female thinks of Janice Thompson's latest romance novel. If you haven't read it yet, then for goodness sakes enter the giveaway I'm hosting (see below). Then let me know what you think! Will you agree with my review? Or send me hate-mail?

Read on for a man's take of  "Picture Perfect"!!!

(And if you've read this book already and vehemently disagree with me, then try not to print off my picture and turn it into a dartboard please)


Picture Perfect: A Novel


about the book...



She’s trying to focus on her future. How can one man make everything feel so . . . fuzzy?

Hannah McDermott has a successful photography studio. She’ll soon be featured in Texas Bride magazine. And she has a celebrity client whose Galveston ceremony will be her ticket to the top spot on wedding coordinator Bella Neeley’s list of recommended photographers. But it could all come crashing down around her because of one man: archrival and photographer extraordinaire Drew Kincaid.

As the competition between Hannah and Drew heats up, Hannah is surprised to find that it’s not the only thing getting more intense. She can’t get the handsome man out of her thoughts-or even out of her line of sight-and the job of her dreams is turning into a nightmare. Will everything she’s worked for slip out of her hands? And can she see past her pride to find a picture-perfect love?

With contagious humor and a cast of quirky characters, Janice Thompson gives you crazy bridal-business drama, sweet romance, and a satisfying dose of laughter.



my review....

It is a dangerous thing for a man to review a contemporary romance novel. Either I will be reduced to a gently weeping pile of mush (which I admit has happened on occasion), or the thoughts of the female star of the novel will make my eyes roll right out of my head (a painful endeavor at best). For the first half of this novel, I admit to being in the second category. I simply couldn't handle one more description of the hottest man God has ever made, etc. I also found the main character, Hannah, to be entirely self-absorbed. For example, she'd phone to unload her insecurities on her best friend, Scarlet, then seem to barely listen to her friend talking because she was so anxious to talk about herself. I just wasn't feeling the love.

About halfway through the book, I gradually grew to care about Hannah and enjoyed the banter between Hannah and the oh-so-handsome Drew. I also found myself internally applauding as Hannah experienced some moments of growth, such as when she "thought about that Scripture, the one about putting away childish things. Maybe that's all God required of me here - to put away my childish, petty feelings and live in the moment". Thereafter, I thought Hannah would make a great friend.

Don't get me wrong. The book is meant to be light-hearted, and it certainly was that, featuring fun characters, and written with an expert hand. There are many humorous moments, and the end left me wanting to find out what happens next to the other lovable characters who grace the pages of the novel (such as Hannah's best friend Scarlet).

So I'm left giving the book a mild recommendation of 3.5 stars out of 5. Female fans of contemporary romance novels will likely swoon with glee by the end of the story. I'm going to go read a thoroughly male suspense novel filled with scenes of testosterone and aggression.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.




about the author....

Janice ThompsonJanice Thompson is a seasoned romance author and screenwriter. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson offers an inside look at the wedding business, drawing on her own experiences as a wedding planner. She is the author of the Weddings by Bella series and the Backstage Pass series. She lives in Texas.











And now for the giveaway....



I am giving away 1 copy of "Picture Perfect" to readers from the U.S. and Canada, courtesy of the publisher, Revell, and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc

You can get 1 entry into the giveaway for each task you perform:

1. Become a follower of my blog (through Google Followers or Networked Blogs) then leave a comment confirming you became a follower. If you are already a follower, just leave a comment that you already follow and I'll give you 1 entry for that.

2. "Like" my Facebook page, and let me know you did so in a comment. (The link is at the top of the webpage). Let me know if you've already liked it, and I'll give you an entry.

3. Post about the giveaway on your own blog or on twitter or facebook and leave me a comment. You get 1 entry for each method of spreading the word!

4. Leave a comment answering the following question: "Are men in Christian romance novels ever TOO hunky for your tastes?"


++ Please include your email address in your comment so I can contact you to arrange to get the book in the mail to you.


That's all there is to it. Contest Ends February 15, 2013.

Good luck!

Comments

  1. I would love the chance to prove you wrong! :)

    Please sign me up for the giveaway.

    4. Yes, although men should be godly and of course attractive, sometimes they come across as being a LITTLE too perfect.

    Great review!

    bonnieosell(at)gmail(dot)com

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  2. Great review! It's always interesting to get a guy's point of view! Based on your review I think I will end up having very similar feelings on this book but I'd still love a chance to make my own opinion! And in answer to your question, yes I think men can be written "too hunky" in books and that is always something that annoys me! I'd rather he be flawed with endearing qualities than it to be all about how perfect he is-same goes for girls!

    GFC: Abbi Hart
    email: gatorade635(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh goodness, I would love to prove you wrong too!

    I followed through Google. I liked the FB page.

    And NO, guys in Christian Fiction can never be too hunky! :)

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  4. Okay, so I HAVE to chime in, since I wrote the book. I loved your review so much that I shared it on my facebook page this morning. It's a high honor that you read the book and share your thoughts on Hannah's journey, and I'm tickled that you made it to the end. Not many guys would, you know, so kudos to you. Oh, and guess what?! Hannah WOULD make a great friend! I think I make a pretty great one, too. Just sayin'...

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  5. Guys can never be to hunky in Christian fiction
    godblessamerica.jan(at)gmail(dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sometimes guys in Christian fiction can be a little to hunky and perfect! Where is your average nice guy in this world?

    I enjoyed reading this review from a guys perspective! I became a follower through GFC...

    Patty
    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Absolutely, guys can be too hunky in Christian fiction (really, romance fiction too) - not realistic. I would love to read this book and see if I agree with you, seeing as I value you oppinion so much that I ordered all of your top 20 of 2012 for our library!

    Jill

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  8. I'm a GFC follower and I liked your FB page. I think your review is great. It's nice to hear a different perspective. Yes, I think there has been a time or two that the hero seemed a little too perfect, especially if they're blond but if they're tall, dark and handsome...nope. You can't get too hunky on that one :)

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  10. I like the sound of this book and would like to win..And, yes, it's ok for the guy to be Hunky.
    Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com

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  11. I am a follower of this blog by Networked blog and also a subscriber.
    Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I shared this on my Facebook page to earn another entry. Thanks!
    Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com

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  13. I have liked this on Facebook. Please give me another entry.
    Maxie mac262(at)me(sot)com

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  14. I don't think I've read any Christian novel with a guy to hunky in it. So it's fine with me.

    sonflower277 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Replies
    1. above comment should have had my email in it
      montanamade(at)gmail(dot)com

      Delete
  16. Replies
    1. Above comment should have had my email in it
      montanamade(at)gmail(dot)com

      Delete
  17. #3. I Shared on Facebook & Tweeted on Twitter.
    montanamade(at)gmail(dot)com

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  18. #4. Yes, men can be too hunky for my taste just as women can be too beautiful. I like to read about 'normal' looking people. I guess that is one thing I like about old books such as those by Agatha Christie and L.M. Montgomery, the heroes and heroines didn't always look like models.
    montanamade(at)gmail(dot)com

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  19. #4. Sometimes men can be too hunky for my taste in Christian romance books. I like reading books where the characters have faults and imperfections. They're human. No human is absolutely perfect. There's nothing wrong with a hunky guy or a beautiful woman in the occasional book, just not in every book you read.
    justhorsinaround730(at)gmail(dot)com

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  20. #1. I followed your blog. I don't have Facebook or Twitter, so I've done all I can do. Thanks for the review and giveaway. I enjoyed the review from a man's perspective for a change! :)
    justhorsinaround730(at)gmail(dot)com

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  21. Okay, I would love the chance to prove you wrong...so

    #1. I'm already a follower of your blog via Google
    #2 Liked you on Facebook
    #3 Re-posted on Twitter
    #4 I have to say that sometimes men do come across as too hunky. When I read a book I get totally engrossed, therefore I prefer it to be as real as possible or at least believable.

    shaunrobinson817(at)gmail(dot)com

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  22. I think that the men portrayed in a "secular" novel are much too hunky for my taste.
    The men in a Christian romance novel are not hunky enough.
    There has to be a happy medium somewhere.
    Thanks for entering me in the giveaway.
    Janet E.
    von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

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