1st Place Novella TopShelf Book Awards 2019. Finalist The Wishing Shelf Book Awards UK 2018 Adult Fiction. 1st Place Runner Up in Rave Reviews Book Club's Alpha-Omega Short Story Writing Contest 2018. Blue Treat Award 2019 Rave Reviews Book Club. Tequila Rose may have met the man of her dreams. Unfortunately, she wakes up suffering from alcoholic amnesia and doesn’t remember anything about the night before. Tall, dark, and Jack may be the cure her jaded heart desperately needs, but Tequila’s wary as friends warn her that Jack hangs out with the local drug dealer. Thrust together at a Speed Dating event, their chemistry sizzles, but is Jack after a different kind of fix?
I aimed for nonchalance as I leaned against the jamb, but my coordination was off, and I slipped, banging my shoulder. Laughter sparked in his aquamarine eyes. Ok, so my morning-after look needed work. Despite his hotness, I considered slamming the door shut and slinking back to bed.
This is a quick bite of fun which starts off with the heroine, Rose (who isn't actually a virgin -- there's a reason for the title), being taken care of by a hot guy named Jack, when she wakes up badly hungover. Unfortunately, she doesn't remember a darn thing about the night or him.
He held out a tray and grinned. "I've brought resuscitation devices." Two dimples creased his face. Cute and hot. I had trouble focusing on his offerings: two large takeaway drinks, a packet of heavy-strength painkillers, a pie, and a sugary-guarana loaded sports concoction guaranteed to raise the dead. Was he an angel? Were angels allowed to be this sexy?
All of which leads her on a journey of somewhat embarassing discovery...
"Ready?" [Aroha's] finger hovered over the play button. I fortified myself with a gulp of caffeine and nodded. A murmur of a headache pulsed behind my eyes. How bad could it be? Worse than bad. Horrid. Mortifying. Troll bells clanged. "Your pole dancing is heaps better than your singing," said Brody. Not musical in any recognizable way. Wailing. Screeching. Drunken mumbling, as I didn't know or couldn't remember most of the lyrics. "Great song choice." Mr. Chipper's cheerfulness scratched my eggshell ego like coarse sandpaper. He hummed a few bars. "Like a virgin..."
*** Penguin image was taken from this short story
Shortly after, she's pushed into participating in a Speed Dating Spectacular, the proceeds of which will go towards protecting the little blue penguins' habitat. While there, she has to deal with some rather interesting characters.
"[...] you have a few minutes to ask the lovely ladies your questions. Ladies, on the second bell, it's your turn. On the third bell, the guys switch seats to the next lady on their list. Ladies, you stay where you are. The fourth bell signals the next round. Are you ready to rumble?" There were a few lacklustre whoop-whoops and a lone catcall whistle. My head drooped. I was ready to crumble. Ping. Round One. Bachelor number one stumbled into the seat across from me. We shared a common interest in alcohol consumption. Probably not a sound foundation for a deeper relationship.
On top of all these good times, Rose isn't sure whether Jack (who seems to be interested) is worth getting to know better (despite her strong attraction to him), since he appears to be involved in some shady and questionable things...
I'll leave it at that.
(And, yes, I did notice that this couple had the same names as the leads in Titanic... *smile*)
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought: Title: Tequila Rose Virginity Blues Author: Wendy Jayne
Star Rating: 5 Stars Number of Readers: 17 Stats Editing: 9/10 Writing Style: 9/10 Content: 10/10 Cover: 9/10 Of the 17 readers: 16 would read another book by this author. 16 thought the cover was good or excellent. 17 felt it was easy to follow. 15 would recommend this story to another reader to try. Of all the readers, 10 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’. Of all the readers, 7 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’. 16 felt the pacing was good or excellent. 17 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments ‘Lots of things wonderful with this short story. Firstly, the hero is funny; you can really get into her head. Secondly, the ending was a surprise. Thirdly, you can read it in an evening, put it down and say ‘Yes, I enjoyed that very much.’ Excellent job.’ Male reader, aged 54 ‘A good writer who knows how to plot a suspense-filled novel.’ Female reader, aged 29 ‘I liked this very much. Congrats to the author for putting together such a great read in so few words. It just shows, a book hasn’t got to be 1,000pp long to be gripping.’ Female reader, aged 31 ‘I’m guessing this will mostly appeal to female readers. Sort of chick lit but the writing style is stronger and the characters have considerable depth for such a short read. A very talented author.’ Female reader, aged 46 ‘I loved the premise of this story – although it’s rather scary. Waking up in the morning and not remembering the night before – and there’s a guy there!!! At least he’s cute. Very enjoyable short with a surprising ending.’ Female reader, aged 65
To Sum It Up: ‘A cleverly plotted short with an intriguing cast of characters. A FINALIST and highly recommended.’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Having read Ms. Jayne's writings before, I relished this story as much as her other precious ones. With her unique writing style, the plot is amusing, and the main characters are boisterous. The beginning may appear a bit chaotic; nevertheless, the storylines are well crafted and move along at a vigorous pace. The twist at the end ensures the readers a satisfying read and pleasant entertainment.
I just finished the short story Tequila Rose Virginity Blues by Wendy Jane and could not wait to pen a few notes. First off let me tell you I loved the story. I am always on the side of those characters who have over imbibed and must now face the physical and mental consequences. Very seldom are these sessions written free of clichés. This story is an exception. The opening scene of the book is a reaction to a knock. Then there are two more, and Tequila Rose is forced to open the door. What pops in is every drinker’s nightmare. It is a handsome someone who not only knows Tequila’s name but some details of the previous night. Tequila Rose is flummoxed since she cannot remember the guy or his name.
The rest of the story is a laugh out loud series of Tequila Rose trying to get a grip on herself and the handsome guy who knows her better than she knows him. Included are hysterical scenes of drunkenness taken by cell phone and posted on social media for all to see. To add to the laugh fest, her friend who delights in Tequila’s episodes convinces her to take part in a charity speed dating event.
Wendy Jane will keep you laughing through the competition and then serves up a to die for ending.
If you enjoy reading quality writing, this book is for you. I think a little bit of me fell for Tequila Rose since I have walked in her shoes.
I have to admit that I was a bit distracted while trying to read this short story. So I had to go back and re-read to keep track of where the author was going. I liked the way the story ended...the way stories should but often don't. Rose was caught up in a hangover that often happens when you are young and don't know what you are capable of handling, especially when it comes to drinking. Fortunately after sending the reader on a journey of Rose's escapades, there is a surprising ending. I don't want to spoil it so you will have to read it for yourself.
The writing was easy to follow and the author made sure you were in the mind of Rose. That's a good way to get to know a character. I give it 4 stars. It wasn't a topic I was particularly interested in reading, but I came away satisfied.
I absolutely loved this short story from Wendy Jayne. It was written as part of a 90-day alpha/omega challenge issued by the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB. The author did a fantastic job of showing us backstory, character dimensions and plot twists in a very short story. When Tequila Rose wakes up one morning with a hangover and no memory of the night before, things get even more complicated as a strange man is there with coffee and soup. Who is the incredibly hot and handsome man? As the story unfolds, Tequila is convinced he is a drug dealer and determines to keep her distance. The outcome of the story if both surprising and satisfying. If you love a great short story, this one is sure to please.
This is a very salacious short story, with a delicious ending!
When I Started reading this story, it took me all over the place and I couldn’t pin the characters down. Slowly, it started to take shape and the characters started to unravel themselves.
Tequila or Rose, and many other ways she was called lived up to her name. She partied and drank herself into a stupor. Her friend, Arora, on the other hand, had her head right. They had this very strange friendship, but she looked out for Tequila.
Jack, an investigative journalist, hid his nature from Tequila until it was necessary for him to reveal himself.
A great short story which opens with the most agonising hangover imaginable - anyone who has ever over indulged will not be able to help but sympathise. And, as with all good hangovers, Tequila Rose not only has a bad head and churning stomach - she also has a total lack of recall when it comes to the evenings events. This is a great little tale of love, alcohol and zany relatives. The character of Tequila Rose is very real and relatable - and the people in her life round her out completely. Enough twists in the tale to keep a reader interested to the last page. Some adorable illustrations dotted through the story and what a gorgeous book cover!
Tequila Rose Virginity Blues by Wendy Jayne is a literary treat, with rich language and an inimitable style of writing, she tells an engaging story of Rose in a delightful manner. A quick read, this short story humorously hints at the consequences of drinking too much vodka. The way Rose talks to herself before opening the front door next morning while she has a terrible hangover is hilarious. To top it all, her mom warns her against binge drinking and wants grandchildren. An invitation for charity speed dating event is like an icing on the cake! I am sure you would enjoy this story. Highly recommended.
This is a light-hearted, quick read with plenty of laughs and identifiable situations. The character is the type of girl we've all been before, at odds with her mom, wary of the dating scene, and at odds with her questionable dating life. There are some enjoyable plot twists that also keep this book interesting. You could say this borders on chick-lit, but I found it totally enjoyable, and the inner dialogue Tequila has with herself is hilarious and very easy to sympathize with. All in all, this is a very enjoyable read!
I applaud the gorgeous cover. Unique character Tequila Rose - named after the drink that sparked her conception had me covering my mouth to squelch laughter. I read this short story while next to my sleeping husband. It proved difficult not to disturb him. Wendy Jane's voice and style came across clear and relatable. 'Tequila Rose Virginity Blues' packs plenty of entertainment in only 54 pages with enough background painted to create depth of character and romantic tension to keep you reading. I will look for more works by this talented author.
Ms. Jayne takes us on a chance meeting and a forgetful morning after. Tequila wakes up with a major hangover and tries to figure out what happened between her and Jack. Was this a person she might want to have a relationship or forget she met him? I enjoyed the story line and humor. The characters were well-written, and I was curious to see what happened between them. It wasn’t a rushed short-story ending--even with “speed-dating”.
When I think of tequila, I think of the shout out, “Cheers!” The title and character one-in-the-same. You'll find it is an easy and short read. I found it had a few laughs in it. I liked the cover, and I thought it was suitable for the title. Nice touch adding the images for relating. This genre (Contemporary Romance) was not my favorite. But, it kept my interest. Perhaps, it will keep yours too. Watch out, you may get a little tipsy reading it . . . ‘cause there’s a lot of drinking going on. Would I read more from this author? Believe I would!
This book is such a wonderful, quick read. I sat down to read, after taking such a horribly long break from books, and could not put it down. From the beginning, I was hooked. It was such a cute, not to mention relatable, start. It's comical and sweet and exciting with some unknowns. By the end of the story, I felt like I was walking the journey with the characters. A beautiful job by one of my favorite authors.
This was a great short story! I was given an ARC as a beta reader, and I really enjoyed reading this. I'm not normally into short stories, but this one had me cracking up at the author's ability to mix the total mortification of a blackout hangover with a light romance. If you enjoy short stories with humor and hook-ups, then you definitely want to read this!
Romance is not normally my genre, but this short story sounded intriguing. I was not disappointed.
Tequila Rose Virginity Blues is a well-written story that drew me in. Descriptions were well formed and believable. Once I had started, I could not stop reading.
This is a book I would recommend to anyone who enjoys short stories.
If you've ever had more than a few too many one night and recollection is hazy then you need to read this hilarious short story. Tequila Rose had one of those nights and then things just got worse for her and funnier for us. Brilliant and funny.
A fast paced story about Rose's night of heavy drinking and meeting "Mister Wonderful." As she tries to regain any memory of that night, she realizes it is time to make some important changes in her life. A delightful read by a talented author.
Tequila Rose: Virginity Blues by Wendy Jayne is an enjoyable read, full of witty humour and relatable, engaging characters. I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptive prose. A quick, delightful, and humorous read that you're sure to enjoy. Highly recommended!
This was a great story in a dreamy location, New Zealand. I loved the pictures at the end. But, back to the story, it was a fun read with romance and humor. The author did a great job developing her main character. I would recommend this book to others as a good read.
A fun short romance that really shows the inane nature of drink as well as the torture that is speed dating. I had a good chuckle throughout the book. Fun and very relatable.
5 October 2019 Tequila Rose Virginity Blues by Wendy Jayne Review by Dennis Cardiff 5.0 out of 5.0 stars
The author had me hooked from the first page. Although I have somewhat mellowed over the years I can remember hungover mornings where I had no knowledge of where I was or what I'd done the night before. Wendy Jayne has written the funniest hangover scene I have ever read.
A superlative author and the winner of countless awards, I marvel at her literary skill with each sentence I read. She is a virtuosa of rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, character and plot development. I highly recommend this book for everyone who welcomes a good laugh.