Texas Double Date

Port Serenity #4

by Ann DeFee

Landry Valliere—New Orleans defense attorney—never thought that an innocent bet with his law partner would turn his life upside down. All he has to do is survive in Port Serenity, Texas for a month without credit cards or cash. Much to his dismay he discovers that getting a job with his limited practical skills will be a challenge. It takes a couple of nights in a flea-bag hotel, and a dollop of desperation, for Landry to apply for the job of shampoo girl at Sunny McAllister’s salon and dog grooming spa, Double Date.
Sunny’s new employee is definitely eye candy, but there’s something off kilter about him. Her first thought is that he’s running from the law. He’s too smart, too charming, too everything to be doing a menial job in her salon. And speaking of charming, add sexy to that description, and she’s hooked. The truth about Landry comes out when Sunny’s good friend is accused of murder and needs a hot-shot lawyer.
Will Sunny kick him to the curb for his duplicity? And can a big city attorney and a small town girl have a chance at love? Of course, a romance always has a happy ending.
Double Date is the fourth book in the Port Serenity Series.

179 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 12, 2019

About the author

As a "feel good" author Ann DeFee infuses humor into her romantic comedy, mystery, magic realism (where the surreal becomes reality), humor/satire and action/adventure stories. A multi-award winner, Ann has written twelve novels for Harlequin and an additional three for Bellastoria Press. She has won, or was a finalist in ten national and international book award contests. Believe in the Magic leads the way with a Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal, a Chanticleer Somerset Fiction Award winner and is now a Grand Prize Finalist in the Eric Hoffer Book Award.
As a business woman, Ann is a managing-partner of Bellastoria Press LLP, an independent hybrid publishing company that specializes in shepherding authors through the book publishing process.
On a personal note, Ann loves living in her stories (both writing and reading) and research. She lives in Williamsburg, VA, the epicenter of American history, a perfect place to be actively involved in a national organization that focuses on history, patriotism and genealogy.
Her guilty pleasure is that she’s addicted to hot chocolate (regardless of the season) and she loves all things that glitter.

Reviews

[Preeti ♥︎ Her Bookshelves · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet and fun to read book.
A rom-com with a murder mystery on the side.

The H, a wealthy lawyer, accepts a bet from his friend and arrives in the small Texas town with just $200 in his pockets and he's supposed to survive on wits alone, for a month. He cannot use either his education or his connections.
The h, a tiny feminine version of Peter pan, runs the local spa for people and their pets. He sees a vacancy for 'shampoo girl' and thinks how difficult can that be? He's already been turned down by the local mechanic and an eating place.
The h is a divorcee and is lacking a plus-two for a wedding and doesn't wish to appear at an disadvantage to the ex. She and staff/cohorts are having a staff meeting that's deteriorated to a man-hunt even as she tries to keep the staff on topic. And that's when the H walks in and rest is history.
She gets a 'shampoo-girl' and a date. No need to say, the business too explodes as women of all ages troop in for a hairwash and more.

Add to that, a murder happens followed by nasty threats to the h. The H has to renounce his incognito mode in order to help. They were already dating and now he moves in with her.
The mysteries are solved- a bit pat. As is the paint by numbers ow-parachuting-in to the story to do her nasty bit and hea.

The feel is light and frothy. Not everything is supremely funny but few bits are are laugh out loud hilarious.
The Texas small town feel seems authentic (me, am no expert though).
But, despite the h/H sweetness, their connection is too sudden or too suddenly there. No build up.
One day, she's frowning and giving him suspicious looks and then boom, they are a couple. No conflict or drama here. I mean for a
Still a rom-com is a rom-com.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining

There is drama, mystery, a suspicious death and love woven into this story. Add into this blending a bet with high stakes and this small town becomes action packed.

[Dawn Pressel · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ending was rushed and uneventful

[Gale · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. As another reviewer has said, I didn’t know this was part of a series, although it makes sense, and my opinion is also that it can be read as a standalone.

First thing you need to know: expect an amazing depiction of life in the South. I lived there for nine years and I think I met these people! There wasn’t any stereotypical behavior; it was just perfect descriptions of family and friend interactions. Some of the conversations were spot on – sometimes they were hilarious, sometimes they were some of the hard conversations we all have in life. It wasn’t a dark book nor did it have a deep, dark theme.

There was an event towards the end that I think was unnecessary but I don’t have an author’s talent so it’s just my opinion. The author wrote a great story so it works. The heroine is Sunny McAllister and the story starts out when she is just a very young girl. During the story, she owns a hair salon that also has a pet salon next door. Her back story will make you sniffle and want to give her a hug. The hero is Landry Valliere IV (isn’t that the best Southern name for a gent???) and he is an attorney, a trust fund baby, and a pretty world-on-a-string kinda guy. On a bet with his best friend, he ends up in the same town as Sunny and the story goes on from there. I liked the story, would recommend, and it is a quick read, at least for me. And I didn’t even give any spoilers.

[Dotty · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This is a delightful, heartwarming contemporary romance set on the beautiful Texas Gulf Coast town of Port Serenity.

A big city attorney takes his law partner up on a bet to live in a small town for a month without credit cards and the other conveniences. He got a job in a local beauty salon where he was welcomed. Since south is know for their hospitality he received baked goods to welcome him.

Then there is Sunny. She is surrounded by wacky friends and employees. She fits in good with everyone in the town.
I don't want to give the plot away so I won't say anything else about these two.

This book was delightful. I will be looking to read more from Ms. DeFee. She makes her characters come alive and the descriptions are right in step with the way small towns are. I forgot I was reading and felt as if I was there in town in the middle of it all.

I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

[Janet Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more of a romance than a murder mystery, which was fine with me. It was a good mixture of the two. Likable characters and a quick read. This was the first book I've read by this author and would recommend it to others. It didn't seem to matter that I had not read the first three books of the series.

[Mrs. Garen L. Herd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Hot, hunky super lawyer who is pretending to be homeless and jobless on a bet in a small town meets hometown small business owner and the sparks fly. And then Aunt Hallie is murdered. Hilarious small town humor and lots of romance. Highly recommend.

[Rose Helg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book

This was first time I read her book. This Book was Great. It was great, funny, I just couldn't put this book Down. The ending was Great, also. Will definitely read more of her books..

[Anne Turnley · Rating 5 out of 5]

How the other half lives

Landry gets into a real mess When he accepts a bet to see how the other half lives. And he has to do this in his partner's tiny home town in Texas. The bright spot is his new boss, an adorable Southern girl.

[R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!! Loved every minute of it!! Did not want to put it down. First book I read in the series and now I want to read the rest!! Loved every minute of it!