The Truth About Cats and Bees: A Secret Blogger’s Dating Debaclesby Alissa Baxter
Description:
For jaded Emma Bradshaw, her blog is a way to come to terms with the 'serial datists' in her past - all those unsuitable men who've trampled on her heart and left her swearing off dating altogether. But when one anonymous blog commenter challenges her ideas on men, she can't help but open herself up. What can it hurt? After all, she doesn't even know his name.
The problem is that now she's looking at men differently - including her new boss, sexy author Nick Reynolds. A romance with the boss, especially one who epitomises every 'serial datist' she's ever known, is a no-no on so many different levels. But Emma can't seem to stop herself from considering it.
Which man will win Emma's guarded heart - the tempting boss, or the anonymous online man who understands her better than anyone she's ever known?
"Emma is a serious sassy woman whose sharp wit and tongue portrays her confident nature." Author Nana Prah
This book was previously published by Ubuntu African Romance as The Blog Affair.
My Review:
The Truth about Cats and Bees picks up from the last book in a sort of crossover style. Starting in Durban and then following Emma, the main character of this story, to Cape Town. Sick of the constant reminders of her latest failed relationship, Emma jumps at the chance to start over in a new place, but she doesn’t anticipate the spark she feels around her new boss.
This is another solid romance in The Truth About series, and as with the first, there is a digital romance thrown in to totally mess with the main character’s plans and assumptions. I very much enjoyed this one, but it was much easier to guess the outcome. The clues are there, though Emma doesn’t see them. Still, it was hard to want her to get together with either of them, particularly in the light of her blog.
On that note, Emma’s blog is designed to outline the sort of fellows that guarantee a dysfunctional relationship, and Emma’s posts reveal just how disillusioned she’s become. Toss in a side character’s abusive relationship and you have quite the campaign for women sticking up for themselves and staying away from these guys. At times it seems more educational than entertaining.
Because much of the story focuses on dysfunctional men, it tends to come across one-sided, and though that shifts a bit near the end, I don’t think a balance was achieved. For this reason, male readers may feel a bit put on the spot. Sure this is a chic lit, and the blog is in character, but yeah, it’s not very flattering for the fellows.
Overall, I would recommend this to women who enjoy chic lit, romance, and interesting locations.
I received the review copy of this book from NetGalley.
About the Author:
Alissa Baxter wrote her first Regency romance, The Dashing Debutante, during her long university holidays. After travelling the world, she settled down to write her second Regency romance, Lord Fenmore's Wager, which was inspired by her time living on a country estate in England. A Marchioness Below Stairs, her third Regency romance, is the sequel to Lord Fenmore's Wager. Also the author of two chick lit novels, The Truth About Clicking Send and Receive (previously published as Send and Receive) and The Truth About Cats and Bees (previously published as The Blog Affair), Alissa currently lives in Johannesburg with her husband and two sons. Alissa is a member of RWA as well as ROSA (Romance writers Organisation of South Africa).
Intrigued? Why not pick up both books and make a weekend of it?
