The Dare

Rating:
Summary: Funny and touching
Review: "The Dare" is a touching and sometimes hilarious contemporary romance featuring two likeable (if unrealistic) characters in Alyssa and Cooper.

Minger does a reasonable job with character development, probably about average for a contemporary. Alyssa's character is a bit more fleshed-out than Cooper's. Cooper does an abrupt about-face midway through the book that makes him less than believable, although his actions towards Alyssa later in the book are tender and touching. The secondary characters are great, though, especially Cooper's adopted pets. The parrot Lafitte is especially hilarious, providing some needed humorous notes at times in the plot.

The pacing of the book seemed erratic at times. Parts of the book dragged a bit, while in others I was amazed at the pace.

Still, I enjoyed this book a great deal. I laughed out loud at several points, and Cooper's final grand gesture is both touching and hilarious. The characters were likeable, and Cooper's romantic gestures were sweet. I was rooting for these characters, and wanted them to be happy. I'm always happy to recommend a book with likeable characters that makes me laugh.

Rating:
Summary: A frustrating experience
Review: I read this for my local romance reader's book group. We chose it because the premise sounded like a lot of fun in the write up we read during our last meeting. The execution of that premise, however, was much less enjoyable than the glowing review it received in an industry mag.

Alyssa's best friend Mindy is getting married but Mindy doesn't trust her husband-to-be to remain faithful during his bachelor party (her previous fiancé cheated on her during his bachelor party) and asks Alyssa to infiltrate the party disguised as a stripper (Alyssa's a dancer and knows how to shake her thang). During the party Alyssa drinks some booze laced punch and lets loose. Cooper, the best man and a straight-laced type, removes Alyssa from the party (letting her sleep it off in his den) when she throws her bra in his face. When Alyssa awakens she decides to have a wild a night of sex with Cooper, throwing her virginity and all common sense to the wind . . .

Cooper is smitten with the smart-mouthed stripper who has just given him the best sex of his life and intends to get to know her a whole lot better but it seems she's run away. He meets her again, of course, at the wedding the next day and recognizes her even though she no longer wears a black wig, stripper makeup and is acting all shy and innocent. But before he can have at her again she's on the run back home to San Francisco.

The setup is cute (if you can suspend your disbelief enough to have some fun with it) but from here little things begin to drive me over the edge.

Alyssa is nauseatingly over-the-top sweet. She meets a kid on a plane who whines that she wants a pony for Christmas and doesn't believe in Santa because he refuses to deliver her one. When Alyssa learns from the mom that she's struggling to make ends meet Alyssa (whose family is loaded) agrees to buy her one so she'll continue to believe in magic. I swear, I couldn't make this stuff up. She dotes on her grandfather (which is kind of sweet) and remains a virgin at 24?! Why remain virginal to throw it away on a one night fling? This girl is described as a gorgeous, wild, free-spirit but has never seen a man's anatomy up close? Sorry, I'm not buyin' it.

Anyway, Cooper is so desperate to have a repeat of the "greatest sex in his life" that he nearly becomes all stalker-like. He interrogates the other strippers until they reveal private info. that leads him to Alyssa. He then boards a plane and follows her to San Francisco, leaving his important business in the hands of his partner, when he locates her and spies on her while she dances at her place of business.

All of this adds up to a book more frustrating than funny.

Rating:
Summary: Easy read
Review: I was really looking forward to this story, but was disappointed. The characters are rich, but really good people, uh huh. The characters are of course beautiful/handsome. The cynical workaholic meets the woman of his dreams, chases after her, she has issues. Alyssa and Cooper's character traits changed so much, it made the storyline unbelievable and boring. The parrot was kind of fun.

Rating:
Summary: The Dare is GREAT FUN!
Review: Love this book. It's fun to have a story get right into the romance and fun. A great joy to read! I especially loved all the animals. If you are an animal lover, you will love this book. I have been to San Francisco several times and the description of the area made me feel like I was right there.
Great Characters! Buy it you'll love it!

Rating:
Summary: Easy read
Review: San Francisco dancer Alyssa Preston arrives in Wilmette, Illinois for her best friend's wedding. However, the bride Mindy Bickham asks Alyssa to do her a favor. Following her former fiancé cheating on her just before the wedding, Mindy needs to know if her betrothed Tom stays faithful when strippers will be at the bachelor party hosted by his pal the best man Cooper Sinclair. Reluctantly Alyssa agrees and manages to join the striptease artists when one of the foursome went home ill.

Alyssa puts on quite a show until Cooper stops her. Later Cooper and Alyssa make love, but she is gone by morning. At the reception, he figures out that the bride's maid Alyssa is the "Bambi" from last night who has made him forget about work for the first in eons. Alyssa flees to San Francisco and Cooper follows as he realizes that he loves his "Bambi".

Any novel that has its two lead characters playing truth or dare is bound to be a lot of fun and that is the case with this book. The story line engages the audience though readers will agree with Alyssa that if Mindy has doubts about his faithfulness she should not marry him. Contemporary romance readers will find THE DARE is a pleasant story that entertains (no conscious implied reference to Joplin's The Entertainer) the audience from the moment Alyssa strips.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: pleasant contemporary romance
Review: San Francisco dancer Alyssa Preston arrives in Wilmette, Illinois for her best friend's wedding. However, the bride Mindy Bickham asks Alyssa to do her a favor. Following her former fiancé cheating on her just before the wedding, Mindy needs to know if her betrothed Tom stays faithful when strippers will be at the bachelor party hosted by his pal the best man Cooper Sinclair. Reluctantly Alyssa agrees and manages to join the striptease artists when one of the foursome went home ill.

Alyssa puts on quite a show until Cooper stops her. Later Cooper and Alyssa make love, but she is gone by morning. At the reception, he figures out that the bride's maid Alyssa is the "Bambi" from last night who has made him forget about work for the first in eons. Alyssa flees to San Francisco and Cooper follows as he realizes that he loves his "Bambi".

Any novel that has its two lead characters playing truth or dare is bound to be a lot of fun and that is the case with this book. The story line engages the audience though readers will agree with Alyssa that if Mindy has doubts about his faithfulness she should not marry him. Contemporary romance readers will find THE DARE is a pleasant story that entertains (no conscious implied reference to Joplin's The Entertainer) the audience from the moment Alyssa strips.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: A humorous read...
Review: The bonds of friendship might be stretched taut by Mindy's request, nonetheless, Alyssa finds herself going undercover as a stripper named Bambi at Mindy's groom's bachleor party. Her job is to keep an eye on the lucky guy and make sure he does not cheat during his waning hours of freedom. While playing Bambi, Alyssa finds herself having a fling with the best man.After one night of passion, she vanishes, never expecting to see Cooper again. Then he turns up at the wedding, and after as he watches the maid of honor dance, Coop knows he has found his Cinderella. Before he can claim her, he will have to win her. This will mean breaking through the thorny wall of pain around an abused heart, and dropping several grand on "pets".

*** In an interesting and humorous take on old fairy tales, Ms. Minger shows how far love can go. For the auction scenes alone, this book is a good way to spend an afternoon. ***

Rating:
Summary: The Dare is GREAT FUN!
Review: The Dare by Elda Minger is a great and fun book to read- perfect to pass away a cold winter night. Alyssia comes into town to be the maid of honor in her best friends wedding. Mindy the bride is having doubts about her fiance because of her bad luck with men in the past. Mindy comes up with a scheme to spy on her fiance during his bachelor party. Alyssia disguises herself as a stripper to keep an eye out on the groom.

The best man, Connor, is keeping an eye on Alyssia- he wants a tame bachelor party but things get out of control. He and Alyssia spend the night together but he knows her as "bambi" the stripper.

At the wedding the next day, Connor knows there is something familiar about the shy innocent and blushing maid of honor but doesn't immediately connect her to the hot, sexy stripper of his fantasy night. Eventually, he figures out the truth, but Alyssia has run back to her hometown.

Connor decides that she is the woman for him and sets out to win her..flying out to find her, worm his way into her social circle and eventually acquiring a veritable zoo collection. The parrot, dogs, skunk, and pig provide much of the book's humor as they and Connor seek Alyssia's heart.

This book was great to read..i hope that this author keeps writing funny, unusual, fast paced contemporary romances like this one...it doesn't disappoint!

Rating:
Summary: Funny and Sexy- all in one
Review: The Dare by Elda Minger is a great and fun book to read- perfect to pass away a cold winter night. Alyssia comes into town to be the maid of honor in her best friends wedding. Mindy the bride is having doubts about her fiance because of her bad luck with men in the past. Mindy comes up with a scheme to spy on her fiance during his bachelor party. Alyssia disguises herself as a stripper to keep an eye out on the groom.

The best man, Connor, is keeping an eye on Alyssia- he wants a tame bachelor party but things get out of control. He and Alyssia spend the night together but he knows her as "bambi" the stripper.

At the wedding the next day, Connor knows there is something familiar about the shy innocent and blushing maid of honor but doesn't immediately connect her to the hot, sexy stripper of his fantasy night. Eventually, he figures out the truth, but Alyssia has run back to her hometown.

Connor decides that she is the woman for him and sets out to win her..flying out to find her, worm his way into her social circle and eventually acquiring a veritable zoo collection. The parrot, dogs, skunk, and pig provide much of the book's humor as they and Connor seek Alyssia's heart.

This book was great to read..i hope that this author keeps writing funny, unusual, fast paced contemporary romances like this one...it doesn't disappoint!