*warning:may contain spoilers*I'm not much of a romantic comedy gal, but I've read the Golden Key Chronicles and LOVED them, so I thought I'd give this a chance. Glad I did!Tessa Adams is a strong, independent, self sufficient woman who co-owns a party planning business with her best friend, Tiffany. Ever since she was abandoned a day before her wedding 3 years ago, Tessa is sure true love is a farce and engages in random hookups (note: most guys won't admit it, but this is why they also engage in similar behavior with countless women). "Love was a lie, spoon fed to little girls". Oh how true! Maybe not the lie part, but definitely the part about spoon feeding to little girls. Weddings are a business now. The stupid dress (that does NOT have to be white!!), but over sized cake, etc. It's all to market to girls to we grow up wanting bullshit that's not necessary. Tessa fits guys into 1 of 5 categories according to behavior, appearance, i.e. a "type". Sorry guys, but there are types and categories...When she meets David Isaac Brenner AKA "Dibs" during a layover at an airport due to a severe storm, she actually starts talking to "Sir Interrupts-a-lot". LOVE this - made me LOL literally!After the inevitable random hookup occurs (note: I don't care if a woman's on b.c protection should STILL be used!), Tessa sneaks out of the room and heads home to Chicago where her friend and partner reprimands her yet again for what's probably the 1000th time. Except this guy is different. He actually IS interested in more than just sex, and DOES want to see Tessa again. He sends flowers. Repeatedly. And calls. And puts up a banner asking her to dinner. It is a tad bit on the excessive/creepy side. There's a limit to romance, guys. Continuing after being told no 50 times is borderline obsessive, particularly for someone you don't know. It does more than creep her out, and she screams at him to stop. Finally...finally, he does. There's a part of Tessa that's sad about it - that he cared so much to keep trying - but after a couple of days she starts to go back to life not thinking about him at all. Until she has to fly back to NY to sign a major account she and Tiffany just landed. Low and behold she runs into Dibs on the plane. Quite the argument ensues about Dibs not being able to handle rejection. I do love that she points out that it was all about his pride, and that he should not speak for her (in regards to the stewardess). Good for you, Tessa! I HATE when guys speak for me, order for me, etc. I have a voice and I'll use it thank you very much...She also wants to succeed on her own, without help from Dibs. Yes, men, I know it's hard to believe, but there are some of us who don't want to use short cuts or sleep our way to the top.Another thing I love about Tessa is she isn't afraid to speak her mind. She mentions that guys only think of one thing at a time, and women think of multiple things: this does not mean we are crazy! It means we can handle more than men (so, why then aren't we paid more...?) and that women get blamed b/c men "lack the let's think things through gene". She stands up for herself. She has her own business at 29, has taken care of herself her whole life and doesn't need a reminder of anything. She can take care of herself - she doesn't need a babysitter. Oh how I wish some guys would just grasp this concept. When the argument finally calms down and they finally agree to be friends, things keep going fairly pleasantly. I say fairly b/c Dibs is obviously interested but Tessa doesn't want to let herself get hurt, so they just hang out and do what couples would do - except no kissing, sex or PDA of any kind. At a public event, Tessa is jealous of a woman who really has no shame in throwing herself at him. It's here where Tessa starts to realize her feelings might be deeper than she thought. So eventually, things heat up between them. Now it's the inevitable horror of meeting the family. Dibs's mother makes no bones about the fact that she dislikes Tessa. After dealing with that fiasco, now the guy who ditched her the day before the wedding comes back in to warn Tessa about Dibs's family. It's a seemingly never ending roller coaster of emotions. Ever hear the song lyrics by Aerosmith "life is a journey, not a destination". This is definitely one book that embodies those words. That's one thing I LOVE about AJ Nuest - your heart will be ripped out, stomped on, rearranged, and yet, put back together and made whole again. You'll get to point B alright, but not before hiking 10 miles uphill...both ways...through the snow...you get the idea. It's a laugh/cry/smile fest from beginning to end - never a dull moment and worth every word read. And all along there's a strong female lead that can do it all herself, and a romantic loon of a guy who thinks he knows best, but learns that maybe...just maybe...he doesn't...Do yourself a favor: read this woman's work. Tessa Adams finds herself stranded in New York due to an ice storm. When Tessa finds out she won’t be flying back to Chicago she is seated next to a very handsome and somewhat/possibly crazy man. It is thanks to him though that she finds a place to stay the night. Dibs sees Tessa and knows he must get to know her ever for a little bit. Tessa and Dibs ride together to the hotel and Dibs buys Tessa dinner. One thing leads to another and Tessa and Dibs have a very steamy night together. Dibs wants to see Tessa more, but at the last-minute Tessa leaves Dibs and heads home on the first flight. Tessa believes she won’t see Dibs again until the first bouquet of flowers arrives to her event planning business. Tessa tries to ignore Dibs in every way possible until she gives him an emphatic NO. Thinking she is finally free of Dibs and her business is building she has another fateful flight with Dibs. With this flight they decide to become friends. Soon, Dibs flies under Tessa radar and takes up residence in her heart. All of a sudden friendship is no longer possible and it isn’t what either of them want. Finally, they come together and what Dibs has known all along Tessa learns that they are wonderful together and shouldn’t be just friends. Though they fall for each other soon obstacles are in the way and decisions must be made. Will Tessa be able to finally find true love or will she give everything up for the sake of her heart.I adored this book! I laughed, cried, laughed some more and totally fell in love with Dibs. The story was phenomenal and really drew me in. It’s a love story through and through. AJ Nuest definitely has you fall in with all of her characters and their story. The story between Tess and Dibs turns into a wonderful version of Romeo and Juliet without all of the dying. Dibs’ family and Tessa’s friends make a great supporting cast. They help to cause strife and propel the story in a natural direction. I can’t tell you enough had wonderful and fun this read was. It was a bit reminiscent of Tara Sivec’s books. The dialogue between Dibs and Tessa is so very natural and is one of the best parts of this book. It is the dialogue and Dibs’ ultra romantic gestures that will make any woman reading this book fall head over heels in love with him. I even found myself cussing Tessa out because of her decisions in the beginning. Overall, this is one of the best romances I have read in a while. If you want a steamy read and ready for a new book boyfriend pick up She’s Got Dibs.
What do You think about She's Got Dibs (2013)?
Amazing book!!!!! So much happened in thai book- goodness!!!! Ive just become a new fan!
—LolitaBae
This was super cute! A surprisingly great read! A review to come soon...
—Kat
Loved this book. Cant wait to read other works by this author.
—x1derfulx
