GUEST REVIEW: Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich

Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich

Publication Date: July 9, 2013

Publisher: William Morrow
Source: Book Purchased by Reviewer

Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble
Reviewer: Doris Cedeño aka La Chiquita

My rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

They always say that big girls don’t cry. But when the chips are down and the dip is gone, what can you do? pull up your BIG GIRL PANTIES and change your life.

Holly Brennan didn’t expect to be a widow at thirty-two. She also didn’t expect to be so big. Through her husband Bruce’s diagnosis and death, food was the one thing she could always count on. now those extra pounds make flying coach more than a little mortifying-especially since she's sitting next to Adonis himself, aka Logan Montgomery, a personal trainer to the country’s most famous pro athletes.

The Holly doesn’t make the grade on his first-impression meter, Logan finds himself intrigued by her sharp wit and keen insight-a welcome change from the beautiful bubble-headed dolls he usually dates-and impulsively offers to get her back in shape. Ready to make at least one positive change in her life, Holly agrees.

To Logan’s (and her own) surprise, Holly turns out to be a natural in the gym. Throwing herself into exercise, the read head with the blazing wit and welcoming smile slims down into a bonafide looker with killer curves-and a new kind of hunger. Soon, the easy intimacy and playful banter of their training sessions lead Logan and Holly into the bedroom where they share their most intense and steamy workouts yet.

But can a man whose whole life depends on looks commit himself to a woman who doesn’t fit his image? Not that Holly’s turning other men’s heads, does she even need Logan anymore? Are they a couple built to last…or is this sizzling affair going to burn out fast?

I came across Big Girl Panties strictly by accident, and boy am I happy that it happened. In the story we follow the main character Holly from her devastating past into her new found confidence and vigor towards life.  The book starts in a very familiar way to me because I too suffer the dread of flying coach and not knowing if the person sitting next to me will be forgiving of my extra wiggles and pleadings with the seat belt. Too often I find that if I could just not breathe for the length of the flight I may just be able to be comfortable enough to stark up a conversation with my neighbor.

Holly Brennan’s world was easy to be sucked into. You find yourself rooting for her and you eventually see her start rooting for herself. Hidden in sarcastic comments and self-deprecating moments Holly is in tuned to the minds of most women who feel they rather build a wall full of what is expected instead of allowing what will happen to happen. Then things get real with professional fitness trainer Logan Montgomery.

“Do you have any physical ailments I need to consider?” He looked up from the folder in his hands.

“Yeah, I’m really fat.”

“Do you smoke?”

“Only when I’m on fire.”

“Drink?”

“Whenever I’m thirsty.” For emphasis, Holly opened her bottle of water and demonstrated, some water leaking out and dribbling down her chin into her shirt.

“Are you on drugs?”

“I’m on the pill; does that count?” Holly felt the heat rise up to her cheek, grateful he was too busy writing in her file to see it. A widow on the pill; it sounded like an announcement that she was open for business. Pg 37

Oh Logan. *pause for effect* In true swooner spirit you have to read this book just for him. The way Stephanie describes this tall tan slice of beef cake will send any woman running to the nearest gym with hopes of reenacting some of the pages from the book. Yes, he is your typical handsome hero to the rescue of the unbeknownst (gotta love spell check) damsel in distress but who cares! He’s hot and the things he does are even hotter.

“Then we better not waste any time.” Logan kissed her again, deeper, his strong arms peeling off her jacket and tossing it aside before pulling her in close again. His fingertips toyed with and then dipped slightly into the waistband of her jeans at the small of her back.

“I guess I’d look like a real dick if I took you right here without even offering you something to drink.” He reluctantly withdrew from her and grabbing her hand, led her toward the kitchen.

“Thirsty?”pg19

Now that I got that out of my system… let’s get to the heart of the man with the abs of delicious steel. He too goes through a change, so in many ways Holly rescues him as well.

Stephanie introduces Logan as this pompous, arrogant, man-whore. He exchanges women often and he never strays from his taste of tall, blonde, and model. When he meets Holly he immediately is disgusted and dreads the hours ahead of him next to her.  Only after hearing her story does he show a glimmer of the Logan you will guarantee love if not wish for by the end of the book. Merited solely on the purest of intentions Logan extends and offer that will change both their lives.

Stephanie gives Logan a guide sort of speak to help with his new found observations and it comes in the form of power couple Chase and Amanda Walker. Chase the golden boy of baseball and Amanda his self-sufficient mogul wife take a mentor role over Logan and usually keep his best interest in mind. Think big brother little sister pestering but with adults who have more money than they know what to do with. We learn little about the back story of Chase and Amanda but we do learn that there is a little bit of a scandal that brought them together. Think kink meets media. You can learn more about Chase and Amanda and their love story by reading “Sweet Spot” *insert shameless plug* the prequel to Big Girl Panties now available on paperback and ebook.

I know, I know, your reading this post and saying ok… you’re saying good things about the book but you only gave it 4/5 stars, what’s up with that? Well the reason is down to basics. The book is very predictable. I would have liked a twist of events or a cliff hanger of sorts but I was left wanting. Stephanie’s writing is that kin to a rom-com style and over time I see her honing her skills into something good.

So all in all if you want a good time, or looking just for a quick dose of smutty action, Big Girl Panties is a must.