Please join me in welcoming Rachael Anderson to the blog today. She has stopped by to answer a few interview questions, then I’m going to review her book, The Reluctant Bachelorette.

Rachael Anderson is the author of four contemporary romances: Divinely Designed, Luck of the Draw, Minor Adjustments, and The Reluctant Bachelorette. She’s the mother of four, can’t sing, doesn’t dance, and despises tragedies. But she recently figured out how yeast works and can now make homemade bread, which she is really good at eating.
What 1 book do you think should be on everybody’s must read list?
The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis. The man is brilliant, I tell you. Brilliant.

What 3 words would you use to describe yourself?
Sarcastic, impatient, and lately–forgetful. Not the best combination.

What’s your favorite part of writing/publishing a novel?
Publishing it. There’s nothing like feeling as though all your hard work has FINALLY come to an end.

What’s the most unusual thing a fan said/wrote to you?
I’m not sure anyone has written me anything that could be classified as unusual, but I did get this sweet letter from some darling girl from Wyoming. For a school assignment, she had a write a letter to her favorite author and chose me. That totally made my year. In fact, I still have that letter and read it when I get discouraged.

Who/what influenced your writing style?
Honestly, I’m not completely sure. Pretty much any romantic comedy that I’ve ever seen or read, probably. And my beliefs and values.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Probably not until I published my 2nd book. Even then, calling myself that seemed wrong. After all, C.S. Lewis was a writer–not me.

Do you seek out reviews of your novels?
After my books first come out, I’m always anxious to read reviews, mostly because I’m petrified that people won’t like it and I need the assurance that some people do. But no author can please everyone, and reading too many reviews sometimes makes me feel like Rapunzel from Tangled when she first leaves her tower. You know, when she’s crying one second, laughing the next, sobbing the third, and giddy the fourth? It’s very up and down, and when I start to feel like my equilibrium is taking a severe hit, I stop reading and focus on something new.

Title: The Reluctant Bachelorette
Author: Rachael Anderson
Format: Paperback, 300 pages
Publisher: September 8th 2012 by HEA Publishing, LLC
Source: I Am a Reader, Not a Writer Blog Tour

Unknowingly cast as the bachelorette for her town’s charity event, Taycee Emerson wants out. Especially when she discovers her old teenage crush, Luke Carney, is one of the bachelors and it’s up to the viewers–not her–to decide which bachelors stay or go.

Coerced into participating, Taycee does what any self-preserving girl would do. She launches a subtle attack on Luke’s good name with the hope of getting him voted off the show. Unfortunately, Luke’s an eye-for-an-eye kind of guy, and when he discovers what she’s up to, it means revenge.

But when their pranks go south, will they screw up any chance they have at a future together, or will they be able to forgive and forget and prove that love really does conquer all?

Taycee still lives in her little hometown and is just fine with that, thankyouverymuch. Though her bestie, Jessa, still lives in town, her parents, brother and most school friends have moved on and out, leaving Taycee feeling abandoned. When Jessa basically strongarms her into being the town’s bachelorette, in an effort to boost the town’s income and save the local farms, Taycee reluctantly agrees. She’s not too happy when Luke, the boy who broke her heart years ago, ends up on the show, too. Though the voters get to decide who stays on the show, Taycee figures she can do some sabotaging to make sure Luke leaves first.

Taycee was a character I really liked. She loved her quiet little hometown and wished that her friends and family had stayed there with her. Even though she was lonely, she didn’t let it consume her, and she still managed to be pretty happy most of the time. She had a great attitude and was quite cheerful and kind. She was even pretty tolerant of the snarky cafe waitress who disliked her. She owned a successful flower shop and her own home. Jessa was incredibly pushy, and though I can understand she coerced Taycee into doing the show for the love of her family and town, I still would not have been down with what she did. Taycee was much more lenient than I would have been.

Luke was an okay love interest, but I didn’t understand Taycee’s obsession with him. They (along with her brother) were good friends growing up and Taycee had always had a crush on him, but when he moved away, she decided he was the one and never let him go mentally. When he came back thinking everything was fine and dandy, she went a little off the handle. I was surprised she didn’t scare Luke away with her crazy.

I really liked the “Bachelorette” type setting. I don’t watch the real show, so I don’t know how closely the book’s version followed it, but I enjoyed their town’s little version. I liked the behind the scenes parts, and following Taycee’s frame of mind and thought processes as she went from date to date to date. The tension and build-up between Luke and Taycee was fun to watch (becuase let’s face it, you know how it’s going to end). I liked the practical jokes they played on each other and the snark they brought out in each other.

This was truly a clean read – zero sex, drugs or rock and roll. No bad words either. And it turns out all that isn’t very necessary. You can still have a fun, entertaining book with all the excitement and romance of any other book. I like the cover okay. It’s cute, but all I can think when I look at it is a box of haircolor.

Fun and romantic, this is classic chick-lit.