Mr. Rebound by Michael Cain
Contemporary Romance
February 21, 2011
E-Book
Lyrical Press

Reviewed by Mandi

When Susan is dumped at the altar via cocktail napkin, she kind of slumps into a comatose state. But no worries she has her two best friends to pick her up. With the honeymoon already paid for in Cancun, best friend #1, Liz decides that is where she needs to go. Problem is that due to work, Liz can’t quite leave yet – so that leaves best friend #2, Kevin. Kevin has been in love with Susan since he laid eyes on her seven years ago in college. Back then, although Kevin could make Susan laugh like no one else and they loved hanging out with each other, Kevin was a skinny, awkward guy and Susan labeled him very clearly in the “friends only” department. Keeping in touch by phone and email, they haven’t seen each other in person all this time, but Kevin has never fallen out of love. And now Liz wants him to take Susan to Cancun…by himself. It’s torture.

Arriving, it takes Susan a few days to get out of bed (a place Kevin stays far away from) but once she gets up she slowly returns to her old self. And realizes Kevin has gone from pale, skinny geek to sculpted gorgeous god. She is in trouble.

I received a review request for Mr. Rebound awhile ago and for whatever reason, kept it in my little “to read folder” on my computer. I think because the author labeled it a “romantic comedy” it caught my eye. And there is plenty of snark and humorous lines in this book – maybe not total laugh out loud funny, but it had me smiling throughout.

I kept waiting for a character or situation in this book to annoy me – but that really never came. There was a time or two that I thought if Susan and Kevin have remained such close friends, some things that surprised her about Kevin, should not have. With email, texting etc…her surprise at his physical appearance confused me a little bit. Susan could have come across as whiney and pitiful because she now is attracted to Kevin who keeps his distance – but she doesn’t. And her internal struggle is cute:

So, what would a smart, worldly bitch do in this situation?

She’d ask herself what she wants.

Kevin….

Did she want him for a night, a week, a month?

I don’t know..

So she wanted Kevin in her bed for an indeterminate amount of time?

Susan cringed at the thought.

Yes! I want him in my goddamn, motherfucking bed!

Liz, who is the snarky side-kick could have been bitchy – but her slight bitchiness is endearing to her character. And I think the plot of this story moves along really well. The unfolding romance goes pretty smoothly.

I did feel like the second half doesn’t match up with the first half of the book. In the first half we are in Cancun – just Susan and Kevin. It is a small, intimate setting where we get to learn about these two and their past.

The second half takes us more into the real world – to New York. To Kevin and Susan’s jobs and friends and co-workers. A world I wasn’t exactly prepared to enter, not having much hint of this in the first half of the book. It felt like an abrupt change and I think I preferred the smaller setting better.

This book does read like a romantic comedy film. I could see it played out as a movie in my head. Besides the comedy parts, we also get some very hot and smokin’ sex scenes. Overall, a fun, sexy story.

Rating: B-

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