Stealing Taffy by Susan Donovan (Bigler, North Carolina #3)
Released: August 30, 2016
Contemporary Romance
St. Martin’s

Reviewed by May

This story opens in an airport where Tanyalee aka Taffy is coming back from some kind of rehab/therapy takes an instant lust to a man… a man who happens to be seated next to her on the plane. We’re teased with hints that she’s not altogether stable (or sane?!) but off they go on a sexual romp that weeks later neither can forget.

“Excuse me.”

Her voice was classic Southern belle, but softer than many he’d heard. There was something alluring about it, even. Dante did not look up.

“I can’t help but see that you’re a little crowded there in the middle. Would you like the aisle seat? You could probably stretch out your legs. I mean, I, well… I don’t need the legroom like you do. You’re just… um, you’re so much… bigger than me.”

And just like that, he was hard.

Stealing Taffy is actually a part of a series – I read the original book years ago and remember it being somewhat of a miss. The same thing happens here for several reasons, and though it was an enjoyable read I can’t necessarily endorse it. Let me explain by getting into my problems.

I had no problem with the general premise nor with the “coincidence” that these two strangers end up living in/working in the same small town. Small down, bakery, drug hot spot, mentoring troubled kids – sure why not. I also really appreciated that Tanyalee has some serious self improvement to do, and Dante is in AA doing some life changing as well.

My problem starts with the Tanyalee/Taffy herself. She was in a very expensive inpatient rehab program because of all of her over the top lying, stealing, manipulation, and general terrible human being ways. She’s avoiding jail time doing this, FYI so it isn’t like she felt like changing for the good one day on her own. She meets her new love interest the day she’s flying home from this, which right off the bat I didn’t like because it gave her no time or space to make herself as a better person. Furthermore, she went from the kind of person who tricks her sister’s boyfriend into sex and gets herself pregnant (intentionally) and stealing from her family to someone I want to root for and who is now a great human? We never get enough explanation for why she was that way (there is some, it is weak) or furthermore why we should believe her a changed person now.

My next problem is that without believing her as a credible character, how am I supposed to believe she can handle a forever after kind of romance with Dante? Sure they heat up the sheets… but why do they like each other? Why would they fall in love? I was never convinced as a bulk of the story is dedicated to Taffy and her personal journey.

Dante is wholly unremarkable as a male lead working for the DEA. He was one of a hundred similar that I’ve read, which is a let down. The ending was predictable and stale, and overall there really isn’t much I can say to recommend this book to you. So why did I finish it? What made me stay till the end? Susan Donovan has a writing style that moves briskly and keeps me interested, so I did in fact enjoy my time reading even if I did have issues with the content.

If you are looking for a fun and light contemporary romantic romp, this book will deliver in this way. Things move right along and there isn’t a dull moment. It will also work as a stand-alone as it’s been years since I read the first book (and don’t believe I read the second). The author does a lovely job keeping it focused while referencing past events in a way that will make sense to readers regardless of if they’d read the other books or not. I give kudos for working with “flawed” characters, but at the same time I wish more had been done with them to develop them as rich, interesting characters instead of shallow and weak superficial players in this romantic comedy of sorts.

Grade: C

Goodreads l Author Website

Kindle l Nook