Tammy's Reviews > Just One of the Guys

Being one of the guys isn't what it's cracked up to be.

Chastity O'Neill is the only girl in a rowdy family of four alpha male brothers, all who are firefighters. Dad is the fire department's captain. Mom is the no-nonesense, take-no-prisoners type.

And then there is Trevor Meade, also a firefighter. An old-fashioned good boy with brown curly hair and soft brown eyes. The honorary O'Neill. Best friend to Chastity's brothers. A real live, walking, talking Vagina Magnet. Trevor is also Chastity's first love. The man she never got over after the 72 glorious hours they spent together in college. But she discovers that Travis has gotten over her just fine. In fact, he wants to be her buddy and treats her like a little sister. Or so it seems.

After Chastity returns to her hometown to be close to her family and accepts a job as a journalist at the local rag, she decides it's time to settle down, get married and have babies. Lots of babies. Just like her brothers. But nobody in town dares to date "the O'Neill girl" and who can blame them? Chastity spends her spare time putting into motion her super-skills at rowing, running marathons, and babysitting her dozens of nieces and nephews while she is husband hunting. We even get glimpses of Chastity at work where a slight mystery takes place.

Eventually Chastity meets Ryan Darling, M.D., (a/k/a "Dr. Perfect") while attending a self-defense class that he teaches for women (he is also a karate black belt). Dr. Perfect, impressed with Chastity's sparring abilities, attempts to demonstrate a chokehold on Chastity. Too bad Chastity's body reacts faster than her brain - she knees Dr. Darling. HARD. Possibly affecting his ability to father their future children.

Chastity's brothers cannot help whistling "The Nutcracker" the next time they see her. Her father brags of his daughter's ability to take down a black belt. Needless to say, this does not help in her quest for a husband. But in spite of her family, Dr. Ryan Darling dares to ask Chastity out to dinner. At the same time Travis begins to hook up with the tiny and irritating Perfect Hayden. The in-your-face competitions and immature love triangles that ensue are hilarious. But the sweetness and the love story are there too. I thought it was adorable every time Travis found silly excuses to spend time with clueless Chastity.

So honestly ...

I've been putting off reading this one for quite awhile. Sure, it won the 2008 RITA award. And the AAR website gave it a great review, comparing Kristan Higgins to the likes of Susan Elizabeth Phillips (who "writes like a slowpoke") and Jennifer Crusie (who needs to stop doing those stupid collaborations and write a single title already).

I expected the same old, tired crap.

But I found that Kristan Higgins has a snarky sense of humor and her dialogue is incredibly realistic. Her writing style and story-telling abilities evoked all sorts of emotions in me. I laughed until my side hurt, got mad, got sad and later I found myself crying. (While this book has a wonderful and realistic family dynamic, not everyone has an HEA ending.)

And do you know who Chastity reminded me of?

Stephanie Plum.

Let me clarify that. Early Stephanie Plum before all of the over-the-top characters.

Chastity was a real, down-to-earth person. Flaws and all. Not your typical romance heroine. She is described as being five foot, eleven and three-quarter inches. Amazonian build. She doesn't worry about girly-girl things like shopping, her weight or collecting shoes. She prefers her red high tops, has a mammoth crush on Derek Jeeter, worships old St. Lou, and shares a few tender moments with her ugly dog, Buttercup (who takes on a personality of her own I might add).

I loved having the ability to jump into Chastity's head. Her thoughts are funny and unique. For example ...

(on meeting her mom for single's night at the grocery story)

"Attention single shoppers. Ass check. Aisle nine."

(on Dr. Ryan Darling)

"His bone structure alone could send the Greeks to war ... and his eyes! A pure, clear, Derek Jeter Green. Man, oh man. Nice work, God!"

It only gets better. I highly recommend this romantic comedy if you don't mind the chick-littish feel or the first person voice.