Review: NOT MY TYPE by Melanie Jacobson

So you all know how I claim to be writing this fun, contemporary LDS romance? I started revisions the other day and wondered about some things. I've read a lot of romance and def my fair share of LDS romance, but none of them seemed quite like what I was writing. I did know of one person who does write like that: Melanie Jacobson. I bought NOT MY TYPE as research. I swear.

From DeseretBook.com: Twenty-three-year-old Pepper Spicer is not living the dream. She ended her engagement at the last minute because fiance—a musician an soon-to-be reality TV star—wanted her to sacrifice her own career ambitions for his. Now she's stuck at home sharing a room with her little sister, trying to pay off massive debt for a wedding that didn't happen, and spending Friday nights Facebook-stalking everyone who has a better life. Her therapist father urges her to choose her career dreams and count her blessings by writing weekly thank-you notes, but gratitude is a tall order when she botches an important job interview and has to settle for writing an undercover dating web-zine column—the last thing in the world she wants to do. Still, as Pepper (byline:Indie Girl) chronicles her bizarre and hilarious blind dates, she gives her father's challenge a try and slowly finds herself leaving self-pity behind. Life takes a major upswing as Pepper's column hits the big time and she tastes the exhilarating thrill of success. But there's one tiny problem: the intensely hot man she's falling for is having issues with her job (again). Will Pepper trade her personal ambition for another chance at love?
Audience: Adult
Genre: LDS Romance, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy
Length: 272 pages

Rating: ***** (LOVED it)

The Pros: The wit. The snark. The awesome voice. Considering I follow/stalk Melanie on Twitter, none of that surprised me. I LOVED Pepper as a character. Every character was so great, especially the love interests. Yes. Interests. The romantic arc was fabulous, but what I thought was awesome was that this story really revolved more around Pepper and her journey than it did about Pepper finding love -- although that was important too. And it had great lines. GREAT lines. Melanie spilled a great message without ever, ever coming off as preachy. One important thing I noted so I could remember to share -- I like how Pepper is not "naive" about her attraction to the main love interest. She resists, she doubts, but she admits it instead of floating on along, like a lot of romance heroines I come across, wondering why in the world does this guy keep paying attention to me? Yes. Thumbs up.

He Said/She Said: "From the first taste of butternut squash bisque to the last bite of cherry cheesecake, the food was diving -- as in, I think Courtney's mom stirred everything with angel feathers." (LOVE)

"I guess it's so I can feel like making out with you is sanctioned if we're officially dating."

Okay, and I have to share one more. My *sigh* moment. (You guys know how important it is to me to have the *sigh* moment in a romance book.) "... the gentle brush of his lips drew a sigh from me I didn't know I was holding."

Mmmmmm. Yum.

Disclaimer: Nothing.

Buy the book here.
Check out Melanie's webpage.
Follow her on Twitter.

*If you have made it this far in the review and not gone to buy the book yet, there's something wrong with you.