Wild About Her Wingman by Robin Bielman – a Review

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Description:
Playing it safe never felt so risky.

Erin Watters is her small town’s resident wild child—she doesn’t do boring, and after having her heart annihilated, she definitely doesn’t do relationships. Her friends have other ideas, though, and when they throw down a matchmaking challenge, impulsive Erin can’t ignore it. Even when the annoyingly hot Troy Strieber accepts the matchmaker role…

As a rescue paramedic, Troy’s used to watching out for people. Never mind the bet he made with his buddy to play Erin’s wingman. But the more time he spends with the sexy, charismatic woman, the more he discovers a side of her she doesn’t let many see. Soon what started as an innocent game of matchmaking has them both thinking about the person right under their nose. But Troy’s a play-it-safe guy, and he won’t let a woman who lives for risk ever steal his heart.

Review:

When Troy’s reputation as matchmaker extraordinaire extends to Erin, a gal whose wild streak is out of his comfort level, the challenge becomes unique.  Erin’s been burned by love, so she’s a bit jaded; he’s got to figure her out.  But the real problem is that TROY has to step out of the way.  Now, what happens when you set up friends?  You try to find common interests, similarities.  Before long, Troy believes HE’s Erin’s perfect match.  Delish or what?!  Robin Bielman tells just this story in Wild About Her Wingman, an entertaining read that is perfectly timed for summer reading!

“All I’ve got to do is find her a guy she wants a second date with.  This challenge has nothing to do with getting her to fall for someone.”…

“I said find Erin’s dream guy, but you know, I’m feeling generous so let’s just say a guy she wants to keep dating.”

Shit.  He had said that, hadn’t he?

Before wingman duties go into overdrive, Troy has to face personal demons of his own.  While he may have a flare for pairing up people, his own bachelor status stems from his girlfriend’s fatal hiking accident.  When his captain at the firehouse encourages Troy to pursue “exposure therapy” to rid him of his acrophobia (fear of heights), Troy never expected Erin to be his therapist (she’s a grad student).  Their connection was already forming pursuant to the dating challenge, so you can imagine how attuned they were.  Before long, Troy and Erin are collaborating and more interested in each other than any of the wingman set-ups.  Unfortunately, Troy and Erin get in the way.  Now that he’s her thesis subject, and they both believe they’re too different for each other, distance becomes necessary.

If she were ever dumb enough to act on her attraction, and it got out, his squeaky-clean image would ruin the carefree, hasty reputation she’d spent years nurturing, and no way could she have that.  And no way could she trust herself not to let her heart get involved.  Because Troy was just the type to make her woozy with affection and attachment.

A few critiques, if I may.  I couldn’t quite get into the rhythm Ms. Bielman set.  Erin was reputed to be the “bad girl”, but I didn’t read about reckless behavior (adolescent mischief more accurately).  Scenes would flow then segue rather abruptly.  It also got interrupted by a change of writing styles; as if the author included all her thoughts instead of filtering some out.  It led to a crammed, “don’t let me forget this detail” read.  And treating Troy’s phobia, while she suffers from one herself…it didn’t lend itself to credibility of her own profession.  In the end, it’s about healing body and soul and this couple would offer the other no less.  Don’t expect steam here, however.  It heads that way, but you’re left *gasping* to vivid imaginations…

All in all, this was a sweet story of overcoming adversity with the one you love.  A plot like this never goes out of style. 

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher