Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of Dating Game

Dating Game
Dating Game
Author: Beverly Brandt
Genre: Romance
Book Type: Paperback
reviewed on + 109 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1


Lainie Ames returns to Floridabut not to attend her high school reunion as she tells her family. Instead, she needs to recover. Her husband, a compulsive gambler, has left her with maxed out credit cards and no home, while he vanishes. Her job has gone bankrupt. She is broke, and ashamed of it, so Lainie concocts a bunch of lies to get her through this black period in her life.

Her sister, Trish, takes her out for dinner, but has left her money home, so Lainie is left with no choice but to steal a credit card from an unsuspecting diner. The next day, when Lainie goes out job hunting (any job will do) she stumbles into Jack Danforths Private Investigators office. He needs help, but even more, he knows that Lainie stole his credit card and he needs payback, not paying for some womans hundred dollar feast.

Since Lainie seems to have had good luck with a job, she sets her sights on Blaine Harper, the sexiest guy in her high school class. She takes a class at Rules of Engagement, a company that teaches women how to snag the girl of their dreams. With that knowledge, Lainie sets out to win Blaines heart. But her every move is foiled by Jack. Is that because Jack wants her for himself? Or is it something else altogether?

DATING GAME is the first book I had the privilege of reading by Beverly Brandt. I didnt appreciate Lainies style of dealing with problemsshe lies way too easilyand I thought have the problems would have been resolved a lot easier and faster if she tried telling the truth. I also didnt really relate to her, having come from a different lifestyle. However, Lainie is expertly portrayed, and I felt I knew her. Jack is a truly heroic hero, kind, even when he has every reason not to be.

There are several laugh-out-loud moments in the book, and I was caught up in Ms. Brandts expert story telling. Fans of Ms. Brandt are not going to want to miss DATING GAME. It is hilarious, fun, and totally charming. $14.00. 292 pages