[amazon_link id=”0446576085″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ][/amazon_link]Title : Last Chance Beauty Queen
Author : Hope Ramsay
Publisher : Grand Central Publishing
Genre : Romance
Source : NetGalley/Publisher ARC
Rating : 2.5/5

British Lord Hugh DeBracy comes to America to setup his textile machinery factory. He requires the assistance of Caroline Rocky Rhodes to persuade a land-owner in Last Chance, South Carolina, to sell his land to DeBracy. The land is owned by Elbert Rhodes, Caroline’s father. He has an eighteen hole miniature golf course on the land, each hole depicting a Bible related story. Golfing for God is not operational anymore, but Elbert, who “talks” to angels is rather partial to keeping it where it is. He is also very obstinate. Caroline has been drafted to help by her boss Senator Rupert Warren. When the Baron wishes to comes down to Last Chance, Caroline is forced to come with him, hoping that she can find a way out of this predicament. However her father will not agree to sell, the townspeople are up in arms about losing “Golfing for God” and Rocky has come at the time of the Annual Watermelon festival, of which she has unpleasant memories.

I requested this book from NetGalley because the premise for this book seemed quirky. “Golfing for God” and talking to angels ? Really ? I’d expected a witty, up close and personal small town tale, but this book read more like the typical Mills and Boons/Harlequin novel. Rocky is beautiful and curvy, and DeBracy is very handsome with a delectable British accent to boot. Rocky’s family is very influential in the town – her mom owns the local beauty parlor and her brother Stone is the sheriff. The family is also very strong-minded and Rocky is persuaded to participate in the Watermelon Festival in her Beauty Queen paraphernalia, much to her chagrin and DeBracy’s amusement. Both are attracted to each other., with the Lord’s heart racing whenever Rocky is around and Rocky’s “lady parts getting all hot and bothered” by Hugh’s presence.

While the author does well for this genre, building up the main and supporting characters very well, I thought the story a bit repetitive. After DeBracy and Rocky get to Last Chance, there are a series of events each of which lets the pair to get to know the other a bit better. The book went on in this manner for a while, and my attention flagged with each passing episode. While Rocky has a backstory and lots of family members to help build up her personality I only had Rocky’s perspective by which to judge DeBracy. Apart from being physically attractive I didn’t quite get why he was so appealing. I might be over this genre but I has expected a little more story and little less romance. So, I’ve got to say that this book didn’t work for me. If you’re a fan of Ramsay’s earlier work  – this is part of a series with each book  featuring one of Rocky’s siblings – this might suit you better.