This will be a fast ham handed review so my apologies. So the things I loved about this book is what I think all great contemporaries have and humor is one them. No question the sense of humor with all the characters was done with a deft hand and skillfully. Another thing is this book had heart even with the light element. It was engaging and entertaining.

What I had trouble with was the widow trope. I readily admit this is a personal pet peeve. Somehow the deceased always is lacking in some way. This explains why this hero or heroine is the one true love. Now this book only hit on this element once but the timing of it left a bad taste in my mouth. For those who read the book--no pun intended.

Now what made up for this is the secondary romance which just made me sigh. It was wonderful. Simply wonderful.

I'll likely pick up another one of this author's books. All in all an enjoyable read. ( )

Pretty good book but weird ending. Good female lead but the wrap up felt forced and not well thought out. ( )

interesting read. ( )

Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Nov08

Ghosts and mobsters and hats --Oh my! Elizabeth Bevarly’s second novel set against a backdrop of slow, southern gentility and the Kentucky Derby goes down as smooth and refreshing as a sparkling mint julep. “Ready & Willing” is a tale of filly hats, a luscious ghost, and modern love. For me, Bevarly’s books have always been hit or miss and this one is a hit.

When faithful widow Audrey brings home a painting of Silas Summerfield, a handsome riverboat pilot who once lived in her new home/business, she has no idea that the ghost of said pilot is moving in too! When Silas’ ghost manages to prove he’s real, he then gives her an assignment—his ‘great-great-however-many-greats grandson’ is in danger of losing his soul and he wants Audrey to help prevent that. Uh, sure…and why doesn’t she bring about world peace in the meantime? But Silas is insistent and Audrey decides to give it a try. But when she meets Nathaniel Summerfield, she quickly realizes that: A-he thinks she’s a nutcase; B-he’s an incredibly handsome man who makes her formerly-dead senses spin; and C-he’s such a jerk he probably won’t even miss his soul!

Nathaniel Summerfield is single, successful, and satisfyingly rich. The business deal he’s about to conclude will make him even more successful and rich, so he doesn’t really care what the attractive nutjob has to say. Until the day after he signs the contract and suddenly feels empty…and cold, bone-deep, unrelenting cold. When he pays a visit to Audrey to satisfy his curiosity, he also finds out that just the touch of her hand can bring warmth back to his life. Unfortunately, it’s ONLY Audrey’s touch that works. So maybe there really is something to her craziness. Now he’s becoming even more attracted to her…both physically AND emotionally. But she still considers herself married, to a dead man. And she also seems to make him feel dissatisfaction with his life, and he was just fine before…truly. Once he gets his soul back, he’ll be fine…really!

Oh what a pair. Audrey still faithful to a dead man and Nathaniel married to material wealth and success, but both of them alone. Reading about their gradually deepening feelings and fears was almost too realistic, but very enjoyable. I liked the way Bevarly emphasized the emotional, over, but not at the cost of, the physical. And while there were no ‘stunning revelations’, there was instead, a gradual understanding of what is really important in their lives and the sacrifices and compromises required of every couple.

There’s also a bonus secondary love story which is wholly metaphysical between Silas the ghost and Audrey’s damaged, hurt associate. I was a bit disappointed that these two didn’t find a way to physically connect, but that would have totally changed the book. I still found their strange relationship rewarding, which looking back, is surprising and satisfying in a way. I enjoyed Bevarly’s descriptions and depictions of modern life vs older times in the South and Kentucky. The Derby and it’s ‘hat’ fetishes were a necessary addition to support our heroine the milliner…and it was just plain fun.

Although “Ready & Willing” is Elizabeth Bevarly’s second book set around Kentucky and the Derby, the two books aren’t connected by anything other than setting so it’s not necessary to have read one to appreciate and enjoy the other. I read them both and like them both, and if you like humor and emotional, but not necessarily sad, love stories, you will find both these books well worth your time. ( )