Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Molly Cannon

• Title: Crazy Little Thing Called Love
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Contemporary Romance
• Format: Mass Market Paperback; 368 pages
• Publisher: Forever (June 25, 2013)
• ISBN-10: 1455515760
• ISBN-13: 978-1455515769

Author's Website: http://www.mollycannon.com/
Notes: I received a ARC of the book from the publisher and will need to check quotes against those of the finished copy.

She thought he had taken advantage of her grandmother.
He thought she was prickly as a cactus.

     "Let's get one thing straight, you're a glorified pool boy. I don't like you, and I certainly don't trust you. And 'Etta's Place'? If it's an attempt to butter me up, it won't work."
     "Hey, it wasn't my idea," He held up both hands like he was innocent of all charges.
     "I think you somehow bamboozled my grandmother into agreeing to this crazy scheme of yours, and now you think you can bamboozle me too. You come in her flashing that ridiculous smile of yours and pouring on the boyish charm. Well, let's get one thing straight, mister. I'm not my grandmother, and I can't be bamboozled."
     He stepped back and gently set the folder on the coffee table. His voice was soft and oddly wistful. "At least we can agree on one thing. You're not your grandmother."

Etta Green's grandmother had entered into a business venture with her neighbor, Donny Joe Ledbetter. A venture she hadn't shared any knowledge of with Etta or her sister Belle. Donny Joe had thought to help the woman who was more like family to him than any of his true family had been and had agreed to finance the converting of Etta's grandmother's home into a B&B. Unfortunately Hazel died before she could see her plan come to fruition. Now Etta and Donny Joe are forced to work together to get the Bed & Breakfast Etta's grandmother had envisioned up and running. What neither could have expected after their initial abrasive confrontation was a crazy little thing called love making an appearance. Somehow I suspect that had always been part of Etta's grandmother's grand scheme.

This was such a fun and sweet romance. Etta Green is the Chef and part owner of an upscale Chicago restaurant called Finale that has earned a good reputation and was on its way to becoming one of the best. When she received word that her grandmother had died, she immediately leaves her partner and lead cooks in charge so she could help with the funeral arrangements and come to terms with the loss. She had planned to be gone for a week, two tops, but things didn't go as planned. First, she found out her grandmother had been in the midst of converting the estate into a B&B and things were a little wonky in regards to ownership. Secondly, she never expected her sister to up and leave her with her niece with nary a word of warning or idea of when she'd be back. That left Etta in a very uncomfortable position because things with her business partner, Diego, have been strained at best. The two had ended their long term romantic relationship six months prior and he'd protested her leaving, telling her she'd lose her job if when left. Ever since she'd been eager to get back and smooth things over with him. As she soon realizes, however, she may have been looking at her grandmother's plans in the wrong light. As the B&B construction starts taking shape, she sees it may not be the millstone she first thought, but rather a unique opportunity to get out from under the thumb of Diego and do her own thing. She's always seen her career going in one direction, now she may have to rethink.

Donny Joe Ledbetter had been a typical unruly teen who had gotten into some trouble. He'd grown up poor with no one to really look out for him and Miz Hazel, Etta's grandmother, had been the first person to give him a break at a time when he most needed it. Had she not done what she had for him, there's no doubt his life would have taken a turn for the worse. He'd never forgotten what she'd done and he and Miz Hazel, as she was known to all in town, had grown close over the years. She'd dole out advice and looked out for him and when she'd grown older, he'd returned the favor. Over the years he'd managed to do quite well for himself becoming the owner of a pool business. When Miz Hazel asked for his help in converting the family estate into a B&B he didn't hesitate to help and finance the venture. He'd have done just about anything for her, but putting up with her rude and abrasives granddaughter may be more than he can bear.

I loved how this couple started out disliking each other. It made the story all that much more fun. Donny Joe was a self decreed lifetime bachelor and had a well established reputation in Everson, Texas as being a scoundrel where woman were concerned. Etta thought she had him pegged, but as they start to get to know each other, they realize their initial thoughts of one another may have been made in haste. As they come to mutually respect and rely on each other they realize they get along very well.

Overall, I gave this one 3 1/2 out of 5 roses. A very sweet, lighthearted read that will put you in a good mood and make you feel all is right with the world. It was fun watching these two go from despising each other to loving each other. I enjoyed  how one individual got what they deserved and the idea that Etta's grandmother indirectly was the cause for these two coming together. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one received a FAN rating--the temperature in the room seems to have suddenly gone up a couple of degrees and a fan would be nice.