This novella is actually a good length--192 pages in paperback, although I read the e-book, so I'm not sure if that page total includes the four excerpts and one sneak peak of other books that are in the Kindle edition.  Like the others in the series, it is set in my town of Twilight (Granbury), Texas, with events and settings that actually exist (or happened).

Sesty Snow is an event planner who is running a date-with-a-bachelor fundraising auction, an event "designed to bring additional tourism dollars into Hood County and justify the new lakeside conference center that some gung-ho politico had convinced voters they needed."  (So true!)

"Hunks-in-the-Hood" (known in Granbury as Handsome Hunks of Hood County) will benefit Holly's House (Ruth's Place in Granbury), which provides medical care to needy families in the area.  Sesty has twelve bachelors lined up, but one is no longer available due to an injury.

Who walks in to take his place (as community service for damaging the local judge's half-sister's garish Valentine's Day house decorations)?  None other than injured NASCAR driver Josh Langtree, Sesty's high school sweetheart.

You can figure out where things go from there.  Lori Wilde also incorporated a tornado into the storyline:  "The previous year, a tornado had hit Twilight and lives were lost, and now everyone was edgy when it came to thunderstorms."  Very true for me since Granbury's May 2013 tornado!

This novella seems to stand alone - it's not crucial to have read any other books in the Twilight, Texas series, although doing so probably makes some of the characters and settings feel more familiar.

Overall - a fun, quick read for Valentine's Day or any other time you want a little romance.

© Amanda Pape - 2014

[This e-book was borrowed from and returned to the library. This review also appears on Bookin' It.] ( )

Contemporary, Romance, Twilight, Texas

Sesty Snow is an event planner that at the moment isn’t a fan of flowers, hearts or romantic dinners. She has had to learn to control her emotions and her life. Even with that running Twilight’s annual bachelor auction is right up her alley. At least it was until her high school sweetheart comes back to town. He is just as handsome as ever but he is still the daredevil he was in high school and the reason their romance didn’t work then.

Josh Langtree is a NASCAR driver that was injured. Josh doesn’t have any interest in being anyone’s sweetheart. He just wants a place that he can heal from his wounds. At least that was the plan until a misunderstanding has him doing community service by doing Sesty’s auction. Now he is in front of screaming women wearing a tux and a smile all the while seeing just how tempting Sesty still is.

The sparks between them are just as hot as ever and Josh says he has changed but Sesty has to decide if she can trust that and let Josh take control and lead her to a future she never expect to have.

This is a very sweet Valentine’s Day book. It is a novella so it isn’t very long but once the reader starts they will find a story that is just as full as any novel they could read. The story is fast paced due to length the reader definitely gets their money worth with the plot. It is another wonderful story set in Twilight, Texas and gives the reader a chance to visit a town that is full of surprises and romance. This is proving to be a wonderful series that has some great characters that are fun to revisit again and again. This one is sure to put anyone in the mood for Valentine’s Day. This is one worth reading. ( )

The Valentine's Day Disaster: A Twilight, Texas Novella BY Lori Wilde
The tradition in he Twilight TX Valentine's Day celebration now include Hunks-In-The-Hood bachelor auction.
Jana Gerard and her boss Sesty were in charge of the auction but one man had dropped out due to an injury. Their miracle walked into the rehearsal hall Josh Langree.
Josh is a Nascar driver and injured, back in town to recuperate and to serve his 40 hours of community service.
Josh and Sesty were an item in high school but he moved onto the race car circuit. She wasn't interested in anything that was as drastic as the daredevils stunts he did.
Now they have eyes for one another again, but for how long...and they both on the rebound from ex's that cheated on them...
She has one shot to get the auction right all the details so a lot of big money will be raised to go towards healthcare for those in need.
Loved revisiting the town, and the legend of tossing a coin into the fountain and you will reunite with your love plays a part in this book also.... there are other diasters that occur and you wonder if the auction will even take place.
Hot steamy romance and sex scenes. More excerpts from the author and other authors from Avon Books are included.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. ( )

Title: A Valentine's Day Disaster
Author: Lori Wilde
Published: Avon Impulse
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Series: Twilight, Texas
Rating: 4
Review:

"The Valentine's Day Disaster" by Lori Wilde was a sweet short contemporary romantic novel. We find Sesty Snow was 'event planner and in charge of this years 'Twilight's annual Valentine's Day Bachelor auction.' Sesty had recently broken up from a relationship and now her former HS sweetheart, Josh Langtree who had left Twilight, Texas some ten years ago was back. Josh had been injured during a NASCAR read and his career was now on hold while he was recuperating from a knee injury. Now, will Sesty and Josh get back together and this magical town of Twilight and live 'happy ever after?' This had been the first love for each of these two. Be ready for an adventurous story with the 'Bachelor auction,' revisit of a first love and a tornado? The characters of "The Valentine's Day Disaster" were all so well developed, well portrayed and colorful only to give the reader a good smooth well written read. This read is one that will put a smile on your face as you will be kept turning the pages until the very end.

"The Valentine's Day Disaster" will be a contemporary romantic read especially for the upcoming Valentine's Day that I would definitely recommend as a good read. ( )