No Easy Way Out

By: Elaine Raco Chase

Narrated by: Katie McAble

Engineering robots, and all non-living creatures, was easy for Virginia - not so much with people. So when her best friend dragged her to the company Halloween party, Virginia went kicking and screaming…well as much as her Playboy bunny costume allowed for any movement.

But with her mask in place and her normal reserve as tiny as her costume, Dr. Farrell suddenly let loose. Wild and wanton, she fell into the muscular arms of the costumed and masked Bandit. His virile charms and passionate kisses penetrated her reserve. But at the stroke of midnight, when the masks were to come off, Virginia fled, leaving her bunny tail in the palm of the handsome Bandit's hand.

Alex Braddock was determined to find the curvy ass that fit the tail. He was stunned when it appeared that his new boss, Dr. Farrell was his sexy rabbit.

But was it the prim, professional Virginia? She resembled oatmeal!

Or her wanton twin sister, Ginger? She got turned on by the navel in an orange!

Which woman was the aggressor? Which woman ignited burning desire? Which woman - became the all-consuming question that needed an answer.

This romantic comedy is a laugh-a-minute, with a team of fairy godmothers that would make any Cinderella blush and a surprise twist in the middle that makes for no easy way out!

©1982, 2012 Elaine Raco Chase (P)2013 Elaine Raco Chase

Couldn't even get past the first chapter

The writing is terrible, I couldn't get past the first chapter because of how bad it was. It just grated on my nerves.

Rushed ... Not in a good way

I loved the twin concept, but the plot fell short. Too much too fast ... no time to fall in love with the characters. So, you don't know if you want them to be in love or to walk away. I also have a hard time believing that a man who loves a strong woman would resent her so quickly. I struggled with this one, fortunately it is a short book.

Rushed and yet it still managed to drag in parts.

I honestly got real tired of constantly hearing about the best friend lighting up a cigarette, honestly she was a chain smoker and maybe that's why the narrator made her sound like a 60 year old matron aunt (I don't know why but that is exactly how I kept picturing her) rather than a 30ish professional. Alex was so wishy washy I honestly couldn't even root for the HEA, he literally sounded more misogynist and outdated than my grandfather who was 85. It was a good turn on the "Insta-love" trope, but it felt rushed and cobbled together

A Fun and Light Story

Some of our most interesting awkward moments come when we take a chance and step out of our comfort zones. Whether those moments become enjoyable or merely uncomfortable depends on your own ability to not take yourself too seriously. This is exactly what happens to Virginia, but what could go wrong with a masquerade party where she isn’t expected to appear anyway.

Dragged to the party by her best friend, Virgina appears in a retro magazine-famous bunny suit, complete with fuzzy tail. Has a marvelous time too, after a makeover brings out her inner goddess, and indulges in more than a little flirtation with the Bandit, another masked party guest. When the moment of truth arrives, and guests are to reveal their identity, Virgina darts away from the party and the Bandit, leaving behind her fuzzy tail.

For his part, Alex is less vulnerable to Virginia’s attempts at duplicity, he is attracted to the woman in the lab AND is smart enough to realize that one has to talk sometimes. There is a curious sort of chivalry and old-world manners that he displays that are less chauvinistic and more alpha-like in his position in the relationship, and his obvious approval of Virginia’s curves are blatant and brilliantly included.

Conversations run from patently absurd topics to cleverly phrased and written banter that feels true to each character, and none better epitomizes the perky, pushy and often bossy best friend Diane, who is never at a loss for advice, even when some is badly thought out. Narration in this story is provided by Katie McAble and the effects varied for me. Her voice is young and fresh, and she did capture the delivery inflection needed to distinguish characters so important in an AudioBook. I did have a few issues with the speed of her speech, adjusting the speed of the playback only seemed to diminish the qualities of her voice that I appreciated. I’d most certainly look for more titles that she is narrating, and not hesitate to listen to more.

From the clever set up to the final ending, this was an enjoyable, light story with some interesting perspective from Virginia about her struggles as a woman working in a traditionally male field, and her inability to find a balance between her professional life and the personal life and femininity that she longs to display. While this story showed just how more of Virginia’s problems may be a direct result of her attitudes and beliefs that men are incapable of falling for women with brains and ambition, not all of her fears are irrationally based. Even if she is proved wrong.

I received an audioBook copy of this title from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

So much fun!

What a fun book! Serious, genius, Virginia never has any fun. Her friend convinces her to go to a masquerade party, she has a steamy time on a balcony with a bandit until the clock strikes midnight and she runs off like a fluffy-tailed Cinderella. Then the bandit turns out to be her new co-worker and she and her friend invent a twin. So funny. Things do get more serious, but I was satisfied by how things turned out.
The narration is fantastic. Katie McAble does a great job with the voices, Virginia's friend Diane in particular. Lots of fun to listen to.