  | Title: Stealing Jason Wilde Author: Dee Ernst Publication Info: 17 May 2016 -- Lake Union Amazon Description:
After her divorce, librarian Annie Reynolds thought she’d closed the book on love for good—it just wasn’t part of her safe, comfortable routine. But if there’s anyplace she can relax and have a little fun, it’s Dune Road, where she and her closest girlfriends return for their annual getaway in the Hamptons. She knows it’s just what she needs to escape her empty nest (and empty bed).
A chance encounter with a ruggedly handsome local promises Annie just that. But when one of her friends turns a simple flirtation with B-list movie star Jason Wilde into seduction—and Jason accidentally mixes a few drinks and his back-pain medicine—the ladies end up with a very high-profile houseguest. The media calls it a kidnapping, and before long, the FBI is on the hunt.
Soon the ladies’ tame little trip has turned into the adventure of a lifetime. But will this case of mistaken misdoing sabotage Annie’s second chance at love, or will she have the confidence to take matters into her own hands to find her happily ever after?
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First Lines:
You know that famous saying "What happens on Dune Road stays on Dune Road"?
Wait -- maybe it's really not famous. The famous version is about Las Vegas. But are you familiar with the concept?
Faves on 4s:
14% -- "But I don't know how to talk to men anymore. I just talk to eight-year-old boys. About Greek gods and Transformers."
44% -- "The press is all over this. I'm trending on Twitter. This could be a giant break for me."
54% -- "Just because he was willing to share his stash with you does not automatically make him a good guy. I know plenty of assholes who smoke pot."
74% -- Today I followed Kelly into a miserable dive bar and watched as she put on a performance worthy of Masterpiece Theatre, even though the final act resulted in a little old man being taken to the hospital. Oh, and I was now officially identified as the possibly lesbian kidnapper.
94% -- "This could be dangerous."
"You can't protect me?"
"Are you always this difficult?"
Ramble:
What an absolute joy it has been to read a book with well-written characters past their 40s but definitely not past their "prime." Typically the only time this happens is in something dreary or a mystery with an aging knitting-bag-wielding amateur sleuth (yes, Jane Marple, I'm looking at you).
Annie, Kelly and Deb are in their early 50s and have been friends since their children were little. For the past six years they've taken a week every spring and rented a beach house in the Hamptons with other friends. Most of the others had other things to do the week in question so it's just the three of them and Tina, who's ten years younger and a bit, well, off.
Tina is mainly interested in going because she's more or less obsessed with an actor who's filming nearby -- Jason Wilde. When they cross paths with him one thing leads to another which leads to him being passed out in their beach house and them being suspected kidnappers.
So much for a relaxing weekend of eating, window shopping and wine tasting!
I cracked up several times and couldn't help but imagine my friends and I being thrown into a similar situation. Granted, it's been a long time since I've had a group of friends that tight but once upon a time there was the "Sexy Librarian Book Club" and we even rented a lake house one weekend. (the most exciting things that happened were a loss of power and the purchase of a blow-up monkey)
I'm hoping that Ernst decides to write more about the Hopewell Ladies. If she does, I'll definitely be one of the first to pre-order!
(book received for free from NetGalley and Lake Union in exchange for an honest review)
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