Annie Anderson is joyful. Tonight is the night, Trevv (spelled with 2 V's) is going to propose marriage to her. How does she know? She found a receipt from a jewelry store, saw red roses in his car and dinner at their favorite restaurant is planned for this evening. After two years of waiting, Annie is ready to say "Yes". Arriving late to her brand new dream job, assistant, at the posh fashion magazine, GLAMOUROUS GIRL, she is in deep trouble. So tardy, not properly dressed, Annie has forgotten to bring the valuable Christian Louboutin shoes that were her task to pick up last evening and bring to work today. The shoes, fresh from the hottest runway show, are to be the centerpiece of a photo shoot getting ready to begin. Annie rushes home to pick them up. Expecting a quiet apartment, Annie is perplexed when she hears loud noises coming from her bedroom upstairs. Annie picks up the largest kitchen knife for self-protection, calls 911, then heads upstairs to discover what the racket is.

Surprise! Surprise! It is Trevv having wild, kinky, dirty sex with his assistant, Tess. The police arrive. Trevv is accusing Annie of trying to kill them with the knife she is holding. In shock, Annie tries to explain the reason she is holding a knife but is disarmed and arrested. What an end to a promising day! The next day is worse. She is fired, kicked out of the apartment by Trevv, confused and heartbroken, she moves in with her BFF, Jane. Weeks pass, tears continue to flow. Her friends Jane and Lily, with financial assistance from Damien, a trust fund baby with unlimited funds and a big heart, encourage Annie to take a holiday with them to the Island of Mauritius. Annie agrees, leaves but her friends develop food poisoning and promise to come later.

The Island is gorgeous, the resort exquisite. Soon Annie is relaxing on the white sugary sandy beach stunned by the beauty surrounding her. Sipping on a heavily laced rum concoction, she notices a tall, well-built stud, with George Clooney salt and pepper hair, and Bradley Cooper blue, blue eyes. He is mid-thirties and dressed in a hobo-chic style. She is staring at him as he seems to be talking to himself. Technology overload is apparent as he has a computer in his lap, a cell phone and iPhone nearby. Their eyes meet and the rest is a sweet sensual story of their instant and complete connection, the total joy in being together and laughing while telling each other their deepest, darkest secrets never before shared with anyone. I "inhaled" their story, laughing along with them.

ALMOST A BRIDE is a delicious, delightful, romantic romp that I read in one day and loved every page. Annie Ann (Chris calls her), is adorable and is eager to find herself and love, after the heartbreak and disaster of Trevv. Chris is a screenwriter who writes romantic comedies but does not believe in love. He is easy to fall in love with as he is sexy, smart with a hilarious sense of humor. I could not resist his charm, his thoughtfulness and did I mention he was HOT HOT HOT?

This is my second rave review for Jo Watson as I recently read and loved FINDING YOU. Ms. Watson climbs to the top of my favorite romantic author list and I look forward to her next, and the next. You have a new and loyal fan. Bravo!