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Can 10 Dares help Melinda loosen up, conquer stress and find love? Or might they push her over the edge….

Melinda Spencer had everything but now her life has fallen apart.

Her two best friends, Mikey and Joanie are worried. Melinda’s been acting even more highly strung than usual. They decide to stage an intervention. Something to help her lighten up and take her mind off things: 10 crazy dares. After all, they say laughter is the best medicine…

Never one to squelch on a dare, Melinda accepts her challenge. The dares look simple enough: knock on a door and run away, tend her lady garden, flash a stranger… and if it gets Joanie and Mikey off her back about loosening up, it’ll be worth it. But with a sexy vet, a troublesome ex, and a village full of nutters hot on her trail, has Melinda finally bitten off more than she can chew?

Ten Dares is a hilarious romp about a strung-out single mum trying to hold everything together when life is throwing her lemons as curve balls.

This standalone romantic comedy has a happy ending, no cliffhanger, and can also be enjoyed as part of The Power of Ten Series.

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

Thirsty Thursday always leads to Fragile Friday…

Small town life, Melinda. You know how quick news travels around here. It’s probably all over the senior’s community bingo group and halfway to the London Eye by now. Mrs Bugden is not a happy camper. I saw her in Costco this morning. I’d nipped in for this week’s Celebrity Tattler magazine and ended up with a tale so salacious I’m not sure even the Tattler would print it.

Hyacinth Bugden, my neighbour of twelve years, is most well known for her calculating stares, blather-mouth and acid tongue. She’s stocky for an older lady and generously proportioned. I once saw her accost a shoplifter with the gusto of a sumo wrestler. She’s no sweet old lady, that’s for sure.

“We should make her shave off her lady garden.” Joanie laughs hysterically. “Doesn’t everyone tend their garden?” Mikey asks seriously. When no one bites, he nonchalantly grins and adds, “You don’t know what you’re missing. I’ve been as smooth as an eel since I was old enough to brave the blade, and the guys love it!”

His eyebrows shoot skyward with the precision of synchronised swimmers.

My Review:

What fun! I gleefully consumed this diabolically witty tale while enduring a constant smirk, frequent bouts of giggle-snorting, and the occasional uncontrollable bark of laughter. Emily James’ lithesome writing style was highly engaging and summoned vivid and outrageously humorous visuals. Her wily storylines were cleverly plotted, well-paced, and laced together with colorful levity and deviously and comically peculiar characters. I rued reaching the last page and am eager for the next installment.