It’s been a while since I read a novel by Beth Vogt. She’s mostly been writing women’s fiction, and I didn’t read her last few releases. I’m sure they were excellent—after all, Beth has won several notable writing awards—but the covers just didn’t appeal to me. Yes, I judge books by the cover.
Dedicated to the One I Love is Beth Vogt’s return to romance.
I was immediately attracted by the cover—I love cartoon covers, and what’s not to like about that cute old-fashioned typewriter?
I was also intrigued by the book description. Veronica Hollis is the pen name of Kylie Franklin, a bestselling author who hasn’t been able to write since her husband died in an accident three years ago. Tate Merrick is the pen name of Joe Edwards, a successful thriller author whose publisher decides his books would be all the better for a strong romance thread. The publishers arrange for Joe to co-write with Veronica Hollins, but Joe is not happy with the idea … so there’s a recipe for conflict.
Kylie and Joe have been emailing almost daily since connecting on a game app, but haven’t shared much information about their personal lives … like the fact they are both authors. When Kylie and Joe arrange to meet and discover they are Tate and Veronica, their relationship heads sharply downhill, despite the great first meeting (not), the witty banter, and all the other evidence that they are perfect for each other (because this is a romance, right? They have to be perfect for each other. That’s the rule).
Once I started reading, it was hard to stop.
I loved a lot of things about Dedicated to the One I Love.
I loved the banter between Kylie and Joe, even when they weren’t friends. I loved their friends, especially Joe’s friends, who supported Kylie and Joe but weren’t afraid to deliver a few hard truths where needed (and Joe certainly needed a few hard truths at times). I loved the writing, which made it obvious these two were meant for each other, even while they seemed unable to have a civil conversation. I especially loved Kylie’s quote about romance—something I 100% agree with.
I think my only criticism is that the book could have been longer—I would have liked to have seen a little more of Kylie and Joe after they made up. Hopefully I’ll get that in a sequel (hint hint).
Recommended for fans of contemporary Christian romance with a rom-com bent, from authors such as Kara Isaac, Becky Wade, Courtney Walsh, Meredith Resce, and Sarah Monzon.
About Beth K Vogt
Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. Now Beth believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” As a contemporary romance novelist, Beth is a 2016 Christy Award winner, a 2015 RITA® Finalist and a three-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. Her 2014 novel, Somebody Like You, was one of Publisher’s Weekly’s Best Books of 2014.
Beth enjoys writing contemporary romance because she believes there’s more to happily-ever-after than the fairy tales tell us. An established magazine writer and former editor of Connections, the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth is also part of the leadership team for My Book Therapy, the writing community founded by best-selling author Susan May Warren. She lives in Colorado with her husband Rob, who has adjusted to discussing the lives of imaginary people, and their youngest daughter, Christa, who loves to play volleyball and enjoys writing her own stories.
Find Beth K Vogt online at:
Website | Facebook | Instagram |Pinterest | Twitter
About Dedicated to the One I Love
They’re perfect for each other.
Beloved romance novelist Kylie Franklin walked away from her pen-name career as bestselling and award-winning Veronica Hollins the day her husband died. Her loyal readers are eager for the final book in her sensational series. But Kylie’s given up on love, both fictional and in real life. Behind her back, Kylie’s agent contrives a way to get her writing again.
Joe Edwards has made a name for himself with his popular military suspense novels under the pen name Tate Merrick. Yet he can’t quite break onto the bestseller list. What his books need, his publisher suggests, is some romance. Joe flat refuses. However, his publisher is determined and hires Veronica Hollins to save the day—and his career.
Veronica and Tate quickly realize they’re Kylie and Joe, good friends who connected online via a popular word game and their mutual love of trivia. Surely they can wrangle their alter egos into this literary collaboration. But as the deadline looms, their differences threaten the romance developing off the page.
