These two are so frustrating, but with each page they come closer to each other emotionally. I ended up staying up all night to finish this book because I wanted so badly for the two of them to work through their misunderstandings and misinterpretations and just admit to having real feelings for each other. For a while there, for every step forward they make, they take another two back and it drove me crazy in a good way. It is interesting the way that the author allows us to see some events from both perspectives, so that after a while we learn to gauge how the other person is feeling even though it isn't obvious. Like, I knew after a while why Luke would make certain comments or faces. I understood the way Peggy saw his actions. None of it had to be explained anymore.

Need I say that I absolutely LOVED the romantic and sexual tension between the Luke and Peggy? I did. Sometimes it was almost palpable, I kid you not. I mean, no it's not very realistic that your average struggling business owner female in an unhappy relationship meets rich and sexy man in Vegas, but I found the progression of their relationship to be complex and realistic. They didn't just call in to each other's arms as romance novels tend to have their characters do. Mating Rituals is a romance novel for people who don't like the conventions of typical romance novels.

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There seems to be a high percentage of the population that has problems remembering what happened to them in Las Vegas.

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Let me start with a frame of reference. I just finished reading a Pulitzer Prize winning novel. I was looking for something a little lighter, and grabbed this from my bookshelf. It had been sitting there a while. When I bought this book, the title is what got me initially interested. I love a play on words, and having been a non-WASP in a very WASPy environment for many years, I thought this would be fun. It was time to read something fun that I could whip through in a day or two. This book fit that bill.

This is basically a chick-lit, beach read sort of book. Nothing too mind boggling, nothing too deep, just a nice, entertaining read.

When I started the book, it seemed almost too goofy. I thought I wasn't going to like it. The way the two main characters met and hooked up was just a little far-fetched, and why they stayed together was also a little unbelieveable, after all. But, getting past that, the characters became very endearing. I particularly loved Aunt Abby. The tension between Luke and Peggy was very much understandable (of course it could have been cleared up if they'd just had an honest conversation and started communicating with each other) but you could see why Luke was unable to communicate his feelings.

After a while, I became very attached to the characters, and was eager to read to the end of the book to see how it all worked out. The reader can't help but become invested in the outcome.

If you are familiar with WASP behavior, you'll enjoy this book on another level. The descriptions of the clothing, parties, and behavior are spot-on.

Unrealistic plot twists, or not, this was a very fun read and an enjoyable book. I recommended it highly for your next vacation.

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I really loved this book! Great characters and story line. Usually I'm not that into these kinds of books but read it for a book club and loved it. I just ordered her other book - hope it's as good.

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