Monday 4 February 2013

Book ~ "Woman of Substance" (2012) Annette Bower

From Goodreads ~ "You will never understand what it means to be fat.” 

With those words, grad student Robbie Smith begins the Fat-Like-Me project. In order to support her thesis, she puts on a fat suit to measure people’s reactions to the new her.

Accused of embezzling funds, Professor Jake Proctor returns home to spend quality time with the only father he has ever known. There, he meets an intriguing overweight woman who reminds him of his late grandmother. She’s witty, charming, and cares deeply for those around her, including his dying grandfather.

When Robbie meets Jake while she’s in disguise, she deceives him for all the right reasons. But how long can she maintain the deception before Jake discovers that she is not who he believes her to be?

Robbie is writing her thesis on what it's like to be fat ... except that Robbie is tall and thin.  With the help of the ladies in her research group, she becomes "Robin" and wears a fat suit and clothes to determine how people react to her.

While out as Robin, she meets Frank, a senior, who is sitting on a bench in a park feeding some geese.  His grandson, Jake, comes upon them.  Jake strikes a deal with Robin to hire her to spend time with Frank, who is dying.

Jake is a professor who has returned to Regina to spend time with his grandfather.  He gets a job at the same university Robbie attends and is good friend of Robbie's advisor.

Jake gets to know both Robin and Robbie but unbeknownst to him, they are the same person.  He is drawn to each for different reasons ... Robin reminds him of his beloved late grandmother and he is attracted to Robbie.  Robbie is attracted to Jake but is concerned he'll feel betrayed if he finds out the truth.

I thought this was an interesting premise and was curious to see how the author would tackle it.  This is the first book I've read by this author and I liked the writing style.  It was an easy read.

I liked the characters, especially Frank.  He missed his late wife, Mabel, and was biding his time until he could be with her again.  Jake was raised by his grandparents because his mother died when he was young.  As a kid, he was embarrassed by his older uncool "parents" but as an adult felt bad for feeling as he had and was determined to make it up to Frank.

If you are looking for something different in romance, you should check it out.

33 comments:

Annette said...

Good Morning Teena,
Thank you for being my first reviewer on my tour and for reading and reviewing Woman of Substance with care and attention.
I look forward to the comments today.
Yours truly,
Annette Bower

Goddess Fish Promotions said...

Thank you for hosting today

Rita Wray said...

Sounds like a good read.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

Lana A said...

Sounds great. Was there something that inspired you to start writing?
anzuazura at yahoo dot de

Ami said...

What did inspire your writing career?
shadowrunner1987 AT gmail DOT com

Annette said...

Dear Ingeborg,
Thank you for taking the time to read the review and comment.
I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy Robbie and Jake's story one day.
Yours truly,
Annette

Leah said...

I like the plot. :)

Annette said...

Dear Lana,
I believe that I was inspired to write because I wasn't in the in group in high school.
I attended a high school which was brand new, so there really weren't any "leaders" as of yet. So a group of us got together and wrote and produced a play for an opening night.
It was successful. Then as a teenager, I wrote poetry. But I've always enjoyed series romance books and then women's fiction and wanted to write them. It is a big learning curve. Woman of substance is a blend of sweet romance and women's fiction.
Thank you for asking.
Thank you for stopping by.
Yours truly,
Annette

Annette said...

Dear Ami,
I always enjoyed telling stories as a youngster. My first memory is being in elementary school and repeating a line from a soap opera. "When money troubles come in the door, love goes out the window." or some such thing. The teacher was impressed? concerned? but as you can see she gave me permission to spread my wings.
Thank you for stopping by and thank you for asking.
Yours truly,
Annette

Annette said...

Dear Leah,
Thank you for liking the plot. I found it interesting to research and discover how Robbie and Jake would journey through it. I find that we all wear some sort of disguise at different times. It takes a strong person to look beyond the first impression.
Thank you for taking the time to stop by and comment.
Yours truly,
Annette Bower

Anas said...

I loved the excerpt, it sounds very intriguing!

moonsurfer123(at)gmail(dot)com

MomJane said...

Sounds like a really interesting and fun story.

Emiliana25 said...

Hello Annette,
the story sounds great. How did you come up with the idea for this book?

emiliana25(at)web(dot)de

Annette said...

Dear Anas
Thank you for that thought of intrigue. It is different because as Robbie says to her thesis adviser, women don't usually dress to be other, they usually dress to fit in.
But there is a history of padding the body but also a history of using corsets to alter the woman's body.
Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to comment but also taking the time to prove you are not a robot. That I believe takes the longest.
Yours truly,
Annette

Annette said...

Hello Mom Jane,
Thank you for recognizing that this story can be fun. Readers have told me that they have enjoyed the read and laughed on occasion.
I am pleased that you have stopped by and taken the time to comment.
Yours truly,
Annette

Annette said...

Hello Emiliana 25,
I have always been interested in disguises or the masks people wear in public. This story came out of my gender study class when we studied the lengths some women will take to not be viewed as fat. And how the idea of body shape and acceptance has changed over the years.
Thank you for stopping by and asking a question.
Yours truly,
Annette
Who is not a robot but is having a difficult time proving it to the computer.

Catherine Lee said...

What an interesting premise. This would make a good movie.

Annette said...

Hello Catherine Lee,
Thank you for suggesting it is an interesting premise for a movie as well as the book.
I enjoyed exploring Jake's responses to Robbie while in and out of the suit.
There are many movies about characters in disguise including Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew.
Thank you for stopping by.
Yours truly,
Annette

bn100 said...

Very nice review.

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

Masshole Mommy said...

Sounds like a great read!

Mary Preston said...

What a fascinating idea for a story.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

Annette said...

Dear bn100
Thank you for stopping by Teena in Toronto and reading Woman of Substance review.
I appreciate every reader who finds their way and checks out authors and the reviewers who take the time to read and post their thoughts about books.
Yours truly,
Annette

Annette said...

Good morning Masshole Mommy,
Thank you for agreeing with Teena of Toronto's suggestion, "If you are looking for something different in romance, you should check it out."
Yours truly,
Annette

Annette said...

Good morning Mary Preston,
Thank you for being fascinated by the idea for Woman of Substance. The idea of disguise fascinates me as well. I know that men like to dress up like women for fun, and women usually dress up to accentuate their positives. So what if a woman dressed as different from her body shape as she could. How would she view the world? This is part of Robbie's journey to discovery.
Thank you for stopping by and commenting on Teen's review of Woman of Substance.
Yours truly,
Annette

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing the book. It is interesting that he reacts differently to her as both characters eventough she is really the same person. I am curious to see what happens when all is revealed

fencingromein at hotmail dot com

Annette said...

Dear Shannon R,
I hope you find a satisfactory development when all is revealed.
Thank you for stopping by Teena in Toronto's review.
Yours truly,
Annette

Chelsea B. said...

This sounds like an intense emotional read. I am looking forward to checking it out!

justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

Andra Lyn said...

Thanks for the intro! I'm not sure if this is the book for me, but I'm definitely intrigued!

andralynn7@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

thanks for the chance to win
hense1kk AT cmich DOT edu

Annette said...

Hello Chelsea B.
Thank you for stopping at my first book review stop for Woman of Substance by Teena of Toronto.
There are moments where the story is intense but there are also moments where humor breaks the tension.
I'm pleased that Teena has helped you decide to check it out.
Yours truly,
Annette

Annette said...

Dear Andra Lyn,
You are welcome for the intro and the intrigue. Reviewers provide their insights into the story and assist readers on finding a read that will fit their likes and mood.
Perhaps one day you will give Woman of Substance a chance.
Yours truly,
Annette

Annette said...

Dear Anonymous,
You are welcome for the chance to win. Thank you for stopping in at Teena in Toronto and reading the review.
Good luck.
Yours truly,
Annette

Annette said...

Good Morning Everyone,
The draw is now closed. I have all names to be placed in the random draw. The winner will be placed on the Goddess Fish Promo.com http://www.goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.ca/ and on my blog. www.annettebower.com/blog

Thank you for participating.
Yours truly,
Annette