Taylor, Virginia. Sets Appeal. Lyrical: Kensington. (Romance by Design, Bk. 1). Apr. 2017. 200p. ebk. ISBN 9781516100071. $2.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Divorced for a year, Vix Tremain has finally gotten over her ex-husband via a sexy new body and a new job as a theater set painter. To prove she isn’t frigid, as her ex had claimed, Vix has her sights set on a fling with handsome theater construction manager Jay Dee. Meanwhile, JD recognizes Vix as the former Victoria Tremain, whose husband caused JD to lose his full scholarship while obtaining a graduate degree in architecture. Both JD and Vix figure they can use the other to get over their past hurts, but what they don’t expect is to develop a strong friendship and trust that just might stand the test of time. A few tougher issues, such as statutory rape and alcoholism, are glossed over, whereas in-depth discussion would have produced a deeper, more meaningful story.
Verdict Taylor (Starling) crafts a believable opposites-attract romance between rich Vix and self-made Jay Dee by building their relationship on what they have in common: theater work and a love of design. With a South Australia setting, the book’s realistic Aussie dialog will transport readers to this distant locale while making Sets Appeal a fun, lighthearted departure from standard romance fare.—Eve Stano, Lincoln Lib., Springfield, IL

This review was originally published in Library Journal Xpress Reviews: E-Originals, May 5, 2017.

Victoria/ Vix is attending a party the first in a year. But this party is a pre- production getting- to - know function held for the cast and crew of the stage version of High Society. But Vix is having an extreme case of stage fright She is giving J D/Jay the theater set builder a ride home and he is to make her a cup of coffee. Vix is trying to find what she missed the seven years when she had been married. Vix had gotten fired eighteen months ago. JD said his team does four sets a year. Awkward, tactless Victoria had barely spoken to a man the past year that is why she decided to shake up her image and herself. Marrying young Vix really hadn’t been in the dating scene. JD asked asked what was the hurry when they would be working together but Vix said when your job is done mine begins and we won’t really be seeing each other. Vix had been cheated on, taken advantage of, and left humiliated. She wanted to be a bad girl and have a one night of satisfying sex would do figuring on Jay. this would go far to prove she wasn’t frigid, repressed, and sexless as she had been told that is what Vix wanted. Jay didn’t have time for a relationship but a casual affair would be just great. Knowing Vix was Tim’s ex only added to her appeal. As Tim had screwed his future up. Vix is on her first job ever as a set painter. Vix impressed Jay with her determination to succeed and how much she loved to work. She didn’t come across a snobby rich girl.
I liked this book quite a bit. I thought it had a good plot. And was a good read. I loved how JD asked Vix why she was in such a rush. I loved how Vix wants to change her life but why with a one night stand I would think that was demeaning or something not exactly positive. I understand her need to prove to herself what Tim said about her sexually is false. At times Vix did come across a rich girl who hadn’t worked like being exhausted after working for two weeks. That is something a lot of people have to work day in day out for most of their lives. Also why was Vix thinking about “Buying” Jay did she not learn anything from Tim and her marriage? Also can Jay be bought? I enjoyed this but some things did irritate me. But I still really liked the romance although some things did disappoint me about Jay and Vix.

Sets Appeal is a well written romance. I loved the Australian setting. The book has a good plot with lots of dynamics between the characters

This book was ok but nothing I found exciting.
It wasn't one that I got hooked into.

A Great read by Taylor and so ready for the next. I've already suggested this one to like five different friends.

For the first time in her life, Vix Tremain is determined to leave the past behind, especially her no good ex-husband and succeed in becoming an independent woman who doesn't need a man. She's off to a good start with her first ever job, even if it's only as a theatre painter, but what she really needs is to regain her confidence. Can she convince the set construction manager into having a no strings fling?

Ms. Taylor is a new-to-me author, but when I saw the cover of this book I really wanted to read it. Even more so, this story is set in my home country, so that also along with the blurb were other reasons I wanted to dive into this story, and I've got to say that it does not disappoint. First off, the play on words of the title (Sets Appeal / Sex Appeal) definitely does justice to the hero and the other male characters of this story, because they certainly sound appealing by their ruggedly handsome descriptions; and the story itself, as it encompasses a couple that are designing a set for a production. The way this story started had me hooked right away, as I wanted to know how things would progress between the hero and heroine. Would she feel comfortable enough with JD to have a fling? Why is she so nervous when it comes to getting up close and personal with the hero in the beginning?

The dialogue was intense due to the main characters back stories, and I could sympathize with the heroine after all that she went through with her ex-husband. He's made her feel so insecure when it comes to intimacy and relationships that I could understand why she is the way she is with the hero. Yet, at the same time, it did annoy me a little, because it was palpable the hero was determined to prove she had nothing to worry about. That she can have a wonderful time in the bedroom, if she's willing to let the hero get a tad creative, instead of settling for mediocre measures that leave her unsatisfied.

Both the main characters were riveting, and so were the secondary characters, even Ilona. Although, her fascination with the hero got to be a bit too much. Doesn't she realize that they'll only ever be friends? As for the heroine, she's been through a lot due to her ex-husband, but she didn't allow him to keep her down for long. Certainly, she begins to shine again, become more confident and I liked that she fought for what she wanted when it came to her relationship with JD and the conflict it created with her father. Would Vix believe the hero when it came to the information her father knew about him that she didn't?

While JD, he was a fantastic hero that I could not get enough of. He's supportive of the heroine's dreams and what she's accomplished after her marriage split. Certainly, she's not what he imagined of a rich girl who hasn't worked a day in her life until now. Instead, she impressed him with her determination to succeed and how much she loves her work. She's just like him in that respect, as he too, is hard-working and determined to achieve his own dream, which was derailed by an incident concerning someone the heroine was once close to.

Overall, Ms. Taylor has penned a really good read in this book where the chemistry between these two is wonderfully written and shows how right this hero and heroine are for each other. The way this story ended had me cheering for this couple's happy ever after, as no one deserves a second chance at love more than the heroine and it's palpable that this time around everything will work out for the better. Since I doubt JD would ever wrong the heroine like her ex did. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up perfectly, as I loved the playful banter between the main and secondary characters and the way JD's brothers have such respect for the heroine considering her family name. Who would give a child the name they were talking about? I would recommend Sets Appeal by Virginia Taylor, if you enjoy second chance romances or books by authors Stacy Finz, Darcy Burke or Melanie Shawn.