I liked this book, but then, I always like books by this author. It is a departure from the other books I've read by Jeff Strand. It isn't a horror tale at all and there's less funny bits, but it is a good read. I would call it a modern day romance - a story with characters that are mostly likeable and mostly deserving of better than they get as far as what happens during their adventure. For there is an adventure and a quest. The quest is to find the perfect hot dog. Getting there is half the fun, right? Perhaps not, as far as our hero and heroine are concerned. They even find a second quest before the end of the story. But I won't elaborate. Find out for yourself.
I received a free copy of this e-book for evaluation.
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I loled when I was reading this book. Except for the explicit sex scenes I enjoyed it very much and will read this author again. My thanks to the author for letting me read this book. ( )

This book completely took me by surprise and I love it! While the premise is really depressing (the female character is going to die sometime soon from a brain aneurysm) and there are several other bad things happening, this book is anything but. Throughout the whole story, it managed to put a constant smile on my face. Sometimes it was only a small, shy smile, but more often than not it stretched into a broad grin. Can a book make you feel happy? This one definitely does! I've never experienced feeling so good just by reading a book. While desperately turning the (virtual) pages to find out what's happening next, at the same time I was hoping that by some magical trick there would always be a steady number of pages still ahead of me, making it never end.

While Kumquat may be categorized as a romantic comedy, it thankfully avoids any cheesy clichés. The main characters are no beauty models with homes out of magazines and their lives are anything but perfect. But it is exactly this awkward and slightly nerdy tenor of normalcy that enables the reader to relate to and fall in love with Todd and Amy and enjoy every moment of their being together as much as they do.

Pessimists may criticize that the positive attitude towards even the most unfortunate situation is completely unrealistic, and with all that happens throughout the book this rather should have been a drama. But I admire Todd's ability to cope with each rock (or, to try to fit with the book's theme, banana peel) fate throws in his way and Amy's general calm mood anyway. Of course Todd is upset with every loss he has to endure, but he always manages to get back on track and remember what's truly important: being together with Amy. OK, maybe some romance cliché after all, and you may need a tissue or two now.

I really do hope that Kumquat will get the attention it deserves and hopefully will become 'a major motion picture soon' - and I'd gladly join any fund raiser for the realization of Exit Red.

Highest recommendation. ( )

This was a terrific book!! It had such a great pace, the main characters were so much fun, and their conversations were absolutely entertaining. This is a title I would love to revisit and hope gets adapted to film at some point. ( )

On the surface, one would not really expect Jeff Strand to write a love story. Or at least I did not expect Jeff Strand to write a love story. And at the same time, I did not really expect to find myself reading a love story. But that is exactly what KUMQUAT is. Two people meet and over the length of the book fall in love. That's it. No big-toothed dwelling monsters. No talking, dismembered bodies that need disposal. No parasites living off anyone and causing them harm. Just two ordinary people falling in love.

Now since this is a Jeff Strand book, it does mean that things get crazy and chaotic, that the comedy angle is built up and enjoyed just as much as the romance. A simple road trip becomes fraught with problem after problem. Enough that normal people would write each other off as black holes of bad luck and give up in despair. But Todd and Amy (the two main characters) persevere and enjoy the adventure. As with most romantic comedies, the story really only has a few possible endings: they end up together, they end up apart, one or both of them end up dead. But as with life and most good stories, it is not about the end but about the journey. What memories do you build? What happiness do you experience? Did you enjoy yourself? As with every Jeff Strand book, the answer to the last question is "Definitely!" ( )