Book ~ "What She Wants" (2013) Sheila Roberts

From Goodreads ~ What do women want?

Jonathan Templar and his poker buddies can't figure it out. Take Jonathan, for instance. He's been in love with Lissa Castle since they were kids but, geek that he is, she's never seen him as her Mr. Perfect. He has one last shot—their high school reunion. Kyle Long is equally discouraged. The pretty receptionist at his office keeps passing him over for other guys who may be taller but are definitely not superior. And Adam Edwards might be the most successful of Jonathan's friends but he isn't having any success on the home front. His wife's kicked him out.

When Jonathan stumbles on a romance novel at the Icicle Falls library sale, he knows he's found the love expert he's been seeking—Vanessa Valentine, top-selling romance author. At first his buddies laugh at him for reading romance novels, but soon they, too, realize that these stories are the world's best textbooks on love. Poker night becomes book club night…and when all is read and done, they're going to be the kind of men women want!

Jonathan is a computer geek ... he has his own business fixing computers and that keeps him busy.  He has had a crush on his friend, Lissa, since they were children but she's never see him as anything more than her pal.

Kyle has a crush on Jillian, the receptionist where he works, but she only goes out with tall, good looking well-to-do men.  Kyle is on the short side and has a bit of complex about it.  He does all he can to attract Jillian but she doesn't even look his way.

When Adam returns from a business trip in Alaska (he stayed a couple extra days to fish), he discovers that his wife, Chelsea, has changed the locks and is MAD.  Why?  Because he has forgotten their anniversary yet again and she's tired of being taken for granted. Adam has to figure out how to get her back.

The three friends get together every Friday night to play poker along with their other friends, Vance and Bernardo, and lament about women.  What is it women want?!

Jonathan decides to do some research ... by reading romance novels.  The hero in them always seems to know the right thing to do and say to get the girl so maybe he can learn something.  At first he hides what he is doing from his friends because he knows they'll tease him about it ... and they do.  But he shares his list of what he's discovered with Kyle and Adam and soon they are exchanging romance novels.

With Jonathan and Kyle's 15 year high school reunion coming up, Jonathan starts working out, taking dance lessons and getting a new wardrobe in hopes that Lissa (who has since moved away) will see past their friendship and want something more.

I enjoyed the writing style and it kept me reading more.  It's lad-lit ... the guys are the focal characters which is fun for a change.  It was funny to read the conversations they have while playing poker discussing the romance books and what they discovered in them.  Definitely not your usual manly man talk.

I liked the characters.  I was cheering for the guys and hoped they figure things out (it's was funny to follow their progress).

This is the fourth in the Life in Icicle Falls series ... I'd read the second one, Better than Chocolate, in the fall and enjoyed it.  I liked this one even more.