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Tyler Group #1
One Final Step
A new image…step by stepWho said moving forward is easy? Car thief turned race car driver, Michael Langdon has worked hard to build his image. Now to take it to the next level and become a successful manufacturer, he needs to kick that image up a notch. Enter Madeleine Kane, a genius at adjusting public perception. With her in charge, he's guaranteed to look better while keeping his darkest secrets where they belong—in the past.
Doesn't take long, however, for his ambition to change and the campaign to become personal. Because he wants Madeleine—as beautiful as she is talented and smart. First, Michael must overcome her reservations about crossing professional boundaries and persuade her he's worth the risk…without revealing those buried parts of himself. Good thing he's very persuasive.
Doesn't take long, however, for his ambition to change and the campaign to become personal. Because he wants Madeleine—as beautiful as she is talented and smart. First, Michael must overcome her reservations about crossing professional boundaries and persuade her he's worth the risk…without revealing those buried parts of himself. Good thing he's very persuasive.
288 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Stephanie Doyle
63 books48 followersIt all started with Shanna and Star Wars. An odd combination, I know, but what people don't appreciate about Star Wars is the deep romantic element between two of the lead characters. I wasn't seven years-old when I was able to clearly spot that Han and Leia were supposed to be a couple.
Sure most of my friends, who at the time weren't nearly as mature as I was – after all some of them were still six, thought that Leia loved Luke. But anyone really looking could see that Han and Leia were the couple to beat.
That's when I discovered romance.
Then at about fifteen or so I was babysitting one night, bored out of my mind – the children were fast asleep at this point – so I picked a book from the shelf. I wasn't much of a reader at the time, but I liked the orange cover. It was Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss.
That's when I discovered romance novels.
Making up stories – that's just something I've always done. It's like breathing for me. But it wasn't until I began to read actively that I thought maybe I could actually write a book. The benefit of writing over reading is that I get to have everything just the way I like it. I should mention at this point that I'm a little bit of a control freak.
But I didn't go to school for writing. In fact I went to school to be the President of the United States - make that a power hungry control freak.
I attended Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. And no, that is not a school to learn how to become a nun. Although, since I'm not married yet, my mother believes that subliminal messages were piped into the dorm rooms through hidden speakers.
I strayed from the presidential track. Figured instead of running the country I would do something really meaningful. I became a school teacher and spent two amazing years in Seattle.
Eventually I came back home to South Jersey. I got a temp job to hold me over until I could find another teaching position and have been at my current company for eight years. I keep telling my boss that I'm only staying for a little while longer. But he has since stopped listening to me.
So what else is there to know about me? I write. I work. I exercise. I try not to eat. I fail. I beat myself up for not succeeding to not eat. Then I drink. It's a simple life I lead.
I date. But that's a whole other story….
Sure most of my friends, who at the time weren't nearly as mature as I was – after all some of them were still six, thought that Leia loved Luke. But anyone really looking could see that Han and Leia were the couple to beat.
That's when I discovered romance.
Then at about fifteen or so I was babysitting one night, bored out of my mind – the children were fast asleep at this point – so I picked a book from the shelf. I wasn't much of a reader at the time, but I liked the orange cover. It was Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss.
That's when I discovered romance novels.
Making up stories – that's just something I've always done. It's like breathing for me. But it wasn't until I began to read actively that I thought maybe I could actually write a book. The benefit of writing over reading is that I get to have everything just the way I like it. I should mention at this point that I'm a little bit of a control freak.
But I didn't go to school for writing. In fact I went to school to be the President of the United States - make that a power hungry control freak.
I attended Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. And no, that is not a school to learn how to become a nun. Although, since I'm not married yet, my mother believes that subliminal messages were piped into the dorm rooms through hidden speakers.
I strayed from the presidential track. Figured instead of running the country I would do something really meaningful. I became a school teacher and spent two amazing years in Seattle.
Eventually I came back home to South Jersey. I got a temp job to hold me over until I could find another teaching position and have been at my current company for eight years. I keep telling my boss that I'm only staying for a little while longer. But he has since stopped listening to me.
So what else is there to know about me? I write. I work. I exercise. I try not to eat. I fail. I beat myself up for not succeeding to not eat. Then I drink. It's a simple life I lead.
I date. But that's a whole other story….
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 26, 2020
They had both lost their freedom because they had done really stupid things.
It didn't seem right that they were both still paying for those mistakes. They had done their time in solitary. Shouldn't that have been enough? 71%
This is a fascinating, bold, audacious romance novel that I really enjoyed. Doyle sure stepped out of the realm of comfortable with this book.
Madeleine Kane is hired to remake the image of playboy car-designer Michael Lang. He wants to be taken seriously so that he can get his cool, environmentally-friendly supercar on the market. He needs to pair with a big auto manufacturer to get this done. His hard-partying, womanizing, hard-drinking lifestyle is an impediment to his success.
Madeleine Kane is a kingmaker - partnered with presidents on campaigns and known for her amazing abilities as an image-creator and image-manager. However, that's not the things she's known most for. Seven years ago, she was caught in flagrante delicto with the President of the United States.
Yes, Doyle loosely based this character on Monica Lewinsky, although Madeleine and Monica are very different people.
Ruined by her choices in a way few people can be ruined, Madeleine has barely gone out in these seven years. She certainly hasn't dated or had sex in seven years. Men treat her like either a loose woman who is wiling to have sex with anyone immediately for any reason, or like a disgusting creature they should stay far away from. She also has huge social anxiety, since the paparazzi hounded her for months, and even now when she is recognized she is mocked and treated with disgust.
Surprisingly, Michael doesn't have these hangups about Madeleine's past. He respects her. He treats her like the expensive expert, Yale graduate she is and doesn't treat her like shit. Even her own brother and father hate and despise her for having sex with the president, and her father died while calling her some choice names.
Perhaps a reason Michael can treat Madeleine like a normal human being is because Michael has a past of his own. He grew up on 8 Mile in Detroit, and stole cars. He was eventually caught and served three years in prison. When he got out, he was mentored by an auto mechanic and became a rich race car driver. After that he morphed into someone who designs cars for a living.
But the real huge thing about Michael is WARNING HUGE SPOILER So we can see that both Michael and Madeleine are extremely fucked-up sexually in different ways. And perhaps each has the unique perspective to see each other and be merciful to the other.
But he knew he didn't like the kid who planted the idea in her head that she was nothing more than a base to steal. He thought it before and he was seeing it again: he wasn't the only one of them in this relationship who was messed up about sex.
It felt to him like Madeleine didn't know what it meant to be wanted for who she was alone, she didn't know what it meant to want that person back for the same reason.
He wondered if she'd ever been made love to or if she'd ever made love to someone without there being some agenda.
52%
THE GOOD
This book has a lot of good.
- Two flawed, fucked-up characters that honestly have some of the most unique and interesting and shocking backstories I've ever seen in romance. Very interesting, very bold.
- Detailed writing. The book has a very nineties feel to it, even though it was written in 2012. If you've ever read nineties contemporary romance by Harlequin, you'll know what I'm talking about. It's charming in its own way. I find Harlequin contemporary romances written in this time period (the '90s) to be very different from those written in the 2010s. This has that retro nineties feel, which is a compliment.
- The characters approach each other with respect and try their best (it doesn't always work) to discuss things and be honest with each other. There were failings. But overall, I liked how adult the two protagonists acted.
- The book promotes kissing for the sake of kissing, and the characters have a conversation about how kissing doesn't always have to lead to sex, and how makeout sessions can be enjoyable on their own.
"You're damn right I'm mad. You're such a man."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Why can't kissing just be for the sake of kissing? Why does it have to go anywhere?" 52%
- I don't feel like Doyle was saying That was a big issue, I'm glad Doyle addressed it.
- Interesting look at PTSD and some of its effects.
- Michael kind of reminds me of Bruce Wayne, carefully constructing a 'playboy, womanizing' image to cover up his TRUE self.
- Man being called a 'tease' and dealing with the issue of 'being a tease' rather than a woman. 'Tease' is a concept I hate with a passion, anyway. It's so stupid. ANYWAY, the shoe is on the other foot for once. Which isn't GOOD, I mean, I'd rather nobody got accused of being a 'tease,' but it's interesting to see a man dealing with this for once.
- The complexity of the characters and how they deal with their issues and their pasts.
THE BAD
- She has sex with the president ONE TIME. And it was on that ONE AND ONLY time that the First Lady walked in on them. I found this a cop out. WHY are romance authors so resistant to writing a woman who isn't 'a good girl?' Do they think an audience won't accept one?
Every single time I get excited about having a genuinely promiscuous and/or morally questionable romance heroine, the author ALWAYS pulls back. ALWAYS half-asses it. Why couldn't Madeleine be a smart, Yale-educated, driven woman who had an on-going affair with the president? Why do they have to shovel in the bullshit that it was ONLY ONE TIME, A BIG MISTAKE blah-di-blah?
You can make her regret it. Obviously, she regrets it. It ruined her life. She's literally afraid to go out in public. But the idea that she just, like, accidentally fell on the president's dick one night is quite frankly ludicrous and I'm not sure you can convince me of this happening. It would be scads better if she just said, "Yeah, I was attracted to him, I don't know how I let things get so out of hand, blah blah blah" but trying to write a book where it is a one-time event is stretching it. It's stretching it in order to be able to label Madeleine as a 'good girl' still, even after everything. To make the reader see her as a victim. But guess what? She could be a person who immorally had an affair but is STILL a victim of some horrible things happening to her. Yeah, that could happen. Be bold!
- Michael being 'threatened' by Ben, Madeleine's boss. Thinking 'Ben could steal her at any moment.' Oh, please. He's fucking DYING of cancer, he's not going to fucking steal your woman. It's ludicrous, I don't need this kind of testosterone poisoning. Thanks.
- They could talk more with each other about sex and before sex. Since they are both so fucked up, I think it would conducive to the situation if they would talk things out. They do talk... but not enough and not about the details that might matter IMO.
TL;DR - Riveting book. Quite interesting and bold moves on Doyle's part. How fascinating to write about a woman who had an extramarital affair with the president of the United States and the emotional, social, and mental traumatic fallout of that. Also, if not even more shocking: a hero who was You could not ask for a more envelope-pushing book, I'm honestly quite surprised it came from Harlequin Category Romance.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES
Contemporary Romance
Millionaire/Billionaire Romance - Both Madeline and Michael are well-off. I think Michael may be a millionaire.
Non-Virgin Heroine
He's a Criminal turned Convict turned Car Racer turned Automobile Creator. She's a Kingmaker.
Takes place in: Detroit, Michigan / Washington D.C. / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania / Los Angeles, California - The United States of America
NAMES IN THIS BOOK
It didn't seem right that they were both still paying for those mistakes. They had done their time in solitary. Shouldn't that have been enough? 71%
This is a fascinating, bold, audacious romance novel that I really enjoyed. Doyle sure stepped out of the realm of comfortable with this book.
Madeleine Kane is hired to remake the image of playboy car-designer Michael Lang. He wants to be taken seriously so that he can get his cool, environmentally-friendly supercar on the market. He needs to pair with a big auto manufacturer to get this done. His hard-partying, womanizing, hard-drinking lifestyle is an impediment to his success.
Madeleine Kane is a kingmaker - partnered with presidents on campaigns and known for her amazing abilities as an image-creator and image-manager. However, that's not the things she's known most for. Seven years ago, she was caught in flagrante delicto with the President of the United States.
Yes, Doyle loosely based this character on Monica Lewinsky, although Madeleine and Monica are very different people.
Ruined by her choices in a way few people can be ruined, Madeleine has barely gone out in these seven years. She certainly hasn't dated or had sex in seven years. Men treat her like either a loose woman who is wiling to have sex with anyone immediately for any reason, or like a disgusting creature they should stay far away from. She also has huge social anxiety, since the paparazzi hounded her for months, and even now when she is recognized she is mocked and treated with disgust.
Surprisingly, Michael doesn't have these hangups about Madeleine's past. He respects her. He treats her like the expensive expert, Yale graduate she is and doesn't treat her like shit. Even her own brother and father hate and despise her for having sex with the president, and her father died while calling her some choice names.
Perhaps a reason Michael can treat Madeleine like a normal human being is because Michael has a past of his own. He grew up on 8 Mile in Detroit, and stole cars. He was eventually caught and served three years in prison. When he got out, he was mentored by an auto mechanic and became a rich race car driver. After that he morphed into someone who designs cars for a living.
But the real huge thing about Michael is WARNING HUGE SPOILER So we can see that both Michael and Madeleine are extremely fucked-up sexually in different ways. And perhaps each has the unique perspective to see each other and be merciful to the other.
But he knew he didn't like the kid who planted the idea in her head that she was nothing more than a base to steal. He thought it before and he was seeing it again: he wasn't the only one of them in this relationship who was messed up about sex.
It felt to him like Madeleine didn't know what it meant to be wanted for who she was alone, she didn't know what it meant to want that person back for the same reason.
He wondered if she'd ever been made love to or if she'd ever made love to someone without there being some agenda.
52%
THE GOOD
This book has a lot of good.
- Two flawed, fucked-up characters that honestly have some of the most unique and interesting and shocking backstories I've ever seen in romance. Very interesting, very bold.
- Detailed writing. The book has a very nineties feel to it, even though it was written in 2012. If you've ever read nineties contemporary romance by Harlequin, you'll know what I'm talking about. It's charming in its own way. I find Harlequin contemporary romances written in this time period (the '90s) to be very different from those written in the 2010s. This has that retro nineties feel, which is a compliment.
- The characters approach each other with respect and try their best (it doesn't always work) to discuss things and be honest with each other. There were failings. But overall, I liked how adult the two protagonists acted.
- The book promotes kissing for the sake of kissing, and the characters have a conversation about how kissing doesn't always have to lead to sex, and how makeout sessions can be enjoyable on their own.
"You're damn right I'm mad. You're such a man."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Why can't kissing just be for the sake of kissing? Why does it have to go anywhere?" 52%
- I don't feel like Doyle was saying That was a big issue, I'm glad Doyle addressed it.
- Interesting look at PTSD and some of its effects.
- Michael kind of reminds me of Bruce Wayne, carefully constructing a 'playboy, womanizing' image to cover up his TRUE self.
- Man being called a 'tease' and dealing with the issue of 'being a tease' rather than a woman. 'Tease' is a concept I hate with a passion, anyway. It's so stupid. ANYWAY, the shoe is on the other foot for once. Which isn't GOOD, I mean, I'd rather nobody got accused of being a 'tease,' but it's interesting to see a man dealing with this for once.
- The complexity of the characters and how they deal with their issues and their pasts.
THE BAD
- She has sex with the president ONE TIME. And it was on that ONE AND ONLY time that the First Lady walked in on them. I found this a cop out. WHY are romance authors so resistant to writing a woman who isn't 'a good girl?' Do they think an audience won't accept one?
Every single time I get excited about having a genuinely promiscuous and/or morally questionable romance heroine, the author ALWAYS pulls back. ALWAYS half-asses it. Why couldn't Madeleine be a smart, Yale-educated, driven woman who had an on-going affair with the president? Why do they have to shovel in the bullshit that it was ONLY ONE TIME, A BIG MISTAKE blah-di-blah?
You can make her regret it. Obviously, she regrets it. It ruined her life. She's literally afraid to go out in public. But the idea that she just, like, accidentally fell on the president's dick one night is quite frankly ludicrous and I'm not sure you can convince me of this happening. It would be scads better if she just said, "Yeah, I was attracted to him, I don't know how I let things get so out of hand, blah blah blah" but trying to write a book where it is a one-time event is stretching it. It's stretching it in order to be able to label Madeleine as a 'good girl' still, even after everything. To make the reader see her as a victim. But guess what? She could be a person who immorally had an affair but is STILL a victim of some horrible things happening to her. Yeah, that could happen. Be bold!
- Michael being 'threatened' by Ben, Madeleine's boss. Thinking 'Ben could steal her at any moment.' Oh, please. He's fucking DYING of cancer, he's not going to fucking steal your woman. It's ludicrous, I don't need this kind of testosterone poisoning. Thanks.
- They could talk more with each other about sex and before sex. Since they are both so fucked up, I think it would conducive to the situation if they would talk things out. They do talk... but not enough and not about the details that might matter IMO.
TL;DR - Riveting book. Quite interesting and bold moves on Doyle's part. How fascinating to write about a woman who had an extramarital affair with the president of the United States and the emotional, social, and mental traumatic fallout of that. Also, if not even more shocking: a hero who was You could not ask for a more envelope-pushing book, I'm honestly quite surprised it came from Harlequin Category Romance.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES
Contemporary Romance
Millionaire/Billionaire Romance - Both Madeline and Michael are well-off. I think Michael may be a millionaire.
Non-Virgin Heroine
He's a Criminal turned Convict turned Car Racer turned Automobile Creator. She's a Kingmaker.
Takes place in: Detroit, Michigan / Washington D.C. / Philadelphia, Pennsylvania / Los Angeles, California - The United States of America
NAMES IN THIS BOOK
April 30, 2013
Rating 3.5 stars
Well this was one deep book, filled with two characters Madeleine and Michael who had deep emotional scars and issues. The hero is a former con who made it big in racing and now wants to start a car and needs investment and the heroine for that. In order to get money he needs the heroine to spruce up his image. The heroine isn't sure she wants the job, she has spent the past seven years hiding. She used to be young and successful when one mistake she made changed all that and branded her a whore and the shame of it is, she has never forgiven herself and can't deal with the spotlight.
So, when the hero shows interest in her as a woman, her first instinct is to run. But things aren't so easy, you see the hero has his secrets too from his years spent in prison. I loved reading about two flawed characters. Both of them didn't magically get over their issues. The heroine kind of acted all obstinate and stupid till the end. I loved reading about Ben and Ana, whose book I am looking forward too.
Well this was one deep book, filled with two characters Madeleine and Michael who had deep emotional scars and issues. The hero is a former con who made it big in racing and now wants to start a car and needs investment and the heroine for that. In order to get money he needs the heroine to spruce up his image. The heroine isn't sure she wants the job, she has spent the past seven years hiding. She used to be young and successful when one mistake she made changed all that and branded her a whore and the shame of it is, she has never forgiven herself and can't deal with the spotlight.
So, when the hero shows interest in her as a woman, her first instinct is to run. But things aren't so easy, you see the hero has his secrets too from his years spent in prison. I loved reading about two flawed characters. Both of them didn't magically get over their issues. The heroine kind of acted all obstinate and stupid till the end. I loved reading about Ben and Ana, whose book I am looking forward too.
October 18, 2012
Why I read it: I heard the author talking about this one on a recent DBSA podcast and saw the review at Dear Author. After getting spoilers (because I had totally forgotten the podcast which let the cat out of the bag) I went out and bought it.
What it's about: (from Goodreads) A new image …step by step Who said moving forward is easy? Car thief turned race car driver, Michael Langdon has worked hard to build his image. Now to take it to the next level and become a successful manufacturer, he needs to kick that image up a notch. Enter Madeleine Kane, a genius at adjusting public perception. With her in charge, he's guaranteed to look better while keeping his darkest secrets where they belong—in the past.
Doesn't take long, however, for his ambition to change and the campaign to become personal. Because he wants Madeleine—as beautiful as she is talented and smart. First, Michael must overcome her reservations about crossing professional boundaries and persuade her he's worth the risk…without revealing those buried parts of himself. Good thing he's very persuasive.
Warning: Possible spoiler-y review ahead.
What worked for me (and what didn't): Madeline Kane (I so keep wanting to type Kahn) has been in hiding for 7 years after being a "Monica Lewinsky" to a former president. The scandal has died down (of course, it's been 7 years and she's been completely out of the spotlight) but Madeline is not "over" it. I had quite a bit of sympathy for Madeline. I understood completely her dismay with other people having a timetable to which she should adhere for everything to be all right.
She hated when people recited the number. It was like there wa some magical timetable in the universe for recovery. After two years she should have moved on. After five years she should have put it in perspective. After seven years she should have forgotten it entirely.
Because I related to that aspect of her, I felt kindly disposed toward Madeline and found her less cold than other readers have. And, I think she has a point. If Monical Lewinsky was in the public eye now, wouldnt' the first thing that anyone said about her be "former paramour of Bill Clinton..." or words to that effect? Isn't that something that the media will never let go of? I guess if Madeline embraced it and there was a certain level of media saturation maybe it would get tired, but after dealing with 6 months of harrassment and inappropriate come-ons and sexual expectations from people who thought she was a slut (and not in the sex-positive way, in the shaming way), I can certainly understand Madeline's reluctance to go anywhere near that kind of media exposure again. And, I think she's also right - her job is to help other people in the media spotlight - she would hog their story and most likely, damage the reputation she's trying to promote.
I appreciated her relationship with Ben Tyler (friend and employer), as (aside from setting up Ben and Anna's story for a future book?) it showed that she was a caring friend and not a stone cold bitch.
I also liked that Madeline took responsibility for her actions with the president and wasn't his victim. That was a twist I appreciated.
I liked Michael also. Here comes the potential spoiler-y bit. I'm not sure it counts as a spoiler if the author let the cat out of the bag on a podcast, but just in case, BE YE WARNED.
*
He's impotent after an incident in prison. Generally, I liked the way this was handled in the book, but I have a couple of quibbles and because of them, I had to reveal the issue. At one point in the story, Michael wants to do more than just kiss Madeline. He wants to touch her and go down on her and make her come. Even though he can't. Or, he wants to use the little blue pill and have intercourse with her and make her come - even though he won't. He's at the point where the intimacy and connection of the acts have their own reward, where he wants to share physical pleasure with Madeline, even though as far as orgasms are concerned, the pleasure he will share is Madelines. And Madeline says no because it's unfair/unequal. I didn't really like that. I wouldn't have minded it perhaps (maybe?) if that had've come up later after he'd been intimate with her for a while, but Madeline drew the line right from the start. This denied Michael pleasure and satisfaction as well as herself and I felt like it showed she didn't really accept him. Now the story sets up that Madeline has some intimacy issues so maybe that's why but I would much rather have seen the story arc toward Michael learning to enjoy physical intimacy with Madeline without orgasm and then progressing from there. And also, what if he didn't get "better". What if Viagra was the best he was ever going to do? Would she have refused them both any intimate satisfaction forever? I would have liked to have seen them enjoy sex together without a hard dick in the mix. As it was...
Potential secondary spoiler.
*
He gets better. And it's pretty spontaneous and it seemed a bit quick for me. Even though in the story it was specifically said to no bet as a result of true lurrve, it did kind of feel that way for me. Having said that, I know nothing about male impotence. So who am I to judge? But, if he hadn't got better, I don't think they would have made it as a couple - not unless she changed her position on the "equality" thing. Moving on.
I did like the chemistry between Michael and Madeline and I thought the author portrayed Michael's "guyness" really well.
“I didn’t date much, but there were a few dates. I never cared for the feeling that I was something to be conquered. I liked kissing, but when I was with a boy I always felt like he was lying in wait, ready to pounce and move on to the next step.”
“That’s because he was. He was a boy.”
“And you’re a man.”
“Have to tell you, we don’t change much in that regard.”
and I liked the subtle humor throughout the book too:
“I bet you’ve got glass ring stains on all your tables. Maybe dried milk at the bottom of cereal bowls left scattered throughout the house.”
“Now you’re being ridiculous.”
“Oh, shit…you’re not a hoarder, are you? I’ve seen those shows on TV and those houses creep me the hell out.”
He was playing with her, and in an odd way it helped to calm her nerves. “You’ll just have to see.” She got out of the car and he followed, grabbing his overnight bag from the backseat and swinging it over his shoulder.
She unlocked the front door and swung it open. “I hope you don’t mind cats. I’ve got twenty-three of them.”
He stopped at the door.
“Kidding.”
What else? I enjoyed the author's voice and found it an easy and enjoyable read. Brie from Romance Around the Corner tells me that The Way Back is even better so I'll be checking that one out for sure.
Grade: B
http://kaetrinsmusings.blogspot.com.a...
What it's about: (from Goodreads) A new image …step by step Who said moving forward is easy? Car thief turned race car driver, Michael Langdon has worked hard to build his image. Now to take it to the next level and become a successful manufacturer, he needs to kick that image up a notch. Enter Madeleine Kane, a genius at adjusting public perception. With her in charge, he's guaranteed to look better while keeping his darkest secrets where they belong—in the past.
Doesn't take long, however, for his ambition to change and the campaign to become personal. Because he wants Madeleine—as beautiful as she is talented and smart. First, Michael must overcome her reservations about crossing professional boundaries and persuade her he's worth the risk…without revealing those buried parts of himself. Good thing he's very persuasive.
Warning: Possible spoiler-y review ahead.
What worked for me (and what didn't): Madeline Kane (I so keep wanting to type Kahn) has been in hiding for 7 years after being a "Monica Lewinsky" to a former president. The scandal has died down (of course, it's been 7 years and she's been completely out of the spotlight) but Madeline is not "over" it. I had quite a bit of sympathy for Madeline. I understood completely her dismay with other people having a timetable to which she should adhere for everything to be all right.
She hated when people recited the number. It was like there wa some magical timetable in the universe for recovery. After two years she should have moved on. After five years she should have put it in perspective. After seven years she should have forgotten it entirely.
Because I related to that aspect of her, I felt kindly disposed toward Madeline and found her less cold than other readers have. And, I think she has a point. If Monical Lewinsky was in the public eye now, wouldnt' the first thing that anyone said about her be "former paramour of Bill Clinton..." or words to that effect? Isn't that something that the media will never let go of? I guess if Madeline embraced it and there was a certain level of media saturation maybe it would get tired, but after dealing with 6 months of harrassment and inappropriate come-ons and sexual expectations from people who thought she was a slut (and not in the sex-positive way, in the shaming way), I can certainly understand Madeline's reluctance to go anywhere near that kind of media exposure again. And, I think she's also right - her job is to help other people in the media spotlight - she would hog their story and most likely, damage the reputation she's trying to promote.
I appreciated her relationship with Ben Tyler (friend and employer), as (aside from setting up Ben and Anna's story for a future book?) it showed that she was a caring friend and not a stone cold bitch.
I also liked that Madeline took responsibility for her actions with the president and wasn't his victim. That was a twist I appreciated.
I liked Michael also. Here comes the potential spoiler-y bit. I'm not sure it counts as a spoiler if the author let the cat out of the bag on a podcast, but just in case, BE YE WARNED.
*
He's impotent after an incident in prison. Generally, I liked the way this was handled in the book, but I have a couple of quibbles and because of them, I had to reveal the issue. At one point in the story, Michael wants to do more than just kiss Madeline. He wants to touch her and go down on her and make her come. Even though he can't. Or, he wants to use the little blue pill and have intercourse with her and make her come - even though he won't. He's at the point where the intimacy and connection of the acts have their own reward, where he wants to share physical pleasure with Madeline, even though as far as orgasms are concerned, the pleasure he will share is Madelines. And Madeline says no because it's unfair/unequal. I didn't really like that. I wouldn't have minded it perhaps (maybe?) if that had've come up later after he'd been intimate with her for a while, but Madeline drew the line right from the start. This denied Michael pleasure and satisfaction as well as herself and I felt like it showed she didn't really accept him. Now the story sets up that Madeline has some intimacy issues so maybe that's why but I would much rather have seen the story arc toward Michael learning to enjoy physical intimacy with Madeline without orgasm and then progressing from there. And also, what if he didn't get "better". What if Viagra was the best he was ever going to do? Would she have refused them both any intimate satisfaction forever? I would have liked to have seen them enjoy sex together without a hard dick in the mix. As it was...
Potential secondary spoiler.
*
He gets better. And it's pretty spontaneous and it seemed a bit quick for me. Even though in the story it was specifically said to no bet as a result of true lurrve, it did kind of feel that way for me. Having said that, I know nothing about male impotence. So who am I to judge? But, if he hadn't got better, I don't think they would have made it as a couple - not unless she changed her position on the "equality" thing. Moving on.
I did like the chemistry between Michael and Madeline and I thought the author portrayed Michael's "guyness" really well.
“I didn’t date much, but there were a few dates. I never cared for the feeling that I was something to be conquered. I liked kissing, but when I was with a boy I always felt like he was lying in wait, ready to pounce and move on to the next step.”
“That’s because he was. He was a boy.”
“And you’re a man.”
“Have to tell you, we don’t change much in that regard.”
and I liked the subtle humor throughout the book too:
“I bet you’ve got glass ring stains on all your tables. Maybe dried milk at the bottom of cereal bowls left scattered throughout the house.”
“Now you’re being ridiculous.”
“Oh, shit…you’re not a hoarder, are you? I’ve seen those shows on TV and those houses creep me the hell out.”
He was playing with her, and in an odd way it helped to calm her nerves. “You’ll just have to see.” She got out of the car and he followed, grabbing his overnight bag from the backseat and swinging it over his shoulder.
She unlocked the front door and swung it open. “I hope you don’t mind cats. I’ve got twenty-three of them.”
He stopped at the door.
“Kidding.”
What else? I enjoyed the author's voice and found it an easy and enjoyable read. Brie from Romance Around the Corner tells me that The Way Back is even better so I'll be checking that one out for sure.
Grade: B
http://kaetrinsmusings.blogspot.com.a...
September 28, 2012
Good book. Michael needs Madeleine's help to take his image from playboy to businessman. She is williing to do the job, but only if she stays in the background. She was in the middle of a scandal seven years earlier and she doesn't want that to affect the job she does for Michael. Michael is attracted to Madeleine early on and wants to get to know her better. They spend a lot of time together and get close, but each still has issues to overcome. It took me awhile to really get into this one. I liked Michael. He had paid his debt and made the decision to make something of his life. He had one issue from his time in prison that he was having trouble overcoming, but his time with Madeleine helps with that. I had a harder time warming up to Madeleine. Her part in the scandal was entirely her own fault and I had trouble dealing with what she did. It got better by the end of the book, and I did like the way she came through for Michael at the end.
August 25, 2012
I read an earlier version of this book - prepare yourselves. It's emotional, funny, sexy - a great contemporary read. I highly recommend
May 15, 2019
Definitely not your typical Harlequin Romance book. Both characters had issues, especially Michael, and it was interesting to see how Stephanie Doyle dealt with them. Since it was a Harlequin book the story was very compact and rushed and poof the next minute his issue is fixed after 18 years with no hiccups. It would have been better as a standalone book so the relationship could have evolved at a reasonable pace
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2020
This book went places I was really not expecting. I don't want to spoiler it at all, but the hero had issues I've never read in any romance, and the heroine as well had unique trust issues stemming from a scandal.
While not a perfect book, I admire the author for weaving this unique story together.
While not a perfect book, I admire the author for weaving this unique story together.
February 4, 2018
Wow
I feel like i hit the jackpot with this one. Finally someone had the guts to step out of line an write a nonconventional love story. I've been searching forever for a book that deals with male sexual dysability. I wish i could give this book more than 5 stars.
I feel like i hit the jackpot with this one. Finally someone had the guts to step out of line an write a nonconventional love story. I've been searching forever for a book that deals with male sexual dysability. I wish i could give this book more than 5 stars.
October 2, 2012
Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner
Earlier this year I read and loved The Way Back, a book with a very unique premise. Ever since then, I became a fan of Stephanie Doyle, so I was eagerly anticipating the release of One Final Step. What I didn't know is that I, once again, was getting an original story with some very unique characters and subjects.
Madeleine is a former political advisor famous for two things: being so good at her job that turned an unknown person into the President of the United States; and for sleeping with him and getting caught by the First Lady. Years later she lives in almost complete isolation working for a consulting firm but never in direct contact with her clients. That is until she’s assigned to work with Michael Langdon, a famous race card driver, turned entrepreneur. Her job is to make him believable as a business man so that he can attract investors. The rest you can probably guess. Forced to work together they fall in love, but things aren't as easy as that. They both have many complicated issues to work on before they can live happily ever after.
This book deserves 5 stars just because of originality and balls. The heroine is based on Monica Lewinsky, or at least inspired by that scandal. And the hero, well, I won’t tell exactly what’s going on with him, but I never thought I would see the day. That is all I’ll say about that. The reason why it doesn't get a 5 is because we have two wonderful and complex characters but the romance doesn't do them justice. The romance happens not because two people spend time getting to know each other, but because Michael develops a serious case of insta-love and relentlessly pursues her. She doesn't want it at first, but he’s too hard to resist. They do get to know each other throughout the book, but I never quite understood why he fell for her so quickly. So that part of their relationship was the weakest.
However, I thought Michael was a great hero, very supportive and sweet. I liked him a lot and I think he’s the real star of the book. It’s not just that his particular brand of issue is very rare in Romance, but also because he was a great person. The resolution of his personal conflict was easier than I would have liked, but it was satisfactory and it’s clear that he had been dealing with it for a long time. I really want you to read the book and then come back and tell me your thoughts, because this is a story worth discussing.
Madeleine was harder to like because of her closed and prickly nature. I liked how the author portrayed her situation and the consequences of her affair. It made sense for her to be so uptight and reserved, and at times I just wanted to give her a hug. It was harder for her to move on and reach the emotional strength to have a healthy relationship, than it was for Michael, the ex-con with a very rough past. But of course being a thief is not as bad as having sex with a married man, especially if the man happens to be the President (insert sarcasm here).
Michael and Madeleine are both equally damaged characters and they help each other, but ultimately they must find the strength within themselves. This is clearer in Madeleine’s case because her issues take some introspection to get a resolution.
A lot of people think that Romance is repetitive and predictable, and I think that Ms. Doyle is an example of how wrong that statement is. Yes, the happy ending is always predictable --it’s a necessary part of the genre and I wouldn't want it any other way-- but as long as there are authors willing to explore unique individuals and to break genre conventions, there will be freshness.
One Final Step isn't perfect, in fact, I feel like its potential was greater than what it ultimately delivered, yet I thoroughly enjoyed it. I want to read more books like this one, stories that explore complicated characters and situations. I think you should read it, flawed romance and all. I liked it a lot and I can’t wait to read Ms. Doyle’s next book.
Earlier this year I read and loved The Way Back, a book with a very unique premise. Ever since then, I became a fan of Stephanie Doyle, so I was eagerly anticipating the release of One Final Step. What I didn't know is that I, once again, was getting an original story with some very unique characters and subjects.
Madeleine is a former political advisor famous for two things: being so good at her job that turned an unknown person into the President of the United States; and for sleeping with him and getting caught by the First Lady. Years later she lives in almost complete isolation working for a consulting firm but never in direct contact with her clients. That is until she’s assigned to work with Michael Langdon, a famous race card driver, turned entrepreneur. Her job is to make him believable as a business man so that he can attract investors. The rest you can probably guess. Forced to work together they fall in love, but things aren't as easy as that. They both have many complicated issues to work on before they can live happily ever after.
This book deserves 5 stars just because of originality and balls. The heroine is based on Monica Lewinsky, or at least inspired by that scandal. And the hero, well, I won’t tell exactly what’s going on with him, but I never thought I would see the day. That is all I’ll say about that. The reason why it doesn't get a 5 is because we have two wonderful and complex characters but the romance doesn't do them justice. The romance happens not because two people spend time getting to know each other, but because Michael develops a serious case of insta-love and relentlessly pursues her. She doesn't want it at first, but he’s too hard to resist. They do get to know each other throughout the book, but I never quite understood why he fell for her so quickly. So that part of their relationship was the weakest.
However, I thought Michael was a great hero, very supportive and sweet. I liked him a lot and I think he’s the real star of the book. It’s not just that his particular brand of issue is very rare in Romance, but also because he was a great person. The resolution of his personal conflict was easier than I would have liked, but it was satisfactory and it’s clear that he had been dealing with it for a long time. I really want you to read the book and then come back and tell me your thoughts, because this is a story worth discussing.
Madeleine was harder to like because of her closed and prickly nature. I liked how the author portrayed her situation and the consequences of her affair. It made sense for her to be so uptight and reserved, and at times I just wanted to give her a hug. It was harder for her to move on and reach the emotional strength to have a healthy relationship, than it was for Michael, the ex-con with a very rough past. But of course being a thief is not as bad as having sex with a married man, especially if the man happens to be the President (insert sarcasm here).
Michael and Madeleine are both equally damaged characters and they help each other, but ultimately they must find the strength within themselves. This is clearer in Madeleine’s case because her issues take some introspection to get a resolution.
A lot of people think that Romance is repetitive and predictable, and I think that Ms. Doyle is an example of how wrong that statement is. Yes, the happy ending is always predictable --it’s a necessary part of the genre and I wouldn't want it any other way-- but as long as there are authors willing to explore unique individuals and to break genre conventions, there will be freshness.
One Final Step isn't perfect, in fact, I feel like its potential was greater than what it ultimately delivered, yet I thoroughly enjoyed it. I want to read more books like this one, stories that explore complicated characters and situations. I think you should read it, flawed romance and all. I liked it a lot and I can’t wait to read Ms. Doyle’s next book.
February 4, 2014
http://www.blue-moon.fr/spip.php?arti...
Stephanie Doyle est une auteure discrète et rare mais ces livres sont solides et tranchent dans la collection Prelud. Il n’y est pas question de petites villes de seconde chance en amour par exemple. Elle a des sujets personnels et assez rares comme c’est le cas dans ce roman qui appartient à une série autour d’une société de relations publiques, Tyler Group. Parmi les employés de Ben Tyler, il y a une jeune femme qui fait profil bas après un terrible scandale qui a ruiné sa carrière. Madeline Kane a été conseillère du président des Etats-Unis avant et après son élection mais a commis l’erreur de coucher avec lui. Une fois , le scandale découvert, la vie du président et la sienne ont explosé. Madeline a disparu de la circulation pour se protéger et travaillé anonymement depuis. Elle va accepter de se rapprocher de nouveau d’un homme connu, un ancien pilote de Formule 1 et playboy. Michael Langdon vient d’inventer une voiture écologique et est à la recherche de sponsors et d’une nouvelle image. Le couple va travailler ensemble.
Tout est original et un brin déstabilisant dans ce roman, en premier lieu. Madeline est une héroïne inhabituelle qui a commis un acte impardonnable aux yeux de beaucoup d’Américains. Il n’y a pas d’accusations fausses, Madeline a vraiment participé à un adultère. C’est suffisamment rare pour être remarqué. Le héros n’a rien du playboy stupide et aveugle habituel non plus. Issu des mauvais quartiers de Detroit, il est revenu dans sa ville natale et essayer de lancer une entreprise. Il est également affecté d’un problème très rarement évoqué dans la romance qui sera l’objet de la seconde partie du roman. Les thèmes de l’écologie, de la presse people, de la pression qui règne sur le milieu politique américain, tout cela est rarement à l’honneur dans la collection prelud.
Les deux héros sont intéressants mais dans un genre qui peut surprendre . Tous deux sont des professionnels sérieux, intelligents et avec la tête sur les épaules, tout particulièrement Madeline. C’est une romance originale où chacun doit régler ses problèmes avec son passé pour se laisser aller à aimer. Certains des graves problèmes qui les touchent notamment Michael sont sans doute résolus trop facilement et déçoivent un peu. Il faut tout de même souligner l’audace de l’auteure.
La suite se dessine aussi autour de Ben Tyler, le président de cette société, au plus mal lors de ce roman, car il souffre de leucémie. Son histoire suivra celle-ci et devrait être publiée en français.
April 18, 2014
Michael Langdon did not have the most auspicious start in life. Growing up on Detroit's infamous 8 Mile, Michael used cars to escape the reality around him. After serving time for theft, he once again used cars to escape reality, and forget the horrors behind him. From car thief to racing legend didn't seem too far of a jump, but now he needs another image make-over: to mechanical innovator and corporate poster boy. An old friend sends him the best publicist in the business, now all Michael has to do is convince her to take a chance on him...and not let her get too close to the truth.
Madeline Kane is a King Maker. Once a highly respected member of the political scene, she let one moment of weakness get the better of her judgement, and it destroyed everything. Now, seven years later, she has been called back in to service by her employer as a favor to an old friend. but can she work with such a high profile man without getting sucked back into the nightmares of the past?
This story surprised me by how captivating it was. Both characters suffer from serious PTSD from their experiences, but what really got me was the heart break that occurs when one of them manages to pull out of it and realizes that they can't "fix" the other one. To love someone so much and not be able to help them hurts, but then to know that they won't even try to help themselves is just killer.
His dark secret was a shocker; her dark secret was not so much a secret but a confession. Either way, both of these characters are deserving of pity, and neither want it. He doesn't want people to know about it, and she doesn't want people to even remember she exists.
My favorite part in this book was actually the sub-plot involving Ben and Anna, Madeline's boss and his assistant. Their issue helps to mellow Madeline out and put her life into perspective, but it also gives us a glimpse at the next book.
Overall, it's surprisingly and fun and sexy read. The subject matter should keep it from being sexy, but it really doesn't. In fact, it brings a larger intensity to it all. Warning on the language, though. He grew up on 8 Mile and spent time in prison. Expect cursing.
Madeline Kane is a King Maker. Once a highly respected member of the political scene, she let one moment of weakness get the better of her judgement, and it destroyed everything. Now, seven years later, she has been called back in to service by her employer as a favor to an old friend. but can she work with such a high profile man without getting sucked back into the nightmares of the past?
This story surprised me by how captivating it was. Both characters suffer from serious PTSD from their experiences, but what really got me was the heart break that occurs when one of them manages to pull out of it and realizes that they can't "fix" the other one. To love someone so much and not be able to help them hurts, but then to know that they won't even try to help themselves is just killer.
His dark secret was a shocker; her dark secret was not so much a secret but a confession. Either way, both of these characters are deserving of pity, and neither want it. He doesn't want people to know about it, and she doesn't want people to even remember she exists.
My favorite part in this book was actually the sub-plot involving Ben and Anna, Madeline's boss and his assistant. Their issue helps to mellow Madeline out and put her life into perspective, but it also gives us a glimpse at the next book.
Overall, it's surprisingly and fun and sexy read. The subject matter should keep it from being sexy, but it really doesn't. In fact, it brings a larger intensity to it all. Warning on the language, though. He grew up on 8 Mile and spent time in prison. Expect cursing.
October 15, 2012
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
I'm a bit torn on how to rate this book, because I felt that the writing was excellent and the characters will really stick with you. A lot of times with category romances I'll enjoy the book, but later I have a hard time remembering the characters' names or what actually happens in the book. That's definitely not the case here. The hero and heroine are both flawed, but it's clear that they very much regret the bad decisions they made in the past and have worked hard to change their lives. That made for a very emotional read.
The reason I have a hard time rating the book, however, is that I feel that the book's ending leaves us hanging. The HFN/HEA is implied, but I really wanted to see what happened next. I think this story could really have used another 100 pages or so. That said, it's definitely a great read.
I won a copy of this book from the Romance Around the Corner blog.
I'm a bit torn on how to rate this book, because I felt that the writing was excellent and the characters will really stick with you. A lot of times with category romances I'll enjoy the book, but later I have a hard time remembering the characters' names or what actually happens in the book. That's definitely not the case here. The hero and heroine are both flawed, but it's clear that they very much regret the bad decisions they made in the past and have worked hard to change their lives. That made for a very emotional read.
The reason I have a hard time rating the book, however, is that I feel that the book's ending leaves us hanging. The HFN/HEA is implied, but I really wanted to see what happened next. I think this story could really have used another 100 pages or so. That said, it's definitely a great read.
I won a copy of this book from the Romance Around the Corner blog.
January 14, 2015
Troisième livre de Stephanie Doyle, et une fois de plus c'est une réussite ! Les deux premiers étaient déjà géniaux, mais là... Un must, y compris pour les personnes qui pensent que la romance ce n'est pas pour eux. L'histoire de Madeline et Michael est loin d'être simple et elle est surtout très belle.
Ce que j'aime le plus chez Stephanie Doyle, c'est sa capacité à créer des personnages vraiment complexes, pas juste les personnages typiques au passé mystérieux et traumatisant qu'on a parfois trop souvent, c'est plus compliqué que ça, et ça ne se règle pas non plus d'un coup de baguette magique, ces personnages sont... humains.
Voilà, que dire de plus, à part que ce livre, je l'ai adoré, que c'est un petit bijou que j'ai dévoré en une journée et qui rentre dans mon panthéon personnel ?
Ce que j'aime le plus chez Stephanie Doyle, c'est sa capacité à créer des personnages vraiment complexes, pas juste les personnages typiques au passé mystérieux et traumatisant qu'on a parfois trop souvent, c'est plus compliqué que ça, et ça ne se règle pas non plus d'un coup de baguette magique, ces personnages sont... humains.
Voilà, que dire de plus, à part que ce livre, je l'ai adoré, que c'est un petit bijou que j'ai dévoré en une journée et qui rentre dans mon panthéon personnel ?
February 28, 2016
I picked this one up when Doyle was talking about the unique aspect of this storyline on a DBSA podcast . . .3 years ago, 4 maybe? It's been a long time. :) Finally decided to read it yesterday, and I did enjoy it. I have to give Doyle props for bringing in such a sensitive subject matter, but I felt it was handled nicely.
I'm curious about the next book in the series, which covers a couple that we met in this one. I'll probably read it.
I'm curious about the next book in the series, which covers a couple that we met in this one. I'll probably read it.
October 4, 2012
This one is different and I liked it. The heroine has a somewhat sordid past (or at least...a past that is different for a heroine) and the hero has a big secret in his past that I'm not sure I've seen in a romance hero. Both of these pasts coming together worked really well for me. Def checking out this author again.
February 23, 2014
I love the premise, quite fascinating - Monica Lewinsky (like character) meets ex-con (with issues) made good. I wasn't a fan of the hero (too Alpha male has to have heroine no matter how many times she says no), or the heroine (who always said no). But if you want interesting and different squeezed into a Harlequin category romance - then, I'd say this is for you.
Read
October 15, 2012Excellent writing, really excellent. Though the hero’s completely implausible rise into Formula One - a good decade after real drivers do it - was difficult for me (someone who follows the sport and attends races) to read!
Shelved as 'maybe'
September 28, 2012I got a spoiler of an issue in this book that I haven't read before and I'm really intrigued and want to read it. But I also kind of already hate the heroine (yes, for the stuff in her past, but y'all know I can't hang with people like that). Decisions decisions.
Want to read
September 26, 2012Between the review at Dear Author and the spoiler a little birdie whispered in my ear, this one has my attention.
October 2, 2012
You know, I'm not completely sold on the romance on this, but the book deserves four stars for telling this story. And no, I won't say more. Just that you should read it.
Read
December 27, 2014Category: Heart & Home
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