This guy is a crude, loud-mouthed jock and his agent is a relatively nice girl, although she is as susceptible to the sex-obsessed, muscle-bound sportThis guy is a crude, loud-mouthed jock and his agent is a relatively nice girl, although she is as susceptible to the sex-obsessed, muscle-bound sportsman as every girl in these sports romances seems to be. They are an odd couple, and I really did not like him for the first half of the book. I also view with great suspicion the my- mother-was-a-lying-cheating-whore- (Parker’s words, btw)-therefore-I-will-treat-ALL-women-like-they-are-the-same trope. It is simply no excuse for being a giant, disrespectful, sexist douche with a massive double standard, which is what Parker was.
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But the biggest issue I have with this book is Parker’s immaturity. He constantly fucks up and doesn’t learn from it. And how a pro hockey player can regularly drink himself into a coma, still manage to have sex (I presume he uses a condom, but if he is always so totally wasted, not actually sure about that) and still play well is just unrealistic. He is a border-line alcoholic and acts like a stupid adolescent. Hard to take these male MCs seriously! I guess the whole story was very NA, including the language, but poor NA. Of course, thanks to a good woman, Parker turns over a new leaf. From man-whore adolescent to responsible adult? Like, in a few days???
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I have also just about had it with America and its strip clubs. I am so fucking over it. I just don’t want to read about them anymore. ...more
2.5 stars At times, I just wanted to piff this book at the wall. But that would have broken my Kindle. So I just swore a lot. There were several things 2.5 stars At times, I just wanted to piff this book at the wall. But that would have broken my Kindle. So I just swore a lot. There were several things that bothered me about this story.
Firstly, the way the townsfolk in this hick, insular little Texan town treated the heroine was appalling. And kind of unbelievable. I mean, a chick leaves her future groom, Ted, at the altar and disappears. Her friend, a bridesmaid, gets dragged into the affair because her so-called friend confides her doubts and admits she wants to split. Which she does. Leaving the bridesmaid to be blamed for the non-wedding of this psycho town’s favourite son.
How was it her fault? Well, nobody really cares to answer that question. And the spoilt darling of the town, Ted? He buys right into that, treating her worse than the townspeople. He arranges to have her arrested for not paying her hotel bill and forces her to work it off as a maid at the hotel. And appears occasionally to watch her struggle (even physically, but being such a gentleman, does not lift a finger to help her), just to smirk and gloat. WTAF?
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Secondly, Meg doesn’t tell them all to fuck themselves after she has paid off her debt, but STAYS in the town, working at odd, menial jobs to PROVE herself. And when someone who could invest in the town and give its economy a huge boost is attracted to her, they push her to ingratiate herself with this sleazy old dude because, well, the town needs him to be happy. And she agrees to do it! Why? What in the ever-loving hell does she owe these rats?
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Meanwhile, her family just tells her to deal with it and cuts her off. Now, Meg is what the Regency peeps would call a wastrel (although it used to only refer to blokes). She has flitted from place to place doing philanthropic stuff but never really achieving anything and has no actual goals for life. She is also almost 30. If her family had wanted her to grow up and be responsible, they should have cut her off at 25. I speak as a parent here, btw.
So while Meg tortures herself, Ted gradually realises that he likes her more than his former fiancée, who he was marrying because it was practical and comfortable, and they begin an secret affair. All the while, the townsfolk continue to behave like extras from a creepy movie about a possessed town.
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I did end up liking both Meg and Ted, although Meg’s parents and siblings did not redeem themselves. They only supported her in the end, when she had left Ted and the town after it all went to hell in a handcart. At least we get to see Meg finally standing up for herself and working towards a life goal.
Ted’s grovelling and remorse were nice- but that Meg was prepared to go back to that town and live with those people- well, all I can say is: I have no time for reading about masochists, and I certainly wouldn’t want my kids growing up in a town like that. It was all very soap opera, and some might say quirky, but the quirkiness slipped into bullying and harassment territory, and I hated that.
It seems to be a feature of SEP books that her heroines have to suffer so bloody much to get their HEA. And her heroes are such arse-holes before they experience their life-changing epiphany. Yet I keep reading them. She just has a way with words, damn her!
Note to self: do not read the books based around some of the characters in this book- I dislike their narrow, prejudiced, parochial views too much to give a shit about their HEA.
Beckett Tate is the silent partner in a club- silent because he was a real roughneck with a bad reputation - and also owns a security business. He endBeckett Tate is the silent partner in a club- silent because he was a real roughneck with a bad reputation - and also owns a security business. He ends up working with Gia Sinclair, who comes from a rich Atlanta family and has her own security business. The relationship was cute and Beck was great, although very Neanderthal. Most of the boys in this series are bit caveman, let's face it! I did feel that Gio was a bit unconvincing as a kickass security person- but then, how could Beck swoop in to the rescue if she could rescue herself? A fun, romantic read....more
2.5 stars When this author is on point, she is wonderful. But I felt that this book badly needed editing- it was too long and actually became boring. T2.5 stars When this author is on point, she is wonderful. But I felt that this book badly needed editing- it was too long and actually became boring. The premise was good, and I loved the look inside the London theatre world, but the plot seemed to repeat itself. The hero was forever racing off in a snit (he had serious trust issues, but still) and the heroine was way too nice and forgiving. I don't think you should have to beg someone to listen to your explanation, when you are in a relationship. The constant lack of trust on his part drove me crazy and there were too many other manipulative characters circling around the pair. I am vaguely interested in how the male prostitute mate of hers will go in his story, which is the next one, I think. But I am taking a break from this author for a bit....more
The first thing I need to say is that I liked this one better than the first in the series. (I wanted to kill the hero Nicolas in To Steal a Heart becThe first thing I need to say is that I liked this one better than the first in the series. (I wanted to kill the hero Nicolas in To Steal a Heart because he was such a cruel bastard, and I wanted to slap the heroine for putting up with being treated like a dispensable dog.
Our hero here, Raven, is also annoying. He tortures himself with the I am not good enough for her trope, alternately pushing Heloise away, flirting with her and sleeping around, because he can't have her. Poor man-child! Generally, he is a big, moody pain in the arse. But he wasn't as mean as Nicolas. So that's a plus, I guess. Here's a blast from the past:
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Heloise was too clever a woman to put up with all that shite, but she did, because she'd always been in love with Raven. And that, according to many authors, is enough to make the woman weak and easily manipulated. I am so over that. You don't have to believe you are perfect to have strong feelings of self-worth, people!
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Nevertheless, a well-written historical, with interesting and accurate detail about this turbulent time in European history. Hard to put down, I raced through it, but once again, I was disappointed at the lack of backbone in this author's heroine and the manipulative, opportunistic character of her very alpha hero. ...more
I keep reading this author because she writes so vividly, recreating some wonderful historical moments in time. Then I remember why I don't like her cI keep reading this author because she writes so vividly, recreating some wonderful historical moments in time. Then I remember why I don't like her characterisation- argh!
I loved the setting here: Renaissance Italy. I love the art, the philosophy, the architecture and the music of this time. The politics, not so much! (Machiavelli, anyone? The Borgias?) Still, I was a little confused as to what gave this Alessandro del Sarto, an aristocrat with an estate near Florence, the right to arrange the marriage of Cara, who was not a relative, and who had fled her own family home and sought refuge at his estate.
He pissed me off like the Raven in A Raven's Heart! This author loves to have these controlling, arrogant men who don’t really protect or cherish their women, but are more likely to exploit them for their own ends. And don't get me started on To Steal a Heart. The idea of a woman being made powerless by a man, then being controlled by him so that she winds up in a dangerous and desperate situation just doesn’t appeal. It ain’t love, folks. Here, our lovely hero decides to marry Cara off to promote an alliance that will benefit him. He fancies her too, of course, but decides it's just lust. It takes him a long time to realise it is actually more than that.
I can’t help but compare these alphas to those in other books, where the guys are macho and dominating, but ALWAYS work to ensure their women are safe and come first in everything they do. They are never patronising, nor do they demean or belittle their women. I also do not buy the argument that these negative characteristics are typical of the roles of men and women at that time, and therefore are historically accurate. Let's keep the genre in mind: we are reading romance here, folks, not a history textbook.
1.5 stars rounded up to 2. I didn’t enjoy this story. Maggie the barmaid and a duke. Yeah, right. He screws her, leaves her some money and a bun in the1.5 stars rounded up to 2. I didn’t enjoy this story. Maggie the barmaid and a duke. Yeah, right. He screws her, leaves her some money and a bun in the oven, and she doesn’t see him again for over 10 years. He just buggers off.
When he rune into her again, his reaction is: can’t possibly marry her -after all, she's not his social equal- but she’s still hot, so good mistress material. Because she was just a lusty widow now, and we all know they are just gagging for it. (He hadn’t even noticed she’d been a virgin that time all these years ago. And she’d been too lovestruck -after an hour- to keep her legs together.) Maybe they could go a holiday fling? An affair while he was in town. She hadn't exactly played hard to get all those years ago. Nice one. JERK!
Maggie thinks he is still hot, too, and likes the idea of an affair, but is terrified he will realise her daughter is his. So, in a TSTL moment, she allows him into her life, then wonders why the shit hits the fan upon his realisation that he has a daughter he didn’t know about. Sure enough, he goes all postal, threatening to take their daughter away. Duh. She knew he might do that, she even says it, but she allows her hormones rule her head. And to win out over her maternal instinct, if you ask me.
I didn’t like Rhys very much. He was immature and selfish. He hadn’t really changed much from when he was 20. Blame everyone and don’t take responsibility. She didn’t even know his real name or title, so how was Maggie supposed to tell him that she was pregnant? His self-righteous bluster got on my nerves, and he took a long time to see the light.
And frankly, it was stretching credibility when the author had Rhys regularly and fondly remembering his night with the barmaid. As though she had been something special. All the while, he is whoring and drinking his way through the world for ten years.
Maggie deserved a good man. Rhys simply wasn't it. ...more
A cute story about two people who struggled to fit in because they were a bit different. The hero, Sinjin, was half Chinese, although he was simply deA cute story about two people who struggled to fit in because they were a bit different. The hero, Sinjin, was half Chinese, although he was simply described as “exotic” all the time. Polly has the ability to see auras, so that she senses emotions. It is a bit of a curse for her, and she feels like everyone will consider her mad if they find out. The plot was a bit convoluted (actually, GC's plots often are a bit OTT!) and I just didn't resonate with the characters in the same way as I have with others in this series.
Also, (view spoiler)[ not sure why we had Polly hit her head and suddenly lose her special ability right at the end of the book. Was it a vehicle to ensure that she would not be able to read Sinjin’s feelings? (hide spoiler)] Would that have created stresses in their relationship? Seemed totally random to me.
This was not as strong a book for me as some of the earlier ones, but I enjoyed it all the same.
1.5 stars. This is the story of Nora, the cartoonist from one of the earlier books. I thought her caricatures were clever and I was looking forward to 1.5 stars. This is the story of Nora, the cartoonist from one of the earlier books. I thought her caricatures were clever and I was looking forward to her story. Then the snobbish hero appeared, who couldn't conceive of marrying someone from the "middling classes", (although he did briefly entertain the idea of having her as his mistress, because of the very inconvenient physical attraction he was feeling.) What a tosser.
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Unfortunately, Nora does not give him the set-down he deserved- where is Elizabeth Bennett when we need her? She does try and call him on his hypocrisy, (he accepts money from aristos to hide their scandals, and is appalled that her family works in trade?) but crumbles in the face of his wonderfulness. Ugh.
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And again- what's with all those illicit sexual encounters? I'm so over it. Hero doesn't respect you, you don't respect yourself. It's just painful....more
3.5 circus stars. Well, this was a crazy story! What do you do when your mum is a controlling bitch? Why, you run away and join the circus, don't you? Y3.5 circus stars. Well, this was a crazy story! What do you do when your mum is a controlling bitch? Why, you run away and join the circus, don't you? Yep- that was the story. I was thinking- yeah....-nuh. But it actually worked for me. Our heroine Lille is quite young here, and the hero, Jack, is not that much older. He is a very tortured soul who has a bit of a kink when it comes to sex. (Honestly, I didn't particularly like that aspect, but I just went with it.)
I found Lille's youth a bit irritating at times, as it made Jack seem even more controlling than he actually was. She had no self-confidence and seemed to need a lot of validation, especially from Jack, which got annoying and made her seem a bit weak. There was some balance when she realised (view spoiler)[ that Jack had taught himself to read because he had not had any real schooling, and that he was very self-conscious of his borderline illiteracy (hide spoiler)]
There was an almost soap opera quality to some of the drama that went on amongst the circus folk, but I don't know that world at all. Perhaps it is all larger than life? I was very moved at the end when (view spoiler)[ Jack's brother Jay is finally reunited with Jack. (hide spoiler)]. I felt Jack deserved a break, even though his hot/cold attitude towards Lille pissed me off. She was way too forgiving IMO.
Safety: be warned, there is some OW drama (view spoiler)[and Jack does have sex with her before he and Lille get together. Lille is already half in love with him by this stage and sees the woman leaving his caravan in the morning. (hide spoiler)]. But Jack is faithful from that point on.
This was an OK sports romance. The hero was very closed off and the heroine was far too ready to take whatever he was prepared to give her (once a weekThis was an OK sports romance. The hero was very closed off and the heroine was far too ready to take whatever he was prepared to give her (once a week, secret sex) without standing up for herself and demanding more. (view spoiler)[His sudden passionate and very public declaration of love (in front of fans at the stadium) was so out of character it was simply unbelievable. (hide spoiler)] And she was forever lying on her sun lounge in her bathing suit. It was a case of a good start and then it kind of petered out. Also, I am not a fan of women doing sexy dresses when trying to project a professional business image. Men are pretty basic, and if you are trying to be the boss in a man's domain, ie. football team, you probably need to adapt your look. Otherwise they won't be listening so much as looking. And having sex with the captain of the team you own? Not a good business decision. What if it had been a man owning a women's team? And he starts a sexual relationship with the female captain of the team he owns? Do we suddenly start talking about the power dynamic and exploitation? Just sayin'. ...more
I am a Penny Reid fan. When she is on point, I love her writing. This series about a bunch of bearded, good ole country boys is not on point for me, II am a Penny Reid fan. When she is on point, I love her writing. This series about a bunch of bearded, good ole country boys is not on point for me, I'm afraid. Firstly, I don't like beards. Unhygienic and creepy- what are you trying to hide?
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Let alone a hero named CLETUS. I mean, come on..... that's just not a sexy name for me.
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The writing is good, as always. I just didn't warm to the characters as much as I expected. Let's take the heroine. Jennifer, the banana cake queen, (yes, really) was the biggest doormat EVA. Her parents totally exploited her, she was working in the bakery, doing 12 hour days, then out at events promoting the business and never got a cent. Her mother, who was obsessive about the business and ostensibly did it for "the family", but was really building the business for her own ambitious plans, chose her clothes for her (Jennifer was an adult, btw) and controlled both her financial and social life. She even ran Jennifer's social media. Her father told her she was unintelligent and only useful as an ornament (forget the money she was making him, the cheating douchebag). He would periodically go through her history on her laptop to check what she was looking at- excuse me, but you can delete your history, Jennifer. Maybe you ARE really as dumb as they said?
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Jennifer was an adult. She allowed her parents to turn her into caricature. In fact, Cletus actually says that about her at one stage. (How humiliating.) Does she question it? Rebel? No. Not even once.
So I was struggling to connect with Jennifer. Meanwhile, Cletus starts out as an unemotional douche but grew on me. It still took him a long time to acknowledge his feelings for Jennifer and change his agenda. But because this is Penny Reid, I had to finish the story, and while I would have kicked mum to the kerb along with dad (I'm not a forgiving kinda gal) I was glad I stuck it out. Not a favourite Penny Reid for me (the series generally is not doing it for me) but a solid one.
Now if I can just get that godawful name outta my head.........
This was a bit of a silly book. It was so full of psychological mumbo jumbo about things like dominance displays in law enforcement and the heroine asThis was a bit of a silly book. It was so full of psychological mumbo jumbo about things like dominance displays in law enforcement and the heroine asking herself whether signs of deference and submission decreased proportionately to the increase of distance from the station house, (I kid you not), that I just got bored.
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Too many points were laboured.
Yes, he was alpha. Yes, he wasn't in touch with his feelings. Yes, he took too long to tell her he needed her. Yes, she kept waiting and giving him another chance.
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Also, this woman was such a klutz, I reckon if I'd been the hero I would have run a mile. She was forever spilling food and drink (including hot coffee) on him. It just got ridiculous.
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Add to that the glaring mistake where she tells the hero early in the book that she is 26, then suddenly she is 28- how was that not picked up?
I'm sure the sociological and psychological aspect of policing is fascinating- I just wasn't looking for a dissertation on this topic. It was, tbh, distracting, and took away any of the emotional impact the story might have had.
2.5 stars Now we move from the virtuous, faithful hero of Fool Me Once to the disgustingly promiscuous Cameron, lead singer of a rock band. Yeah, I do 2.5 stars Now we move from the virtuous, faithful hero of Fool Me Once to the disgustingly promiscuous Cameron, lead singer of a rock band. Yeah, I do struggle with this trope, I'll be honest.
From threesomes and very dirty, disrespectful chat between the guys in the band about the women they fuck, to use their word for it (not sure how they figure they are any different or any better than their groupies, but I guess the double standard is still alive and well) to devoted, faithful lover in the space of a few weeks, days, even, is stretching it. Cameron and his mate Logan have no interest in finding out the name of the latest hook-up. They dismissively label the blondes Betty and the brunettes Veronica from the Archie comics, because hells, we don't give a flying fuck what their actual names are, and ask each other which one they would like for a quick screw. Ugh.
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So it was always gonna be a struggle to believe in a complete 180 character change. Still, I kept reading it, despite my disbelief, and despite the speedy dive between the sheets on the part of our supposedly discriminating heroine, so I guess it had something to keep me hooked. The writing is solid and the rock world described seems really enough, even though it is also very clichéd. I mean, how would I know? Never was a rock chick/groupie! (Here I must sing the praises of Jon Bon Jovi, as hot a rock star as you'd ever want, and his devotion to his wife of decades. Breaking the mold, or more usual these days than not? For me, that is a real man. But I guess we don't have the drama and angst that readers like.)
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So if you'd like a quick read with some emotion and drama and dirty sex, set in the rock world, then go for it!
Will I be reading the rest of the series (about the other guys in the band)? Yes, I think so. We'll see if I get through all of them. Might have had a gutful of sexist, stupid-arse, man-whore rock stars, forgiving, push-over heroines and cookie cutter, dumb-as-fuck groupies before I get to the end, but who knows? And btw, my bad language is simple reflecting the language of the book :) ...more
3.5 stars. Another one of those classic Zapata books, with an older hero (she likes a 10 to 15 year age gap, it seems) and a feisty/weak heroine. The h3.5 stars. Another one of those classic Zapata books, with an older hero (she likes a 10 to 15 year age gap, it seems) and a feisty/weak heroine. The hero is a 41 year old, heavily tattooed, built like a wrestler dude who rebuilds, renovates and details cars. The heroine is a car (spray) painter, detailer and some time welder who works in his company. Yup. (Reminded me of Flashdance). If the characterisation and the emotional content were not so deep, I don't think I would have got far with this one! It was a sloooooowwww buuurrrn.
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So I was definitely into the story and desperate for Luna's Happy End, because after the shit that she had been through (and which never seemed to end) she bloody deserved it. She was one of those people who make a determined decision to stay positive, to be happy and to count her blessings, few though they may be. Sometimes, it really pissed me off. I ended up choking on so much positivity and forgiveness and patience, and wished she would grow a spine and give it back to the horrible people in her life. It took most of the book for her to get there, and my heart was aching for her by then. Oh, and she has blue hair....
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Rip was one of those inscrutable, laconic even taciturn heroes who hardly changes his facial expressions and is impossible to read. Hard work, frankly. It took me a while to warm to him, which is so often the case with Zapata heroes (think Kulti, or Aiden in The Wall of Winnipeg and Me). I spend most of the book wanting to fucking punch them because they are arseholes, then they come through so beautifully you just want to cry, except I'm not sure if they are tears of joy or of sheer relief! Not sure how those tatts are gonna look when he is 60. But I guess they work on a young 'un!
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There is some violence, and Luna has certainly got a bloodthirsty streak, but you can't really blame her. In that, she and Rip are a good match. The context, a car shop, is not one I know anything about and probably don't care that much for, but it's great that Zapata is not afraid to go into different settings for her books.
If you have read other books by this author and enjoyed them, then this one will definitely appeal. If you find her books too slow burn in the romance department, then I wouldn't bother- it takes a long time to get there....more
I would have enjoyed this one more if the hero hadn't been such a petulant arse for a lot of the book. I get it: he had issues. But you don't have to I would have enjoyed this one more if the hero hadn't been such a petulant arse for a lot of the book. I get it: he had issues. But you don't have to be a bastard to the nice girl because of that. He needed to grow up, which he finally did, but more grovelling and much more work was required for him to redeem himself in my eyes. But I am bloody hard on my heroes!...more
I was so bothered by the readiness of the H and h to indulge in sexual encounters while H was in the process oYup. One big miss for me by this author.
I was so bothered by the readiness of the H and h to indulge in sexual encounters while H was in the process of wooing a (different) more suitable woman for his bride. For me, it was just unethical. How can a woman meet this lady socially, knowing your lover is about to propose to her, and not feel guilty? How could he continue to have sex with one woman while actively courting the other, keeping her dangling on the string of her expectation? The excuse: I haven't proposed yet. We are not yet engaged. So basically, let's screw the shit out of each other while we can.
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Then he threw the h at his friend, who the H thought would make her a terrific husband, all the while still banging her?? And the friend not at all bothered that our putative hero had already slept with her, indeed, was still sleeping with her! Yep, his friend wanted to marry her anyway. Not because of any grand passion. But he liked her well enough. Lukewarm, much?
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It was simply too ridiculous and not the sort of thing that would have been going on at that time with young, unmarried women. Both the H and the h should have been slapped hard for their unconscionable behaviour. They bloody deserved each other.
This could have been really good. If only the heroine had not been quite so door-mattish. So plain and unattractive (and this was emphasised2.5 stars.
This could have been really good. If only the heroine had not been quite so door-mattish. So plain and unattractive (and this was emphasised ad nauseum) So badly dressed (had she no self-respect?) If only the hero had not been quite so damaged. So filled with self-loathing. So oddly dumb. So fantastically beautiful-looking that the contrast with her unattractiveness was too stark.
I did enjoy the story, and the concept was cool. I like the way this author writes and have read her HR novels(under Maggie Fenton) with pleasure. But the heroine, Aline, annoyed me quite a bit.
How she put up with this man for 5 years as his secretary was beyond me. He was pretty much a pig to her. To top it off, he’s drop-dead gorgeous, she’s unattractive- suddenly he thinks she is beyond hot? I am never convinced that a man can suddenly feel a desperate sexual attraction for a woman he has been working with for 5 years, when up to that point he has not even noticed her as a woman. And has had a number of mistresses. (view spoiler)[ He even got Aline to see off his mistresses for him, by the way. She bought the farewell gift. Told the mistress it was over. Because he didn't feel like doing it. Nice guy. Yet no real condemnation on the part of the heroine. Why can’t women support each other more? That was a major yuk factor for me. (hide spoiler)]
So I have many reservations about this story. Not sure what the gambling addiction aspect was supposed to mean, either. That she was a risk-taker? She also wrote these penny dreadfuls that were so clearly based on her own relationships it was a bit naff. And kind of pathetic. I think that is how I saw her in the end. Kind of pathetic. She was a nice person. But not my kind of gal.
I will read the next one to see how it develops and hope for a more equal partnership, but coming off The Kraken King I am not holding my breath. ...more
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