Perfect Score

Perfect Score by Beth Albright

Journalist Virginia "Ginny" Bruce Hunnicutt just had her dream job ripped out from underneath of her in spectacular scandal.  Back home in Cottonwood Cove, Alabama to lick her wounds, her mother wrangles her into helping her save her family's newspaper by uncovering the secret the new football coach is hiding.  However, the closer Ginny gets to him (and the truth) the more reservations she has about whether she is doing the right thing.

This story is written in a style that is more common in Women's Lit and less common in main stream romance.  It is written entirely in the first person, and only tells the story from the prospective of the heroine (leaving the reader no insight into the thoughts of the hero).

That being said, the story was well crafted and emotionally engaging.  It did seem to run a bit fast, but humorous hi-jinx the heroine finds herself in with her sisters keeps the story from feeling pointless during the rushed parts.  While some elements seemed highly repetitive at the beginning, the story evened out and improved greatly at the end.

Overall, I liked the premise behind this story and am glad I stuck with it to the very satisfying end.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 2

Sex – 3

Language – 4

Storyline – 4

Overall – 3

Wicked Designs

Wicked Designs by Lauren Smith

Miss Emily Parr has one chance at happiness: find a sensible husband who will take her away from her uncaring uncle and allow her the freedom to control her own inheritance.  Unfortunately all of those dreams are dashed when she is designated a pawn in a deadly game played by her uncle with two very dangerous men.  Can she keep her wits about her long enough to escape with her body - and heart - still in tact?

For Godric St. Laurent, Duke of Essex, kidnapping Miss Parr was a matter of revenge more than anything else.  From the moment he gets her on his estate, however, her innocence and determination charm him and his friends more than he ever imagined was possible.  But the longer he keeps her, the more Godric is convinced that giving her back might just be the death of both of them.

I almost balked at the length of this one.  Four hundred pages seemed pretty daunting for a romance novel by a new author.  I am so glad I took a chance on it, though.  This one kept me riveted the whole time.  The action started right away and the author used foreshadowing like a grand master.

The character development was extraordinary.  I particularly loved that Godric realizes that Emily has not yet mourned her parents.  Later on, when the events of the year finally hit Emily, he is there to comfort her.  It is a touching scene made more intimate because it is raw emotion not cheapened by lust.

Most people know I am a huge fan of supporting characters, and it comes as no surprise that the way supporting characters are handled is the difference between a four- and five-star review.  Well, wait not a moment longer...the supporting characters blew me away.  To create a group of men and develop them to the point that the collective group is a character in and of itself is masterful.  Ms. Smith did this with such flair that I am left in awe.

Overall...how to make this not sound like a fan girl (which I most certainly am turning into), this story is a re-read.  I keep a selection of books set aside for re-reading once every year or two.  This book just joined that list.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 5 

Language – 4

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

In the Stars

In the Stars by Ava Stone

As the younger son of a vicar, Lieutenant-Colonel Nathaniel Carrick never had the need to find and marry and heiress, until he is made Viscount Healyfield by the Crown and given a dilapidated Abbey into his care.  Now a promise made to his commanding officer to marry his daughter seems like the best avenue, but can he convince her that he is her true love?

Miss Wilhelmina Throssell has always been close with her mother.  Even all of these years after her death, her mother still guides her.  After following her mother's scent to a fortuneteller in Whitecastle, Wilhelmina is told that she will find her true love soon and she will recognize him as a steady commander...with only one eye.  Too bad Lord Healyfield has both of his eyes because she could easily fall for him.

While there has always been a belief of the mystical world in every society throughout time, I had yet to come across a hero or heroine in a regency-set novel to so strongly believe it and actually be a born member of the ton.  This was definitely an "outside the box" sort of novel, but it grabs you and makes you think about possibilities.  I felt bad for Mina quite often because she knew what other people thought of her and actually did care.

Nathaniel was a true hero.  He saw Mina as everyone else did, but realized that her quirks were what made her extraordinary.  He hated that, in essence, he was a fortune hunter, but knew that that was the only way he would be able to mind his responsibilities.  But the most wonderful thing about him was that he kept an open mind, even while trying to prove that Mina was wrong.  He didn't just walk away.  He sought to help her because he saw her as something special.

The supporting characters were fairly interesting and really makes you hope and pray that Ms. Stone continues on with a series that will include all of them.

Overall, this story was an odd delight and well worth a read...or two.

 Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 3

Sex – 3  

Language – 4

Storyline – 5

Overall – 4  

Dark Lover

Dark Lover by JR Ward

Wrath, son of Wrath, is the last pure-blooded vampire left on Earth, and their unwilling King.  Though mostly blind since his transition, Wrath is the defacto leader of a band of warrior vampires known as the Black Dagger Brotherhood.  Despising humans almost as much as he despises his own fate, he is left reeling when one of his warriors dies leaving his half-human daughter in his care just as she is about to transition herself.

Journalist Beth Randall has always been alone.  Raised in foster care, she knew nothing about her parents, and never really felt connected to anyone.  Suddenly her life is thrown into a tailspin when a series of seemingly unconnected events begin take on rather sinister implications, and a massive stranger arrives in the night claiming that her father sent him to protect her.  She is left unsure about what is more terrifying:  the dark world Wrath is leading her into, or their unexpected need for each other.

Honestly, I have never been able to get into Paranormal Romance.  Typically it is too dark for me, and I am not a fan of the excessive language normally used by the genre.  That being said, this series really surprised me.  The story actually has a great amount of general appeal.  The writing sucked me in quickly, and I found myself turning pages, wanting to know how things were going to turn out.

Even though the main protagonists of the story are Wrath and Beth, there are many stories that begin to form throughout the book.  Butch and Marissa have a great deal of their stories told, with Tohr, Rhage, and Vishous getting story teasers woven in.  We also hear little bits about Phury and Zsadist, too.  It was this style of multiple points of view that pushed me to finish the book and helped me overlook some of the less pleasant aspects of the story.

Those unpleasant aspects for me are mainly during the points of view of the antagonist, Mr. X.  As a leader in the Lessening Society, Mr. X is overly fond of torture, and his points of view are full of disturbing details.  I found myself wanting to skip over the scenes involving Mr. X. every time I saw his name pop up.

Over all, I would say that the book is definitely worth a try for anyone wanting to try something a bit out of their comfort zone.  Also, if you are a fan of the Paranormal Romance genre already, then this is a definite must read for you.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 2

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4

The Staff of Serapis

The Staff of Serapis by Rick Riordan

This is the second year in a row Mr. Riordan has gifted (blessed, teased, tortured, etc) us with a short story combining the worlds of Percy Jackson and the Kane Chronicles.  In this segment it is Annabeth and Sadie who get to meet and join forces against a monster who is oddly connected to both worlds.

In this one we learn a bit more about who is behind the magic and theories are formulated as to why it is happening.  It seems very much like Mr. Riordan might be a bit more than hinting at a major story line involving the Olympians and the Egyptians.  Whether it is a single-title or a series of books, nothing has yet been confirmed.

Overall, Riordan Fans will salivate over this story, and the awesome bonus of being able to read a chapter from the final Heroes of Olympus book Blood of Olympus.

The Substitute Bride

The Substitute Bride by Kathleen O'Brien

Journalist Marly Akers' upbringing was what some would call strict.  At the age of 17, her mother had found herself pregnant, abandoned, and trapped.  So, in order to make sure that that never happened to her daughter, she laid out stringent expectations, and bestowed harsh consequences for not meeting those expectations.  Now, nine years after leaving home to start the life her mother always wanted, Marly is back in Marietta...pregnant and abandoned.

Drake Everett has always been good at playing a part.  The cocky sports star.  The class clown.  The careless playboy.  Before, however, his act was always to cover up the dark truth about his dysfunctional family.  Now that the act is no longer needed, can he convince the only woman who has ever mattered that he is not playing a part?  Or will his attentions only leave her feeling trapped?

When looking at the relationship between Marly and Angelina, it is hard not to draw comparisons to "Sweet Home Alabama" (movie, not song).  Angelina loves Marly, she really does, but she doesn't want her to repeat her mistakes.  It was really hard to like Angelina, but you can't like every character, and she serves a huge purpose to Marly's growth.

Drake was a bit difficult to get on board with.  I felt that his character was treated more as a secondary character than a hero.  His character was not fleshed out as much as I would have liked, but the parts that I did see were admirable.

The supporting characters were a split, in my opinion.  Fly was awesome.  He will remind readers of every dream of a perfect grandfather they have ever had.  Robin, on the other hand, was annoying.  I tried to find her sense of humor endearing, but it just came off ill-timed and self-serving.  That may have been the point of the author, though.  There really are people out there in real life that just can't help but be this way.  There is nothing really malicious about them, so they still have genuine friends, but those friends probably groan every time they open their mouths

Overall, the mother-daughter relationship is the jewel of this book.  It is real and proves that mothers and daughters don't have to have perfect relationships to love each other.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 3

Sex – 4 

Language – 4

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4

The Temptation of the Duke

The Temptation of the Duke By Jerrica Knight-Catania

Growing up the daughter of a pig farmer, Grace Clark is very much aware of her rank among the ton.  That, however, does not stop her dreaming about capturing the heart of a Duke.  After two Seasons in London, she desires nothing more than to prove that she is so much more than a Wetherby "poor relation".  She longs for love and adventure, and perhaps the returned affection of a certain high-born neighbor.

Fifteen years in Paris has given Evan Gillford, Duke of Somerset, plenty of worldly experience, and a great big dose of guilt.  Guilt for abandoning his sister to the marriage machinations of their mother.  Guilt for not being there when his father died.  Guilt for leaving his betrothed to grow past the age of marriageability while he avoided marriage all together.  Now he has returned home to assume all of his cast-off responsibilities.  Unfortunately, one glimpse over a garden wall has his heart calling for a full retreat.  Can he still do the right thing and marry the woman he is promised to when he can't stop thinking about the eavesdropper next door?

This story caught me off guard in many ways.  Every time Grace had a chance to react in a way a high-born lady would react the reader is reminded that she is NOT a high-born lady.  She reacts how we free-thinking, "common" women would react in a similar situation.  I found myself second guessing her as I would second guess myself because I am not used to a heroine not doing the "civilized" thing.  All of this made me want to be her friend more than any other heroine I have come across recently.

After you read this story you will feel the same way about Evan that I do, I am positive.  Evan is a spineless, clueless tool!  He lets himself be used by the people around him and doesn't consider that ,because of his rank, his attitude of compliance is dangerous.  While, in most cases, having an unlikable hero can be literary suicide, the author pulls off a miracle by actually allowing the character to grow up and become likable.

I think the biggest element that really shook this book up was resolving the love story three-quarters of the way through the book, and then resolving another, very important, story line with the rest of the book.  This was such a gutsy move, and I believe it was pulled off with flair.

Overall, this story took me on a roller coaster ride with the perfect number of loops, spins, and dips, and then threw a last minute twist in that ensured I would come back for more.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 4

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

Her Muse, Lord Patrick

Her Muse, Lord Patrick By Jane Charles

While rushing to deliver a message to his best friend's sister, Lord Patrick Delaney is attacked, robbed, and dumped into a river.  When he wakes he finds himself in the personal writing room of Miss Chetwey with no memory of what happened to him or what message he was supposed to deliver.  The only thing he does know is that no one can see, hear, or touch him...except Miss Chetwey.

Laura Chetwey removed herself to her uncle's estate and entered half-mourning after her brother's ship disappeared four months ago.  Bored out of her mind and having exhausted her uncle's collection of horrid novels she decides to write one herself.  After hearing a voice of inspiration instructing her on the characters in her book she is shocked to discover that her muse is her brother's best friend, Lord Patrick.  Realizing that Lord Patrick is a ghost, Laura is torn between wanting to hear the message he has of her brother and fearing that if he does remember he will leave her forever.

This was a charming little ghost story with some very creative twists to keep the plot moving.  I liked the way Ms. Charles kept true to the continuity of Lord Patrick not being able to touch things (including Laura) yet still managed to have tender moments between them.

The characters are very well fleshed out and the flow of the story is superb.  The bad guys are true nightmares and the good guys are truly heroic.  I loved the commentary about what makes a literary villain, hero, and heroine.

Overall, this was a wonderfully refreshing story.  Short, but not rushed.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 3

Storyline – 5

Overall – 4

Sweet Home Carolina

Sweet Home Carolina by Kim Boykin

Darcy Vance has sunk just about everything she has into buying and renovating a former brothel in order to open her very own Bed and Breakfast.  Unfortunately, Mimosa House comes with an embarrassing history to the Bloom Family, who just happens to run the Historical Society Board, and control the Historical Home Tours.  Without being on the Home Tour Mimosa House has virtually no chance of attracting customers...or making money.

Trent Mauldin has just lost his PGA Tour card after failing to recover from a second shoulder surgery.  Coming home to work for his father wasn't his preference, but he soon realizes that it's a lot more complicated than he ever could have thought.  Big Jack's new resort and golf course might be outside of Magnolia Bay, but the entrance isn't.  Now Trent's loyalties are being torn in three: the Bloom Family, to whom he belongs on his mother's side; his father, for whom he works; and the cute redheaded B&B owner, whom he might actually be falling in love with.

This book was a gut punching, emotional roller coaster that I wanted to get off one minute, and ride it out the next.  At one point I wanted to laugh, cry, cheer, and throw-up all at once.  I swear that the author was looking for ways to torture Darcy over and over again.  I wasn't sure a happy ever after was even possible toward the end.  The fact that the ending was pulled off was so impressive I actually did cry...with relief.

Overall, this story was so extraordinarily told I will recommend it to everyone I see.

Warning: the author writes in "first person perspective" for the heroine.  It takes a bit to switch back and forth, but it doesn't take away from the story.  There are a few typos that are noticeable, but again, unless you are a grammar Nazi, it doesn't take away from the story.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 3

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

Bet the House

Bet the House by Erika Marks

Willa Dunn has grown up knowing at least one thing for sure:  the Loveless Brothers are EVIL.  Their construction company has always been at odds with her family's historical preservation business.  Now, not only has her baby sister has turned traitor and agreed to marry the oldest Loveless Brother, the middle brother just out-bid her on her dream house.

Knox Loveless can't fully fathom why he lets Wilhelmina Dunn get under his skin, it's just been that way since a teenage bet changed their relationship all of those years ago.  It's none of her business why he joined the Historical Society Board, or that building "McMansions" with no character irritates him.  When he discovers that Willa's dream house is for sale, and that she might be out bid, he steps in and buys it himself.  Now, Knox is once again public enemy number one.  Can another bet change their relationship again?

Willa is often described in the book as being passionate or high-strung.  That is actually a spot on description.  I loved how the author doesn't leave out the ugly bits of a passionate personality.  Passionate people do tend to be self-centered and make a habit of walking over people to achieve their goals.  Being passionate is not a terrible thing, but people like that do need someone in their life (a friend, family member, or partner) to ground then and keep them from alienating people.

All of the characters in this book have massive flaws that the author uses to benefit the story.  The "drama queen" sister isn't chastised, but accepted; the blustering father isn't turned into a villain, just a typical big personality; the "other guy" is actually likable, despite committing a huge social gaffe.

Overall, I really liked this book.  The way that for every situation, both sides of the story were told with equal weight, appealed on many levels.  Plus, the resolution was actually very satisfying and didn't feel forced or rushed.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 3 

Language – 3

Storyline – 5

Overall – 4

Game of Brides

Game of Brides by Megan Crane

Emmy Mathis is over her childhood crush.  Isn't she?  Ten years after he left her naked a crying in his grandmother's barn, has completely moved on.  She graduated from college and got a job as a copywriter in an ad agency in Atlanta, so her life is moving right along.  Except it's not.  Not really.  Now, she has been forced by her hateful boss to take a leave of absence to help with her sister's wedding in Montana, and who should pick her up from the airport?

Griffin Hyatt is the epitome of being successful at something you love.  His passion for art and extreme sports segued into a highly celebrated athletic wear company.  If only his personal life was as successful as his business.  After being betrayed by the two people who mattered to him the most, he has been licking his wounds in Montana and finding himself stuck in a rut.  But after seeing Emmy for the first time in ten years, he suddenly realized that the annoying little girl trailing after him all of those years ago has become woman...and what a woman.  Is it possible that she was the one for him all along?

It was definitely a change of pace to find a character like Griffin in this series.  Up until this point I have been used to cowboys, or at the very least country boys.  While Griffin is not purely a "street-wise" city boy, he is more that than a country boy.  At first I was prepared to not like him, but he grew on me.  He was unapologetic about his actions, but he admitted that he might have been less than cavalier in his technique.

Reading Emmy's story is great because many people (men and women) feel the same way as she does.  Feeling like you need the create a controlled environment to prevent yourself from acting foolishly or getting hurt, but then you end up hating your life and can't find a way out.

The supporting characters are actually not terribly likable on their own.  It is only through the eyes of the main characters that you see them are people who are real and very much loved.  Margery is especially this way.  She may come off as a prime diva, but Emmy still loves her and would do anything for her, even risk her job.

Overall, this story definitely pulls you out of the box and makes you look at the world around you.  Not everything is as cut and dry, or final, as we think it is.  Bravo!

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 5 

Language – 3 

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

Remembering That Night

Remembering That Night By Stephanie Doyle

Greg Chalmers is a human lie detector.  Confident in his theory about the physiology of lying, he walked away from his psychology practice after he was proven fallible by one of his patients.  Afterward, his life spiraled out of control, causing him to lose his much the rest of his life to the darkness that consumed him.  A year after hitting rock bottom he knows what his weaknesses are and has surrounded himself by the people who have his back.  Then he is called in to consult on an hysterical amnesia case after a beautiful woman is picked up on the side of the road, covered in blood.  Can he keep a professional mindset when all evidence point to her guilt, but all of his instincts are tell him she is not lying?

The first memory Eliza Dunning has is being picked up by a police officer on the side of a highway covered in blood.  She doesn't remember her name, where she is from, or how she came to be where she was in the state she was in.  Desperate to unravel her own story she turns to Greg, the only person willing to believe that she truly doesn't remember anything.  As bits of her memory start to surface, and her identity is revealed, she becomes to focus of a murder investigation.  The problem is, though the facts say guilty, her gut says not.  Can she keep Greg on her side long enough for her to remember what really happened?

What this story lacks in actual romance, it makes up for in suspense and drama.  Typically, I am not enamored with or sucked into crime dramas, but this one had a great set-up.  Neither characters' story was divulged all at once, so the readers feels like two mysteries are unraveling at the same time.  It does get a little frustrating that both characters have a hard time accepting help.  Whereas, in the second book of the series the characters' independence helped build them up, this time the trait actually tears them down.  It is very painful to watch, yet you get drawn in and feel you have to.

As far as the supporting characters go, in a complete reversal to all of my previous reviews for this series, Chuck and Elaine are not a strong point in this book.  Chuck is far from likable and Elaine comes off as immature and whiny.  Their romance is believable, but lacks the yearning undertones that make a romance worthwhile.  Hopefully, by the time their story is told in full we will learn something that makes the book worth reading.

Overall, the story is well written; the characters are well fleshed; the scenarios are fantastical, yet grounded in reality.  Normally this would be a formula for a 5-star book.  Yet the supporting characters drag this one down.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 3 

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4

The Reluctant Bride

The Reluctant Bride by Katherine Garbera

Defusing IEDs as a US Marine in Afghanistan, Monty Davison has seen more of the ugly side of life than any one man should.  That's why he falls hard for the pretty little florist in Vegas while attending a buddy's wedding.  She is sweet, innocent and full of life; completely untouched by the horrors of death and loss.  In a whirlwind decision he proposes to her and heads back to Afghanistan with thoughts of his life after the Marines keeping him strong.  But then, when he needs her the most, his fiancee disappears.

Florist Risa Grant's life was definitely coming up roses.  In a matter of months her fiance would be back from Afghanistan and they could start planning their future.  Then tragedy strikes and Risa begins to let fear get the better of her.  In a moment of panic she packs up everything and moves to Montana to buy her own florist shop and hide away from the world.  Except the world - or her fiancee - catches up with her and wants an explanation; something she is not quite ready to give.  Can she and Monty have their happily ever after, even if their life isn't exactly a fairy tale?

Confession time:  I didn't really like either of the main characters.  Both of them were wishy-washy and not very heroic.  I can understand the anger on his part and the fear on her part, but both of them seemed say they were (or weren't) going to do something one minute only to do the exact opposite the next.  The author did a good job portraying that there really are actual people like that in real life - I just don't find them admirable.

As far as the storyline goes, I found the idea of losing your footing over a first time tragedy very intriguing.  To be untouched by loss for so long, and then to lose your family in a single swoop is gut-wrenching.  I cannot say how I would have reacted as I grew-up understanding death and sickness, but I am pretty sure Risa's reaction is a pretty normal one.

Overall, this was not one of my favorite books by this author.  I really loved her Cowboy for Christmas, so I was disappointed that I didn't care for this one.  Still, I don't like coffee and my husband loves the stuff, so this is more of a preference thing.  Definitely give the book a try; it wasn't bad.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 3

Sex – 4 

Language – 4 

Storyline – 3

Overall – 3

For the First Time

For the First Time by Stephanie Doyle

Former CIA agent Mark Sharpe is the best at what he does...just ask him.  Having decided to leave the Agency in order to be a full-time dad to his reluctant teenage daughter, Mark has set up as a private investigator specializing in cold cases.  Now, one of those cases seem to have come back to haunt him, forcing him to bite the bullet and hire on a brilliant partner who simply rubs him the wrong way.

JoJo Hatcher is a non-conformist.  If someone can't tell that from her attitude, her tattoos will leave them in no doubt.  She knows no amount of camouflage will work on Mark, but she finds herself oddly drawn to the idea of working with this genius of observation.  Can she keep her growing attraction from distracting her from her job?  Especially now that Mark's daughter has been threatened and he needs her so desperately.

The main characters are transparent.  Sometimes this can be a good thing, other times...not so much.  In this case it is a mixed blessing.  Mark's transparency worked great in the previous book, where he acted as the foil to the main character, Ben Tyler.  In this book, his transparency is a hindrance because there are only so many believable ways he can react to a situation, and none of them are very complimentary to him.  JoJo's transparency works in a way that is unexpected.  The reader knows that JoJo is motivated by her past, and as such will do what ever it takes to keep history from repeating itself.  This works because the reader does not get all of the backstory all at once, so we are kept guessing as to what really happened to her to make her the way that she is.

Once again, the supporting characters save the day.  Greg's story is intriguing, and as we are only given a morsel of it, we find ourselves salivating for more.  Sophie is a typical teen with an atypical life.  We can relate to her angst, but also marvel at her strength while she deals with stuff that most adults will never even deal with.

Overall, this is a good read.  I really enjoyed the story, but often found myself distracted by Mark being somewhat unlikable.    

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 4 

Language – 3 

Storyline – 4

Overall – 4

An Act of Persuasion

An Act of Persuasion By Stephanie Doyle

After a life of leading teams of CIA agents through life threatening maneuvers, Ben Tyler never believed he would be brought to his knees, especially by his own body.  There was no way he was going to allow cancer to kill him slowly, so he decided to undergo a drastic treatment behind the back of his personal assistant, and primary support.  Now, twelve weeks later, he is cancer free, and Anna-free.  Can he talk her in to forgiving him?  Especially now that his future is in her hands.

The only thing Anna Summers has ever wanted is a home.  Abandoned at the age of six by her mother, and spending twelve years of her life being bounced from house to house, she thought she had finally found that home caring for her boss, Ben.  Everything changes after one night when barriers come crashing down and they give in to a passion she is sure is mutual.  However, in the aftermath, she is left feeling used and betrayed.  Though leaving him was the hardest thing she had ever done, she will willingly walk back in to his life now that she is carrying the only child Ben will ever father, but it is going to be on her terms only.

This story is emotionally captivating and beautifully written.  The characters are both strong, in the sense that life has taught them that it is better to be independent than a victim.  That being said, it is understandable why they are drawn to each other.  Anna sees Ben as the only person who has ever truly needed her, and Ben sees Anna as the only person who has never pitied him.  It is also why they are wary of each other.  Anna doesn't want to be controlled, and Ben doesn't like being out of control.

The introduction of Mark and Sophie in the side story gave a great contrast to Ben's control.  Mark is confident and good at what he does.  But Ben has an emotional detachment that really becomes emphasized when compared to a peer who lacks that detachment.

Overall, this is a great read and my personal favorite of the series.  The language is strong at times, but in an isolated manner.  The love scenes are well written and the storyline never really lags.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 5 

Language – 3 

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5