Lines in the Sand

Lines in the Sand by Kaira Rouda

Dorsey Pittman just landed her dream job.  She gets to work at a world class resort, with children, and, best of all, live far away from the memories that still haunt her every waking moment.  However, from the moment she steps off the ferry onto Indigo Island she senses that something just doesn't add up.  Her new boss, Steve, is brash, controlling, over familiar, and just down right disturbing.  While the resort is top notch and picturesque, the rest of the island feels sad and neglected.  Dorsey, just can't shake the feeling that they way things are run here aren't the way things should be.

Jack Means has worked hard most of his life to achieve the level of success that is now his...or should be his.  Having already signed an employment contract to become the youngest member of management in Top Club history, Jack is disgusted to learn that Steve has pulled a fast one and is denying his admission to this hallowed club until the end of the summer season.  Until then Jack must cool his heels for another summer as head lifeguard, but with a twist...the long term employee rules of "no dating staff" now apply to him.  Too bad the new Children's Program Director seems just too delicious to resist.  Can he resist Dorsey all summer?  Or will Steve's heavy handed treatment only bring them closer together?

This story was a wonderful depiction of Post Traumatic Stress and Suppressed Memories.  Lately, as the stigma has slowly been removed from PTSD, more and more examples have been popping up in popular and romantic fiction.  This one is a prime example of one method used to combat PTSD, which is meeting your fear head on and acknowledging that you will always have a sensitivity to certain situations.  This story allows no sugar coating or "cures", just a strong dose of truth that some events cannot ever be forgotten.

The characters are certainly memorable.  Dorsey and Jack both have a backbone and a lot of guts to face down the myriad of unpleasant events that take place in the book.  Steve is beyond a creep.  He is one hundred percent EVIL!  The supporting staff, guests, and residents of the Island all add a lot of color and excitement to the story.

Overall, this is an exciting, if sometimes violent, adventure full of mystery and determination to discover the truth and do the right thing.

Continuity/Flow – 5
Sex – 4 

Characters – 5

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

Weekend with the Tycoon

Weekend with the Tycoon by Kaira Rouda

Samantha Jones loves her job for Blake Genetics, and she has a big idea that could really set the company apart and further their reputation for helping the world.  Just as she starts to believe that her career is on an unstoppable road to success, she is given the opportunity of a life time.  An opportunity that has the potential of ending in the death of her career and the breaking of her heart.

Blake Putnam is a no nonsense kind of guy.  He likes things his way, without a lot of fluff or frivolous waste.  In order to prevent his family from trying to match him up with an air-headed socialite during his sister's wedding, he arranges for research assistant from his company to attend the wedding with him as his date so he can prepare for an upcoming contract negotiation with little distraction...or so he thinks.

This story seemed really fast to me.  I liked the back story regarding the company and why Blake doesn't like his family, but I also like the things that were left unsaid, but were glaringly obvious.  Blake may have idolized his grandfather, but he really did take after his dad in many ways.

I will nit-pick on two things here: the date the company was "founded" and the ending of the story.  First of all, it is very unlikely that his grandfather could have founded the company in 1898.  Maybe his great-grandfather, but if it truly was his grandfather then he must have 70-ish when Blake's father was born.  Secondly, the story ended too suddenly.  Blake's father tells him that his grandfather was cold and then suddenly he is willing to try and change the way he does things at his own business.  It just felt too fast of a turn-around.

Overall, I liked the story.  It was a neat premise, and there were a few fun and exciting scenes that really made it worth reading.  I just wish it would have been longer.

Ratings:

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

Continuity/Flow – 3

Sex – 4 

Language – 3

Storyline – 5

Overall – 4