I’m reviewing Take Me Under by Rhyannon Byrd, narrated by Aletha George today over at AudioGals. This is a book I ranted about on Twitter when I was listening to it. I don’t have many positive things to say about it I’m afraid.
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Why I read it: I was provided with a review copy by the publisher via NetGalley.
What it’s about: (from Goodreads) It started as a girls’ outing to California’s beautiful Channel Islands State Park. When Ella Hammond embarks on a kayaking trip with sexy adventure guide Paul Dawson, sparks fly—but so does gunfire from a boat of drug smugglers.
Now Ella and Paul are on the run, soaked and stranded in a rocky hideout. Ella feels like she’ll never be warm again. Until Paul shares his body heat—igniting a fire between them that’s nearly too hot to handle!
What worked for me (and what didn’t): Ella is on a camping/hiking long weekend with her sister Abby and Abby’s teenage daughter, Brooke. When Brooke’s father cancelled at the last minute, Ella and Abby stepped in to save the trip. They are planning a day kayaking trip over to nearby San Miguel Island off the Californian coast. Their guide is the sexy Paul Dawson (brother of the heroine, Paige, from Scenes of Peril). Because: reasons, Paul and Ella end up kayaking alone. They are both single and have both been significantly affected by the San Diego earth quake (featured in Aftershock) and it is clear that there is chemistry and attraction between them. There is a “no fraternising” rule though so Paul is cautious about pursuing things.
on Paper/eBook
Heart Trouble by Josh Lanyon – C Sunita had a post up at Vacuous Minx (there is also a version of it at Dear Author now too) and she talked about short stories, serials and length/form in genre fiction. One of the books she linked to as a favourite of hers was this short story. It’s only 21 pages and the RRP is $2.99 (I got it at the recent All Romance eBooks Earth Day sale so I earned back $1.50 in ebook bucks which made it more palatable for me). I’ve only read a little bit of Lanyon – what I have read I’ve liked to one degree or another and there are quite a few of his books on my TBR and wishlist.
I would have enjoyed this story more but there was something in the premise that I struggled with. The story starts with Ford at the hospital – he thought he was having a heart attack. His doctor is Dr. Jacob Hoyle. Jacob is caring and kind and very helpful to Ford in a medical sense. He goes above and beyond and takes Ford home because he doesn’t want him to drive. It’s about at this point that I started feeling uncomfortable. Because Ford is still his patient and I have trouble finding a current doctor/patient romance romantic or… okay actually. This is just me though. Some people can’t read a teacher/student book or a lawyer/client book – doesn’t make any of it bad or wrong. Vegemite.
I can see from an intellectual point of view how the story is clever and does what it needs to do in a short space of time. I didn’t get the sense that there was anything that ought to have been there that wasn’t. So Sunita was right – all the words counted and the story was complete. I like fiction of all kinds of lengths – sometimes short little bites are perfect for my mood or the time I have and other times, something longer or lengthy is what I’m after. For me, this story was one I could admire in a technical sense even while I found it difficult to connect in the emotional sense.
Coming Soon
I’m over at AudioGals today with a review of Nora Roberts’ latest romantic suspense: The Collector, narrated by Julia Whelan. I enjoyed the narration but unfortunately the story didn’t reach the heights of The Witness or The Search.
Why I read it: I bought this one as soon as it was out because: Kristen Ashley and also various of my reader friends who’d read early copies were saying good things.
What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Early in her life, Josephine Malone learned the hard way that there was only one person she could love and trust: her grandmother, Lydia Malone. Out of necessity, unconsciously and very successfully, Josephine donned a disguise to keep all others at bay. She led a globetrotting lifestyle on the fringes of the fashion and music elite, but she kept herself distant.
While Josephine was trotting the globe, retired boxer Jake Spear was living in the same small town as Lydia. There was nothing disguised about Jake. Including the fact he made a habit of making very bad decisions about who to give his love.
But for Josephine and Jake, there was one person who adored them. One person who knew how to lead them to happiness. And one person who was intent on doing it.
Even if she had to do it as her final wish on this earth.
What worked for me (and what didn’t): I haven’t had the same problems with the two most recent Ashley books that others have had. That is to say, I’ve liked them well enough. Sure, they weren’t Motorcycle Man but I found things in them to enjoy. That said, this book was a welcome return to form. The story was long – over 400 pages and the romance was a kind of slow build. The sexual tension was always there but it took a while before the couple became intimate and they got to know each other (even though Jake already knew a lot about Josie, spending time with someone is different) in that time so the romance felt stronger to me. I loved Jake’s kids – Conner, Amber and Ethan and I loved Amber’s besties, boy Taylor and girl Taylor. (Seriously, they were hilarious). There were some great things in the book – including some good messages about self-worth combined with loads of humour and affection of various kinds.
I’m at Dear Author today reviewing Bad Influence by KA Mitchell. I had some trouble with the central relationship but YMMV.
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