This is one of those times that randomly buying a book you see on the shelves at some store just doesn't work out. I snagged this one because the coveThis is one of those times that randomly buying a book you see on the shelves at some store just doesn't work out. I snagged this one because the cover caught my attention and I had been wanting to read a cowboy romance. Sadly, this book fell short on just about every level.
Series Note: No known series connections.
Summary: Lacey Bradford is a former trophy wife who is on the run from some of her husbands enemies. Not knowing where to go, Lacey decides to look up former classmate Chase Caldwell. Chase had always seemed to adore her in high school so surely he'd want to help her out now, in her time of need.
Unfortunately, when Lacey finds Chase, he's less than receptive. Chase harbors some anger over what Lacey's ex did to his family, and for Lacey marrying someone else when he was desperately in love with her. But Lacey's persistence wears Chase down and he gives in to the love for her he's never gotten over. But will Lacey finally give his a chance for forever?
Review: Right from the start this book didn't particularly work for me. Why? Because you start off reading about Lacey - a woman who at 18 married and older man because he was rich and could take care of her and who spent years being his trophy wife - who is now divorced and is driving across the country, searching out an old classmate who she hopes will help her in her time of need. And why did she search out Chase Caldwell? Because in high school he'd worshiped the ground she walked on and followed her around like a lost puppy so surely now, when she desperately needs help, he would be there for her.
What about that scenario is appealing? It's hopelessly shallow and doesn't make me think very much of Lacey. It just was not a good way to start off a book. When you begin by disliking a main character it makes it hard to get into the story.
Getting past that, there still wasn't much about this book that I enjoyed. At times it's rather campy and shallow. The author had a tendency to overuse similes and metaphors. And the overall storyline and romance just came off very flat for me.
I think the worst aspect, in my opinion, was the characterization of the hero, Chase Caldwell. I bought this book because I was wanting to read a cowboy romance and I thought this would fit the bill. But it doesn't really get there. Chase is a very odd character. He's supposed to be a cowboy, but he comes off as awkward, bumbling and rather beta. Which is just not what I want in a cowboy hero. I want a cowboy hero who is strong, dominant, rough and tumble and all that. Not some guy who was described as a geeky fumbling teenager and who as an adult was rather passive and wishy washy.
Not only that, his obsessive devotion to Lacey was creepy. Instead of seeming romantic, how he pined for her and said he's always be waiting for her, it came off as just...creepy. Like stalkerish obsessive. I just wasn't digging it. Maybe if I liked Lacey more it would have seemed romantic, but mostly I just thought Lacey was a twit who I wished would get stomped on by the horses she was so afraid of.
As for the storyline...hmmm. To me it came off as rather drab, directionless and not very engaging. I got to about 2/3rds through the book and started to skim read now and then because I was bored. There was just nothing about the storyline, the characters, the setting, etc, that sucked me in and had me wanting to keep reading. I kept putting the book down to do other stuff. Which is saying a lot since I'm sitting here with a broken foot with very little I can do but read and watch TV.
So...yeah, kinda wish I hadn't spent the money on this one. I just did not particularly care for it. For those of you who like the super light romance reads, you may like this one, but for those of you who like books that are a bit deeper then this probably won't appeal to you. And if you're looking for a good cowboy romance, then I definitely don't think you'll like this one. ...more
I thought maybe this book would end up being my favorite of the series because of the interesting romantic pairing, but the book didn't quite make it I thought maybe this book would end up being my favorite of the series because of the interesting romantic pairing, but the book didn't quite make it to favorite status. Not that I didn't like the book because I did, but it just didn't hit the exact not I was expecting or wanting.
Series Note: Fourth book in the “Bride Quartet” series by Nora Roberts about 4 best friends who run a wedding planning business. I'd recommend reading the series in order because the characters and situation are so intertwined.
Summary: Parker Brown, of those Connecticut Browns, is the calm, cool, obsessively organized leader of Vows wedding planning business. Her and her 3 friends may be equal partners in the business, but it's Parker who takes the lead, always ready and available for a panicky, neurotic bride who needs help. So it's to some consternation that Parker finds herself attracted to bad boy mechanic Malcolm Kavanaugh.
Mal is nothing like her usual type, but Parker can't deny her attraction and curiosity about the man. And his surprising forwardness in his pursuit of her is intriguing. After some debate, Parker relents and the two fall headlong into an affair that takes both by surprise because it's so much more than an affair. But Mal will have to learn to open up to Parker if he hopes to win her heart.
Review: I've been intrigued by the potential of this book since I first realized what direction Nora Roberts was heading for Parker's romance. Opposites attract romances are always interesting. And that's definitely what you have here with Parker – the anally organized, calm, cool rich girl – and Mal – the bad boy, motorcycle driving mechanic. I couldn't wait to see what happened between these two.
Did it live up to my expectations. Mostly, but not entirely. Opposites attract romances don't always work because sometimes the characters are just too different for a relationship to seem at all realistic. That didn't happen here. Even those Parker and Mal are very different, they fit together well. Mal may have a bit of a bad boy reputation, but at heart he's a really good guy. I really liked Mal a lot. Parker's pretty cool too...maybe a bit too....I don't know...prim? Anal? Over-dedicated? Not sure how to describe it, but I still liked her. And when Mal comes into the picture he gets her to loosen up a bit. Plus, Mal blends in rather well in their little group of friends.
They have some good chemistry together and some sexy scenes to go along with it. I was expecting the relationship to be a little more edgy because of the who good girl/bad boy thing. There was just something a little too calm about how the relationship progressed. I wanted just a smidge more edgy spark. And maybe something a little less predictable for the romantic conflict because there's really no deviation from the predictable path...which is that Parker falls for Mal, wants him forever, but Mal's got some issues related to his less than stellar childhood and has to work his way through them before he can commit to Parker. So I wouldn't have minded something a little less obvious. But even so, it was a nice sweet romance that makes you sigh and feel the happy fluffy bunny feelings.
And of course, as with any Nora Roberts series, you have active involvement of the past characters. I love that they all play big roles and you get to keep getting to know them and learning more about them. You also get to see them planning their wedding and being the crazy brides that they are always having to deal with as part of their job. It's fun to read.
By far, my favorite part of the book was the last chapter. One of the things I'd worried about a little while reading this book was that it was the last book in the series. One of the things you've gotten in this series is the continuation of romances from book to book. In book 1, Mac and Carter get engaged, in the books that follow you get to read about wedding preparations, Parker finding Mac the perfect dress, and then in the last book their wedding. And you get something similar with the other 2 couples. One of the main themes being Parker finding each of her friends the perfect wedding dress. So as you are reading this book, you're realizing you're not going to get any of that for Parker because there is no next book. It was disappointing. But I should have had some faith in Nora Roberts because the last chapter of the book (an epilogue, really) is so absolutely perfect. I adored it and thought it couldn't have been more fitting. Does it give you everything like you got with the other characters? No, there's just not enough room for that, but it did give me the one thing I wanted (which I won't say so I don't ruin the lovely surprise of it). Reading that last chapter leaves you with a nice happy feeling and a sense of coming full circle. I loved it.
So what did I think of the series as a whole? It's a good series. Very true blue contemporary romance. Something hardcore romance fans would probably love. And like just about anything Nora writes these days, the attention to detail, in this case with the wedding planning business, is exception. It was a fun, sweet, romantic series to read. I don't think I'd list it as a favorite among her series, but I enjoyed it....more
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