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Pages: Ebook, 53
Published: 2011 (2004)
Publisher: Carina Press
Source: My own shelf
After Agent Kendall Frasier's partner is shot in "friendly fire" during a drug bust, she agrees to take a week's vacation on a tropical island as part of her psychiatric evaluation. Sand, sun, sea—what could be better to help her work through her guilt? Even if the presence of the man responsible for the shooting, Agent Zane Vincent, seems counterproductive to her mental health. As Kendall gets to know Zane, and realizes he feels worse about what happened than she does, it becomes impossible to hate him. And their mutual attraction becomes impossible to deny.
Kendall and Zane soon agree to put the event that brought them together in the past—and spend the present exploring their most erotic desires. Do they have a future in the real world when their week in paradise is over?
My thoughts:
This was a short and hot novella. Maybe I should take out that flashing sign I found that made that clear, cos yes, hot.
Since it is very short there is not much to say about it. Kendall and Zane comes to a wonderful island, not to have a vacation but to get a psych evaluation since they were involved in a shooting and her partner died. She feels sad and responsible, and Zane who pulled the trigger has stuff to deal with too. They really do not like each other, but that island is a paradise and they can't help to feel lust.
So yes, they are like cats in heat. And then they spot each other and there is passion everywhere. But there is also something else growing.
Sure it all happened fast, but this is a novella, it has to. And it also felt real. It was a nice enough short story.
Genre: Jane Austen Variation
Pages: 20, ebook
Published: 2011
Source: I think it was a freebie from smashwords
After a great deal of romantic strife, Maria Lucas finds herself married to Mr. Jonas Card in a desperate attempt to extricate herself and her sister Charlotte from a dire financial situation. Mr. Card, however, truly loves Maria and has vowed to woo her. Alas, she views him only in friendly terms. But when it seems that Mr. Card’s feelings have changed, Maria sets out to discover why. And through a series of unexpected events, Mr. Card succeeds in wooing his wife without saying a word.
My thoughts:
There is not much to say really since this story is really short.
Maria Lucas married but did not love her husband who tried to woe her. Now she has been sent away and she is sad. She tries to find out what is going on and doing that she falls in love with him, because perhaps she always was.
I did like the story because I always felt Maria should have a story too and here she got her HEA. Her husband was nice and I am sure they will be very happy together.
A fun short story about a minor character.
This is the reason I try to avoid short stories, there isn't much room to build up a good plot for a resounding climax. A very few authors manage it, but generally speaking, most short stories don't. Sometimes though when the short story is part of a series therefore the world building and most of the character development has been established already, it can be a fun read. Are these part of a series?
ReplyDeleteI like the sound of the Jane Austen variation novel :) Friendly Fire sounds a bit too hot for my liking. Great reviews! It must be very difficult to review stories that are so short.
ReplyDeleteThe Maria Lucas story sounds good. I just received Becton's novel Charlotte Collins yesterday and can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteLove the way you've reviewed two different short stories together! :)
ReplyDeleteLove, love, love the cover! Guess this is one book that you can judge by its cover!
ReplyDelete"So yes, they are like cats in heat." Hahaha I would say they would have to be to be in a little 53 page novella:) I haven't read anything by Megan Hart but I've heard her books are smokin:)
ReplyDelete@Cherry
ReplyDeleteTrue, you never get that real feeling but that is also why I am very forgiving when it comes to novellas.
Hm...I do not know...
But it works for what it's for, passion ;)
@Mari
It was nice and short :)
Lol, well it was pretty hot
@Anna
Ohhh goodie! I can't wait to see what you think as this one takes place after it
@Mel
ReplyDeleteLol, yes they could not be more different
@DC
Hihi, well you can say that again ;)
@Jenny
I have heard so too and I can say that is right. But still it was hot but not too hot
I'm drooling on the cover of Friendly Fire.
ReplyDeleteI really don't review the short stories I sometimes read, nor count them as books read in a month. Some are great little tidbits in a series, and I am happy to have read them. But those don't really interest me.
ReplyDeleteLOL Cats in heat! They must have been loud! ;D The JA novella sounded more satisfying tho. Hm... if I had to pick, it would be the JA novel. I love your review of the first one tho. :D
ReplyDeleteCats in heat are hellish creatures and as loud as any angry infant or, God forbid, a toddler...
ReplyDeleteI don't like short stories. They are like a broken promise or a failed date.
@Linda
ReplyDeleteLol, aye it's a good one
@Aurian
I do not count them either when it comes to books read, but they are great to review when I have nothing else to show ;)
@Melissa
The JA one was good but so short! The Hart one was longer, and hotter, lol, much hotter
@Ana
Oh do not even get me started. When I wrote my thesis my parents cat went into heat for the first time. I had to keep her inside and I put her in another room cos she was so annoying. Creatures from hell indeed
Yeah short stories (or novellas <100 pages) have less to say. But sometimes the story could be deep and engrossing.
ReplyDeleteNot having to deal with cats being in heat is an excellent reason to get teh kittehs spayed. I've never had to deal with May being in heat. Whew!
ReplyDeletelol. Cats in heat huh. :) Great short reviews here. :) Steam sounding reads. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI love the cover for Friendly Fire and can probably keep looking at it for a long time :)
ReplyDeleteBlahahahaha! "cats in heat" That doesn't sound very sexy but I'll take your word for it that the story was pretty HOT!
ReplyDeleteNothin like a short, HOT story to get you in the mood LOL and Megan Hart's are supposed to be sizzling :)
ReplyDeleteI've never been one for short stories. They're over way too fast for me. I like the cover on tha second one though.
ReplyDelete@Nana
ReplyDeleteTrue, espeically with the novella I read before this one
@Chris
Oh it is truly hell. Especially since we had to wait to get her fixed and she got into heat before. Annoying. Oh and the male cats 'sigh*
@Melissa
Steamy yes, well the first one, not the later one ;)
2Jenny
ReplyDeleteYou all seem to like that one ;)
@Missie
What kitties are adorable :D Ok maybe not the right way to put it but they were just so horny
@Teddy
Oh she is, she is
@Dar
True, way too fast, that is the worst thing
Sometimes I don't mind a steamy story!!
ReplyDeleteStaci
ReplyDeleteLol, me neither ;)
I haven't read a book by Megan Hart yet but I do have Friendly Fire on my Kindle. I've heard great things about Hart's books and her writing and I can't wait to find out for myself :)
ReplyDeleteBook V
ReplyDeleteI have heard a lot too, mostly that they are hot ;) So it was fun to finally try one