Love the Hero; Can't stand the Childish, Ridiculous  Heroine
599162
Travis seems larger than life, and generous, while Regan is repetitively whining, unthankful and silly. I adore this author, but this one missed the mark for me. I was left hoping either she would grow up or Travis would find a different woman.  Writing style and flow are as usual, smooth and emotionally provoking, but the lost stars are for the sheer irritating heroine.
3521774
Seriously? The hero literally tortures the heroine and a lot of other people. This is not about a wounded warrior. He's seriously messed up from something terrible that happened when he was young and now he's a torturer and drug addict who couldn't function in normal society. Really made me feel like I was reading about a battered woman who magically changes her wounded, misguided man and that makes everything okay.
3632539
I have enjoyed many if Georgette Heyer's novels. But occasionally her heroines are too silly to be likeable. In this case, though she is very young, the heroine is so ridiculous she makes the romance more difficult to believe. The gentleman is forced to grow up and take responsibility for them both. When he finally realizes he loves his young wife it does redeem the story.
49447
I received as an ARC courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest reivew

I am in a love-hate relationship with this book. On the one side I love everything about this book, from the concept, the characters, and the scenery/the setting. But on the other side I hate the heroine's character, she completely embodies the most irritating of heroines. The dialogue between others and herself are contradictory, she'll state how another character should act but then turn around and talk herself out of the same logic as if it doesn't apply to her. In everything she does, outside of the attraction to the Shadow Knight, resembles a child in a woman's body, which is very unappealing.

Something that shocked me, or caught me off guard, was the number of errors I found while reading this. They didn't take away from the story, but they were somewhat distracting. As I think about it I don't remember any of the previous by Lizzy Ford books, that I've read, being this riddled with errors.

As I continued reading, getting closer to the end, I was really disappointed that Naia's character didn't get better. I can honestly say that she was the only constant throughout the whole book, I surely could, sadly, depend on her character to never change. When I should have been able to congratulate her on coming out of her shell and evolving into the woman that she is I couldn't because all I could think to say was, About time! Naia almost redeemed herself 17% into the book.

  If I don't get my s*** together I'm going to end up in a box before I can make it home.

I was so excited when I read this that I couldn't help but say, Finally! She understands that this is not a game. I would've thought that getting her hand chopped off would've been the eye opener. But sadly that step into adulthood was short lived.

The story was good enough from the beginning towards the middle that I could overlook Naia's childish attitude and weak responses to a lot of things, until it continued on for the entire book! That's unforgivable to me, especially when all the action, romance, and suspense was structured around her. It sickened me that a male character like the Shadow Knight would have to be lumped with someone like her (self-absorbed and immature), and that he had to base his peoples survival on her.

The only saving grace I saw was the romantic relationship between the Shadow Knight and Naia. He made her a tolerable character when they interacted with each other. I didn't like their relationship, but I saw the benefits of it.

The epilogue was amazing! I'm pretty sure that once the sneak peek blossoms into maybe another book, the Red Knight will not going want to be summoned by Naia, who would, she'll probably send him somewhere atrocious and he'll spend a good portion of the book that he is in trying to get back to the woman he loves.

My favorite line form this book was the ultimate unveiling or revealing of the Shadow Knight.

  He takes the animal head off to reveal normal human head.

I seriously thought this story was going to be a time-traveling Beauty and the Beast. I wasn't opposed to it, but the idea seemed clichd to me.
3875256
When will authors stop having their characters stupidly fight falling in love? He loves her but he doesn't want to. She's fallen head over heels and it's the last thing she wants to do. She wants to sleep with him but she has to fight it. Why? Why? Why? Who are these people - Victorians from the 1800s or just numbskulls?
The heroine is by turns tearily empathetic and stubbornly stupid, but always so damn hot! I was not prepared for the supernatural elements of this silly story. I cannot abide the tough woman professional who manages to squeeze into one mind and one body a ridiculous panoply of contradictory and unappetizing traits - she evades but she insists on honesty from others, she's reckless but she's convinced she's wise, she's demanding but she's weepy. Guess what? She's ridiculous.
1554110
First, I LOVE Ms. Martin's voice.  She makes even a bad book a lot of fun.  So I gave her a FOUR for her writing ability.

However, the plot of this and the made-up confict are terrible!  The hero backed out on a commitment with Delilah because he was drunk.  He was hungover for a game because he'd gotten drunk with his brother.  Not hero material.  In spite of this, I liked him although I couldn't forgive him for standing Delilah up.  He did change, grew up and was charming.  I loved the relationship with his brother.

But Delilah--why would anyone fall in love with her?  She's one sick woman and she didn't change.  She refused to meet people even though she said she loved the hero.  Why did he stay with her?  Ms. Martin attempted to show how wounded she was by her parents--okay, now it's time for her to grow up, get help, and be normalish.

Like others, I missed Delilah's dogs.  As little as they were brought into the story of a woman who only loves her dogs, they were amazingly invisible.

For these reasons, I had to give the plot a zero which averages out to a two.
4772048
I have like all of Tessa Dare's Spindle Cove books so far, and I enjoyed this one, too, but not as well as the previous two. Kate is an endearing heroine; despite a childhood of deprivation in an orphanage, and despite her fears that she will never find love or family because of her lack of social standing and especially because of the prominent wine-colored birthmark on her face which she believes makes her unattractive, she is generally plucky, self-sufficient, and of a sunny disposition. Thorne, the leader of the local militia, is not so accessible: his own tormented past and the horrors of war have left him cold, emotionally stunted, and a little bit damaged. For much of the book, he is openly cruel and cutting to Kate in his determination to keep himself aloof. (The reader knows he only behaves so unfeelingly because he loves her and wants what's best for her, and he is not it, but this particular reader did not believe the ends justified the means.)

Just as Kate is reminded by a former schoolmarm that she is 'marked by shame' (a reference to her birthmark?) and will never be wanted by family or by a lover, suddenly (that very day, gasp!) the unconventional Gramercy siblings** arrive in Spindle Cove prepared to claim her as long lost kin, and, not trusting them and needing to have standing to protect her, Thorne announces that he and Kate are betrothed. Viola: instant family and lover!

Of course, it's nowhere near that easy, and the twists of fate and the misunderstandings that act as obstacles to Happy Ever After are entertaining but not especially believable. I personally didn't really enjoy the ending (To quote a cheesy movie from my adolescence, The Cutting Edge, "Naked male insecurity really leaves me cold"), but Tessa Dare's dialogue is always snappy (even if sometimes distractingly anachronistic), and her writing always sweeps me away, even if up on later reflection I am a bit more jaded.

**SPOILER (sort of, only very tangentially):

One of the Gramercy siblings, Harry, is a lesbian who wears trousers and has chosen her childhood governess as life partner. While it is totally ridiculous that her family would treat this with as much equanimity as they apparently did (particularly when the truth of Kate's past, when it is revealed, is so offensive to the leader of the Gramercy clan, brother Evan), as a lesbian myself, I would luuuuuuurrrrvve for Dare to write a sequel/prequel telling Harry's story. I'm not going to hold my breath--Evan is the sibling who most screams "Sequel Bait!", and I don't know whether the more mainstream romance readers would go for that--but oh, it could be so much fun.
2768327
I simply adored the premise of this book:  hero falls in love at first sight with the beautiful heroine, and does what ever it takes to win her over.  Unfortunately,in my opinion,there were three things wrong with this book, that made it impossible for me to really enjoy the story.

Reason 1:  While trying to convince the heroine to marry him, he has hot sex with someone else.  And I mean three times in that very first encounter, and is totally satisfied by the woman.  And for good measure he decides to keep her as his mistress until he does marry the heroine.  This little episode disrupted the romantic mood of the story. Those are not the mental pictures I want to have while reading a love story.

Reason 2:  The abuse and humiliation the heroine suffers in this story, goes beyond anything I want to read in a romance book.  If I wanted a greek tragedy, I would not bother with romance novels.

Reason 3:  Last, but definitely not least, the heroine was physically scarred by all the abuse she suffered.  White, thin scars are all over her back, bottom and thighs, "TOO numerous to count".  She even has some on her breasts and belly.  And the reader is reminded of said scars again, and again, and again, throughout the second half of the book.  Yikes!!  I don't understand why so many romance authors write about a scarred heroine, or one who is scarred during the plot development.  This is a complete turn-off for me.
4474805
This author has created a hero and heroine who are amoral. To each their own fantasy, but here we have a fluff-brained heroine who is a social worker, but still cares nothing about the moral character of her hero. Many readers find that okay, but I found myself wanting to scrub my brain with Clorox.

The 'hero' of this book stalks the heroine, hires a sleazebag to molest her so the 'hero' can save her, then he slowly pulls her into his world. I was kinda enjoying the story up to this point, because it was clear who the hero was, and why he wanted to be close to the heroine. Also thought he genuinely saved her ... not that it was a sicko setup.

Then we learn he deals drugs for a living. Holy crapoly. Seriously? Call me old-fashioned, but I kinda like a hero I can admire at least a little bit! He also gouges eyes out when he's angry, takes one of the heroine's street kids in and turns him into a drug mule and gets him killed, beats up innocent people who demand he move his fancy car from the middle of an intersection ... yeah, he's soooo sexy. Not. Ick, ick, ick.

The heroine ... I think the author was trying to channel Kristen Ashley, as we get lots of 'breathy' utterances and the heroine suddenly getting 'cute' and 'funny' at weird moments, as well as being showered with bizarre amounts of new clothes and lingerie by the hero. She is a social worker, but thinks it is just fine that the hero deals the drugs that have brought her young clients to ruin. She also stops taking the pill so she'll get pregnant ... oh, Lord, the list goes on.

This is a train wreck in so many ways. I will be staying far, far away from anything else written by this author.
1321594
I was really, really excited when I read the sample of this.  I loved Xenobia's fire and spirit.  Finally, a heroine with some spunk!  She wilted in the middle of the book however, and that's when I started to get annoyed.  The "hero" lusts after -- and clearly loves -- India, but is determined to marry a milksop, waaayyyyy past the point of reason.  I lost respect for both characters about halfway through.
2361654
I love the Mallorens. It was Portia, the heroine, I didn't quite like. I was so aggravated with her wishy-washy, combative shrewishness at times I'd have thrown the book across the room if it wasn't my Kindle. (Not a good idea). Bryght deserved better, IMO. I get that Portia was traumatized by her father and brother's gambling addiction, but at times she was TSTL. Loving your sibling is one thing; believing him over and over again strays into stupidity. The only reason it got 3 stars instead of one is the quality of Ms Beverley's writing that kept me slogging through until the end, with the hope that Portia would stop being stupid. Alas, it lasted much too long for my tastes.
409915
If it wasn't for the overly done crass, at times crude, nonstop, tried too hard, sarcastic banter between the main couple, I would likely give this book a higher rating. Im not sure when, but it eventually started to really annoy me.  Likely when I realized the heroine seemed to never shut up. It just became exhausting, folks.  Also, it annoyed me how we were told she was such a good mom/role model for her kids, but to me her actions often proved otherwise. Probably due to her lack of self-respectability when interacting with the hero. Not to mention her bad taste in picking names for her childrenCricket, Chipper, and eventually Casper. Well, enough said. I think you get the point. I don't buy into the notion she let her ex pick the names. She wasn't exactly a just go with the flow kind of person.

Angus wasn't my version of an ideal hero, either. He had no qualms about physically assaulting someone to get his way or even burning down their business.  Often not for the greater good, but simply for his own selfish gain. He eliminated his competition by whatever means necessary.  We apparently are just supposed to accept it, because, well, thats just who he is. That persona works in a mafia themed romance, but somehow, to this reviewer, if felt misplaced here. Maybe because I would expect someone with his position in the community to have achieved his success using hard work/ethics and not acquire it from fear/intimidation/swinging a baseball bat.

Since I have to actually like/respect the main couple in my romantic reads, there were too many times I found myself shaking my head and questioning their conduct.

The writing itself also eventually became an issue. From the OTT crude, steamy scenes to the yawn fest of a family vacation that Angus arranged, I found myself fast-forwarding through a good portion near the end. That is never a good sign, my fellow romance book-loving friends. Though Im a huge fan of bad boys finding true love and redemption, this one just didn't live up to my expectations. Heres to hoping it was just me and others enjoy it more. I wasn't overly impressed.

Title: Junkyard Dog, Author: Bijou Hunter, Pages: 268, stand-alone, alpha hero who everyone is afraid of, sassy/foul, smart mouth heroine, unlikeable/annoying hero, numerous VERY steamy, smexy scenes with crude, lusty language, too much back and forth crass, sarcastic banter/behavior, eventually became a steam over substance kind of read.

(This review is based on Kindle Unlimited version, not an ARC.)
1111392
Emily Castle left Sand Castle Bay ten years ago leaving her sweetheart Boone behind. Boone married and has a son, B.J., but now his wife has died as Emily returns to help her grandmother after a hurricane.
I found Boone to be a great hero, handsome, hard-working, kind, and trying hard to be a good father while consumed with guilt about his wife. BJ is a sweetie though I had some trouble with his insta-attachment to Emily.
Emily, however, is one of the most unlikeable heroines I've ever read in a romance. She is snide, uncaring (except for the sex Boone gives her - she whines about it a lot), and has few redeeming characteristics. She left and never contacted Boone again, but is upset that he got married. Now that she's back, she expects him to cater to her career and wishes, ignoring the fact that he has a son. Even her interactions with BJ were all about her career and shopping, nothing that an eight year old boy would enjoy though the author seems to think that BJ would rather do this than hang out with his friends. The author seems to think that by having Emily do pro bono work in Los Angeles for a women's shelter instead of her rich clients that this would redeem her, but Emily just uses it as an excuse for not being with Boone and BJ except when she flies in for a night of sex. Why can't she work on homeless shelters in North Carolina and not uproot BJ? Ugh!
Neither of her two sisters interested me either for many of the same reasons though both their love interests seem to be nice guys so I'll be skipping the rest of the series.
21542
I liked book 1 even though I felt the heroine was a bit of a dunce for a so-called master thief . She suffered from a woeful lack of thinking before any action and her so-called careful planning was actually very shoddy. I could shrug and put it down to newly acquired superpowers making her impulse control poor. It was still an enjoyable read. However, this book *really* felt like making me hitting my head against the wall time and again the complete lack of plain common sense in the protagonist. It doesn't matter how many super powers you have if you (and your whole team) are completely lacking in the brains department.

If you can hold you nose and get over the 'dumbness', the story is worth reading and the author actually writes quite well. But *sigh* - StrikeForce urgently needs to recruit a 'genius' hero. Even someone who passed a plain IQ test would make them much more effective.

-- WARNING: MAJOR SPOILER-
Any security professional, ex-police officer or for that matter even simple plain logic reasoning (which I think you earn in a BA sociology degree) should have informed Daystar that her mother was in extreme danger and it was just a very short matter of time before her identity and residence was revealed and she leveraged as a hostage or worse. I mean come on - how *many* super-villains and threats does it take for the heroine to wake up ? Once Daystar had established control over Strikeforce, her mother's disappearance should have been the VERY FIRST thing to orchestrate before *anything* else. CERTAINLY NOT BUILDING  A HOUSE FOR HER.  Even the members of her own team appear to have more concern for their families, but Daystar appears to live in a warm, 'can't happen to me', bubble of unreality. The best thing was that she was even delivered a candid threat with a deadline, which she shrugged off and went on with her day thinking the threat wouldn't be acted upon. Even if she was so completely foolish, it completely beggars belief that the ex-police detective/officer on the team would take it so lightly. Professionals are trained not be so stupid, especially in their own field. That completely destroyed the entire credibility of the story for me. Daystar should have simply just broad-casted her mother's identity and residence to all the super-villains and said: "My mama is here. Please attack  her, so I can feel very angry and take revenge on you".  I would realistically believe such blind arrogance over extraordinary idiocy.

The story would have been better served if her mother had been attacked in a witness protection program due to betrayal or leak of information - it would have been at-least somewhat more realistic.
4759367
I will continue to read the series; however, I wish I could like the main character more.  So far she's really too immature and too whiny.  Besides the hormonal connection she and her love interest share, I'm not sure why they are together.  I find him much more likeable.  I also agree with other reviewers that this really isn't an urban fantasy.
1968086
I'm a big fan of this writer, but this book..

I was a bit dismayed with the hero's use of threats to intimidate the woman. Even at one point physically forcing her to use a knife which sounded scary to me. And unlike most of her other heroes this one had no underlying or traumatic reason to be this big of a jerk.

I was even more dismayed that the heroine accepted this abuse. She remained cheerful and friendly instead of running to the police or off to purchase a handgun.
1464552
Emotionally abusive a** of a Hero.

A heroine who I keep waiting to woman up and walk away, but who doesn't. Act in her own best interests and be assertive in demanding respect, but she doesn't. She thinks about it quite a great deal, but goodness me, kick the scoundrel out of your home and bar the door already. Pack up your bags and take your considerable wealth on a trip to escape him. Such an independent woman who runs businesses and estates, but sticks around to be a punching bag? Hell, no.

Hero manhandles her, kissing her and she tries to frantically get away, but then is subdued.... so that makes it okay, right?... :\

I skipped the sex scenes, can't comment on them, except that if they went anything like the kiss at the ball then again it wasn't willing, just forced lust that evoked her passion. I do know that she loathes herself afterwards. What kind of love is that?

When she finally does walk away, like a boomerang, or an emotionally abused person, or as kicked little puppy dog, she comes back. (Literally, the conveyance that took her away providing her escape, brought her right back.)

Well written prose, the story sucks you in due to the very descriptive scenery, viewpoints, and dialogue. I just wish the Hero didn't suck so much.

Only rated it one star because this story (which I had to finish, like watching a train wreck happen before your eyes I couldn't look away, also the eternal optimist in me kept hoping that something would change, that she would be assertive in the relationship, but she never did) made me S_A_D. ;(.

Very Sad. And quite a bit upset.

In fact, so sad and upset that I got up out of bed (it's late 12:18 am) to come write this review. To warn others about the emotionally abusive Hero (sure, he's had bad things happen to him, but it doesn't make it right, give us something to hope for a sterling example of a man who overcomes adversity (yes, he did this in the backstory), but the man is a cold-hearted b@stard).

I hate the Hero, and I have a growing hatred toward the heroine for being a piece of carpet where the Hero came and wiped his boots.

The story had such promise, good plot, interesting twists, great dialogue, realistic fully fleshed out characters that came alive (even side characters) the heroine is wicked smart. But the emotional abuse, I just have no tolerance for that, and it went clear to the very last page, in fact to the very last paragraphs, as if a very last second turn-around could save the day.

People don't change overnight, the Hero didn't prove himself to me that he deserves her. And I hate that she gave in to him at the first sign that he was willing to 'not outwardly hate' her.