predictable early then pleasing
587093
very predictable book that picked up in the second half,another world war z meets walking dead, having said that some really creepy moments well described
3319839
Predictable....I figured out all the "family" dynamics early on in the story.
2409787
3 1/2 stars.

The widow, Lilith Davenant, never knew affection before, or during her marriage.  That has remained unchanged since her wastrel husband's demise.  She is thought of as one icy, stiff, no nonsense lady of high principles and morals.

A wager has been agreed upon whereby the Marquess of Brandon/Julian must seduce the newly betrothed and aloof Lilith within six weeks.  This in order to remove his cousin, Lord Robert, from the clutches of his conniving mistress and avoid family scandal.  And so the games begin.

This is an enjoyable read, but not Ms. Chase's best.  It was quite predictable.  And, although it being quite appropriate for the times and Lilith's moral character, I would have liked at least one full sex scene between the H/h.  I would also have liked an epilogue.
4148151
Somewhat predictable, but with enough twists to maintain the reader's interest.
4689668
Light reading with a predictable happily ever after ending. It was engaging, but not a fantastic book. Believable- maybe. I need something with more meat!
302667
On the positive side, this story was rather touching and the characters were likable. There were no graphic love scenes (for those who prefer to avoid them), the MCs were moral (save Grayson's careless one-night-stands) and the romance was nice.

On the negative side, the writing was mediocre and somewhat amateurish, and the plot was fairly simple and predictable. There was some conflict, but most everything got tied up neat and tidy.

RE writing:
There was the interesting line: "He couldn't help it; he grinned beside himself." (I think the author meant 'in spite of himself.')

Repetitive descriptions (such as 'he smiled wolfishly') abounded, and characters did things like 'smiling' dialogue. (i.e. "I love it," she smiled.) You can't 'smile' words. You can 'say' them, 'yell' them, 'whisper' them and 'mutter' them, but you can't 'smile' them. (And I dare you to try.) The proper way is: She smiled. "I love it." -or- "I love it," she said with a smile.

**Plot spoiler alert**

While a diagnosis of cancer and the removal of reproductive organs (or breasts) is nothing to be taken lightly, the heroine's dramatic reactions and persistence in doubting the hero's feelings for her got to be a little much. Perhaps it wouldn't have been so irritating if she'd kept her feelings to herself and only expressed them fully later in the book, leaving the hero to wonder a little longer about her reluctance.

On the accuracy of the medical information, I don't see how an abnormal pap smear would alert one to un-metastasized ovarian cancer. Other aspects of a gynecological exam might, but not the Pap part of it. Pap smears detect cervical cancer and related conditions. The author should have done her homework if she was going to write about the specifics. A simple Google search would have told her all she needed to know.

**Spoiler alert over**

BOTTOM LINE - If you're looking for a fast, easy read with some drama, some romance and a happy ending, then you'd probably enjoy this book. If you're looking for seriously good writing, feel-it-all-the-way-to-your-toes romance and a complex, riveting plot, then look elsewhere.
2075797
The theme music is upbeat.  The premise is dated.  The characters are predictable. The comedy provided by hiding Amanda's real employment from her mother and boys is enjoyable as well as the undertone of romance budding between Amanda and Lee.  So all in all, a pleasant show to watch while eating a light lunch.
1085348
Although this book is above average, it is not superior.  The characters are interesting, but not memorable.  The story is predictable:  Sophie, is running away from an arranged betrothal and eventually is discovered by James, the tough warrior who doesn't wish to take a wife.  Surprise! They fall in love and eventually each saves the other from some tragic fate.  Despite its predictability, this book is enjoyable to read.
197302
The first novel in this collection, The Bachelor's Bed, is your basic romance novel. Studly bachelor scientist Colin needs a fiancee to keep his mother off his back while he is working on a project.  Lani, his paid housekeeper, happens to be there when he thinks of the bright idea of having someone pose as his fake fiancee.
This story was pleasant enough, but there was no spark or pizzazz in it for me.
However, Accidental Wife is another story.  Although the setup is quite contrived, the skillful writing and character development makes this novel a pleasure to read.
In order to keep her lovestruck boss Eric at bay, Nikki tells him she is happily married.  This doesn't seem to work, so Nikki decides she needs to get a real husband, however temporary.  So she goes to the Cinderella Ball to find a husband.  She is followed there (unknown to her) by Eric, and (unknown to both Nikki and Eric) by his brother Jonah.  Jonah (under the impression that Nikki is there to marry Eric) marries Nikki (who doesn't know that Jonah is related to her boss) instead.
After this unnecessarily complex setup, Leclaire shows her skill at writing believable characters, and scenes that quickly carry the plot along.  The heroine, Nikki, is smart and beautiful and a skilled financier, but has past sorrows that cause her to be reserved about her personal life.  After a bit of a rough start (in which Jonah comes across as a domineering prig), he is shown as an aggressive businessman who develops into a concerned and caring husband. When the two characters finally come together, it is not him conquering her, or her seducing him.  It is two adults admitting that they feel strong emotions for each other, and enjoying their feelings.  I enjoyed this one a lot for the fully developed relationship depicted in the book.
2234471
This is a nice story about relationships.  However, it was also a bit predictable.
2848074
The book moves slowly through very predictable scenes and scenarios. The final outcome is a given by the time you get there. Sometimes it seems that scenes were drug out intentionally, and that becomes repetitive and annoying. Overall the plot is a good idea, and the main character isn't bad. Some of the secondary characters are confusing or frustrating, and it's difficult to embrace them due to the way they were initially presented.
2410675
*Zebra Lounge* isn't that great of a movie that you wanna watch repeatedly and recommend to friends.  However, it's not a total bore...it's just predictable.  If you like predictability, then by all means, watch this movie.

Alan and Wendy Barnet are bored with their marriage.  Their sex lives are practically non-existent.  They've even gone to the point of thinking about having affairs.  Nonetheless, they're trying their hardest to save the marriage.

One day, they happened to come across an adult novelty/leather store.  Alan comes across a swingers magazine.  He purchased a copy and they go home to review the magazine.  Curious and hesitant, they decide to put in an ad for a "night of adventure" with another couple.

Out of all the boxful of responses, the Barnets settled on Louise and Jack Bauer (Baldwin).  They agree that the initial meeting should take place at Zebra Lounge, an upscale club.  After a few moments of talk and drinks, the Barnets decide not to go through with it.  However, Jack was able to persuade them to change their mind.

Once the deed has been done, hell has begun for the Barnets.  The Bauers have started to invade their personal lives.  They've shown up at the Barnets' son's birthday party.  Jack shows up at Alan's work.  The Bauers even moved next door to the Barnets.

This film is like blackmail galore.  Every option for the Barnets' way out, the Bauers have something hanging over them.  They basically have no choice but to have additional "adventures" with the Bauers.  This is what the Bauers have wanted all along...a long term relationship.

I gave this film 3 stars mainly because it was purely predictable.
1697288
A little predictable but entertaining anyway. X x x x x x x x x c c c x x
330691
Although the outcome was predictable, it did have some redeeming qualities and beautiful settings. Might watch again for a veg out moment.
4161456
Story line twists and turns,,,with an ending that is just a bit predictable.  Characters are likeable enough-some of the tangents are a bit difficult to follow
2919696
Sweet Olive is an easy read that is predictable and mostly enjoyable. The storys theme is that you may not know the plan, but God always works things out. Christies descriptions are clear, so its easy to picture the characters and situations. There are some awkward transitions, but they don't detract from the overall story. It took me a couple of tries to get into the story, as the first chapters are choppy.  After that I wanted to know how the characters would develop and the story would resolve.  I kept waiting for Camille to stand up for herself and decide to live her own life and not let her pushy uncle to keep selfishly using her in business.  In the end, all situations close satisfactorily.  Even though this was not my favorite book, Im glad I read it, and I may look into Christies other works.

3 out of 5 stars
(Full disclosure: I was given a copy of this book for free by Booksneeze.com in exchange for an honest review.)
1071029
I gave this book a three start rating because it didn't wow me. The beginning kept me going, but quite early on we learn a crucial input to the story and then somehow shortly thereafter it seemed rather predictable.