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Sorry, it's late...
Apr. 14th, 2008 06:46 pmI sketched out a nutshell review of Kathleen O'Reilly's Sex, Straight Up two weeks ago, right after I finished reading it, but never got around to posting. So here it is.
Take that blurb with a grain of salt. Or more, since it really isn't entirely accurate. Although a 48 hour period is involved at the start of their relationship, it doesn't have anything to do with the scandal at the auction house.
SSU is the second book in the "Those Sexy O'Sullivans" Harlequin Blaze trilogy from O'Reilly. Although I didn't post a full review of the first book, Shaken and Stirred, I mentioned here that I liked but didn't love it; the conflict felt forced and the heroine seemed very immature to me. I had no such problems with SSU.
O'Reilly did a fabulous job with the heroine, Catherine -- she's smart, she's good at her job, she loves her family and friends while not being blind to their weaknesses, but she has her own tender spots. Daniel, the hero, is the brother I liked best when I first began the series. Because accountants rock. The conflict between them is all about whether or not Daniel is able and willing to move past the death of his first wife, who died in the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. As Catherine observes, even if Daniel wants to move on, the city won't let him. [Aside: as someone who occasionally visits NYC, I appreciated the glimpse into daily life for Manhattan residents, as well as pall that omnipresent 9/11 reminders casts over many. It made me wonder how many people would like to move on or at least past that day, but are unable to because the city and other residents won't let them.]
Here's the thing: my reading of Daniel is that, regardless of 9/11, he isn't ready to move on at the beginning of the book. In his mind, love is forever, and he is neither willing nor able to make room for another woman in his life or his heart. I do believe that he wants to make that change by the end of the book, though, so I can buy into the HEA.
Because so much of the conflict was about grieving for a dead spouse, the book was rather melancholy. More melancholy than most Harlequin Blazes usually are, IMO.
I do have a quibble with some of the pacing, and the way time is used. One scene occurs on a Wednesday night, and somehow two days later it is a Wednesday again. Unless more time past without being marked very clearly. *shrugs* It's a minor complaint. Another minor complaint: I noticed a lot of typos in this book, and in Shaken and Stirred.
All in all, this was a book I enjoyed (B+) but not necessarily a keeper for me.
I have at least one earlier Blaze by O'Reilly in my TBR pile, so I'm going to dig it out for Keishon's TBR Challenge this month. Note: I have done so, and will post about it on Wednesday.
Meeting a handsome loner on a deserted beach in the Hamptons was like being hit by lightning. One steamy weekend in bed with Daniel O'Sullivan and Catherine Montefiore was marvelously woozy from a delicious cocktail of sun, sand and superhot sex.
Abruptly, though, Catherine's forty-eight hours of fun are at an end when her family's exclusive auction house is hit by a very public scandal. She's ready to step in and save the day, but she's hoping Daniel, her hot Irish hunk, will lend a hand. After all, he's got the necessary skills and, straight up or not, Catherine wants another long drink of Daniel before another forty-eight hours are up and her legacy is lost forever!
Take that blurb with a grain of salt. Or more, since it really isn't entirely accurate. Although a 48 hour period is involved at the start of their relationship, it doesn't have anything to do with the scandal at the auction house.
SSU is the second book in the "Those Sexy O'Sullivans" Harlequin Blaze trilogy from O'Reilly. Although I didn't post a full review of the first book, Shaken and Stirred, I mentioned here that I liked but didn't love it; the conflict felt forced and the heroine seemed very immature to me. I had no such problems with SSU.
O'Reilly did a fabulous job with the heroine, Catherine -- she's smart, she's good at her job, she loves her family and friends while not being blind to their weaknesses, but she has her own tender spots. Daniel, the hero, is the brother I liked best when I first began the series. Because accountants rock. The conflict between them is all about whether or not Daniel is able and willing to move past the death of his first wife, who died in the North Tower of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. As Catherine observes, even if Daniel wants to move on, the city won't let him. [Aside: as someone who occasionally visits NYC, I appreciated the glimpse into daily life for Manhattan residents, as well as pall that omnipresent 9/11 reminders casts over many. It made me wonder how many people would like to move on or at least past that day, but are unable to because the city and other residents won't let them.]
Here's the thing: my reading of Daniel is that, regardless of 9/11, he isn't ready to move on at the beginning of the book. In his mind, love is forever, and he is neither willing nor able to make room for another woman in his life or his heart. I do believe that he wants to make that change by the end of the book, though, so I can buy into the HEA.
Because so much of the conflict was about grieving for a dead spouse, the book was rather melancholy. More melancholy than most Harlequin Blazes usually are, IMO.
I do have a quibble with some of the pacing, and the way time is used. One scene occurs on a Wednesday night, and somehow two days later it is a Wednesday again. Unless more time past without being marked very clearly. *shrugs* It's a minor complaint. Another minor complaint: I noticed a lot of typos in this book, and in Shaken and Stirred.
All in all, this was a book I enjoyed (B+) but not necessarily a keeper for me.
I have at least one earlier Blaze by O'Reilly in my TBR pile, so I'm going to dig it out for Keishon's TBR Challenge this month. Note: I have done so, and will post about it on Wednesday.
