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Tasting Fear
An erotic romance in a suspense vehicle on overdrive. . .sizzles! -- Romantic Times
Blood Will Tell
When their adored foster mother is murdered, the D'Onofrio women come together to hunt for her killer. The law can only do so much and the three sisters are on their own--until three mysterious men get involved. . .
Startled to find a brawny stranger at her mother's house, Nancy is even more surprised at the heat of passion that flares between them. Liam is intense and instantly protective. But is it wise to trust him with every secret? Her sister Nell has turned to Duncan, her new boss, for help. An expert on the dark side of cyberspace, he's so sexy it's scary. All Nell has to do is say the hardest word of yes. What about the youngest of the D'Onofrios, wild and willful Vivi? She's on the verge of falling in love with Jack, who's all about fierce vigilance. . .
The sisters embrace the ultimate in passion as danger stalks them all. Unknown and unseen, the killer is very, very near. . .
"McKenna expertly stokes the fires of romantic tension." -- Publishers Weekly
Praise for the novels of Shannon McKenna. . .
"Pulse-pounding suspense. . .searing sex and raw emotions." -- Romantic Times
"McKenna blasts readers with a highly charged, action-adventure romance." -- Booklist
Blood Will Tell
When their adored foster mother is murdered, the D'Onofrio women come together to hunt for her killer. The law can only do so much and the three sisters are on their own--until three mysterious men get involved. . .
Startled to find a brawny stranger at her mother's house, Nancy is even more surprised at the heat of passion that flares between them. Liam is intense and instantly protective. But is it wise to trust him with every secret? Her sister Nell has turned to Duncan, her new boss, for help. An expert on the dark side of cyberspace, he's so sexy it's scary. All Nell has to do is say the hardest word of yes. What about the youngest of the D'Onofrios, wild and willful Vivi? She's on the verge of falling in love with Jack, who's all about fierce vigilance. . .
The sisters embrace the ultimate in passion as danger stalks them all. Unknown and unseen, the killer is very, very near. . .
"McKenna expertly stokes the fires of romantic tension." -- Publishers Weekly
Praise for the novels of Shannon McKenna. . .
"Pulse-pounding suspense. . .searing sex and raw emotions." -- Romantic Times
"McKenna blasts readers with a highly charged, action-adventure romance." -- Booklist
569 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 18, 2009
22 people are currently reading
563 people want to read
About the author
Shannon McKenna
125 books1,449 followersAlso wrote five category romances under the penname Shannon Anderson
::From The Author's Website::
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
I started writing my first romance novel in secret. I was working a temp job in an insurance office in Manhattan at the time, and the office manager had made it clear that even if there was nothing to do, I still had to look busy-- never one of my big talents. I felt bad about the wasted time, though, and I needed something to round out my other chosen career, which was singing. Yeah, that's right. Most artists choose a more practical Plan B to back up their improbable Plan A. Me? No way. "Long Shot" is my middle name.
So I sneakily set up a Document 1 and a Document 2 with a spreadsheet on it. If my Boss du Jour walked by I could quick-like-a-bunny switch screens, and whenever the coast was clear, I went back to my story. Not that I was slacking, mind you. If there was work to be done, I did it. The sneakiness felt familiar, though, because I've been teased about reading romances since I was a kid. I think the day I finally grew up was the day I stopped trying to cover up what I was reading on the bus, train or subway. Let people think whatever they like.
It wasn't until I moved to Italy (details of that Long Shot provided later on) that I got serious about writing, though. I found myself with many long, quiet days alone with nothing to do, so I slogged my way bravely to the end of the manuscript and sent it out. Everybody rejected it-except for Kensington. I wrote for them for a few years, and then made a bid for an erotic novella for the new Brava imprint, and oh joy, they accepted it. Then I wrote BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. And so on, and so forth.
That's how I started. I can't think of anything I'd rather do. I never knew it would be so scary, and so hard . . . all that solitude and silence, a blank computer screen, and no one to blame. But still. It's worth it. It's great.
::From The Author's Website::
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
I started writing my first romance novel in secret. I was working a temp job in an insurance office in Manhattan at the time, and the office manager had made it clear that even if there was nothing to do, I still had to look busy-- never one of my big talents. I felt bad about the wasted time, though, and I needed something to round out my other chosen career, which was singing. Yeah, that's right. Most artists choose a more practical Plan B to back up their improbable Plan A. Me? No way. "Long Shot" is my middle name.
So I sneakily set up a Document 1 and a Document 2 with a spreadsheet on it. If my Boss du Jour walked by I could quick-like-a-bunny switch screens, and whenever the coast was clear, I went back to my story. Not that I was slacking, mind you. If there was work to be done, I did it. The sneakiness felt familiar, though, because I've been teased about reading romances since I was a kid. I think the day I finally grew up was the day I stopped trying to cover up what I was reading on the bus, train or subway. Let people think whatever they like.
It wasn't until I moved to Italy (details of that Long Shot provided later on) that I got serious about writing, though. I found myself with many long, quiet days alone with nothing to do, so I slogged my way bravely to the end of the manuscript and sent it out. Everybody rejected it-except for Kensington. I wrote for them for a few years, and then made a bid for an erotic novella for the new Brava imprint, and oh joy, they accepted it. Then I wrote BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. And so on, and so forth.
That's how I started. I can't think of anything I'd rather do. I never knew it would be so scary, and so hard . . . all that solitude and silence, a blank computer screen, and no one to blame. But still. It's worth it. It's great.
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September 6, 2009
In Tasting Fear, Shannon McKenna tells the story of three adoptive sisters--Nancy, Nell, and Vivi D’Onofrio. The sisters were all fostered as young teens and then adopted by older woman Lucia D’Onofrio. Each of the sisters that Lucia adopted had some sad backstory (call girl mother, drug addict mother, lots of foster families) but once placed with Lucia found a loving and stable home. The story starts with the elderly Lucia dying of a heart attack while a robbery is being committed in her house. But it’s not just any ordinary robbery--a hitman has been sent by some evil Nazi guy looking for some info on some valuable art ‘sketches’ that Lucia may have in her possession dating back to WW II. By her dying before she can give answers about where these sketches may be puts all three of her daughter's lives in jeopardy. The evil Nazi guy and his perverted henchman won’t stop until they get some answers, and they make it their business to question everyone who might have the slightest knowledge or connection to them. When a jeweler who made the three necklaces that Lucia gave to her daughters (after her death), as well as a mysterious older man with a connection to Lucia are both found dead around the same time, and Lucia’s house is ransacked--the police and the sisters realize that something’s not right. The sisters find some clues left to them from Lucia, with the message that if they work together they’ll be able to figure out what they should be looking for. By this time the sisters realize that Lucia was about to reveal something to them about some valuable artwork in her possession, but died before the full story was revealed. It seems all very confusing, but once the story gets going and more and more clues pop up, things start to make some sense. Along the way the three sisters find love with three unique, ultra-protective men who turn out to be their soul mates, but first they have to go through a lot of emotional ‘stuff’ and fight off the bad guys before they get their HEAs.
The first story, Outside The Limit, about oldest sister Nancy and her hunky carpenter boyfriend Liam Knightly, was pretty good but they were not one of my favorite McKenna couples. Nancy was a bit of a workaholic, managing a folk rock band and some other musical artists, and constantly seemed to have a cell phone glued to her ear. She had been dumped by three fiancees (all who she now managed), and had some problems letting go in the bedroom. Liam was a carpenter who wanted a simple life--he wanted to settle down in the country, grow a garden, have lots of kids, with a wife who likes to cook, can and bake. Nancy was the total opposite of that--she was career woman all the way. Yet he was attracted to her and set out to pursue her, even though she was far from what he thought of as his ‘ideal’ woman. When he first saw her (Lucia had contracted him to restore her house, and also to 'match' him with Nancy), Nancy was wearing glasses and all buttoned up in a tightly tailored dress with her long hair slicked back in a bun--Liam thought of it as the ‘secretly sensual governess’ look, and he wanted to be her ‘horny, unscrupulous lord of the manor’. So even though she wasn’t his ideal woman, she certainly was his (physical) fantasy woman!
So yes, they certainly connected physically (hot, hot times in the bedroom--Nancy really had no problems letting go with Liam) but they certainly had a lot of problems communicating. I thought that Liam didn’t quite respect Nancy’s career, was a bit obsessive about her, and tended to pout a bit when he didn’t get her undivided attention. And yes, Nancy was a bit annoying when she’d be in bed with him, and her cell phone would ring and she’d forget all about him to do something for the ungrateful people she managed, but he pursued her knowing what she was like. I would have liked to see a little more compromising going on between both of them. I just had the feeling that this couple would be having lots of fights in the future--with a lot of makeup sex afterwards!
Story two, Ask For More, with grad student Nell and former spy and now millionaire mogul Duncan, was much better. Nell was working as a waitress while teaching and working on her thesis, and Duncan Burke was the sexy, extremely focused customer (who ordered the same thing every day--strip steak-- while not once looking up from his laptop) who she fantasized about and who never knew it. She got him to loosen up when she ended up working for him by writing the text for a computer game he was developing, and they had some wild sexual trysts. But fiercely independent Nell (who was sensitive about her mother’s call-girl past) was determined not to take any help from Duncan (who somehow clumsily made it seem like he was paying her for sex), even though he was just trying to protect her from ‘The Fiend’, as the sisters referred to the guy who was after them. Of course when Duncan can’t admit he loves her, Nell strikes out on her own, her life is threatened, and Duncan has to face that yep--he’d be lost without her. Very hot story here, with two very quirky but likable characters, and it advances the plot a little further about finding out what kind of treasure Lucia had in her possession.
Story three, Ready Or Not was my favorite. It’s about youngest sister, red-headed artist Vivi (who works craft fairs selling jewelry), and the man who Duncan suggests she hides out with (for her protection) while the threats against the sisters increase, former military man hottie Jack Kendrick. Jack lives across the country in Oregon in a beautiful little cottage and grows flowers for a living. Everything about this colossal hunk appeals to Vivi--his house, his flowers, his looks--except the way he initially treats her. His first impression of her as a ‘tattooed, itinerant teenager sexpot neo-hippie’ has her seeing red. But while it looks like they aren’t getting along, there’s loads of sexual tension in the air. Jack is attracted to Vivi but doesn’t want to be--there are things in his sad past that Vivi reminds him of--and he figures no good would ever come from a relationship with her. He doubts that Vivi could ever settle down in one spot, and although he won’t admit it, he’d be devastated if she left him. So he’s reluctant to start anything, but of course he doesn’t hold out for long. Lots of intense lovemaking follows, and Vivi is falling hard for Jack, but pigheaded Jack’s still expecting the worst from Vivi. Then of course the hitman and the Nazi catch up with Vivi, and Jack is forced to save the day and face his feelings for Vivi.
I loved this one--I loved Jack’s whole sad backstory (boy did this guy need some lovin’, and Vivi was the perfect girl to take care of him!) And dare I say there was something about him that reminded me of Connor McCloud--maybe it was that whole possessiveness wrapped up in vulnerability vibe he gave off? They were hot, hot, smokin'hot together--and yes, I felt that they would make it. I loved the whole metaphor with the Winter Aconite flowers trying to root and the relationship between Jack and Vivi trying to root. This was one couple I was definitely 'rooting' for! And I loved how Jack’s quirky knowledge about the Latin names for flowers helped solve the mystery of the valuable artwork that Lucia left for her precious daughters. Well done, Jack.
While this book is technically a romantic suspense, the suspense wasn't all that 'suspenseful' as it is in some of McKenna's other books. And yes, the bad guys were perverted, disgusting and creepy, but I didn't think they were particularly smart or competent, or even as creepy as some of McKenna's other villains. There were a few minor plot holes that had me scratching my head--Jack was supposed to be protecting Vivi, why did he drive her away--why didn't Duncan use some of his money to protect his future sister-in-law Vivi--why didn't Liam have his house swept for bugs when he and Nancy came back to town...but for the most part, they didn't bother me as I was reading. I was pretty engrossed in this book by the second story and was looking to be entertained, which I was!
If you're looking for an entertaining read with some light suspense, some heavy, hot loving, and three separate love stories that come together seamlessly in one long novel, you'll appreciate the latest from the talented Shannon McKenna. This one got better and better as it went on, and I was reluctant to see it end--a sign of a good book for me! 4 1/2 stars.
The first story, Outside The Limit, about oldest sister Nancy and her hunky carpenter boyfriend Liam Knightly, was pretty good but they were not one of my favorite McKenna couples. Nancy was a bit of a workaholic, managing a folk rock band and some other musical artists, and constantly seemed to have a cell phone glued to her ear. She had been dumped by three fiancees (all who she now managed), and had some problems letting go in the bedroom. Liam was a carpenter who wanted a simple life--he wanted to settle down in the country, grow a garden, have lots of kids, with a wife who likes to cook, can and bake. Nancy was the total opposite of that--she was career woman all the way. Yet he was attracted to her and set out to pursue her, even though she was far from what he thought of as his ‘ideal’ woman. When he first saw her (Lucia had contracted him to restore her house, and also to 'match' him with Nancy), Nancy was wearing glasses and all buttoned up in a tightly tailored dress with her long hair slicked back in a bun--Liam thought of it as the ‘secretly sensual governess’ look, and he wanted to be her ‘horny, unscrupulous lord of the manor’. So even though she wasn’t his ideal woman, she certainly was his (physical) fantasy woman!
So yes, they certainly connected physically (hot, hot times in the bedroom--Nancy really had no problems letting go with Liam) but they certainly had a lot of problems communicating. I thought that Liam didn’t quite respect Nancy’s career, was a bit obsessive about her, and tended to pout a bit when he didn’t get her undivided attention. And yes, Nancy was a bit annoying when she’d be in bed with him, and her cell phone would ring and she’d forget all about him to do something for the ungrateful people she managed, but he pursued her knowing what she was like. I would have liked to see a little more compromising going on between both of them. I just had the feeling that this couple would be having lots of fights in the future--with a lot of makeup sex afterwards!
Story two, Ask For More, with grad student Nell and former spy and now millionaire mogul Duncan, was much better. Nell was working as a waitress while teaching and working on her thesis, and Duncan Burke was the sexy, extremely focused customer (who ordered the same thing every day--strip steak-- while not once looking up from his laptop) who she fantasized about and who never knew it. She got him to loosen up when she ended up working for him by writing the text for a computer game he was developing, and they had some wild sexual trysts. But fiercely independent Nell (who was sensitive about her mother’s call-girl past) was determined not to take any help from Duncan (who somehow clumsily made it seem like he was paying her for sex), even though he was just trying to protect her from ‘The Fiend’, as the sisters referred to the guy who was after them. Of course when Duncan can’t admit he loves her, Nell strikes out on her own, her life is threatened, and Duncan has to face that yep--he’d be lost without her. Very hot story here, with two very quirky but likable characters, and it advances the plot a little further about finding out what kind of treasure Lucia had in her possession.
Story three, Ready Or Not was my favorite. It’s about youngest sister, red-headed artist Vivi (who works craft fairs selling jewelry), and the man who Duncan suggests she hides out with (for her protection) while the threats against the sisters increase, former military man hottie Jack Kendrick. Jack lives across the country in Oregon in a beautiful little cottage and grows flowers for a living. Everything about this colossal hunk appeals to Vivi--his house, his flowers, his looks--except the way he initially treats her. His first impression of her as a ‘tattooed, itinerant teenager sexpot neo-hippie’ has her seeing red. But while it looks like they aren’t getting along, there’s loads of sexual tension in the air. Jack is attracted to Vivi but doesn’t want to be--there are things in his sad past that Vivi reminds him of--and he figures no good would ever come from a relationship with her. He doubts that Vivi could ever settle down in one spot, and although he won’t admit it, he’d be devastated if she left him. So he’s reluctant to start anything, but of course he doesn’t hold out for long. Lots of intense lovemaking follows, and Vivi is falling hard for Jack, but pigheaded Jack’s still expecting the worst from Vivi. Then of course the hitman and the Nazi catch up with Vivi, and Jack is forced to save the day and face his feelings for Vivi.
I loved this one--I loved Jack’s whole sad backstory (boy did this guy need some lovin’, and Vivi was the perfect girl to take care of him!) And dare I say there was something about him that reminded me of Connor McCloud--maybe it was that whole possessiveness wrapped up in vulnerability vibe he gave off? They were hot, hot, smokin'hot together--and yes, I felt that they would make it. I loved the whole metaphor with the Winter Aconite flowers trying to root and the relationship between Jack and Vivi trying to root. This was one couple I was definitely 'rooting' for! And I loved how Jack’s quirky knowledge about the Latin names for flowers helped solve the mystery of the valuable artwork that Lucia left for her precious daughters. Well done, Jack.
While this book is technically a romantic suspense, the suspense wasn't all that 'suspenseful' as it is in some of McKenna's other books. And yes, the bad guys were perverted, disgusting and creepy, but I didn't think they were particularly smart or competent, or even as creepy as some of McKenna's other villains. There were a few minor plot holes that had me scratching my head--Jack was supposed to be protecting Vivi, why did he drive her away--why didn't Duncan use some of his money to protect his future sister-in-law Vivi--why didn't Liam have his house swept for bugs when he and Nancy came back to town...but for the most part, they didn't bother me as I was reading. I was pretty engrossed in this book by the second story and was looking to be entertained, which I was!
If you're looking for an entertaining read with some light suspense, some heavy, hot loving, and three separate love stories that come together seamlessly in one long novel, you'll appreciate the latest from the talented Shannon McKenna. This one got better and better as it went on, and I was reluctant to see it end--a sign of a good book for me! 4 1/2 stars.
August 5, 2009
Wow. This book does not come with rose tinted glasses. The only thing I can say about this book is that these people were messed up.
Nancy and Liam will never make it. If they were real people and were my friends and they sent me a wedding invite, I wouldn't even bother to show up. I wouldn't even send them a card, much less a wedding present. They will be divorced in five years, tops. They are the couple you pray never have children.
Nell and Duncan were the most normal but not by much. Nell is hypersensitive about being perceived as a prostitute while Duncan is a hyper focused, OCD control freak. They have a really cute "we are so in love" phase before the eeeeeeevil supervillains make their move and start smacking Nell around.
Vivi and Jack, wow. Where to start? Abandonment issues, mommy issues, sexual hangups, head games. Take your pick. A therapist could have a field day with this book. On a personal note, I didn't like Vivi. Too much of a hippie for me. But even though I didn't really care for Vivi or Jack, I was still too engrossed by their personal relationship to flip to the end and find out what was happening. Kind of like a car accident. I couldn't turn away from this mess of a couple.
I liked this book as a whole but if I was grading on the individual stories then I only liked Nell and Duncan's story. The plot of this book was very good and suspenseful and I liked the mystery. Depending on my mood, I would rate this 3-4 stars.
Nancy and Liam will never make it. If they were real people and were my friends and they sent me a wedding invite, I wouldn't even bother to show up. I wouldn't even send them a card, much less a wedding present. They will be divorced in five years, tops. They are the couple you pray never have children.
Nell and Duncan were the most normal but not by much. Nell is hypersensitive about being perceived as a prostitute while Duncan is a hyper focused, OCD control freak. They have a really cute "we are so in love" phase before the eeeeeeevil supervillains make their move and start smacking Nell around.
Vivi and Jack, wow. Where to start? Abandonment issues, mommy issues, sexual hangups, head games. Take your pick. A therapist could have a field day with this book. On a personal note, I didn't like Vivi. Too much of a hippie for me. But even though I didn't really care for Vivi or Jack, I was still too engrossed by their personal relationship to flip to the end and find out what was happening. Kind of like a car accident. I couldn't turn away from this mess of a couple.
I liked this book as a whole but if I was grading on the individual stories then I only liked Nell and Duncan's story. The plot of this book was very good and suspenseful and I liked the mystery. Depending on my mood, I would rate this 3-4 stars.
October 5, 2014
Me esperaba muicho más de esta novela.
La autora ha cogido la opción fácil: tres historias que son prácticamente iguales. Todo cortado por el mismo patrón. Al ser relatos bastante cortos, tampoco es que desarrolle mucho la relación entre ellos, la verdad. A mí eso de que a los dos días de conocerse ya se quieran casar, pues como que no. La parte suspense, aún la estoy buscando. El malo es un verdadero inútil, en serio. Todo le sale mal,con las tres, lo mismo. Diálogos casi repetetidos y un final de lo más precipitado.
Es una sucesión de escenas hot con diferentes parejas que desde el minuto 1 se odian, para al minuto dos amarse con locura y al minuto tres la tiene que salvar del malo.
Toda una decepción, la verdad.
Vamos, una novela erótica, porque el suspense brilla por su ausencia
La autora ha cogido la opción fácil: tres historias que son prácticamente iguales. Todo cortado por el mismo patrón. Al ser relatos bastante cortos, tampoco es que desarrolle mucho la relación entre ellos, la verdad. A mí eso de que a los dos días de conocerse ya se quieran casar, pues como que no. La parte suspense, aún la estoy buscando. El malo es un verdadero inútil, en serio. Todo le sale mal,con las tres, lo mismo. Diálogos casi repetetidos y un final de lo más precipitado.
Es una sucesión de escenas hot con diferentes parejas que desde el minuto 1 se odian, para al minuto dos amarse con locura y al minuto tres la tiene que salvar del malo.
Toda una decepción, la verdad.
Vamos, una novela erótica, porque el suspense brilla por su ausencia
July 30, 2009
Stayed awake WAY too late just to finish "Tasting Fear". Shannon McKenna has delivered three stories in one (really thick) volume. The stories are interconnected with an overarching storyline, yet each story could have been published as a standalone and tortured fans into waiting for the next one. For that alone, this is a wonderful book!
Three women, adopted as girls by an Italian woman, become sisters. Each 'daughter' has her own personality and her own path to follow. The book opens with the death of the mother, and the early realization by the daughters that it was murder. Their determination to catch the killer is only heightened by the fact that THEY are now being hunted too. A wacko bad guy (or two), a hunky carpenter, a sexy, rather OCD agent, and a former Special Ops turned gardener comprise the main masculine characters. And let me just say...YUM! McKenna sizzles the pages with her special blend of Alpha male dominance and caring. This time out, each of the daughters learns to be strong in her own way and how to depend and care for that most rare of beast...a caring Alpha.
Mystery, hot sex, danger, smoking sex, and action (and did I mention the hot sex?) come together to create a page-turning story that demands all a reader's attention. I meant to just read 'one' of the stories and then finish up...HAH! I couldn't put it down and HAD to finish. I enjoyed how each of the sisters had a different personality and that was reflected in their story and their seduction. There weren't too many TSTL (too stupid to live) moments, I could see how and why each one happened and it wasn't outside the realm of possibility. The bad guy is really bad and a real sicko...and so's his boss (think Nazi offspring with all the bad traits). The mystery involves a mysterious hidden 'something' whose story and history gradually unfold throughout all three stories.
McKenna's characters all have foibles and strengths in equal measures. Nobody's perfect or a prince, etc. Both heroes and heroines work hard for what they have and have to make life-changing decisions under pressure. These things provide her stories with the aura of reality while still providing a great escape and maybe even make me think about what I would do in the same situation. (Scream and faint most likely...or just jump the hottie!) In any event, while I didn't love ALL three of the stories, I did enjoy the heck out of them. And rather than tell you which one was my favorite, I'll just let you read and guess it on your own.
Three women, adopted as girls by an Italian woman, become sisters. Each 'daughter' has her own personality and her own path to follow. The book opens with the death of the mother, and the early realization by the daughters that it was murder. Their determination to catch the killer is only heightened by the fact that THEY are now being hunted too. A wacko bad guy (or two), a hunky carpenter, a sexy, rather OCD agent, and a former Special Ops turned gardener comprise the main masculine characters. And let me just say...YUM! McKenna sizzles the pages with her special blend of Alpha male dominance and caring. This time out, each of the daughters learns to be strong in her own way and how to depend and care for that most rare of beast...a caring Alpha.
Mystery, hot sex, danger, smoking sex, and action (and did I mention the hot sex?) come together to create a page-turning story that demands all a reader's attention. I meant to just read 'one' of the stories and then finish up...HAH! I couldn't put it down and HAD to finish. I enjoyed how each of the sisters had a different personality and that was reflected in their story and their seduction. There weren't too many TSTL (too stupid to live) moments, I could see how and why each one happened and it wasn't outside the realm of possibility. The bad guy is really bad and a real sicko...and so's his boss (think Nazi offspring with all the bad traits). The mystery involves a mysterious hidden 'something' whose story and history gradually unfold throughout all three stories.
McKenna's characters all have foibles and strengths in equal measures. Nobody's perfect or a prince, etc. Both heroes and heroines work hard for what they have and have to make life-changing decisions under pressure. These things provide her stories with the aura of reality while still providing a great escape and maybe even make me think about what I would do in the same situation. (Scream and faint most likely...or just jump the hottie!) In any event, while I didn't love ALL three of the stories, I did enjoy the heck out of them. And rather than tell you which one was my favorite, I'll just let you read and guess it on your own.
November 24, 2009
Tasting Fear is an anthology of three tightly related stories. You have to read them in order, and I think it they all flow nicely into one long (nearly 500 pages!) book. I think you could do arm curls with this one, and build some nice biceps. After having read Ms. McKenna’s McCloud & Friends series recently, I was prepared for dark brooding heroes and disgusting villains. We get a little of both, but the focus of these stories is mainly on the relationships and little on the suspense. A twisted psycho has killed the women’s mother, and is after something he thinks they have knowledge of.
Outside the Limit - Liam & Nancy – 3 stars
I liked this one the least of the three. Liam was a seemingly gentle beta at first. He’s an Irish carpenter, content with his home in the country. Nancy’s mother has contracted him to some remodeling on her home prior to her death. Liam shows up not knowing she’s passed, and meets Nancy. Nancy is a manager to some folk music artists. A city girl that has been dumped by three prior fiancés. They are both taken with either each other rather quickly, and suddenly Liam has to protect her from someone out to kill her. As time goes on, Liam emerges as a stubborn alpha. He wants her to drop everything for him. She, on the other hand is a workaholic, and she won’t budge or compromise for him either. I thought they were both pigheaded towards the end, but they worked out a half way point to make it work.
Ask for More - Duncan & Nell - 5 stars
This was may favorite of all three. Duncan is former military special forces, now a wealthy business man. He owns a computer programming company with his brother. He’s an Extreme Alpha. He reminded me of Davy McCloud at times. Nell catches his eye one day as she’s been serving his lunch in a diner for weeks. She’s been admiring him at a distance, and has developed quite a crush on the mysterious Duncan. He’s against relationships due to his crappy childhood, but he wants Nell and can’t admit his feelings for her. Despite his jerkiness, I liked him--plus, he’s a total bad-ass when it comes to fighting off the bad guys.
Ready or Not - Jack & Vivi – 4 stars
Vivi is the youngest sister, and a hippie artist type girl. She’s sent to Jack the Mountain Man for protection from the psycho. Jack was with Duncan in the service. Vivi loves the place so much, she decides she wants to finally put down roots. I liked Jack, but I thought he was too quick to form an opinion about Vivi and her lifestyle. He was condescending. Here he is living in the mountains growing flowers, and he looks down on ‘her type’. She This one wraps up the mystery and the bad guys.
All three stories are smoking hot. If you don’t mind big, hulking, stubborn ex-military alphas and occasional TSTL heroines, give this one a try.
Outside the Limit - Liam & Nancy – 3 stars
I liked this one the least of the three. Liam was a seemingly gentle beta at first. He’s an Irish carpenter, content with his home in the country. Nancy’s mother has contracted him to some remodeling on her home prior to her death. Liam shows up not knowing she’s passed, and meets Nancy. Nancy is a manager to some folk music artists. A city girl that has been dumped by three prior fiancés. They are both taken with either each other rather quickly, and suddenly Liam has to protect her from someone out to kill her. As time goes on, Liam emerges as a stubborn alpha. He wants her to drop everything for him. She, on the other hand is a workaholic, and she won’t budge or compromise for him either. I thought they were both pigheaded towards the end, but they worked out a half way point to make it work.
Ask for More - Duncan & Nell - 5 stars
This was may favorite of all three. Duncan is former military special forces, now a wealthy business man. He owns a computer programming company with his brother. He’s an Extreme Alpha. He reminded me of Davy McCloud at times. Nell catches his eye one day as she’s been serving his lunch in a diner for weeks. She’s been admiring him at a distance, and has developed quite a crush on the mysterious Duncan. He’s against relationships due to his crappy childhood, but he wants Nell and can’t admit his feelings for her. Despite his jerkiness, I liked him--plus, he’s a total bad-ass when it comes to fighting off the bad guys.
Ready or Not - Jack & Vivi – 4 stars
Vivi is the youngest sister, and a hippie artist type girl. She’s sent to Jack the Mountain Man for protection from the psycho. Jack was with Duncan in the service. Vivi loves the place so much, she decides she wants to finally put down roots. I liked Jack, but I thought he was too quick to form an opinion about Vivi and her lifestyle. He was condescending. Here he is living in the mountains growing flowers, and he looks down on ‘her type’. She This one wraps up the mystery and the bad guys.
All three stories are smoking hot. If you don’t mind big, hulking, stubborn ex-military alphas and occasional TSTL heroines, give this one a try.
August 9, 2009
Rating: 3.5 / 5
This is a hefty book for a romance trade paperback at 489 pages. It was pretty good, fairly typical for a Shannon McKenna book, but also not without its faults. None of which were critical faults, at least for me, because they didn't kill they story, but they kept me from really, really enjoying it.
Series note: this book is a stand-alone. It is NOT related in any way to her McClouds & Friends series.
Tasting Fear is a three-story anthology, but all of the stories are tied together with an overall story arc. Nancy, Nell and Vivi are adopted sisters, first fostered then adopted by a kind-hearted Italian woman, Lucia. They were true sisters, if not by blood then by heart.
When Lucia dies senselessly, the sisters are tossed into a decades old mystery involving art hidden from the Nazi's. They learn that there was a lot about Lucia that they didn't know. And now their lives are in danger because one man and his creepy hitman sidekick will stop at nothing to find out what that sisters know about the missing art. Only problem is that they know absolutely nothing. Through the course of the mystery, each sister gets involved with a man who makes it his business to protect the one he gets hooked up with. And each sister must face scars from their pasts in order to move forward. Plus they have to avoid a sadistic killer who becomes bent on revenge when all his plans go awry.
The first story in the book is Outside the Limit and features Nancy and contractor Liam Knightly. Of the three stories, this one was probably my least favorite. I liked both Liam and Nancy independently, but the two being together was less than a good match. Nancy is a workaholic, always attached to her cell phone and always on the go. Liam is a home and hearth kind of guy. He wants the housewife type of woman, which Nancy definitely is not. The two are constantly coming to blows over Nancy's commitment to work. There's definitely some great chemistry between the two, but on a relationship level, they just did not match up. When the story ended, even though the two had agreed on compromise, I wasn't feeling like their relationship was all that solid. I felt like they were in for a long road of battling each other and fighting. Not exactly the way I want a romance story to end.
The second story, though, Ask For More, was probably my favorite of the three, and much more solid romantically. I really enjoyed Nell and Duncan. I liked how McKenna started out their relationship, with Nell lusting after him from afar and him being so absorbed in his work that he never noticed her. But boy, when he did, he was like a dog with a bone. He completely goes off track of his initial intentions - which was wanting a mutually beneficial arrangement...which freaked Nell out because it came off as being too much like her mother who was essentially a high-class call girl. All of which made for some interesting conflict.
And the third story, Ready of Not, fell in between the other two on the likability scale. I really liked Vivi as a character...I'm a fan of unconventional heroines, which Vivi was because of her neo-hippie, artsy, earth-mother ways. So I enjoyed reading her. But Jack...well, I liked him somewhat. I thought it was very cool that he grew flowers, but he annoyed me with his judgmental ways. Vivi didn't deserve the crap he gave her. Still, they had great chemistry and I liked how the story worked out.
Overall, I liked that these three stories all tied together. It made the book very cohesive. And the suspense angle was interesting. I wish it had been a little more prominent because like 90% of each story was the romance and like 10% was the suspense part and I just thought there could have been more attention to the plot. I also enjoyed how each character, male and female, had to get over emotional scars from their pasts. It made them more realistic.
Like McKenna's other books, the heroes are all Alpha males who can be a bit brute-ish. If you've read McKenna before then you know what I mean and probably won't mind it in this book. But if you're not a fan of over-the-top Alpha's then you might not care for McKenna's writing in general. Plus, also like usual, the heroines have some TSTL (too-stupid-too-live) moments, but nothing too terrible.
So bottomline about this book...I think McKenna fans will enjoy it. I did, but I didn't quite love it. The plot needed more attention and the relationships could have been stronger and more compatible. But it was still a good read and I look forward to McKenna's next book (which will hopefully be about the mysterious Kevin McCloud).
WARNING, this book contains: explicit language and sex, rough sex, violence.
This is a hefty book for a romance trade paperback at 489 pages. It was pretty good, fairly typical for a Shannon McKenna book, but also not without its faults. None of which were critical faults, at least for me, because they didn't kill they story, but they kept me from really, really enjoying it.
Series note: this book is a stand-alone. It is NOT related in any way to her McClouds & Friends series.
Tasting Fear is a three-story anthology, but all of the stories are tied together with an overall story arc. Nancy, Nell and Vivi are adopted sisters, first fostered then adopted by a kind-hearted Italian woman, Lucia. They were true sisters, if not by blood then by heart.
When Lucia dies senselessly, the sisters are tossed into a decades old mystery involving art hidden from the Nazi's. They learn that there was a lot about Lucia that they didn't know. And now their lives are in danger because one man and his creepy hitman sidekick will stop at nothing to find out what that sisters know about the missing art. Only problem is that they know absolutely nothing. Through the course of the mystery, each sister gets involved with a man who makes it his business to protect the one he gets hooked up with. And each sister must face scars from their pasts in order to move forward. Plus they have to avoid a sadistic killer who becomes bent on revenge when all his plans go awry.
The first story in the book is Outside the Limit and features Nancy and contractor Liam Knightly. Of the three stories, this one was probably my least favorite. I liked both Liam and Nancy independently, but the two being together was less than a good match. Nancy is a workaholic, always attached to her cell phone and always on the go. Liam is a home and hearth kind of guy. He wants the housewife type of woman, which Nancy definitely is not. The two are constantly coming to blows over Nancy's commitment to work. There's definitely some great chemistry between the two, but on a relationship level, they just did not match up. When the story ended, even though the two had agreed on compromise, I wasn't feeling like their relationship was all that solid. I felt like they were in for a long road of battling each other and fighting. Not exactly the way I want a romance story to end.
The second story, though, Ask For More, was probably my favorite of the three, and much more solid romantically. I really enjoyed Nell and Duncan. I liked how McKenna started out their relationship, with Nell lusting after him from afar and him being so absorbed in his work that he never noticed her. But boy, when he did, he was like a dog with a bone. He completely goes off track of his initial intentions - which was wanting a mutually beneficial arrangement...which freaked Nell out because it came off as being too much like her mother who was essentially a high-class call girl. All of which made for some interesting conflict.
And the third story, Ready of Not, fell in between the other two on the likability scale. I really liked Vivi as a character...I'm a fan of unconventional heroines, which Vivi was because of her neo-hippie, artsy, earth-mother ways. So I enjoyed reading her. But Jack...well, I liked him somewhat. I thought it was very cool that he grew flowers, but he annoyed me with his judgmental ways. Vivi didn't deserve the crap he gave her. Still, they had great chemistry and I liked how the story worked out.
Overall, I liked that these three stories all tied together. It made the book very cohesive. And the suspense angle was interesting. I wish it had been a little more prominent because like 90% of each story was the romance and like 10% was the suspense part and I just thought there could have been more attention to the plot. I also enjoyed how each character, male and female, had to get over emotional scars from their pasts. It made them more realistic.
Like McKenna's other books, the heroes are all Alpha males who can be a bit brute-ish. If you've read McKenna before then you know what I mean and probably won't mind it in this book. But if you're not a fan of over-the-top Alpha's then you might not care for McKenna's writing in general. Plus, also like usual, the heroines have some TSTL (too-stupid-too-live) moments, but nothing too terrible.
So bottomline about this book...I think McKenna fans will enjoy it. I did, but I didn't quite love it. The plot needed more attention and the relationships could have been stronger and more compatible. But it was still a good read and I look forward to McKenna's next book (which will hopefully be about the mysterious Kevin McCloud).
WARNING, this book contains: explicit language and sex, rough sex, violence.
October 14, 2009
I agree 100% with everything Isis has written in her review, so I'm not going to bother writing my own review. Just click here, and you'll know how I feel about this book. Am I lazy or what? (LOL)
August 18, 2019
Lo siento, pero no aprueba.
La verdad es que me esperaba mucho más de este libro. La autora nos presenta una trama de suspense que se va desarrollando en tres partes, cada una contada desde el punto de vista de una de las hermanas.
La primera parte con Nancy y Liam la historia prometía, peeeroooo... él ha llegado a hartarme. Es absurdo que pretenda que ella lo deje todo de la noche a la mañana y pase a depender de él, así, sin más. Precipitado y arrogante.
Con la historia de Nell y Duncan no sabía si reír o llorar 😂😭😂😭 es que me ha resultado tan poco creíble y a veces tan disparatada 😂😂😂
Y la de Vivi y Jack es la que más me ha enganchado, aunque tampoco para tirar cohetes.
Al final, la trama de misterio pasó a un segundo plano y se resolvió en un pis-pas, y te encuentras con tres historias calcadas. ¿De verdad ocurre exactamente lo mismo con las tres hermanas, una detrás de otra? Un poquito de imaginación, por favor...
Y ese malo que en vez de malo resulta patético... 🤦🏻♀️😂
La historia daba mucho más de sí: le faltan páginas de suspense y le sobran escenas íntimas (llegué a aburrirme con Nell y Duncan y todo el rato dale que te pego 🙄)
Definitivamente, no es lo mejor de esta autora.
Mi puntuación un 4.
La verdad es que me esperaba mucho más de este libro. La autora nos presenta una trama de suspense que se va desarrollando en tres partes, cada una contada desde el punto de vista de una de las hermanas.
La primera parte con Nancy y Liam la historia prometía, peeeroooo... él ha llegado a hartarme. Es absurdo que pretenda que ella lo deje todo de la noche a la mañana y pase a depender de él, así, sin más. Precipitado y arrogante.
Con la historia de Nell y Duncan no sabía si reír o llorar 😂😭😂😭 es que me ha resultado tan poco creíble y a veces tan disparatada 😂😂😂
Y la de Vivi y Jack es la que más me ha enganchado, aunque tampoco para tirar cohetes.
Al final, la trama de misterio pasó a un segundo plano y se resolvió en un pis-pas, y te encuentras con tres historias calcadas. ¿De verdad ocurre exactamente lo mismo con las tres hermanas, una detrás de otra? Un poquito de imaginación, por favor...
Y ese malo que en vez de malo resulta patético... 🤦🏻♀️😂
La historia daba mucho más de sí: le faltan páginas de suspense y le sobran escenas íntimas (llegué a aburrirme con Nell y Duncan y todo el rato dale que te pego 🙄)
Definitivamente, no es lo mejor de esta autora.
Mi puntuación un 4.
September 28, 2010
Enjoyable and entertaining escape. Three short stories of sensual romance and hot sex with danger, mystery and suspense.
STORY BRIEF:
Something valuable was hidden from the Nazis during WWII by an Italian Count. Lucia is a descendant of the Count living in the U.S. in the present day. John the Fiend pays her a visit to force her to give him whatever this is. She dies during his visit, before he can get it. He sees a letter she recently wrote to her three adopted daughters, now grown. The letter gives clues to the daughters about the item. The rest of the book is divided into three short stories (about 160 pages each) with John going after each of the three daughters. He has them under surveillance, plans to kidnap and torture them for the information and then rape and kill them for fun. Each story has one of the daughters meeting a guy, falling in love, having some conflict and in harms way with John.
The three daughters have different personalities and psychological damage from their pre-adoptive years. Nancy is a business manager/agent for up and coming musicians. Nell supports herself as a waitress while working on her PhD in poetry. Vivi is a tattooed and pierced sculptor and jewelry maker. The three men are gorgeous, sexy, dominant, and caring alpha males. Liam is a carpenter. Duncan is a former intelligence agent and currently owns a software development company. Jack was a former special ops military man and currently raises and sells flowers to florists.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This wasn’t her best work, but it was definitely an enjoyable escape and worth the money to buy. She is a talented author, one of my favorites. The three short stories allow her to include a lot of what romance lovers want - the meeting and development of three passionate relationships with a lot of hot sex. There is more romance than anything else, but there is a fair amount of mystery, suspense and danger which kept me glued to the book, making it hard to put down.
DATA (for all three stories combined):
Story length: 478 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 18, most a few pages long, some longer. Setting: current day New York area and Oregon. Copyright: 2009: Genre: romantic mystery suspense thriller.
OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my reviews of other Shannon McKenna books, see my 5 star review of “Ultimate Weapon” posted 11/15/08.
STORY BRIEF:
Something valuable was hidden from the Nazis during WWII by an Italian Count. Lucia is a descendant of the Count living in the U.S. in the present day. John the Fiend pays her a visit to force her to give him whatever this is. She dies during his visit, before he can get it. He sees a letter she recently wrote to her three adopted daughters, now grown. The letter gives clues to the daughters about the item. The rest of the book is divided into three short stories (about 160 pages each) with John going after each of the three daughters. He has them under surveillance, plans to kidnap and torture them for the information and then rape and kill them for fun. Each story has one of the daughters meeting a guy, falling in love, having some conflict and in harms way with John.
The three daughters have different personalities and psychological damage from their pre-adoptive years. Nancy is a business manager/agent for up and coming musicians. Nell supports herself as a waitress while working on her PhD in poetry. Vivi is a tattooed and pierced sculptor and jewelry maker. The three men are gorgeous, sexy, dominant, and caring alpha males. Liam is a carpenter. Duncan is a former intelligence agent and currently owns a software development company. Jack was a former special ops military man and currently raises and sells flowers to florists.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This wasn’t her best work, but it was definitely an enjoyable escape and worth the money to buy. She is a talented author, one of my favorites. The three short stories allow her to include a lot of what romance lovers want - the meeting and development of three passionate relationships with a lot of hot sex. There is more romance than anything else, but there is a fair amount of mystery, suspense and danger which kept me glued to the book, making it hard to put down.
DATA (for all three stories combined):
Story length: 478 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 18, most a few pages long, some longer. Setting: current day New York area and Oregon. Copyright: 2009: Genre: romantic mystery suspense thriller.
OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my reviews of other Shannon McKenna books, see my 5 star review of “Ultimate Weapon” posted 11/15/08.
October 27, 2014
es el primer libro que leo de Shannon y la verdad es que iba un poco a ciegas...
mi gran problema no ha sido sólo que, al estar dividido en 3 historias cortas (unidas entre sí), sobre todo las historias de amor, han sido muy apresuradas si no que, tras todo lo que estaban pasando las hermanas que el amor no fuera lo más importante (no me malentendais, sé que es romántica, o con tintes eróticos, pero aún así que el 80% de la historia gire en torno al sexo, o a cómo desean follar entre ellos! es algo que me ha sacado de quicio).
1. La historia de Nancy y Liam.
si soy sincera ninguno de los dos me ha gustado mucho. desde el primer momento que apareció Liam desconfié de él (¿aparece un supuesto carpintero, del que nunca has sabido nada, y la protagonista no desconfía de él? ¿ni UNA sola vez? eso me ha mosqueado MUCHO).
Nancy como protagonista no me ha dicho nada, ni bueno ni malo.
2. La historia de Nell y Duncan.
esta me ha gustado algo más, al menos en el caso de estos dos ya había un conocimiento previo (al menos por parte de Nell) y no todo es "deseo a primera vista". también, Nell ha sido una protagonista que me ha "seducido" más que Nancy. ¿lo malo? que cuando Duncan abría la boca la cagaba.
3. La historia de Vivi y Jack.
empezó bastante prometedora, sobre todo por la breve tensión entre Jack y Vivi. por desgracia, al igual que en el caso de Duncan, en cuanto Jack abría la boca me entraban ganas de darle una patada (es más, llegó un momento en el que de tanto que insinuó que ella era de "ese tipo" me entraron ganas de mandarle a la mierda).
problemas generales que se repetían en las 3 historias:
(+) amor apresurado de dos días, el cual, sorprendentemente acaba en compromiso. ¿cómo vas a amar a nadie tan rápido? eso no es amor, sino que os pica en los bajos.
(+) los problemas sexuales (shocks, o cualquier problema derivado de ello) NO se arreglan con la entrada de un tío bueno en tu vida. no me vendáis más la moto, no la quiero.
(+) el prólogo me gustó mucho, y me interesé por el asesino y lo que iba a buscar, pero al quedar todo esto en un segundo plano, ya termino por darme igual.
en general, ¿es un mal libro? no. ¿lo recomiendo? pues sí no te gusta el género o la autora, no porque seguramente acabarás como yo.
mi gran problema no ha sido sólo que, al estar dividido en 3 historias cortas (unidas entre sí), sobre todo las historias de amor, han sido muy apresuradas si no que, tras todo lo que estaban pasando las hermanas que el amor no fuera lo más importante (no me malentendais, sé que es romántica, o con tintes eróticos, pero aún así que el 80% de la historia gire en torno al sexo, o a cómo desean follar entre ellos! es algo que me ha sacado de quicio).
1. La historia de Nancy y Liam.
si soy sincera ninguno de los dos me ha gustado mucho. desde el primer momento que apareció Liam desconfié de él (¿aparece un supuesto carpintero, del que nunca has sabido nada, y la protagonista no desconfía de él? ¿ni UNA sola vez? eso me ha mosqueado MUCHO).
Nancy como protagonista no me ha dicho nada, ni bueno ni malo.
2. La historia de Nell y Duncan.
esta me ha gustado algo más, al menos en el caso de estos dos ya había un conocimiento previo (al menos por parte de Nell) y no todo es "deseo a primera vista". también, Nell ha sido una protagonista que me ha "seducido" más que Nancy. ¿lo malo? que cuando Duncan abría la boca la cagaba.
3. La historia de Vivi y Jack.
empezó bastante prometedora, sobre todo por la breve tensión entre Jack y Vivi. por desgracia, al igual que en el caso de Duncan, en cuanto Jack abría la boca me entraban ganas de darle una patada (es más, llegó un momento en el que de tanto que insinuó que ella era de "ese tipo" me entraron ganas de mandarle a la mierda).
problemas generales que se repetían en las 3 historias:
(+) amor apresurado de dos días, el cual, sorprendentemente acaba en compromiso. ¿cómo vas a amar a nadie tan rápido? eso no es amor, sino que os pica en los bajos.
(+) los problemas sexuales (shocks, o cualquier problema derivado de ello) NO se arreglan con la entrada de un tío bueno en tu vida. no me vendáis más la moto, no la quiero.
(+) el prólogo me gustó mucho, y me interesé por el asesino y lo que iba a buscar, pero al quedar todo esto en un segundo plano, ya termino por darme igual.
en general, ¿es un mal libro? no. ¿lo recomiendo? pues sí no te gusta el género o la autora, no porque seguramente acabarás como yo.
June 9, 2010
Three sisters each find love while trying to discover who murdered their foster mother in this collection of novellas. In Outside the Limit, Nancy meets carpenter Liam Knightly on the stoop of her Mother's house. Before she died she had hired Liam to do some remodeling. In Ask For More, Nell answers an employment ad requesting a poet to help with a video game. She discovers that her new employer Duncan is none other than the gorgeous man who she waits on at the diner where she works. Then in Ready or Not, Vivi goes to live on the property of Jack Kendrick, a former military operative and good friend of Duncan's. Vivi needs protection from the killer who has yet to be apprehended.
The biggest issue I had with Tasting Fear was that is was the same story told three times, only the names were changed. The women all had the same personality, just interchange a different focus on art. One was a poet, one a sculptor and the other a musician. The men were all grunting, cave dwellers with super-sized penises, that once they found out their woman was in danger wanted to control every aspect of their lives in order to protect them. It really was the same story told over and over again.
Because these stories were short, no real character development was able to me done. The characters very quickly fell in love and it seemed staged and unrealistic. This time McKenna's writing lacked emotion and failed to hook me. The story would have had much more appeal had it only been one couple as the focal point. Then that couple would have had the proper time to develop their relationship at a reasonable and believable time period. I am sorry to say that I can not recommend this book. Fans of Mckenna, I suggest reading an old favorite to pass the time until she publishes a full length novel.
The biggest issue I had with Tasting Fear was that is was the same story told three times, only the names were changed. The women all had the same personality, just interchange a different focus on art. One was a poet, one a sculptor and the other a musician. The men were all grunting, cave dwellers with super-sized penises, that once they found out their woman was in danger wanted to control every aspect of their lives in order to protect them. It really was the same story told over and over again.
Because these stories were short, no real character development was able to me done. The characters very quickly fell in love and it seemed staged and unrealistic. This time McKenna's writing lacked emotion and failed to hook me. The story would have had much more appeal had it only been one couple as the focal point. Then that couple would have had the proper time to develop their relationship at a reasonable and believable time period. I am sorry to say that I can not recommend this book. Fans of Mckenna, I suggest reading an old favorite to pass the time until she publishes a full length novel.
June 14, 2009
WHOOOAAAA! This is not a small book and I read it in one day! What an excellent time I had! The story is about 3 sisters, not related by blood; but adopted by the same woman. Part 1 is about Nancy, the oldest. She spends her time babying Celtic musicians and gets nothing for herself. When her mother, Lucia D'Onofrio, passes away under suspicious circumstances, she and her sisters are determined to find out what exactly was going on. Liam, a rennovation carpenter is Nancy's help in her quest. Antonella (Nell) waitress cum graduate student cum night class teacher also lives on the edge of poverty. Her mother was a drug addict and she is always cautious abgout who she is with and why. When she meets Duncan Burke and agrees to help him with his video game she has no ideas what she is in for! Vivi, the youngest (aka Vivien) is a sculptor, jewelry designed who the older sisters decide needs protection so they ship her off to a friend of Duncans in Oregon. She is not at all what Jack is expecting and the tension mounts even before they get her van pulled out of the mud.
All in all, this was a splendid story. Ms. McKenna gets a huge A++ on this one and I suggest you pop out right now and buy it.
All in all, this was a splendid story. Ms. McKenna gets a huge A++ on this one and I suggest you pop out right now and buy it.
July 24, 2011
Total waste of time. Plenty of sex but story is absolutely ridiculous and with the typical boy meets girl and within a couple of days fall in love and decide to get married. Give me a break! The men are totally lame in this book.
April 10, 2025
I really thought about not finishing this book. I kinda figured how it would end. Nothing really caught my attention and kept it. I did not realize it was 3 stories in 1 book. 🖼️
January 13, 2025
ทันที่ได้ข่าวว่าหนังสือเล่มนี้จะออกขาย บอกตามตรงเลยนะคะว่า แม็กซ์รู้สึกผิดหวังหน่อย เพราะสำหรับคนที่ติดตามอ่านงานของแชนน่อน แม็คเคนน่า ก็น่าจะพอรู้ว่า หนังสือเล่มนี้เป็นเพียงเรื่องขัดตาทัพเท่านั้น เพราะหลังจากใช้เวลากับหนังสือห้าเล่มในชุดพี่น้องตระกูลแม็คคราวน์และผองเพื่อนของพวกเขา มันก็ชัดเจนอย่างที่สุดว่า หนังสือเล่มต่อไปน่าจะเป็นเรื่องราวของเควิน แม็คคราวน์
แต่มันไม่ใช่ แชนน่อนตัดสินใจเขียนหนังสือเรื่องนี้ขึ้นมาแทน และแม็กซ์ก็บอกตามตรงเลยนะคะ เราคิดว่าเหตุผลของเธอง่าย ๆ ไม่ใช่ว่าต้องการให้คนอ่านรอคอยหรอกค่ะ แต่เธอคงคิดไม่ออกว่า จะหาทางออกให้กับการมีชีวิตอยู่ของเควินได้ยังไง เล่มนี้ก็เลยต้องออกมาแทนเพื่อถ่วงเวลาไปก่อน
ดังนั้นหากจะบอกว่า แม็กซ์ไม่ค่อยคาดหวังอะไรจากหนังสือเล่มนี้ก็อาจพูดถูกนะคะ แม้ว่ามันจะเขียนโดยนักเขียนที่แม็กซ์ชอบมากทีสุดก็ตามที
Tasting Fear ของแชนน่อน แม็คเคนน่า
หนังสือเล่มนี้เป็นหนังสือรวมเรื่องสั้น แต่แตกต่างตรงที่วิธีการเล่าเรื่อง ทำให้เรื่องนี้เปรียบเสมือนนิยายหนึ่งเรื่องที่แบ่งออกมาเป็นสามภาค แต่ละภาคจะโฟกัสที่ตัวพี่น้องตระกูลโดโนฟริโอแต่ละคน ซึ่งวิธีการเล่าเรื่องแบบนี้ก็ไม่ใช่ของใหม่นะคะ นอร่า โรเบิร์ตเคยเอาวิธีนี้มาใช้เล่าเรื่องในหนังสือเรื่อง Three Fates (เพียงแต่ไม่ได้แบ่งออกเป็นสามเรื่องย่อยอย่างที่แชนน่อนทำเท่านั้นเอง) แต่บอกตามตรงนะคะ นอร่าทำได้ดีกว่าในแง่ของการผสานเรื่องราวของตัวละครสามคู่ให้เข้าเป็นหนึ่งเดียว เพราะในเล่มนี้ยังมีความห่างในส่วนของความต่อเนื่องของทั้งสามเรื่องอยู่ค่ะ
การได้อ่านหนังสือเล่มนี้ทำให้แม็กซ์เข้าใจตัวเองกับรสนิยมในการอ่านเรื่องของแชนน่อนเป็นอย่างดี เพราะในเรื่องนี้เธอได้เขียนเรื่องราวที่มีคาแร็คเตอร์ที่แตกต่างกันออกไปพอสมควร และในท้ายที่สุดเรื่องที่แม็กซ์ชอบมากที่สุด ก็คือเรื่องที่ตัวละครมีความเหมือนกับเอกลักษณ์ที่แชนน่อนมีความโดดเด่น นั่นก็คือ การเขียนพระเอกโรคจิตที่หมกมุ่น และมุ่งความสนใจทั้งหมดที่เขามีไปที่ตัวนางเอก
Outside the Limit
เรื่องสั้นเรื่องแรกที่เปิดเรื่อง โฟกัสที่ตัวพี่สาวคนโตของพี่น้องตระกูลโดโนฟริโอ ที่แม้จะไม่ได้เป็นพี่น้องที่คลานตามกันมา แต่พวกเธอที่ถูกรับมาเลี้ยงในวัยสิบกว่าจากลูเซีย โดโนฟริโอก็มีความผูกพันลึกซึ้งไม่น้อยกว่าครอบครัวอื่น ดังนั้นเมื่อมารดาของพวกเธอเสียชีวิตลง ทั้งสามจึงเริ่มต้นสะสางข้าวของของมารดาที่ทิ้งอยู่ในบ้าน ทว่าพวกเธอไม่เคยคิดเลยว่า แท้จริงแล้วความตายของลูเซียไม่ได้มาจากสาเหตุธรรมชาติ
มีใครบางคนกำลังตามปองร้ายพวกเธอ อันตรายที่ติดตามลูเซียมาจากอิตาลี แผ่นดินที่บิดาของลูเซียก็ได้พลีชีพให้กับความลับอันนี้ ตอนนี้มันได้ปลิดชีวิตของลูเซียลง และกำลังตามเอาชีวิตลูกสาวบุญธรรมของเธออีกด้วย
ในฐานะของลูกสาวคนโต แนนซี่มีความรับผิดชอบอย่างมาก เธอทำหน้าที่เป็นผู้จัดการให้กับศิลปินหน้าใหม่ งานที่ไม่ต่างอะไรกับการเป็นพี่คนโตที่ต้องดูกลุ่มคนที่ไร้ความรับผิดชอบ แต่เมื่อแล้วจุดเปลี่ยนก็มาถึง เมื่อแนนซี่ตกเป็นเป้าหมายของคนร้ายที่ต้องการความลับบางอย่างจากตระกูลโดโนฟริโอ และครั้งนี้เธอจำเป็นต้องพึ่งพาเลียม ช่างไม้หนุ่มที่ต้องรับบทมากกว่าแค่การซ่อมบ้านให้แนนซี่ แต่เขาต้องปกป้องเธอจากคนร้ายอีกด้วย
แม็กซ์พูดกับเพื่อนหลายคนนะคะว่า พระเอกในเรื่องสั้นเรื่องนี้ให้ความรู้สึกเหมือนพระเอกสไตล์ที่นอร่า โรเบิร์ตเขียน เลียมเป็นพระเอกที่ค่อนข้างเข้าใจนางเอกเป็นอย่างดี เขาเข้มแข็งพอที่จะคุ้มกันเธอ แต่ในขณะเดียวกันก็มีด้านที่อ่อนโยนที่จะเข้าใจความต้องการของแนนซี่อีกด้วย ปัญหาก็คือ แม็กซ์ไม่คิดว่า พระเอกสไตล์นี้เป็นแนวที่แชนน่อนถนัดจะเขียน หรือถ้าจะพูดให้ถูกแม็กซ์ชอบพระเอกอีกแนวนึงของเธอมากกว่า (ซึ่งจะเขียนถึงต่อไป)
Ask for more
เนล โดโนฟริโอแอบปิ๊งลูกค้าหนุ่มที่เข้ามาทานอาหารกลางวันในร้านที่เธอเป็นพนักงานเสิร์ฟอยู่นานหลายเดือน แต่ไม่ว่าเธอจะทำยังไงก็ไม่อาจทำให้เขาละสายตาจากจอคอมพิวเตอร์ของเขามามองยังเธอได้เลย จนกระทั่งเมื่อเนลสมัครเข้าไปทำงานในบริษัทซอร์ฟแวร์แห่งนึง ที่ประกาศรับผู้เชี่ยวชาญด้านบทกวี ซึ่งเนลในฐานะของนักศึกษาระดับปริญญาเอกไส้แห้งกำลังต้องการมันอยู่พอดี
และเจ้านายของเธอก็คือ ดันแคน แบงค์ส ลูกค้าที่เนลแอบปิ๊งอยู่นั่นเอง และก็เช่นเดียวกับพี่สาว เมื่อปรากฏว่า คนร้ายยังไม่รามือจากพี่น้องตระกูลโดโนฟริโอ เนลตกเป็นเป้นหมายของการลอบทำร้าย และสถานการณ์ก็บีบให้ดันแคนต้องเงยหน้าจากจอคอมพิวเตอร์ของเขา หันมาสนใจหญิงสาวคนนี้ และจากคำพูดของเขาเองที่บอกว่า โลกของเขาแคบ มีคนเพียงแค่ไม่กี่คนที่สำคัญต่อเขามากพอต่อการให้ความสนใจ แต่เมื่อคนคนนั้นอยู่ในความสนใจของดันแคนแล้ว เธอจะกลายเป็นทุกสิ่งที่สำคัญที่สุดสำหรับเขา
ซึ่งเนล โดโนฟริโอคือคนคนนั้น
ดันแคนเป็นทุกอย่างที่เป็นตัวแทนของพระเอกในสไตล์ของแชนน่อน แม็คเคนน่า และมันทำให้แม็กซ์กรี๊ดสลบ คงไม่ต้องบอกนะคะว่า เรื่องสั้นเรื่องนี้คือเรื่องที่แม็กซ์ชอบมากที่สุดในเล่มนี้เลย เพรา���เมื่อดันแคนให้ความสนใจเนลแล้ว โลกทั้งใบของเขาก็มีแต่เธอเท่านั้น ทุกอย่างที่เขาทำ ก็เพื่อปกป้องเธอให้ปลอดภัย
Ready or Not
หลังจากพี่สาวทั้งสองคนถูกทำร้ายปางตาย วีวี่ก็รู้ดีว่า ชีวิตของเธอไม่ปลอดภัย และทางเลือกเดียวที่เธอมีก็คือ การไปหลบซ่อนอยู่กับแจ๊ค เพื่อนของดันแคนสักระยะ แต่ก็เช่นเดียวกับพี่สาวทั้งสองที่คนร้ายก็ยังตามแกะรอยของเธอจนเจอ และเมื��อนั้นคนคนเดียวที่ปกป้องเธอได้ก็คือแจ๊ค แต่ทั้งสองมีความแตกต่างกันมาก แจ๊คซึ่งมีประสบการณ์ในอดีตที่ถูกทอดทิ้งไม่แน่ใจว่า ศิลปินรักอิสระอย่างวีวี่จะสามารถตั้งหลักแหล่งอยู่ที่ใดที่หนึ่งได้เป็นเวลานาน ในขณะที่เขาเองก็ไม่ต้องการที่จะเจ็บจากการถูกทิ้งอีกต่อไป
เรื่องนี้เป็นอะไรที่อยู่ตรงกลางระหว่างสองเรื่องแรกค่ะ ในด้านความชอบแม็กซ์ก็ชอบเป็นอันดับสอง ในแง่ของความแรงของพระเอก แจ๊คก็อยู่ตรงกลางเช่นกัน ดังนั้นโดยรวมเรื่องนี้จึงเป็นเรื่องที่ถือว่าโอเค
รีวิวโดยรวม
ความแตกต่างอีกอย่างของเรื่องสั้นแต่ละเรื่องก็คือ ทั้งสามเรื่องมีความยาวค่อนข้างมากเมื่อเทียบกับเรื่องสั้นทั่ว ๆ ไป (แม็กซ์คิดว่า เทียบกันแล้ว แต่ละเรื่องสั้นน่าจะมีความยาวประมาณหนังสือของฮาร์ลิควินหนึ่งเรื่องเลยนะ คะ) ทำให้มีข้อดีก็คือ มีเวลาในการพัฒนาความสัมพันธ์ของตัวละครค่อนข้างมาก แม็กซ์อ่านแล้วไม่รู้สึกว่า สั้นหรือห้วนเกินไป
ถ้าดูจากพล็อตของทั้งสามเรื่องนะคะ จะเห็นได้ชัดว่า มีความเหมือนกันอย่างมาก นางเอกที่ถูกตามปองร้าย พระเอกที่ผ่านเข้ามาในชีวิตของนางเอกในจังหวะที่พอเหมาะพอดี ช่วยเหลือและปกป้องเธอจากอันตราย ความแตกต่างของแต่ละเรื่องก็คือคาแร็คเตอร์ของตัวละครแต่ละคนที่แม็กซ์คิดว่า คนแต่งทำได้ค่อนข้างดีที่แยกความแตกต่างได้ชัดเจนใช้ได้ แม้ว่าจะต้องพูดตามตรงว่า ดูตลกสักหน่อยตรงที่คนร้ายวางแผนระรานพี่น้องแต่ละคนตามลำดับอย่างในเรื่อง ในชีวิตจริงแม็กซ์คิดว่า คงเป็นไม่ได้หรอกนะคะที่คนร้ายจะทำอย่างนั้น ยิ่งเมื่อคิดว่า มีการปูเรื่องว่า คนร้ายคนนี้ได้ตามล่าหาความลับของตระกูลโดโนฟริโอมาแล้วหลายรุ่น (ตั้งแต่พ่อของลูเซีย) ยิ่งทำให้คิดว่า คนร้ายต้องมีทรัพยากรไม่น้อยในการทำเช่นนั้น ดังนั้นมันจึงไม่สมเหตุผลเลยที่คนร้ายต้องไล่เรียงการทำร้ายตามพี่น้องแต่ละคนอย่างที่เรื่องกำหนดให้เป็น
สรุปแล้วเรื่องนี้ดีกว่าที่คิดค่ะ เพราะแม็กซ์ไม่ได้ตั้งความหวังอะไรมากนักกับการอ่าน (ใจเราอยากอ่านเรื่องของเควินมาก ๆ แล้ว) โดยเฉพาะเรื่อง Ask for more ที่มีความเป็นแชนน่อน แม็คเคนน่าอย่างเต็มเปี่ยม แต่ถ้ามองอีกแง่นึง เรื่องนี้ก็พิสูจน์เช่นกันว่า แชนน่อนสามารถเขียนคาแร็คเตอร์พระเอกที่แตกต่างได้ (เพียงแต่เธอสมควรจะเขียนรึเปล่าเท่านั้นเอง ในเมื่อสำหรับแม็กซ์แล้ว แชนน่อนมีเป็นหนึ่งในการเขียนพระเอกที่คลั่งไคล้นางเอกจึงถูกมองว่า จิตไม่ปกตินัก)
คะแนนที่ 75 (แต่สำหรับเรื่อง Ask for more คะแนนที่ 83)
แต่มันไม่ใช่ แชนน่อนตัดสินใจเขียนหนังสือเรื่องนี้ขึ้นมาแทน และแม็กซ์ก็บอกตามตรงเลยนะคะ เราคิดว่าเหตุผลของเธอง่าย ๆ ไม่ใช่ว่าต้องการให้คนอ่านรอคอยหรอกค่ะ แต่เธอคงคิดไม่ออกว่า จะหาทางออกให้กับการมีชีวิตอยู่ของเควินได้ยังไง เล่มนี้ก็เลยต้องออกมาแทนเพื่อถ่วงเวลาไปก่อน
ดังนั้นหากจะบอกว่า แม็กซ์ไม่ค่อยคาดหวังอะไรจากหนังสือเล่มนี้ก็อาจพูดถูกนะคะ แม้ว่ามันจะเขียนโดยนักเขียนที่แม็กซ์ชอบมากทีสุดก็ตามที
Tasting Fear ของแชนน่อน แม็คเคนน่า
หนังสือเล่มนี้เป็นหนังสือรวมเรื่องสั้น แต่แตกต่างตรงที่วิธีการเล่าเรื่อง ทำให้เรื่องนี้เปรียบเสมือนนิยายหนึ่งเรื่องที่แบ่งออกมาเป็นสามภาค แต่ละภาคจะโฟกัสที่ตัวพี่น้องตระกูลโดโนฟริโอแต่ละคน ซึ่งวิธีการเล่าเรื่องแบบนี้ก็ไม่ใช่ของใหม่นะคะ นอร่า โรเบิร์ตเคยเอาวิธีนี้มาใช้เล่าเรื่องในหนังสือเรื่อง Three Fates (เพียงแต่ไม่ได้แบ่งออกเป็นสามเรื่องย่อยอย่างที่แชนน่อนทำเท่านั้นเอง) แต่บอกตามตรงนะคะ นอร่าทำได้ดีกว่าในแง่ของการผสานเรื่องราวของตัวละครสามคู่ให้เข้าเป็นหนึ่งเดียว เพราะในเล่มนี้ยังมีความห่างในส่วนของความต่อเนื่องของทั้งสามเรื่องอยู่ค่ะ
การได้อ่านหนังสือเล่มนี้ทำให้แม็กซ์เข้าใจตัวเองกับรสนิยมในการอ่านเรื่องของแชนน่อนเป็นอย่างดี เพราะในเรื่องนี้เธอได้เขียนเรื่องราวที่มีคาแร็คเตอร์ที่แตกต่างกันออกไปพอสมควร และในท้ายที่สุดเรื่องที่แม็กซ์ชอบมากที่สุด ก็คือเรื่องที่ตัวละครมีความเหมือนกับเอกลักษณ์ที่แชนน่อนมีความโดดเด่น นั่นก็คือ การเขียนพระเอกโรคจิตที่หมกมุ่น และมุ่งความสนใจทั้งหมดที่เขามีไปที่ตัวนางเอก
Outside the Limit
เรื่องสั้นเรื่องแรกที่เปิดเรื่อง โฟกัสที่ตัวพี่สาวคนโตของพี่น้องตระกูลโดโนฟริโอ ที่แม้จะไม่ได้เป็นพี่น้องที่คลานตามกันมา แต่พวกเธอที่ถูกรับมาเลี้ยงในวัยสิบกว่าจากลูเซีย โดโนฟริโอก็มีความผูกพันลึกซึ้งไม่น้อยกว่าครอบครัวอื่น ดังนั้นเมื่อมารดาของพวกเธอเสียชีวิตลง ทั้งสามจึงเริ่มต้นสะสางข้าวของของมารดาที่ทิ้งอยู่ในบ้าน ทว่าพวกเธอไม่เคยคิดเลยว่า แท้จริงแล้วความตายของลูเซียไม่ได้มาจากสาเหตุธรรมชาติ
มีใครบางคนกำลังตามปองร้ายพวกเธอ อันตรายที่ติดตามลูเซียมาจากอิตาลี แผ่นดินที่บิดาของลูเซียก็ได้พลีชีพให้กับความลับอันนี้ ตอนนี้มันได้ปลิดชีวิตของลูเซียลง และกำลังตามเอาชีวิตลูกสาวบุญธรรมของเธออีกด้วย
ในฐานะของลูกสาวคนโต แนนซี่มีความรับผิดชอบอย่างมาก เธอทำหน้าที่เป็นผู้จัดการให้กับศิลปินหน้าใหม่ งานที่ไม่ต่างอะไรกับการเป็นพี่คนโตที่ต้องดูกลุ่มคนที่ไร้ความรับผิดชอบ แต่เมื่อแล้วจุดเปลี่ยนก็มาถึง เมื่อแนนซี่ตกเป็นเป้าหมายของคนร้ายที่ต้องการความลับบางอย่างจากตระกูลโดโนฟริโอ และครั้งนี้เธอจำเป็นต้องพึ่งพาเลียม ช่างไม้หนุ่มที่ต้องรับบทมากกว่าแค่การซ่อมบ้านให้แนนซี่ แต่เขาต้องปกป้องเธอจากคนร้ายอีกด้วย
แม็กซ์พูดกับเพื่อนหลายคนนะคะว่า พระเอกในเรื่องสั้นเรื่องนี้ให้ความรู้สึกเหมือนพระเอกสไตล์ที่นอร่า โรเบิร์ตเขียน เลียมเป็นพระเอกที่ค่อนข้างเข้าใจนางเอกเป็นอย่างดี เขาเข้มแข็งพอที่จะคุ้มกันเธอ แต่ในขณะเดียวกันก็มีด้านที่อ่อนโยนที่จะเข้าใจความต้องการของแนนซี่อีกด้วย ปัญหาก็คือ แม็กซ์ไม่คิดว่า พระเอกสไตล์นี้เป็นแนวที่แชนน่อนถนัดจะเขียน หรือถ้าจะพูดให้ถูกแม็กซ์ชอบพระเอกอีกแนวนึงของเธอมากกว่า (ซึ่งจะเขียนถึงต่อไป)
Ask for more
เนล โดโนฟริโอแอบปิ๊งลูกค้าหนุ่มที่เข้ามาทานอาหารกลางวันในร้านที่เธอเป็นพนักงานเสิร์ฟอยู่นานหลายเดือน แต่ไม่ว่าเธอจะทำยังไงก็ไม่อาจทำให้เขาละสายตาจากจอคอมพิวเตอร์ของเขามามองยังเธอได้เลย จนกระทั่งเมื่อเนลสมัครเข้าไปทำงานในบริษัทซอร์ฟแวร์แห่งนึง ที่ประกาศรับผู้เชี่ยวชาญด้านบทกวี ซึ่งเนลในฐานะของนักศึกษาระดับปริญญาเอกไส้แห้งกำลังต้องการมันอยู่พอดี
และเจ้านายของเธอก็คือ ดันแคน แบงค์ส ลูกค้าที่เนลแอบปิ๊งอยู่นั่นเอง และก็เช่นเดียวกับพี่สาว เมื่อปรากฏว่า คนร้ายยังไม่รามือจากพี่น้องตระกูลโดโนฟริโอ เนลตกเป็นเป้นหมายของการลอบทำร้าย และสถานการณ์ก็บีบให้ดันแคนต้องเงยหน้าจากจอคอมพิวเตอร์ของเขา หันมาสนใจหญิงสาวคนนี้ และจากคำพูดของเขาเองที่บอกว่า โลกของเขาแคบ มีคนเพียงแค่ไม่กี่คนที่สำคัญต่อเขามากพอต่อการให้ความสนใจ แต่เมื่อคนคนนั้นอยู่ในความสนใจของดันแคนแล้ว เธอจะกลายเป็นทุกสิ่งที่สำคัญที่สุดสำหรับเขา
ซึ่งเนล โดโนฟริโอคือคนคนนั้น
ดันแคนเป็นทุกอย่างที่เป็นตัวแทนของพระเอกในสไตล์ของแชนน่อน แม็คเคนน่า และมันทำให้แม็กซ์กรี๊ดสลบ คงไม่ต้องบอกนะคะว่า เรื่องสั้นเรื่องนี้คือเรื่องที่แม็กซ์ชอบมากที่สุดในเล่มนี้เลย เพรา���เมื่อดันแคนให้ความสนใจเนลแล้ว โลกทั้งใบของเขาก็มีแต่เธอเท่านั้น ทุกอย่างที่เขาทำ ก็เพื่อปกป้องเธอให้ปลอดภัย
Ready or Not
หลังจากพี่สาวทั้งสองคนถูกทำร้ายปางตาย วีวี่ก็รู้ดีว่า ชีวิตของเธอไม่ปลอดภัย และทางเลือกเดียวที่เธอมีก็คือ การไปหลบซ่อนอยู่กับแจ๊ค เพื่อนของดันแคนสักระยะ แต่ก็เช่นเดียวกับพี่สาวทั้งสองที่คนร้ายก็ยังตามแกะรอยของเธอจนเจอ และเมื��อนั้นคนคนเดียวที่ปกป้องเธอได้ก็คือแจ๊ค แต่ทั้งสองมีความแตกต่างกันมาก แจ๊คซึ่งมีประสบการณ์ในอดีตที่ถูกทอดทิ้งไม่แน่ใจว่า ศิลปินรักอิสระอย่างวีวี่จะสามารถตั้งหลักแหล่งอยู่ที่ใดที่หนึ่งได้เป็นเวลานาน ในขณะที่เขาเองก็ไม่ต้องการที่จะเจ็บจากการถูกทิ้งอีกต่อไป
เรื่องนี้เป็นอะไรที่อยู่ตรงกลางระหว่างสองเรื่องแรกค่ะ ในด้านความชอบแม็กซ์ก็ชอบเป็นอันดับสอง ในแง่ของความแรงของพระเอก แจ๊คก็อยู่ตรงกลางเช่นกัน ดังนั้นโดยรวมเรื่องนี้จึงเป็นเรื่องที่ถือว่าโอเค
รีวิวโดยรวม
ความแตกต่างอีกอย่างของเรื่องสั้นแต่ละเรื่องก็คือ ทั้งสามเรื่องมีความยาวค่อนข้างมากเมื่อเทียบกับเรื่องสั้นทั่ว ๆ ไป (แม็กซ์คิดว่า เทียบกันแล้ว แต่ละเรื่องสั้นน่าจะมีความยาวประมาณหนังสือของฮาร์ลิควินหนึ่งเรื่องเลยนะ คะ) ทำให้มีข้อดีก็คือ มีเวลาในการพัฒนาความสัมพันธ์ของตัวละครค่อนข้างมาก แม็กซ์อ่านแล้วไม่รู้สึกว่า สั้นหรือห้วนเกินไป
ถ้าดูจากพล็อตของทั้งสามเรื่องนะคะ จะเห็นได้ชัดว่า มีความเหมือนกันอย่างมาก นางเอกที่ถูกตามปองร้าย พระเอกที่ผ่านเข้ามาในชีวิตของนางเอกในจังหวะที่พอเหมาะพอดี ช่วยเหลือและปกป้องเธอจากอันตราย ความแตกต่างของแต่ละเรื่องก็คือคาแร็คเตอร์ของตัวละครแต่ละคนที่แม็กซ์คิดว่า คนแต่งทำได้ค่อนข้างดีที่แยกความแตกต่างได้ชัดเจนใช้ได้ แม้ว่าจะต้องพูดตามตรงว่า ดูตลกสักหน่อยตรงที่คนร้ายวางแผนระรานพี่น้องแต่ละคนตามลำดับอย่างในเรื่อง ในชีวิตจริงแม็กซ์คิดว่า คงเป็นไม่ได้หรอกนะคะที่คนร้ายจะทำอย่างนั้น ยิ่งเมื่อคิดว่า มีการปูเรื่องว่า คนร้ายคนนี้ได้ตามล่าหาความลับของตระกูลโดโนฟริโอมาแล้วหลายรุ่น (ตั้งแต่พ่อของลูเซีย) ยิ่งทำให้คิดว่า คนร้ายต้องมีทรัพยากรไม่น้อยในการทำเช่นนั้น ดังนั้นมันจึงไม่สมเหตุผลเลยที่คนร้ายต้องไล่เรียงการทำร้ายตามพี่น้องแต่ละคนอย่างที่เรื่องกำหนดให้เป็น
สรุปแล้วเรื่องนี้ดีกว่าที่คิดค่ะ เพราะแม็กซ์ไม่ได้ตั้งความหวังอะไรมากนักกับการอ่าน (ใจเราอยากอ่านเรื่องของเควินมาก ๆ แล้ว) โดยเฉพาะเรื่อง Ask for more ที่มีความเป็นแชนน่อน แม็คเคนน่าอย่างเต็มเปี่ยม แต่ถ้ามองอีกแง่นึง เรื่องนี้ก็พิสูจน์เช่นกันว่า แชนน่อนสามารถเขียนคาแร็คเตอร์พระเอกที่แตกต่างได้ (เพียงแต่เธอสมควรจะเขียนรึเปล่าเท่านั้นเอง ในเมื่อสำหรับแม็กซ์แล้ว แชนน่อนมีเป็นหนึ่งในการเขียนพระเอกที่คลั่งไคล้นางเอกจึงถูกมองว่า จิตไม่ปกตินัก)
คะแนนที่ 75 (แต่สำหรับเรื่อง Ask for more คะแนนที่ 83)
August 19, 2009
Okay Shannon...what is your deal lately??? Seriously. Cutting this book into three parts and making them into little mini rushed romances was annoying. What happened to the good ole days of "Behind Closed Doors" and the like. Do you wanna become a Harlequin novelist with some crazy psychos mixed in???
I did not like Nancy's story at all. She seemed like a snotty bag and he seemed like a wash rag. My fav story was Nell and Duncan. Vivi's story started out promising but nose dived. Sorry but not one to brag about.
I did not like Nancy's story at all. She seemed like a snotty bag and he seemed like a wash rag. My fav story was Nell and Duncan. Vivi's story started out promising but nose dived. Sorry but not one to brag about.
June 3, 2013
I love Shannon Mckenna’s books. This one was a little different in that it’s actually three short stories in one BUT the romantic suspense plot threads through all three. Honestly, I coulda gave a fig for the rom-suspense bit- totally over the top, per usual- for me it was all about the men who fell in love with the three sisters. Hotties everyone and uber protective, and yes, none of Mckenna’s trademark possessive sexin’ is missing.
I didnt want to put the book down- and it's a biggie. ::sigh:: I heart big books that suck me in.
┐(‘.’┐) ┐(‘.’┐) (┌’.')┌ ┐(‘.’┐) (┌’.')┌ (┌’.')┌
I didnt want to put the book down- and it's a biggie. ::sigh:: I heart big books that suck me in.
┐(‘.’┐) ┐(‘.’┐) (┌’.')┌ ┐(‘.’┐) (┌’.')┌ (┌’.')┌
December 28, 2017
I read almost all genres. I enjoy suspense when I want to read quickly. This book, ugg, just no. I loved the premise of the child of a Nazi searching for treasures that the SS couldn't find, but that story barely gets touched. I don't know this author or her genre. Is she a mystery or suspense author? If so, she's terrible. Is she a romance writer? Her sex scenes were way too numerous, possibly this is porn? This story, split into three parts because of the 3 sisters, was really 1 story with 6 different characters. These 6 characters weren't even all that different from each other. Each of the women was bold, out spoken and damaged by men. Each of the men was big, beautiful, trained fighter and an asshole. And really what are the chances of three sisters falling in love with 3 men within the same month? All the men are jerks, but they are so good in the sack that the women don't care anymore. Within a month or so, they all have marriage proposals and the men are perfect gentlemen. Did I say the men all have large cocks? Let's be realistic - not all men have large cocks. These women were supposed to be strong and independent and yet they let these men walk all over them. The character development is just poor.
I don't recommend this book unless you like reading about sex which can have its merits, but it wasn't what I was looking for in this book.
I don't recommend this book unless you like reading about sex which can have its merits, but it wasn't what I was looking for in this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 17, 2019
Wonderful stories! I had no idea there were three in this one big book. It's definitely worth the read. Hot, sexy romance and suspense all in one package. Each story features a different sister and hero.
September 4, 2024
I would have preferred this as a trilogy instead of squeezing each of the sisters' stories into one book, the stories felt rushed while allowing each sister her own book would have given better pacing.
October 8, 2022
Three stories in one book. The trouble is that I really didn't warm to any of them. The story was sort of interesting, if far fetched.
October 15, 2024
Lots of descriptive sex if you don't mind that within the story.
April 21, 2012
This book has three stories in it of sisters. The books starts off at the Beginning with the bad guy John killing the Contessa. But he doesn't the the chance she dies of a heart attack before he can torture her with questions his boss has sent him to find out. He stages a robbery and leaves, not knowing that the Contessa has sent a package to her three daughters with clues to the answers to these questions. Each daughter's story is told in this book.
The first story
Outside the Limit
Nancy and her sister's Vivi and Nell are celebrating there Mother Lucia's birthday after her funeral, when a delivery of jewerly comes for them. Each girl gets a pendant with her initial on it. They start discussing the robbery and the things that was stolen but the antique desk, cellini bronze, faberge picture frame wasn't. To them it doesn't make sense. So they each take one home except for the desk, which is to big to move. As Nancy leaves the house, she is looking for something to cover to desk with. When a man shows up, saying his is there to do some remodeling. Liam Knightly is shocked to find out about Lucia's death. When Nancy introduces herself Liam asks if he can come in. They start talking and Nancy finds out that Lucian has been trying to set them up, before she died. They decide to go ahead with the remodel. After the house is broken into again. They are very concerned what the robber is looking for? Liam and Nancy get close when Nancy stays with Liam for her safety.
Ask For More
Nell D'Onofrio is a grad student, a teacher, a waitress and looking for another job to help pay for bills. Duncan Burke had been coming into the luncheon where Nell works for weeks. She finds him extremely attractive. Duncan has been helping his brother design a video game. Now he has to hire someone to help with the design, that knows poetry. Nell is that someone. When he finds out she is an expert on poetry and a doctoral candidate at NYU, plus a teacher who can write on the spot she is hired.
Duncan finds out that Nell's mom died in a burglery and that her sister was almost kidnapped. He thinks she needs protection. After helping get some of her items out of her place. Duncan's past experience as a spy lets him know that he is being watched inside of Nell's apartment, he starts looking for bugs and listening devices, video cams. Bingo he finds some. Nell freaks out. Duncan is a knight in shining armor by the end of this story.
Ready or Not
Vivi D'Onofrio goes to her future brother-in-law's friend's place to hide. The killer's that have been after her sisters are now after her. So she has put her art career on hold. The man who own's the property, Jack literally makes crude remarks to her evertime they are around one another. Sparks Fly.
Come to find out he just doesn't really know how to talk to her. They have both come from bad back grounds. Vivi's before she was adopted was not a pretty picture. Jacks' was very sad. So they are a very compatable couple. They just have to get over themselves and there arguing. Jack ends up being a protector. Vivi ends up seeing Jack with new eyes. When the bad guys show up. Jack turns BAD ASS!!!
The first story
Outside the Limit
Nancy and her sister's Vivi and Nell are celebrating there Mother Lucia's birthday after her funeral, when a delivery of jewerly comes for them. Each girl gets a pendant with her initial on it. They start discussing the robbery and the things that was stolen but the antique desk, cellini bronze, faberge picture frame wasn't. To them it doesn't make sense. So they each take one home except for the desk, which is to big to move. As Nancy leaves the house, she is looking for something to cover to desk with. When a man shows up, saying his is there to do some remodeling. Liam Knightly is shocked to find out about Lucia's death. When Nancy introduces herself Liam asks if he can come in. They start talking and Nancy finds out that Lucian has been trying to set them up, before she died. They decide to go ahead with the remodel. After the house is broken into again. They are very concerned what the robber is looking for? Liam and Nancy get close when Nancy stays with Liam for her safety.
Ask For More
Nell D'Onofrio is a grad student, a teacher, a waitress and looking for another job to help pay for bills. Duncan Burke had been coming into the luncheon where Nell works for weeks. She finds him extremely attractive. Duncan has been helping his brother design a video game. Now he has to hire someone to help with the design, that knows poetry. Nell is that someone. When he finds out she is an expert on poetry and a doctoral candidate at NYU, plus a teacher who can write on the spot she is hired.
Duncan finds out that Nell's mom died in a burglery and that her sister was almost kidnapped. He thinks she needs protection. After helping get some of her items out of her place. Duncan's past experience as a spy lets him know that he is being watched inside of Nell's apartment, he starts looking for bugs and listening devices, video cams. Bingo he finds some. Nell freaks out. Duncan is a knight in shining armor by the end of this story.
Ready or Not
Vivi D'Onofrio goes to her future brother-in-law's friend's place to hide. The killer's that have been after her sisters are now after her. So she has put her art career on hold. The man who own's the property, Jack literally makes crude remarks to her evertime they are around one another. Sparks Fly.
Come to find out he just doesn't really know how to talk to her. They have both come from bad back grounds. Vivi's before she was adopted was not a pretty picture. Jacks' was very sad. So they are a very compatable couple. They just have to get over themselves and there arguing. Jack ends up being a protector. Vivi ends up seeing Jack with new eyes. When the bad guys show up. Jack turns BAD ASS!!!
January 13, 2015
The D’Onofrio sisters were adopted by Lucia D’Onofrio when they were young teens in foster care, but they are as close as blood sisters. When their mother is murdered in a burglary, the house is vandalized after the funeral and a scrap of letter is found and a jeweler’s family connected to Lucia’s last gifts to her daughters are murdered the sisters get a bad feeling. A really bad feeling that more is going on and they could be the next targets.
This story is told in three parts with each sister getting her own story complete with her own danger and her very own knight in shining armor. It was a bit too convenient that these guys showed up at just the right time when the poor idiot women needed them.
Ok. The only thing that kept me reading was the mystery of the homicidal serial killer, his employer and what they were looking for that they were going to such lengths and expense to find. The mystery wasn’t a bad one, but the serial killer was an inept idiot. Though in his own thoughts he did say that while he was a professional (I had my doubts) everything about this job had gone wrong from the very beginning. Ok, I can believe that he was probably usually good at his job and this one was one of those jobs where Murphy’s Law takes over. It happens. He was just a bit too bumbling idiot for me though.
The first story with Nancy and Liam did nothing for me but make me alternate between rolling my eyes and grinding my teeth. Nancy was a wimp of the first order and Liam was one of the biggest jerks I’ve come across in a long time. Didn’t like either of them. At all.
The second story with Nell and Duncan was my favorite. I actually liked them even though Nell made me mad with all her carelessness when she knew someone was after her.
The last story with Vivi and Jack was better than the first, but not by much. I liked Vivi, but Jack was also a jerk. Though it turns out he had his reasons and it’s not always easy to let go of our childhood experiences.
So, I hung in there for the mystery and to see the bad guys get what’s coming to them, but it’s not a book I’ll ever reread. Well, ok, I might reread Nell and Duncan’s part, since I liked them and it was a hot story, but not the rest of it.
*The publisher provided a copy of this book to me for review. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.
This story is told in three parts with each sister getting her own story complete with her own danger and her very own knight in shining armor. It was a bit too convenient that these guys showed up at just the right time when the poor idiot women needed them.
Ok. The only thing that kept me reading was the mystery of the homicidal serial killer, his employer and what they were looking for that they were going to such lengths and expense to find. The mystery wasn’t a bad one, but the serial killer was an inept idiot. Though in his own thoughts he did say that while he was a professional (I had my doubts) everything about this job had gone wrong from the very beginning. Ok, I can believe that he was probably usually good at his job and this one was one of those jobs where Murphy’s Law takes over. It happens. He was just a bit too bumbling idiot for me though.
The first story with Nancy and Liam did nothing for me but make me alternate between rolling my eyes and grinding my teeth. Nancy was a wimp of the first order and Liam was one of the biggest jerks I’ve come across in a long time. Didn’t like either of them. At all.
The second story with Nell and Duncan was my favorite. I actually liked them even though Nell made me mad with all her carelessness when she knew someone was after her.
The last story with Vivi and Jack was better than the first, but not by much. I liked Vivi, but Jack was also a jerk. Though it turns out he had his reasons and it’s not always easy to let go of our childhood experiences.
So, I hung in there for the mystery and to see the bad guys get what’s coming to them, but it’s not a book I’ll ever reread. Well, ok, I might reread Nell and Duncan’s part, since I liked them and it was a hot story, but not the rest of it.
*The publisher provided a copy of this book to me for review. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.
July 15, 2012
This book is erotic romantic suspense...I had read good things about this author but I think maybe I should have started with a different book. This was three different stories in one big book...they are not standalone stories because the "suspense" is a storyline arc that touches all three stories and it is about three sisters. Nancy's book (the first one) I did not enjoy at all. It felt very disjointed and I did not buy into the chemistry between her and Liam. I found myself bored and skipping passages. I did enjoy Nell's story. It had a better flow and she and Duncan definitely had chemistry. This was my favorite of the three (though the third was almost tied with it). I did like Vivi's story as well. Overall, I thought she and Jack were nice together but honestly he was an ass at times and his ..That being said, they had some nice moments.
Obviously being in the erotic category you can expect blunt language. I would put the steam factor at maybe a 6.5 out of 10. I think many of my problems with the book as a whole can be attributed to the fact that all three of the stories are under 200 pages so the characters jumped to love too quickly and there was a lack of development. Also each of the stories followed an almost identical plot line (spoiler) -
Overall the second and third books held my interest and there parts I enjoyed so I would give three stars and probably try a full length novel by this author. But I am glad I got this from the library instead of paying for it.
Obviously being in the erotic category you can expect blunt language. I would put the steam factor at maybe a 6.5 out of 10. I think many of my problems with the book as a whole can be attributed to the fact that all three of the stories are under 200 pages so the characters jumped to love too quickly and there was a lack of development. Also each of the stories followed an almost identical plot line (spoiler) -
Overall the second and third books held my interest and there parts I enjoyed so I would give three stars and probably try a full length novel by this author. But I am glad I got this from the library instead of paying for it.
August 9, 2016
Oh, Shannon McKenna. You sure do one thing really well. Possessive alpha dudes and their (previously) sexually unawakened lady-loves, and absurd, ott, totally irredeemable villains. Not a lot of subtlety (any subtlety, really) but your books are almost always fun. This was no exception, although I don't think the decision to split the story in 3 distinct parts was entirely successful. I might have liked it even more if the sisters' stories had been more integrated.
Anyway, I've just about finished your whole published list, with the exception of Hot Night, which I intend to buy for the low, low price of $3.99 and your short fiction, which I'll probably skip since I don't love short fiction in general.
Anyway, I've just about finished your whole published list, with the exception of Hot Night, which I intend to buy for the low, low price of $3.99 and your short fiction, which I'll probably skip since I don't love short fiction in general.
June 20, 2011
Romantic suspense. This book had two major flaws. First, each of the three sisters goes through the exact same romantic plotline with their respective male characters - and reading them back to back in the same volume only makes it more glaring. Second, the overarching mystery is hardly given any thought at all; it's really only there to provide a perfunctory motivation for the bad guys. I correctly guessed what the treasure was in the first 5%, and the century-old mystery is solved with laughable ease in the last 5% of the book. (Can you tell I read it on Kindle?)
What saved the book for me was the Duncan Burke character in the second sister's story. He fairly leapt off the page. I loved his quirky thought processes.
What saved the book for me was the Duncan Burke character in the second sister's story. He fairly leapt off the page. I loved his quirky thought processes.
July 25, 2009
Gotta say, not really a fan of this one. I like most of McKenna's novels, but this one was kind of lame. Tasting Fear contains the connected stories of three sisters who fall in love while trying to survive the attentions of an evil killer who will do anything to get his hands on a mysterious treasure he has been hired to obtain. The three stories were ridiculously alike- the romances all followed the same pattern, as did the suspense. There were even love scenes and comments from the killer and other characters that had been used 80 pages before. Though I didn't actively hate this book, it was pretty much a waste of time.
March 9, 2010
Three stories in one book, all intertwined. The stories being published individually might have been better, even though they all have the same suspense thread. Though the individual characters and their stories were different, the ultimate clash and resolution was the same for each story: stupid guy can't commit+ woman on her own at worst possible moment+ bad guy captures her+ violence upon her ensues+man comes to rescue=man and woman make up after near death experience.
The repetitive endings, though well written and entertaining, were a bit tedious in said repetition.
The repetitive endings, though well written and entertaining, were a bit tedious in said repetition.
October 6, 2010
I was looking to simply enjoy a very sexy read and that's just what I got out of Tasting Fear. It was pretty hot & steamy, alright. I was not particularly interested in the plot but it gave the 3-stories-in-1 the necessary dynamics to keep them going. The male characters were very much unrealistic alpha-men, but not totally one-dimensional, nor without heart and soul. The female characters were less captivating.
My favorite of the three was the story of Nell and Duncan. Definitely the most likeable scenario and semi-believable characters.
My favorite of the three was the story of Nell and Duncan. Definitely the most likeable scenario and semi-believable characters.
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