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Hollis Boys #1
Outlaws of Love
Upon traveling west to marry, Annabelle Stephens longed to leave her nickname of "Sweetheart Annie" and the strict rules of Boston society behind. The taboo freedom she faces isn’t exactly what she had in mind. A sexy outlaw storms into her rented room and kidnaps her, and then she’s embroiled in a dangerous game with not one man, but two.
Until now Xander Hollis wanted one thing--or maybe two--to stop the Southern Gorge Railroad from stealing the homesteaders’ land, and to act on his desires with his partner in crime James. Like Robin Hoods of the old west, he and James embark on a mission to rob from the rich and give to the poor. When he refuses to let go of the woman who could identify him, he finds he’s in true danger. Danger of losing his heart to the heiress of the very railroad corporation he struggles to bring down.
Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: anal play/intercourse, male/male sexual practices, menage (m/m/f).
Until now Xander Hollis wanted one thing--or maybe two--to stop the Southern Gorge Railroad from stealing the homesteaders’ land, and to act on his desires with his partner in crime James. Like Robin Hoods of the old west, he and James embark on a mission to rob from the rich and give to the poor. When he refuses to let go of the woman who could identify him, he finds he’s in true danger. Danger of losing his heart to the heiress of the very railroad corporation he struggles to bring down.
Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: anal play/intercourse, male/male sexual practices, menage (m/m/f).
414 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 22, 2012
Annabelle Stephens is traveling from Boston to Texas to meet her fiancee when she is abducted from her hotel bathtub by a gorgeous bandit. This wasn't the freedom she was hoping for when she left stuffy Boston society, and though she fights it, she finds herself falling for the rough bandit, Xander Hollis. Xander is a modern day Robin Hood: sabotaging supplies and stealing from the Southern Gorge Railroad to stop the company from taking homesteaders land. He and his best friend, James, are on the run, and the last thing they need is a sexy Easterner--no matter how much they both want her and each other.
Oh.... where to start? This book is not good. It's not terrible--I was reluctantly interested to know how the three MCs would manage to get out of their predicament, so I finished it in spite of my major issues with pretty much everything about it. Annabelle is known as "Sweetheart Annie" in Boston, and she hates it. So she agrees to marry her father's business partner, and travels to Texas, wanting her freedom. Unfortunately, the reader never really sees her as a "Sweetheart," we are just told she is, repeatedly. I never really felt her connection to Xander or James was real, at least not on her end. They were the first men she was exposed to outside of Boston society, and she leaps into a relationship with them with a speed seemed out of character even for a romance novel.
The way the menage relationship progresses really felt strange, set as it was in Texas in the 1800s. Xander's family accepts their unconventional relationship without batting an eye, even going so far as to provide a room for the three of them on Xander and Annabelle's wedding day. WTF? I would have preferred them to be more discreet about it; I can see a loving family in that time period looking the other way, but not accepting such a blatant flaunting of societal conventions. Perhaps I've been spoiled by Ava March's well done gay historicals, where the characters are always aware that loving one another is dangerous, but this blase acceptance of alternative lifestyle just didn't sit well with me.
The sex scenes were okay. For a menage book, there's an awful lot of straight sex, and the actual menage scenes were lackluster at best. As much as Xander and James profess to love and be attracted to one another, when they get down to business, it's mostly about Annabelle. There is one m/m scene, but it didn't do much to change my opinion.
The only bright spot in the whole book, for me, was Xander's cousin, Graham. In a cast of many 2D cut-outs, he was the only one who seemed like a real person. He was devastated by his participation in the Civil War. He is obviously damaged, and when he first meets Annabelle (while she is still trying to escape Xander), he sees her as his salvation, and fights his cousin for her. After the trio arrives at the family ranch, he and Annabelle become friends, mending his relationship with his family and his soul.
This book started with a good premise, and couldn't make it work. It failed on all levels for me: the romance, the menage, and the historical. I will not be seeking out more of Ms. Petrova's books in the future.
2/5 stars.
Oh.... where to start? This book is not good. It's not terrible--I was reluctantly interested to know how the three MCs would manage to get out of their predicament, so I finished it in spite of my major issues with pretty much everything about it. Annabelle is known as "Sweetheart Annie" in Boston, and she hates it. So she agrees to marry her father's business partner, and travels to Texas, wanting her freedom. Unfortunately, the reader never really sees her as a "Sweetheart," we are just told she is, repeatedly. I never really felt her connection to Xander or James was real, at least not on her end. They were the first men she was exposed to outside of Boston society, and she leaps into a relationship with them with a speed seemed out of character even for a romance novel.
The way the menage relationship progresses really felt strange, set as it was in Texas in the 1800s. Xander's family accepts their unconventional relationship without batting an eye, even going so far as to provide a room for the three of them on Xander and Annabelle's wedding day. WTF? I would have preferred them to be more discreet about it; I can see a loving family in that time period looking the other way, but not accepting such a blatant flaunting of societal conventions. Perhaps I've been spoiled by Ava March's well done gay historicals, where the characters are always aware that loving one another is dangerous, but this blase acceptance of alternative lifestyle just didn't sit well with me.
The sex scenes were okay. For a menage book, there's an awful lot of straight sex, and the actual menage scenes were lackluster at best. As much as Xander and James profess to love and be attracted to one another, when they get down to business, it's mostly about Annabelle. There is one m/m scene, but it didn't do much to change my opinion.
The only bright spot in the whole book, for me, was Xander's cousin, Graham. In a cast of many 2D cut-outs, he was the only one who seemed like a real person. He was devastated by his participation in the Civil War. He is obviously damaged, and when he first meets Annabelle (while she is still trying to escape Xander), he sees her as his salvation, and fights his cousin for her. After the trio arrives at the family ranch, he and Annabelle become friends, mending his relationship with his family and his soul.
This book started with a good premise, and couldn't make it work. It failed on all levels for me: the romance, the menage, and the historical. I will not be seeking out more of Ms. Petrova's books in the future.
2/5 stars.
April 21, 2012
Originally posted at: http://whippedcream2.blogspot.com/201...
Circumstantially abducted railroad heiress, Annabelle is about to discover she is as hot-blooded as the irresistible outlaw, Xander, who has taken her from her hotel bathtub for the adventure of her life. Though she finds it incredible, she's just as filled with passion for his partner in crime, James. The three become outlaws of love, each burning with desire for the others.
Anna discovers that her father, who owns the railroad, has been stealing land from the poor, hardworking people in his westward drive to ‘progress’. Texans, Xander and James, who are do-good outlaws, are waging a personal war against the injustice by trying to return the land to the people and thwart the greedy advance of the rich railroad company. They live their lives in hiding from the law and the posse’s who hunt them.
Anna and Xander fall quickly in love with a raging heat that firmly bonds their hearts. She agrees to marry the intense, sexy man as soon as they reach civilization. But Anna finds herself searching her soul for answers to who she really is when she's confronted with a powerful and mutual desire for the handsome, tenderhearted James. James and Xander also face their erotic love and longing for one another when the three join as lovers forever.
Xander and James are heroes who inspire and reflect the best in men. These rugged, sexy cowboys are almost too hot to handle! The fantasy of having the love and passion of them both is made believable and true in Ms. Petrova’s capable telling.
Anna is a sweet heroine with a strong will and sense of adventure. She loves with power and courage. This is a story of a young woman’s life-changing awakening to her true self. Anna bravely confronts the truth of who she really is… not who she’s been told to be. The awareness of her own convictions, passions and independent spirit is brought to life through her love for two men and the freedom she finds in their arms.
Outlaws of Love is a moving and exiting love story that stretches the boundaries of the ordinary and leads the reader on a journey of hope. This story is of joy, profound love and devotion, courage and strength. I was swept up in the sexy romance, and the emotionally powerful plots. This ambitious tale truly hit a home run. I chuckled, squirmed and shed a tear, and know I won’t forget this story.
Infusing her writing with a pristine, fresh prose, Em Petrova draws the reader deftly into a landscape of the heart and mind. Her powerfully engaging work is a refreshing delight. Here is an example of her luscious descriptions: “The sun sank over the lip of the land, retracting its warm fingers as it did.”
Outlaws of Love is the first in the Hollis Boys series. My advice is, don’t miss this one.
Circumstantially abducted railroad heiress, Annabelle is about to discover she is as hot-blooded as the irresistible outlaw, Xander, who has taken her from her hotel bathtub for the adventure of her life. Though she finds it incredible, she's just as filled with passion for his partner in crime, James. The three become outlaws of love, each burning with desire for the others.
Anna discovers that her father, who owns the railroad, has been stealing land from the poor, hardworking people in his westward drive to ‘progress’. Texans, Xander and James, who are do-good outlaws, are waging a personal war against the injustice by trying to return the land to the people and thwart the greedy advance of the rich railroad company. They live their lives in hiding from the law and the posse’s who hunt them.
Anna and Xander fall quickly in love with a raging heat that firmly bonds their hearts. She agrees to marry the intense, sexy man as soon as they reach civilization. But Anna finds herself searching her soul for answers to who she really is when she's confronted with a powerful and mutual desire for the handsome, tenderhearted James. James and Xander also face their erotic love and longing for one another when the three join as lovers forever.
Xander and James are heroes who inspire and reflect the best in men. These rugged, sexy cowboys are almost too hot to handle! The fantasy of having the love and passion of them both is made believable and true in Ms. Petrova’s capable telling.
Anna is a sweet heroine with a strong will and sense of adventure. She loves with power and courage. This is a story of a young woman’s life-changing awakening to her true self. Anna bravely confronts the truth of who she really is… not who she’s been told to be. The awareness of her own convictions, passions and independent spirit is brought to life through her love for two men and the freedom she finds in their arms.
Outlaws of Love is a moving and exiting love story that stretches the boundaries of the ordinary and leads the reader on a journey of hope. This story is of joy, profound love and devotion, courage and strength. I was swept up in the sexy romance, and the emotionally powerful plots. This ambitious tale truly hit a home run. I chuckled, squirmed and shed a tear, and know I won’t forget this story.
Infusing her writing with a pristine, fresh prose, Em Petrova draws the reader deftly into a landscape of the heart and mind. Her powerfully engaging work is a refreshing delight. Here is an example of her luscious descriptions: “The sun sank over the lip of the land, retracting its warm fingers as it did.”
Outlaws of Love is the first in the Hollis Boys series. My advice is, don’t miss this one.
January 1, 2014
I enjoyed this one. It was a pretty quick read.
It started off with a bang and then it kind of dragged for me until around the half way point. Then it really started heating up.
Once we got all three people involved, it got REALLY hot.
I enjoyed the interaction between all the characters. They were interesting and fun.
The outcome of the Railroad thing wasn't what I was expecting. I like it when books surprise me!
It started off with a bang and then it kind of dragged for me until around the half way point. Then it really started heating up.
Once we got all three people involved, it got REALLY hot.
I enjoyed the interaction between all the characters. They were interesting and fun.
The outcome of the Railroad thing wasn't what I was expecting. I like it when books surprise me!
January 2, 2014
While I found the book easy reading and enjoyable I won't be rushing out for a sequel. The characters were flat and it didn't seem as though there was any emotional attachment between the three MCs. Many questions about why characters acted as they did weren't answered and there were many loose ends still open at the end. The whole story felt rushed and incomplete.
August 12, 2016
review posted here: http://yougottaread.com/review-outlaw...
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews