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Irresistible #3
The List
Who’s on top? Matchmaker and stationery shop owner Matilda Davies brings people together. For those on her list, Tilda will find the man or woman of their dreams—whether it’s for an hour or a lifetime. But due to a painful past, the British expat has never put her own name on the list. Instead, she limits herself to emotionless and commitment-free hookups. Then she meets Daniel, who wants not just her body, but also her heart… Daniel Logan hides the soul of a poet under the suit and tie of an FBI agent. Specializing in financial crimes, he pieces together stories of greed and ensures justice is done. He plays by the rules—until he meets Tilda. He’s drawn in by her passion as well as her mysteriousness. Daniel knows that no matter her secrets, he’s the perfect match for Tilda. But even pleasure doesn’t come with a guarantee…
336 pages, Paperback
First published March 3, 2015
12 people are currently reading
945 people want to read
About the author
Anne Calhoun
53 books656 followersAfter doing time at Fortune 500 companies on both coasts, I found myself living in the suburbs of a small Midwestern city. The glamour of various cube farm jobs had worn off, so I gave up making a decent living to take Joseph Campbell’s advice and follow my bliss: writing romance.
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January 29, 2015
4.5 stars. Rating clarification see below. Full review posted January 29, 2015
Rating clarification
Sex 5 stars
Writing 4.5 stars
Storyline 4.5 stars (I especially loved the first 20% and the final 20%)
Daniel 4.5 stars
Tilda 3.5 stars
Average rating 4.4444 stars
In My Veins by Andrew Belle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGESw...
In the interest of full disclosure I will say that I'm a longtime fan and supporter of Anne Calhoun. Regardless, not once did she let me down with her stories. Over the years, her writing has become richer, more detailed and refined. Every time I read one of her books, especially those she released in the last couple years, I say to myself that she is the author who takes me apart and she finds the rhythm that draws me under, the angle that layers pleasure until I can't breathe under the weight.
The graze of nails, fingertips trailing over aroused skin
The scratch of a five o'clock shadow
Rain pattering at a steady rhythm against windows
Leaves rustling on the concrete
A picturesque landscape surrounded by cliffs and the sea
The energy, the thrilling life pulsing through a big city
It's all palpable and brought to life
In the most sublime way through
Anne's distinct writing
Whenever I'm done with one of her stories, I can't wait to open the first page of her next book. It's addictive and I'm never getting tired of her writing because, even after so many years and a myriad of sex and love scenes, she manages to keep my interest through her sensual writing that never ceases to amaze me. The List is erotic romance with depth and Anne Calhoun is easily my favorite erotic romance author. Anne, don't ever stop writing because it's sometimes true…it's a lifetime job.
Before you start reading this book, I'd recommend you to check out the acknowledgments and especially the dedication. Says all.
The List starts off at a summer solstice, present time, with Daniel and Tilda in the pulsating town of New York. It's been exactly one year since Daniel met Tilda. One chapter later, the reader is starting to looking back at The Year of Tilda.
Attention is the most basic form of love. (…)
I thought the time gap (it was only one year) was done well because it's definitely not just a simple and very long flashback. The storyline and main leads were fully fleshed out and the engaging plot switched back to present time at the 75% mark.
Daniel Logan works white-collar crime with the FBI and Matilda (Tilda) Davies, a British expat, owns a high-end stationery shop and enjoys playing matchmaker as a spare-time job. Tilda is sitting on a ledge two hundred feet over Park Avenue South when she meets the future man of her life at a friend's home. They have an interesting chat and then a few days later Tilda receives a dinner invitation from Daniel. Tilda declines but Daniel feels challenged and since he's the tenacious kind of guy...
…he succeeds...
Daniel
He's a very smart and wonderful gentleman who hardly ever swears and who falls head over heels for aloof and somewhat enigmatic Tilda Davies. His job requires an analytical mind which comes in quite handy when he tries to unravel Tilda. Some other qualities of Daniel are being a good listener, being patient and persistent. And, as a nice bonus, he's a marathon runner and his long wind is needed while dealing with complicated Tilda. Though his very best features are his hands and his mouth. Commanding the language of dirty talk, he does A-mazing things with both, hands and mouth. Daniel is the man who gathers sunlight, carries it with him and stores it up for dark days.
On behalf of Daniel I've written a letter to Tilda:
Feel the pulse pounding through your system
A puff of damp air caresses your nape
My fingers slide over your body to feel muscle and bone
Your skin is a sensuous map
I'll find you, unravel your mystery
I'll fit the puzzle pieces because
You can't run from us
I'll take genuine over created any day
I'll push you over the ledge
And fly down fast to catch you
Show me your softer, more receptive side
You can't deny it, I'll tease it out of you
When you don't hover on the ledge
Ready to use your sharp angles to distract
When you're all serene and mentally bare
Ready to reveal your vulnerable side
That's where I'll understand you
Even if it will take a lifetime of getting to know you
You're irrevocably stuck with me
Because…you're the flesh of my flesh
Blood inked on the paper of my bones
And I'm not here because it's the right thing to do,
I'm here because I love you
"Keep going," he said. "I need more data."
She lowered her gaze in an attitude that would have been demure and humble if her eyelashes hadn't flickered just so. "God," he said. "You're so hot. I'm right there."
Tilda
Tilda is an odd combination of guardedness, aloofness, strength and vulnerability. Friendly warning, I think that many readers will have a very hard time liking, let alone loving her. She's nothing like the (almost too) perfect Lacey.
I took my time to watch Tilda and, somewhere along the way, I thought I really got her. Tilda is great connecting other people with each other and she knows what they need and how to handle them. But her own desires and feelings is a different matter altogether. The need to claim what she really wants and deserves, the yearning for love and belonging, all that is a rather foreign concept for her to grasp and, ultimately, to implement in her life. Her professional life is a perfect creation and, in a way, reflects what she’s not capable to do with her personal life. It’s a flawless story but, somewhere underneath it all, there's the real Tilda. Hiding.
"I don't know what they find," Tilda said finally. "I facilitate connection, a way to reach out to another person as best they can. Perhaps the permanence is in sustaining the beauty of that moment, the tangible elegance of it all. It fades away, of course. But they've had that moment. Can we really hope for more?"
Frankly, I expected her secret to be…shocking but it wasn't. I really appreciated that
Due to her uprooted childhood and her loveless and resenting mother, I was aware that Tilda would have issues. On the other hand, I thought that her lovely Nan made up for (almost) everything; she showered Tilda with love and understanding. Enter Daniel. Sex was easy, not bound by risks yet
Anne has mastered the direct, quick and super hot approach of a sexual encounter in the past but what I especially appreciate about her writing now is that incredibly intimate voice that coalesces into exquisite finesse and that's something that's seeping through her writing more and more. It's so good; you can feel, smell, see and hear everything her characters are saying and experiencing. The final 20 % of The List were emotionally-charged and terribly beautiful. In addition to the main leads, the story provides a really good and interesting cast of secondary characters.
Bottom line, The List is a must read for every fan of Anne Calhoun and those readers who enjoy their erotic romance stories spiced up with depth and that certain something should check it out too.
Recommended read.
Expected publication date: March 3, 2015
All quotes are taken from the pre-published copy and may be altered or omitted in the final copy
**ARC courtesy of Berkley Trade in exchange for an honest review**
Rating clarification
Sex 5 stars
Writing 4.5 stars
Storyline 4.5 stars (I especially loved the first 20% and the final 20%)
Daniel 4.5 stars
Tilda 3.5 stars
Average rating 4.4444 stars
In My Veins by Andrew Belle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGESw...
In the interest of full disclosure I will say that I'm a longtime fan and supporter of Anne Calhoun. Regardless, not once did she let me down with her stories. Over the years, her writing has become richer, more detailed and refined. Every time I read one of her books, especially those she released in the last couple years, I say to myself that she is the author who takes me apart and she finds the rhythm that draws me under, the angle that layers pleasure until I can't breathe under the weight.
The graze of nails, fingertips trailing over aroused skin
The scratch of a five o'clock shadow
Rain pattering at a steady rhythm against windows
Leaves rustling on the concrete
A picturesque landscape surrounded by cliffs and the sea
The energy, the thrilling life pulsing through a big city
It's all palpable and brought to life
In the most sublime way through
Anne's distinct writing
Whenever I'm done with one of her stories, I can't wait to open the first page of her next book. It's addictive and I'm never getting tired of her writing because, even after so many years and a myriad of sex and love scenes, she manages to keep my interest through her sensual writing that never ceases to amaze me. The List is erotic romance with depth and Anne Calhoun is easily my favorite erotic romance author. Anne, don't ever stop writing because it's sometimes true…it's a lifetime job.
Before you start reading this book, I'd recommend you to check out the acknowledgments and especially the dedication. Says all.
The List starts off at a summer solstice, present time, with Daniel and Tilda in the pulsating town of New York. It's been exactly one year since Daniel met Tilda. One chapter later, the reader is starting to looking back at The Year of Tilda.
Attention is the most basic form of love. (…)
I thought the time gap (it was only one year) was done well because it's definitely not just a simple and very long flashback. The storyline and main leads were fully fleshed out and the engaging plot switched back to present time at the 75% mark.
Daniel Logan works white-collar crime with the FBI and Matilda (Tilda) Davies, a British expat, owns a high-end stationery shop and enjoys playing matchmaker as a spare-time job. Tilda is sitting on a ledge two hundred feet over Park Avenue South when she meets the future man of her life at a friend's home. They have an interesting chat and then a few days later Tilda receives a dinner invitation from Daniel. Tilda declines but Daniel feels challenged and since he's the tenacious kind of guy...
…he succeeds...
"The old-fashioned method of asking you out didn't work. I took a different track."
Daniel
He's a very smart and wonderful gentleman who hardly ever swears and who falls head over heels for aloof and somewhat enigmatic Tilda Davies. His job requires an analytical mind which comes in quite handy when he tries to unravel Tilda. Some other qualities of Daniel are being a good listener, being patient and persistent. And, as a nice bonus, he's a marathon runner and his long wind is needed while dealing with complicated Tilda. Though his very best features are his hands and his mouth. Commanding the language of dirty talk, he does A-mazing things with both, hands and mouth. Daniel is the man who gathers sunlight, carries it with him and stores it up for dark days.
On behalf of Daniel I've written a letter to Tilda:
Feel the pulse pounding through your system
A puff of damp air caresses your nape
My fingers slide over your body to feel muscle and bone
Your skin is a sensuous map
I'll find you, unravel your mystery
I'll fit the puzzle pieces because
You can't run from us
I'll take genuine over created any day
I'll push you over the ledge
And fly down fast to catch you
Show me your softer, more receptive side
You can't deny it, I'll tease it out of you
When you don't hover on the ledge
Ready to use your sharp angles to distract
When you're all serene and mentally bare
Ready to reveal your vulnerable side
That's where I'll understand you
Even if it will take a lifetime of getting to know you
You're irrevocably stuck with me
Because…you're the flesh of my flesh
Blood inked on the paper of my bones
And I'm not here because it's the right thing to do,
I'm here because I love you
"Keep going," he said. "I need more data."
She lowered her gaze in an attitude that would have been demure and humble if her eyelashes hadn't flickered just so. "God," he said. "You're so hot. I'm right there."
Tilda
Tilda is an odd combination of guardedness, aloofness, strength and vulnerability. Friendly warning, I think that many readers will have a very hard time liking, let alone loving her. She's nothing like the (almost too) perfect Lacey.
Life isn't black ink on white paper, columns and numbers and script. It's a work of art that integrates the past into the future.
I took my time to watch Tilda and, somewhere along the way, I thought I really got her. Tilda is great connecting other people with each other and she knows what they need and how to handle them. But her own desires and feelings is a different matter altogether. The need to claim what she really wants and deserves, the yearning for love and belonging, all that is a rather foreign concept for her to grasp and, ultimately, to implement in her life. Her professional life is a perfect creation and, in a way, reflects what she’s not capable to do with her personal life. It’s a flawless story but, somewhere underneath it all, there's the real Tilda. Hiding.
"I don't know what they find," Tilda said finally. "I facilitate connection, a way to reach out to another person as best they can. Perhaps the permanence is in sustaining the beauty of that moment, the tangible elegance of it all. It fades away, of course. But they've had that moment. Can we really hope for more?"
Frankly, I expected her secret to be…shocking but it wasn't. I really appreciated that
"I don't want sex. I just want to be close to you."
Due to her uprooted childhood and her loveless and resenting mother, I was aware that Tilda would have issues. On the other hand, I thought that her lovely Nan made up for (almost) everything; she showered Tilda with love and understanding. Enter Daniel. Sex was easy, not bound by risks yet
"Everything we've done and been is scraped over, melted down, but remains a part of what we become."
Anne has mastered the direct, quick and super hot approach of a sexual encounter in the past but what I especially appreciate about her writing now is that incredibly intimate voice that coalesces into exquisite finesse and that's something that's seeping through her writing more and more. It's so good; you can feel, smell, see and hear everything her characters are saying and experiencing. The final 20 % of The List were emotionally-charged and terribly beautiful. In addition to the main leads, the story provides a really good and interesting cast of secondary characters.
Bottom line, The List is a must read for every fan of Anne Calhoun and those readers who enjoy their erotic romance stories spiced up with depth and that certain something should check it out too.
Recommended read.
Expected publication date: March 3, 2015
All quotes are taken from the pre-published copy and may be altered or omitted in the final copy
**ARC courtesy of Berkley Trade in exchange for an honest review**
March 10, 2015
Anne Calhoun gives us a more serious and somber erotic story of two people working their way through the first year of their relationship. From meeting, to having sex, to marriage and then divorce, Daniel and Tilda have quite the journey this first year. Daniel is a FBI agent in NYC who investigates white-collar crime. He meets Tilda one night at a mutual friend’s house. Tilda is from England but attended NYU and made New York city her home. She owns a very high-end stationery shop in the west village and the shop is just like her – all sleek lines and very classy. Just for fun, Tilda also plays matchmaker to friends and friends of friends. Finding a hand-written note very intimate and something that most people are missing out of their lives, she makes her intended couples write letters and matches them this way. This part of Tilda doesn’t play a huge part in the story, but it does play a big role into the type of person Tilda is as an adult.
Couture stationary was her labor of love, but connecting people with unusual desires was her passion, her specialty. Given enough time, she managed to match most people who ended up on her list.
The first time Daniel sees Tilda, he wants her. He asks her to dinner, but she declines. Later, out of the blue, she starts to receive very interesting texts from Daniel, and she can only assume he is “sexting” her by mistake.
I want to go down on you.
And then:
Correction: I want to tie you to the bed and go down on you until you can’t talk.
There are many more. Oh Daniel.
Tilda decides to run over to his office to let him know he is texting the wrong person – but Daniel has Tilda figured out. Or so he thinks. He knows from their first meeting that she craves a little danger and wildness. Tilda is a woman who is extremely in control and rigid, yet has a tightly bundled coil of energy and wild behavior deep inside her. He knows she would not be able to resist these dirty texts – and he was right.
They start having sex (dirty, intense sex) from then on. Six months later they marry, six months later, Tilda asks for a divorce (you learn this all in the first chapter of the book, and then we go back one year to the beginning). What happens during that year which leads from passionate sex to a divorce – that is the book, and that is what you will have to discover.
It’s a more serious, somber book. Daniel is all warmth and kindness. Tilda is kind too – but she is a cool breeze. They both are very dedicated to work and work long hours. Tilda’s stationary company is in talks to go global, and this deal takes up a lot of her time. Tilda comes from a high-powered career mother who sent her off to boarding school, where Daniel comes from a more traditional close-knit family. These backgrounds start to clash a bit as their relationship progresses.
What kept me totally engaged in this story is Tilda. I think some readers out there are going to call her too cold for their tastes. And I completely understand why. She is cold. She has this intense, rigid side to her. I’m not sure she ever spontaneously bursts into laughter in this book. But, I felt the chemistry between her and Daniel. She does push him away because deep down she has low self-esteem and a very vulnerable side that she tries so hard to hide. But she intrigued me. As Daniel peels back each layer of her, the more interested I became.
Tilda didn’t jump into this marriage with gleeful open arms. I believe she loved Daniel, but I think she sees marriage as more of a cage. I never felt like she wanted anyone but Daniel, but the idea of marriage, of being domestic is not something Tilda is familiar with. She doesn’t sit around daydreaming of weddings and babies and the future. For her, it’s feeling in the moment. It’s pushing that boundary just a little to get a dangerous feel.
“Marriage hasn’t ruined you.”
She sipped her wine and watched Daniel’s conversation with the archaeologist, Daniel nodding and listening, the archaeologist gesturing expansively. “Pardon?”
“You’ve not transformed into a dull matron.”
“I’m twenty-eight. Give me a few years and see what happens,” she said, but even as she spoke, she couldn’t imagine herself celebrating a five-year anniversary.
Daniel’s love for her is pretty simple honestly. He just plain loves her. Tilda challenges him and Daniel likes that excitement in his life. His family is so opposite of Tilda, they don’t understand his attraction to her.
The problem was that sometimes the things that were best for you weren’t the things that made you feel complete. When he was with Tilda, he felt whole.
“I love her,” Three words, single syllables. They should say everything he needed to say and yet to someone on the outside they were meaningless.
“I just don’t see how she’ll make you happy.”
Maybe he didn’t want to be made happy. Maybe he didn’t want someone to slot him into the neat, orderly rows of How Things Are Done. Maybe he wanted someone who not only sat on ledges or slipped over cliffs, but also dared him to go over with her.
There is a bigger revelation at the end which explains some of Tilda’s actions and reactions. I kind of expected this to have a bigger impact than it did – but at the same time, once this revelation comes to light, Tilda doesn’t magically become a different person. But a weight is lifted off of her and other things happen and I believed in a happy ever after for her and Daniel.
On a side note I have to say, the descriptions of stationery in this book and Tilda’s passion towards it comes across so well and rich in detail. I appreciated the detail the author put into making that a big part of the story.
Grade: B
Couture stationary was her labor of love, but connecting people with unusual desires was her passion, her specialty. Given enough time, she managed to match most people who ended up on her list.
The first time Daniel sees Tilda, he wants her. He asks her to dinner, but she declines. Later, out of the blue, she starts to receive very interesting texts from Daniel, and she can only assume he is “sexting” her by mistake.
I want to go down on you.
And then:
Correction: I want to tie you to the bed and go down on you until you can’t talk.
There are many more. Oh Daniel.
Tilda decides to run over to his office to let him know he is texting the wrong person – but Daniel has Tilda figured out. Or so he thinks. He knows from their first meeting that she craves a little danger and wildness. Tilda is a woman who is extremely in control and rigid, yet has a tightly bundled coil of energy and wild behavior deep inside her. He knows she would not be able to resist these dirty texts – and he was right.
They start having sex (dirty, intense sex) from then on. Six months later they marry, six months later, Tilda asks for a divorce (you learn this all in the first chapter of the book, and then we go back one year to the beginning). What happens during that year which leads from passionate sex to a divorce – that is the book, and that is what you will have to discover.
It’s a more serious, somber book. Daniel is all warmth and kindness. Tilda is kind too – but she is a cool breeze. They both are very dedicated to work and work long hours. Tilda’s stationary company is in talks to go global, and this deal takes up a lot of her time. Tilda comes from a high-powered career mother who sent her off to boarding school, where Daniel comes from a more traditional close-knit family. These backgrounds start to clash a bit as their relationship progresses.
What kept me totally engaged in this story is Tilda. I think some readers out there are going to call her too cold for their tastes. And I completely understand why. She is cold. She has this intense, rigid side to her. I’m not sure she ever spontaneously bursts into laughter in this book. But, I felt the chemistry between her and Daniel. She does push him away because deep down she has low self-esteem and a very vulnerable side that she tries so hard to hide. But she intrigued me. As Daniel peels back each layer of her, the more interested I became.
Tilda didn’t jump into this marriage with gleeful open arms. I believe she loved Daniel, but I think she sees marriage as more of a cage. I never felt like she wanted anyone but Daniel, but the idea of marriage, of being domestic is not something Tilda is familiar with. She doesn’t sit around daydreaming of weddings and babies and the future. For her, it’s feeling in the moment. It’s pushing that boundary just a little to get a dangerous feel.
“Marriage hasn’t ruined you.”
She sipped her wine and watched Daniel’s conversation with the archaeologist, Daniel nodding and listening, the archaeologist gesturing expansively. “Pardon?”
“You’ve not transformed into a dull matron.”
“I’m twenty-eight. Give me a few years and see what happens,” she said, but even as she spoke, she couldn’t imagine herself celebrating a five-year anniversary.
Daniel’s love for her is pretty simple honestly. He just plain loves her. Tilda challenges him and Daniel likes that excitement in his life. His family is so opposite of Tilda, they don’t understand his attraction to her.
The problem was that sometimes the things that were best for you weren’t the things that made you feel complete. When he was with Tilda, he felt whole.
“I love her,” Three words, single syllables. They should say everything he needed to say and yet to someone on the outside they were meaningless.
“I just don’t see how she’ll make you happy.”
Maybe he didn’t want to be made happy. Maybe he didn’t want someone to slot him into the neat, orderly rows of How Things Are Done. Maybe he wanted someone who not only sat on ledges or slipped over cliffs, but also dared him to go over with her.
There is a bigger revelation at the end which explains some of Tilda’s actions and reactions. I kind of expected this to have a bigger impact than it did – but at the same time, once this revelation comes to light, Tilda doesn’t magically become a different person. But a weight is lifted off of her and other things happen and I believed in a happy ever after for her and Daniel.
On a side note I have to say, the descriptions of stationery in this book and Tilda’s passion towards it comes across so well and rich in detail. I appreciated the detail the author put into making that a big part of the story.
Grade: B
July 17, 2015
“You watch her like she’s going to disappear.”
I absolutely love this Author and whilst The List wasn’t a favourite I was once again swept away in Anne Calhoun’s evocative writing. The beauty she instils through details producing vivid imagery and the intensity you feel in one single touch or look. Her writing is mesmerising; it’s sensual and calls upon every emotion and feeling. The flow and development is flawless and once again I was hooked in the unravelment of a puzzle which began at the end. The List was unique and felt powerful insofar as it centres almost entirely on our two main characters spanning a year in its entirety. Erotic blended with classic elegance – sexy mixed with geeky. It all fit and worked so well it felt like an indulgence for the senses.
‘Exorcising demons she understood. She knew all about that, wanting and helpless to stop the wanting, until the only solution left was to take it in great greedy dripping handfuls until you were satiated, the pay for it afterward.’
Immediately, upon meeting Daniel, I fell in love. He’s a man’s man who loves with all his heart and wears it on his sleeve. An FBI agent with a vulnerability and a strong sense of family, loyalty and love with which he brings humour, passion and intimacy. I was with him every step of the way even though at times I wanted him to run for the hills as far away from Tilda as he could. Tilda is where I stumbled and struggled a few times. Her character is incredibly aloof – cold if you wish. A façade that perhaps was over written in some respects to a point of no return. An attempt to soften her and reveal the truth from within came a tad too late or was perhaps even slightly shortcoming. However, I understood the intentions despite these reservations which impacted my reading enjoyment somewhat.
“There is a difference between I’ve made a mistake and I am a mistake, or I’ve done a bad thing and I am a bad thing. There is a difference between guilt and shame.”
There is no denying that Anne Calhoun is one incredibly talented Author who knows how to vividly make every single word count and create a huge impact in an overall vivid picture. It’s word porn for a book nerd like me and I devour her books for this very fact.
“Life isn’t black ink on white paper, columns and numbers and script. It’s a work of art that integrates the past into the future. It’s impossible to prove a future in which I love you, you love me, and we never come to ruin. A future has to be lived.”
**Reviewed from an ARC Copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley.**
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March 2, 2015
Anne Calhoun knows how to write a unique Erotic Romance. She always seems to be conjuring up a refreshing idea with her books and THE LIST definitely stands out amongst the array of sexy books out there at the moment.
The book starts off in a not to great place with our main couple. They are seeking marriage counseling because our heroine, Tilda wants a divorce and Daniel doesn’t. After meeting each other and falling into bed, their marriage after that was quick and unplanned. Time has passed and it’s clear that the initial passion has dissolved. Or has it?
Calhoun flashes back months earlier where Tilda and Daniel first meet and fall in love. It’s a breathtaking story that is both sensual and deeply erotic. This author just cannot write a bad sex scene. Seriously!
I know there were people who were put off by Tilda’s cold personality. I didn’t find that at all. Yes, she’s cold and she’s often detached. But Tilda is a very, very strong woman who doesn’t need a man in her life to fulfill her. That is what I found so great about this book. Even though Tilda can do without a man, she allowed Daniel in. If he wasn’t as patient or persistent as he was, then this book wouldn’t have worked at all. But Daniel and Tilda are absolutely perfect for one another.
The reason why I liked Tilda so much was because of her stance on sexuality. She’s an intelligent woman and has a deep-rooted love and respect for herself. This quote sums her up well:
“When did you lose your virginity?”
“Virginity is a cultural construct,” she pointed out. “Given the many, many ways two people can have sex, limiting the question to penetration to penis into vagina is a rather narrow approach. Anyway, why is it a loss? I gained knowledge, experience.”
The thought of wild, barely restrained Tilda growing in experience sent a bolt of desire tinged with a gut-deep jealousy through him. “It’s just a figure of speech,” he said mildly.
“An interesting one. I didn’t lose anything.”
She has a well-grounded view of herself and the world around her. That’s what makes her so interesting and refreshing to discover. THE LIST should definitely be added to your Must-Read Mountain.
*ARC provided by publisher
March 19, 2015
3.5 stars
Anne Calhoun is pro at writing NY. I felt like I could have run into Tilda and Daniel at any point throughout my day.
Not surprisingly, Tilda was really hard for me to warm up to. Even when the "whys" started to be revealed, I just wasn't sure I cared enough about her to want her to get that happy ending.
It was especially hard because, well, I LOVED Daniel. And I wanted more for him...better.
This book is harsh at times....emotionally cold and cut off. As Tilda goes, I guess.
But, it was entertiaining, HOT (there's a LOT of sex in here...), and the character of "NY" won me over.
*Listed as book 3 of a series, it can be read as a standalone. I didn't read books 1 or 2 and I was fine.
December 2, 2015
This touching love story treats us to the romance between Daniel and Tilda. Tilda is a matchmaker of sorts, with her keen eye and easy movement in several social circles she makes lists of what she sees and people know they can come to her to find a match for whatever they might be seeking. Daniel comes to her seeking only Tilda herself, something she's never thought to give before, never believing herself worthy of being on her own prized list. Can Daniel convince her otherwise?
There is so much to love about this story. Daniel has got to be one of the sweetest yet sexiest men out there, meeting Tilda and deciding that she is the one for him. He woos her not with tender words, but with sex, a language that Tilda speaks fluently and well. Their love scenes range from erotic to tender but are filled with emotion as Daniel falls in love with Tilda and Tilda tries to reciprocate the feeling. Only Tilda doesn't know how to be in a relationship that means more than just sex and her fear of the unknown puts the tension into the story as the relationship progresses. She is hiding something and as her façade of happiness starts to crack Daniel finds himself with a puzzle to solve just like the ones where he works as an FBI agent. Along with the romance, I really enjoyed the descriptiveness of Tilda's work with stationary and her attraction to paper based art. It added an interesting dimension to the tale, in a way showcasing how 2 dimensional Tilda wants to appear to the outside world, as a happy well adjusted woman when in reality she has been scraped raw just like the art she is drawn to. I loved how Daniel refused to give up on Tilda and the happy ending they share was beautiful to see (I may have wiped away a few tears). It was an absolute delight to read. 5 stars for this wonderful love story.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
There is so much to love about this story. Daniel has got to be one of the sweetest yet sexiest men out there, meeting Tilda and deciding that she is the one for him. He woos her not with tender words, but with sex, a language that Tilda speaks fluently and well. Their love scenes range from erotic to tender but are filled with emotion as Daniel falls in love with Tilda and Tilda tries to reciprocate the feeling. Only Tilda doesn't know how to be in a relationship that means more than just sex and her fear of the unknown puts the tension into the story as the relationship progresses. She is hiding something and as her façade of happiness starts to crack Daniel finds himself with a puzzle to solve just like the ones where he works as an FBI agent. Along with the romance, I really enjoyed the descriptiveness of Tilda's work with stationary and her attraction to paper based art. It added an interesting dimension to the tale, in a way showcasing how 2 dimensional Tilda wants to appear to the outside world, as a happy well adjusted woman when in reality she has been scraped raw just like the art she is drawn to. I loved how Daniel refused to give up on Tilda and the happy ending they share was beautiful to see (I may have wiped away a few tears). It was an absolute delight to read. 5 stars for this wonderful love story.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
June 28, 2015
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: A woman who loves to take risks meets a man whose life is all about order in this erotic romance. While it had a promising beginning, my interest quickly declined as the book went on.
Opening Sentence: The window air-conditioning unit clicked twice, then whirred to life.
The Review:
The past year has been a whirlwind for Daniel and Tilda. In that timeframe, they met, fell in love, and got married. Now, they’re on the verge of divorce. Daniel can’t figure out what went wrong and why Tilda is now so set on ending things. The only thing he can think of is that he needs to go back over their time together and see if there are any clues pointing to what’s really going on. He’ll start from the moment they met and continue through the whole year. Will he be able to find what he seeks? Will Tilda be able to let go of her past in order to ensure a future for herself and Daniel?
I thought the beginning of the book was promising. I liked how it started off at a counseling session, showing that all is not well in Daniel and Tilda’s marriage. It served the purpose of immediately making me interested in finding out what happened to bring them to this point. Unfortunately, it all went downhill from there. I found myself reluctant to continue the book, only doing so because I needed to write a review. The last 10 percent of the book hooked me again, but it was too little too late.
As much as I liked the beginning, I think a big part of the problem was the pacing. Every chapter took place at a different point in time throughout the year. While it did go in order, it still felt really choppy, almost as if I was reading vignettes rather than something that was supposed to be a cohesive whole. This also served to make me feel really distant from the characters, Tilda especially. The majority of the book is from her point of view, but we don’t really get to see what makes her tick until the last 10 to 15 percent of the book. The fact that the reader isn’t clued in to Tilda’s past until the last portion of the book really hurts the character development. We may have clues as to what happened to make her the way she is, but without really knowing, we can’t feel connected to her. For most of the book, she just comes off as being very cold and unfeeling, only warming up when it comes to sex.
And there we come to another problem: often, it felt like there was a whole lot more sex than plot, which if you’ve read any of my reviews, you know that is an issue for me. I get bored quickly when reading sex scene after sex scene. I need something else to happen to keep me interested. That’s not to say the scenes weren’t well written; they were good and full of heat and chemistry, but I just got tired of them after a while.
All in all, while I did like the beginning and end of the book, the bulk of it left me bored. I’m guessing if you’ve read and enjoyed the previous books in the series, you’ll probably like this one as well. It just unfortunately didn’t end up being my cup of tea.
Notable Scene:
“After watching Angie get married, I have no interest in a big wedding.”
“Neither do I,” she said from the closet. She slid her arms into a long-sleeved wrap dress of garnet wool, tied the belt, then zipped up black leather boots. He snagged her on her way out the door to drop a kiss on her nape. The strength of his arm contrasted with the tender touch of his mouth sent a shiver down her spine.
“I’ll meet you at the courthouse. You know where it is?”
“Yes,” she said.
So she walked to the shop under a low, threatening gray sky, and worked. She helped customers, fielded email requests, sorted orders, talked to Edith about the upcoming show for Sheba. The day had an aura of unreality about it, humid air and a cold breeze that boded of a coming storm, mirroring the mix of secretive joy and utter terror inside her.
Married. The one thing she’d never thought she’d do. She didn’t put her own desires on her list, much less think about a wedding day, or a lifelong commitment. No wonder the gathering darkness of the winter solstice made her feel like she’d slipped down the rabbit hole.
FTC Advisory: Berkley/Penguin provided me with a copy of The List. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: A woman who loves to take risks meets a man whose life is all about order in this erotic romance. While it had a promising beginning, my interest quickly declined as the book went on.
Opening Sentence: The window air-conditioning unit clicked twice, then whirred to life.
The Review:
The past year has been a whirlwind for Daniel and Tilda. In that timeframe, they met, fell in love, and got married. Now, they’re on the verge of divorce. Daniel can’t figure out what went wrong and why Tilda is now so set on ending things. The only thing he can think of is that he needs to go back over their time together and see if there are any clues pointing to what’s really going on. He’ll start from the moment they met and continue through the whole year. Will he be able to find what he seeks? Will Tilda be able to let go of her past in order to ensure a future for herself and Daniel?
I thought the beginning of the book was promising. I liked how it started off at a counseling session, showing that all is not well in Daniel and Tilda’s marriage. It served the purpose of immediately making me interested in finding out what happened to bring them to this point. Unfortunately, it all went downhill from there. I found myself reluctant to continue the book, only doing so because I needed to write a review. The last 10 percent of the book hooked me again, but it was too little too late.
As much as I liked the beginning, I think a big part of the problem was the pacing. Every chapter took place at a different point in time throughout the year. While it did go in order, it still felt really choppy, almost as if I was reading vignettes rather than something that was supposed to be a cohesive whole. This also served to make me feel really distant from the characters, Tilda especially. The majority of the book is from her point of view, but we don’t really get to see what makes her tick until the last 10 to 15 percent of the book. The fact that the reader isn’t clued in to Tilda’s past until the last portion of the book really hurts the character development. We may have clues as to what happened to make her the way she is, but without really knowing, we can’t feel connected to her. For most of the book, she just comes off as being very cold and unfeeling, only warming up when it comes to sex.
And there we come to another problem: often, it felt like there was a whole lot more sex than plot, which if you’ve read any of my reviews, you know that is an issue for me. I get bored quickly when reading sex scene after sex scene. I need something else to happen to keep me interested. That’s not to say the scenes weren’t well written; they were good and full of heat and chemistry, but I just got tired of them after a while.
All in all, while I did like the beginning and end of the book, the bulk of it left me bored. I’m guessing if you’ve read and enjoyed the previous books in the series, you’ll probably like this one as well. It just unfortunately didn’t end up being my cup of tea.
Notable Scene:
“After watching Angie get married, I have no interest in a big wedding.”
“Neither do I,” she said from the closet. She slid her arms into a long-sleeved wrap dress of garnet wool, tied the belt, then zipped up black leather boots. He snagged her on her way out the door to drop a kiss on her nape. The strength of his arm contrasted with the tender touch of his mouth sent a shiver down her spine.
“I’ll meet you at the courthouse. You know where it is?”
“Yes,” she said.
So she walked to the shop under a low, threatening gray sky, and worked. She helped customers, fielded email requests, sorted orders, talked to Edith about the upcoming show for Sheba. The day had an aura of unreality about it, humid air and a cold breeze that boded of a coming storm, mirroring the mix of secretive joy and utter terror inside her.
Married. The one thing she’d never thought she’d do. She didn’t put her own desires on her list, much less think about a wedding day, or a lifelong commitment. No wonder the gathering darkness of the winter solstice made her feel like she’d slipped down the rabbit hole.
FTC Advisory: Berkley/Penguin provided me with a copy of The List. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
February 26, 2015
Anne Calhoun’s rich and delectable voice resonates through here are she writes of a marriage on the brink of divorce and the layered reasons behind it. Erotically charged with a deep emotional well, The List will remain with you long after you're done reading.
January 19, 2015
Daniel and Tilda
What to say....I really liked the book but really, really didn't like heroine. In fact, I can't think of single redeeming quality about her in this book. My reaction to this one is strange. More to come on Fiction Vixen Book Reviews
What to say....I really liked the book but really, really didn't like heroine. In fact, I can't think of single redeeming quality about her in this book. My reaction to this one is strange. More to come on Fiction Vixen Book Reviews
March 19, 2015
Reviewed for Dear Author. http://dearauthor.com/book-reviews/re...
March 9, 2015
4 Real Stars!
Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Penguin Group
One of my favorite things about Anne Calhoun's writing is her ability to create such sensuality within a very real and raw story. With this she's able to create the connection that oozes out of the pages while you start to feel the pain and tribulations of the couple she is writing about.
Tilda Davies is an old school type of girl that prefers the art of real communicating with paper and words and not with the modern day ways with social media, texting and emails. With this passion for communication she also has an alter persona where she connections people with lists and wants. She believes there is always a match for everyone but herself really.
"The medium of paper and ink and art become part of the message," Tilda said. "It conveys something to the recipient, that care was taken with every step of the process. It suggests that the individual takes much care with her life."
"I facilitate connection, a way to reach out to another person as best they can. Perhaps the permanence is in sustaining the beauty of that moment, the tangible elegance of it all. It fades away, of course. But they've had that moment. Can we really hope for more?"
Daniel Logan is a FBI agent solving white collar crimes. He uses his English degree to help him with his current profession but the moment he meets Tilda everything changes and he only wants her. He doesn't want her to match him up with anyone but her but how does he convince her of this.
He starts with the old fashioned way but blows it, so he has to step up his game and appeal to her sensual side. Once the door is open, he jumps in with two feet. Tilda just wants passion because she has her own inner demons not allowing her to believe that she can have more.
After a whirlwind romance she does the unthinkable and marries Daniel but when her past comes to the forefront she tries to leave Daniel. Daniel knew what he was getting into but doesn't know how to make Tilda believe that he is in it for the long haul.
"It's not sex, Tilda. I want to white out your thoughts, turn your muscles to jelly and your bones to light. I want to taste your come, my come, our sweat. It's annihilation. That's what I want to do to you."
Trying to find a bridge into her psyche he starts to learn the reasons why she believes that their marriage is a mistake.
"Tilda. There is a difference between I've made a mistake and I am a mistake, or I've done a bad thing and I am a bad thing. There is a difference between guilt and shame...."
For Tilda her past choices in her mind defined her. She was just a girl wanting love but was taught the opposite.
Tilda thought who she was made people abandon her.
They'd taught her, however inadvertently, to be ashamed of her need for love, and to doubt the motivations and tenacity of anyone who needed her in return. They'd taught her that the only thing she deserved was sex, not love. They'd taught her everyone belonged on her list except her.
For Tilda she didn't think she deserved her own HEA and when it was close to the surface she reverted to her past ideals.
" ... Wanting has never been my problem. My problem is having. Keeping what I want."
"That's not your problem, Tilda."
Daniel had to find a why to just love her for her and convince her of it. That was the only way that they could find of sliver of any happiness together.
Life isn't black ink on white paper, columns and numbers and script. It's a work of art that integrates the past into the future. ...
I really did like this book especially the realness of downfall of this couple and their journey to make it out the other end together. It did take me a bit to get into but once I was immersed into the story I was hooked.
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March 2, 2015
The List is an emotionally raw, moving story about two people trying to figure out how to be together. It's tough to read at times. But it's absolutely worth reading.
The characters are Tilda, who owns an upscale stationery store, and Daniel, an FBI agent. Seemingly, they have little in common, but they do have an instant attraction.
Tilda also has a way with people, in that she makes connections for others. She provides people with introductions to each other. She's a matchmaker. Funny thing is, while she has an uncanny sense for what brings others together, she tends to hold people in her own life at a distance.
The relationship between Tilda and Daniel moves very quickly. It's not a spoiler to say that they marry only six months after first meeting. So it's interesting when Tilda agrees to marry Daniel so quickly, since she tends not to have serious relationships. The majority of the story is the two of them working out their relationship, especially how little they know about each other at the start.
Tilda is blunt and straightforward, but she's also a woman of secrets. Initially, she comes across as rather cold and distant toward Daniel. In fact, I disliked her character for the majority of the book. It isn't until her big secret is revealed that I finally gained some understanding as to why she carries herself the way that she does. After seeing what shaped her life and made her who she is, I understood her better and felt more sympathetic toward her.
Daniel is a strong, stable character. I feel that the story is skewed more toward Tilda, especially since she has so many secrets that Daniel is trying to puzzle out. It's like we're trying to figure her out along with him.
There's a constant underlying melancholy that runs throughout the story. At the beginning, we know that they're married but for some reason, Tilda wants a divorce. As the story unfolds, we discover the subtleties to their relationship as well as how they've arrived at this impasse, where Tilda is ready to give up on the marriage.
Anne Calhoun's writing is so precise and emotive here. I'm a huge fan of hers because she is always adept at conveying the intensity and complexity of human emotions.
The tone of the book, especially the ending, is unabashedly romantic. Even though I struggled at times wanting to connect with Tilda and not doing so until the end, the relationship between her and Daniel is so meaningful that I can't recommend this book highly enough.
I received an advance review copy of this book from the author.
The characters are Tilda, who owns an upscale stationery store, and Daniel, an FBI agent. Seemingly, they have little in common, but they do have an instant attraction.
Tilda also has a way with people, in that she makes connections for others. She provides people with introductions to each other. She's a matchmaker. Funny thing is, while she has an uncanny sense for what brings others together, she tends to hold people in her own life at a distance.
The relationship between Tilda and Daniel moves very quickly. It's not a spoiler to say that they marry only six months after first meeting. So it's interesting when Tilda agrees to marry Daniel so quickly, since she tends not to have serious relationships. The majority of the story is the two of them working out their relationship, especially how little they know about each other at the start.
Tilda is blunt and straightforward, but she's also a woman of secrets. Initially, she comes across as rather cold and distant toward Daniel. In fact, I disliked her character for the majority of the book. It isn't until her big secret is revealed that I finally gained some understanding as to why she carries herself the way that she does. After seeing what shaped her life and made her who she is, I understood her better and felt more sympathetic toward her.
Daniel is a strong, stable character. I feel that the story is skewed more toward Tilda, especially since she has so many secrets that Daniel is trying to puzzle out. It's like we're trying to figure her out along with him.
There's a constant underlying melancholy that runs throughout the story. At the beginning, we know that they're married but for some reason, Tilda wants a divorce. As the story unfolds, we discover the subtleties to their relationship as well as how they've arrived at this impasse, where Tilda is ready to give up on the marriage.
Anne Calhoun's writing is so precise and emotive here. I'm a huge fan of hers because she is always adept at conveying the intensity and complexity of human emotions.
The tone of the book, especially the ending, is unabashedly romantic. Even though I struggled at times wanting to connect with Tilda and not doing so until the end, the relationship between her and Daniel is so meaningful that I can't recommend this book highly enough.
I received an advance review copy of this book from the author.
April 5, 2015
Great read. Anne Calhoun never lets me down.
March 11, 2015
An absorbing and intense erotic contemporary romance from a master of the genre! I loved how the puzzle unfolded, a long, slow unfurling that matched this unique heroin's emotional blossoming.
May 2, 2015
I'm going to make this simple. I was pretty much dumbfounded when I finished this book. It was a book that I took my time and completely savored to the very last word. Speaking of the last word(s)... best ending ever.
This is the kind of book where, when you finish it, you blink, look around and realize that life was going on without you and you really didn't miss a thing.
Anne Calhoun is on my short list of authors that I know I'll love whatever she reads. As I read this book, I had descriptive words flowing through my brain...
Elegant
Subtle
Quiet
Complex
Intense
Erotic
You can't turn your brain off with this one. You also have to make sure that you are in a patient mood because Tilda (the female MC) has some serious issues and I can assure you that it's not worth giving up on this book. Tilda likes to keep things very controlled and she sometimes comes off as cold. Her issues are a big deal but I just adored Daniel and how he loved Tilda despite the difficulties that they faced. Daniel had crazy ridiculous chemistry from the first moment they spoke to each other and like all of Ms. Calhoun's books, this one was crazy hot.
I loved the way Ms. Calhoun told Daniel and Tilda's love story and how she wove Tilda's stationery store into the plot and how it played such an integral and influentual part in her life. There's a lot of detail I could go into about this but I won't because I feel like it's better experienced on your own.
See? Isn't that gorgeous? That's simply beautiful prose right there, the kind that makes you just want sit for a minute (or more) and absorb it. Yeah, that's this whole book.
Purchase:
This is the kind of book where, when you finish it, you blink, look around and realize that life was going on without you and you really didn't miss a thing.
Anne Calhoun is on my short list of authors that I know I'll love whatever she reads. As I read this book, I had descriptive words flowing through my brain...
Elegant
Subtle
Quiet
Complex
Intense
Erotic
You can't turn your brain off with this one. You also have to make sure that you are in a patient mood because Tilda (the female MC) has some serious issues and I can assure you that it's not worth giving up on this book. Tilda likes to keep things very controlled and she sometimes comes off as cold. Her issues are a big deal but I just adored Daniel and how he loved Tilda despite the difficulties that they faced. Daniel had crazy ridiculous chemistry from the first moment they spoke to each other and like all of Ms. Calhoun's books, this one was crazy hot.
I loved the way Ms. Calhoun told Daniel and Tilda's love story and how she wove Tilda's stationery store into the plot and how it played such an integral and influentual part in her life. There's a lot of detail I could go into about this but I won't because I feel like it's better experienced on your own.
She opened her eyes, saw him in ger peripheral vision, his solemn profile. The light from Louise's living room picked out the silver in his hair, the dusting of gold on the backs of his hands. In that moment, the space of a couple of heartbeats, no more, she loved him so passionately her throat closed. She loved him.
See? Isn't that gorgeous? That's simply beautiful prose right there, the kind that makes you just want sit for a minute (or more) and absorb it. Yeah, that's this whole book.
Purchase:
March 2, 2015
Anne Calhoun knows how to write a unique Erotic Romance. She always seems to be conjuring up a refreshing idea with her books and THE LIST definitely stands out amongst the array of sexy books out there at the moment.
The book starts off in a not to great place with our main couple. They are seeking marriage counseling because our heroine, Tilda wants a divorce and Daniel doesn’t. After meeting each other and falling into bed, their marriage after that was quick and unplanned. Time has passed and it’s clear that the initial passion has dissolved. Or has it?
Calhoun flashes back months earlier where Tilda and Daniel first meet and fall in love. It’s a breathtaking story that is both sensual and deeply erotic. This author just cannot write a bad sex scene. Seriously!
I know there were people who were put off by Tilda’s cold personality. I didn’t find that at all. Yes, she’s cold and she’s often detached. But Tilda is a very, very strong woman who doesn’t need a man in her life to fulfill her. That is what I found so great about this book. Even though Tilda can do without a man, she allowed Daniel in. If he wasn’t as patient or persistent as he was, then this book wouldn’t have worked at all. But Daniel and Tilda are absolutely perfect for one another.
The reason why I liked Tilda so much was because of her stance on sexuality. She’s an intelligent woman and has a deep-rooted love and respect for herself. This quote sums her up well:
“When did you lose your virginity?”
“Virginity is a cultural construct,” she pointed out. “Given the many, many ways two people can have sex, limiting the question to penetration to penis into vagina is a rather narrow approach. Anyway, why is it a loss? I gained knowledge, experience.”
The thought of wild, barely restrained Tilda growing in experience sent a bolt of desire tinged with a gut-deep jealousy through him. “It’s just a figure of speech,” he said mildly.
“An interesting one. I didn’t lose anything.”
She has a well-grounded view of herself and the world around her. That’s what makes her so interesting and refreshing to discover. THE LIST should definitely be added to your Must-Read Mountain.
*ARC provided by publisher
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March 3, 2015
Review posted at: http://bookcrushbookreviews.com/2015/...
Rating: 5 word-filled stars
I'm finding it difficult to form words meaningful, and powerful enough to paint a worthy picture of how Anne's words have moved me. With The List we're catapulted into Tilda and Daniel's love affair. Tilda is mysterious yet thorough with her word choice. Words on paper tell a story: your past and your present, dreams for your future. I have a tattoo that stats: "Once it's written, it is done". I feel a bond with Tilda because of our mutual love and meaning held to the written word that I haven't felt with a heroine in a long time. Her choices threw me and that drew me in further to the story. Once we're given the reason to why, her choices (past and present) make absolute sense. Daniel is a puzzle solver and does not give up. His presence and dedication is his showing of love to those he cherishes. Tilda does not know love, that's an unreliable thing. Whereas words are reliable, thorough and can not just be thrown to the side...because they stay forever, never fading. Daniel is knowledgeable with love: how to give and receive this binding emotion. He's confident in what his instincts tell him and he follows through. Both Daniel and Tilda rely on words, whether it be a list or a letter: these words are their balance, their center. If you find power in the meaning of words and the follow through with actions, you will find a great pleasure in this novel. Give Tilda and Daniel your time, and find your next book crush!!
Rating: 5 word-filled stars
I'm finding it difficult to form words meaningful, and powerful enough to paint a worthy picture of how Anne's words have moved me. With The List we're catapulted into Tilda and Daniel's love affair. Tilda is mysterious yet thorough with her word choice. Words on paper tell a story: your past and your present, dreams for your future. I have a tattoo that stats: "Once it's written, it is done". I feel a bond with Tilda because of our mutual love and meaning held to the written word that I haven't felt with a heroine in a long time. Her choices threw me and that drew me in further to the story. Once we're given the reason to why, her choices (past and present) make absolute sense. Daniel is a puzzle solver and does not give up. His presence and dedication is his showing of love to those he cherishes. Tilda does not know love, that's an unreliable thing. Whereas words are reliable, thorough and can not just be thrown to the side...because they stay forever, never fading. Daniel is knowledgeable with love: how to give and receive this binding emotion. He's confident in what his instincts tell him and he follows through. Both Daniel and Tilda rely on words, whether it be a list or a letter: these words are their balance, their center. If you find power in the meaning of words and the follow through with actions, you will find a great pleasure in this novel. Give Tilda and Daniel your time, and find your next book crush!!
March 16, 2015
D+ or C- review "at best" but I think it's because of my mood?
By all accounts this should be the perfect book for me.
a couple who are already married, mature, established in their careers, and working through the relationship
but I just didn't like the tone. starting out with them on the brink of divorce in a dark tone with what 80% of the book in stark flashbacks about two people desperately attracted to each other but with no real emotional connection
Tilda is removed and cold - and there's a reason for it but you don't really find out until the end when she falls apart
And Daniel is in love but he can't let her know it because it'll just drive her away and he's just trying to be with her and what the HELL.
So I guess... if I had read the first chapter and the last ~20% I'd have loved it? :\
Maybe I'll try to re-read this another time. It is well written but just ... almost more erotica or women's fic than romance. I just wish it had been presented differently? I'm not sure - going back a year and visiting monthly the lead up to the trainwreck and then getting into real time? Too much of the "this is all failing" for me. :\
By all accounts this should be the perfect book for me.
a couple who are already married, mature, established in their careers, and working through the relationship
but I just didn't like the tone. starting out with them on the brink of divorce in a dark tone with what 80% of the book in stark flashbacks about two people desperately attracted to each other but with no real emotional connection
Tilda is removed and cold - and there's a reason for it but you don't really find out until the end when she falls apart
And Daniel is in love but he can't let her know it because it'll just drive her away and he's just trying to be with her and what the HELL.
So I guess... if I had read the first chapter and the last ~20% I'd have loved it? :\
Maybe I'll try to re-read this another time. It is well written but just ... almost more erotica or women's fic than romance. I just wish it had been presented differently? I'm not sure - going back a year and visiting monthly the lead up to the trainwreck and then getting into real time? Too much of the "this is all failing" for me. :\
Read
March 4, 2015*3.25*
I love Anne Calhoun. Her writing is rich and her characters layered. Sadly, this one didn’t exactly pull me fully into the story. The beginning was very intriguing and it set up for the reader to investigate what exactly was going on with Tilda except for some reason the middle dragged into the mundane. For most of the book I was bored with Tilda and was instead, trying to figure out what exactly Daniel saw in her. I admit to skimming, and maybe my mind didn’t open up to the profound message in the prose. I do know Tilda used sex to deal with her emotions and the sex scenes at least were scorching and sensual. When all was revealed regarding what shaped Tilda to who she was, it was too late for me to care for her. That said, I really liked how the story ended.
I love Anne Calhoun. Her writing is rich and her characters layered. Sadly, this one didn’t exactly pull me fully into the story. The beginning was very intriguing and it set up for the reader to investigate what exactly was going on with Tilda except for some reason the middle dragged into the mundane. For most of the book I was bored with Tilda and was instead, trying to figure out what exactly Daniel saw in her. I admit to skimming, and maybe my mind didn’t open up to the profound message in the prose. I do know Tilda used sex to deal with her emotions and the sex scenes at least were scorching and sensual. When all was revealed regarding what shaped Tilda to who she was, it was too late for me to care for her. That said, I really liked how the story ended.
March 9, 2015
Beautiful writing! The List spun a wonderful, albeit whirlwind, love story between two opposites who fit each other perfectly. I love how hard Daniel chased Tilda an was utterly devoted to her. There's a lot of angst but the dialogue wasn't rife with nasty fights and hurtful back and forth. It was more passive aggressive as Tilda had a tendency to be very distant, cold, and restrained with her feelings.
My only qualm is it took a long time to understand Tilda's behavior. Calhoun saved her backstory until the end so I wondered for most of the The List what kind of stick was up Tilda's butt to explain her attitude.
Love Anne Calhoun's writing. I will definitely read more of her work.
My only qualm is it took a long time to understand Tilda's behavior. Calhoun saved her backstory until the end so I wondered for most of the The List what kind of stick was up Tilda's butt to explain her attitude.
Love Anne Calhoun's writing. I will definitely read more of her work.
April 4, 2015
Since this was my first erotic contemporary romance book it will difficult for me to review fairly. I really did not know what to expect. Silly me! Lotsa sex and more sex with a somewhat interesting storyline which I most likely won't remember! The story initially takes place in the present where Tilda and Daniel are contemplating divorce after 6 months of marriage.. Then the story flips back to the past giving the reader incite into this couple's complicated relationship. I didn't much care for Tilda and Daniel was just too good to be true! I kinda got bored towards the end with all the sexual encounters.
Contemporary romance is not the genre for me!
I won this from Goodreads.
Contemporary romance is not the genre for me!
I won this from Goodreads.
April 5, 2015
I didn't post a review when I finished reading the first time so now that I finished rereading it again today I figured I should probably say something about it.
Daniel Logan is so close to being my fav Calhoun male (top spot is still Hunter from Liberating Lacey whoa boy can get it, anytime). He's just commanding, passionate and I'm a big fan of his dirty talks lololol. I love how he loves Tilda, who's gotta be the most complicated Calhoun girl I've read. She "lived like she could spontaneously combust at any moment but was always cold."
I need more Anne Calhoun in my life.
Daniel Logan is so close to being my fav Calhoun male (top spot is still Hunter from Liberating Lacey whoa boy can get it, anytime). He's just commanding, passionate and I'm a big fan of his dirty talks lololol. I love how he loves Tilda, who's gotta be the most complicated Calhoun girl I've read. She "lived like she could spontaneously combust at any moment but was always cold."
I need more Anne Calhoun in my life.
May 4, 2015
First time reading this author. Was not really impressed with this story. I found Tildas ramblings on to boring, and was skimming pages just to get to Daniel. Really didn't understand why he "loved her" so much & felt compelled to marry her just after seeing her on that ledge? Chapter 3 was the best, after that meh, I didn't even find Tildas excuse shocking enough, to be so jaded about love.
March 6, 2015
I really enjoyed this story. I like the how the story was told. I like the uniqueness of it. How sweet, loving and patient Daniel was.
an ARC was provided for an honest review
look for my full review at smibookclub.com
an ARC was provided for an honest review
look for my full review at smibookclub.com
May 26, 2015
The book was just OK in my opinion. It was nothing like I expected, it was a little boring at times. I loved the cover and I liked Daniel but kind of didn't like the way the book began or the female character. Not memorable because I can't even remember the female characters name. So sad huh!
December 31, 2015
Exquisite. Masterful. Poignant. Passionate.
February 26, 2015
4.5 stars...
May 27, 2015
4 Real Stars!!
Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Penguin Group
One of my favorite things about Anne Calhoun's writing is her ability to create such sensuality within a very real and raw story. With this she's able to create the connection that oozes out of the pages while you start to feel the pain and tribulations of the couple she is writing about.
Tilda Davies is an old school type of girl that prefers the art of real communicating with paper and words and not with the modern day ways with social media, texting and emails. With this passion for communication she also has an alter persona where she connections people with lists and wants. She believes there is always a match for everyone but herself really.
"The medium of paper and ink and art become part of the message," Tilda said. "It conveys something to the recipient, that care was taken with every step of the process. It suggests that the individual takes much care with her life."
"I facilitate connection, a way to reach out to another person as
best they can. Perhaps the permanence is in sustaining the beauty of
that moment, the tangible elegance of it all. It fades away, of
course. But they've had that moment. Can we really hope for more?"
Daniel Logan is a FBI agent solving white collar crimes. He uses his English degree to help him with his current profession but the moment he meets Tilda everything changes and he only wants her. He doesn't want her to match him up with anyone but her but how does he convince her of this.
He starts with the old fashioned way but blows it, so he has to step up his game and appeal to her sensual side. Once the door is open, he jumps in with two feet. Tilda just wants passion because she has her own inner demons not allowing her to believe that she can have more.
After a whirlwind romance she does the unthinkable and marries Daniel but when her past comes to the forefront she tries to leave Daniel. Daniel knew what he was getting into but doesn't know how to make Tilda believe that he is in it for the long haul.
"It's not sex, Tilda. I want to white out your thoughts, turn your muscles to jelly and your bones to light. I want to taste your come, my come, our sweat. It's annihilation. That's what I want to do to you."
Trying to find a bridge into her psyche he starts to learn the reasons why she believes that their marriage is a mistake.
"Tilda. There is a difference between I've made a mistake and I am a mistake, or I've done a bad thing and I am a bad thing. There is a difference between guilt and shame...."
For Tilda her past choices in her mind defined her. She was just a girl wanting love but was taught the opposite.
Tilda thought who she was made people abandon her.
They'd taught her, however inadvertently, to be ashamed of her need for love, and to doubt the motivations and tenacity of anyone who needed her in return. They'd taught her that the only thing she deserved was sex, not love. They'd taught her everyone belonged on her list except her.
For Tilda she didn't think she deserved her own HEA and when it was close to the surface she reverted to her past ideals.
" ... Wanting has never been my problem. My problem is having. Keeping what I want."
"That's not your problem, Tilda."
Daniel had to find a why to just love her for her and convince her of it. That was the only way that they could find of sliver of any happiness together.
Life isn't black ink on white paper, columns and numbers and script. It's a work of art that integrates the past into the future. ...
I really did like this book especially the realness of downfall of this couple and their journey to make it out the other end together. It did take me a bit to get into but once I was immersed into the story I was hooked.
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December 21, 2020
I could not get into this book. I honestly just didn’t like Matilda’s character and don’t think she deserved Daniel. He loved her so much and her character was already so cold and unfeeling, as if she was inspecting a bug under a microscope. I ended up skimming the majority of the book.
June 11, 2017
This one belongs in an adults only bookstore, not a library!
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