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Quakes
"Only the desert would know "
Dr. Malcolm Reid goes out on his seismology expeditions alone, and he likes it that way. The fewer warm bodies he s responsible for bringing home alive, the better.
When the mentorship of a geology grad student is thrust upon him just as he s leaving for Mexico s Baja peninsula, he resigns himself to eight weeks of keeping her safe from ATV-riding cattle rustlers, from a weather-worn mountain lion roaming the hills, and most of all from her accident-prone self.
Jenna Polaski has needed the canyon-sized chip on her shoulder to get ahead in the old boys education hierarchy. Now, needing samples to finish her thesis, she has no choice but to serve as the professor s pack mule. And wonder if his limp is connected to rumors surrounding a long-ago incident that killed one of her predecessors.
Malcolm keeps a sharp eye out as they penetrate deep into the wilderness. But the one danger he forgets to watch for is the one that captures them both an undeniable attraction that shatters all the rules.
Contains a gruff college professor with a cloudy past, and a determined grad student who isn t afraid to get her hands or the rest of her body a little dirty. Some parts may leave you sweaty keep a bandana handy."
Dr. Malcolm Reid goes out on his seismology expeditions alone, and he likes it that way. The fewer warm bodies he s responsible for bringing home alive, the better.
When the mentorship of a geology grad student is thrust upon him just as he s leaving for Mexico s Baja peninsula, he resigns himself to eight weeks of keeping her safe from ATV-riding cattle rustlers, from a weather-worn mountain lion roaming the hills, and most of all from her accident-prone self.
Jenna Polaski has needed the canyon-sized chip on her shoulder to get ahead in the old boys education hierarchy. Now, needing samples to finish her thesis, she has no choice but to serve as the professor s pack mule. And wonder if his limp is connected to rumors surrounding a long-ago incident that killed one of her predecessors.
Malcolm keeps a sharp eye out as they penetrate deep into the wilderness. But the one danger he forgets to watch for is the one that captures them both an undeniable attraction that shatters all the rules.
Contains a gruff college professor with a cloudy past, and a determined grad student who isn t afraid to get her hands or the rest of her body a little dirty. Some parts may leave you sweaty keep a bandana handy."
275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2015
1 person is currently reading
41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 5, 2015
☆ I received an ARC via Author's HQ in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ☆
3.5 stars!!
Quakes was a surprising and innovative read from an up and coming author. I liked the plot set up, the exotic nature of it all, and witty interlude between both protagonists.
Author R.L. Ugolini is a sight to behold as we are put on an unforgettable journey as two unlikely individuals are put on a quest of love, self-strength and realization, and the most utmost of tests where both characters confront past and present issues and ultimate their futures.
#I'd gladly recommend this to romance lovers looking for a breath of fresh air. It was sweet, it was down to basics, and it was relatable!!
3.5 stars!!
Quakes was a surprising and innovative read from an up and coming author. I liked the plot set up, the exotic nature of it all, and witty interlude between both protagonists.
Author R.L. Ugolini is a sight to behold as we are put on an unforgettable journey as two unlikely individuals are put on a quest of love, self-strength and realization, and the most utmost of tests where both characters confront past and present issues and ultimate their futures.
#I'd gladly recommend this to romance lovers looking for a breath of fresh air. It was sweet, it was down to basics, and it was relatable!!
January 12, 2015
Disclaimer: I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed R.L. Ugolini's debut novel. Quakes is a refreshing, unconventional, realistic romance. Ugolini's prose is elegant without pretension. The dialogue is witty and the characters are imperfect but likeable people. The main female character is strong without being difficult or bitchy. Overall, the book is smart, sexy, and one of the best and most literary romance novels I've ever read.
February 15, 2015
Graduate student Jenna has heard all about Dr. Malcolm Reid. He's silent, unapproachable, and keeps to himself. So when she's assigned to assist him in the field for two months, and he doesn't speak a word to her, she shouldn't be surprised. Still, she's determined to pull her weight, get her research done, and get back to her Master Plan, the one where she makes a success of her career and doesn't end up abandoning her dreams like her mother did. Probably doesn't help that rumors swirl about how he killed the last grad student that accompanied him.
The Verdict: It's not unusual to isolate the two main characters in a romance novel. They get stuck in an elevator or begrudgingly share a hotel room or somehow find themselves alone and uninterrupted long enough for a romance to bloom. While it's all integral to the plot, it often feels somewhat contrived. But in Quakes, the situation feels utterly normal, standard course of business, and while unusual, it's absolutely fitting for the characters involved. It allows for relationship to develop without interference from outside characters to fill the gaps, and it creates an expected dependency in the lonely setting among possible dangers. It speaks to the quality of writing that it flows so smoothly as to sell the friendship that forms and leads to a relationship, without the need for meddling by others.
Dr. Reid has never gotten past the death of his graduate student assistant and friend the last time he took someone to Baja for research, which is why for the past several years, he's always gone alone. When Jenna is thrust upon him, he's none too happy, but he is determined to keep her safe until they can get back to campus.
Jenna's used to the boys club that is typical of her chosen career path, and while she would have preferred to do her studying alongside her mentor, she's resolved to carry her weight and prove to Dr. Reid that she's just as good as any of the guys. But he's always so gruff, pretending to sleep rather than make conversation, and she'll be damned if she's going to be relegated to making coffee simply because she's a girl.
As a few days go by, though, they begin to find their flow, with Dr. Reid –Mal — opening up more and Jenna reluctantly relying on him for help when she can't carry as much as he can or stumbles into the angry barbs of a cactus. There's a subtle shift in their demeanor around each other, a fragile friendship that begins to form, and even when neither of them is willing to admit it, an attraction.
Their relationship is an achingly slow build, not typical of romance stories but absolutely perfect for this one. At one point I had to go back and read the synopsis, make sure I hadn't mistakenly assumed the story was a romance when it wasn't, but even if that had been the case, I was in too deep to stop reading. Their age difference (15 years) is touched upon but ultimately pushed aside as unimportant, though the same can't be said for the secrecy required when a professor and a student — even if she's not really his student — enter into a relationship. There's the looming “What will happen when we return to civilization?” question, but even as it's clear this is more than a summer fling, that part isn't answered until they step back into the world of cell signals and street lights.
The only real problem I had with the story was the ending — not how it ended but rather how quickly it ended. The real conflict for Jenna and Mal wasn't danger in the desert or either of their pasts; it was finding a way to make their relationship work when it simply wasn't allowed without endangering either of their careers. When that all came to a head, Jenna's emotional pain was practically tangible, and I was dying for them to figure things out. However, after all the introspection and conversations and gradual build to something incredible, it felt like happily ever after said hello and then closed the book. While Quakes was still an incredible read, and I can find little fault with anything else in the story, it was disappointing to become so invested and only get little more than a cryptic conversation to tie things up.
***FicCentral received this book from Author's HQ for free in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2015
I received this book from RomanceJunkies.com in exchange for an honest review.
A male professor and a female grad student have to spend eight weeks together in the remote Mexican desert. A man who doesn’t know how to relax paired with a student who is focused solely on her career. What will these weeks alone mean for them? Can he loosen up enough to share his past with her? Will she trust him with hers?
Jenna Polaski is in a panic. Her thesis advisor is having a baby and this has upset her master plan – study hard, write her thesis, get her degree, get a job in geochemistry. Salvation comes in the form of Dr Malcolm Reid, a seismologist who will be working in Baja California. They will be living and working together for eight weeks in the remote desert. She’ll try to prove her theory in order to defend her thesis and he’ll be carrying out his work on predicting earthquakes.
There is a rumor swirling about Dr Reid, a bad one. Even though the school’s Ethics Committee absolved him of all responsibility, the gossip is that he killed his previous grad student.
He seems stern and remote and Jenna is terrified as she approaches him. She refuses to let him see her fear. She finds that figuratively stiffening her spine gives her the courage to treat him with the respect due to a colleague without letting the fear take over.
Mal sees in her a plain girl who is strong enough to carry the equipment needed, but how will she handle the lack of facilities in the desert? He is not used to a woman who asks questions and says exactly what is on her mind.
Mal seems to use the words “Trust me” a lot to Jenna. She does and is never sorry that she did, no matter what the situation. But it takes them several weeks of working together to trust each other with their pasts, their secrets. It takes less than that for Mal to admire the way the sun glints off Jenna’s hair. Jenna has already noticed the angles of his face and the strength of his lean body. Any thoughts of getting familiar with each other must remain just that – thoughts. Any physical contact between them would result in them both being thrown out of the university.
The dialogue seems like it would really take place between two intelligent, educated people. We’re used to the hero and/or heroine being gorgeous enough and sexy enough to stop traffic. Mal and Jenna are two nice looking people, but neither one will win a beauty contest. We’re also getting used to the hero always being a stud billionaire. Not in this book. Mal and Jenna are two hard working people who need their grants and their jobs.
There are several geologic terms used with which the reader might be unfamiliar, but we can certainly understand the story without reverting to a dictionary.
This book is a definite 5. Coming from me, a person who loves the great indoors, I have to say that Ms Ugolini makes the grit and rocks of the outdoors seem very attractive. And there’s no denying that there are millions of stars to see out there at night. This book is a must read for anyone who prefers people getting to know each other before jumping into bed and who actually like each other and talk to each other. This story isn’t only about earthquakes, which are exciting enough. It’s also about how mutual reserve can turn to trust, then liking, then love.
I'm looking forward to reading more books from this author.
A male professor and a female grad student have to spend eight weeks together in the remote Mexican desert. A man who doesn’t know how to relax paired with a student who is focused solely on her career. What will these weeks alone mean for them? Can he loosen up enough to share his past with her? Will she trust him with hers?
Jenna Polaski is in a panic. Her thesis advisor is having a baby and this has upset her master plan – study hard, write her thesis, get her degree, get a job in geochemistry. Salvation comes in the form of Dr Malcolm Reid, a seismologist who will be working in Baja California. They will be living and working together for eight weeks in the remote desert. She’ll try to prove her theory in order to defend her thesis and he’ll be carrying out his work on predicting earthquakes.
There is a rumor swirling about Dr Reid, a bad one. Even though the school’s Ethics Committee absolved him of all responsibility, the gossip is that he killed his previous grad student.
He seems stern and remote and Jenna is terrified as she approaches him. She refuses to let him see her fear. She finds that figuratively stiffening her spine gives her the courage to treat him with the respect due to a colleague without letting the fear take over.
Mal sees in her a plain girl who is strong enough to carry the equipment needed, but how will she handle the lack of facilities in the desert? He is not used to a woman who asks questions and says exactly what is on her mind.
Mal seems to use the words “Trust me” a lot to Jenna. She does and is never sorry that she did, no matter what the situation. But it takes them several weeks of working together to trust each other with their pasts, their secrets. It takes less than that for Mal to admire the way the sun glints off Jenna’s hair. Jenna has already noticed the angles of his face and the strength of his lean body. Any thoughts of getting familiar with each other must remain just that – thoughts. Any physical contact between them would result in them both being thrown out of the university.
The dialogue seems like it would really take place between two intelligent, educated people. We’re used to the hero and/or heroine being gorgeous enough and sexy enough to stop traffic. Mal and Jenna are two nice looking people, but neither one will win a beauty contest. We’re also getting used to the hero always being a stud billionaire. Not in this book. Mal and Jenna are two hard working people who need their grants and their jobs.
There are several geologic terms used with which the reader might be unfamiliar, but we can certainly understand the story without reverting to a dictionary.
This book is a definite 5. Coming from me, a person who loves the great indoors, I have to say that Ms Ugolini makes the grit and rocks of the outdoors seem very attractive. And there’s no denying that there are millions of stars to see out there at night. This book is a must read for anyone who prefers people getting to know each other before jumping into bed and who actually like each other and talk to each other. This story isn’t only about earthquakes, which are exciting enough. It’s also about how mutual reserve can turn to trust, then liking, then love.
I'm looking forward to reading more books from this author.
April 9, 2015
Overall I enjoyed this book, although there were a couple of times where it started to get a little too in-depth with the scientific explanations. Other than that, I really liked this story; the dialogue between Jenna and Mal. Sometimes I found that the switch in the characters talking wasn't as smooth as it could have been, I had to go back and re-read a few passages to figure out who was speaking to who.
Book provided in exchange for honest review.
Book provided in exchange for honest review.
July 18, 2015
Smart romance
Great descriptions and sense of place. Love how the author weaves science through the story. Will definitely read more by this new author.
Great descriptions and sense of place. Love how the author weaves science through the story. Will definitely read more by this new author.
February 11, 2015
3.5
Quakes is realistic contemporary devoid of all the angst and drama of many NA romances.
https://youngadultbookmadness.wordpre...
Quakes is realistic contemporary devoid of all the angst and drama of many NA romances.
https://youngadultbookmadness.wordpre...
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews