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Sisterhood Diaries #4
Running Wild
They can't escape the heat…
Magdalene Deluca isn't the damsel-in-distress type. But if she has to involve a stranger in a dangerous chase through South America, she's glad Finn Kavanagh's the guy she sucked into her problems. Very glad. The man oozes sex and magnetic confidence. And since their connection is steamier than the sultry rain forest, why waste time resisting him?
Finn's peaceful vacation is blown to bits the second Mags strides into view. For years he's ignored his family's pleas to settle down. Now he's falling hard for a blonde force of nature who's allergic to commitment. First he has to keep Mags safe as they search for her missing parents. Then they can determine if it's time to stop running—and take a chance on the wildest thrill he's ever known…
Magdalene Deluca isn't the damsel-in-distress type. But if she has to involve a stranger in a dangerous chase through South America, she's glad Finn Kavanagh's the guy she sucked into her problems. Very glad. The man oozes sex and magnetic confidence. And since their connection is steamier than the sultry rain forest, why waste time resisting him?
Finn's peaceful vacation is blown to bits the second Mags strides into view. For years he's ignored his family's pleas to settle down. Now he's falling hard for a blonde force of nature who's allergic to commitment. First he has to keep Mags safe as they search for her missing parents. Then they can determine if it's time to stop running—and take a chance on the wildest thrill he's ever known…
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 25, 2015
68 people are currently reading
912 people want to read
About the author
Susan Andersen
104 books1,275 followersI grew up in a household with two brothers, a daddy, and my grandfather. Too many men, in other words. They diluted M'ma's influence by diverting my attention to things like the danger of answering nature's call in the dead of the night. I've got a hint for those of you raised in a less spit-and-scratch world: check before you sit, because chances are that seat is gonna be up. And they don't even have the grace to be embarrassed about it. According to my sweet baby boy, if you're the minority sex in the household, you oughtta be putting it up for them. Sigh.
Having brothers was a mixed bag. When anybody messed with me they were always quick with an offer to beat them up. That was sorta nice, although I personally believe it had more to do with the fact that guys just like to fight than with any towering concern for my welfare. You might think that's cynical but guess who the target was if no one else was around and they were tired of fighting each other? I must've spent half my childhood locked in the bathroom, screaming, "Dad's gonna get you when he gets home." I know, I know, nobody likes a stoolie. But it was either that or have my block knocked off on a regular basis, and trust me, Daddy was the best deterrent going.
A smart woman probably would've gone away to an all-girl school or moved in with some girlfriends at the first opportunity. Me, I got married to my high school sweetie. And the tradition continues. Our only kid (who hasn't been a kid for quite some time now) is the aforementioned sweet baby boy, and except for an Irish setter we had for eleven years a long time ago, even our pets have all been male. I just try to stay afloat whenever I find myself in the deep end of the testosterone pool, and if you don't think that isn't a trial sometimes, I'm here to tell you- it can be hell.
Then again, it can also be heaven. In fact, it mostly is. But listen, don't tell my guys I 'fessed up to that, okay? Trust me, it's difficult enough already, just trying to stay one step ahead of the game.
Having brothers was a mixed bag. When anybody messed with me they were always quick with an offer to beat them up. That was sorta nice, although I personally believe it had more to do with the fact that guys just like to fight than with any towering concern for my welfare. You might think that's cynical but guess who the target was if no one else was around and they were tired of fighting each other? I must've spent half my childhood locked in the bathroom, screaming, "Dad's gonna get you when he gets home." I know, I know, nobody likes a stoolie. But it was either that or have my block knocked off on a regular basis, and trust me, Daddy was the best deterrent going.
A smart woman probably would've gone away to an all-girl school or moved in with some girlfriends at the first opportunity. Me, I got married to my high school sweetie. And the tradition continues. Our only kid (who hasn't been a kid for quite some time now) is the aforementioned sweet baby boy, and except for an Irish setter we had for eleven years a long time ago, even our pets have all been male. I just try to stay afloat whenever I find myself in the deep end of the testosterone pool, and if you don't think that isn't a trial sometimes, I'm here to tell you- it can be hell.
Then again, it can also be heaven. In fact, it mostly is. But listen, don't tell my guys I 'fessed up to that, okay? Trust me, it's difficult enough already, just trying to stay one step ahead of the game.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
June 28, 2015
3.75 Stars
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I didn’t realize till I finished this book that it is a part of a series which is called Sisterhood Diaries and I’m glad our wonderful GR librarians fixed this today on GR. Luckily for me, each story in this series is standalones and so I think other than knowing the hero’s mentioned family members, I didn’t loss anything going into this story.
I truly enjoyed the storyline of a Finn Kavanagh’s trip to Santa Rosa, Argentina. Finn is here to hike and get his thoughts together on whether or not he’s ready to stop his one night stand lifestyle and please his family with a real relationship. He’s taken by Mags Deluca who finds herself immediately in danger and Finn steps in to help her in her journey to find her missing missionary parents.
”Your big idea is to head right into the heart of a cartel?”
Finn assists Mags on her adventure to save her parents while they are being stalked by criminal drug lords and get to know one another along the way. I found the story exciting, the characters interesting, and the sex scenes pretty steamy. I did struggle a pit with the writing style as I’m pretty partial to first person povs and so this took a bit for me to settle into.
Overall this was an exciting and entertaining story with the back drop of cantinas, jungles and hostels with Mags reconnecting with her estranged parents, falling in love and finding one big family in Seattle to someday call her own.
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Harlequin*
[image error]
I didn’t realize till I finished this book that it is a part of a series which is called Sisterhood Diaries and I’m glad our wonderful GR librarians fixed this today on GR. Luckily for me, each story in this series is standalones and so I think other than knowing the hero’s mentioned family members, I didn’t loss anything going into this story.
I truly enjoyed the storyline of a Finn Kavanagh’s trip to Santa Rosa, Argentina. Finn is here to hike and get his thoughts together on whether or not he’s ready to stop his one night stand lifestyle and please his family with a real relationship. He’s taken by Mags Deluca who finds herself immediately in danger and Finn steps in to help her in her journey to find her missing missionary parents.
”Your big idea is to head right into the heart of a cartel?”
Finn assists Mags on her adventure to save her parents while they are being stalked by criminal drug lords and get to know one another along the way. I found the story exciting, the characters interesting, and the sex scenes pretty steamy. I did struggle a pit with the writing style as I’m pretty partial to first person povs and so this took a bit for me to settle into.
Overall this was an exciting and entertaining story with the back drop of cantinas, jungles and hostels with Mags reconnecting with her estranged parents, falling in love and finding one big family in Seattle to someday call her own.
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Harlequin*
September 23, 2015
This was the best Andersen book out of the four.
That's not saying much.
But it's saying something. I'll take what I can get.
Finn Kavanaugh - bachelor who claims he'll never settle down. Enjoys having a different woman in his bed every night.
Magdalene Deluca, impoverished make-up artist. Never lets anyone, friend or lover, get too emotionally close to her.
Both are in El Tigre, a fictional South American country. Finn is there because he wants to hike. Magdalene is there to rescue her kidnapped Baptist missionary parents.
When Finn sees Magdalene in trouble, he can't just ignore it. He steps in and rescues her from the man pulling a gun on her. Now both are on the run from the drug lord's henchmen. Can they make it through the rainforest and save Magdalene's estranged parents?
...
THE GOOD:
1.) When Finn acts like an asshole, he realizes it and apologizes. And he has cause to do this more than once in the book.
Also, Magdalene calls him on his shit. She doesn't let him get away with doing asshole things.
Of course, I'd prefer if Finn just DIDN'T do asshole things, but this is Andersen we're talking about here.
2.) They have good conversations that are realistic and actually about their lives and their issues. This makes it believable that the couple is falling in love, and really improves the story.
3.) The book slightly (very slightly) reminds me of one of my all-time favorite films, Romancing the Stone. This can only help my opinion of the book.
4.) Instead of trying to write out stuff in Spanish, Andersen says, "she said fluently in Spanish" or something. This is a huge plus. I 10x prefer authors to do this then to put horrible butchered Spanish in their novels. It's a smart move. Points.
THE BAD:
1.) I can't really put Finn being an asshole on this list, since Magdalene always calls him on it and he ends up repenting and apologizing. However, it's still not the most romantic thing I've ever read.
2.) Finn is fond of kissing Magdalene on the forehead. I hate forehead kissing. (Pet peeve, here).
3.) In addition to this already infantilizing forehead kissing, Finn also knuckles Magdalene's head a lot. You know, like you would do to your 6-year-old or something. Again, not something I see as very romantic. There's a definite big-brother-little-sister vibe to this that I just CANNOT find sexy.
4.) She calls Finn a man-whore (not in a teasing way). And I'm just not okay with this. Actually, since both protagonists here have long sexual histories, I was hoping they could kind of bond over this fact or feel a little understanding for each other, but it seems not. He's sweet and understanding to her when she confesses to him that , but doesn't extend the same grace to him when he's like, "Yeah, I've been sleeping with a different woman every night for years." I don't know, I thought these two could perhaps understand each other a little bit, but she was surprisingly judgmental of his sexual past.
5.) COCKTEASE. Okay, this is my biggest problem, and it's something that often crops up in Andersen's novels. She seems to be under the impression that if you kiss a man, you must have sex with him. If you DON'T have sex with him, you are a cocktease.
I admit I find this idea completely baffling.
I can't kiss a man goodnight on a first date unless I'm willing to fuck him?
I can't have sweet, sweet kissing on the couch as I get to know him better unless I'm willing to have sex with him?
I'm not allowed to have kissing or make-out sessions with guys unless I'm willing to put out?
If this is the case I might as well take a vow of celibacy right now. Because I will never have sex again. I can't have sex with a man I don't love-and-trust, and I see no way of getting to the love-and-trust part if I'm confronted with some kind of "I have an erection, you caused it, therefore you are morally obligated to make me cum right now" attitude. WTF?
And I'm honestly baffled. I always thought that two people date, and get to know each other better, and do slowly more and more sexual things with each other, until they are both comfortable with the idea of having sex.
Call me crazy. I mean, it doesn't always work like that, and some people are more willing to get to the sex part sooner than others, but as a general rule I thought two people got more sexual with each other as they learned to trust each other and stuff. o.O
But apparently this is a "teenaged" and "high school" attitude, according to Andersen. Again, completely baffled. "Teenagers do stuff like make out and slowly get to know each other sexually. Grown-ups fuck. If you are not wiling to fuck right away, you are acting like a child and not really acting as an adult." <--- I'm paraphrasing, but this seems to be the general idea. Once you graduate from high school or lose your virginity, you just have to accept that if you arouse a man by kissing him, you have to fuck him. Or you're a horrible person.
Is this what people think now?
I find this idea bizarre. And I love kissing. It's extremely sad to me to see kissing relegated to a prelude to sex, and that's it full stop. With no merits on its own, no appeal on its own, and portrayed as some sort of burden or bothersome task men have to complete in order to "close the deal" or some shit.
And it's such a painful thing to teach women/girls, and it was just tearing me up reading about this. In one scene, Finn and Magdelene kiss.
"Oh, God, thank you, thank you!" Throwing herself at him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a loud, smacking kiss on his lips.
Just like the last time she'd impulsively kissed him, however, this, too, promptly jumped the tracks into something much less grateful and a lot more... lusty. Finn's hand speared into her hair to hold her in place when she started to pull back. He raised his head for a moment, looked into her eyes, then lowered it again, And is mouth was all blistering heat and I'm-in-charge aggression.
Then she pulls away because she has to go to the bathroom. So she goes off down the beach and when she comes back she's got this fear like "Well, I kissed him. Now I have to have sex with him. Otherwise I'm a cocktease." She's just reluctant to go back to the campfire because she "has to finish what she started." And I'm like "What the hell? Did I miss something here? It's the second time you've kissed him and somehow now you owe him sex?" It's not even anger I was feeling, it was complete confusion.
Later, it's even sadder because after she has sex with him, she has a night where she doesn't want to have sex with him, but wants to sleep in the same bed with him and have him hold her. But she feels like she doesn't have the right to ask this of him, and something something there's no way he can just sleep next to her for one night without fucking her. And she'd be a horrible person to ask him for something like that. It was very heartbreaking for me to read this.
Again, I'm completely gobsmacked. Have I just been really, really blessed by amazing boyfriends? Because not only have my exes been apparently fine with gradually working up to sex, frequently having kissing with me without then demanding sex from me, but also I have slept next to a man, in the same bed with him, and had just snuggling and no sex. Remind me to send each of my ex-boyfriends roses today. I'm not even joking, I'm completely serious. To all my ex-boyfriends out there, you are excellent amazing men. <3 Besos.
Is it possible that Andersen is trying to make some feminist statement AGAINST the cocktease idea, and you're totally misinterpreting this?
Um... I guess anything's possible, but having just read four of her books in a row, I highly doubt it. And she keeps bringing it up! And her heroes are like "how dare she kiss me and now I have an erection and she's a cocktease" and I'm like o.O
How's the sex, Carmen?
Finn is the best in bed of all four heroes we've had so far. You may think that this isn't saying much (>.<) but I'll take what I can get. He's actually pretty great in bed - although I still think these sex scenes are not anything to get excited about. Please don't read these for the sex.
Problems include:
Her nipple drilled into his palm like a tungsten carbide bit...
LOL Can't stop laughing.
And we have this super-popular romance novel trope, which always makes me laugh:
She moaned and he grinned against her mouth, which made her lift her head, separating their lips. "What?"
"Sensitive nipples. I wonder if I can make you come just by playing with them."
If you read romance novels you seriously would think 9 out of 10 women have super-sensitive nipples and can orgasm just from having them stimulated. Which is, believe me, NOT the percentage in reality. I can't help but laugh after reading this shit for the billionth time.
What else? Oh, yeah, tissues again:
Then, groaning low in his throat, he exploded in pulsation after hot, mind-bending pulsation, with the feel of tight, slippery tissues still clasping and unclasping up and down his dick.
Well, at least there's no membrane-kissing in this.
Overall, I'd have to say the best sex out of all four books. Not that that's exactly bragging rights, but okay.
Tl;dr - I'm glad I can rate this two stars and end my foray into Andersen's books on a more positive note. But I'm NOT going to be picking up any of her other books any time soon. This was not a very enjoyable experiment.
TWO REAL STARS, TWO ROMANCE STARS
That's not saying much.
But it's saying something. I'll take what I can get.
Finn Kavanaugh - bachelor who claims he'll never settle down. Enjoys having a different woman in his bed every night.
Magdalene Deluca, impoverished make-up artist. Never lets anyone, friend or lover, get too emotionally close to her.
Both are in El Tigre, a fictional South American country. Finn is there because he wants to hike. Magdalene is there to rescue her kidnapped Baptist missionary parents.
When Finn sees Magdalene in trouble, he can't just ignore it. He steps in and rescues her from the man pulling a gun on her. Now both are on the run from the drug lord's henchmen. Can they make it through the rainforest and save Magdalene's estranged parents?
...
THE GOOD:
1.) When Finn acts like an asshole, he realizes it and apologizes. And he has cause to do this more than once in the book.
Also, Magdalene calls him on his shit. She doesn't let him get away with doing asshole things.
Of course, I'd prefer if Finn just DIDN'T do asshole things, but this is Andersen we're talking about here.
2.) They have good conversations that are realistic and actually about their lives and their issues. This makes it believable that the couple is falling in love, and really improves the story.
3.) The book slightly (very slightly) reminds me of one of my all-time favorite films, Romancing the Stone. This can only help my opinion of the book.
4.) Instead of trying to write out stuff in Spanish, Andersen says, "she said fluently in Spanish" or something. This is a huge plus. I 10x prefer authors to do this then to put horrible butchered Spanish in their novels. It's a smart move. Points.
THE BAD:
1.) I can't really put Finn being an asshole on this list, since Magdalene always calls him on it and he ends up repenting and apologizing. However, it's still not the most romantic thing I've ever read.
2.) Finn is fond of kissing Magdalene on the forehead. I hate forehead kissing. (Pet peeve, here).
3.) In addition to this already infantilizing forehead kissing, Finn also knuckles Magdalene's head a lot. You know, like you would do to your 6-year-old or something. Again, not something I see as very romantic. There's a definite big-brother-little-sister vibe to this that I just CANNOT find sexy.
4.) She calls Finn a man-whore (not in a teasing way). And I'm just not okay with this. Actually, since both protagonists here have long sexual histories, I was hoping they could kind of bond over this fact or feel a little understanding for each other, but it seems not. He's sweet and understanding to her when she confesses to him that , but doesn't extend the same grace to him when he's like, "Yeah, I've been sleeping with a different woman every night for years." I don't know, I thought these two could perhaps understand each other a little bit, but she was surprisingly judgmental of his sexual past.
5.) COCKTEASE. Okay, this is my biggest problem, and it's something that often crops up in Andersen's novels. She seems to be under the impression that if you kiss a man, you must have sex with him. If you DON'T have sex with him, you are a cocktease.
I admit I find this idea completely baffling.
I can't kiss a man goodnight on a first date unless I'm willing to fuck him?
I can't have sweet, sweet kissing on the couch as I get to know him better unless I'm willing to have sex with him?
I'm not allowed to have kissing or make-out sessions with guys unless I'm willing to put out?
If this is the case I might as well take a vow of celibacy right now. Because I will never have sex again. I can't have sex with a man I don't love-and-trust, and I see no way of getting to the love-and-trust part if I'm confronted with some kind of "I have an erection, you caused it, therefore you are morally obligated to make me cum right now" attitude. WTF?
And I'm honestly baffled. I always thought that two people date, and get to know each other better, and do slowly more and more sexual things with each other, until they are both comfortable with the idea of having sex.
Call me crazy. I mean, it doesn't always work like that, and some people are more willing to get to the sex part sooner than others, but as a general rule I thought two people got more sexual with each other as they learned to trust each other and stuff. o.O
But apparently this is a "teenaged" and "high school" attitude, according to Andersen. Again, completely baffled. "Teenagers do stuff like make out and slowly get to know each other sexually. Grown-ups fuck. If you are not wiling to fuck right away, you are acting like a child and not really acting as an adult." <--- I'm paraphrasing, but this seems to be the general idea. Once you graduate from high school or lose your virginity, you just have to accept that if you arouse a man by kissing him, you have to fuck him. Or you're a horrible person.
Is this what people think now?
I find this idea bizarre. And I love kissing. It's extremely sad to me to see kissing relegated to a prelude to sex, and that's it full stop. With no merits on its own, no appeal on its own, and portrayed as some sort of burden or bothersome task men have to complete in order to "close the deal" or some shit.
And it's such a painful thing to teach women/girls, and it was just tearing me up reading about this. In one scene, Finn and Magdelene kiss.
"Oh, God, thank you, thank you!" Throwing herself at him, she wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a loud, smacking kiss on his lips.
Just like the last time she'd impulsively kissed him, however, this, too, promptly jumped the tracks into something much less grateful and a lot more... lusty. Finn's hand speared into her hair to hold her in place when she started to pull back. He raised his head for a moment, looked into her eyes, then lowered it again, And is mouth was all blistering heat and I'm-in-charge aggression.
Then she pulls away because she has to go to the bathroom. So she goes off down the beach and when she comes back she's got this fear like "Well, I kissed him. Now I have to have sex with him. Otherwise I'm a cocktease." She's just reluctant to go back to the campfire because she "has to finish what she started." And I'm like "What the hell? Did I miss something here? It's the second time you've kissed him and somehow now you owe him sex?" It's not even anger I was feeling, it was complete confusion.
Later, it's even sadder because after she has sex with him, she has a night where she doesn't want to have sex with him, but wants to sleep in the same bed with him and have him hold her. But she feels like she doesn't have the right to ask this of him, and something something there's no way he can just sleep next to her for one night without fucking her. And she'd be a horrible person to ask him for something like that. It was very heartbreaking for me to read this.
Again, I'm completely gobsmacked. Have I just been really, really blessed by amazing boyfriends? Because not only have my exes been apparently fine with gradually working up to sex, frequently having kissing with me without then demanding sex from me, but also I have slept next to a man, in the same bed with him, and had just snuggling and no sex. Remind me to send each of my ex-boyfriends roses today. I'm not even joking, I'm completely serious. To all my ex-boyfriends out there, you are excellent amazing men. <3 Besos.
Is it possible that Andersen is trying to make some feminist statement AGAINST the cocktease idea, and you're totally misinterpreting this?
Um... I guess anything's possible, but having just read four of her books in a row, I highly doubt it. And she keeps bringing it up! And her heroes are like "how dare she kiss me and now I have an erection and she's a cocktease" and I'm like o.O
How's the sex, Carmen?
Finn is the best in bed of all four heroes we've had so far. You may think that this isn't saying much (>.<) but I'll take what I can get. He's actually pretty great in bed - although I still think these sex scenes are not anything to get excited about. Please don't read these for the sex.
Problems include:
Her nipple drilled into his palm like a tungsten carbide bit...
LOL Can't stop laughing.
And we have this super-popular romance novel trope, which always makes me laugh:
She moaned and he grinned against her mouth, which made her lift her head, separating their lips. "What?"
"Sensitive nipples. I wonder if I can make you come just by playing with them."
If you read romance novels you seriously would think 9 out of 10 women have super-sensitive nipples and can orgasm just from having them stimulated. Which is, believe me, NOT the percentage in reality. I can't help but laugh after reading this shit for the billionth time.
What else? Oh, yeah, tissues again:
Then, groaning low in his throat, he exploded in pulsation after hot, mind-bending pulsation, with the feel of tight, slippery tissues still clasping and unclasping up and down his dick.
Well, at least there's no membrane-kissing in this.
Overall, I'd have to say the best sex out of all four books. Not that that's exactly bragging rights, but okay.
Tl;dr - I'm glad I can rate this two stars and end my foray into Andersen's books on a more positive note. But I'm NOT going to be picking up any of her other books any time soon. This was not a very enjoyable experiment.
TWO REAL STARS, TWO ROMANCE STARS
August 27, 2015
ARC provided by the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Susan Andersen is one of my favorite authors. She consistently delivers a superior romance every time and Running Wild is no exception. She skillfully blends a romance on the run with elements of suspense and humor to obtain an excellent recipe for a fantastic romance.
Finn Kavanaugh is the younger brother of Devin, the hero from Sisterhood Diaries, #1. Finn is on vacation in South America to hike the Andes when he rescues a damsel in distress, Mags Deluca. Mags's parents are missionaries there and have not contacted their daughter for some time. This is not unusual as they aren't close, but Mags was concerned enough to travel from California to check up on them. When she arrives she finds them moved with no forwarding address, then she is accosted by a thug from a drug cartel that was giving her parents trouble. Finn rescues her and the two take off across South America to avoid the drug cartel and find Megs's parents. In the process they find adventure and true love too.
Susan Andersen is one of my favorite authors. She consistently delivers a superior romance every time and Running Wild is no exception. She skillfully blends a romance on the run with elements of suspense and humor to obtain an excellent recipe for a fantastic romance.
Finn Kavanaugh is the younger brother of Devin, the hero from Sisterhood Diaries, #1. Finn is on vacation in South America to hike the Andes when he rescues a damsel in distress, Mags Deluca. Mags's parents are missionaries there and have not contacted their daughter for some time. This is not unusual as they aren't close, but Mags was concerned enough to travel from California to check up on them. When she arrives she finds them moved with no forwarding address, then she is accosted by a thug from a drug cartel that was giving her parents trouble. Finn rescues her and the two take off across South America to avoid the drug cartel and find Megs's parents. In the process they find adventure and true love too.
June 5, 2015
Now THIS was the Susan Andersen that I remembered!!! A 5 star read FOR SURE!!!!
Review to follow...
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Harlequin*
Review to follow...
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Harlequin*
January 17, 2019
This book was so much fun! Made me think of Romancing the Stone. (I loved that movie!)
Our heroine is worried about her missionary parents, our hero is on vacation and plans a hike in the jungle.
These two hapless heroes avoid a drug cartel and fall in love in the jungles. Excellent story!
Our heroine is worried about her missionary parents, our hero is on vacation and plans a hike in the jungle.
These two hapless heroes avoid a drug cartel and fall in love in the jungles. Excellent story!
September 9, 2015
While Running Wild was good, it didn’t amaze me. It took me quite a while to get into the story. I blame that on the fact Finn and Mags did not have amazing chemistry right off the bat. In fact, it wasn’t until they actually decided to hook up that there was any chemistry between them. Even then, it was only sexual chemistry. The sex scenes were hot, but I didn’t see any emotional connection at all. It left an interesting plot kind of bland. Which is sad because Susan Anderson’s writing is great.
Running Wild is the fourth book in the Sisterhood Diaries series, but can be read as a standalone.
**Thank you to Goodreads and Harlequin Books for the opportunity to read and honestly review Running Wild.
Running Wild is the fourth book in the Sisterhood Diaries series, but can be read as a standalone.
**Thank you to Goodreads and Harlequin Books for the opportunity to read and honestly review Running Wild.
Read
June 3, 2017DNF at 55%. Talk,talk,talk, and average in every sense of the word; a yawner. Too many books to read to keep going with a story bogged down in sheer wordage.
September 1, 2015
Going into Running Wild I had no idea that it was part of a series but, luckily, other than not knowing the family and friends that were introduced at the end, I didn't feel like I was missing anything. And, of course, this being my first Susan Andersen read I wasn't really sure what to expect but I really enjoyed this one.
Mags and Finn are thrown together right off the bat when Finn helps rescue Mags from a Cartel henchman that's trying to use her as leverage against her parents. Finn, being the nice guy that he is, gets thrown into a whole lot more than he bargained for when he decides to escort Mags through the Amazon to help her find her missing parents.
While there's a good bit of adventure in Running Wild, I wouldn't say that it's exactly suspenseful, per se, but there was enough danger to hold my interest. The main focus, though, is definitely the budding romance between Finn and Mags.
Having been shipped off to boarding school in the states as soon as she hit her teens, Mags isn't the type to form lasting relationships, and Finn is at a point in his life where he's trying to decide if he's ready to settle down or continue his man-whoring ways. To say these two butt heads a bit would be a huge understatement, but once they get to know each other they start to understand why they are the way they are.
Even though Running Wild wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, and the climax was majorly anticlimactic, to say the least, I really did enjoy this one... Add in the fact that there was no unnecessary drama or requisite breakup towards the end and that definitely bumped it up a star for me.
*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
Mags and Finn are thrown together right off the bat when Finn helps rescue Mags from a Cartel henchman that's trying to use her as leverage against her parents. Finn, being the nice guy that he is, gets thrown into a whole lot more than he bargained for when he decides to escort Mags through the Amazon to help her find her missing parents.
While there's a good bit of adventure in Running Wild, I wouldn't say that it's exactly suspenseful, per se, but there was enough danger to hold my interest. The main focus, though, is definitely the budding romance between Finn and Mags.
Having been shipped off to boarding school in the states as soon as she hit her teens, Mags isn't the type to form lasting relationships, and Finn is at a point in his life where he's trying to decide if he's ready to settle down or continue his man-whoring ways. To say these two butt heads a bit would be a huge understatement, but once they get to know each other they start to understand why they are the way they are.
Even though Running Wild wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, and the climax was majorly anticlimactic, to say the least, I really did enjoy this one... Add in the fact that there was no unnecessary drama or requisite breakup towards the end and that definitely bumped it up a star for me.
*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2015
My Review:
I really enjoyed this book. It's action packed from page one and was just one of those reads that full of adventure and adrenaline-fueled escape that's fun to read and imagine.
The entire book takes place in the Amazonian jungle as Finn and Mags are on the run from cartel thugs trying to capture her. There's a whole layer of story here about families and what they mean to people. Finn has come to the Amazon to escape his huge and, many times, overwhelming family. Mags is there to save her parents...the only family she has, but they basically turned her out at the age of 13. She's incredibly envious of Finn's family, and he just doesn't get that.
Like I said, the book was a fun non-stop adventure. I love that Mags is a make-up artist and how that played into their ability to hide and blend into the crowd. She's a strong person and has spent her life fighting against the world and her own insecurities. But I also loved that Finn just jumps into help her without any regard for his own danger or plans. They also worked in that Mags spent the first 13 years of her life here so even though she's blonde and fair-skinned, she knows how to blend in. For Finn, he has the technical know-how and gear. He came outfitted for backpacking so a trek across the Amazonian jungle is no big thing. They have the right equipment for it.
Simply put, the book was fun and if you like a bit of jungle romantic suspense, I recommend it. There were a few moments when I had to suspend a bit of disbelief, but I managed to overlook those details and simply enjoy the book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book. It's action packed from page one and was just one of those reads that full of adventure and adrenaline-fueled escape that's fun to read and imagine.
The entire book takes place in the Amazonian jungle as Finn and Mags are on the run from cartel thugs trying to capture her. There's a whole layer of story here about families and what they mean to people. Finn has come to the Amazon to escape his huge and, many times, overwhelming family. Mags is there to save her parents...the only family she has, but they basically turned her out at the age of 13. She's incredibly envious of Finn's family, and he just doesn't get that.
Like I said, the book was a fun non-stop adventure. I love that Mags is a make-up artist and how that played into their ability to hide and blend into the crowd. She's a strong person and has spent her life fighting against the world and her own insecurities. But I also loved that Finn just jumps into help her without any regard for his own danger or plans. They also worked in that Mags spent the first 13 years of her life here so even though she's blonde and fair-skinned, she knows how to blend in. For Finn, he has the technical know-how and gear. He came outfitted for backpacking so a trek across the Amazonian jungle is no big thing. They have the right equipment for it.
Simply put, the book was fun and if you like a bit of jungle romantic suspense, I recommend it. There were a few moments when I had to suspend a bit of disbelief, but I managed to overlook those details and simply enjoy the book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
June 19, 2015
Finn sure has interesting dreams, "if he were dreaming she’d be buck-naked and crawling all over him, performing epic pornographic acts." Sometimes a girl just wants to keep her man close and by close keep him inside her, "instinctually, she clenched deep inside in an attempt to keep him inside. But it was too late. She ramped up her ain’t-we-got-fun smile. “Dammit, Mags,” he snapped, “don’t do that!” Personally I think Finn's compliments need some work, “you might not want to get too handsy with me, darlin’. When you’re this close, touching me and wearing nothing but that pretty, pretty skin, my ***k’s all about the naked wrestling.” What wild ride, there was romance, action, adventure, Finn's cheesy compliments and I enjoyed every moment of it.
August 12, 2015
Review featured on www.books-n-kisses.com
This is the 4th in a series but the first I have read. It can certainly be a stand alone.
I had a hard time with this story. It was cheesy for lack of a better word. I never felt a connection between Mags and Finn. There was too much of the same information repeated and it got old. I was so tired of hearing how Mags parents cared more about “other kids” than her own.
Just not my cup of tea. Sorry.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the 4th in a series but the first I have read. It can certainly be a stand alone.
I had a hard time with this story. It was cheesy for lack of a better word. I never felt a connection between Mags and Finn. There was too much of the same information repeated and it got old. I was so tired of hearing how Mags parents cared more about “other kids” than her own.
Just not my cup of tea. Sorry.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
July 13, 2015
fun, flirty, frustrating book.
August 24, 2015
An amazing adventure, mixed with unpredictable, dangerous situations, steamy romance and lots of humor.
Finn and Mags might appear to be total opposites, Mags is a punk girl, who is easily distracted, a little wild side and lots of kindness, and no interest to settle down in a relationship. Finn, the former love-them-and-leave-them type, is finally planning to settle down, he likes to plan, to be organized, and prepared for any situation. But no one could be prepared for the situation they face in South America, while trying to rescue her parents from the drug lord's farm.
When Finn and Mags are not fighting against the drug lord's hit men, or the thugs on the street, they face the dangers of the nature, the rivers and Amazon wilderness.
I love the chemistry they have, they are fun together, the conversations that often end up in banter are entertaining, not to mention the hot attraction ready to explode between them. Mags' issues with her missionary parents were real, and the way she embrace Finn's gigantic family is endearing.
I loved this story, it is engaging, it was hard to put down. The peril Finn and Mags are in, was serious, filled with dangerous moments and constantly present fear. But the jeopardy was perfectly balanced with cultural exploits they run into during their trip, and the adorable romance developing between them. A complete winner in my eyes!
~ Five Spoons
Finn and Mags might appear to be total opposites, Mags is a punk girl, who is easily distracted, a little wild side and lots of kindness, and no interest to settle down in a relationship. Finn, the former love-them-and-leave-them type, is finally planning to settle down, he likes to plan, to be organized, and prepared for any situation. But no one could be prepared for the situation they face in South America, while trying to rescue her parents from the drug lord's farm.
When Finn and Mags are not fighting against the drug lord's hit men, or the thugs on the street, they face the dangers of the nature, the rivers and Amazon wilderness.
I love the chemistry they have, they are fun together, the conversations that often end up in banter are entertaining, not to mention the hot attraction ready to explode between them. Mags' issues with her missionary parents were real, and the way she embrace Finn's gigantic family is endearing.
I loved this story, it is engaging, it was hard to put down. The peril Finn and Mags are in, was serious, filled with dangerous moments and constantly present fear. But the jeopardy was perfectly balanced with cultural exploits they run into during their trip, and the adorable romance developing between them. A complete winner in my eyes!
~ Five Spoons
September 15, 2015
Running from a drug cartel in the wilds of South America has never sounded like as much fun as Mags Deluca suddenly enjoys in this story. On the other hand, she's not running alone. Instead, Finn Kavanagh just happens to see her accosted and steps up to help her out, only to be reeled into Mag's orbit after she explains that she HAS to rescue her missionary parents from the grow farm where she's learned they are being held.
What follows is a truly wild ride--in all ways, including sexual. A great summer read more interesting than topping off my summer tan in advance of a too-cool and rainy winter.
What follows is a truly wild ride--in all ways, including sexual. A great summer read more interesting than topping off my summer tan in advance of a too-cool and rainy winter.
September 22, 2015
This book was a 3.5 rating. This was about Mags Deluca who had gone to South America to try and find her parents who were missing. Although she had not seen them in years, she dropped everything to locate them. Finn Kavanagh was there to go hiking in the Andes when he rescued Mags from a drug dealer. Together they formed a coalition to find her parents before anything happened to them. The only problem I had with the book was the graphic details of their lovemaking. I think it went a little too far but others might not find it too much.
Read
January 12, 2016"With contemporary storytelling at its finest, Andersen brings us a fast-paced romance with a spitfire heroine at its center. The strong-willed Magdalene and the protective Finn will appeal to readers with their snappy dialogue and fierce, electrifying chemistry. Nonstop action, strong tension and passionate romance make Andersen’s latest an exciting, sexy modern read" (RT Book Reviews, 4 stars).
April 25, 2016
It's been way too long since I read a Susan Andersen novel. I really enjoy her writing style, her story lines, and those laugh-out-loud inner dialogues her characters share. It was wonderful to see Finn get his own story, and I loved that he found someone as feisty and strong as Mags.
August 21, 2015
Mags headed to help her estranged parents in South America only to end up running around the Amazon to avoid a drug lord looking for her. She gets help from Finn who sees her having issues and steps up. ARC from NetGalley.
September 2, 2015
Loved Finn's book. Loved the epilogue.
September 5, 2015
I loved this book! It was full of action and of heart.
The resolution to the heroine's life-long hurt was a bit quick, but otherwise, the characters totally made my day.
The resolution to the heroine's life-long hurt was a bit quick, but otherwise, the characters totally made my day.
September 8, 2015
Loved it. Finn and Mags are hawt! Add in being in trouble in South America with no one but each other to rely on.
December 4, 2015
This book is 4th in the series, Sisterhood Diaries. Each book can be read as a stand alone book.
Running Wild is and adventure filled read with interesting characters that are fun to read about and a plot that keeps you turning those pages quickly for those sexy, mysterious situations that keeps me a fan of Susan Andersen's.
Running Wild is and adventure filled read with interesting characters that are fun to read about and a plot that keeps you turning those pages quickly for those sexy, mysterious situations that keeps me a fan of Susan Andersen's.
August 15, 2015
Fast paced and always exciting. The magical things a little bit of makeup and know-how can do. Mags is a makeup artist searching in South America for her missing parents. They are missionaries taken by the local drug lord. Finn is just a guy on vacation hoping for some "me time" away from the prying eyes of his family.
September 17, 2015
Great book, great story, great protagonists. There were a couple of twists near the end that I didn't see coming, I love when that happens! Finn and Mags had great chemistry, and really seem perfect for each other. I definitely recommend it!
October 4, 2015
I usually love Susan Andersen books. Unfortunately, this one was just blah. I honestly didn't care whether I finished it or not.
October 25, 2015
What's not to love about a romance set in the steamy jungles of El Tigre? ;)
May 19, 2016
I received this book through First Reads.
it's always exciting winning books you've entered, and I am thankful to have won.
However, this didn't turn out to be the daring, adventurous, high-stakes chase through the jungle I was picturing. sort of like Six Days Seven Nights with Harrison Ford. this was not like that. Or Knight and Day.
While the characters started out having potential, they started to go downhill until I didn't care for either of the main characters. looking back, this book needed side characters, too. It focused too solely on the girl&guy. the side characters were all bad guys, besides the few innkeepers &random people in passing.
I couldn't connect or relate to magdelene.
-I really dont like when characters on the cover don't match their descriptions. The blond on the cover in no way describes the one in this book, who has short hair. That girl is no more punk than kate middleton is.
this is one of those books where the female characters uses juvenile words and phrases, such as:
‘kissing the bejeebers out of a man.’
Author uses words you’ve nvr heard of. ex.: copacetic.
The characters sound the same.
Who would suck the dirt off their finger? Naïvete isn’t funny. She knew what she was doing. that's an overtly sexual thing to do. and again, who licks dirt off their hand? sauce, sure. chocolate, you bet. but dirt?
Sorry but the makeup isn’t an actual tool that would help while on the run.
this is the billionth book where the girl wakes up on top of the guy. This has been done too many times to even be tolerated. And im 99.9% sure this nvr happens in real life.Waking up curled up around him. It doesn’t happen. this is no longer romantic in books.
What is snafu?
“Carbuncle on my butt.” What expression is that? And “didn’t he neatly hamstrung her?” huh??
She beats descriptions to death.
‘a moment later she sat on the ground in the shade of a tree and found a level patch of ground where she could set her can of soda. She picked up the pan-lid plate and rested it in her lap. Then, leaning back against the tree trunk, she used both hands to scoop up her tortilla.’ That was a LOT of words. We don’t need that much description, especially about something so inconsequential.
Sometimes he didn’t sound like a guy. Especially when he said “omigawd.” &he didnt say it jokingly.
‘middle of God**** nowhere” was unnecessary to say.
He tells you his brother had cancer & you say “omigawd, finn.” Now is not the time for an “omigawd.” you sound like a valley girl. “oh my God” would have been ok, but “omigawd” you say with an accent.
There were 3 omigawds in around 3 pgs.
‘I’d-do-ya-baby look.’ I just don't like language like this in a book.
‘boyo.’ or this.
Calling him Bub. or that.
‘doing a seated boogie.’ ok, you get the point.
He doesn’t sound like a man there, and I really don’t like when authors use childish language.
“so don’t give them a better look at your face by facing them fully.” That did not need to be said. you saying the bad guys were there should have covered it. she should know not to turn around.
They’re on the run, have to pack light &she’s sitting there carrying around plastic swords, sashes, and full decorative outfits.
Painting their skin is just ridiculous to me. Picturing him looking like a leopard &her and her gold skin, I just think its ridiculous.
‘oh yeah. Come to daddy.’ I HATE talk like this! it’s gross.
Hasn’t seem concerned at all for her parents. She literally nvr thinks of them. Besides when she first found out they were held hostage. Then there’s this bizarre going to buy a bracelet but paused because she seemed to finally remember her parents were hostages &that she wasn’t on a freakin amazon vacation with a hot guy. But that lasted all of 2 seconds, because then she quickly found an excuse to buy it. because why shouldn’t she enjoy herself? It wasn’t taking away from ‘finding’ her parents.
This book is very…handy. On the run &need to hide your features from bad guys? Well have the girl be a makeup artist!
Running out of cash &need some fast? Well have the girl be a living statue!
She’s a pirate. He has arm ruffles &leopard makeup. This is too bizarre.
“idk bupkes about engines of any kind.” Bupkes?!
“you have a nice hide.” Did he seriously just say that?
T-shirt with built in SPF. Eye roll.
“they were called cock teases.” plain ol tease would have been ok.
“gave a rat’s ear end.” Here we go again with the 5yr old language!
“but Magdalene is the sweet compliant girl I once was. She’s gone. I’ve been Mags for a long time now.” Um. Honey, idk how to tell you this, but you don’t come off as a tough, hardened person at all. she’s been nice, airheaded &kiddish from the beginning. She’s certainly not someone who has been jaded by a “bad life.”
Mealy mouth. Oy with this language.
“bug-ass weird.” Where does this author get this at?
“all up in your grill” is SO old I think cavemen were saying it.
‘she blew a rude raspberry.’ What is that?
He goes into detail about things we don’t need or don’t want.
‘he settled the heels of his hands&his palms against the sides of her breasts, his thumbs anchored in front where the ball socket of her shoulders met her outer chest, his fingers curving around her back in a firm grip.’ We all know what picking someone up under the armpits looks like. &a simple act like picking someone up did not need to be so descriptive.
“I want down&dirty, total out of control, runaway, wild and woolly sex.” Ok, I get the down&dirty and out of control, but runaway and wild&woolly???
“I can’t claim to have always practiced safe sex. I was all about the stupid risks when I was a kid, but someone must have been looking out for me because I dodged both pregnancy &all the communicable diseases, which was more than I deserved.” Wow, unsafe sex. Sleeping around. &is actually lucky enough to never get a disease, because that’s fair. &him saying “I have a clean bill of health.” Even though he’s been with so many women was so unlikeable on both their parts.
“lack of pain doesn’t have to mean boring, darling. Unless…you into that?” great example of when I really didn't like this guy.
“oh, hells to the no.” way to sound kiddish!
“I just love me a forceful man.” Dude, don’t encourage that. he's acting like a pig.
“men go commando.” No, men wear underwear.
“who’s your mama now, hotshot?” did you seriously just say that? I hate when ppl say things like that! It’s disgusting!
Obviously the box of condoms meant he gets around the block a lot, but this whole he’s a hounddog who’s been with many women just seems at odd with this character. I mean, he started out like a nice guy and was what I’d call a nice guy. He helped her. He seemed genuine. Then he turned into this badboy, forceful, kinda rude dominant guy. It’s like he changed to fit the role of this forceful lover when he just didn’t seem that way. It’s like he morphs into another guy.
case in point: '“so talk does it for ya, huh? Mags deluca has pretty tits and a tight pus-“ “ok maybe I like it a little.” “I’d say more than a lil. But sure, let’s go with that.”'
'“oh, def, yes. um!” ‘Mags raised her hips, then slapped them back down.” “oh. My. Gaw-w-wd.”' the romantic scenes aren't...romantic.
There is WAY too much dialogue with dashes in them.
‘she ramped up her aint-we-got-fun smile.’ ‘life-of-the-party smile.’ ‘don’t-let-‘em-too-close rule.’ This was 3 in 2 pages.
Twice she used “a hank of hair” instead of simply a “lock of hair.”
sounds like a teen:
‘mags turned a delighted smile in his direction. “omigawd. Will you let me know if I start to drool?”
“oh god finn. I forgot all about the goon squad for a while. Its all wrong that I’m enjoying myself like this when my parents are prob lucky if they get rice and beans, isn’t it?” “oh, hell to the no.”
more like-I forgot all about my parents being kidnapped, what with me enjoying this impromptu vacation with you. &could you try to talk seriously? Hell to the no? that sounds so juvenile.
“that being able to occasionally relax helped me feel stronger for the challenges to come. So, ok. I’ll try to stop feeling guilty during these rare happy moments.” oh, come on! so not buying that.
It’s already enough that they’re being followed by bad guys. But the whole group of guys and one grabs her butt--of course--&they follow you all the way to the boat dock was just too much. It’s overkill. &extremely unlikely. &ridiculous. Also it just didn’t seem that much of a threat. I didn’t know they were following them, then all of a sudden they’re saying they’re close behind&then they start the boat&all of a sudden they’re on the dock &literally grab Mags. It’s too much.
You mean to tell me the guys from the dock were so mad at Mags&Finn that they attack a couple guys for no reason &tie them up&put them in a warehouse??! This is ridiculous!
‘she grimaced, hoever; when she loered the cloth&saw it generously smeared with her eye makeup. She had an excellent bottle of remover &her fav ultrasoft cotton pads in her tote for the express purpose of taking this stuff off before she washed, but had she remembered? Oh,no. she squirted her skin cleanser on the cloth now, however, and managed to scrub it almost clean of the makeup before returning her attention to washing her face.’ OMG. Edit!!!
‘he shoots…he scores!’ &he sounds like a teenager!
“what the h***’s the matter with you, boyo?” who calls themselves that?
“that would be most excellent.” What is this, 1800s in england?
It’s so not charming or likeable. She says could a drunk person do this &then launches into these flexible gymnast poses that I literally couldn’t understand or picture in my head except just a jumble of ridiculousness. It was really random&it took me out of the scene. Then she’s like “you in?” as if she’s asking if he wants to play the next hand in poker. Who phrases it like that?
“when the sexin’ is done.” This character literally sounds like about 10 dif people.
‘just sex, with none of the clinging and being overburndened with all her personal s***.’
Ahahahah! What would you call on the run from drug lords while trying to save her parents&learning about her parents leaving her &her changing her name? you’re already in her personal crap!
‘Deluca’s vajiggy. Wanna kiss it?’ I HATE talk like this. it isn’t romantic. It isn’t sexy.
‘the lil ball bearing straining out of it’s hood.’ Huh?
‘discounting her shower head, it has probably been 2 or 3 years since she’d gotten any sat-is-fact-shun. God knew she’d participated in her share of indiscriminate sex as a teen. She’d surrendered her virginity way too young &had slept with far too many boys who, once they’d gotten theirs, hadn’t even pretended to give a flying frick about her.’
Both characters did a 360. Unrelatable. Unlikeable! Where is this crap coming from??
“y’hungry, darlin’?” there he goes again, talking different.
“what’s worse, though, doing your biz real quick in crappy--you’ll pardon the pun--conditions, or trying to hold your bladder, only to have it scream at you forever?” once again, he doesn’t sound very manly.
“slept with half the lacrosse team before I turned 15.” OMG. She has slipped so far down in my opinion.
“so I quit sleeping with boys I felt no honest attraction to, which didn’t happen until I was quite a bit older.” Not only did you sleep around more than homeless people, but you slept with guys you DIDN’T LIKE. I give up with this girl.
She almost always called them ‘Goons with guns.’
It wasn’t Finn’s place to talk to Mags’ mom like that. That’s between them: “you hoenst to God want to test her like the irresponsible 13 yr old you shipped off to the states? Except, wait. She wasn’t actually irresponsible then either, was she?” that’s not your business or your place. Back up.
End of the book and you tell us his name is Finnegan?
The book skips over 4 days! It talks about things we dc about and then skips over the action with the government&all that. Them sleeping in a room together. You’ve only known each other for a few days, and her mom says you’ll be getting Magdelene a separate room and you say no. Finn shouldn’t be acting this way. It’s so rude&unlikeable. He’s turning into an overbearing jerk. &then says they’re buying new clothes. “deal with it. let’s get you to bed, darlin’.” since when does he say “darlin’.” He sounds like 10 dif people, too. &Mags says “kay. Night nancy. Night daddy.” He’s a stranger. You don’t just do what he says. &she sounds like a lil girl.
Can’t believe this whole race turned so convenient. On the run for your parents? Have to stage a bust out at a drug cartel farm? Not sure how to do it? well, don’t worry! Just wait for your parents to WALK up to you in the woods, saving you from having to try&save them.
He was going down the alley to look for her. When did he have time to call the police? Of course he shows up in the nick of time.
He loves her with his heart and soul. Whoa! Not buying it!
“I just want you there whenever I can getcha.” He sounds like an idiot.
‘”and you love me,” he said. It was true. She could pretend otherwise but he knew it &so did she. She nodded.”’ You don’t know that!
“you love me madly.” “and you’ll be my sex slave for life.” “you stubborn wench.” Dude. Who says wench nowadays? &stop saying how she feels.
It’s insane that she’d pack up&move for someone she literally just met.
His aunt says boyo, too. Which means Mags, Finn&his old aunt talk the same. That’s unrealistic. Everyone sounds the same!
Listing reasons how they know each other.
“she doesn’t have a bladder. Just a wide spot in the tube.” Ew. Please stop.
‘“your wrong about one thing. I love you above family.” Without taking her gaze off him, she stroked her cheek against his chest.’ That’s too soon for that. &that’s not physically possible. Walk up2 someone, place your cheek on their chest while looking in their eyes.
“im surprised he mentioned that one, since he was sure p***** off at my methods at the time. He thought I was offering the guy a bl--“ were you really about to say that in front of his family. She sounds so trashy. Her naivite isn’t charming.
She’s insecure over girl groups so of course the women in Finn’s family hug her &are all nice to her.
&of course Finn’s brother in law is in the movie business, so he can hook Mags up with a job doing makeup for movie sets!
This book bordered on the ridiculous and ended up too convenient. It might as well have a bow on it it was wrapped up so nicely. They didn’t have to rescue her parents. She moves in with Finn’s accepting family. Gets a job. All very convenient.
I was disappointed with this. I wanted an intense chase through the jungle, growing close because of all these scary, dangerous situations you were in. but no. it was more like a glorified vacation with some "scary" moments, but they weren't scary. I didn't feel particularly threatened from any of the bad guys. I mean how could we? they were referred to as the "goon squad." even though she tried to have the head guy sound sinister, it never came to anything. the threats on their lives were superficial &weak. there was no chemistry or connection between her&Finn. I didn't like them. I didn't like anyone in this book. the parents were thrown in at the very end, so we barely knew them. the reason behind why she was shipped off was ridiculous. &her basically blaming her parents for her turning into a slut because she was shipped off and became a bad girl made me want to scream. own up to her choices. that's not their fault. you chose to have sex young. &many more times after that.
it makes no sense to me how they could ship her off and literally never meet up again. who raised her? who sends a kid off alone? this is just bizarre. the storyline just isn't realistic.
I feel like this book should have just been a crazy trip to South America, instead of her parents being kidnapped. because the book didn't deliver on that front. &Mags acted like the whole thing was one big jaunt through the jungle.
after the unlikable characters, overdone descriptions, crazy expressions/dialogue, and lack of true plot, I'm not sure I'll read another from this author.
it's always exciting winning books you've entered, and I am thankful to have won.
However, this didn't turn out to be the daring, adventurous, high-stakes chase through the jungle I was picturing. sort of like Six Days Seven Nights with Harrison Ford. this was not like that. Or Knight and Day.
While the characters started out having potential, they started to go downhill until I didn't care for either of the main characters. looking back, this book needed side characters, too. It focused too solely on the girl&guy. the side characters were all bad guys, besides the few innkeepers &random people in passing.
I couldn't connect or relate to magdelene.
-I really dont like when characters on the cover don't match their descriptions. The blond on the cover in no way describes the one in this book, who has short hair. That girl is no more punk than kate middleton is.
this is one of those books where the female characters uses juvenile words and phrases, such as:
‘kissing the bejeebers out of a man.’
Author uses words you’ve nvr heard of. ex.: copacetic.
The characters sound the same.
Who would suck the dirt off their finger? Naïvete isn’t funny. She knew what she was doing. that's an overtly sexual thing to do. and again, who licks dirt off their hand? sauce, sure. chocolate, you bet. but dirt?
Sorry but the makeup isn’t an actual tool that would help while on the run.
this is the billionth book where the girl wakes up on top of the guy. This has been done too many times to even be tolerated. And im 99.9% sure this nvr happens in real life.Waking up curled up around him. It doesn’t happen. this is no longer romantic in books.
What is snafu?
“Carbuncle on my butt.” What expression is that? And “didn’t he neatly hamstrung her?” huh??
She beats descriptions to death.
‘a moment later she sat on the ground in the shade of a tree and found a level patch of ground where she could set her can of soda. She picked up the pan-lid plate and rested it in her lap. Then, leaning back against the tree trunk, she used both hands to scoop up her tortilla.’ That was a LOT of words. We don’t need that much description, especially about something so inconsequential.
Sometimes he didn’t sound like a guy. Especially when he said “omigawd.” &he didnt say it jokingly.
‘middle of God**** nowhere” was unnecessary to say.
He tells you his brother had cancer & you say “omigawd, finn.” Now is not the time for an “omigawd.” you sound like a valley girl. “oh my God” would have been ok, but “omigawd” you say with an accent.
There were 3 omigawds in around 3 pgs.
‘I’d-do-ya-baby look.’ I just don't like language like this in a book.
‘boyo.’ or this.
Calling him Bub. or that.
‘doing a seated boogie.’ ok, you get the point.
He doesn’t sound like a man there, and I really don’t like when authors use childish language.
“so don’t give them a better look at your face by facing them fully.” That did not need to be said. you saying the bad guys were there should have covered it. she should know not to turn around.
They’re on the run, have to pack light &she’s sitting there carrying around plastic swords, sashes, and full decorative outfits.
Painting their skin is just ridiculous to me. Picturing him looking like a leopard &her and her gold skin, I just think its ridiculous.
‘oh yeah. Come to daddy.’ I HATE talk like this! it’s gross.
Hasn’t seem concerned at all for her parents. She literally nvr thinks of them. Besides when she first found out they were held hostage. Then there’s this bizarre going to buy a bracelet but paused because she seemed to finally remember her parents were hostages &that she wasn’t on a freakin amazon vacation with a hot guy. But that lasted all of 2 seconds, because then she quickly found an excuse to buy it. because why shouldn’t she enjoy herself? It wasn’t taking away from ‘finding’ her parents.
This book is very…handy. On the run &need to hide your features from bad guys? Well have the girl be a makeup artist!
Running out of cash &need some fast? Well have the girl be a living statue!
She’s a pirate. He has arm ruffles &leopard makeup. This is too bizarre.
“idk bupkes about engines of any kind.” Bupkes?!
“you have a nice hide.” Did he seriously just say that?
T-shirt with built in SPF. Eye roll.
“they were called cock teases.” plain ol tease would have been ok.
“gave a rat’s ear end.” Here we go again with the 5yr old language!
“but Magdalene is the sweet compliant girl I once was. She’s gone. I’ve been Mags for a long time now.” Um. Honey, idk how to tell you this, but you don’t come off as a tough, hardened person at all. she’s been nice, airheaded &kiddish from the beginning. She’s certainly not someone who has been jaded by a “bad life.”
Mealy mouth. Oy with this language.
“bug-ass weird.” Where does this author get this at?
“all up in your grill” is SO old I think cavemen were saying it.
‘she blew a rude raspberry.’ What is that?
He goes into detail about things we don’t need or don’t want.
‘he settled the heels of his hands&his palms against the sides of her breasts, his thumbs anchored in front where the ball socket of her shoulders met her outer chest, his fingers curving around her back in a firm grip.’ We all know what picking someone up under the armpits looks like. &a simple act like picking someone up did not need to be so descriptive.
“I want down&dirty, total out of control, runaway, wild and woolly sex.” Ok, I get the down&dirty and out of control, but runaway and wild&woolly???
“I can’t claim to have always practiced safe sex. I was all about the stupid risks when I was a kid, but someone must have been looking out for me because I dodged both pregnancy &all the communicable diseases, which was more than I deserved.” Wow, unsafe sex. Sleeping around. &is actually lucky enough to never get a disease, because that’s fair. &him saying “I have a clean bill of health.” Even though he’s been with so many women was so unlikeable on both their parts.
“lack of pain doesn’t have to mean boring, darling. Unless…you into that?” great example of when I really didn't like this guy.
“oh, hells to the no.” way to sound kiddish!
“I just love me a forceful man.” Dude, don’t encourage that. he's acting like a pig.
“men go commando.” No, men wear underwear.
“who’s your mama now, hotshot?” did you seriously just say that? I hate when ppl say things like that! It’s disgusting!
Obviously the box of condoms meant he gets around the block a lot, but this whole he’s a hounddog who’s been with many women just seems at odd with this character. I mean, he started out like a nice guy and was what I’d call a nice guy. He helped her. He seemed genuine. Then he turned into this badboy, forceful, kinda rude dominant guy. It’s like he changed to fit the role of this forceful lover when he just didn’t seem that way. It’s like he morphs into another guy.
case in point: '“so talk does it for ya, huh? Mags deluca has pretty tits and a tight pus-“ “ok maybe I like it a little.” “I’d say more than a lil. But sure, let’s go with that.”'
'“oh, def, yes. um!” ‘Mags raised her hips, then slapped them back down.” “oh. My. Gaw-w-wd.”' the romantic scenes aren't...romantic.
There is WAY too much dialogue with dashes in them.
‘she ramped up her aint-we-got-fun smile.’ ‘life-of-the-party smile.’ ‘don’t-let-‘em-too-close rule.’ This was 3 in 2 pages.
Twice she used “a hank of hair” instead of simply a “lock of hair.”
sounds like a teen:
‘mags turned a delighted smile in his direction. “omigawd. Will you let me know if I start to drool?”
“oh god finn. I forgot all about the goon squad for a while. Its all wrong that I’m enjoying myself like this when my parents are prob lucky if they get rice and beans, isn’t it?” “oh, hell to the no.”
more like-I forgot all about my parents being kidnapped, what with me enjoying this impromptu vacation with you. &could you try to talk seriously? Hell to the no? that sounds so juvenile.
“that being able to occasionally relax helped me feel stronger for the challenges to come. So, ok. I’ll try to stop feeling guilty during these rare happy moments.” oh, come on! so not buying that.
It’s already enough that they’re being followed by bad guys. But the whole group of guys and one grabs her butt--of course--&they follow you all the way to the boat dock was just too much. It’s overkill. &extremely unlikely. &ridiculous. Also it just didn’t seem that much of a threat. I didn’t know they were following them, then all of a sudden they’re saying they’re close behind&then they start the boat&all of a sudden they’re on the dock &literally grab Mags. It’s too much.
You mean to tell me the guys from the dock were so mad at Mags&Finn that they attack a couple guys for no reason &tie them up&put them in a warehouse??! This is ridiculous!
‘she grimaced, hoever; when she loered the cloth&saw it generously smeared with her eye makeup. She had an excellent bottle of remover &her fav ultrasoft cotton pads in her tote for the express purpose of taking this stuff off before she washed, but had she remembered? Oh,no. she squirted her skin cleanser on the cloth now, however, and managed to scrub it almost clean of the makeup before returning her attention to washing her face.’ OMG. Edit!!!
‘he shoots…he scores!’ &he sounds like a teenager!
“what the h***’s the matter with you, boyo?” who calls themselves that?
“that would be most excellent.” What is this, 1800s in england?
It’s so not charming or likeable. She says could a drunk person do this &then launches into these flexible gymnast poses that I literally couldn’t understand or picture in my head except just a jumble of ridiculousness. It was really random&it took me out of the scene. Then she’s like “you in?” as if she’s asking if he wants to play the next hand in poker. Who phrases it like that?
“when the sexin’ is done.” This character literally sounds like about 10 dif people.
‘just sex, with none of the clinging and being overburndened with all her personal s***.’
Ahahahah! What would you call on the run from drug lords while trying to save her parents&learning about her parents leaving her &her changing her name? you’re already in her personal crap!
‘Deluca’s vajiggy. Wanna kiss it?’ I HATE talk like this. it isn’t romantic. It isn’t sexy.
‘the lil ball bearing straining out of it’s hood.’ Huh?
‘discounting her shower head, it has probably been 2 or 3 years since she’d gotten any sat-is-fact-shun. God knew she’d participated in her share of indiscriminate sex as a teen. She’d surrendered her virginity way too young &had slept with far too many boys who, once they’d gotten theirs, hadn’t even pretended to give a flying frick about her.’
Both characters did a 360. Unrelatable. Unlikeable! Where is this crap coming from??
“y’hungry, darlin’?” there he goes again, talking different.
“what’s worse, though, doing your biz real quick in crappy--you’ll pardon the pun--conditions, or trying to hold your bladder, only to have it scream at you forever?” once again, he doesn’t sound very manly.
“slept with half the lacrosse team before I turned 15.” OMG. She has slipped so far down in my opinion.
“so I quit sleeping with boys I felt no honest attraction to, which didn’t happen until I was quite a bit older.” Not only did you sleep around more than homeless people, but you slept with guys you DIDN’T LIKE. I give up with this girl.
She almost always called them ‘Goons with guns.’
It wasn’t Finn’s place to talk to Mags’ mom like that. That’s between them: “you hoenst to God want to test her like the irresponsible 13 yr old you shipped off to the states? Except, wait. She wasn’t actually irresponsible then either, was she?” that’s not your business or your place. Back up.
End of the book and you tell us his name is Finnegan?
The book skips over 4 days! It talks about things we dc about and then skips over the action with the government&all that. Them sleeping in a room together. You’ve only known each other for a few days, and her mom says you’ll be getting Magdelene a separate room and you say no. Finn shouldn’t be acting this way. It’s so rude&unlikeable. He’s turning into an overbearing jerk. &then says they’re buying new clothes. “deal with it. let’s get you to bed, darlin’.” since when does he say “darlin’.” He sounds like 10 dif people, too. &Mags says “kay. Night nancy. Night daddy.” He’s a stranger. You don’t just do what he says. &she sounds like a lil girl.
Can’t believe this whole race turned so convenient. On the run for your parents? Have to stage a bust out at a drug cartel farm? Not sure how to do it? well, don’t worry! Just wait for your parents to WALK up to you in the woods, saving you from having to try&save them.
He was going down the alley to look for her. When did he have time to call the police? Of course he shows up in the nick of time.
He loves her with his heart and soul. Whoa! Not buying it!
“I just want you there whenever I can getcha.” He sounds like an idiot.
‘”and you love me,” he said. It was true. She could pretend otherwise but he knew it &so did she. She nodded.”’ You don’t know that!
“you love me madly.” “and you’ll be my sex slave for life.” “you stubborn wench.” Dude. Who says wench nowadays? &stop saying how she feels.
It’s insane that she’d pack up&move for someone she literally just met.
His aunt says boyo, too. Which means Mags, Finn&his old aunt talk the same. That’s unrealistic. Everyone sounds the same!
Listing reasons how they know each other.
“she doesn’t have a bladder. Just a wide spot in the tube.” Ew. Please stop.
‘“your wrong about one thing. I love you above family.” Without taking her gaze off him, she stroked her cheek against his chest.’ That’s too soon for that. &that’s not physically possible. Walk up2 someone, place your cheek on their chest while looking in their eyes.
“im surprised he mentioned that one, since he was sure p***** off at my methods at the time. He thought I was offering the guy a bl--“ were you really about to say that in front of his family. She sounds so trashy. Her naivite isn’t charming.
She’s insecure over girl groups so of course the women in Finn’s family hug her &are all nice to her.
&of course Finn’s brother in law is in the movie business, so he can hook Mags up with a job doing makeup for movie sets!
This book bordered on the ridiculous and ended up too convenient. It might as well have a bow on it it was wrapped up so nicely. They didn’t have to rescue her parents. She moves in with Finn’s accepting family. Gets a job. All very convenient.
I was disappointed with this. I wanted an intense chase through the jungle, growing close because of all these scary, dangerous situations you were in. but no. it was more like a glorified vacation with some "scary" moments, but they weren't scary. I didn't feel particularly threatened from any of the bad guys. I mean how could we? they were referred to as the "goon squad." even though she tried to have the head guy sound sinister, it never came to anything. the threats on their lives were superficial &weak. there was no chemistry or connection between her&Finn. I didn't like them. I didn't like anyone in this book. the parents were thrown in at the very end, so we barely knew them. the reason behind why she was shipped off was ridiculous. &her basically blaming her parents for her turning into a slut because she was shipped off and became a bad girl made me want to scream. own up to her choices. that's not their fault. you chose to have sex young. &many more times after that.
it makes no sense to me how they could ship her off and literally never meet up again. who raised her? who sends a kid off alone? this is just bizarre. the storyline just isn't realistic.
I feel like this book should have just been a crazy trip to South America, instead of her parents being kidnapped. because the book didn't deliver on that front. &Mags acted like the whole thing was one big jaunt through the jungle.
after the unlikable characters, overdone descriptions, crazy expressions/dialogue, and lack of true plot, I'm not sure I'll read another from this author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2017
At times this storyline has me all confused in the beginning. But after dialogue between the two characters it all straightened out.
Mags parents are missionaries and are now being kidnapped by a drug lord at a remote farm in the Amazon. She is trying to get to them despite being away from the for twelve years. This girl has serious mommy issues. And it all boils down to have no conversations about why. Easy problem to solve.
Finn is on a vacation. Alone. But he ends up being the knight in shining armor when he sees a goon trying to take Mags. He saves her and then runs with her to help save her parents. It's a good thing he thinks she's hot bc they do have crazy chemistry. And you root for that to happen. After being shot at, chased, floating down a river, and living in the Amazon it is bound to bring two people together right? Yep you would be right.
It was a quick book. The ending is was meh for me with her parents and all else but can't beat resolution.
Mags parents are missionaries and are now being kidnapped by a drug lord at a remote farm in the Amazon. She is trying to get to them despite being away from the for twelve years. This girl has serious mommy issues. And it all boils down to have no conversations about why. Easy problem to solve.
Finn is on a vacation. Alone. But he ends up being the knight in shining armor when he sees a goon trying to take Mags. He saves her and then runs with her to help save her parents. It's a good thing he thinks she's hot bc they do have crazy chemistry. And you root for that to happen. After being shot at, chased, floating down a river, and living in the Amazon it is bound to bring two people together right? Yep you would be right.
It was a quick book. The ending is was meh for me with her parents and all else but can't beat resolution.
November 20, 2017
YES I started this book on July 4 and just howled to heavens that I AM DONE. Why? Same old. Same old. This book was barely cute and a full rehash of her previous books and characters even though the setting changed. The Heroine was a bit of a basket case and I did NOT like her parents and the slap-dash reunion. This book needed to take place in the Amazon because it would have been implausible in any North American locale. Finn was Ms. Andersen’s prototypical hunky straight arrow, but at this point I need more from her. I don’t necessarily mean a deviation from what works just more oomph. This one was a pleasant snoozer and very safe. Not sure I will purchase more of Ms. Andersens work if this is all I can expect.
July 25, 2018
I normally really enjoy Susan Andersen books, but this was just meh. It's been a while since I read the previous books in this series so I forgot who Finn and his siblings were. Trying to remember the characters was distracting and I never really connected with the characters. I understood the anger Mags had with her parents, but otherwise I did not connect with her or Finn. Developing a relationship under stress makes sense, but I was not convinced about it lasting away from the stress. This was a bit of a disappointment but I will not be abandoning Susan Andersen because of one lack luster book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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