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Overload
Originally published in Silhouette Summer Sizzlers 1993
Blackout! The entire Southeast was without power ~ but there was still more than enough electricity between Elizabeth Major and Tom Quinlan! They were stranded together in a Dallas high rise for the duration ~ and setting off enough sparks to light up the darkest night.
Blackout! The entire Southeast was without power ~ but there was still more than enough electricity between Elizabeth Major and Tom Quinlan! They were stranded together in a Dallas high rise for the duration ~ and setting off enough sparks to light up the darkest night.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1993
435 people are currently reading
624 people want to read
About the author
Linda Howard
226 books7,161 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America and in 2005 Howard was awarded their Career Achievement Award.
Linda Howard lives in Gadsden, Alabama with her husband, Gary F. Howington, and two golden retrievers. She has three grown stepchildren and three grandchildren.
Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America and in 2005 Howard was awarded their Career Achievement Award.
Linda Howard lives in Gadsden, Alabama with her husband, Gary F. Howington, and two golden retrievers. She has three grown stepchildren and three grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
November 3, 2025
2.5 estrellas
Que libro más flojo, cuando lo he terminado me he quedado a cuadros porque me han faltado muchas páginas y esperaba algo más potente. Una pena la verdad
Que libro más flojo, cuando lo he terminado me he quedado a cuadros porque me han faltado muchas páginas y esperaba algo más potente. Una pena la verdad
January 26, 2016
Short and satisfying! Loved the narrator, too!
November 3, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️ three stars -
Three easy stars for this quick, escapist read from Howard. Quick and easy since it took me a short two hours to read this from beginning to end 📖, making this story the perfect in-between read for this reviewer.
I enjoyed this short story from Howard that centers around the backdrop of a major power outage in the middle of a Texas heatwave. Hot temps and hot romance ✅
Apparently this book was originally published as a Harlequin romance back in 2008; that should give you a fairly good picture as to the type of quick, easy read this one is.
Howard presents some of my favorite tropes here:
• second-chance romance ✅
• enemies to lovers ✅
• forced proximity ✅
Since it’s a short read, all of the trope arcs are condensed, but it’s still fulfilling within the overall premise due to the skill of the author.
As mentioned, I plowed through this one in just over two hours.
Do recommend for:
Easy reading ✅
Fulfilling romance ✅
No annoying angst ✅
Three solid stars.
Three easy stars for this quick, escapist read from Howard. Quick and easy since it took me a short two hours to read this from beginning to end 📖, making this story the perfect in-between read for this reviewer.
I enjoyed this short story from Howard that centers around the backdrop of a major power outage in the middle of a Texas heatwave. Hot temps and hot romance ✅
Apparently this book was originally published as a Harlequin romance back in 2008; that should give you a fairly good picture as to the type of quick, easy read this one is.
Howard presents some of my favorite tropes here:
• second-chance romance ✅
• enemies to lovers ✅
• forced proximity ✅
Since it’s a short read, all of the trope arcs are condensed, but it’s still fulfilling within the overall premise due to the skill of the author.
As mentioned, I plowed through this one in just over two hours.
Do recommend for:
Easy reading ✅
Fulfilling romance ✅
No annoying angst ✅
Three solid stars.
November 14, 2017
I generally find LH's men sexy and the sex scenes hot, but otherwise this had little to recommend it. There just wasn't much meat to it.
December 10, 2017
"Overload" is the story of Quinlan and Elizabeth.
What happens when exes get stuck with each other during a power outrage?
If the answer was loads of crazy hanky panky, you guessed it right!
Months ago, Elizabeth dumped Quinlan for being overprotective and dominating while not sharing any part of his personal life. They work in the same building but she has successfully avoided him, until an emergency lockdown due to power cut leaves the two trapped in a building together, and they are forced to address both their sexual tension and unresolved issues.
OTT alpha hero who is totally overbearing providing loads and LOADS of dirty hot sex in this short story. He is in love with her (and yes, he does want to breed!). Im so glad the heroine shared her traumatic past, and my heart went out to her- especially in understanding her reasons of distrust. The ending was rushed.
This was a pleasant read but 100% needed an epilogue!
Safe
3.5/5
What happens when exes get stuck with each other during a power outrage?
If the answer was loads of crazy hanky panky, you guessed it right!
Months ago, Elizabeth dumped Quinlan for being overprotective and dominating while not sharing any part of his personal life. They work in the same building but she has successfully avoided him, until an emergency lockdown due to power cut leaves the two trapped in a building together, and they are forced to address both their sexual tension and unresolved issues.
OTT alpha hero who is totally overbearing providing loads and LOADS of dirty hot sex in this short story. He is in love with her (and yes, he does want to breed!). Im so glad the heroine shared her traumatic past, and my heart went out to her- especially in understanding her reasons of distrust. The ending was rushed.
This was a pleasant read but 100% needed an epilogue!
Safe
3.5/5
December 26, 2021
2,5 estrellas. Se ha quedado viejuno.
April 9, 2017
3.5 (rounded up to 4) stars.
This was a short and sweet one by Linda Howard. Elizabeth dated Tom six months ago, but when she couldn't get him to open up and his controlling ways began to get to her, she broke it off without an explanation and has avoided him ever since. It just so happens that the day Tom decides to get his woman back is the same day that a heat wave causes the power in their building to crap out. The two are stuck together, and as you might imagine, smexy-times ensue.
There were several things that made me really like this one. For one thing: we did not spend a third of the book in the head of some villanous villain who villains everything up (have I mentioned lately how tired I am of those?). In fact, we don't even have a villain (unless you count global warming)! How cool is that? For another thing, the brevity of the material (I listened to the audiobook and I don't think it was more than 3 hours long) makes it go at a fairly clipped pace, without much filler. Tom was a total throwback to Howard's better alpha males (sorry, I know it's not very feminist of me, but I love her alpha heroes) and, surprisingly, Elizabeth managed to think through all the hormones Tom caused. She actually had a pretty good reason for keeping him away, IMO, and wasn't some overwrought My emotions made me emotion too hard! silly FMC.
One of the strong points of this book is probably also one of the drawbacks: the length. As much as I loved the fast pace of the book and the lack of filler, it didn't really feel like Elizabeth got to know Tom on any deep level and in light of her past, that felt like a pretty major omission.
I probably wouldn't go to any great lengths to buy this one, but if I ever see it for cheap, I would totally pick it up. I haven't looked it up, but I'd be willing to bet that this is a reissue of one of her older novels. I'd recommend it for fans of Howard's older stuff, before she decided that getting inside the heads of (generally really boring) bad guys (or bears -- because I will never stop making fun of Prey for that) for multiple chapters was the way to do suspense and before her MMCs started to get a little... well... boring. (Sorry Feminist Me, but by and large Howard's guys have totally gotten boring in more recent years. Stop hitting me with your hard copy of The Feminine Mystique! You haven't even read that one!)
This was a short and sweet one by Linda Howard. Elizabeth dated Tom six months ago, but when she couldn't get him to open up and his controlling ways began to get to her, she broke it off without an explanation and has avoided him ever since. It just so happens that the day Tom decides to get his woman back is the same day that a heat wave causes the power in their building to crap out. The two are stuck together, and as you might imagine, smexy-times ensue.
There were several things that made me really like this one. For one thing: we did not spend a third of the book in the head of some villanous villain who villains everything up (have I mentioned lately how tired I am of those?). In fact, we don't even have a villain (unless you count global warming)! How cool is that? For another thing, the brevity of the material (I listened to the audiobook and I don't think it was more than 3 hours long) makes it go at a fairly clipped pace, without much filler. Tom was a total throwback to Howard's better alpha males (sorry, I know it's not very feminist of me, but I love her alpha heroes) and, surprisingly, Elizabeth managed to think through all the hormones Tom caused. She actually had a pretty good reason for keeping him away, IMO, and wasn't some overwrought My emotions made me emotion too hard! silly FMC.
One of the strong points of this book is probably also one of the drawbacks: the length. As much as I loved the fast pace of the book and the lack of filler, it didn't really feel like Elizabeth got to know Tom on any deep level and in light of her past, that felt like a pretty major omission.
I probably wouldn't go to any great lengths to buy this one, but if I ever see it for cheap, I would totally pick it up. I haven't looked it up, but I'd be willing to bet that this is a reissue of one of her older novels. I'd recommend it for fans of Howard's older stuff, before she decided that getting inside the heads of (generally really boring) bad guys (or bears -- because I will never stop making fun of Prey for that) for multiple chapters was the way to do suspense and before her MMCs started to get a little... well... boring. (Sorry Feminist Me, but by and large Howard's guys have totally gotten boring in more recent years. Stop hitting me with your hard copy of The Feminine Mystique! You haven't even read that one!)
July 21, 2016
Overload by Linda Howard is a 2016 Harlequin MIRA publication.
Linda Howard has written some of the best romantic suspense novels I’ve ever read, but I never really got into her contemporary romances until the last couple of years. As a result, I was a little overwhelmed by the number of books Ms. Howard has published, and how many I had never read.
Recently, a nice handful of her older titles have been reissued, and formatted into electronic book form. This has made it a lot easier for me to obtain copies of some of her older and perhaps more obscure titles.
This novella length story was originally published back in 1993, and is approximately 75 pages in length.
Elizabeth and Tom were seeing each other, but after a hot night of passion, Elizabeth seemed to get a bad case of cold feet, and refused to give Tom the time of day. It doesn’t help that they work in the same building, with their offices right across the hall from each other.
When they find themselves trapped in their building during a massive Texas heat wave, resulting in a power outage, they are forced to spend time alone with each other, until the power is restored. Even Tom’s expertise in security systems can’t release them from the locked building.
Tom decides to take full advantage of the situation by insisting Elizabeth tell him what he did to scare her off, while Elizabeth refuses to budge. But, as the evening progresses, even the sultry Dallas heat can't compete with this couple.
I’m not sure how well this one will translate to the present day romance reader, since there is an unmistakable dated quality to it. But, on the other hand, with the controlling alpha male being all the rage and with some steamy love scenes included, I don’t see why it can’t hold its own.
The author has woven a cautionary tale into the story, one that some may roll their eyes at today, but I couldn’t help but think about some ‘romance’ novels written today that glorifies this very behavior. So, I still think the message rings true, and could serve as a word of warning, no matter how enlightened you think you are.
That sounds like a lot of drama for such a short book, but really, the tale is kind of atmospheric and sexy in its way.
Overall, I was happy to have discovered this one, even it is a little out of time in some ways.
3 stars
Linda Howard has written some of the best romantic suspense novels I’ve ever read, but I never really got into her contemporary romances until the last couple of years. As a result, I was a little overwhelmed by the number of books Ms. Howard has published, and how many I had never read.
Recently, a nice handful of her older titles have been reissued, and formatted into electronic book form. This has made it a lot easier for me to obtain copies of some of her older and perhaps more obscure titles.
This novella length story was originally published back in 1993, and is approximately 75 pages in length.
Elizabeth and Tom were seeing each other, but after a hot night of passion, Elizabeth seemed to get a bad case of cold feet, and refused to give Tom the time of day. It doesn’t help that they work in the same building, with their offices right across the hall from each other.
When they find themselves trapped in their building during a massive Texas heat wave, resulting in a power outage, they are forced to spend time alone with each other, until the power is restored. Even Tom’s expertise in security systems can’t release them from the locked building.
Tom decides to take full advantage of the situation by insisting Elizabeth tell him what he did to scare her off, while Elizabeth refuses to budge. But, as the evening progresses, even the sultry Dallas heat can't compete with this couple.
I’m not sure how well this one will translate to the present day romance reader, since there is an unmistakable dated quality to it. But, on the other hand, with the controlling alpha male being all the rage and with some steamy love scenes included, I don’t see why it can’t hold its own.
The author has woven a cautionary tale into the story, one that some may roll their eyes at today, but I couldn’t help but think about some ‘romance’ novels written today that glorifies this very behavior. So, I still think the message rings true, and could serve as a word of warning, no matter how enlightened you think you are.
That sounds like a lot of drama for such a short book, but really, the tale is kind of atmospheric and sexy in its way.
Overall, I was happy to have discovered this one, even it is a little out of time in some ways.
3 stars
July 19, 2024
The FMC was a bit bitchy for my taste but she had reasons and it was a novella so let's give her the benefit of the doubt
November 7, 2021
Reread 2021
October 29, 2021
Such a sleek sexy romance.
Safe and recommended.
Safe and recommended.
April 29, 2015
Older publication. A novelette. Quite boring. Here's the scoop, in short summary: Basically, no plot.
August 21, 2015
A novella about a couple that gets locked in a secure building during a power outage.
They are forced to finally talk about what drove them apart before they'd even begun six months ago, and get just enough time to start trying to fix things between them.
Gruff, high-handed hero and a heroine who is afraid of facing the same situation that almost broke her in the past.
Short and enjoyable, but not overly memorable.
They are forced to finally talk about what drove them apart before they'd even begun six months ago, and get just enough time to start trying to fix things between them.
Gruff, high-handed hero and a heroine who is afraid of facing the same situation that almost broke her in the past.
Short and enjoyable, but not overly memorable.
July 24, 2016
I have the vague impression that I've read this before - it's about ex-lovers who got stuck in their office building during a blackout that lasted over a day. As the length of the blackout was the only thing that stood out for me then, you can tell how memorable this book was! Another below average read from Ms Howard.
May 8, 2019
As Aaran said: "it didn't really feel like Elizabeth got to know Tom on any deep level and in light of her past, that felt like a pretty major omission". That's my only nit, but it isn't small :)
Read a second time: it doesn't stand that well. He's actually an 'abuser' like all people who don't understand a no. Lowering its rating
Read a second time: it doesn't stand that well. He's actually an 'abuser' like all people who don't understand a no. Lowering its rating
September 14, 2021
Elizabeth and Tom work in the same office building and they dated for a few months, until Elizabeth suddenly broke things off. On a hot summer day, the city is hit with a blackout and Tom and Elizabeth get stuck in the elevator together.
Elizabeth has given Tom the cold shoulder after she broke up with him and he never quite understood why. Now that she is stuck with him, Tom figures it's the perfect occasion to finally talk things out and figure out what exactly went wrong in their brief relationship.
Tom is a typical Linda Howard Alpha hero. He's dominant, possessive, and pushy. But he also gives Elizabeth space and time after she breaks up with him. There are a lot of caveman metaphors that made me die of laughter 😂 In fact, the hero's Alpha-ness is the main romantic conflict between him and Elizabeth, who's scared of being caged by a possessive man.
Overall, this was a quick and very steamy novella, with great banter. The old school vibe of the story is obvious through Tom's Alpha tendencies, but there is clear consent. If you're okay with Alpha heroes, then I'd argue that this novella stands the test of time. But as it is with most novellas, I wish the story had been longer.
Elizabeth has given Tom the cold shoulder after she broke up with him and he never quite understood why. Now that she is stuck with him, Tom figures it's the perfect occasion to finally talk things out and figure out what exactly went wrong in their brief relationship.
Tom is a typical Linda Howard Alpha hero. He's dominant, possessive, and pushy. But he also gives Elizabeth space and time after she breaks up with him. There are a lot of caveman metaphors that made me die of laughter 😂 In fact, the hero's Alpha-ness is the main romantic conflict between him and Elizabeth, who's scared of being caged by a possessive man.
Overall, this was a quick and very steamy novella, with great banter. The old school vibe of the story is obvious through Tom's Alpha tendencies, but there is clear consent. If you're okay with Alpha heroes, then I'd argue that this novella stands the test of time. But as it is with most novellas, I wish the story had been longer.
August 20, 2017
What a quick, steaming read!
I enjoyed this baby so much! But since I got used to the long and story building style from Linda Howard, I kind of felt like reading a novella. But it's more than a hundred pages, that's why I won't add this baby to my novella shelf.
The plot is classic, tinted with a slight love-hate relationship, but the love part definitely wins. Overall, a great quick read. Look forward to read more from LH! <3
I enjoyed this baby so much! But since I got used to the long and story building style from Linda Howard, I kind of felt like reading a novella. But it's more than a hundred pages, that's why I won't add this baby to my novella shelf.
The plot is classic, tinted with a slight love-hate relationship, but the love part definitely wins. Overall, a great quick read. Look forward to read more from LH! <3
July 7, 2015
Reviewed for Audiogals.net
Story C
Narration B+
Narrated by Lesa Lockford
At just under three hours, Overload is perfect for a quick vintage Linda Howard fix. But if you’re looking for anything with a plot, then pass this one by. There is little character development, and the plot is as follows: Tom and Elizabeth used to date. She broke it off because he was domineering and Elizabeth has past issues with controlling men – but she doesn’t tell him that. When they get stuck in the office building where they both work during a blackout (pre-cell phone days), the predictable happens.
Lesa Lockwood is a new-to-me narrator, who seems to have only a few books to her credit at this point. I like her voice, which is clear and crisp. She speaks distinctly and she reads at an even pace, not too slowly or quickly. The inflection and emotions in the characters voices are generally well done, although she understandably handles the females a little better than the male.
Given that I think Lesa had very little real material to work with, I was very pleased with her overall performance. I do have one fairly minor criticism. While she did change up her performance, adding emotion into the conversations, I never quite shook the feeling I was listening to a good reader “read”, instead of losing myself in the story. Part of that is the dubious quality of the story, I know, but part of it wasn’t. However, this is a quibble and I wouldn’t hesitate to listen to another book with Lesa as narrator.
Overload is old-school Linda Howard, with overbearing macho men and semi-helpless females. I’m happy Howard switched it up in her novels and gave many of her heroines some backbone. As for Overload, all I came away with was the feeling of… “Really?” Unless you get this very inexpensively, I’d try to find this in print if you’re interested in reading it. It’s not worth spending $24.95 or 1 credit at Audible, in my opinion.
Story C
Narration B+
Narrated by Lesa Lockford
At just under three hours, Overload is perfect for a quick vintage Linda Howard fix. But if you’re looking for anything with a plot, then pass this one by. There is little character development, and the plot is as follows: Tom and Elizabeth used to date. She broke it off because he was domineering and Elizabeth has past issues with controlling men – but she doesn’t tell him that. When they get stuck in the office building where they both work during a blackout (pre-cell phone days), the predictable happens.
Lesa Lockwood is a new-to-me narrator, who seems to have only a few books to her credit at this point. I like her voice, which is clear and crisp. She speaks distinctly and she reads at an even pace, not too slowly or quickly. The inflection and emotions in the characters voices are generally well done, although she understandably handles the females a little better than the male.
Given that I think Lesa had very little real material to work with, I was very pleased with her overall performance. I do have one fairly minor criticism. While she did change up her performance, adding emotion into the conversations, I never quite shook the feeling I was listening to a good reader “read”, instead of losing myself in the story. Part of that is the dubious quality of the story, I know, but part of it wasn’t. However, this is a quibble and I wouldn’t hesitate to listen to another book with Lesa as narrator.
Overload is old-school Linda Howard, with overbearing macho men and semi-helpless females. I’m happy Howard switched it up in her novels and gave many of her heroines some backbone. As for Overload, all I came away with was the feeling of… “Really?” Unless you get this very inexpensively, I’d try to find this in print if you’re interested in reading it. It’s not worth spending $24.95 or 1 credit at Audible, in my opinion.
October 9, 2020
A novella from LH, which means that I don't have to skip a bunch of "spies like us" stuff to get to the good stuff. ;-) I liked this heroine--she and the hero had dated previously and even had one amazing night together but when he comes off as too controlling (a major red flag for our heroine given her backstory), she kicks him to the curb--despite a bad case of treacherous body syndrome and the fact that she has fallen in love with him. That's right--a heroine with an excellent sense of self-preservation and a tough core!
Avoiding him has been tough in the six months since she broke it off--his business is across the hall from her own. And when the power goes out after hours one night, locking them in the secured building, he forces the confrontation about why she ended things. There's a LOT of sex, and he stupidly tries to use sex as an interrogation tool, which blows up in his face. The intense focus on the MCs without any outside distractions or action worked well in this short-form novel. We get to a HEA through communication for once--yeah, the heat is there, but it's pretty clear that she would have walked away if he hadn't met her needs in terms of honesty and open communication.
I enjoyed this one for its intense focus on the romance; any longer and it might have gotten boring, but it works well as a novella. (less)
Avoiding him has been tough in the six months since she broke it off--his business is across the hall from her own. And when the power goes out after hours one night, locking them in the secured building, he forces the confrontation about why she ended things. There's a LOT of sex, and he stupidly tries to use sex as an interrogation tool, which blows up in his face. The intense focus on the MCs without any outside distractions or action worked well in this short-form novel. We get to a HEA through communication for once--yeah, the heat is there, but it's pretty clear that she would have walked away if he hadn't met her needs in terms of honesty and open communication.
I enjoyed this one for its intense focus on the romance; any longer and it might have gotten boring, but it works well as a novella. (less)
October 8, 2017
I was hopeful that this book was going to subvert the old romance convention where the "alpha" know it all jerk "hero" teaches the heroine a lesson about love, that lesson being that he knows what is best for her. it was so close, she tries to stand up for herself, but she is betrayed by her stupid out of control desire, okay fine, it happens, but instead of dusting herself off and pushing back, she realizes that he actually was right all along and all her alarm bells were dumb, and they are going to live happily ever after with two kids. gag.
not only did it not subvert the worst of romance convention, it gave me serious hives, with the lack of consent, the hero never listening to her "no", and the plucky heroine totally reversing herself and being totes okay with this controlling jerk rearranging her life.
I love myself some trashy romance, but I'm this close to giving the genre up. stop being so stupid romance writers, I want to love you, let me love you.
not only did it not subvert the worst of romance convention, it gave me serious hives, with the lack of consent, the hero never listening to her "no", and the plucky heroine totally reversing herself and being totes okay with this controlling jerk rearranging her life.
I love myself some trashy romance, but I'm this close to giving the genre up. stop being so stupid romance writers, I want to love you, let me love you.
June 22, 2017
Re-Read June 2017
This is one of my favorite Linda Howard books, even though it's a novella. The story is both hot and with a plot that makes sense!
Tom and Elizabeth are dating for a while when after their first night of passion, she breaks up with him without an explanation. Even though the poor guy has tried to find out what happened, she doesn't given him the time of day. When they get stranded in the building they both work after a blackout, Tom uses this as a chance to confront Elizabeth, using his powers in bed (LOL!) to get her to explain herself and get her to give him another chance.
The best part of this book is that her reasons for breaking the relationship actually make sense. Given her past experience and what she knew about him, there were definitely red flags.
Totally recommended!
This is one of my favorite Linda Howard books, even though it's a novella. The story is both hot and with a plot that makes sense!
Tom and Elizabeth are dating for a while when after their first night of passion, she breaks up with him without an explanation. Even though the poor guy has tried to find out what happened, she doesn't given him the time of day. When they get stranded in the building they both work after a blackout, Tom uses this as a chance to confront Elizabeth, using his powers in bed (LOL!) to get her to explain herself and get her to give him another chance.
The best part of this book is that her reasons for breaking the relationship actually make sense. Given her past experience and what she knew about him, there were definitely red flags.
Totally recommended!
February 26, 2015
I'm not sure I believed the hero changed enough to make the heroine comfortable at the end. His revelation about his past wasn't really enough to make up for scaring her to death with his overbearing ways.
July 16, 2022
H was an asshole and not in the hot way but in the disregarding-feelings-of-h way. h had trauma and I loved her standing up for herself until she caved in the end. Oh boy they’re gonna have a healthy marriage in the future for sure…
February 16, 2025
3.5 stars
This is a fun and short read. I enjoyed both characters and seeing them hash out their history together. I thought Tom was great and he was all in with her.
This is a fun and short read. I enjoyed both characters and seeing them hash out their history together. I thought Tom was great and he was all in with her.
January 6, 2022
Chosen this book for resting and I'm not disappointed. This little steamy romance gave me excitement, entertainment and good mood. I so much like the writing LH's skills. But sometimes one thing irritates me in LH's romances. And this is privilege of women's pleasure than men. A lot in her books I read how men gave pleasure to woman in different ways. But when we come to men's pleasure, there we have nothing or a same sentences about men's pleasure. Despite this disadvantage , I liked this romance. Bc this book has many fantasy rather than reality...
June 25, 2025
Short and cute, I enjoyed it on my day off while I cleaned and cooked! Only 2 hours and change on audio, perfect amount of time to enjoy something while not having to come back to it. Characters were pretty well developed for such a short listen as well.
January 4, 2017
Eh there was some of the Linda Howard charming banter, but the story line fell a bit flat. There was potential in the character backstories and the chemistry, and it probably would have worked with a little more plot beyond the blackout. E.g. Having to thwart looters or find water.
January 4, 2016
Banal Characters and Storyline in this Novella.
FINAL DECISION: Pretty pointless story with characters that seemed two dimensional. I could guess the big secret from the beginning and it the heroine keeping the secret seemed pointless and neither character seemed to change during the story enough to make their happy ending seem earned.
THE STORY: Elizabeth Major broke off with Tom Quinlan six months ago because she felt he was controlling. An interior designer, Elizabeth's business happens to be across the hall from Tom's private investigation across the hall. During a blackout the two end up stranded and trapped together in the building. Tom wants another chance and intends on getting Elizabeth to divulge the secrets she is keeping.
OPINION: This story had promise but the characters were not interesting enough and their story not dramatic or emotional enough to justify the story. The entire drama comes from Elizabeth not telling Tom about her ex-husband and his treatment toward her. Once the secret is disclosed, the characters quickly resolved their problems. The story is one that I will probably forget by tomorrow. The only intriguing part of the story is the two main characters being locked in together in their office building during a heat wave and blackout. Good concept but the execution didn't do anything with that great concept.
WORTH MENTIONING: I've got nothing.
CONNECTED BOOKS: OVERLOAD is a standalone novella.
STAR RATING: I give this book 1.5 stars.
FINAL DECISION: Pretty pointless story with characters that seemed two dimensional. I could guess the big secret from the beginning and it the heroine keeping the secret seemed pointless and neither character seemed to change during the story enough to make their happy ending seem earned.
THE STORY: Elizabeth Major broke off with Tom Quinlan six months ago because she felt he was controlling. An interior designer, Elizabeth's business happens to be across the hall from Tom's private investigation across the hall. During a blackout the two end up stranded and trapped together in the building. Tom wants another chance and intends on getting Elizabeth to divulge the secrets she is keeping.
OPINION: This story had promise but the characters were not interesting enough and their story not dramatic or emotional enough to justify the story. The entire drama comes from Elizabeth not telling Tom about her ex-husband and his treatment toward her. Once the secret is disclosed, the characters quickly resolved their problems. The story is one that I will probably forget by tomorrow. The only intriguing part of the story is the two main characters being locked in together in their office building during a heat wave and blackout. Good concept but the execution didn't do anything with that great concept.
WORTH MENTIONING: I've got nothing.
CONNECTED BOOKS: OVERLOAD is a standalone novella.
STAR RATING: I give this book 1.5 stars.
June 10, 2016
This was nothing like what I've come to expect of Linda Howard. This short novella had a boring plot, no character development, and no suspense. We meet a pushy, overbearing hero and a wishy-washy heroine just as they are stuck in an office building after a city-wide blackout. That's about it. I'm slowly losing my taste for contemporary romance, so take my opinion with a grain of salt, but usually the character dialogue is witty enough to keep me reading. Overload just didn't have anything that stood out in a good way. I couldn't bring myself to care one bit about the characters.
I should've passed on this one. In the future, I'll stick to Howard's more popular romantic suspense work. Gave it an extra star for narrator. She did a good job.
I should've passed on this one. In the future, I'll stick to Howard's more popular romantic suspense work. Gave it an extra star for narrator. She did a good job.
August 21, 2016
Blackout! The entire Southeast was without power ~ but there was still more than enough electricity between Elizabeth Major and Tom Quinlan! They were stranded together in a Dallas high rise for the duration ~ and setting off enough sparks to light up the darkest night.
The effects of abuse is upfront in this book. It seemed like both personalities are battling against each other. Even love can't overcome the resolve to avoid another abusive relationship. You jump from one side to the other and become embroiled in their lives. 4 stars.
The effects of abuse is upfront in this book. It seemed like both personalities are battling against each other. Even love can't overcome the resolve to avoid another abusive relationship. You jump from one side to the other and become embroiled in their lives. 4 stars.
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