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Martin Sisters #1
Lost Found
Former librarian Jessica Martin is about a dozen cats away from embracing her inner spinster. At twenty-six, she's not only still a virgin, she hasn't even been kissed since high school. Her vivacious twin sister, Jamie, keeps trying to set her up with completely unsuitable guys. Prince Charming seems more like a cruel joke than ever until Detective Duncan Reinhold walks into Jessie's vintage bookstore looking for a missing girl. He's everything she's ever dreamed of, but hopelessly out of her league. Can she overcome a lifetime of insecurity and believe he's fallen for her?
Duncan Reinhold isn't looking for love. In fact, it's the very last thing on his mind when he meets Jessie. He’s looking for a missing girl, and he needs to remain focused on the search. But his attraction to Jessie can't be denied and he finds himself in a completely inappropriate clinch with the beautiful bookstore owner within minutes of their first meeting. He knows instantly that she is the one. Can he overcome the complications between them and his own loveless past to convince her that he's interested in being not just her first lover, but also her one and only true love?
Duncan Reinhold isn't looking for love. In fact, it's the very last thing on his mind when he meets Jessie. He’s looking for a missing girl, and he needs to remain focused on the search. But his attraction to Jessie can't be denied and he finds himself in a completely inappropriate clinch with the beautiful bookstore owner within minutes of their first meeting. He knows instantly that she is the one. Can he overcome the complications between them and his own loveless past to convince her that he's interested in being not just her first lover, but also her one and only true love?
ebook
First published December 11, 2011
18 people are currently reading
400 people want to read
About the author
Tamara Larson
9 books50 followersOkay, I'm actually pretty boring, so please don't be disappointed to find out that I am not actually married to a giant, alpha male with bulging muscles and jockey shorts. I don't even know a guy like that, though I wouldn't mind meeting one in real life rather than just my own twisted imagination.
What's interesting about me? Well, I'm a writer, but I also have a full-time office job which I actually enjoy when it's not sucking the life out of me.
I was ridiculously close to my mother (she passed away in 2019) and we actually used to look at real estate together, just like Lacey Ferguson and her mother from "Open House." The premise for that book is actually based on an Open House we went to one year where we met the devastatingly attractive builder. He very innocently showed us around, not even suspecting that he was going to be the subject of my next book. To this day I smile when I pass those particular townhouses because this poor guy has no idea that he's the subject of a romance novel that's been downloaded all over the world. Not him, exactly, but an idealized version of him. I wonder what he would think if he knew? Hmmm... I would email him if I knew his name. (Now, wouldn't that make for a good story? Hunky builder finds out he's the subject of a romance novel and seeks some revenge in the form of erotic torture....)
What else? Well, I've had the same hilarious best friend since 1985. We went to high school and university together and spent many nights watching movies and going to comedy clubs and bars. (Also drank our fair share of wine coolers during this period. It was the eighties. We had big hair too.) We live at opposite ends of the country now, but typically text just about every day. She's married to an incredibly patient guy and has two almost grown children now, but we still manage to keep our friendship alive despite living completely different lives. (And we drink Mondavi instead of wine coolers now.)
Yeah, I'm pretty lucky.
When I'm not writing about bulging muscles and jockey shorts I go for long walks and watch a lot of Netflix.
When I actually do sit down to write, I'm always surprised at how quickly time passes when I am in that creative space. After "Lost & Found" was rejected by Harlequin and Avon several years ago I stopped writing fiction for years. I was almost done the sequel, "The Love Laws" at that point, but I just abandoned it because I figured that writing was not my thing after all.
When I started again in 2014 I was shocked at how easy it was to submerge myself in that world, the one I had created for my characters. I also found a valuable lesson in being a writer. I'm in complete control of what happens next, but that doesn't stop when I retreat from the keyboard. I'm also the author of my own life and if the plot isn't going in a direction I want, then I have to take steps to get it back on track. Of course, in real life I can't kill off an irritating person with a particularly aggressive case of syphilis, but I do have the power to write myself a happy ending. I just have to figure out how to make it happen.
If I have one message for readers, it's this: Thank you for reading my words. Whether you paid full price or got it for free. I sincerely hope I've succeeded in entertaining you and giving you a little escape from a life that can seem mundane and occasionally downright cruel. If my work has made you smile and hopefully a little hot, then I've succeeded in my intentions.
Keep reading and I will be at my computer, looking for creative synonyms for penis.
I can be reached at tamaralarson@shaw.ca
What's interesting about me? Well, I'm a writer, but I also have a full-time office job which I actually enjoy when it's not sucking the life out of me.
I was ridiculously close to my mother (she passed away in 2019) and we actually used to look at real estate together, just like Lacey Ferguson and her mother from "Open House." The premise for that book is actually based on an Open House we went to one year where we met the devastatingly attractive builder. He very innocently showed us around, not even suspecting that he was going to be the subject of my next book. To this day I smile when I pass those particular townhouses because this poor guy has no idea that he's the subject of a romance novel that's been downloaded all over the world. Not him, exactly, but an idealized version of him. I wonder what he would think if he knew? Hmmm... I would email him if I knew his name. (Now, wouldn't that make for a good story? Hunky builder finds out he's the subject of a romance novel and seeks some revenge in the form of erotic torture....)
What else? Well, I've had the same hilarious best friend since 1985. We went to high school and university together and spent many nights watching movies and going to comedy clubs and bars. (Also drank our fair share of wine coolers during this period. It was the eighties. We had big hair too.) We live at opposite ends of the country now, but typically text just about every day. She's married to an incredibly patient guy and has two almost grown children now, but we still manage to keep our friendship alive despite living completely different lives. (And we drink Mondavi instead of wine coolers now.)
Yeah, I'm pretty lucky.
When I'm not writing about bulging muscles and jockey shorts I go for long walks and watch a lot of Netflix.
When I actually do sit down to write, I'm always surprised at how quickly time passes when I am in that creative space. After "Lost & Found" was rejected by Harlequin and Avon several years ago I stopped writing fiction for years. I was almost done the sequel, "The Love Laws" at that point, but I just abandoned it because I figured that writing was not my thing after all.
When I started again in 2014 I was shocked at how easy it was to submerge myself in that world, the one I had created for my characters. I also found a valuable lesson in being a writer. I'm in complete control of what happens next, but that doesn't stop when I retreat from the keyboard. I'm also the author of my own life and if the plot isn't going in a direction I want, then I have to take steps to get it back on track. Of course, in real life I can't kill off an irritating person with a particularly aggressive case of syphilis, but I do have the power to write myself a happy ending. I just have to figure out how to make it happen.
If I have one message for readers, it's this: Thank you for reading my words. Whether you paid full price or got it for free. I sincerely hope I've succeeded in entertaining you and giving you a little escape from a life that can seem mundane and occasionally downright cruel. If my work has made you smile and hopefully a little hot, then I've succeeded in my intentions.
Keep reading and I will be at my computer, looking for creative synonyms for penis.
I can be reached at tamaralarson@shaw.ca
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 24, 2014
A cute 3.5 stars read.
Former librarian Jessica Martin, who at 26 is a virgin, has closed herself off to any sort of romance.
Detective Duncan Reinhold , is searching for his missing half sister, that he has not seen in years, and is not looking for love.
They have an instant (so instant you sort of have to just suspend your disbelief) attraction to each other.
However, it sort of worked within the story, and they both individually and together questioned it and tried to slow it down.
There were a couple of cliché characters, the almost obligatory gay best friend that seems to abound in Contemporary romances these days, and the more worldly/slutty/free-spirited (delete as applicable) best friend/sister that must be there if you have a virgin, repressed heroine.
The ex wife, who is almost a caricature of the evil ex wife she is that nasty for no apparent reason, and a baddy who was a bit of a lame duck in all honesty.
There were a couple of things that were predictable
I liked Duncan more then Jessie. Jessie seemed to have a very blinkered view about what she thought someone should or should not do in a situation without giving much thought as to why the other person would do something, or indeed what they were going through, but I warmed up to her more toward the end, as she came to certain realisations on her own.
Saying all that however, is was cute, light-hearted read that I enjoyed (I just get the feeling it could have been more somehow.)
I really liked Kevin though, and Tamara Larson is an author I would have no issue reading again. Indeed, I will be buying Kevin and Jamie's book as soon as I have cleared out some of the books sat on my kindle waiting to be read.
Former librarian Jessica Martin, who at 26 is a virgin, has closed herself off to any sort of romance.
Detective Duncan Reinhold , is searching for his missing half sister, that he has not seen in years, and is not looking for love.
They have an instant (so instant you sort of have to just suspend your disbelief) attraction to each other.
However, it sort of worked within the story, and they both individually and together questioned it and tried to slow it down.
There were a couple of cliché characters, the almost obligatory gay best friend that seems to abound in Contemporary romances these days, and the more worldly/slutty/free-spirited (delete as applicable) best friend/sister that must be there if you have a virgin, repressed heroine.
The ex wife, who is almost a caricature of the evil ex wife she is that nasty for no apparent reason, and a baddy who was a bit of a lame duck in all honesty.
There were a couple of things that were predictable
I liked Duncan more then Jessie. Jessie seemed to have a very blinkered view about what she thought someone should or should not do in a situation without giving much thought as to why the other person would do something, or indeed what they were going through, but I warmed up to her more toward the end, as she came to certain realisations on her own.
Saying all that however, is was cute, light-hearted read that I enjoyed (I just get the feeling it could have been more somehow.)
I really liked Kevin though, and Tamara Larson is an author I would have no issue reading again. Indeed, I will be buying Kevin and Jamie's book as soon as I have cleared out some of the books sat on my kindle waiting to be read.
September 14, 2014
3.5 RATING- I've had several of the authors books floating around my kindle for a while now so glad I finally got around to trying one of them. Loved the premise of a sexy detective and a virgin librarian. Fun! Overall, a cute and sexy read. A couple editing issues, mainly a missing word or word out of place. Not anything major. Will read this author again.
November 16, 2015
I'm not completely sure about the title of this book. The heroine was a shy, virginal purveyor of used books. The hero was a SVU? kind of detective. He was looking for his runaway half sister. So... the sister was found and the virginity was lost? The books were found but the... I don't know. Don't really care.
Again, the heroine is a virgin, but this hero walks into her bookstore and almost immediately begins to ogle and grope her. And they kiss and she lets him and all I could think was, "Well, that escalated quickly."
The heroine is immediately immersed into the hero's problem of finding his sister, whom the heroine has seen in her store before. Heroine's sister knows the hero's sister, and that she works at the same burlesque/strip club as the heroine's sister.
Hero decides to go to the strip club. Well, the heroine is going too. Or bust. Why the heroines in books are made to be so insanely stupid is beyond me.
Anyway. Hero is still legally married to his estranged wife. Heroine finds this out when after a romping night of sex, the wifey comes home to the hero's apartment. Why this woman would even have a key or a way to get in, I have no clue, as she's been out of the picture for almost 4 years. And the hero is not a sleazy man-ho. He's never been unfaithful to his wife. Until he meets this heroine. And even before he slept with her, he reminded his estranged wife about the divorce papers she'd failed to sign.
Well, our hero has money. Or, at least, his grandmother has money. And wifey-poo wants every dime she can squeeze out of him.
And I really couldn't go on with reading this drama. I think I left off at the part where the hero had decided that he really was a sleaze-ball - because the heroine had left him - because he'd lied to her about a few things.
So that's where I stopped. I didn't feel like going on. It was getting ridiculous.
1 star.
Again, the heroine is a virgin, but this hero walks into her bookstore and almost immediately begins to ogle and grope her. And they kiss and she lets him and all I could think was, "Well, that escalated quickly."
The heroine is immediately immersed into the hero's problem of finding his sister, whom the heroine has seen in her store before. Heroine's sister knows the hero's sister, and that she works at the same burlesque/strip club as the heroine's sister.
Hero decides to go to the strip club. Well, the heroine is going too. Or bust. Why the heroines in books are made to be so insanely stupid is beyond me.
Anyway. Hero is still legally married to his estranged wife. Heroine finds this out when after a romping night of sex, the wifey comes home to the hero's apartment. Why this woman would even have a key or a way to get in, I have no clue, as she's been out of the picture for almost 4 years. And the hero is not a sleazy man-ho. He's never been unfaithful to his wife. Until he meets this heroine. And even before he slept with her, he reminded his estranged wife about the divorce papers she'd failed to sign.
Well, our hero has money. Or, at least, his grandmother has money. And wifey-poo wants every dime she can squeeze out of him.
And I really couldn't go on with reading this drama. I think I left off at the part where the hero had decided that he really was a sleaze-ball - because the heroine had left him - because he'd lied to her about a few things.
So that's where I stopped. I didn't feel like going on. It was getting ridiculous.
1 star.
January 23, 2014
If you are willing to give this book a try despite its mommy porn cover and the need to suspend your disbelief for the first chapters, you will be rewarded with a really good love story!
It's highly entertaining with well fleshed out characters, has lots of funny dialogues and contains some steamy and explicitly described situations.
The author's writing style is so engaging, that I am heading to read the next one in this series straight away!
Some reviewers stated the need of an editor for this book.
There are some misspelled and misused words here and there; but not only have I read far worse books regarding the editing, I did not find them this distracting here.
It's highly entertaining with well fleshed out characters, has lots of funny dialogues and contains some steamy and explicitly described situations.
The author's writing style is so engaging, that I am heading to read the next one in this series straight away!
Some reviewers stated the need of an editor for this book.
There are some misspelled and misused words here and there; but not only have I read far worse books regarding the editing, I did not find them this distracting here.
March 30, 2014
4 sexy and sweet stars
This book was free on amazon and to be honest the first thing that peaked my interest was the sexy cover, but this was a great choice to read!!!... Shy (virgin) librarian Jessie Martin and hot detective Duncan Reinhold meet while he was looking for his runaway sister. Their romance began fast but it was very well written, it was believable and sweet and sexy *sigh*.
This books contains sexy scenes, great characters and the necessary amount of drama, simply loved it!. Totally worth reading!
Oh and I was hoping for another book pairing Jessie's twin sister with Duncan best friend and there is a sneak peek at the end!... can't wait to read that one.
This book was free on amazon and to be honest the first thing that peaked my interest was the sexy cover, but this was a great choice to read!!!... Shy (virgin) librarian Jessie Martin and hot detective Duncan Reinhold meet while he was looking for his runaway sister. Their romance began fast but it was very well written, it was believable and sweet and sexy *sigh*.
This books contains sexy scenes, great characters and the necessary amount of drama, simply loved it!. Totally worth reading!
Oh and I was hoping for another book pairing Jessie's twin sister with Duncan best friend and there is a sneak peek at the end!... can't wait to read that one.
December 5, 2012
I got this book as a free read on Amazon.co.uk and I can honestly say I loved it. Sweet and Sexy is the best way to describe it. Even though I didn't putchase it, I certainly would have. If you like a simple romance, but with hot and sexy scenes, then I think you will love this too. It certainly got my pulse racing and Duncan is well worth the read. Need to read the next book now.......wonder when it's out. :-)
May 7, 2016
Loved the premise, but was disappointed.
I did not like how the characters acted. The story and the way the characters behaved did not work for me.
You may love this.
I did not like how the characters acted. The story and the way the characters behaved did not work for me.
You may love this.
October 3, 2017
ugh DNF
October 20, 2014
possible Spoilers...
I'm not sure why I liked this as much as I did. Virgin bookstore owner with tragic past, stuck in hyper-defensive mode has given up on any kind of relationship and actively avoids them.
Handsome, brooding Detective meets heroine while searching for his missing half-sister with whom heroine has a loose connection. Insta-lust ensues. Heroine resists mightily and at great length, but finally decides to use detective for sex whilst protecting her battered heart from any emotional entanglements. Yeah, cause that always works so well.
The writing wasn't bad and the side characters were amusing, if somewhat predictable. Due the the heroine's frustrating, dogged determination to hold the hero at arms length emotionally, and other delays, the story was very slow getting out of the gate. Or maybe I just like my books smuttier. She used every excuse possible to find fault and shove the hero out of her life. I give the detective major bonus point for patience and persistence. Yes, he should have told her about The Big Secret(tm), but that would have ruined half the drama. Ugh. Anyway, I liked the HEA, the warmth of their connection, and the plot was decent, if slow in parts.
I'm not sure why I liked this as much as I did. Virgin bookstore owner with tragic past, stuck in hyper-defensive mode has given up on any kind of relationship and actively avoids them.
Handsome, brooding Detective meets heroine while searching for his missing half-sister with whom heroine has a loose connection. Insta-lust ensues. Heroine resists mightily and at great length, but finally decides to use detective for sex whilst protecting her battered heart from any emotional entanglements. Yeah, cause that always works so well.
The writing wasn't bad and the side characters were amusing, if somewhat predictable. Due the the heroine's frustrating, dogged determination to hold the hero at arms length emotionally, and other delays, the story was very slow getting out of the gate. Or maybe I just like my books smuttier. She used every excuse possible to find fault and shove the hero out of her life. I give the detective major bonus point for patience and persistence. Yes, he should have told her about The Big Secret(tm), but that would have ruined half the drama. Ugh. Anyway, I liked the HEA, the warmth of their connection, and the plot was decent, if slow in parts.
August 13, 2012
Whew, was there a lot of serial tension in this book.! Right from the starting gate, 26 year old virgin Jessica captures the attention of a cop on a missing persons lead. Never having met before, thy immediately begin acting on their attraction a day never look back. That was a bit unrealistic to me: Jessica held on to her virginity for such a long time and Duncan, the cop, comes along and she's instantly ready? Nah.
The rest of the book makes for a good read with a missing sister, raging pimp, crazy wife and filthy rich grandmother. Oh! and Jessica has a twin sister, Jamie (who is a stripper). Good stuff.
The rest of the book makes for a good read with a missing sister, raging pimp, crazy wife and filthy rich grandmother. Oh! and Jessica has a twin sister, Jamie (who is a stripper). Good stuff.
April 15, 2013
Duncan Reinhold isn't looking for love. In fact, it's the very last thing on his mind when he meets Jessie. He’s looking for a missing girl, and he needs to remain focused on the search. But his attraction to Jessie can't be denied and he finds himself in a completely inappropriate clinch with the beautiful bookstore owner within minutes of their first meeting. He knows instantly that she is the one. Can he overcome the complications between them and his own loveless past to convince her that he's interested in being not just her first lover, but also her one and only true love?
July 8, 2015
3.5stars. I kinda liked this book although I wasn't sure if I should even attempt it from the look of the cover. It was a really good read with plenty of drama but not as suspenseful or angsty as it could have been. The banter between the H/h was fun but there were a few moments when you felt like telling the heroine to get a grip but overall I liked this one and will definitely read this author again
August 12, 2013
Eh - when bad covers happen to good books!!! 3.5 stars
I don't know what made me look past the dreadful mummy porn cover on this book (I'm usually way more shallow :) but I'm so glad I did!
This was a lovley story which I enjoyed, good characters and satisfying relationship with a good back story, I would read more by this author but she deserves better cover art
I don't know what made me look past the dreadful mummy porn cover on this book (I'm usually way more shallow :) but I'm so glad I did!
This was a lovley story which I enjoyed, good characters and satisfying relationship with a good back story, I would read more by this author but she deserves better cover art
January 8, 2014
4.5 stars. Really loved the book, it was well written. Loved all of the characters and looking forward to lay my hands on Jamie's story. It was just missing that little I-don't-think-I-can-do-anything-else-before-I-know-what's-happening-next - spark. :)
August 13, 2012
It was a good story, I want to know what happens with the sister so am looking forward to the next book.
September 28, 2012
It was ok for a romance - had a lot more plot than other books so focused on the romance. I was annoyed by the heroine a bit - so reactionary! Whatevs, it was cute.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2012
Fun quick read but the back and forth between the two main characters is distracting as you know going into it they will end up together anyway!
December 22, 2012
a nice little story about an older virgin and the cop she wants as her first lover
January 26, 2013
maybe more 3.5 stars. good story. a little overdramatic the whole back and forth thing but a good enjoyable read over all. look forward to the next book.
February 4, 2018
Duncan and Jessie, what a lovely story, thoroughly enjoyed it. Must be added to your TBR.
April 29, 2013
Great premise but it just didn't hold my interest, therefore, I'm giving up. With so many amazing books out there I don't want to waste the reading time on something that just isn't pulling me in.
Want to read
January 7, 2015J l berg
January 21, 2014
Really good book loved it
August 9, 2015
Still making my way through free ebooks.. I clearly have no control when it comes to the one click buy button...
at least this one wasn't THAT bad.
at least this one wasn't THAT bad.
July 17, 2014
Homonym Hell ; chord/cord, peek/peak/pique, break/brake, heel/heal.
Fun smutty story, but glad I picked it up as a freebie
Fun smutty story, but glad I picked it up as a freebie
October 1, 2016
2.5 stars
Not horrible but nothing to write home about.
Not horrible but nothing to write home about.
kindle-i-own-to-read
January 25, 2013Amazon Freebie 01/24/2013
March 4, 2013
Wow, buena trama aunque un poco lenta
May 3, 2013
Great book. Loved the storyline and characters. Would highly recommend.
July 29, 2013
This book was great just bought the second about her twin sister!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews