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An Unforgettable Lady #1
An Unforgettable Lady
She thought she had everything she ever wanted...
until she met the only man she'd ever need. . . .
Forced into the spotlight by her fabulous wealth, heiress Grace Hall isn't always prepared for the consequences of her standing. When a string of attacks against the city's most prominent women leaves Grace vulnerable, the refined beauty reluctantly hires a bodyguard. Now she finds herself subject to the ironclad will of her new protector. In spite of her frustration, Grace is drawn to John Smith in ways she can't explain. For beneath his tough exterior and dark past, there's an inner core that is tantalizingly seductive.
John knows that when you're a professional bodyguard, it needs to be all business. But such conduct makes for a solitary life with few ties and too many good-byes. Grace was supposed to be just another assignment on a long list. Yet there's something about her that gets under his skin. With each passing day, the attraction grows more intense - until John is faced with a decision he never thought he'd have to make. Can he give up the only life he's ever known to be with the only woman he's ever loved?
until she met the only man she'd ever need. . . .
Forced into the spotlight by her fabulous wealth, heiress Grace Hall isn't always prepared for the consequences of her standing. When a string of attacks against the city's most prominent women leaves Grace vulnerable, the refined beauty reluctantly hires a bodyguard. Now she finds herself subject to the ironclad will of her new protector. In spite of her frustration, Grace is drawn to John Smith in ways she can't explain. For beneath his tough exterior and dark past, there's an inner core that is tantalizingly seductive.
John knows that when you're a professional bodyguard, it needs to be all business. But such conduct makes for a solitary life with few ties and too many good-byes. Grace was supposed to be just another assignment on a long list. Yet there's something about her that gets under his skin. With each passing day, the attraction grows more intense - until John is faced with a decision he never thought he'd have to make. Can he give up the only life he's ever known to be with the only woman he's ever loved?
375 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 2, 2004
216 people are currently reading
2608 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Bird
38 books1,192 followersJessica Bird also writes as J.R. Ward
Jessica Rowley Pell Bird was born on 1969 in Massachusetts, USA. She is the daughter of Maxine F. and W. Gillette Bird, Jr. She began writing as a child, penning her thoughts in diaries as well as inventing short stories. She read her first Harlequin Presents novel in a rose garden when she was in her teens. She was hooked immediately. By the time she went to college, she had boxes and boxes of Harlequins and Silhouettes. Every year, her mother would ask why all those books had to live in the house and Jess would reply that if even one of them disappeared she would know. (She'd catalogued them.)
Jess finished her first romance manuscript the summer before her freshman year of college. She attended Smith College and graduated with a double major in history and art history. She then received a law degree from Albany Law School. Shortly after that, she began working in the healthcare industry in Boston. She spent many years as one of the premier medical center’s Chief of Staff. While working as a lawyer in Boston, she completed two novels more and started a number of partials. In 2001, Bird married John Neville Blakemore III. Both her mother and her new husband kept telling her to send something in to an agent, a publisher, the Tooth Fairy, anyone. She thought they were nuts, but eventually got her nerve up and bought a lot of stamps. Since getting published, she has written contemporary romances as Jessica Bird and paranormal romances as J. R. Ward. She has been a Rita Award finalist, received two Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice nominations and has been a HOLT medallion finalist.
New England born and bred, Jess is surprised to find herself living south of the Mason Dixon line. (But that's what happens when you marry a Southern gentleman.) She and her husband live with their golden retriever, who oversees her writing in a supervisory role.
Jessica Rowley Pell Bird was born on 1969 in Massachusetts, USA. She is the daughter of Maxine F. and W. Gillette Bird, Jr. She began writing as a child, penning her thoughts in diaries as well as inventing short stories. She read her first Harlequin Presents novel in a rose garden when she was in her teens. She was hooked immediately. By the time she went to college, she had boxes and boxes of Harlequins and Silhouettes. Every year, her mother would ask why all those books had to live in the house and Jess would reply that if even one of them disappeared she would know. (She'd catalogued them.)
Jess finished her first romance manuscript the summer before her freshman year of college. She attended Smith College and graduated with a double major in history and art history. She then received a law degree from Albany Law School. Shortly after that, she began working in the healthcare industry in Boston. She spent many years as one of the premier medical center’s Chief of Staff. While working as a lawyer in Boston, she completed two novels more and started a number of partials. In 2001, Bird married John Neville Blakemore III. Both her mother and her new husband kept telling her to send something in to an agent, a publisher, the Tooth Fairy, anyone. She thought they were nuts, but eventually got her nerve up and bought a lot of stamps. Since getting published, she has written contemporary romances as Jessica Bird and paranormal romances as J. R. Ward. She has been a Rita Award finalist, received two Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice nominations and has been a HOLT medallion finalist.
New England born and bred, Jess is surprised to find herself living south of the Mason Dixon line. (But that's what happens when you marry a Southern gentleman.) She and her husband live with their golden retriever, who oversees her writing in a supervisory role.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 414 reviews
June 7, 2010
5+ stars – Contemporary Romance/Romantic Suspense
WOW, I really loved this contemporary romance from Jessica Bird, aka J.R. Ward, about tough, cold, cynical, hardened, and emotionally detached ex Special Forces soldier turned private security specialist John Smith, who’s hired as a bodyguard by billionaire New York socialite Grace Woodward Hall, the Countess von Sharone, to protect her from a serial killer targeting her and five other high-profile society women.
Although John feels initial disdain for Grace’s glamorous, perfected appearance and glitzy lifestyle and she resents his gruff, remote attitude and rigid, high-handed ways, they prove the old adage that opposites attract. Despite their differences and occasional hostility, John and Grace experience an immediate, intense attraction and volatile lust that becomes increasingly difficult for them to deny or ignore, especially as they get to know each other better and when deeper feelings enter the mix. He is determined to maintain a professional relationship and has vowed never to become emotionally involved with a woman, even when Grace starts to chip away and thaw his icy exterior and threatens to blow his carefully laid plans for a solitary, unattached life all to hell. Can Grace convince John, a hard-edged man scarred both inside and out, to take a chance on love and a future together?
This is only the second book I’ve read by Jessica Bird, and although I liked Beauty And The Black Sheep, this was much closer to what I’d expected from a contemporary romance written by the WARDen. Although the love scenes are still fairly mild, especially compared to the steamy Black Dagger Brotherhood series, John Smith is definitely a tortured alpha hero reminiscent of the Brothers, and something about the heated, intense emotional encounters and explosive sexual tension between John and Grace reminded me a little bit at times of Zsadist and Bella, which I loved of course.
I really enjoyed An Unforgettable Lady, and I’ll definitely read the sequel, An Irresistible Bachelor, and the rest of her Moorehouse Legacy Silhouette series, which also features related characters. Big 5 stars!
WOW, I really loved this contemporary romance from Jessica Bird, aka J.R. Ward, about tough, cold, cynical, hardened, and emotionally detached ex Special Forces soldier turned private security specialist John Smith, who’s hired as a bodyguard by billionaire New York socialite Grace Woodward Hall, the Countess von Sharone, to protect her from a serial killer targeting her and five other high-profile society women.
Although John feels initial disdain for Grace’s glamorous, perfected appearance and glitzy lifestyle and she resents his gruff, remote attitude and rigid, high-handed ways, they prove the old adage that opposites attract. Despite their differences and occasional hostility, John and Grace experience an immediate, intense attraction and volatile lust that becomes increasingly difficult for them to deny or ignore, especially as they get to know each other better and when deeper feelings enter the mix. He is determined to maintain a professional relationship and has vowed never to become emotionally involved with a woman, even when Grace starts to chip away and thaw his icy exterior and threatens to blow his carefully laid plans for a solitary, unattached life all to hell. Can Grace convince John, a hard-edged man scarred both inside and out, to take a chance on love and a future together?
This is only the second book I’ve read by Jessica Bird, and although I liked Beauty And The Black Sheep, this was much closer to what I’d expected from a contemporary romance written by the WARDen. Although the love scenes are still fairly mild, especially compared to the steamy Black Dagger Brotherhood series, John Smith is definitely a tortured alpha hero reminiscent of the Brothers, and something about the heated, intense emotional encounters and explosive sexual tension between John and Grace reminded me a little bit at times of Zsadist and Bella, which I loved of course.
I really enjoyed An Unforgettable Lady, and I’ll definitely read the sequel, An Irresistible Bachelor, and the rest of her Moorehouse Legacy Silhouette series, which also features related characters. Big 5 stars!
June 3, 2011
Opening line:"John Smith checked his watch and looked around the plaza Hotel's ballroom."
Originally released in 2004, An Unforgettable Lady was just recently re-issued with a fancy new and improved cover. I’ve enjoyed all of Jessica Bird aka JR Ward’s earlier writing and thankfully this was no exception. No matter the stage in her career Bird/Ward can write the desirable and initially unobtainable dark and tortured heroes like no other. As a result I fell hard for John Smith the cold, scarred, I am an island, and everybody back the hell off bodyguard. Yup he’s all kinds of ways yummy. And if any of you BDB fans need a little more encouragement he reminds me very much of an early Zsadist prototype, here’s why from page 147;
His first instinct was to yell. He was infuriated that she had challenged him, exposed him. That she was near enough so he could smell her. That she was offering compassion and understanding and warmth when he was battle scarred, hard and ugly.
I think you're beautiful" she said softly, looking up at him.
"Then your f***ing blind"
She shook her head slowly "I see you, all of you. Clearly."
I should also mention that the sexual tension in this story is off the chart hot. While I had trouble relating (on any level) to our glamorous billionaire heroine, Countess Grace blah biddy blah and all her fancy galas, gowns, gems and uppity social status the palpable sexual tension and opposites attract theme between our couple more than made up for it. And I just have to say again John Smith--well his character is reason alone to read this book.
Forced into the spotlight by her considerable wealth, soon to be divorced heiress Grace Hall has just found herself the target of a serial killer. Following the publication of a Times article showcasing the 6 most prominent women in New York, one by one those women, her friends have started turning up dead. Reluctantly Grace is forced to hire a bodyguard, now however she finds herself subject to the ironclad rules of her captivating protector. Oh and did I mention he’s moved into her Penthouse? In spite of their differences and his cold demeanour Grace is drawn to him in ways she can’t explain or stop herself from acting on.
John Smith is a ghost. As a military trained assassin, professional bodyguard and all-round badass John hasn’t heard his real name spoken in so long now that he’s almost forgotten who he used to be. With no fixed address, social insurance number or ties to anyone he moves from one job to the next, content in his solitary life. Meeting Grace changes everything though and with the attraction between them growing stronger and harder to ignore with each passing day, John may be forced to break his own rule. Never get personal with the client. For John she was just meant to be another assignment how is it that she’s managed to get so thoroughly embedded in his skin? And how is he going to leave the only women he’s ever loved when the jobs over?
Oh I forgot to mention, anyone that’s read Bird’s Moorehouse Legacy series will be thrilled with a brief cameo from another awesome tortured hero; Alex Moorehouse the sailing champion from.From The First. I just love how Ward ties all her books together this way. Cheers
Originally released in 2004, An Unforgettable Lady was just recently re-issued with a fancy new and improved cover. I’ve enjoyed all of Jessica Bird aka JR Ward’s earlier writing and thankfully this was no exception. No matter the stage in her career Bird/Ward can write the desirable and initially unobtainable dark and tortured heroes like no other. As a result I fell hard for John Smith the cold, scarred, I am an island, and everybody back the hell off bodyguard. Yup he’s all kinds of ways yummy. And if any of you BDB fans need a little more encouragement he reminds me very much of an early Zsadist prototype, here’s why from page 147;
His first instinct was to yell. He was infuriated that she had challenged him, exposed him. That she was near enough so he could smell her. That she was offering compassion and understanding and warmth when he was battle scarred, hard and ugly.
I think you're beautiful" she said softly, looking up at him.
"Then your f***ing blind"
She shook her head slowly "I see you, all of you. Clearly."
I should also mention that the sexual tension in this story is off the chart hot. While I had trouble relating (on any level) to our glamorous billionaire heroine, Countess Grace blah biddy blah and all her fancy galas, gowns, gems and uppity social status the palpable sexual tension and opposites attract theme between our couple more than made up for it. And I just have to say again John Smith--well his character is reason alone to read this book.
Forced into the spotlight by her considerable wealth, soon to be divorced heiress Grace Hall has just found herself the target of a serial killer. Following the publication of a Times article showcasing the 6 most prominent women in New York, one by one those women, her friends have started turning up dead. Reluctantly Grace is forced to hire a bodyguard, now however she finds herself subject to the ironclad rules of her captivating protector. Oh and did I mention he’s moved into her Penthouse? In spite of their differences and his cold demeanour Grace is drawn to him in ways she can’t explain or stop herself from acting on.
John Smith is a ghost. As a military trained assassin, professional bodyguard and all-round badass John hasn’t heard his real name spoken in so long now that he’s almost forgotten who he used to be. With no fixed address, social insurance number or ties to anyone he moves from one job to the next, content in his solitary life. Meeting Grace changes everything though and with the attraction between them growing stronger and harder to ignore with each passing day, John may be forced to break his own rule. Never get personal with the client. For John she was just meant to be another assignment how is it that she’s managed to get so thoroughly embedded in his skin? And how is he going to leave the only women he’s ever loved when the jobs over?
Oh I forgot to mention, anyone that’s read Bird’s Moorehouse Legacy series will be thrilled with a brief cameo from another awesome tortured hero; Alex Moorehouse the sailing champion from.From The First. I just love how Ward ties all her books together this way. Cheers
February 20, 2020
Was this actually written by J.R.Ward? I guess considering this is among the first few books she wrote I'm gonna give this a pass. Not that it is a bad book but something that screams J.R. Ward is missing in this for me. I guess for me the bad ass vampire lords are more appealing than the bodyguards XD
May 3, 2008
Lover's of J. R. Ward will want to read this contemporary romance written under her real name, Jessica Bird.
The story will not disappoint. UNFORGETTABLE LADY centers around a heroine who finds herself the target of a serial killer. She needs protection and hires the yummy, alpha male hero. Ms. Ward brings the two together in an unusual manner which creates romantic tension that builds and becomes tangible to the reader. Although this book is not part of a series, you will meet characters from this book in succeeding stories written by Ms. Ward. The book is great! Read it! Enjoy it!
The story will not disappoint. UNFORGETTABLE LADY centers around a heroine who finds herself the target of a serial killer. She needs protection and hires the yummy, alpha male hero. Ms. Ward brings the two together in an unusual manner which creates romantic tension that builds and becomes tangible to the reader. Although this book is not part of a series, you will meet characters from this book in succeeding stories written by Ms. Ward. The book is great! Read it! Enjoy it!
August 10, 2010
Having read the Moorehouse Legacy series, which I ravenously devoured in a matter of days, and the first (and so far only) O’Banyon Brothers book which I loved, I had some pretty high expectations for An Unforgettable Lady which might be part of my problem with the book. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it, but I didn’t LOVE it as I did the other Jessica Bird books that I’ve read.
Important Message : This book has been re-released and included a nice note from the author explaining the evolution of her stories and writing style. The only part I’ll mention here, because I feel that it’s most important and speaks volumes to her growth as a writer is that she’s stopped allowing her Rice Krispies to decide the direction her stories will take. She still allows them some input, but she’s much more disciplined a writer now, and she – not her breakfast cereal – has the final say. Whew! And praise the Scribe Virgin for that because comparing this book with what I find to be her more professional, polished work found in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series written under the name, J. R. Ward, I have to say that I’m not sure the BDB would have the same intensity if Snahp, Crahckle and Pohp were calling the shots. Can you imagine what the Brothers names might be like? Fibher, Whohle Grahain, Mihlk, Nutrishous, Delishous... Yeah, see… those just don’t have the same feel, nor would they strike the same level of terror into the Lessers as names like Tohrment, Zsadist, Phury, Wrath, Tehrror, Vishous, Muhrder or even Bloodletter do.
But I digress….
The first half moved a bit slowly for my taste and there was an exorbitant amount of internal dialog which sounded a lot like this: John Smith: I want her, but I can’t have her. She deserves better. My job is dangerous, she’d never be safe. She’s just a job. When this is over, I’m walking away. I have to say, that got really, really old, really, really fast. And from Grace Hall we got a whole lot of: So what if I’m a trjillionaire socialite and he a bodyguard—that shouldn’t matter to him one bit. Why does he care if I’m a Countess, it’s by marriage only… and speaking of marriage, why should it matter that I’m a married woman – we’re getting a divorce! So yeah, spending ½ a book inside their heads like that just didn’t “do it” for me.
Then we get to the 2nd half and things finally start taking off. People are being gruesomely killed by a neat freak who rips their throats out and then tidies up their clothing, a chef who is 2 eggs shy of a 3 egg omelet trying to singlehandedly take over the catering needs of most of New York City, and a disgruntled employee who is trying to overthrow the Hall Foundation’s hierarchy. Those things made for some interesting reading.
One thing that bugged me was Grace’s incessant griping about not needing a body guard when clearly she did – she was on the list of women featured in the newspaper article which was also the killer’s checklist for who was next on his hit list. Well, she wanted a body guard, but didn’t want to have to alter her lifestyle at all. Not exactly the brightest bulb in the box, if you ask me. I didn’t feel anything special for her or about her, and didn’t feel that she was deserving of John as her happily ever after.
Now John Smith… *sigh* Wow. What a man! He was angsty, sexy, demanding, scarred, sexy, intelligent, intense, sexy… whether writing as J.R. Ward or Jessica Bird, this author knows how to put together one incredible hunk of male. Did I mention he’s one sexy guy who can guard my body any day?
And speaking of sexy, the sexual intensity was quite high, but there wasn’t much of the act itself. They wanted each other, they knew they did, but kept talking each other out of it. I was like, WTH? I mean, when Grace finally gave John the green light and he was getting into it, she throws on the brakes. Then later, he’s all hot and bothered, she’s like “oh, yeah,” then HE puts a stop to it. It worked for awhile, but then seriously, it went from being exciting sexual tension to frustration and overkill.
Overall, after looking past the slow start to the story and Grace’s TSTL (Too Stupid To Live) moments, it was an enjoyable read. I can’t say I’ll add it to my “keepers” shelf, but I am glad I read it, and I’m looking forward to An Irresistible Bachelor.
Important Message : This book has been re-released and included a nice note from the author explaining the evolution of her stories and writing style. The only part I’ll mention here, because I feel that it’s most important and speaks volumes to her growth as a writer is that she’s stopped allowing her Rice Krispies to decide the direction her stories will take. She still allows them some input, but she’s much more disciplined a writer now, and she – not her breakfast cereal – has the final say. Whew! And praise the Scribe Virgin for that because comparing this book with what I find to be her more professional, polished work found in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series written under the name, J. R. Ward, I have to say that I’m not sure the BDB would have the same intensity if Snahp, Crahckle and Pohp were calling the shots. Can you imagine what the Brothers names might be like? Fibher, Whohle Grahain, Mihlk, Nutrishous, Delishous... Yeah, see… those just don’t have the same feel, nor would they strike the same level of terror into the Lessers as names like Tohrment, Zsadist, Phury, Wrath, Tehrror, Vishous, Muhrder or even Bloodletter do.
But I digress….
The first half moved a bit slowly for my taste and there was an exorbitant amount of internal dialog which sounded a lot like this: John Smith: I want her, but I can’t have her. She deserves better. My job is dangerous, she’d never be safe. She’s just a job. When this is over, I’m walking away. I have to say, that got really, really old, really, really fast. And from Grace Hall we got a whole lot of: So what if I’m a trjillionaire socialite and he a bodyguard—that shouldn’t matter to him one bit. Why does he care if I’m a Countess, it’s by marriage only… and speaking of marriage, why should it matter that I’m a married woman – we’re getting a divorce! So yeah, spending ½ a book inside their heads like that just didn’t “do it” for me.
Then we get to the 2nd half and things finally start taking off. People are being gruesomely killed by a neat freak who rips their throats out and then tidies up their clothing, a chef who is 2 eggs shy of a 3 egg omelet trying to singlehandedly take over the catering needs of most of New York City, and a disgruntled employee who is trying to overthrow the Hall Foundation’s hierarchy. Those things made for some interesting reading.
One thing that bugged me was Grace’s incessant griping about not needing a body guard when clearly she did – she was on the list of women featured in the newspaper article which was also the killer’s checklist for who was next on his hit list. Well, she wanted a body guard, but didn’t want to have to alter her lifestyle at all. Not exactly the brightest bulb in the box, if you ask me. I didn’t feel anything special for her or about her, and didn’t feel that she was deserving of John as her happily ever after.
Now John Smith… *sigh* Wow. What a man! He was angsty, sexy, demanding, scarred, sexy, intelligent, intense, sexy… whether writing as J.R. Ward or Jessica Bird, this author knows how to put together one incredible hunk of male. Did I mention he’s one sexy guy who can guard my body any day?
And speaking of sexy, the sexual intensity was quite high, but there wasn’t much of the act itself. They wanted each other, they knew they did, but kept talking each other out of it. I was like, WTH? I mean, when Grace finally gave John the green light and he was getting into it, she throws on the brakes. Then later, he’s all hot and bothered, she’s like “oh, yeah,” then HE puts a stop to it. It worked for awhile, but then seriously, it went from being exciting sexual tension to frustration and overkill.
Overall, after looking past the slow start to the story and Grace’s TSTL (Too Stupid To Live) moments, it was an enjoyable read. I can’t say I’ll add it to my “keepers” shelf, but I am glad I read it, and I’m looking forward to An Irresistible Bachelor.
May 22, 2016
John Smith: a common-enough name for a dangerous man. He owned the small elite firm, Black Watch, Ltd. His employees were former Rangers, Marines and Navy Seals. He trusted them implicitly.
With his military and intelligence background, he was a personal security specialist. It was a fancy name for bodyguard. But not just any ordinary protector, he was an investigator, a champion and, if needed, a killer. He was at the top of his field and thrived on not taking a break; he always had a new job just around the corner.
Grace Woodward Hall, Countess von Sharone, had discovered after her brief marriage that her husband was not up to par. He was unafraid of using her inheritance to fund his lifestyle. He was also verbally abusive; they had separated and she had applied for a divorce but she was keeping everything under wraps. She was afraid of what the publicity would do to the family name.
The stress of this was bad enough but then she found herself included in a list of prominent women that were being murdered. Somehow she was connected but neither Grace nor the police understood why.
John Smith was her answer.
John was everything that Grace was not. He accepted the job with the understanding that she would follow his directions at all times. But neither one was prepared for the chemistry that thrummed whenever they were near each other.
This story was written in typical Jessica Bird aka J. R. Ward fashion with an uber-alpha male, a strong heroine and intense emotional turmoil. The bulk of this romance concerned their friction and tension. Each of them spent a lot of time arguing in spite of their own internal dialogue.
Have any lovers loved as these lovers loved? Only Jessica Bird knows for sure.
With his military and intelligence background, he was a personal security specialist. It was a fancy name for bodyguard. But not just any ordinary protector, he was an investigator, a champion and, if needed, a killer. He was at the top of his field and thrived on not taking a break; he always had a new job just around the corner.
Grace Woodward Hall, Countess von Sharone, had discovered after her brief marriage that her husband was not up to par. He was unafraid of using her inheritance to fund his lifestyle. He was also verbally abusive; they had separated and she had applied for a divorce but she was keeping everything under wraps. She was afraid of what the publicity would do to the family name.
The stress of this was bad enough but then she found herself included in a list of prominent women that were being murdered. Somehow she was connected but neither Grace nor the police understood why.
John Smith was her answer.
John was everything that Grace was not. He accepted the job with the understanding that she would follow his directions at all times. But neither one was prepared for the chemistry that thrummed whenever they were near each other.
This story was written in typical Jessica Bird aka J. R. Ward fashion with an uber-alpha male, a strong heroine and intense emotional turmoil. The bulk of this romance concerned their friction and tension. Each of them spent a lot of time arguing in spite of their own internal dialogue.
Have any lovers loved as these lovers loved? Only Jessica Bird knows for sure.
January 15, 2010
I admit I picked up this book because the author is well-known and successful in another genre, and I was curious but do not read paranormal. Judging by this 1 book, I cannot see what the fuss is about. The writing style is simple, the romance is so-so, the suspense plot is feeble with only 2 viable suspects, and the heroine pulls a couple of TSTL moves.
The plot centers around a serial killer offing prominent society women. Jhon, er John, is the bodyguard hired to protect the heroine who's on the list. Unfortunately the author doesn't build or sustain suspense very well. I never felt any creeping menace or sense of inexorable approaching doom. Huge chunks of pages went by with nary a mention of the killings. And with only 2 suspects (I guessed correctly if anyone's interested), there's not much mystery either.
Grace was an okay heroine. She just seemed overwhelmed for a large portion of the book, trod on by everyone from her mother to her employees. She starts to get it together towards the end but then ruins things with the aforementioned TSTL stunts. Why must heroines who know there's a killer after them elude their bodyguards to go jogging alone? Why do heroines have Mace handy to use on said bodyguards but never on the actual villain? To add to the cliches in the plot, the police arrest the wrong man and the heroine is unprotected when the real killer strikes. Of course the hero arrives at the last second.
John didn't really grab me because I never felt that I got to know him well. There was some good banter between him and Grace in the beginning, but it got tiresome as they refused to give in to their attraction or were conveniently interrupted while groping. The unresolved sexual tension led to frustration bordering on cruelty, with the hero getting mean and flinging the wh_re word at Grace. Ughh. At least when they finally gave in, after a couple of hundred pages of frustration, I expected fireworks to go off. Instead we get only 2 pages of to-the-point lovemaking. And subsequent sex is all behind closed doors. Now I don't demand graphic sex scenes in every book (really!), but when an author builds up the lust so much there needs to be some payoff.
The whole subplot with Callie felt tacked on and didn't interest me at all. I could see that it helped strengthen Grace by removing the weight of her father's shadow, but it occurred too late in the book to be totally successful with that. It also distracted from the serial killer plot just when it should have been rising to its climax and dissipated whatever tension the author had managed to build. It got increasingly obvious too that Callie was being set up as the heroine in a sequel and the space devoted to that proved annoying. Plus I didn't think it showed the heroine in a great light either, that she seemed most concerned whether Callie was a golddigger who would try to claim a part of her father's estate. Nor did she offer to share any of her inheritance with this close relative who was clearly down on her luck.
In short, this book had a lot of problems. If the romance was more convincing, I might still have given it 4 stars. But it felt too much like lust rather than love to me. I didn't like that John abandoned his job of guarding Grace near the end (even if he did arrange a substitute). Would a man in love do that when the woman he loved was in danger? Also there weren't enough or hardly any scenes of the hero and heroine being actually happy together. A longer epilogue with some loving scenes would have gone far toward painting a convincing HEA here.
At least my curiosity about this author has been satisfied. I won't be picking up any of her other books any time soon and this one goes on the swap shelf.
The plot centers around a serial killer offing prominent society women. Jhon, er John, is the bodyguard hired to protect the heroine who's on the list. Unfortunately the author doesn't build or sustain suspense very well. I never felt any creeping menace or sense of inexorable approaching doom. Huge chunks of pages went by with nary a mention of the killings. And with only 2 suspects (I guessed correctly if anyone's interested), there's not much mystery either.
Grace was an okay heroine. She just seemed overwhelmed for a large portion of the book, trod on by everyone from her mother to her employees. She starts to get it together towards the end but then ruins things with the aforementioned TSTL stunts. Why must heroines who know there's a killer after them elude their bodyguards to go jogging alone? Why do heroines have Mace handy to use on said bodyguards but never on the actual villain? To add to the cliches in the plot, the police arrest the wrong man and the heroine is unprotected when the real killer strikes. Of course the hero arrives at the last second.
John didn't really grab me because I never felt that I got to know him well. There was some good banter between him and Grace in the beginning, but it got tiresome as they refused to give in to their attraction or were conveniently interrupted while groping. The unresolved sexual tension led to frustration bordering on cruelty, with the hero getting mean and flinging the wh_re word at Grace. Ughh. At least when they finally gave in, after a couple of hundred pages of frustration, I expected fireworks to go off. Instead we get only 2 pages of to-the-point lovemaking. And subsequent sex is all behind closed doors. Now I don't demand graphic sex scenes in every book (really!), but when an author builds up the lust so much there needs to be some payoff.
The whole subplot with Callie felt tacked on and didn't interest me at all. I could see that it helped strengthen Grace by removing the weight of her father's shadow, but it occurred too late in the book to be totally successful with that. It also distracted from the serial killer plot just when it should have been rising to its climax and dissipated whatever tension the author had managed to build. It got increasingly obvious too that Callie was being set up as the heroine in a sequel and the space devoted to that proved annoying. Plus I didn't think it showed the heroine in a great light either, that she seemed most concerned whether Callie was a golddigger who would try to claim a part of her father's estate. Nor did she offer to share any of her inheritance with this close relative who was clearly down on her luck.
In short, this book had a lot of problems. If the romance was more convincing, I might still have given it 4 stars. But it felt too much like lust rather than love to me. I didn't like that John abandoned his job of guarding Grace near the end (even if he did arrange a substitute). Would a man in love do that when the woman he loved was in danger? Also there weren't enough or hardly any scenes of the hero and heroine being actually happy together. A longer epilogue with some loving scenes would have gone far toward painting a convincing HEA here.
At least my curiosity about this author has been satisfied. I won't be picking up any of her other books any time soon and this one goes on the swap shelf.
November 10, 2010
I don’t normally read contemporary romance novels. In fact, it seems rare that I read books without any paranormal beings. I had heard about this book from the Romance Readers Reading Challenges group and I have to admit that I was curious. I didn’t know that J.R. Ward had used another pen name -- Jessica Bird. I must say that I like this incarnation of J.R. Ward. This is definitely a nice break from all those vampires, werewolves, and other assorted paranormal creatures I had been reading about.
The edition I read was a reissue published in 2010. I would recommend reading the author’s note at the beginning of the book. It does give you some added insights into the characters and the writer’s frame of mind while writing this book.
An Unforgettable Lady is the story of Grace Woodward Hall or the Countess von Sharone and her bodyguard John Smith. Grace is a wonderful character. She is from a wealthy society family; she is beautiful, smart, and a genuinely caring person. Grace is married, but she is separated from her good for nothing playboy husband.
One word can describe John Smith: hawt! He is handsome, protective, dangerous, and sexy. John has a special ops background. John enters Grace’s life during a gala event where he is responsible for the security of an ambassador. There is an instant chemistry between John and Grace and they share a very hot kiss. When Grace’s life is threatened later on in the book, John comes highly recommended as a body guard. Grace decides to hire John and the delicious sexual tension begins.
There is a long, long build up in this relationship. The sexual tension is exquisite. At times, I felt like I needed a cold shower.
I really liked John’s character. John is conflicted. His military background made him aloof at times. Due to the nature of his chosen career, he has never had a long term relationship with a woman. He offers Grace a sexual relationship where he would satisfy her needs, but with no strings attached. When his job was finished, he would leave. John lets Grace ponder this situation to decide what she would like to do. Interestingly enough, this is where we see a little of the “Wardisms” come out – the possessiveness, the “mine”, the need to possess. John can not commit to Grace, yet he can not stand the thought of any man being interested in her.
I found that I had guessed who the culprit was about 2/3 of the way through. And no, it wasn’t the butler!
My only criticism of this book was the lack of any kind of showdown between Grace and her estranged husband, Ranulf. I find it odd that an estranged husband would not do anything once his wife’s life was threatened. Odder still, that they didn’t have a shouting match or any kind of confrontation at the end of the marriage. It seemed to all be handled rather impersonally by the lawyers.
The novel had an entirely different feel from J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood books, yet in a way, some of her “Wardisms” did manage to slip in. I didn’t mind; I liked that series. I think I like this book more. I really enjoyed reading this book and I am looking forward to getting my hands on An Irresistible Bachelor for more of this side of J.R. Ward.
The edition I read was a reissue published in 2010. I would recommend reading the author’s note at the beginning of the book. It does give you some added insights into the characters and the writer’s frame of mind while writing this book.
An Unforgettable Lady is the story of Grace Woodward Hall or the Countess von Sharone and her bodyguard John Smith. Grace is a wonderful character. She is from a wealthy society family; she is beautiful, smart, and a genuinely caring person. Grace is married, but she is separated from her good for nothing playboy husband.
One word can describe John Smith: hawt! He is handsome, protective, dangerous, and sexy. John has a special ops background. John enters Grace’s life during a gala event where he is responsible for the security of an ambassador. There is an instant chemistry between John and Grace and they share a very hot kiss. When Grace’s life is threatened later on in the book, John comes highly recommended as a body guard. Grace decides to hire John and the delicious sexual tension begins.
There is a long, long build up in this relationship. The sexual tension is exquisite. At times, I felt like I needed a cold shower.
I really liked John’s character. John is conflicted. His military background made him aloof at times. Due to the nature of his chosen career, he has never had a long term relationship with a woman. He offers Grace a sexual relationship where he would satisfy her needs, but with no strings attached. When his job was finished, he would leave. John lets Grace ponder this situation to decide what she would like to do. Interestingly enough, this is where we see a little of the “Wardisms” come out – the possessiveness, the “mine”, the need to possess. John can not commit to Grace, yet he can not stand the thought of any man being interested in her.
I found that I had guessed who the culprit was about 2/3 of the way through. And no, it wasn’t the butler!
My only criticism of this book was the lack of any kind of showdown between Grace and her estranged husband, Ranulf. I find it odd that an estranged husband would not do anything once his wife’s life was threatened. Odder still, that they didn’t have a shouting match or any kind of confrontation at the end of the marriage. It seemed to all be handled rather impersonally by the lawyers.
The novel had an entirely different feel from J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood books, yet in a way, some of her “Wardisms” did manage to slip in. I didn’t mind; I liked that series. I think I like this book more. I really enjoyed reading this book and I am looking forward to getting my hands on An Irresistible Bachelor for more of this side of J.R. Ward.
April 19, 2012
Primeiro que tudo: odeio o título do livro! «Diz-me quem és' não dá com nada! O original é An Unforgettable Lady e penso que ficava melhor 'Uma mulher inesquecível'...ficava mais giro. 'Diz-me quem és' ficava bem num livro em que houvesse algum problema de identidade ou assim...o que não acontece neste caso.
Passando ao livro, resumidamente temos Grace Hall, herdeira de uma grande fortuna, que depois da morte do pai, o substitui na fundação de património que este geria e tenta provar, numa série de eventos organizados por ela, que o seu trabalho é bom e que o seu pai iria estar orgulhoso dela.
Inesperadamente começam uma série de assassinatos de conhecidas de Grace e vendo a sua vida em perigo contrata John Smith, um guarda-costas sério, frio,dedicado ao trabalho. Para protegê-la 24 horas por dias, chegam a acordo que John irá viver com Grace. Depressa se apercebem da atracção que sentem um pelo outro mas até ficarem juntos irão percorrer um longo caminho. Ajudando à festa, está a condição de Grace, que separada do marido, legalmente ainda se encontra casada.
No meio disto tudo Grace ainda reencontra uma irmã desaparecida e isso faz com que já não veja o seu pai como aquele herói que ela sempre imaginou.
A parte policial da história é mal explorada e apressada, durante a maior parte do livro, já nem me lembrava a razão de John e Grace se terem conhecido, e nunca desconfiei quem era o assassino. No fim revela-se quem é o assassino e Grace corre perigo mas como sempre o príncipe salva a princesa e tudo fica bem.
Quem gosta de um bom romance, com um toque de mistério irá apreciar este livro. É uma leitura rápida, divertida, que não puxa muito pela cabeça. Gostei muito dos protagonistas, embora a Grace por vezes irritava um bocadinho e outras vezes não sentia tanta paixão entre eles os dois. Com tanto desentendimento entre os protagonistas, a leitura a meio do livro esmoreceu um bocadinho mas o final compensou. Venha o próximo livro. 'An Irresistble Bachelor' :)
Passando ao livro, resumidamente temos Grace Hall, herdeira de uma grande fortuna, que depois da morte do pai, o substitui na fundação de património que este geria e tenta provar, numa série de eventos organizados por ela, que o seu trabalho é bom e que o seu pai iria estar orgulhoso dela.
Inesperadamente começam uma série de assassinatos de conhecidas de Grace e vendo a sua vida em perigo contrata John Smith, um guarda-costas sério, frio,dedicado ao trabalho. Para protegê-la 24 horas por dias, chegam a acordo que John irá viver com Grace. Depressa se apercebem da atracção que sentem um pelo outro mas até ficarem juntos irão percorrer um longo caminho. Ajudando à festa, está a condição de Grace, que separada do marido, legalmente ainda se encontra casada.
No meio disto tudo Grace ainda reencontra uma irmã desaparecida e isso faz com que já não veja o seu pai como aquele herói que ela sempre imaginou.
A parte policial da história é mal explorada e apressada, durante a maior parte do livro, já nem me lembrava a razão de John e Grace se terem conhecido, e nunca desconfiei quem era o assassino. No fim revela-se quem é o assassino e Grace corre perigo mas como sempre o príncipe salva a princesa e tudo fica bem.
Quem gosta de um bom romance, com um toque de mistério irá apreciar este livro. É uma leitura rápida, divertida, que não puxa muito pela cabeça. Gostei muito dos protagonistas, embora a Grace por vezes irritava um bocadinho e outras vezes não sentia tanta paixão entre eles os dois. Com tanto desentendimento entre os protagonistas, a leitura a meio do livro esmoreceu um bocadinho mas o final compensou. Venha o próximo livro. 'An Irresistble Bachelor' :)
May 25, 2009
i enjoyed this book alot::the H/H are complete opposites::he is a strong alpha type guy. ex-military::no past::no planned future::and whilst at times i wanted john to open to Grace and tell her more about his past etc i came to the conclusion that this kind of strong alpha guy just wouldn't do that:what you get in the book would be exactly true to character::and probably if he had suddenly become Mr Mushy it'd have killed the story for me as it would then be to predictable::the heroine is kind::considerate::and somewhat dominated by her family and their reputation::but she's no walk over::she's a strong lady and ultimately finds happiness::but not thru being manipulative::its when John realizes what he needs that it all comes together::
August 17, 2016
I don't know why but in no way I could get into the book. Althoug, it has an intriguing plot, whenever I tried to read it, I felt sleepy and lost fight at last and fell a sleep. I think, either story development or pacing is not right for my taste.
So here I am, I gave up finishing it, unfortunatelly, marking it another DNF. :(
So here I am, I gave up finishing it, unfortunatelly, marking it another DNF. :(
September 6, 2013
Reviewed for THC Reviews
An Unforgettable Lady is another solid story from Jessica Bird aka J. R. Ward. It's kind of a hybrid of a standard contemporary romance and a romantic suspense. I say this because the suspense element is present but somewhat in the background as a group of high society ladies who were all featured in the same newspaper article are picked off by a serial killer one-by-one. The heroine is one of the women from the article, so she rather reluctantly hires the hero to act as her personal bodyguard. However, there are no direct attempts made against her until the end of the story, and I have to admit that it was pretty easy to figure out who the bad guy was. In between the murders, there is a nice romance with the hero and heroine experiencing a strong, immediate attraction that eventually leads to a steamy affair.
Grace was a very strong woman who never backed down from John's caveman act when they first met and she subsequently hired him to protect her. She was controlled most of her life, first by her parents and later her husband, and she's not about to let John waltz in and take over too. She's struggling to find her footing as an independently wealthy woman who has just taken the helm of her father's charitable foundation upon his recent death, while the sexist, old-school boy's club is trying to push her out. I like that she runs the family foundation differently than her father and avoids spending money on frivolous things like any good charitable organization should, even though the men in power disagree with her methods. Outwardly, Grace is very controlled, but inwardly, she's sometimes falling apart as she suffers from anxiety and self-doubt. She has a very complicated and strained relationship with her mother that obviously contributes to her self-esteem issues, which I would have liked to have seen explored in a little more depth. Grace also later discovers that there were things about her father she thought were true, but weren't. It would have been nice to see her feelings on that subject brought out a little more too.
Initially, John seems to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder where the rich and powerful are concerned. I think this is because, although his job is to protect them, he sees into their personal lives in a way that few others do and generally doesn't like the reality of what most of these types are like. It takes him a little while to figure out that Grace is different. To her, John seems a little too much like her controlling parents and husband, so he has to find the delicate balance between lightening up a little in their personal dealings and still being hard-nosed from the bodyguard angle in order to effectively protect her. John can definitely come off as being quite arrogant at times, but Grace often surprises him and occasionally makes him smile. He possesses an iron grip of self-control and cares enough about Grace to not want to hurt her even though he's caught up in an intense desire for her. Despite his passion though, John is still pretty closed off throughout most of the story. I really would have loved to see him open up a little more. He also has a pretty tortured past that was only briefly touched upon, and I would have liked to have seen explored in more detail.
Grace and John have both been deeply hurt in their pasts, and I think each of them recognizes that hurt in one another as well as the need to be in control. I really enjoyed the opposite sides of the track characterization and how Grace is a poised, society lady while John is a rough around the edges former special ops guy who doesn't put much stock in wealth and prestige. They didn't exactly start off on the right foot, but in spite of their early bickering, the sexual tension was high from the beginning. It was never a question of will they or won't they, but when. And when they finally do give into their attraction, the love scenes were very sensual, though nowhere near as hot as the author writes in her more recent books. The one thing I have noticed in these early books of Ms. Bird's is that her heroes have a tendency to hold out on expressing their feelings until the final pages of the novel which doesn't always lend itself well to building and maintaining an emotional connection, but despite this, it was still a very good story.
Although the author's website doesn't officially connect any of her contemporary books as a series, I've seen An Unforgettable Lady grouped with Heart of Gold and An Irresistible Bachelor as The Walking Papers Trilogy, although I have no idea where that series title came from. Other sites simply have An Unforgettable Lady and An Irresistible Bachelor paired as a duet. In any case, all three books contain common characters. Grace is best friends with Carter, the heroine of Heart of Gold, and was first introduced in that book. Carter and her hero, Nick, appear in the early part of An Unforgettable Lady when Grace goes to visit them, and Nick is instrumental in Grace hiring John as her bodyguard. An Unforgettable Lady also introduces Grace's good friend, Jack, and another young woman, Callie, who become the hero and heroine of An Irresistible Bachelor. At the very least, I would recommend reading these latter two books in order, otherwise, readers will get one fairly significant spoiler.
Overall, I enjoyed reading An Unforgettable Lady. I loved Ms. Bird's little shout out within the narrative to Gaelen Foley, another of my favorite authors. Other than my few minor complaints, this book was very well-written and in my opinion, reflects an earlier version of the style that Jessica Bird has developed in her highly successful J. R. Ward persona. Anyone who has enjoyed her Black Dagger Brotherhood and Fallen Angels books will probably like this one too.
An Unforgettable Lady is another solid story from Jessica Bird aka J. R. Ward. It's kind of a hybrid of a standard contemporary romance and a romantic suspense. I say this because the suspense element is present but somewhat in the background as a group of high society ladies who were all featured in the same newspaper article are picked off by a serial killer one-by-one. The heroine is one of the women from the article, so she rather reluctantly hires the hero to act as her personal bodyguard. However, there are no direct attempts made against her until the end of the story, and I have to admit that it was pretty easy to figure out who the bad guy was. In between the murders, there is a nice romance with the hero and heroine experiencing a strong, immediate attraction that eventually leads to a steamy affair.
Grace was a very strong woman who never backed down from John's caveman act when they first met and she subsequently hired him to protect her. She was controlled most of her life, first by her parents and later her husband, and she's not about to let John waltz in and take over too. She's struggling to find her footing as an independently wealthy woman who has just taken the helm of her father's charitable foundation upon his recent death, while the sexist, old-school boy's club is trying to push her out. I like that she runs the family foundation differently than her father and avoids spending money on frivolous things like any good charitable organization should, even though the men in power disagree with her methods. Outwardly, Grace is very controlled, but inwardly, she's sometimes falling apart as she suffers from anxiety and self-doubt. She has a very complicated and strained relationship with her mother that obviously contributes to her self-esteem issues, which I would have liked to have seen explored in a little more depth. Grace also later discovers that there were things about her father she thought were true, but weren't. It would have been nice to see her feelings on that subject brought out a little more too.
Initially, John seems to have a bit of a chip on his shoulder where the rich and powerful are concerned. I think this is because, although his job is to protect them, he sees into their personal lives in a way that few others do and generally doesn't like the reality of what most of these types are like. It takes him a little while to figure out that Grace is different. To her, John seems a little too much like her controlling parents and husband, so he has to find the delicate balance between lightening up a little in their personal dealings and still being hard-nosed from the bodyguard angle in order to effectively protect her. John can definitely come off as being quite arrogant at times, but Grace often surprises him and occasionally makes him smile. He possesses an iron grip of self-control and cares enough about Grace to not want to hurt her even though he's caught up in an intense desire for her. Despite his passion though, John is still pretty closed off throughout most of the story. I really would have loved to see him open up a little more. He also has a pretty tortured past that was only briefly touched upon, and I would have liked to have seen explored in more detail.
Grace and John have both been deeply hurt in their pasts, and I think each of them recognizes that hurt in one another as well as the need to be in control. I really enjoyed the opposite sides of the track characterization and how Grace is a poised, society lady while John is a rough around the edges former special ops guy who doesn't put much stock in wealth and prestige. They didn't exactly start off on the right foot, but in spite of their early bickering, the sexual tension was high from the beginning. It was never a question of will they or won't they, but when. And when they finally do give into their attraction, the love scenes were very sensual, though nowhere near as hot as the author writes in her more recent books. The one thing I have noticed in these early books of Ms. Bird's is that her heroes have a tendency to hold out on expressing their feelings until the final pages of the novel which doesn't always lend itself well to building and maintaining an emotional connection, but despite this, it was still a very good story.
Although the author's website doesn't officially connect any of her contemporary books as a series, I've seen An Unforgettable Lady grouped with Heart of Gold and An Irresistible Bachelor as The Walking Papers Trilogy, although I have no idea where that series title came from. Other sites simply have An Unforgettable Lady and An Irresistible Bachelor paired as a duet. In any case, all three books contain common characters. Grace is best friends with Carter, the heroine of Heart of Gold, and was first introduced in that book. Carter and her hero, Nick, appear in the early part of An Unforgettable Lady when Grace goes to visit them, and Nick is instrumental in Grace hiring John as her bodyguard. An Unforgettable Lady also introduces Grace's good friend, Jack, and another young woman, Callie, who become the hero and heroine of An Irresistible Bachelor. At the very least, I would recommend reading these latter two books in order, otherwise, readers will get one fairly significant spoiler.
Overall, I enjoyed reading An Unforgettable Lady. I loved Ms. Bird's little shout out within the narrative to Gaelen Foley, another of my favorite authors. Other than my few minor complaints, this book was very well-written and in my opinion, reflects an earlier version of the style that Jessica Bird has developed in her highly successful J. R. Ward persona. Anyone who has enjoyed her Black Dagger Brotherhood and Fallen Angels books will probably like this one too.
May 5, 2017
Grace Woodward Hall is a member of the social elite, has inherited money and the Hall Foundation from her father, and married into royalty. She's beautiful, kind, and people genuinely like her. She's basically got a perfect life. Oh, wait. Did I forget to tell you that she has a stalker and a serial killer is on the loose killing off friends of hers? How about the fact that she's getting a divorce from her "perfect" husband? Yeah, life ain't so perfect. Enter John Smith. Grace meets Smith at the party of one of her friends, not knowing that he's a "security specialist" or that her friend was being murdered. Upon visiting her best friend, Grace finds out John's real occupation. She insists that she doesn't need a bodyguard and he leaves. Then another of her friends is killed. Time to bring in the professional. John and Grace come to an agreement and he moves in with her. Temporarily, of course. He's very clear on that: when the job is done, he's leaving.
As they spend time together, they develop an intense desire for each other. One that they can never seem to tap into as there's always some kind of interruption. A week after her 30th birthday, another of Grace's friends is killed. Grace and Smith go to her mother's house in Newport, where they have heated encounters and multiple understandings. Finally, they give into their passion and make love. When her mother finds out and demands Smith leave, he and Grace go back to New York. Not long after, in a moment of brief memory lapse, Grace goes out on a run where she is followed by someone. And promptly finds out that her "stalker" is in fact a woman named Callie. The half-sister she never knew about. They don't get off to a great start as Grace harbors hostility towards the woman who shattered the illusions she had about her father, but then she invites Callie back to her place to dry off. The apartment where Smith is pretty much panicking; he's called in his men and the NYPD to find Grace as he had no idea where she was. Upon her return, he screams at her and their relationship becomes tense. They later move past this, but Smith thinks that he can't take care of Grace in the right way and calls in his right hand man, Tiny, to take his place. A few days later, the night of Grace's large Gala at the Hall Foundation, Tiny shows up and Smith finds out that the NYPD had a suspect in custody as the fourth woman attacked awoke from her coma and made a statement. The night is a huge success. This is, of course, after Grace Maces Tiny and sends him to the hospital while she has one of her security men stick to her. When everyone is gone, Grace goes to her office to get her belongings. Meanwhile, Smith gets a revealing call and rushes to her aid. The killer had Grace cornered in her office! Smith bursts in and tackles Frederique, the caterer spurned by all the women he attacked. When he's arrested and Grace and Smith finally have time alone, he reveals that he loves her and wants to spend his life with her. They kiss and make up, and live happily ever after.
Grace was a very likable character. I loved her from the beginning, from the moment she shot sarcastic quips at John Smith. I admired her strength and vulnerability. I also admired her honesty, especially the way she was willing to acknowledge her feelings.
John Smith was your typical tortured hero, with his own special qualities thrown in the mix. He was an amazing character who often reminded me of Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood. He was a strong, capable male, but he was also very closed, sharing very little of his life with Grace or anyone else.
I have to admit that I had a bit of a hostile attitude towards Jack Walker through most of the book. It irked me how flirty he was with Grace, even though I knew they were just friends. I'll be interested to see how his romance with Callie builds and grows in An Irresistible Bachelor.
I knew, knew Frederique was the killer from the moment he came into the book and started throwing all Grace's friends' names around. There was something very suspicious about him the whole time he was there talking to her.
I thought there was an oddly conspicuous lack of Grace's soon-to-be-ex husband. I felt like he should have shown up at least once in the novel. I kept waiting for a confrontation between him and Smith.
The one thing that irritated the hell out of me was Grace and Smith's almost-but-not-quite-there sex! How many times do you guys have to express the fact that you want to have sex but not actually go through with it. When they finally did have sex, I was more relieved that it was finally over than happy that they finally found a way to be together.
Overall, this was a great book and I'm glad I read it. It was nowhere near as good as BDB. But, then again, what is? Anyway, a great read and it deserves all the stars.
As they spend time together, they develop an intense desire for each other. One that they can never seem to tap into as there's always some kind of interruption. A week after her 30th birthday, another of Grace's friends is killed. Grace and Smith go to her mother's house in Newport, where they have heated encounters and multiple understandings. Finally, they give into their passion and make love. When her mother finds out and demands Smith leave, he and Grace go back to New York. Not long after, in a moment of brief memory lapse, Grace goes out on a run where she is followed by someone. And promptly finds out that her "stalker" is in fact a woman named Callie. The half-sister she never knew about. They don't get off to a great start as Grace harbors hostility towards the woman who shattered the illusions she had about her father, but then she invites Callie back to her place to dry off. The apartment where Smith is pretty much panicking; he's called in his men and the NYPD to find Grace as he had no idea where she was. Upon her return, he screams at her and their relationship becomes tense. They later move past this, but Smith thinks that he can't take care of Grace in the right way and calls in his right hand man, Tiny, to take his place. A few days later, the night of Grace's large Gala at the Hall Foundation, Tiny shows up and Smith finds out that the NYPD had a suspect in custody as the fourth woman attacked awoke from her coma and made a statement. The night is a huge success. This is, of course, after Grace Maces Tiny and sends him to the hospital while she has one of her security men stick to her. When everyone is gone, Grace goes to her office to get her belongings. Meanwhile, Smith gets a revealing call and rushes to her aid. The killer had Grace cornered in her office! Smith bursts in and tackles Frederique, the caterer spurned by all the women he attacked. When he's arrested and Grace and Smith finally have time alone, he reveals that he loves her and wants to spend his life with her. They kiss and make up, and live happily ever after.
Grace was a very likable character. I loved her from the beginning, from the moment she shot sarcastic quips at John Smith. I admired her strength and vulnerability. I also admired her honesty, especially the way she was willing to acknowledge her feelings.
John Smith was your typical tortured hero, with his own special qualities thrown in the mix. He was an amazing character who often reminded me of Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood. He was a strong, capable male, but he was also very closed, sharing very little of his life with Grace or anyone else.
I have to admit that I had a bit of a hostile attitude towards Jack Walker through most of the book. It irked me how flirty he was with Grace, even though I knew they were just friends. I'll be interested to see how his romance with Callie builds and grows in An Irresistible Bachelor.
I knew, knew Frederique was the killer from the moment he came into the book and started throwing all Grace's friends' names around. There was something very suspicious about him the whole time he was there talking to her.
I thought there was an oddly conspicuous lack of Grace's soon-to-be-ex husband. I felt like he should have shown up at least once in the novel. I kept waiting for a confrontation between him and Smith.
The one thing that irritated the hell out of me was Grace and Smith's almost-but-not-quite-there sex! How many times do you guys have to express the fact that you want to have sex but not actually go through with it. When they finally did have sex, I was more relieved that it was finally over than happy that they finally found a way to be together.
Overall, this was a great book and I'm glad I read it. It was nowhere near as good as BDB. But, then again, what is? Anyway, a great read and it deserves all the stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2010
You know when you want to love something so bad, but no matter how hard your try, you just can't? You like it, but it doesn't blow you away? Yes, the synopsis of the book brought back early 90's memories and had me involuntarily singing Whitney Houston's "And I Will Always Love You," reminiscing about her days on screen with Kevin Costner in "The Bodyguard." While the movie, to my recollection lacked suspense, I unfortunately felt a lot of the same with An Unforgettable Lady.
John Smith is all hard, arrogant, brash alpha male. He has no family, and his few friends are his brother's in the Black Watch Security Firm which he heads up. A former Army Ranger and covert ops man, John has witnessed a lot and survived a lot both growing up and in past assignments. John's mind and body work "in the now." He is a task driven man that focuses on completing the job, no strings attached, no emotions involved so that he can pick up when the job is done and move on to the next.
Grace Woodward Hall is a New York City socialite who married into royalty. While she holds a title Countess von Sharone, Grace is a very down to earth woman with a lot of pressure on her after the recent death of her father. She has taken over his foundation and is trying to prove to the long term employees that she is capable of handling the job. She is also in the middle of getting out of a loveless marriage by divorcing her husband. Two people from different worlds, John and Grace meet at a party where he is stationed as security for the Ambassador. Once their paths collide there is immediate heat and sparks between the two which led me to believe this was going to be a steamy, suspenseful read. What brings the two opposites together again is a serial killer who is targeting and killing prominent socialites. Grace hires John as a personal bodyguard to protect her until the killer is caught.
What was frustrating to me was the murder plot never really took off. The author didn’t really present many suspects and there was no buildup to each victim. The suspense was very flat and I was never on the edge of my seat wondering when and where the killer would strike next. The relationship between John and Grace was strained throughout the story and in the end had me questioning if they really had anything more than lust. Ms. Bird can write strong sexual tension, but after a couple of hundred pages of buildup, once the lovemaking commenced, it lacked luster and was a less than stellar payoff for all of the frustrating tension between the two.
Now I had to keep in mind this was early work of Jessica Bird, who is now a New York Times Best Selling Author otherwise known as J.R. Ward. Ward is THE author that reignited my love for fiction several years ago with the Black Dagger Brotherhood and I have not looked back since. More than anything I was anxious to see if her early work conveyed any nuances or glimpses of the future brotherhood in the making.
In Ms. Bird's letter to her readers, at the beginning of the book, she states that "it was an incredibly inefficient process" of how she went through the layout and process of writing An Unforgettable Lady, early on in her career. She further stated that it took her four contemporary romances to finally find "her craft."
"In this book, it turns out I was starting to head into vampire land - I just didn't know it."'
To be truthful, I did not feel Ward’s style in this story. However, I will say that John had several subtle characteristics of Wrath (Dark Lover) but not to the extent that I saw the brotherhood in it's development. In retrospect, I have to say that this book is far from bad, but it's just not to the level I have come to know and expect J.R. Ward to deliver. It goes to show us how a writer can come full circle once finding "her craft". And any Ward fan that has read the Black Dagger Brotherhood knows she has found it!
John Smith is all hard, arrogant, brash alpha male. He has no family, and his few friends are his brother's in the Black Watch Security Firm which he heads up. A former Army Ranger and covert ops man, John has witnessed a lot and survived a lot both growing up and in past assignments. John's mind and body work "in the now." He is a task driven man that focuses on completing the job, no strings attached, no emotions involved so that he can pick up when the job is done and move on to the next.
Grace Woodward Hall is a New York City socialite who married into royalty. While she holds a title Countess von Sharone, Grace is a very down to earth woman with a lot of pressure on her after the recent death of her father. She has taken over his foundation and is trying to prove to the long term employees that she is capable of handling the job. She is also in the middle of getting out of a loveless marriage by divorcing her husband. Two people from different worlds, John and Grace meet at a party where he is stationed as security for the Ambassador. Once their paths collide there is immediate heat and sparks between the two which led me to believe this was going to be a steamy, suspenseful read. What brings the two opposites together again is a serial killer who is targeting and killing prominent socialites. Grace hires John as a personal bodyguard to protect her until the killer is caught.
What was frustrating to me was the murder plot never really took off. The author didn’t really present many suspects and there was no buildup to each victim. The suspense was very flat and I was never on the edge of my seat wondering when and where the killer would strike next. The relationship between John and Grace was strained throughout the story and in the end had me questioning if they really had anything more than lust. Ms. Bird can write strong sexual tension, but after a couple of hundred pages of buildup, once the lovemaking commenced, it lacked luster and was a less than stellar payoff for all of the frustrating tension between the two.
Now I had to keep in mind this was early work of Jessica Bird, who is now a New York Times Best Selling Author otherwise known as J.R. Ward. Ward is THE author that reignited my love for fiction several years ago with the Black Dagger Brotherhood and I have not looked back since. More than anything I was anxious to see if her early work conveyed any nuances or glimpses of the future brotherhood in the making.
In Ms. Bird's letter to her readers, at the beginning of the book, she states that "it was an incredibly inefficient process" of how she went through the layout and process of writing An Unforgettable Lady, early on in her career. She further stated that it took her four contemporary romances to finally find "her craft."
"In this book, it turns out I was starting to head into vampire land - I just didn't know it."'
To be truthful, I did not feel Ward’s style in this story. However, I will say that John had several subtle characteristics of Wrath (Dark Lover) but not to the extent that I saw the brotherhood in it's development. In retrospect, I have to say that this book is far from bad, but it's just not to the level I have come to know and expect J.R. Ward to deliver. It goes to show us how a writer can come full circle once finding "her craft". And any Ward fan that has read the Black Dagger Brotherhood knows she has found it!
April 3, 2012
http://romanticamentefantasy.blogspot...
"Una donna indimenticabile" è il romanzo d'esordio di Jessica Bird, vero nome della conosciutissima J.R. Ward, autrice che tutte noi conosciamo benissimo per la serie "La Confraternita del Pugnale Nero".
Quando ho saputo dell'uscita di questo romance ero molto felice ma allo stesso tempo anche titubante. Con la Confraternita la Ward ci ha abituate ad un livello molto alto di gradimento, quindi avevo il timore che questo romanzo mi deludesse come mi è capitato con l'altra sua serie, quella degli Angeli Caduti.
Ebbene... Quando ho chiuso il libro ho tirato un bel sospiro di sollievo. La mia amata J.R. Ward mi ha proprio conquistata con questo bel romanzo d'amore!
In questo libro non ci sono vampiri o creature immortali, ma nel personaggio principale si possono facilmente riscontrare i caratteri tipici dei Confratelli.
John Smith è l'affascinante e tenebroso protagonista maschile, impavida guardia del corpo che vive solo per la sua professione.
Grace Hall è una donna bellissima, appartiene ad una famiglia nota ed agiata e vive costantemente sotto i riflettori. Proprio per questa sua popolarità Grace ha qualche segreto da nascondere. Le vite di queste due persone appartenenti a mondi completamente differenti sono destinate a intrecciarsi. Come??
Per colpa di un serial killer, che minaccia di uccidere le donne più ricche e popolari della città. Grace Hall è perciò costretta ad assumere qualcuno in grado di proteggerla. La presenza di John irrompe così nella sua vita e insieme a lui anche una forte attrazione, ricambiata, mai provata prima. Nonostante John cerchi in tutti i modi di combattere questi sentimenti, ben presto diventeranno qualcosa di più profondo.
Durante la lettura non ho potuto che associare John e il suo comportamento a quello dei confratelli, ma non ad uno solo:
a primo impatto il carattere e l'atteggiameto di John mi hanno ricordato molto quelli di Wrath, poi pensando che il protagonista è una specie di poliziotto, l' ho associato a Butch; continuando la lettura (segue piccolo spoiler), leggo una scena in cui Grace dichiara a John di amarlo e lui risponde: "no tu non mi ami" e mi viene in mente una scena molto simile tra Zsadist e Bella! Per non parlare del fatto che John è iperprotettivo nei confronti di Grace, come ogni confratello con la propria shellan.
Il libro mi è piaciuto molto e anche se c'è un tocco di suspense, la parte predominante riguarda la storia, l'attrazione e i sentimenti dei protagonisti. Il loro avvicinarsi e respingersi mi ha tenuta incollata alle pagine fino alla fine.
Se amate le belle storie d'amore la lettura è assolutamente consigliata! E se siete affezionate lettrici della Confraternita, non potete farvi sfuggire la storia grazie alla quale tutto ha avuto inizio!
Se poi si pensa che questo è un romanzo d'esordio, direi che i complimenti all'autrice sono d'obbligo.
"Una donna indimenticabile" è il romanzo d'esordio di Jessica Bird, vero nome della conosciutissima J.R. Ward, autrice che tutte noi conosciamo benissimo per la serie "La Confraternita del Pugnale Nero".
Quando ho saputo dell'uscita di questo romance ero molto felice ma allo stesso tempo anche titubante. Con la Confraternita la Ward ci ha abituate ad un livello molto alto di gradimento, quindi avevo il timore che questo romanzo mi deludesse come mi è capitato con l'altra sua serie, quella degli Angeli Caduti.
Ebbene... Quando ho chiuso il libro ho tirato un bel sospiro di sollievo. La mia amata J.R. Ward mi ha proprio conquistata con questo bel romanzo d'amore!
In questo libro non ci sono vampiri o creature immortali, ma nel personaggio principale si possono facilmente riscontrare i caratteri tipici dei Confratelli.
John Smith è l'affascinante e tenebroso protagonista maschile, impavida guardia del corpo che vive solo per la sua professione.
Grace Hall è una donna bellissima, appartiene ad una famiglia nota ed agiata e vive costantemente sotto i riflettori. Proprio per questa sua popolarità Grace ha qualche segreto da nascondere. Le vite di queste due persone appartenenti a mondi completamente differenti sono destinate a intrecciarsi. Come??
Per colpa di un serial killer, che minaccia di uccidere le donne più ricche e popolari della città. Grace Hall è perciò costretta ad assumere qualcuno in grado di proteggerla. La presenza di John irrompe così nella sua vita e insieme a lui anche una forte attrazione, ricambiata, mai provata prima. Nonostante John cerchi in tutti i modi di combattere questi sentimenti, ben presto diventeranno qualcosa di più profondo.
Durante la lettura non ho potuto che associare John e il suo comportamento a quello dei confratelli, ma non ad uno solo:
a primo impatto il carattere e l'atteggiameto di John mi hanno ricordato molto quelli di Wrath, poi pensando che il protagonista è una specie di poliziotto, l' ho associato a Butch; continuando la lettura (segue piccolo spoiler), leggo una scena in cui Grace dichiara a John di amarlo e lui risponde: "no tu non mi ami" e mi viene in mente una scena molto simile tra Zsadist e Bella! Per non parlare del fatto che John è iperprotettivo nei confronti di Grace, come ogni confratello con la propria shellan.
Il libro mi è piaciuto molto e anche se c'è un tocco di suspense, la parte predominante riguarda la storia, l'attrazione e i sentimenti dei protagonisti. Il loro avvicinarsi e respingersi mi ha tenuta incollata alle pagine fino alla fine.
Se amate le belle storie d'amore la lettura è assolutamente consigliata! E se siete affezionate lettrici della Confraternita, non potete farvi sfuggire la storia grazie alla quale tutto ha avuto inizio!
Se poi si pensa che questo è un romanzo d'esordio, direi che i complimenti all'autrice sono d'obbligo.
May 4, 2012
A aparência de perfeição começa a perder o seu encanto com a chegada do medo, da morte.
A segurança, uma nova prioridade, transforma-se no novo comandante da sua vida e, aquele que oferece um pouco de estabilidade, tende a tornar-se, a pouco e pouco, o senhor do seu coração.
Diz-me Quem És é uma narrativa repleta de momentos tensos com paixão e suspense em que, as suas personagens cuidadas, se vêm envolvidas nas hesitações próprias do amor e de um mistério que ultrapassa os precedentes habituais, com um serial-killer arrepiante e que banhará a nata social de sangue.
O pseudónimo Jessica Bird apresenta uma escrita direccionada para os leitores de policiais sem esquecer os aficionados do romance que, com fluidez, conseguirão entusiasmar-se através de luxúria e perigos capazes de causar palpitações à mais fria das pulsações até à última página.
Opinião completa: http://historiasdeelphaba.blogspot.pt...
A segurança, uma nova prioridade, transforma-se no novo comandante da sua vida e, aquele que oferece um pouco de estabilidade, tende a tornar-se, a pouco e pouco, o senhor do seu coração.
Diz-me Quem És é uma narrativa repleta de momentos tensos com paixão e suspense em que, as suas personagens cuidadas, se vêm envolvidas nas hesitações próprias do amor e de um mistério que ultrapassa os precedentes habituais, com um serial-killer arrepiante e que banhará a nata social de sangue.
O pseudónimo Jessica Bird apresenta uma escrita direccionada para os leitores de policiais sem esquecer os aficionados do romance que, com fluidez, conseguirão entusiasmar-se através de luxúria e perigos capazes de causar palpitações à mais fria das pulsações até à última página.
Opinião completa: http://historiasdeelphaba.blogspot.pt...
July 6, 2025
An Unforgettable Lady (An Unforgettable Lady, #1) by Jessica Bird
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Romance, Suspense
3.75 Stars
I enjoyed reading this. It is one of J.R. Ward's 1st books & I was curious to see how much her writing had changed thru time.
She did not disappoint me. Her talent is amazing.
A little mild for me, but it kept me interested.
This is the 1st of 2 books that are somewhat linked.
However, it is NOT (thank God) one of those books that you have to read the 2nd to get to an ending!
This is a full book with a full story of 2 very different people who have to find themselves to be able to find each other. A beautiful romance.
Mr. Smith is hot
&
Grace is a 'True Lady' with strength.
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Romance, Suspense
3.75 Stars
I enjoyed reading this. It is one of J.R. Ward's 1st books & I was curious to see how much her writing had changed thru time.
She did not disappoint me. Her talent is amazing.
A little mild for me, but it kept me interested.
This is the 1st of 2 books that are somewhat linked.
However, it is NOT (thank God) one of those books that you have to read the 2nd to get to an ending!
This is a full book with a full story of 2 very different people who have to find themselves to be able to find each other. A beautiful romance.
Mr. Smith is hot
&
Grace is a 'True Lady' with strength.
October 28, 2011
When Grace Hall socialite friends are being stalked and murdered in their homes, she knows she maybe next on the list. Taking a chance and hiring the best bodyguard, John Smith is the only option.
For the first itme in John's career he has a problem with his client, he finds her attractive and the more he gets to know the real Grace Hall, the more he imagines all the delicious ways he could please her.
Grace is vulnerable when it comes to John, she wants him, he wants her, but each time they share quick moment of passion, one of them retreats.
I wanted to like this, I thought it was okay. I was actually more interested in the next in the series over what would happen to Grace and John. It became so overmelodramatic that I just lost interest in he story.
For the first itme in John's career he has a problem with his client, he finds her attractive and the more he gets to know the real Grace Hall, the more he imagines all the delicious ways he could please her.
Grace is vulnerable when it comes to John, she wants him, he wants her, but each time they share quick moment of passion, one of them retreats.
I wanted to like this, I thought it was okay. I was actually more interested in the next in the series over what would happen to Grace and John. It became so overmelodramatic that I just lost interest in he story.
July 25, 2016
A minha classificação seria 3,5 mas o goodreads não permite classificar meias.. Então aqui ficam 3 estrelas.
Opinião no blogue: https://thegirlwhoreadssbooks.wordpre...
Opinião no blogue: https://thegirlwhoreadssbooks.wordpre...
June 14, 2012
( http://labirinto-livros.blogspot.pt/2...)
Nas ruas de Manhattan, um sociopata anda à solta e o seu alvo são as mulheres ricas, poderosas e influentes, que possuem grande fortuna. Grace Hall, Condessa von Sharone é uma destas mulheres que pertence ao círculo das individualidades mais influentes desta cidade. E a sua riqueza fá-la ser um alvo para o louco que utiliza Manhattan como seu território de caça.
Por causa destes eventos, Grace Hall decidi contratar o melhor especialista de segurança alguma vez visto. O seu nome é John Smith e ele é um homem que só vê trabalho à frente. Nada na sua vida tem prioridade e para John o trabalho é a sua vida, até ter conhecido Grace.
Após Grace contratar John para se assegurar que nada de mal lhe acontece, os dois decidem que John irá viver temporariamente no apartamento de Grace. O acordo é uma mera praticabilidade mas depressa ambos compreendem que a atracção poderá interpor-se no caminho deles.
Além de correr perigo de vida, Grace vai no entretanto revelar alguns segredos no que concerne à sua família e o mundo parece que pára. A confusão na vida de Grace está instalada e parece que a sua atracção por John não é o maior dos seus problemas.
Creio que não seja segredo nenhum que não sou fã da autora J.R.Ward. De facto, as nossas relações estão há já algum tempo cortadas. Tenho perfeita noção que não irei ler mais nenhum livro do pseudónimo, mas quando ouvi falar sobre o lançamento da série de Jessica Bird (o nome verdadeiro da senhora) decidi dar-lhe o benefício da dúvida e ver se o meu problema era com o pseudónimo ou com a escritora em si.
Muito me esforcei para não criar um determinado conjunto de expectativas e estou orgulhosa de mim porque posso dizer que fui para esta leitura com uma mente aberta, conforme me foi possível. Abstraí-me ao máximo de me focar no nome da autora e consegui com isto ver o livro de uma perspectiva imparcial, ao máximo.
Embora este título me faça confusão e me faça levar as mãos à cabeça, não deixam de ser pequenos pormenores e no final de tudo, o que me interessa é que o conteúdo me satisfaça. O meu género literário favorito são os policiais, seja em que formato, estilo ou de que maneira são escritos. Este é considerado como um policial romântico, que é um formato que gosto muito, desde que ambas as partes se encontrem equilibradas.
Neste caso, posso garantir que este livro é mais romance do que propriamente policial. Não é que seja um factor dominante, mas gostaria que as duas vertentes estivessem mais equilibradas.
A escrita da autora já não me é estranha e posso dizer que este registo é bem mais agradável do que a do seu pseudónimo. Flui muito mais facilmente e consegue atrair de forma mais eficiente a atenção dos leitores. No entanto, é impossível negar que os maneirismos estão lá, especialmente aquele que me irrita mais, que é o contacto inicial dos protagonistas e o romance no geral. Para mim é impossível conceber que duas pessoas que se vejam pela primeira vez, tenham uma combustão espontânea nos primeiros 2 minutos. Uma coisa é paixão/amor à primeira vista, ou o que lhe quiserem chamar, outra coisa totalmente diferente é a parvoíce e o ridículo à primeira vista. O romance entre os dois protagonistas não é nada de especial, falta-lhe especialmente intensidade emocional, que é uma das coisas a que dou mais importância e a Bird não consegue mostrar-me isso. Ela gosta é de intensidade sexual e pouco aprofundamento, porque isso é que mostra como um casal gosta um do outro e como são importantes um para o outro.
Não gostei especialmente destes dois personagens, pois não senti grande ligação com os mesmos, mas acho que a autora fez um bom trabalho com a exploração dos protagonistas e especialmente com a do assassino.
Em relação à parte policial e misteriosa do livro, posso dizer que fiquei desiludida que fosse tão apressada. Apesar de ter sido bem explorada, acho que os eventos podiam ter-se desenrolado de forma mais natural e não tão rápida. Contudo, tenho que dar a mão à palmatória e referir que o mistério é denso de tal forma que só me apercebi da solução quando esta se revelou em frente dos meus olhos. Por isso, Bird merece um grande ponto positivo. Bem gordinho.
Tanto o mistério principal, como o enredo secundário foram bem construídos e explorados e cheguei ao fim com a sensação que não me teria importado se a autora se tivesse estendido um pouco mais.
Concluindo e resumindo, acho que a autora esteve bastante bem, considerando todas as nossas lutas passadas. De facto, parece que não é com o seu pseudónimo que não vou fazer as pazes, mas sim com a "original". Após este livro, que embora não me tenha surpreendido conseguiu captar a minha atenção, quero continuar a seguir a série intitulada Mulheres Inesquecíveis.
Para quem gosta de policiais românticos, ao estilo de Sandra Brown, Nora Roberts, Tess Gerritsen (embora esta última comparação seja feita de forma muito generosa) e afins, creio que gostará de experimentar esta vertente da Bird, conhecida anteriormente pela saga da Irmandade.
Com romance, mistério e bastante acção, promete entreter o público que gosta de um livro com um desenvolvimento rápido e dinâmico.
Nas ruas de Manhattan, um sociopata anda à solta e o seu alvo são as mulheres ricas, poderosas e influentes, que possuem grande fortuna. Grace Hall, Condessa von Sharone é uma destas mulheres que pertence ao círculo das individualidades mais influentes desta cidade. E a sua riqueza fá-la ser um alvo para o louco que utiliza Manhattan como seu território de caça.
Por causa destes eventos, Grace Hall decidi contratar o melhor especialista de segurança alguma vez visto. O seu nome é John Smith e ele é um homem que só vê trabalho à frente. Nada na sua vida tem prioridade e para John o trabalho é a sua vida, até ter conhecido Grace.
Após Grace contratar John para se assegurar que nada de mal lhe acontece, os dois decidem que John irá viver temporariamente no apartamento de Grace. O acordo é uma mera praticabilidade mas depressa ambos compreendem que a atracção poderá interpor-se no caminho deles.
Além de correr perigo de vida, Grace vai no entretanto revelar alguns segredos no que concerne à sua família e o mundo parece que pára. A confusão na vida de Grace está instalada e parece que a sua atracção por John não é o maior dos seus problemas.
Creio que não seja segredo nenhum que não sou fã da autora J.R.Ward. De facto, as nossas relações estão há já algum tempo cortadas. Tenho perfeita noção que não irei ler mais nenhum livro do pseudónimo, mas quando ouvi falar sobre o lançamento da série de Jessica Bird (o nome verdadeiro da senhora) decidi dar-lhe o benefício da dúvida e ver se o meu problema era com o pseudónimo ou com a escritora em si.
Muito me esforcei para não criar um determinado conjunto de expectativas e estou orgulhosa de mim porque posso dizer que fui para esta leitura com uma mente aberta, conforme me foi possível. Abstraí-me ao máximo de me focar no nome da autora e consegui com isto ver o livro de uma perspectiva imparcial, ao máximo.
Embora este título me faça confusão e me faça levar as mãos à cabeça, não deixam de ser pequenos pormenores e no final de tudo, o que me interessa é que o conteúdo me satisfaça. O meu género literário favorito são os policiais, seja em que formato, estilo ou de que maneira são escritos. Este é considerado como um policial romântico, que é um formato que gosto muito, desde que ambas as partes se encontrem equilibradas.
Neste caso, posso garantir que este livro é mais romance do que propriamente policial. Não é que seja um factor dominante, mas gostaria que as duas vertentes estivessem mais equilibradas.
A escrita da autora já não me é estranha e posso dizer que este registo é bem mais agradável do que a do seu pseudónimo. Flui muito mais facilmente e consegue atrair de forma mais eficiente a atenção dos leitores. No entanto, é impossível negar que os maneirismos estão lá, especialmente aquele que me irrita mais, que é o contacto inicial dos protagonistas e o romance no geral. Para mim é impossível conceber que duas pessoas que se vejam pela primeira vez, tenham uma combustão espontânea nos primeiros 2 minutos. Uma coisa é paixão/amor à primeira vista, ou o que lhe quiserem chamar, outra coisa totalmente diferente é a parvoíce e o ridículo à primeira vista. O romance entre os dois protagonistas não é nada de especial, falta-lhe especialmente intensidade emocional, que é uma das coisas a que dou mais importância e a Bird não consegue mostrar-me isso. Ela gosta é de intensidade sexual e pouco aprofundamento, porque isso é que mostra como um casal gosta um do outro e como são importantes um para o outro.
Não gostei especialmente destes dois personagens, pois não senti grande ligação com os mesmos, mas acho que a autora fez um bom trabalho com a exploração dos protagonistas e especialmente com a do assassino.
Em relação à parte policial e misteriosa do livro, posso dizer que fiquei desiludida que fosse tão apressada. Apesar de ter sido bem explorada, acho que os eventos podiam ter-se desenrolado de forma mais natural e não tão rápida. Contudo, tenho que dar a mão à palmatória e referir que o mistério é denso de tal forma que só me apercebi da solução quando esta se revelou em frente dos meus olhos. Por isso, Bird merece um grande ponto positivo. Bem gordinho.
Tanto o mistério principal, como o enredo secundário foram bem construídos e explorados e cheguei ao fim com a sensação que não me teria importado se a autora se tivesse estendido um pouco mais.
Concluindo e resumindo, acho que a autora esteve bastante bem, considerando todas as nossas lutas passadas. De facto, parece que não é com o seu pseudónimo que não vou fazer as pazes, mas sim com a "original". Após este livro, que embora não me tenha surpreendido conseguiu captar a minha atenção, quero continuar a seguir a série intitulada Mulheres Inesquecíveis.
Para quem gosta de policiais românticos, ao estilo de Sandra Brown, Nora Roberts, Tess Gerritsen (embora esta última comparação seja feita de forma muito generosa) e afins, creio que gostará de experimentar esta vertente da Bird, conhecida anteriormente pela saga da Irmandade.
Com romance, mistério e bastante acção, promete entreter o público que gosta de um livro com um desenvolvimento rápido e dinâmico.
August 25, 2011
During a special event, Grace (Countess von Sharone) catches the eye of an intense and brooding stranger. Fascinated, she goes after him and corners him. She pushes his buttons until the stranger startles her with a fiery kiss full of passion, then he leaves. The next day she finds out that one of her close friends has been brutally murdered and the only thing the killer left behind was a newspaper article with a lineup of high society women. Grace is among those women mentioned. On edge and worried for her safety, her friends decide to call in a bodyguard, one of the best. When John Smith enters her life, she's stunned to find that he is the stranger who kissed her at the ball. At first she refuses to hire him until another body turns up and her fear that she's being followed moves her into action and accepting his help.
John Smith, former Army Ranger turned bodyguard, finds himself cornered by the Countess von Sharone during a ball. He's instantly attracted and simultaneously infuriated that this mystery woman has managed to get under his skin in a matter of minutes. When he leaves her after sharing a passionate kiss, he doesn't know who she is, or that their paths will soon cross again. When a friend asks him for a favor to meet with a woman who is in fear for her life, he agrees to meet her. His attempts to dissuade her from hiring him are futile, and one week later he's moved into her apartment, sleeping in the guestroom and has to share her bathroom. Naturally, living in such closed confines is bound to send the sparks flying.
I loved both characters from the start. Grace is not at all the snobbish, high society woman one might expect. She has a heart of gold, which comes across anytime she interacts with other people, especially the people who used to work for her late father. She's 30 years old, on the brink of a divorce from Count Ranulf von Sharone who is a real jerk, she's busy warding off the throwbacks on the board of directors of her father's foundation, trying to prepare for a gala that can make or break her, in a constant fight with the second in command of the foundation who wants nothing more than to take her place, she has to fire an obnoxious and irritating chef who will not take no for an answer, her mother is a controlling and seemingly cold woman, she's probably being stalked and a target for a serial killer, and on top of all that, she has to put up with John and his hot and cold mood swings. Frankly, for most of the story, Grace is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I thought she held up very well under all the pressure and scrutiny, and thankfully she realized early on that it would be wise of her to grow a backbone and take back control of her life. I thought she had great tenacity and always said what she felt. She managed all this while still keeping her dignity.
John, was a conflicted character. I know some people probably wouldn't have liked his behavior towards Grace, but I found it very believable. He's lived through a lot - first during is bad childhood, later in the Army, and finally as a bodyguard. He's used to being alone, and he knows the pitfalls of what having any loved ones in his life could mean. They could be used against him at any time and carm to harm in his line of work. Being with her would ultimately put a spotlight on him as well, and that is something he can't afford to have. Regardless, no matter how hard they try to deny what is happening between them, they can't stop it, but they sure it very difficult for themselves. And that is where the roller coaster of emotions comes in. I teared up and fist pumped my way through this book.
After having read J.R. Ward's paranormal series, this was a big change. If you've read BDB first, don't forget that this was written in 2004. It's different, but it's really good because it's the WARDen. I have read the second book, An Irresistible Bachelor , and it was even better. An exciting read on all levels.
I guess GR hasn't updated the pictures since the books got a makeover. The Unforgettable Lady series and The Moorehouse Legacy series crossover. To keep up with the flow, the order to read these is:
An Unforgettable Lady - Grace & John
An Irresistible Bachelor - Jack & Callie
The Rebel - Nate & Frankie
From The First - Alex & Cassandra
His Comfort And Joy - Gray & Joy
John Smith, former Army Ranger turned bodyguard, finds himself cornered by the Countess von Sharone during a ball. He's instantly attracted and simultaneously infuriated that this mystery woman has managed to get under his skin in a matter of minutes. When he leaves her after sharing a passionate kiss, he doesn't know who she is, or that their paths will soon cross again. When a friend asks him for a favor to meet with a woman who is in fear for her life, he agrees to meet her. His attempts to dissuade her from hiring him are futile, and one week later he's moved into her apartment, sleeping in the guestroom and has to share her bathroom. Naturally, living in such closed confines is bound to send the sparks flying.
I loved both characters from the start. Grace is not at all the snobbish, high society woman one might expect. She has a heart of gold, which comes across anytime she interacts with other people, especially the people who used to work for her late father. She's 30 years old, on the brink of a divorce from Count Ranulf von Sharone who is a real jerk, she's busy warding off the throwbacks on the board of directors of her father's foundation, trying to prepare for a gala that can make or break her, in a constant fight with the second in command of the foundation who wants nothing more than to take her place, she has to fire an obnoxious and irritating chef who will not take no for an answer, her mother is a controlling and seemingly cold woman, she's probably being stalked and a target for a serial killer, and on top of all that, she has to put up with John and his hot and cold mood swings. Frankly, for most of the story, Grace is on the verge of a nervous breakdown. I thought she held up very well under all the pressure and scrutiny, and thankfully she realized early on that it would be wise of her to grow a backbone and take back control of her life. I thought she had great tenacity and always said what she felt. She managed all this while still keeping her dignity.
John, was a conflicted character. I know some people probably wouldn't have liked his behavior towards Grace, but I found it very believable. He's lived through a lot - first during is bad childhood, later in the Army, and finally as a bodyguard. He's used to being alone, and he knows the pitfalls of what having any loved ones in his life could mean. They could be used against him at any time and carm to harm in his line of work. Being with her would ultimately put a spotlight on him as well, and that is something he can't afford to have. Regardless, no matter how hard they try to deny what is happening between them, they can't stop it, but they sure it very difficult for themselves. And that is where the roller coaster of emotions comes in. I teared up and fist pumped my way through this book.
After having read J.R. Ward's paranormal series, this was a big change. If you've read BDB first, don't forget that this was written in 2004. It's different, but it's really good because it's the WARDen. I have read the second book, An Irresistible Bachelor , and it was even better. An exciting read on all levels.
I guess GR hasn't updated the pictures since the books got a makeover. The Unforgettable Lady series and The Moorehouse Legacy series crossover. To keep up with the flow, the order to read these is:
An Unforgettable Lady - Grace & John
An Irresistible Bachelor - Jack & Callie
The Rebel - Nate & Frankie
From The First - Alex & Cassandra
His Comfort And Joy - Gray & Joy
February 27, 2010
This is my first Jessica Bird book, but I'm a J.R. Ward fan so I thought I'd give it a shot. This is not the author I've come to like. If you are looking for more J.R. Ward, this isn't the place. I could easily have been reading Julie Kenner or Meg Cabot. This is a chick-lit romance, with a murder mystery subplot. I suspected who the murderer was around page 100 and was definite by page 150, but maybe that was just me. There were very few suspects introduced and there was very little done to create a sense of foreboding. No near misses or creeping shadows which made this part of the story fall flat.
John Smith is head of a security company, he's a ghost basically hiding from his past and the many things he's done both legal and non. Grace Woodward Hall is a socialite-soon-to-be-divorcee, who is also a Countess. (But she married into the royal title) They meet within the first 10 pages and the meeting is a little hot. When they meet again you expect that things will heat up, but really it's about a 270 page simmer before they get to it, and even then, it's really tame compared amount of time she spent building the sexual tension.
I never really connected with the characters. Maybe it's because I can't connect when a privileged person wants to let everyone know how hard they have it because they are privileged and things are expected from them. Maybe it's because as likable as the guy was, he lacked a personality. As a whole the book came off with a "polo shirt on the east coast shore" type of feel with lots of refined and even more repressed conversation. Not to mention that Grace our heroine really pulled some cliched tstl crap.
There seems to be some set up for the "companion book", An Irresistible Bachelor, which really just seems to be the sequel. Part of the set up was in the form of a handsome privileged man clearly introduced to cause a riff between the H/H in this book, which I guess it sort of did, but not really. As a matter of fact the order in which the scenes played out really even cheated the reader out of suspecting possible tension. The female introduction came very late in this book and successfully diffused any possible tension about the murder mystery plot. Not to mention, the author tipped us off to her introduction at least 50 pages earlier and I spent all that time wondering why no one else noticed.
I don't know if she's just become a better writer or if this isn't really her genre. Overall it was better than expected so that's something. I'll read the "companion book" because I already have it. But I doubt that I'll seek out more Jessica Bird novels in the future.
John Smith is head of a security company, he's a ghost basically hiding from his past and the many things he's done both legal and non. Grace Woodward Hall is a socialite-soon-to-be-divorcee, who is also a Countess. (But she married into the royal title) They meet within the first 10 pages and the meeting is a little hot. When they meet again you expect that things will heat up, but really it's about a 270 page simmer before they get to it, and even then, it's really tame compared amount of time she spent building the sexual tension.
I never really connected with the characters. Maybe it's because I can't connect when a privileged person wants to let everyone know how hard they have it because they are privileged and things are expected from them. Maybe it's because as likable as the guy was, he lacked a personality. As a whole the book came off with a "polo shirt on the east coast shore" type of feel with lots of refined and even more repressed conversation. Not to mention that Grace our heroine really pulled some cliched tstl crap.
There seems to be some set up for the "companion book", An Irresistible Bachelor, which really just seems to be the sequel. Part of the set up was in the form of a handsome privileged man clearly introduced to cause a riff between the H/H in this book, which I guess it sort of did, but not really. As a matter of fact the order in which the scenes played out really even cheated the reader out of suspecting possible tension. The female introduction came very late in this book and successfully diffused any possible tension about the murder mystery plot. Not to mention, the author tipped us off to her introduction at least 50 pages earlier and I spent all that time wondering why no one else noticed.
I don't know if she's just become a better writer or if this isn't really her genre. Overall it was better than expected so that's something. I'll read the "companion book" because I already have it. But I doubt that I'll seek out more Jessica Bird novels in the future.
October 27, 2010
J.R Ward is always a winner. No matter if she writing as herself or under Jessica Bird, her books are killer, 100 percent gold. I have yet to read a book by her that I did not like, which is saying something pretty big, since she has so many novels under her belt.
An Unforgettable Lady is a book that romance lovers cannot miss. Especially is your a suspense and mystery lover also.
Wealthy, gorgeous sophisticated woman meets a hard, wounded and unchangeable male.
At first you think, "okay, this isn't too original.." but it really is.
The only thing not original about it is the males name, John Smith. It's pretty funny actually.
John is a hard headed man, with a face and body anyone could love, but he isn't interested. That is of course until the beautiful Grace Hall walks into the room and he can't keep his eyes off her. He may think she's off limits to him, but that doesn't mean he can't look. And does he look!
At times, I found myself wanting to yell at John, he could be mean and rude and so... Hard headed. I guess that's just men for you. But although he was mean, I could see where he was coming from when he would lash out or say things he regretted. He was confused and hurt, and not used to feeling anything for anyone. And Grace made his mind and heart do a 180.
Grace a a great character. She's strong and smart, but not a kick butt type of heroine, which I liked for a change. She's not weak, but she is vulnerable. Everything is her life is making her just about to snap, between her dying father, her unhelpful, soon to be ex husband and now a death threat made out her her and all her friends, her life really seems to be going down hill. She is grateful for Johns help, and feels more protected from bodily harm, but she may be in some other kind of trouble when it comes to Mr. Smith.
What a book! I love, love, loved it. Romance at it's finest, Jessica Bird is one hell of a writer. I'm so glad I read this book. I recommend that you do too!
An Unforgettable Lady is a book that romance lovers cannot miss. Especially is your a suspense and mystery lover also.
Wealthy, gorgeous sophisticated woman meets a hard, wounded and unchangeable male.
At first you think, "okay, this isn't too original.." but it really is.
The only thing not original about it is the males name, John Smith. It's pretty funny actually.
John is a hard headed man, with a face and body anyone could love, but he isn't interested. That is of course until the beautiful Grace Hall walks into the room and he can't keep his eyes off her. He may think she's off limits to him, but that doesn't mean he can't look. And does he look!
At times, I found myself wanting to yell at John, he could be mean and rude and so... Hard headed. I guess that's just men for you. But although he was mean, I could see where he was coming from when he would lash out or say things he regretted. He was confused and hurt, and not used to feeling anything for anyone. And Grace made his mind and heart do a 180.
Grace a a great character. She's strong and smart, but not a kick butt type of heroine, which I liked for a change. She's not weak, but she is vulnerable. Everything is her life is making her just about to snap, between her dying father, her unhelpful, soon to be ex husband and now a death threat made out her her and all her friends, her life really seems to be going down hill. She is grateful for Johns help, and feels more protected from bodily harm, but she may be in some other kind of trouble when it comes to Mr. Smith.
What a book! I love, love, loved it. Romance at it's finest, Jessica Bird is one hell of a writer. I'm so glad I read this book. I recommend that you do too!
August 6, 2010
Picked this one up yesterday at Walmart. I was pleasantly surprised to see it re released. I had previously tried to obtain a copy at my library but they didn't have a copy.
I was excited to see what the Warden was up to before the Brothers!
Well Mr. John Smith is no Wrath that's for sure but he was entertaining enough that I found myself whizzing to the end of this tale.
It could have been a 4 or even 5 star book but she took it just there and then backed off with everything, the hero was slightly alpha, the sex scenes were just a bit hot but never all the way sizzling, and the one liners and were far and few between.
Glimpses of what Ward has become do appear. With name brand dropping and Male bonding. Even the name of Smith's company Black Watch LTD. isn't a far leap from the BDB.
I didn't love this one but I do love the Warden and appreciate her work. I love that she also included a letter to the reader. She is always so open and forthcoming with her fans.
I'm not expecting to love An Irresistible Bachelor but I'm looking forward to the release and will read it with love.
I was excited to see what the Warden was up to before the Brothers!
Well Mr. John Smith is no Wrath that's for sure but he was entertaining enough that I found myself whizzing to the end of this tale.
It could have been a 4 or even 5 star book but she took it just there and then backed off with everything, the hero was slightly alpha, the sex scenes were just a bit hot but never all the way sizzling, and the one liners and were far and few between.
Glimpses of what Ward has become do appear. With name brand dropping and Male bonding. Even the name of Smith's company Black Watch LTD. isn't a far leap from the BDB.
I didn't love this one but I do love the Warden and appreciate her work. I love that she also included a letter to the reader. She is always so open and forthcoming with her fans.
I'm not expecting to love An Irresistible Bachelor but I'm looking forward to the release and will read it with love.
August 4, 2010
Grace Hall is a rich blue blood. John Smith is a retired special forces/Army ranger/assassin killer turned bodyguard. She hires him and they fall in love. Think this is original and groundbreaking? You'd be wrong on both counts. However, don't let that stop you. Just because somebody painted a woman before doesn't mean an artist couldn't paint the same woman and make something special. I don't know as though I'd elevate this to such a lofty status, but it was certainly entertaining.
Grace is just the right blend of innocence and steel that makes her an alluring heroine. John Smith is the typical alpha male (and I can certainly see how Ward said he was her inspiration for Wrath in the BDB books). However, even Smith makes mistakes and shows growth and emotion.
Good crisp writing kept me turning the pages. I liked it.
Grace is just the right blend of innocence and steel that makes her an alluring heroine. John Smith is the typical alpha male (and I can certainly see how Ward said he was her inspiration for Wrath in the BDB books). However, even Smith makes mistakes and shows growth and emotion.
Good crisp writing kept me turning the pages. I liked it.
October 8, 2011
Hmmm, well there were aspects I liked about this book. I mean, there's nothing like a good ole dose of a fluffy shallow romance novel. They sure do make you feel good.
I chuckled a few times, enjoyed myself when I was reading it. The thing is, it won't stick with me. The characters didn't resonate, and the story wasn't all that original. In fact, even though it was stated in the authors note, I couldn't get past the similarities to Butch and Marissa. And unfortunately, when compared, Grace and John were just lacking. John was all of Butch's more serious annoying tendencies without all the humor and one liners.
What this book did make me want to do was reach over and pick up Dark Lover. It forced me to acknowledge that I miss those Males so much. I think it's getting really close to time for me to reread that series...
I chuckled a few times, enjoyed myself when I was reading it. The thing is, it won't stick with me. The characters didn't resonate, and the story wasn't all that original. In fact, even though it was stated in the authors note, I couldn't get past the similarities to Butch and Marissa. And unfortunately, when compared, Grace and John were just lacking. John was all of Butch's more serious annoying tendencies without all the humor and one liners.
What this book did make me want to do was reach over and pick up Dark Lover. It forced me to acknowledge that I miss those Males so much. I think it's getting really close to time for me to reread that series...
February 23, 2021
3,5 estrelas
April 18, 2012
Posted on Under the Covers
As a fanatic – almost rabid- fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, I cannot help but gush over J.R. Ward writing. So, in the effort to cover my bases a little more, I decided to pick AN UNFORGETTABLE LADY off my bookshelf and read it. I was pleasantly surprised because I thought that this was a strictly contemporary romance, but I soon found out that it’s a romantic suspense.
Bird captured my attention with the first sizzling hot kiss between the hero and heroine of this book. Grace Hall is a countess. She’s wealthy, privileged and scared out of her wits because members of society are now being killed off one by one. In addition to that, she had the added stress of maintaining her father’s fortune after his recent death while also dealing with the repercussions of her ongoing divorce.
When she first meets John Smith, their meeting is a heated one but in not the way you think. They bicker with one another, neither one allowing the other to gain the upper hand. Smith is a man of little words. He is a man who is content with who he is and isn’t looking for change. His life may be lonely, but at least he has control over it and so when Grace learns of another murder, she hires Smith as a personal bodyguard to ease her nerves a bit. It’s Grace’s effort to gain control of her own life.
As their lives collide, Grace soon finds herself unable to deny the attraction that she has for Smith. Similarly, Smith can’t help but notice that Grace isn’t an ice princess that society portrays her to be. He learns that she has a fire in her.
Bird does an excellent job of transitioning from feelings of extreme fear to lust, reaching the opposite end of the emotional spectrum that a character can feel. What I loved about this book is that the in-depth thought processes of a character that readers enjoy from the BDB books are still evident in Bird’s writing. She writes in a way that you feel as if you are Smith, as he battles between his sense of honor and duty and his lust for Grace.
In the note to readers at the beginning of this book, Bird mentions that she sees Grace and Smith similar to Marissa and Butch because Grace is wealth and class while Smith could not be any more different than her. I do see the resemblance, but I feel like their personalities are more similar to Z and Bella. Much like Z, Smith warns Grace off, telling her that he is a man one night stands, not of lazy morning-afters. But like Bella, Grace doesn’t allow him to push her away. She is determined, and in the end, she gets what she wants.
AN UNFORGETTABLE LADY turned out to be an enjoyable read that I would recommend to readers who enjoy romantic suspense. It has the same elements of our favorite books by Ward, but just a different backdrop and a little more emphasis on suspense. But in the end, the product is the same. It’s gold.
As a fanatic – almost rabid- fan of the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, I cannot help but gush over J.R. Ward writing. So, in the effort to cover my bases a little more, I decided to pick AN UNFORGETTABLE LADY off my bookshelf and read it. I was pleasantly surprised because I thought that this was a strictly contemporary romance, but I soon found out that it’s a romantic suspense.
Bird captured my attention with the first sizzling hot kiss between the hero and heroine of this book. Grace Hall is a countess. She’s wealthy, privileged and scared out of her wits because members of society are now being killed off one by one. In addition to that, she had the added stress of maintaining her father’s fortune after his recent death while also dealing with the repercussions of her ongoing divorce.
When she first meets John Smith, their meeting is a heated one but in not the way you think. They bicker with one another, neither one allowing the other to gain the upper hand. Smith is a man of little words. He is a man who is content with who he is and isn’t looking for change. His life may be lonely, but at least he has control over it and so when Grace learns of another murder, she hires Smith as a personal bodyguard to ease her nerves a bit. It’s Grace’s effort to gain control of her own life.
As their lives collide, Grace soon finds herself unable to deny the attraction that she has for Smith. Similarly, Smith can’t help but notice that Grace isn’t an ice princess that society portrays her to be. He learns that she has a fire in her.
Bird does an excellent job of transitioning from feelings of extreme fear to lust, reaching the opposite end of the emotional spectrum that a character can feel. What I loved about this book is that the in-depth thought processes of a character that readers enjoy from the BDB books are still evident in Bird’s writing. She writes in a way that you feel as if you are Smith, as he battles between his sense of honor and duty and his lust for Grace.
In the note to readers at the beginning of this book, Bird mentions that she sees Grace and Smith similar to Marissa and Butch because Grace is wealth and class while Smith could not be any more different than her. I do see the resemblance, but I feel like their personalities are more similar to Z and Bella. Much like Z, Smith warns Grace off, telling her that he is a man one night stands, not of lazy morning-afters. But like Bella, Grace doesn’t allow him to push her away. She is determined, and in the end, she gets what she wants.
AN UNFORGETTABLE LADY turned out to be an enjoyable read that I would recommend to readers who enjoy romantic suspense. It has the same elements of our favorite books by Ward, but just a different backdrop and a little more emphasis on suspense. But in the end, the product is the same. It’s gold.
July 20, 2011
Grace Hall is an influential figure in Manhattan's society. She comes from a wealthy Manhattan family, is a countess by marriage, and now is the head of the Hall Foundation, an organization founded by her father. Grace was one of six women featured in an article that ended up as a serial killer's hit list. Grace turns to John Smith, a securities expert with a murky past, to protect her.
The book is short, a little over 300 pages. Perhaps partly due to its length, I felt the characters were not fully fleshed out and developed. Grace seems like a pale predecessor to Marissa from Lover Revealed. I liked Grace, mostly. Her biggest problem is standing up to other people, including her late father, her soon-to-be ex-husband, her mother, all of whom tend to run roughshod over her. But she's trying. She's trying to run her father's foundation. She's trying to stand up to her mother. She's trying to stand up to John. While Grace does some stupid things, in general, she was pretty likeable, maybe just a tiny bit boring.
I actually didn't like John very much. John seems like a pale predecessor to any of the BDB alpha heroes. My biggest issue with John was I felt he was not very nice to Grace. John has a somewhat mysterious background. It has been mentioned that he does not have a social security number and obviously the name John Smith is an alias. I know what you're thinking - Nooooo! Really?! John Smith is an alias?? Indeed it is! There are implications that his background may have been concealed due to his previous work for the government but nothing is very clear. Basically, John feels like he can't get close to anyone due to the enemies he has made in his previous line of work. So he pushes Grace away despite his attraction to her. But he seems to go to the extremes. At one point (pretty late in the story), he thought Grace made out with him and then turned around and slept with someone else so he basically called her a slut. It seemed pretty unbelievable that at such a late stage in their relationship, he can contemplate that she would do such a thing. He apologizes later, but it seems pretty lame to me. That level of mistrust is not something that can be overcome by a simple apology.
I guess I didn't really buy into the love story between John and Grace. The ending seemed a bit unrealistic too. Essentially, all of a sudden, once John realized he loves Grace, all the obstacles seemed to magically disappear, including his lack of a real identity, his supposed enemies etc. The suspense portion of the story was not too bad. Ward also introduces some secondary characters who are in other books. I might go pick those up at the library or something so I can see what happened to them.
Overall: I gave it 2 stars. It was okay. But definitely check out the BDB series by J.R. Ward. It doesn't compare.
Full review here: http://bookfiendo.wordpress.com/2011/...
The book is short, a little over 300 pages. Perhaps partly due to its length, I felt the characters were not fully fleshed out and developed. Grace seems like a pale predecessor to Marissa from Lover Revealed. I liked Grace, mostly. Her biggest problem is standing up to other people, including her late father, her soon-to-be ex-husband, her mother, all of whom tend to run roughshod over her. But she's trying. She's trying to run her father's foundation. She's trying to stand up to her mother. She's trying to stand up to John. While Grace does some stupid things, in general, she was pretty likeable, maybe just a tiny bit boring.
I actually didn't like John very much. John seems like a pale predecessor to any of the BDB alpha heroes. My biggest issue with John was I felt he was not very nice to Grace. John has a somewhat mysterious background. It has been mentioned that he does not have a social security number and obviously the name John Smith is an alias. I know what you're thinking - Nooooo! Really?! John Smith is an alias?? Indeed it is! There are implications that his background may have been concealed due to his previous work for the government but nothing is very clear. Basically, John feels like he can't get close to anyone due to the enemies he has made in his previous line of work. So he pushes Grace away despite his attraction to her. But he seems to go to the extremes. At one point (pretty late in the story), he thought Grace made out with him and then turned around and slept with someone else so he basically called her a slut. It seemed pretty unbelievable that at such a late stage in their relationship, he can contemplate that she would do such a thing. He apologizes later, but it seems pretty lame to me. That level of mistrust is not something that can be overcome by a simple apology.
I guess I didn't really buy into the love story between John and Grace. The ending seemed a bit unrealistic too. Essentially, all of a sudden, once John realized he loves Grace, all the obstacles seemed to magically disappear, including his lack of a real identity, his supposed enemies etc. The suspense portion of the story was not too bad. Ward also introduces some secondary characters who are in other books. I might go pick those up at the library or something so I can see what happened to them.
Overall: I gave it 2 stars. It was okay. But definitely check out the BDB series by J.R. Ward. It doesn't compare.
Full review here: http://bookfiendo.wordpress.com/2011/...
April 16, 2012
Este foi, para mim, um dos livros mais esperados do mês. Tinha uma enorme curiosidade em saber como Ward se sairia com romances policiais e mais uma vez não fui decepcionada. Habituada aos seus famosos livros da “Irmandade da Adaga Negra”, não pude deixar de comparar John Smith com a personagem ZSadist dessa mesma saga. É difícil de chamar esta autora pelo seu nome, ela é e sempre será para nós J.R. Ward, mas a verdade é que Jessica Bird é o seu verdadeiro nome. Este livro foi publicado pela primeira vez em 2004, um ano antes da publicação do primeiro volume da saga da Irmandade e posso dizer seguramente que Ward tem um dom especial para a escrita. Ao contrário de outros autores, ela consegue ser multifacetada e escrever sobre diversos géneros literários, o que é surpreendente.
Este livro conta-nos a história de Grace, uma mulher que aparentemente tem uma vida privilegiada e perfeita, mas que de repente se vê envolvida numa serie de assassínios, na qual poderá tornar-se na próxima vítima. Com o auxílio de amigos contrata uma empresa de segurança para ter consigo um guarda-costas, só não espera encontrar um desconhecido, que na verdade era alguém com quem já se tinha cruzado antes e por quem tinha sentido uma atracção avassaladora. John Smith é o nosso querido bad boy, com todas aquelas características que nós adoramos e logo no início ficamos “caidinhas” pela personagem. Os ingredientes são irresistíveis: passado misterioso, arrogante, auto-suficiente, charmoso…melhor mesmo é parar com as descrições e deixar-vos descobrir o resto. Adorei o livro, apesar de se focar mais no romance entre os dois protagonista e deixar a parte policial para segundo plano, mas talvez isso nos deixe margem para conhecer melhor as personagens. O único defeito tem a ver com as interrupções nas cenas picantes, deixei de contar as vezes que John e Grace foram interrompidos a meio de um acto sexual e em situações que deixam qualquer leitor frustrado, mas tudo isso funciona apenas para um culminar ainda mais emocionante.
Quanto ao assassino, no início não pensava que fosse aquela personagem, mas aos poucos comecei a desconfiar dele, apesar de haver mais hipóteses e até ao final ficar sempre em aberto a possibilidade de ser ou não aquele o culpado.
Mais uma vez, menciono que adorei esta nova faceta da autora e espero sinceramente poder voltar a ler outras obras de Jessica Bird.
Este livro conta-nos a história de Grace, uma mulher que aparentemente tem uma vida privilegiada e perfeita, mas que de repente se vê envolvida numa serie de assassínios, na qual poderá tornar-se na próxima vítima. Com o auxílio de amigos contrata uma empresa de segurança para ter consigo um guarda-costas, só não espera encontrar um desconhecido, que na verdade era alguém com quem já se tinha cruzado antes e por quem tinha sentido uma atracção avassaladora. John Smith é o nosso querido bad boy, com todas aquelas características que nós adoramos e logo no início ficamos “caidinhas” pela personagem. Os ingredientes são irresistíveis: passado misterioso, arrogante, auto-suficiente, charmoso…melhor mesmo é parar com as descrições e deixar-vos descobrir o resto. Adorei o livro, apesar de se focar mais no romance entre os dois protagonista e deixar a parte policial para segundo plano, mas talvez isso nos deixe margem para conhecer melhor as personagens. O único defeito tem a ver com as interrupções nas cenas picantes, deixei de contar as vezes que John e Grace foram interrompidos a meio de um acto sexual e em situações que deixam qualquer leitor frustrado, mas tudo isso funciona apenas para um culminar ainda mais emocionante.
Quanto ao assassino, no início não pensava que fosse aquela personagem, mas aos poucos comecei a desconfiar dele, apesar de haver mais hipóteses e até ao final ficar sempre em aberto a possibilidade de ser ou não aquele o culpado.
Mais uma vez, menciono que adorei esta nova faceta da autora e espero sinceramente poder voltar a ler outras obras de Jessica Bird.
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