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Bachelor Cop
Mills & Boon Blush series brings you moving, true-to-life romancesThere's a reason his cold case colleagues call him Randy Railsback. And he's never been ashamed of his reputation with the ladies. But he is surprised by his intense reaction to Helena Norcross, one of his defence class students. He usually steers clear of women who aren't sending the get-to-know-you-better vibe. So what is it about Helena?
The English professor is clearly bent on revenge against her perpetrator, but Randy's research leads him to believe the guy's crimes are escalating. Not on Randy's watch, buddy. Because for the first time in his life, he's fallen hard. And nobody's going to hurt the woman he loves.
The English professor is clearly bent on revenge against her perpetrator, but Randy's research leads him to believe the guy's crimes are escalating. Not on Randy's watch, buddy. Because for the first time in his life, he's fallen hard. And nobody's going to hurt the woman he loves.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2010
2 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn McSparren
43 books13 followersCarolyn McSparren started writing when she was a teenager, and always planned to be a professional writer and a college professor. That is, until she fell madly in love, dropped out of graduate school, and became a wife supporting a burgeoning opera singer husband. That led to a three-month trip to Germany that stretched into five years.
She wound up living in Germany, France, Italy, and came home with a different husband and a 14-year-old stepdaughter. The writing got put on the back burner while she produced a daughter of her own and went back to graduate school at the University of Memphis to finish her Master’s degree in English. At that point she discovered that a graduate degree in English wouldn’t buy a cup of coffee in a diner.
She became a program coordinator at the executive center of the University of Memphis, where she designed management training, wrote brochures and press releases, designed and laid out brochures, and did everything from pour coffee to transport dignitaries.
On the home front, she and her family moved to the country to breed and train hunter-jumper horses. About the time they moved, her daughter decided she preferred a social life to cleaning out the barn and left Carolyn with the whole operation. With 18 horses, a full-time job, a husband and family, four cats, and three dogs, there wasn’t much time left for writing.
Finally, Martha Shields, who is now a Silhouette author, dragged Carolyn to the meeting of the River City Romance Writers, and thence into a critique group. Suddenly the time seemed right to get on with what she’d longed to do all her life.
That fall, Carolyn won a Maggie Award for an unpublished manuscript (which has still not been published, by the way), and three years later she took early retirement from the university to write full-time. By that time, only three horses remained — none of which Carolyn had ridden for much too long.
The day that Harlequin called with an offer to buy The Only Child, the editor said, "We want the book but... " Guess which were the only words Carolyn heard? She didn’t even tell her best friend about the offer for three weeks.
Now, with seven Harlequin Superromances under her belt, and another couple in the works, she’s finally living in what southerners call "hog heaven." She rides horses, writes books, works with the local chapter of RWA and with Sisters in Crime, is a member of Mystery Writers of America, and just so that she’ll stay balanced, is a member of the Delta Dressage Association—the local horse training group.
She loves speaking to aspiring writers and adores book signings. Finally, years after she first wanted to be a writer, she’s managed to achieve her goal. Now, if she can just manage to stay on her horse, everything should be great.
She wound up living in Germany, France, Italy, and came home with a different husband and a 14-year-old stepdaughter. The writing got put on the back burner while she produced a daughter of her own and went back to graduate school at the University of Memphis to finish her Master’s degree in English. At that point she discovered that a graduate degree in English wouldn’t buy a cup of coffee in a diner.
She became a program coordinator at the executive center of the University of Memphis, where she designed management training, wrote brochures and press releases, designed and laid out brochures, and did everything from pour coffee to transport dignitaries.
On the home front, she and her family moved to the country to breed and train hunter-jumper horses. About the time they moved, her daughter decided she preferred a social life to cleaning out the barn and left Carolyn with the whole operation. With 18 horses, a full-time job, a husband and family, four cats, and three dogs, there wasn’t much time left for writing.
Finally, Martha Shields, who is now a Silhouette author, dragged Carolyn to the meeting of the River City Romance Writers, and thence into a critique group. Suddenly the time seemed right to get on with what she’d longed to do all her life.
That fall, Carolyn won a Maggie Award for an unpublished manuscript (which has still not been published, by the way), and three years later she took early retirement from the university to write full-time. By that time, only three horses remained — none of which Carolyn had ridden for much too long.
The day that Harlequin called with an offer to buy The Only Child, the editor said, "We want the book but... " Guess which were the only words Carolyn heard? She didn’t even tell her best friend about the offer for three weeks.
Now, with seven Harlequin Superromances under her belt, and another couple in the works, she’s finally living in what southerners call "hog heaven." She rides horses, writes books, works with the local chapter of RWA and with Sisters in Crime, is a member of Mystery Writers of America, and just so that she’ll stay balanced, is a member of the Delta Dressage Association—the local horse training group.
She loves speaking to aspiring writers and adores book signings. Finally, years after she first wanted to be a writer, she’s managed to achieve her goal. Now, if she can just manage to stay on her horse, everything should be great.
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February 27, 2010
Mcsparren delivers a “knockout punch” with Bachelor Cop
This was another surprising great Harlequin Super Romance. A great sexy cover and back cover blurb are the top 2 selling points for me when trying to decide whether I buy a book or not when trying an unknown author. Bachelor Cop gets top marks on both counts. Good think I don't hold the title of the book accountable as it was the only thing I had issue with in this book (for me the title was meh - I thought this book deserved a better one).
Helena Norcross is an English College Professor, a single mom to 2 engaging kids, Milo and Vi and she's also the survivor of a vicious sexual assault. Adding insult to injury her no-good husband left her after the attack to raise their kids on her own without providing her any child support.
After 2 years of "hiding" from herself and the world, wearing baggy clothes and neglecting her appearance for the most part, Helena's decided she's not going to take it anymore. She's done being the victim and signs up for self-defence classes.
Randy Railsback is a cold case detective whose work has always been his top priority. On his off hours, he teaches self-defence classes to women. As for serious relationships - they aren't for him; he's definitely a one-night stand kinda guy.
Randy's got a cute nickname for the Helena - he calls her Streak, but not because she rammed him and knocked him on his ass (she's got a lot of pent up anger) the first night she attends his self-defence class, but because she's sporting a streak of white hair amongst her brown locks.
As Randy gets drawn in Helena's life he starts to realize that maybe work and being alone is not all it's cracked up to be. Their relationship builds slowly as Helena has to learn to trust again and let Randy into not only her life, but her children's lives.
This was an amazing satisfying read. The suspense/mystery aspect of this book was high as Helena was determined to exact revenge against her attacker and make him pay and Randy was just has determined to stop Helena from taking the law into her own hands.
You won't be disappointed if you decide to read Bachelor Cop!
This was another surprising great Harlequin Super Romance. A great sexy cover and back cover blurb are the top 2 selling points for me when trying to decide whether I buy a book or not when trying an unknown author. Bachelor Cop gets top marks on both counts. Good think I don't hold the title of the book accountable as it was the only thing I had issue with in this book (for me the title was meh - I thought this book deserved a better one).
Helena Norcross is an English College Professor, a single mom to 2 engaging kids, Milo and Vi and she's also the survivor of a vicious sexual assault. Adding insult to injury her no-good husband left her after the attack to raise their kids on her own without providing her any child support.
After 2 years of "hiding" from herself and the world, wearing baggy clothes and neglecting her appearance for the most part, Helena's decided she's not going to take it anymore. She's done being the victim and signs up for self-defence classes.
Randy Railsback is a cold case detective whose work has always been his top priority. On his off hours, he teaches self-defence classes to women. As for serious relationships - they aren't for him; he's definitely a one-night stand kinda guy.
Randy's got a cute nickname for the Helena - he calls her Streak, but not because she rammed him and knocked him on his ass (she's got a lot of pent up anger) the first night she attends his self-defence class, but because she's sporting a streak of white hair amongst her brown locks.
As Randy gets drawn in Helena's life he starts to realize that maybe work and being alone is not all it's cracked up to be. Their relationship builds slowly as Helena has to learn to trust again and let Randy into not only her life, but her children's lives.
This was an amazing satisfying read. The suspense/mystery aspect of this book was high as Helena was determined to exact revenge against her attacker and make him pay and Randy was just has determined to stop Helena from taking the law into her own hands.
You won't be disappointed if you decide to read Bachelor Cop!
Read
March 23, 2010For readers of this blog, you would know I read alot of Harlequin and Mills&Boons before bed – I have done this from as long as I can remember and I don’t normally say anything about them here – However Carolyn McSparren is the exception, and BACHELOR COP is a book that just needs talking about.
Ms McSparren starts off BACHELOR COP with an immediate introduction to the hero and the heroine in literally arm to arm combat, yup you heard me right. Why, because Detective Randy Railsback is a Shelby County cop and also a self defence class teacher who just happen to be the immediate target of one Dr Helena Norcross, who Randy has cheekily nicknamed Streak.
Streak has a chip on her shoulders a mile wide and Randy knows if there is one thing that will work against her moving on in the class is the amount of rage that she channels in the wrong direction, not only is he concern about her progressing in the class – he is also fascinated by her, she looks like a bag lady, dresses like a bag and for the oddest reason, does not give him a second glance at all.
Randy is a cop through and through and knows just after meeting Streak for one class that something was off with her, not known for his staying power and not upset about the fact, Randy does not want to get involved in Streaks life in any way shape or form – but when duty calls coupled with natural attraction, Randy had to get his priorities right.
Helena is not happy about the name that Randy has labelled her with on her first day of class – Streak is not a big deal, what grates her the most is Randy just being Randy, however Streak has the good sense to have a friend who does not sugar coat the truth and makes her see that any man would be subjected to the same outpouring of anger that Streak laid on Randy.
Streak is trying to get her life together and one of her first step is the self defence class, after that she has a plan A, B, and C but some things are unexpected and one of them is Randy, then there are the new friends that she is making and then there is a killer out for blood that Streak cannot forget.
Randy and Streak are caught in a trap of connecting at a point in their life's when they need each other. Streak is plotting and her first step is knowing how to defend herself and ultimately taking out the man who has cost her so much. Randy unexpectedly finds himself privy to information about one Helena Norcross that makes him being a cold case detective the best place for him to be – because as much as Streak has her issues, he cares about her and there is a stalker turned killer who has not forgot her and who knows who else might get in his way before he gets to her. Randy is literally in a race against time.
When a book starts off with a group of trigger happy women right within the first three pages, I knew I was going to be in for a great time and BACHELOR COP did not let me.
The main theme of the book is quite dark and deals with not only physical abuse although told in hindsight, but also lots of emotional issues that I thought was masterfully crafted into the storyline.
What worked for me.
The protags were a pleasure to be around, they were not chipboard people. McSparren not only gave them their own personalities but they were flawed and everyday enough to really like. Randy was just as randy as his name suggest and he was not shy about the fact “ that he did not do baggage nor commitment” and he has been true to that statement for too many years to change. Helena was just the right balance between neurotic and hard ass bitch to make knowing her an adventure…
The support cast were the heart and soul of this book – there was a whole slew of them and they all came with their own history and little planet of baggage.
Time was clearly invested in finding out not only about the investigative side of what and how the police deals with cold cases, but also the inner workings of a traumatised victims was well thought out and well describes.
The humour in BACHELOR COP was black enough to suit the plot – there was not enough of it in my opinion, but the little snippets every now and then was a nice way to break up some of the more tension filled parts of the book.
I also liked the consistence of the book - I know it sounds silly but let me explain – this book was more than a love story - It has a stalker, a woman trying to get her live back together and lots of emotional drama happening. Ms McSparren kept to that angle of the story all the way through – there was no jumping into the stalker mind or little burst of scenes from the stalker point of view – nope none of that. I thought that was really good, while I will admit I like the balance of victim and stalker POV, but getting caught up in the hunt and the finer details of getting a life and a family back together was worth the read.
The mystery was really well done – not only was the who done it kept until the end but with each new male introduction – the wording was crafted in such a way that any two or three people could have been the killer.
The book takes place over a fairly decent amount of time and this makes Streak growth more believable, as well as other subplot line more realistic. Where the timing worked the best is in the developing attraction between Streak and Randy…
People not happy with really traumatic events being told or even being relived will not have a problem with this book – there is retelling of the tale but from more an investigative stance point, so very clinical and matter of fact about it.
BACHELOR COP is the second is McSparren COUNT ON A COP series – and it can be read as a stand alone book - I was really impressed with Randy’s colleagues and I will be reading the first book that I missed and looking out for the next book in the series.
Niggles
The ending was tied up too quickly and mostly too conveniently – I do get quite annoyed when after a wonderful detail plotline the ending is wrapped in a page or two and the culprit makes it too easy. That said it was only a niggle, because the emphasis was of the book was on other things – so it was genuinely only a niggle.
While I know what to expect from a Harlequin book- every now and then one jumps out of the mould and does something magic for me – the name BACHELOR COP so did not suit this book. Hardcore readers of Harlequin might say – it is a reflection of the protag and his lifestyle, and that is what the readers will get – but this book was so much more and I honestly think a pretty decent book is buried by this titled..
Bottom Line
If you are looking for a book where from the moment you open the first page you are dragged through a series of emotion and events – coupled with a really strong support cast who are not unwilling to be vocal and demonstrative, BACHELOR COP is the book for you.
I am a fan of Ms McSparren’s work and with every book I read she only gets better and better, her style is not sugary, she write about real people and with real emotion, tying in family, kids and all the other challenges that will and can affect anyone trying to live right and do the decent thing.
BACHELOR COP is a nice balance between victim recovery and a police team caught and trapped by time and evidentiary politics. However what I absolutely love about this books is that as much as the plotline was about trying to stop a stalker turned killer – the stalker turned killer was not the story and I got to see the aftermath of what is left and can happen after a live is torn apart.
Ms McSparren starts off BACHELOR COP with an immediate introduction to the hero and the heroine in literally arm to arm combat, yup you heard me right. Why, because Detective Randy Railsback is a Shelby County cop and also a self defence class teacher who just happen to be the immediate target of one Dr Helena Norcross, who Randy has cheekily nicknamed Streak.
Streak has a chip on her shoulders a mile wide and Randy knows if there is one thing that will work against her moving on in the class is the amount of rage that she channels in the wrong direction, not only is he concern about her progressing in the class – he is also fascinated by her, she looks like a bag lady, dresses like a bag and for the oddest reason, does not give him a second glance at all.
Randy is a cop through and through and knows just after meeting Streak for one class that something was off with her, not known for his staying power and not upset about the fact, Randy does not want to get involved in Streaks life in any way shape or form – but when duty calls coupled with natural attraction, Randy had to get his priorities right.
Helena is not happy about the name that Randy has labelled her with on her first day of class – Streak is not a big deal, what grates her the most is Randy just being Randy, however Streak has the good sense to have a friend who does not sugar coat the truth and makes her see that any man would be subjected to the same outpouring of anger that Streak laid on Randy.
Streak is trying to get her life together and one of her first step is the self defence class, after that she has a plan A, B, and C but some things are unexpected and one of them is Randy, then there are the new friends that she is making and then there is a killer out for blood that Streak cannot forget.
Randy and Streak are caught in a trap of connecting at a point in their life's when they need each other. Streak is plotting and her first step is knowing how to defend herself and ultimately taking out the man who has cost her so much. Randy unexpectedly finds himself privy to information about one Helena Norcross that makes him being a cold case detective the best place for him to be – because as much as Streak has her issues, he cares about her and there is a stalker turned killer who has not forgot her and who knows who else might get in his way before he gets to her. Randy is literally in a race against time.
When a book starts off with a group of trigger happy women right within the first three pages, I knew I was going to be in for a great time and BACHELOR COP did not let me.
"Excellent question. I'm not about to teach you how to start fights. I'm going to teach you how to finish them."
"And disable our attackers?" Streak asked.
"If that's what it takes. We have three objectives." He counted on his fingers. "First, get free. Second, get away, and third, get safe." He grinned at her.
"And avoid a right cross while you're about it."
"Why not just shoot his ass?" asked a plump and cheerful lady who looked like Mrs. Santa Claus. "My husband says shoot until the gun goes click, click,
then if you have time, reload and do it again."
There were nods all around.
"What if you don't have a gun handy?" Randy said. "How many of you have gun permits and carry a weapon in your car, or have one in your house?"
Every hand went up.
"How many of you feel comfortable shooting it?"
Everyone except Streak raised her hand. A cross section of female West Tennessee America, and every one of them owned a gun. If he were a perp,
he'd be terrified. But then, if faced with shooting someone for real, so would they. He didn't usually do this until later in the course, but after Streak's little
episode, he decided to move up his demonstration. "'Scuse me a second," he said.
He came back from his gym locker with the .38 Smith & Wesson short-barreled five shot he carried in his ankle holster as backup to his Sig Sauer .45.
He unloaded it, checked it twice, dropped the bullets into his pocket and offered Mrs. Claus the weapon, butt first. "I carry a weapon at all times, even off
duty." He winked at them. "So I can take down your friendly neighborhood ATM bandit at Kroger's. I've never shot anyone and I pray I never have to, and I
definitely hope you never have to, either. Now, Mrs C¦."
"Ellen," she simpered. She held the gun low with her trigger finger safely along the side, even though she had just seen it unloaded. Someone had taught
her well.
Bachelor Cop © Carolyn McSparren
The main theme of the book is quite dark and deals with not only physical abuse although told in hindsight, but also lots of emotional issues that I thought was masterfully crafted into the storyline.
What worked for me.
The protags were a pleasure to be around, they were not chipboard people. McSparren not only gave them their own personalities but they were flawed and everyday enough to really like. Randy was just as randy as his name suggest and he was not shy about the fact “ that he did not do baggage nor commitment” and he has been true to that statement for too many years to change. Helena was just the right balance between neurotic and hard ass bitch to make knowing her an adventure…
The support cast were the heart and soul of this book – there was a whole slew of them and they all came with their own history and little planet of baggage.
Time was clearly invested in finding out not only about the investigative side of what and how the police deals with cold cases, but also the inner workings of a traumatised victims was well thought out and well describes.
The humour in BACHELOR COP was black enough to suit the plot – there was not enough of it in my opinion, but the little snippets every now and then was a nice way to break up some of the more tension filled parts of the book.
"AS A GENERAL RULE, I don't even like children," Randy said. He poured creamer into Jack Samuels's cup and handed it to him. At her desk, Liz
Slaughter stirred bran into her yogurt. She was limiting her caffeine intake for the duration of her pregnancy. She had yet to switch to maternity tops, but
the baby bulge grew more prominent every day.
"Most of the kids we see in here" Jack took a sip of his coffee "are one step short of feral. They'd have been better off if they had been raised by
wolves. Wolves have a moral code."
"Half the kids expect to be dead before they hit twenty-five," Liz interjected.
"Too many of them actually are," Jack added. "My point is that they're anything but normal kids."
"The only kids I know are my cousins," Randy said. "They're loud, spoiled, selfish, have the table manners of warthogs and treat their parents with
contempt."
"So do you," Jack commented.
Bachelor Cop © Carolyn McSparren
I also liked the consistence of the book - I know it sounds silly but let me explain – this book was more than a love story - It has a stalker, a woman trying to get her live back together and lots of emotional drama happening. Ms McSparren kept to that angle of the story all the way through – there was no jumping into the stalker mind or little burst of scenes from the stalker point of view – nope none of that. I thought that was really good, while I will admit I like the balance of victim and stalker POV, but getting caught up in the hunt and the finer details of getting a life and a family back together was worth the read.
The mystery was really well done – not only was the who done it kept until the end but with each new male introduction – the wording was crafted in such a way that any two or three people could have been the killer.
The book takes place over a fairly decent amount of time and this makes Streak growth more believable, as well as other subplot line more realistic. Where the timing worked the best is in the developing attraction between Streak and Randy…
People not happy with really traumatic events being told or even being relived will not have a problem with this book – there is retelling of the tale but from more an investigative stance point, so very clinical and matter of fact about it.
BACHELOR COP is the second is McSparren COUNT ON A COP series – and it can be read as a stand alone book - I was really impressed with Randy’s colleagues and I will be reading the first book that I missed and looking out for the next book in the series.
Niggles
The ending was tied up too quickly and mostly too conveniently – I do get quite annoyed when after a wonderful detail plotline the ending is wrapped in a page or two and the culprit makes it too easy. That said it was only a niggle, because the emphasis was of the book was on other things – so it was genuinely only a niggle.
While I know what to expect from a Harlequin book- every now and then one jumps out of the mould and does something magic for me – the name BACHELOR COP so did not suit this book. Hardcore readers of Harlequin might say – it is a reflection of the protag and his lifestyle, and that is what the readers will get – but this book was so much more and I honestly think a pretty decent book is buried by this titled..
Bottom Line
If you are looking for a book where from the moment you open the first page you are dragged through a series of emotion and events – coupled with a really strong support cast who are not unwilling to be vocal and demonstrative, BACHELOR COP is the book for you.
I am a fan of Ms McSparren’s work and with every book I read she only gets better and better, her style is not sugary, she write about real people and with real emotion, tying in family, kids and all the other challenges that will and can affect anyone trying to live right and do the decent thing.
BACHELOR COP is a nice balance between victim recovery and a police team caught and trapped by time and evidentiary politics. However what I absolutely love about this books is that as much as the plotline was about trying to stop a stalker turned killer – the stalker turned killer was not the story and I got to see the aftermath of what is left and can happen after a live is torn apart.
March 31, 2012
I'm on the fence about this book for a few reasons. I really liked that it dealt with a woman (Helena) who was raped, and that she was not magically cured. She has spent the last two years since her assault hiding herself in over-sized clothes and no makeup and having panic attacks. She is also a divorced mother, so she has all of these issues from her rape and she has to sort of hide that as well as she can from her children. That part of the book was a success to me. What was less of a success was the romance, and the ending.
Randy is the main love interest of Helena. He's a Detective on the Memphis Cold Case squad, and he also teaches self-defense classes to women at a local gym. Helena and Randy meet when she enrolls in his class. What didn't mesh about the romantic relationship to me is twofold. 1. I didn't buy Randy's sudden transformation from total player who is emotionally withdrawn to guy who is head over heels in love and ready to settle down as a husband and father. Plus the story to explain his withdrawal is sort of stupid...I didn't understand why he blamed himself, and it generally just pales in comparison to Helena's experiences so it just looks that much more trivial 2. Is it common practice for cops to become romantically involved with people whose case they're investigating? Because I think that is generally frowned upon, if not outright against the rules. How are you going to have any objectivity if you are involved with the victim? A defense attorney would have a heyday with that.
My other issue with this book is the ending, and that is also a twofold problem. First Problem: The resolution of the Cold Case is ridiculous. And then Helena did something VERY STUPID, which I shall not recount. But suffice to say that it was DUMB, it could have gotten her KILLED, and it also could have potentially screwed over Randy at work, and she hid it from him. Second Problem: The romantic resolution. Randy and Helena barely know one another, and at the end they are proposing marriage and guardianship for Helena's kids. What ever happened to getting to know one another? Sort of in this category is also my issue with the fact that Helena's ex-husband is a total caricature. He's a deadbeat, gambling-addict, asshole who says stuff about how Helena deserved what she got. Really? I could buy perhaps one of those things, but all of them just seems like that author stacking the deck in Randy's favor so he looks that much better in comparison. Plus, the ex being such a douche made me wonder why Helena was idiot enough to ever marry him in the first place.
In general, I liked the idea of this book, but it was way too rushed, especially at the end. And the rushed ending almost ruined this book. It is only the fact that the author was brave enough to take on a heroine that was raped and damaged that keeps this book from being one star.
Randy is the main love interest of Helena. He's a Detective on the Memphis Cold Case squad, and he also teaches self-defense classes to women at a local gym. Helena and Randy meet when she enrolls in his class. What didn't mesh about the romantic relationship to me is twofold. 1. I didn't buy Randy's sudden transformation from total player who is emotionally withdrawn to guy who is head over heels in love and ready to settle down as a husband and father. Plus the story to explain his withdrawal is sort of stupid...I didn't understand why he blamed himself, and it generally just pales in comparison to Helena's experiences so it just looks that much more trivial 2. Is it common practice for cops to become romantically involved with people whose case they're investigating? Because I think that is generally frowned upon, if not outright against the rules. How are you going to have any objectivity if you are involved with the victim? A defense attorney would have a heyday with that.
My other issue with this book is the ending, and that is also a twofold problem. First Problem: The resolution of the Cold Case is ridiculous. And then Helena did something VERY STUPID, which I shall not recount. But suffice to say that it was DUMB, it could have gotten her KILLED, and it also could have potentially screwed over Randy at work, and she hid it from him. Second Problem: The romantic resolution. Randy and Helena barely know one another, and at the end they are proposing marriage and guardianship for Helena's kids. What ever happened to getting to know one another? Sort of in this category is also my issue with the fact that Helena's ex-husband is a total caricature. He's a deadbeat, gambling-addict, asshole who says stuff about how Helena deserved what she got. Really? I could buy perhaps one of those things, but all of them just seems like that author stacking the deck in Randy's favor so he looks that much better in comparison. Plus, the ex being such a douche made me wonder why Helena was idiot enough to ever marry him in the first place.
In general, I liked the idea of this book, but it was way too rushed, especially at the end. And the rushed ending almost ruined this book. It is only the fact that the author was brave enough to take on a heroine that was raped and damaged that keeps this book from being one star.
June 24, 2014
Since I picked this up as a Harlequin Super Romance, I didn't expect this book to be intellectually stimulating or complex. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and plot, especially the fact that the focus of the relationship was much deeper than just sex-driven. The 2-year rape survivor Helena (nicknamed Streak) has joined a cop's self defense class. And it goes from there. I loved the intelligent knowledge of law, police procedure, and rape/assault affects. I would definitely recommend this book to those who love a story about a broken woman who finds her strength with and through a great male protector. Well done!
March 22, 2010
3.5* Better than average, with convincing emotional depth. The climactic scene was a bit of a let down for me, but otherwise well-handled romantic suspense considering the short-book style of series books.
February 4, 2013
Title doesn't really fit, IMO, though the hero IS a cop and a bachelor... Heroine is a crime victim with a plan. It's a well done story. I liked it.
April 7, 2017
This book may be a Harlequin book but the author did a very good job tackling the subject of rape within the story line.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews