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A Passionate Illusion
Since the Spritzi soda ads, Lissa Bauer had painfully inched her way up the acting ladder. And now she was barely hanging on to her first big role as Jeannie Duncan, the heroine in the movie adaptation of Matthew Briggs's bestselling novel A High, Hard Land. No one, especially Lissa, could seem to give the famous author the perfection--and passion--he demanded.
But Lissa was unaware how much her lightness and radiance drew Matthew to her. He wanted to show her how to bring illusion alive with passion, passion as real, as wild, as tantalizing as the hunger he could no longer deny.
But Lissa was unaware how much her lightness and radiance drew Matthew to her. He wanted to show her how to bring illusion alive with passion, passion as real, as wild, as tantalizing as the hunger he could no longer deny.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
About the author
Tory Cates
15 books3 followersTory undertook a career in journalism that has taken her to the Southwest many times. Tory is a professional photographer as well as an avid cross-country skier.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 3, 2010
I first read this book when I was around fifteen years old. My grandmother, seeing how bored I was one summer, took me to her garage and showed me a box of thin harlequin books, telling me to knock myself out with these. I remember loving this book, so much I brought it back in my suitcase, and kept reading it from time to time.
To no one's surprise, really, the French translation had been completely censored. A lot of scenes were new to me, probably cut to keep it short ? I am always baffled at the way authors are treated in translation, at least in my country, and boy did this book lose a lot !
Anyway, a good story, easy to read, and I deeply enjoyed revisiting it twenty years later. I loved how delightfully 80s it was. Phone cords, no internet, written notes instead of texts. I guess this hit me right in the nostalgia.
To no one's surprise, really, the French translation had been completely censored. A lot of scenes were new to me, probably cut to keep it short ? I am always baffled at the way authors are treated in translation, at least in my country, and boy did this book lose a lot !
Anyway, a good story, easy to read, and I deeply enjoyed revisiting it twenty years later. I loved how delightfully 80s it was. Phone cords, no internet, written notes instead of texts. I guess this hit me right in the nostalgia.
September 21, 2024
This book was different, in that you get involved in two stories: the one between the H and h, and the one between the characters in the movie that the h was starring in, which was based on the book the H wrote. In truth, I found myself wishing there really was a book, as I got more caught up in the story-within-the-story than I was in the story itself!
There was too much lacking in the relationship between the MC, I never felt the strong physical/emotional connection that was supposed to be there, and the love scenes fell flat, but more so with their (lack of) communication. Each seemed to think the other should know how they felt without having to say anything, and then felt betrayed when ghat didn't happen. It was obvious that both of them had relationship issues, particularly the h, whose daddy issues affected everything in her life. The H uses that to get a better performance out of her in a crucial scene in the movie, which I thought was really crappy of him, because he didn't warn her about dialog changes that he made ahead of time that would make the scene more emotional for her and more difficult to play. Even though he turned out to be right, I couldn't blame her for feeling hurt and angry.
There wasn't enough background info on either of them to give their story enough substance, you just get bits and pieces and have to put them together as the book goes on, and meanwhile, you get to know other characters (like the H's friends, whom he based his novel on, and the film crew), as well as the characters from the book/movie, and as interesting as they are, it all takes away from the H and h and getting involved in their story.
He seemed to take on the role that mostly goes to the h in these books, that of expecting a bit too much from the person they love and getting too disappointed when those expectations aren't met. In what's usually the h's reaction, here it's the H who runs off when things don't go the way he wanted. (He sure picked a time to do that, too!)
I'm giving this book three stars because I enjoyed all the behind-the-scenes stuff involved with making the movie (including some pretty scary moments), and because the movie plot was so entertaining, but if it weren't for that, it would lose a star.
There was too much lacking in the relationship between the MC, I never felt the strong physical/emotional connection that was supposed to be there, and the love scenes fell flat, but more so with their (lack of) communication. Each seemed to think the other should know how they felt without having to say anything, and then felt betrayed when ghat didn't happen. It was obvious that both of them had relationship issues, particularly the h, whose daddy issues affected everything in her life. The H uses that to get a better performance out of her in a crucial scene in the movie, which I thought was really crappy of him, because he didn't warn her about dialog changes that he made ahead of time that would make the scene more emotional for her and more difficult to play. Even though he turned out to be right, I couldn't blame her for feeling hurt and angry.
There wasn't enough background info on either of them to give their story enough substance, you just get bits and pieces and have to put them together as the book goes on, and meanwhile, you get to know other characters (like the H's friends, whom he based his novel on, and the film crew), as well as the characters from the book/movie, and as interesting as they are, it all takes away from the H and h and getting involved in their story.
He seemed to take on the role that mostly goes to the h in these books, that of expecting a bit too much from the person they love and getting too disappointed when those expectations aren't met. In what's usually the h's reaction, here it's the H who runs off when things don't go the way he wanted. (He sure picked a time to do that, too!)
I'm giving this book three stars because I enjoyed all the behind-the-scenes stuff involved with making the movie (including some pretty scary moments), and because the movie plot was so entertaining, but if it weren't for that, it would lose a star.
May 18, 2014
The emotional intensity that leading man, Matthew Briggs brings to A High, Hard Land, draws the reader to him long before any romance is on the horizon. He comes off as a very direct "take no prisoners" character, who knows what he wants in and out of the bedroom...and won't settle for less.
His lady lead, Lissa Baur, his opposite in so many ways, provides Matthew the perfect opportunity to let his guard down and be the nurturing 'white knight' that he so wants to be.
Lissa begins the read as a very unsure and overly eager to please persona. Though it is quite clear from the start, that she has the womanly wiles that stir Matthew's blood. It is also quite clear that she
is more than a little afraid to tread Matthew's emotional waters.
Adding to the depth of this romance, is the story within a story element provided by Matthew and Lissa's work in the set where his carefully penned pages are being adapted for the big screen. It is through coming to understand the life and times of the enigmatic woman that she is charged with portraying, that she and Matthew are able to make strides toward understanding each other.
The romance level is very high, but the author's approach to said romance is far from the norm. Most of the sex between these two goes on between their ears, rather than between the sheets. By the time the clothes do come off, the excitement is as palpable for the reader as it is for Matthew and Lissa.
Another difference between this story and others of its ilk, is the fact that the consummation of their relationship does not signal an end to the conflict of head versus heart with either of these characters.
If anything, the stakes are raised and the storyline becomes more involved.
This is a romance that takes the reader's heart off the beaten path, choosing instead, a panoramic trail leading to breathtaking vistas of descriptive dialogue, lush valleys filled with conflict, and the majestic peaks of romantic fulfillment.
See this review and more at: http://www.wtfareyoureading.com/2014/...
His lady lead, Lissa Baur, his opposite in so many ways, provides Matthew the perfect opportunity to let his guard down and be the nurturing 'white knight' that he so wants to be.
Lissa begins the read as a very unsure and overly eager to please persona. Though it is quite clear from the start, that she has the womanly wiles that stir Matthew's blood. It is also quite clear that she
is more than a little afraid to tread Matthew's emotional waters.
Adding to the depth of this romance, is the story within a story element provided by Matthew and Lissa's work in the set where his carefully penned pages are being adapted for the big screen. It is through coming to understand the life and times of the enigmatic woman that she is charged with portraying, that she and Matthew are able to make strides toward understanding each other.
The romance level is very high, but the author's approach to said romance is far from the norm. Most of the sex between these two goes on between their ears, rather than between the sheets. By the time the clothes do come off, the excitement is as palpable for the reader as it is for Matthew and Lissa.
Another difference between this story and others of its ilk, is the fact that the consummation of their relationship does not signal an end to the conflict of head versus heart with either of these characters.
If anything, the stakes are raised and the storyline becomes more involved.
This is a romance that takes the reader's heart off the beaten path, choosing instead, a panoramic trail leading to breathtaking vistas of descriptive dialogue, lush valleys filled with conflict, and the majestic peaks of romantic fulfillment.
See this review and more at: http://www.wtfareyoureading.com/2014/...
June 16, 2014
A young actress falls for the author of the book who is on set to oversee that the script is true to his work. There is instant deep feelings, he knows what he wants and begins to see that it is her. She has dark secrets and insecurities and almost blows it. It takes several hundred pages of misunderstandings,missed chances and separations for them to be honest with each other. The sex is smoldering but not that graphic. Nicely done. My thanks to the author and Goodreads for a complimentary copy.
June 17, 2014
My thanks to Tory Cates and Goodreads First Reads Giveaway for my copy of A High, Hard Lane that I won.
An actress playing a role in a Western movie falls for the writer of the movie. These two have a great deal of difficulty communicating for most of the story. They sit down to talk and look for a happy ever after ending. You will just have to read A High, Hard Lane to find out if they found it.
An actress playing a role in a Western movie falls for the writer of the movie. These two have a great deal of difficulty communicating for most of the story. They sit down to talk and look for a happy ever after ending. You will just have to read A High, Hard Lane to find out if they found it.
June 17, 2014
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
I really enjoyed this story and going on Lissa and Matthew's journey together as they fall in love. And it is a journey! You are literally rooting for these two to get together through the whole story. If you love a good romance novel you should give this book a try! I will be looking into more Tory Cates novels.
I really enjoyed this story and going on Lissa and Matthew's journey together as they fall in love. And it is a journey! You are literally rooting for these two to get together through the whole story. If you love a good romance novel you should give this book a try! I will be looking into more Tory Cates novels.
June 17, 2014
I'll be honest here, I wasn't as enthralled with the romance between the two main characters. They didn't seem suited to me, so I just couldn't feel it. However, I was dying to know what happened between Jeannie and Quaid (the characters in the movie playing out throughout the book)! That's a story I would love to read more about, or even watch on the big screen.
June 17, 2014
I won this book from goodreads.
Lissa is playing the heroine in the film A High, Hard Land.
Matthew Briggs the author of the book that is being made into a film, decides to be her coach
Because she is not acting in a way that reflects the book.
I loved this book because it was like reading two books in one.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Lissa is playing the heroine in the film A High, Hard Land.
Matthew Briggs the author of the book that is being made into a film, decides to be her coach
Because she is not acting in a way that reflects the book.
I loved this book because it was like reading two books in one.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Want to Read
March 7, 2014(2x - ARC ed & finished copy)
May 28, 2014
I won this book free through the goodreads giveaway. It was a very good story bad I really enjoyed it. Thanks.
May 30, 2014
love the plot about a movie being made and the characters in the movie. different take for a story being told. Enjoyed, wish it had a few more chapters to it.
July 4, 2014
I liked it.
May 28, 2015
The beginning threw me off, but I liked the general writing of the book. It's an easy romantic read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews