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A Personal Matter
Crossing the line ...
Alayna Jackson's dream is to be a lawyer -- and not even being the only African-American paralegal in a high-power, lily-white law firm will hold her down. Sure it's not the perfect job, but if it helps her reach her goal -- and gets her younger sister through college at the same time, Alayna will work for the devil himself -- namely Ben "Ice Man" Richards, the firm's arrogant, brilliant, insufferable, and unpredictable rising star.As long as Richards curbs his famous rudeness and treats her with respect, Alayna should be able to cope. But there's more to Ice Man than meets the eye, a fire smoldering beneath his hard, cool surface. And when personal disaster threatens, Alayna finds herself unlocking the doors of her private life to the last man she ever dreamed she'd let enter. And once inside, he may just alter Alayna's world and her outlook in glorious, frightening ways.
Alayna Jackson's dream is to be a lawyer -- and not even being the only African-American paralegal in a high-power, lily-white law firm will hold her down. Sure it's not the perfect job, but if it helps her reach her goal -- and gets her younger sister through college at the same time, Alayna will work for the devil himself -- namely Ben "Ice Man" Richards, the firm's arrogant, brilliant, insufferable, and unpredictable rising star.As long as Richards curbs his famous rudeness and treats her with respect, Alayna should be able to cope. But there's more to Ice Man than meets the eye, a fire smoldering beneath his hard, cool surface. And when personal disaster threatens, Alayna finds herself unlocking the doors of her private life to the last man she ever dreamed she'd let enter. And once inside, he may just alter Alayna's world and her outlook in glorious, frightening ways.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 2004
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275 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 8, 2009
It was a wonderful book. I haven't read a mainstream contemporary romance that I have enjoyed this much in years. I am so glad that it was recommended because it inspired me to get back into my interracial romance books. There are quite a few that I am ready to dive into now.
Alayna is someone that I identified with. I come from a family with lots of drama and it affected my life in various ways. I had to learn to step up and be strong, and take on a heavy leadership role in the family. Being a younger sister and a shy person, it was hard for me. Alayna certainly isn't shy, but she had to take on even more responsibility than I did. I am amazed at what she has accomplished for her age, even if she had to put her own personal life on the back burner. It's refreshing to see heroines like this, who haven't been out partying and going through men like a fish through water in their so-called carefree 20s. It's great fantasy to think all strong, beautiful, worthwhile women date their socks out. But truth is some of us don't have that opportunity because we're too busy trying to keep the roofs over our heads and meet our responsibilities. I think it's great for those of us who haven't dated as much because we were busy trying to get an education, get a career going, and taking care of family responsibilities, to have a heroine who shows us that we can find love too. And you want to see Alayna finally get a chance to have something for her. Thankfully, Ms. Langhorne delivers that in this book.
This book sends you through the whole gamut of emotions: hilarity, anger, joy, pain, passion, acceptance. There are no cookie cutter characters, no stand-ins. No person in this book always does the right thing or says the right thing. As a matter of fact, the so called good guys, might actually be bad guys, and vice versa. You have to read it to find out what I mean. It is like real life. It shows the good and the bad, and also shows that there is a payoff for the people who continue to do the right thing day after day. Because there are days when you ask, why I am doing this when it won't really matter in the long run?
When the book starts, it looks like things will finally get easier for Alayna, but her sister drops two bombs on her, and then it seems like the world is collapsing around Alayna's head. At the same time, she is asked to work as a paralegal with the most difficult lawyer in the practice, Ben "Ice Man" Richards, in exchance for a raise and a hefty bonus, that will come in handy to help to fulfill her mother's deathbed promise towards Alayna's sister. This seems like hell at first, but it is a turning point in Alayna's life. I have found in my own life, that things always, always get so bad that you think you can't handle it, right before things change in wonderful and incredibly good ways.
This is exactly what happens to Alayna. By accepting this assignment she finds love with the last person she thought she would. And she gets the strength to do something for herself that she has wanted to do for a long time, go to law school. Alayna has always tried to draw a very clear line in the sand between work and personal life. She is deeply distrustful of all White people, and doesn't even give them names in her head, but names them by their looks or characteristics. I believe that this is a manifestation of her attempt to keep herself isolated from things that can hurt her or change her focus. As a person who has worked in a hostile work environment (not always due to racial issues), I could identify with her drawing that line in the sand. You feel like that knife is waiting to plunge in your back, and that you cannot confide in anyone else. It's a very hard, lonely road.
Unbeknownst to her, Ice Man has been doing the same thing, but for different reasons. I really like the way the author showed both characters at their very worst at the beginning, and slowly peels away the armor to show that both Alayna "the extremely intelligent Black girl with the attitude", and Ben "the arrogant, jerk wonderkid with the really bad attitude" are really good people trying to do their best by their respective families, and keep their coworkers out of their business.
I love that it turns out that the one person that Alayna can count on when things really hit rock bottom is the "Ice Man," and he certainly comes through. He can handle her tough girl attitude, because it's his own defense mechanism.
Athough even the first scene between Alayna and Ice snapped with sexual tension, I thought that the tension built between the characters at a really realistic pace, as they came to see each other through discerning eyes, although I believe that Ben has had feelings for Alayna for a long time, and finally maybe got the chance to make his move. The author shows that the reluctance for people to consider dating interracial is not always do to the reluctance for one group to date outside their race, but sometimes it's because they are not sure that person would return their interest. Alayne certain is not the type to date a White man, as is made clear early on. And as Alayna asks herself "why not," the reader goes along with her as she opens her mind to the possibilities. Why not date someone who is right for you in all the right ways, even though they may be of a different race or ethnicity? I have never felt a reluctance to it, but I can see why some people might have those issues. Although it is certainly not a drawn out PSA about interracial dating as some interracial romances can be, the issues are there to consider in this book.
Now let's talk about the Ice Man. He is officially one of my favorite heroes (I came to that conclusion before I ever finished the book). I posted a question about metaphorical Knights in romance novels on my romance book groups. One of my fellow book reading friends suggested Ben the "Ice Man" Richards. She couldn't say enough good things about him. This made me search through about ten boxes of books in my garage to dig it out. I finally found it in the last box I looked in before giving up. Thank God I did. I really needed Ben in my life this past week.
Ben is definitely a knight. He is a little tarnished and shining at the same time. I don't want to spoil those who have not read the book, but I am awe that he managed to have a handle on his family issues and still manage to kick butt as a trial attorney at the same time. Even with all the stuff on his plate, he is the one who is there to help Alayna when her personal issues come to a head. Ben is no perfect hero. He is rather rude and very sloppy, but he has a heart as big as Texas as they say. He's also a little nerdy (a good thing to me as I like nerdy guys) but totally hot at the same time. Tall, built, handsome, with lovely gray eyes, and wears glasses. But he isn't one of those men that knows he's totally "the stuff". His arrogance is more related to his reputation as a good lawyer. But even still, this is a facade to keep people away from real Ben who is in some ways a complete marshmallow.
His interactions with Alayna are classic. She definitely keeps him on his toes, but he does the same to her. Even though the book is pretty much third person from Alayna's perspective, Ms. Langhorne does an excellent job describing Ben's body language and facial expressions that reveal a lot that is not said. I felt like I knew him very well by the time the book ended. And truth be told, I still want to know more. I'd love to revisit Ben and Alayna a few years down the road, and they better still be together! I believe they will. I believe in their love.
Well I could spend a lot more time talking about this book, but I think you should just read it. I sincerely doubt you will be disappointed. In fact, I wish I had read it sooner. But then, maybe I read it just on time.
Alayna is someone that I identified with. I come from a family with lots of drama and it affected my life in various ways. I had to learn to step up and be strong, and take on a heavy leadership role in the family. Being a younger sister and a shy person, it was hard for me. Alayna certainly isn't shy, but she had to take on even more responsibility than I did. I am amazed at what she has accomplished for her age, even if she had to put her own personal life on the back burner. It's refreshing to see heroines like this, who haven't been out partying and going through men like a fish through water in their so-called carefree 20s. It's great fantasy to think all strong, beautiful, worthwhile women date their socks out. But truth is some of us don't have that opportunity because we're too busy trying to keep the roofs over our heads and meet our responsibilities. I think it's great for those of us who haven't dated as much because we were busy trying to get an education, get a career going, and taking care of family responsibilities, to have a heroine who shows us that we can find love too. And you want to see Alayna finally get a chance to have something for her. Thankfully, Ms. Langhorne delivers that in this book.
This book sends you through the whole gamut of emotions: hilarity, anger, joy, pain, passion, acceptance. There are no cookie cutter characters, no stand-ins. No person in this book always does the right thing or says the right thing. As a matter of fact, the so called good guys, might actually be bad guys, and vice versa. You have to read it to find out what I mean. It is like real life. It shows the good and the bad, and also shows that there is a payoff for the people who continue to do the right thing day after day. Because there are days when you ask, why I am doing this when it won't really matter in the long run?
When the book starts, it looks like things will finally get easier for Alayna, but her sister drops two bombs on her, and then it seems like the world is collapsing around Alayna's head. At the same time, she is asked to work as a paralegal with the most difficult lawyer in the practice, Ben "Ice Man" Richards, in exchance for a raise and a hefty bonus, that will come in handy to help to fulfill her mother's deathbed promise towards Alayna's sister. This seems like hell at first, but it is a turning point in Alayna's life. I have found in my own life, that things always, always get so bad that you think you can't handle it, right before things change in wonderful and incredibly good ways.
This is exactly what happens to Alayna. By accepting this assignment she finds love with the last person she thought she would. And she gets the strength to do something for herself that she has wanted to do for a long time, go to law school. Alayna has always tried to draw a very clear line in the sand between work and personal life. She is deeply distrustful of all White people, and doesn't even give them names in her head, but names them by their looks or characteristics. I believe that this is a manifestation of her attempt to keep herself isolated from things that can hurt her or change her focus. As a person who has worked in a hostile work environment (not always due to racial issues), I could identify with her drawing that line in the sand. You feel like that knife is waiting to plunge in your back, and that you cannot confide in anyone else. It's a very hard, lonely road.
Unbeknownst to her, Ice Man has been doing the same thing, but for different reasons. I really like the way the author showed both characters at their very worst at the beginning, and slowly peels away the armor to show that both Alayna "the extremely intelligent Black girl with the attitude", and Ben "the arrogant, jerk wonderkid with the really bad attitude" are really good people trying to do their best by their respective families, and keep their coworkers out of their business.
I love that it turns out that the one person that Alayna can count on when things really hit rock bottom is the "Ice Man," and he certainly comes through. He can handle her tough girl attitude, because it's his own defense mechanism.
Athough even the first scene between Alayna and Ice snapped with sexual tension, I thought that the tension built between the characters at a really realistic pace, as they came to see each other through discerning eyes, although I believe that Ben has had feelings for Alayna for a long time, and finally maybe got the chance to make his move. The author shows that the reluctance for people to consider dating interracial is not always do to the reluctance for one group to date outside their race, but sometimes it's because they are not sure that person would return their interest. Alayne certain is not the type to date a White man, as is made clear early on. And as Alayna asks herself "why not," the reader goes along with her as she opens her mind to the possibilities. Why not date someone who is right for you in all the right ways, even though they may be of a different race or ethnicity? I have never felt a reluctance to it, but I can see why some people might have those issues. Although it is certainly not a drawn out PSA about interracial dating as some interracial romances can be, the issues are there to consider in this book.
Now let's talk about the Ice Man. He is officially one of my favorite heroes (I came to that conclusion before I ever finished the book). I posted a question about metaphorical Knights in romance novels on my romance book groups. One of my fellow book reading friends suggested Ben the "Ice Man" Richards. She couldn't say enough good things about him. This made me search through about ten boxes of books in my garage to dig it out. I finally found it in the last box I looked in before giving up. Thank God I did. I really needed Ben in my life this past week.
Ben is definitely a knight. He is a little tarnished and shining at the same time. I don't want to spoil those who have not read the book, but I am awe that he managed to have a handle on his family issues and still manage to kick butt as a trial attorney at the same time. Even with all the stuff on his plate, he is the one who is there to help Alayna when her personal issues come to a head. Ben is no perfect hero. He is rather rude and very sloppy, but he has a heart as big as Texas as they say. He's also a little nerdy (a good thing to me as I like nerdy guys) but totally hot at the same time. Tall, built, handsome, with lovely gray eyes, and wears glasses. But he isn't one of those men that knows he's totally "the stuff". His arrogance is more related to his reputation as a good lawyer. But even still, this is a facade to keep people away from real Ben who is in some ways a complete marshmallow.
His interactions with Alayna are classic. She definitely keeps him on his toes, but he does the same to her. Even though the book is pretty much third person from Alayna's perspective, Ms. Langhorne does an excellent job describing Ben's body language and facial expressions that reveal a lot that is not said. I felt like I knew him very well by the time the book ended. And truth be told, I still want to know more. I'd love to revisit Ben and Alayna a few years down the road, and they better still be together! I believe they will. I believe in their love.
Well I could spend a lot more time talking about this book, but I think you should just read it. I sincerely doubt you will be disappointed. In fact, I wish I had read it sooner. But then, maybe I read it just on time.
January 14, 2008
I read this book because of the great reviews it received on Amazon. I thought it was an okay book but I didn't love it.
The Good:
Technically, this was a well written book. It has a polish and a sophistication that one does not normally find in an author's first book.
The dialogue was great. It was snappy and witty and I could actually "hear" the characters talking.
The not so Good:
I didn't care about the characters. Alayna was the most repressed, isolated character I have ever read about. I didn't like her and I didn't sympathize with her. Normally, this isn't such a bad thing as long as the character grows and changes during the course of the story. I don't feel that Alayna's character grew at all during the story. I think she was simply repositioned.
I actually liked Ben, but for a hotshot lawyer he didn't seem very hot-shot at all. The follow through of the character did not live up to the set up. But, of all the characters I think he was the one with the most depth.
I thought the secondary characters dragged down the story. I appreciate secondary characters a lot in a story because they can really add texture, and a great supporting framework for the main characters. But the father storyline and the sister storyline were distracting. Maybe that is because the primary storyline of the romance between the two main characters just wasn't very engaging.
This takes me to my biggest disappointment. I didn't feel as if these two characters connected to each other at all. Alayna seemed so disdainful of Ben and white people in general that it seemed really bizarre that she would actually unbend enough to date a white guy let alone marry one. I think the author tried to so hard to showcase Alayna as a strong black woman that she forgot to show how even a strong black woman becomes vulnerable in love. Alayna never became vulnerable in my opinion. So much so, that I found myself wondering why did Ben even bother.
As I got toward the end of the book I kept wondering how the heck they'd get it together and become a couple. Alas, it was a quick dénouement where everything happened all at once. I wish the book had a bit more depth and a lot more emotion.
I do not recommend.
The Good:
Technically, this was a well written book. It has a polish and a sophistication that one does not normally find in an author's first book.
The dialogue was great. It was snappy and witty and I could actually "hear" the characters talking.
The not so Good:
I didn't care about the characters. Alayna was the most repressed, isolated character I have ever read about. I didn't like her and I didn't sympathize with her. Normally, this isn't such a bad thing as long as the character grows and changes during the course of the story. I don't feel that Alayna's character grew at all during the story. I think she was simply repositioned.
I actually liked Ben, but for a hotshot lawyer he didn't seem very hot-shot at all. The follow through of the character did not live up to the set up. But, of all the characters I think he was the one with the most depth.
I thought the secondary characters dragged down the story. I appreciate secondary characters a lot in a story because they can really add texture, and a great supporting framework for the main characters. But the father storyline and the sister storyline were distracting. Maybe that is because the primary storyline of the romance between the two main characters just wasn't very engaging.
This takes me to my biggest disappointment. I didn't feel as if these two characters connected to each other at all. Alayna seemed so disdainful of Ben and white people in general that it seemed really bizarre that she would actually unbend enough to date a white guy let alone marry one. I think the author tried to so hard to showcase Alayna as a strong black woman that she forgot to show how even a strong black woman becomes vulnerable in love. Alayna never became vulnerable in my opinion. So much so, that I found myself wondering why did Ben even bother.
As I got toward the end of the book I kept wondering how the heck they'd get it together and become a couple. Alas, it was a quick dénouement where everything happened all at once. I wish the book had a bit more depth and a lot more emotion.
I do not recommend.
December 15, 2025
A witty writing style that was refreshing and kept me grinning and satisfied!
FMC is a black paralegal. She's 28 but never had proper childhood or youth since she worked multiple jobs and took care of her much younger sister. At the law firm she's the only black paralegal and she keeps to herself all while judging all the white people in the funniest ways.
She's determined to ask her "cheap" boss for a raise because she wants to save for the college tuition of her little sis. Without hearing her the boss suggests a huge raise under one condition. She needs to assist the most difficult and obnoxious lawyer of the firm with a big case.
Enter Mr. Freezer or Ice as the FMC calls him. He's really rude and mean. During their first encounter FMC+MMC write a contract to be themselves without crying to HR. FMC can be loud and sarcastic and MMC can keep his generally assholish ways. Plus, they promised to not get into personal matters or affairs whatsoever.
That's when life kept testing them. On the one hand: FMC's sister wants to take her college tuition money to marry her high school boyfriend and be a stay at home "teenager/wife". On the other hand MMC is hiding a big secret (So big that people thought for a long ass time he's gay)
This is kind of romance that is hectic. You're living with them at the office, the crazy lawyers hours and rudeness, the realness of their private home struggles, the unapologetic dialogue between MCs. They are not afraid of hurting each other's feelings or dancing around political correctness so much so that sometimes you'll feel that FMC is racist towards white people (but that's just a defense mechanism)
In a way this book is so brazen it would never be published nowadays!
Had the pleasure to add this book to my Bingo Challenge of 2025 for a romance book starting with Letter "A"
25⭕ ┃37⭕┃87┃13⭕┃68⭕┃40⭕┃32┃59┃76┃44⭕
10⭕┃86┃4⭕ ┃45⭕┃47⭕┃98┃50⭕┃14⭕┃85⭕┃75
88┃51┃ 9⭕┃2⭕┃42⭕┃29⭕┃ 24┃92⭕┃ 82┃1⭕
100┃34⭕┃17⭕┃96⭕┃43⭕┃49┃64⭕┃70⭕┃15⭕┃38⭕
84⭕┃31⭕┃ 62⭕┃7⭕┃21⭕┃73┃28⭕┃46⭕┃90⭕┃77⭕
3⭕┃12⭕┃80⭕┃ 69⭕┃52⭕┃ 65⭕┃54⭕┃ 91⭕┃23⭕┃ 72⭕
18⭕┃95┃ 22┃99┃93┃74⭕┃41⭕┃8⭕┃35⭕┃ 58⭕
57⭕┃94┃ 16⭕┃56┃ 5⭕┃60⭕┃78⭕┃ 26┃81┃ 61⭕
97⭕┃48⭕┃ 79⭕┃67⭕┃ 53⭕┃30⭕┃ 6⭕┃36⭕┃89⭕┃ 33⭕
71⭕┃19⭕┃ 39⭕┃66⭕┃ 55⭕┃27⭕┃ 20⭕┃63⭕┃ 11⭕┃83
FMC is a black paralegal. She's 28 but never had proper childhood or youth since she worked multiple jobs and took care of her much younger sister. At the law firm she's the only black paralegal and she keeps to herself all while judging all the white people in the funniest ways.
She's determined to ask her "cheap" boss for a raise because she wants to save for the college tuition of her little sis. Without hearing her the boss suggests a huge raise under one condition. She needs to assist the most difficult and obnoxious lawyer of the firm with a big case.
Enter Mr. Freezer or Ice as the FMC calls him. He's really rude and mean. During their first encounter FMC+MMC write a contract to be themselves without crying to HR. FMC can be loud and sarcastic and MMC can keep his generally assholish ways. Plus, they promised to not get into personal matters or affairs whatsoever.
That's when life kept testing them. On the one hand: FMC's sister wants to take her college tuition money to marry her high school boyfriend and be a stay at home "teenager/wife". On the other hand MMC is hiding a big secret (So big that people thought for a long ass time he's gay)
This is kind of romance that is hectic. You're living with them at the office, the crazy lawyers hours and rudeness, the realness of their private home struggles, the unapologetic dialogue between MCs. They are not afraid of hurting each other's feelings or dancing around political correctness so much so that sometimes you'll feel that FMC is racist towards white people (but that's just a defense mechanism)
In a way this book is so brazen it would never be published nowadays!
Had the pleasure to add this book to my Bingo Challenge of 2025 for a romance book starting with Letter "A"
25⭕ ┃37⭕┃87┃13⭕┃68⭕┃40⭕┃32┃59┃76┃44⭕
10⭕┃86┃4⭕ ┃45⭕┃47⭕┃98┃50⭕┃14⭕┃85⭕┃75
88┃51┃ 9⭕┃2⭕┃42⭕┃29⭕┃ 24┃92⭕┃ 82┃1⭕
100┃34⭕┃17⭕┃96⭕┃43⭕┃49┃64⭕┃70⭕┃15⭕┃38⭕
84⭕┃31⭕┃ 62⭕┃7⭕┃21⭕┃73┃28⭕┃46⭕┃90⭕┃77⭕
3⭕┃12⭕┃80⭕┃ 69⭕┃52⭕┃ 65⭕┃54⭕┃ 91⭕┃23⭕┃ 72⭕
18⭕┃95┃ 22┃99┃93┃74⭕┃41⭕┃8⭕┃35⭕┃ 58⭕
57⭕┃94┃ 16⭕┃56┃ 5⭕┃60⭕┃78⭕┃ 26┃81┃ 61⭕
97⭕┃48⭕┃ 79⭕┃67⭕┃ 53⭕┃30⭕┃ 6⭕┃36⭕┃89⭕┃ 33⭕
71⭕┃19⭕┃ 39⭕┃66⭕┃ 55⭕┃27⭕┃ 20⭕┃63⭕┃ 11⭕┃83
December 24, 2014
This book had potential but did not delive
November 5, 2013
Alayna Jackson has put her dreams on hold to raise her baby sister after her mother’s death. Now her sister is about to head off to college and she can pursue her dream of becoming a lawyer. All she has to do is work for Ben “Ice Man” Richards. The guy no one wants to work for, in short he is an arrogant, intelligent jerk, with gorgeous grey eyes.
Alayna’s little sister throws a wrench in her plans to bundle her off to college, her career at her prestigious law firm of good ole boys is in jeopardy and through it all Ben is there to back her up.
Bookswagger Marcia: Four Crowns, good read, on the way to swagger. Alayna and Ben are an interesting couple even though they get their HEA, you just know life for them will be full of sparks. Alayna does not hold her tongue, she is assigned to Ben and tells him what she will and will not do in the beginning, after calling him Ice of course. Ben is also a no-nonsense person and although he is attracted to Alayna he calls her on her bs and racist behavior as well, discrimination goes both ways. Alayna went through a lot of realistic changes in her life and it was nice to see her relationship with Ben develop. I was not sure they would end up together after the handsome brother from Atlanta stepped into the picture. One reason this is a four star instead of a five, is this story is only written form Alayna’s point of view… I would have loved to see a few things from Ben’s point of view.
Straight to the Swagger: Alayna and Ben, are great together. You have confident Ben who is not afraid to call Alayna on her mess. Alayna is a tough cookie and she needed someone who would not let her get away with murder and he did not.
Alayna’s little sister throws a wrench in her plans to bundle her off to college, her career at her prestigious law firm of good ole boys is in jeopardy and through it all Ben is there to back her up.
Bookswagger Marcia: Four Crowns, good read, on the way to swagger. Alayna and Ben are an interesting couple even though they get their HEA, you just know life for them will be full of sparks. Alayna does not hold her tongue, she is assigned to Ben and tells him what she will and will not do in the beginning, after calling him Ice of course. Ben is also a no-nonsense person and although he is attracted to Alayna he calls her on her bs and racist behavior as well, discrimination goes both ways. Alayna went through a lot of realistic changes in her life and it was nice to see her relationship with Ben develop. I was not sure they would end up together after the handsome brother from Atlanta stepped into the picture. One reason this is a four star instead of a five, is this story is only written form Alayna’s point of view… I would have loved to see a few things from Ben’s point of view.
Straight to the Swagger: Alayna and Ben, are great together. You have confident Ben who is not afraid to call Alayna on her mess. Alayna is a tough cookie and she needed someone who would not let her get away with murder and he did not.
July 18, 2007
A Personal Disappointment
Not exactly what I expected. This is the first novel I've read by Ms. Langhorne. I purchased this novel because of the interesting book description and the great reviews it received. I was very disappointed! I personally couldn't get pass the bad attitudes and then the mention of the hero having B.O., YUCK! Totally lost me on that one. I have nothing against interracial relationships, but I couldn't imagine a fine sister taking up with a guy like 'Ice' with his sarcastic and cynical personality, although Ms. Alayna gave as good as she got with the witty dialogue. The relationship between the two of them just didn't work for me, their was no deep passion, no sizzlin' heat. The debut novel had an interesting plot and some interesting characters, but the romance between 'Ice' and Alayna just fizzled between the pages.
Not exactly what I expected. This is the first novel I've read by Ms. Langhorne. I purchased this novel because of the interesting book description and the great reviews it received. I was very disappointed! I personally couldn't get pass the bad attitudes and then the mention of the hero having B.O., YUCK! Totally lost me on that one. I have nothing against interracial relationships, but I couldn't imagine a fine sister taking up with a guy like 'Ice' with his sarcastic and cynical personality, although Ms. Alayna gave as good as she got with the witty dialogue. The relationship between the two of them just didn't work for me, their was no deep passion, no sizzlin' heat. The debut novel had an interesting plot and some interesting characters, but the romance between 'Ice' and Alayna just fizzled between the pages.
September 4, 2017
Alayna and Ben's love affair was a long time coming. He was a cold as ice lawyer who struck fear in his co-workers. When his paralegal quit leaving hm in need, one of the partners bribes Alayna to work with him. His reasoning- Alayna was no shrinking violet.
From jump, Alayna put Ben in his place, in afraid of his hot temper and rude behavior. The office dubbed him Ice Man and Alayna brought the heat.
Their relationship was tumultuous, but at the same time endearing. They were perfect for each other. This was the kind of love story that simmered to a slow burn and it was perfect for these two characters.
It is the kind of book that you can't put down once you start reading, but when you are nearing the end you do what you can to delay the finale.
From jump, Alayna put Ben in his place, in afraid of his hot temper and rude behavior. The office dubbed him Ice Man and Alayna brought the heat.
Their relationship was tumultuous, but at the same time endearing. They were perfect for each other. This was the kind of love story that simmered to a slow burn and it was perfect for these two characters.
It is the kind of book that you can't put down once you start reading, but when you are nearing the end you do what you can to delay the finale.
December 26, 2007
This book was both absurd and dull - I don't know which is the worse offense. It did not live up to its reviews a tiny bit.
March 29, 2021
Ok read. Felt like something was messing though. It was as if story lines were presented and then abandoned.
July 7, 2021
This was surprisingly very funny. I loved Alayna’s character especially toward the end. She was a true nurturer and her little sister took advantage of that. I’m glad it took Ben aka “Ice” to show her that she has her own life to live. This story was entertaining and addressed some perceived stereotypes.
May 15, 2021
A different kind of “romance”. The verbal sparring between Alayna and Ben made it difficult for me to accept a genuine affection for each other. When they professed their love for each I had to check to see if I skipped a couple of pages maybe even a couple of chapters.
May 3, 2021
Cant stand alanya, vile person
July 21, 2009
This is one of my favorite IR books. I've read this one numerous times over the year. I love Ice's character... he's a real jerk, but he's a real man also. This was one of the first IR books in my collection... it has a special place in my heart.
March 4, 2007
6/25/2005
March 31, 2009
Loved the Ice Man and his journey with love. Great Read.
April 23, 2009
I did enjoy this story.
Read
January 26, 2016Bonjourvans
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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