MINI-REVIEWs: OUT OF CONTROL and A NIGHT TO FORGET

Series: n/a
Category/Genre: Adult Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Entangled Suspense
Publication Date: 6/24/13
Format: eARC
Pages:
Source: Received from publisher for review

And they thought the blowout was hot…

Oil rig blowout specialist Blair Drake is finished with men—especially after her disastrous marriage that caused her family to disinherit and cut all ties with her. But when Nick Robichaud, a handsome, roguishly charming oil well fire expert, wildcats into her life, throwing his devil-may-care attitude all over the place, the real sparks begin to fly.

Forced to work together to kill a string of sabotaged oil rig explosions, Nick and Blair discover a plot to cripple the world’s oil supply. Unless they stop the doers, it’ll mean global economic catastrophe. With time running out and their lives on the line, they risk everything to prevent disaster. But nothing can stop the fire between them from burning out of control....

Confession: I wanted to read Out of Control solely based on the cover. You can't blame me, can you? I'm a fan of Entangled books, but had yet to read a story from their Suspense line.

 

Out of Control was an action-packed story, with a bit of romance added to the mix. I liked the heart of the story, a tough woman in a "man's" business, her attraction to a co-worker, and their investigation into the sabotage of oil wells. It's the kind of story that I really enjoy in movies, but I never read about. The issue was, the details. Now, this isn't necessarily a bad thing, and I think it speaks highly of the author's commitment to getting the details of the oil industry accurate. It's just, to me, there was a lot of it. Does this make me a flake? I'd like to think not, just that my mind is geared more towards relationships.

 

Now, when it comes to the relationships in the story, I really liked that aspect of Out of Control. Blair Drake is a tough, hard working lady, but she ain't dead. (Excuse my use of the word ain't. It seemed to fit here.) Nick Robichaud is one fine Louisiana man and even though they are both committed to the job, their attraction won't be denied. I really enjoyed their banter and chemistry.

 

Out of Control is a story that I did like, but maybe wasn't quite suited for. I tend to like my information to come from dialogue or action, and it seemed as if the story relied a lot on overviews to hand it out. For those who are a little more committed to action and intrigue, it might be the perfect fit.

 

 

Favorite Quote:

  Instead, he said in a far more pronounced that usual southern drawl, with an undertone that made me think of warm whiskey and slick, hot skin, "If you take your clothes off, sugar, I guaran-damn-tee I'll do a helluva lot more than look."  ~eARC, 25%

 

Purchase Out of Control at:

(I receive no compensation for purchases.)

      

 

 

About the author:

Stephanie Feagan is a multi-published RITA winning author who also writes YA paranormal romance as Trinity Faegen. A practicing CPA who loves travel, books, and smart guys, Stephanie lives in the oilfields of west Texas with her husband and a mean cat.

 

Connect with Stephanie at her Website 


 

Series: Emma's Story #1
Category/Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance
Publisher: All Night Reads
Publication Date: 6/20/13
Format: eARC
Pages: 126
Source: Received from author for review

A Night to Forget is the first book in the two-book series, Emma's Story. The second book in this series, The Day to Remember is scheduled to be released in August 2013.

What happens in Cancun doesn’t always stay in Cancun.

When Emma Anderson and her friends decided to spend their senior year Spring Break in Cancun, she expected some crazy memories to end their final college days. What Emma didn’t expect was to meet Brandon Fisher. Tall and sexy, with dimples that would make any girl swoon, Brandon Fisher was literally the man of Emma’s dreams. She couldn't quite believe that this stranger, who seduced her every night in her dreams, actually existed.

After serendipitously bumping into each other, Emma could not resist Brandon’s pull and spent an unforgettable night with him. Passing it off as a spring break fling, Emma never expected to see Brandon again. But when she started her first day at her new job a few months later, there he was. The only problem was, Brandon didn’t even remember her.

I'm honestly not sure what to say about A Night to Forget. I didn't really get into it, but I didn't dislike it either.

The story begins with Emma having explicit dreams about a gorgeous man she's never met. A few days later, she literally meets the man of her dreams, Brandon, on vacation in Cancun. They share one passionate night, and then she heads home. She's heartbroken. Months later, she begins a new job and, TA DA (!), he's her boss. But here's the catch, Brandon doesn't even seem to remember her. This confuses Emma, but she carries on and they get to know each other better.

There were different aspects to the story that initially confused me, particularly about Brandon and Emma's night in Cancun and his not knowing her when they come face-to-face months later. But happily, these issues make sense by the end of the story. That made me happy.

I'm still not quite sure what about A Night to Forget didn't quite work for me. Maybe it was Emma's melodramatic nature. I think part of it is because I wanted to know why and how Emma was having very specific dreams about a very specific person she'd never met. One she just happens to meet in the real world. Also, the story just kind of ends, at a big cliffhanger. I know this type of story seems to be really popular right now, but I think I might prefer to just read the two stories back-to-back.

So yeah...I guess that's it.


Favorite Quote:

  "Sorry about that," I said feebly, my face twisted apologetically.
  "It's okay. Just a scathing burn to the crotch; I get that from all my colleagues," he teased. "Just try not to hurt me when I come over for dinner." He winked before walking away.  ~eARC, 56%

The Emma's Story Series

(click on cover for GoodReads page)

 

 

Purchase A Night to Forget:

(I receive no compensation for purchases.)

        

     Amazon UK

 

 

 

 

About the author:

Jessica Wood writes new adult contemporary romance and chick-lit.

While she has lived in countless cities throughout the U.S., her heart belongs to San Francisco. To her, there’s something seductively romantic about the Golden Gate Bridge, the steep rolling hills of the city streets, the cable cars, and the Victorian-style architecture.

She loves a strong, masculine man with a witty personality. While she is headstrong and extremely independent, she can’t resist a man who takes control of the relationship, both outside and inside of the bedroom.

She loves to travel internationally, and tries to plan a yearly trip abroad. She also loves to cook and bake, and—to the benefit of her friends—she loves to share. She also enjoys ceramics and being creative with her hands. She has a weakness for good (maybe bad) TV shows; she’s up-to-date on over 25 current shows, and no, that wasn’t a joke.

And it goes without saying, she loves books—they’re like old and dear friends who have always been there to make her laugh and make her cry.

The one thing she wished she had more of is time

Connect with Jessica at:

Website  |  GoodReads