Customer Reviews

Back in Black

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have all of Lori Foster's books. She is an auto-buy for me. That being said, she really went off her usual course in this one.

I have come to rely on a strong Foster heroine - one with strong values. Gillian doesn't measure up. Drew keeps attributing fine values to her but I don't see'em. She is sent to help him clean up his public image - especially as that image relates to his language about and to women.

He is incensed, of course, that he has to deal with this so what does he do? He tells her that he will work with her if he is allowed some, er, physical interaction with her. He isn't demanding sex at this point but Gillian is aware that that is what he wants. In true Foster tradition, both the heroine and the hero fall into raging lust immediately upon meeting. That's fine. Gillian, however, says "OK" to the demand. I have words for women who sell physical services. That meant that I wasn't impressed by Gillian from the start. I didn't get truly disgusted - I was just bored - until about page 150 or so (halfway through the book). Gillian has a light-bulb moment. She says to herself something like "Hey. I'm a woman. If he talks about women that way, he's talking about ME."

Well, duh.

So - you'd think she'd do something about it, right? Wrong. Some minutes later as a result of watching Drew deal with a crisis, she thinks something along the line: "Poor baby. People just don't know him and understand him."

Hello??

Every time she tries to talk business with him, he seduces her. She never calls him on this! We are told that he is a changed man but I didn't see it. Keep in mind that I didn't really object to Drew. The point is that Gillian DID object to his behavior and her career was riding on being successful in changing that.

Foster didn't convince me that Gillian's turnaround was valid. Frankly, I wasn't too interested in either of them. I much preferred the secondary storyline about Brett and Audrey. In one way, I was very disappointed that this relationship finished completely in this book. I was kinda hoping that another SBC title featuring Brett would follow.

Sigh. 2009 was an awful year for Romance, IMO. I hope that Back in Black isn't an omen that 2010 will be just as bad.

Love all Lori's books and have really enjoyed all books in the SBC series. Drew and Gillian are hot together and the Brett and Audrey story was a sweet addition to the book.

All of the SBC fighters are strong and somewhat stubborn, but are endearing in their respect to the opposite sex. Gillian enters to work on Drew's somewhat abbrasive behavior. Drew isn't thrilled to learn his bosses feel he needs to "clean up his act", but is interested in the prospect of working more closely with Gillian. The sparks fly quickly and the action doesn't slow down.

Brett meets Audrey as she campaigns against the SBC, so he doesn't reveal he is a fighter right away. Audrey respects Brett once she learns more about his past and the hard work he has put in to become as successful as he is. Brett doesn't pressure Audrey into giving up on her beliefs just points out the two sides to every story.

It was nice to "see" some familiar faces from past SBC books and would have enjoyed having any of their recent stories explored, but never disappointed in Lori's work.

Let's start this way, this latest release by Lori Foster, Back in Black, about her beloved SBC fighters and organization is truly a 180 in my opinion from My Man Michael, no doubt about it. With that being said I don't think that it was her best, in my heart that space is reserved for Hard to Handle. In Back to Black I was anxious to read about Drew Black and watching him meets his match. Lori Foster really made a gem when she created Gillian; she is smart, witty and sharp. No matter what the situation her reputation as the best in PR most definitely holds up against the prongs of people and activists who would love to see her AND Drew fall, and fall hard. No matter the fact that inside she was shaking in her boots, she had a never let them see you sweat attitude and the only one to even shake it, although not all the time was Drew! Trying to get his reputation under wraps was a full time job for her and I found their immediate chemistry hot and exciting. Always waiting to read what their next interaction would be. There is a group of women, WAVS (women against violent sports), who constantly protest Drew and the SBC, but now lives are being threatened and it's no longer a war or words. I loved the re-visit of some of the much loved characters and two new ones in Brett & Audrey. Although their story was running parallel for a while you knew at some point their stories would intersect, which was well done because I was so sure at the beginning that I was NOT going to like Audrey at all. Through and through a solid story, predictable but entertaining. It was obvious midway who the villain was but I still wanted to see the action unfold. Not one of her best, but Foster created a truly honest, raw and real character in Drew that I knew I wanted to see it out until the end. I wasn't disappointed, but I wasn't in awe either.

I picked this book up while at an airport recently. I normally purchase my books before any flight but unfortunately time didn't allow it this time. Having said that I picked up Lori Foster's book for three reasons: (1) it was on sale; (2) the synopsis in the back made it sound interesting; and (2) the model's body on the cover was HOT!!! I know that is probably a superficial way to choose a book...but oh well...

I will say that this book did keep my attention for the entire flight (3 hours) and it was a nice read to take me away from the reality of a tragic family passing. At first I was annoyed by the character of Drew Black and I had high hopes that Gillian Noode would come in and really do a number on him (personally not professionally). I wished she would have held out longer and not slept with him for the purpose of hoping he would cooperate with her image transformation. (Sounds too much like being on the director's couch in my opinion- "If you do this for me then I will do this for you.")

Besides that, I wish the story would have focused more on Gillian and Drew...the story of Brett and Audrey really only distracted me. Audrey was annoying throughout and though I liked Brett's character I didn't see the purpose in this book. If given their own book I believe they both and their complexities could have been properly explored. I did enjoy this light book and gave it 3.5 stars. It is a nice light read, but there were points within the story that I cringed because I didn't think they fit.

First off for anyone that is worried. Drew falls in love with a human and they both stay on Earth. Yes!! I am so please that with Back in Black Lori Foster brings back SBC. Drew is EXACTLY as he appeared in the other novels. He's crass, he's a sexist and he has a foul mouth. As for his love interest I didnt like that Gillian was a PR person sent to fix Drew's image. I felt like we've been there already with the life coach sent to Handelman in Hard to Handle. But I ignored that and forged ahead. Gillian is described as aggressive and professional-a career woman with her head on straight. Well that wasnt quite true since the minute Drew flirts with her she blushes and stammers. Of course he's hot so I allowed for this. I rated this 3.75 stars because I DID like this and I was relieved it wasnt like My Man Michael. I think Gillian is perfect for him and would have liked her character more if she hadn't been initially described a certain way while her behavior throughout the story was the complete opposite.

Also she is sent by the owners of the SBC to clean up Drew's image but other than one event she never really makes any strides with this. She talks about her plans but than other things in the plot (a stalker)take away from her ever putting these plans into place. Drew constantly keeps her off balance with his sexuality which I could have handled if she mentally acknowledged that she knew he was playing her. I knew it becuase the reader is given his point of view and we know he acts this way for hype and because the fans expect it while inside he's smart and saavy as a business man not the least bit disrespectful in his regard for women.

Finally, I feel like the ending was rushed and the stalker angle wrapped up in a way that was abrupt. The secondary romance took up pages that I feel like would have been better spent on Drew and more insight into his relationship with Gillian. Her character was cheated because of this I believe. All in all, it was great to see other characters, Drew is to die for and the SBC is on terra firma.

I was so disappointed in this book that I had to write a review. I have loved many of Lori Foster's books but the last 2 have been a real waste of money. "Dog Lover" review was right on from my point of view. I really disliked Black; though he was touted as giving much to charities--as though this excused his behavior-- the way he treated people was abominable. Both women and men (he threatens Brett with NO contract with the SBC unless Brett goes along with his idea for exploitive publicity)are manipulated and trash mouthed and he treats the "heroine" little better. Though Foster usually presents strong minded heroines this one was a door mat. Brett was a great character (warm, caring, intelligent and sexy) but unfortunately had to share the story; he deserved his own. Unfortunately, Lori Foster's books will no longer be an automatic buy for me.

The characters were boring. A heroine who said she was professional, but wasn't. A Hero who was supposed to be reformed, but wasn't. A sidestory that annoyed me. How could she NOT have known he was a fighter... come on people! A hero who breaks promises, and a heroine who lets him. I was actually relieved when I finished, because I felt like I could move onto another book. Drew's big arguments, the ones that I know were supposed to show us how charismatic and persuasive and clever he is, were awful. He never made any points that aren't already obvious. And the "pep" talk he gave the underpriviledged was so uninspiring.

ONE STAR because the sex was pretty fun. Although, Gillian didn't seem to do much more than moan in the way Drew preferred...

SECOND STAR because I like heroines who are a little curvy.

Lori Foster is an auto-buy for me. I even bought My Man Michael, though I confess I haven't read it because I was afraid it would ruin the series for me. But now that it had come to an end I will read it. I was pretty disappointed with this book. I liked Drew. I even liked Gillian up to a point, but I couldn't see what they saw in each other besides the physical. I do not feel that the relationship was developed between them. It lacked depth and emotion for me and so while I enjoyed reading it, it was not memorable and I won't be re-reading it. Like many other reviewers, I lost respect for Gillian for giving in to Drew and being physical even though she knew it ethically was wrong. I also lost respect for Drew when he was so callous after the photographer was hit by the car. He was so blase about a person dying. Dying.

Overall I felt the book was pretty short and the story suffered because of it, especially when there were two romances. I'm glad I read it but it does make me a bit nervous about Ms. Foster's future books and whether I will enjoy them like I use to.

Well, like my title says, I'm glad this wasn't a repeat of "Michael" which really stunk up the place. I'm glad Ms. Foster got back on track.

I liked this story - I didn't love it - but liked it. Like the other reviewers, I felt Gillian fell into the sack with Drew a little too quickly. I never saw her do anything to earn the bucks she was supposedly hired for. Drew was incredibly chauvenistic and used the "F" word a little too much for me. Someone needed to enlighten him that sometimes less is more.

The dual story of Brett and Audrey was nice. He was incredibly sweet and I can see any woman falling into his arms. In regards to the stalker, it was pretty predictable.

On a side note, although I appreciated the great bod on the cover, Drew wasn't a fighter so I don't know why they would have used a fighter to represent the story. Petty I know but I just thought that was a little strange.

I love Lori Foster's SBC series and I've made it a point to collect them all. Back in Black was suppose to be another great SBC story only it wasn't. I didn't like how Foster presented the president of SBC in this book. Of course he was strong and intelligent, but he didn't live up to the old characters like Sublime and Havoc. I expected more, I expected the president to be more tougher and not just in speech. It was kind of weird that this book wasn't only Drew Black's story. I didn't like that; I wanted to know more about Drew and his background and how he got to be the president of SBC. I hate when authors make the head honcho less than what he's suppose to be. I didn't feel a connection to this story as I did all the other's of the SBC series. I just hope if Foster writes another SBC story that she takes the time to give us a good story line with solid characters.