Blow Me Down (Signet Eclipse) [Mass Market Paperback]

Katie MacAlister (Author)

Book Description

Series: Signet Eclipse | Publication Date: November 1, 2005

In the Internet game of "Buckling Swashes," two die-hard enemies find themselves comrades at arms against a merciless rival, and discover that-on the virtual high seas and in real life-love can tame the most fearsome of pirates.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

All work and no play make Amy a dull girl, or so Amy's precocious daughter tells her as she convinces Amy to try a new virtual-reality game, Buckling Swashes. Amy agrees in the hope of humoring her child, but instead she winds up in the middle of an amazingly detailed world and right in the path of Corbin, one hot pirate captain who turns out to be one of the game's creators. What they also discover is that they're caught inside the game--in a trap set by a disgruntled employee--and must work together to save the game and themselves. Combining a light sci-fi feel with contemporary characters and the game's historical setting, MacAlister's latest novel is a great "try it" book for readers who say they don't read romances with a sci-fi twist. If that doesn't hook them, most likely the charming humor of an almost-midlife--crisis mom and a not-so-alpha hero falling head over buckles for each other will do the trick. Nina Davis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"...wickedly sensual and irresistibly amusing." —Booklist

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Signet (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451216393
• ISBN-13: 978-0451216397
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #487,159 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

For as long as she can remember, Katie MacAlister has loved reading. Growing up in a family where a weekly visit to the library was a given, Katie spent much of her time with her nose buried in a book. Despite her love for novels, she didn't think of writing them until she was contracted to write a non-fiction book about software. Since her editor refused to allow her to include either witty dialogue or love scenes in the software book, Katie swiftly resolved to switch to fiction, where she could indulge in world building, tormenting characters, and falling madly in love with all her heroes.

Two years after she started writing novels, Katie sold her first romance, Noble Intentions. More than thirty books later, her novels have been translated into numerous languages, been recorded as audiobooks, received several awards, and placed on the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. She also writes for the young adult audience as Katie Maxwell.

Katie lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dogs, and can often be found lurking around online. You are welcome to visit her at http://www.katiemacalister.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Blew Me Away!, February 12, 2006

By 

Anna Hope (PA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blow Me Down (Signet Eclipse) (Mass Market Paperback)

I admit that I'm far fonder of Katie Mac's Vampire & Dragon novels.Who isn't adicted to them? But she is usually good for a giggle & that's all I was hoping for when I picked this latest book up.

What a great surprise! Even though I'm still a little young to adore the late 30 something /with a teenage daughter heroine (sorry those of you in that range, no offense)Amy was very indearing.She and game designer Corbin, who become trapped in a virtual reality pirate game made a delectable couple. The chemistry was perfect!Add a hilarious & loyal bestfreind, a cast of scurvy but lovable pirate characters, a morbid child sidekick, & an evil baddy who could be anyone of a host of suspicious players & you have an explosive hit.

I also liked that Amy aka Earless Erika, wasn't made to play the helpless damsel roll but got to be a lady pirate who kicked but with a good helping of luck. This was a wonderful book! Why are you still reading this review?Go get a copy!

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars What happened?, December 25, 2005

By 

Neker (Duson, Louisiana United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Blow Me Down (Signet Eclipse) (Mass Market Paperback)

The whole plot was simply just too outrageous to believe. This whole being stuck in a game that is soooo realistic that you can feel the pain and pleasure? That the computer can generate what you look like simply by how you see yourself? That an entire world and it's people can interact with you like real people? Just too far gone. There weren't even any periameters set in the game to achieve goals and success at winning. No guidelines are objectives. It was simply too far fetched.

But, hey, even I can live with that if MacAlister keeps me laughing. And at first I was laughing, but then the main character turned into a dingy blonde and I lost interest. Also, I begin to picture the love interest as a whinny pain in the ***. I think I would have rather he stayed the blonde sex-god she first described him as.

Overall, it was a major disappointment. Especially considering this whole plot was done already (only correctly) by Vivian Van Veade (Not sure if I spelled that correctly) in her book Heir Apparent. I suggest ya'll try it. It was a blast to read and she did a wonderful job of correctly portraying what a vertual reality game would could really be like.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hook and parrot optional!, May 18, 2006

By 

marymuse - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Blow Me Down (Signet Eclipse) (Mass Market Paperback)

Blow Me Down
By Katie MacAlister

When Amy's daughter pressures her to try Buckling Swashes, an online virtual reality game just for a little bit. "Have some fun mom," Amy's daughter orders, and Amy, dutiful mother, agrees to try her daughter's game for an hour. Little does she know that once she's in the game, not only will she discover a side to herself she never knew, but also that nefarious forces are a foot, and she might not get to come home again.

I loved the premise of Blow Me Down, and it starts up from the first page with fun wit and a wry sense of humor. The writing sparkles and the banter between Amy and Corbin sizzles off the page. Sure, the whole house loosing power and lightning shocking Amy has nothing to do whatsoever with why she's stuck in the game, and the whole effects of that are never really explored, and Amy's daughter seemingly doesn't worry over her uptight mother playing a video game for several hours, and the book leaves you wonder whether Amy's daughter made an innocent request or was an underage cupid. But even with these questions hanging over the reader's head, the book with lots of pirate action (and who can not love a pirate story?) and a page-turning plot, makes it hard to put down.

I especially liked seeing Amy's character grow during the course of the book. From uptight, workaholic mother to someone who knows how to have fun. Corbin doesn't seem to have much growth, but then again, he's the multi-million dollar founder of a VR game firm. Perhaps Amy will teach him some responsibility and settle him down. Nah, I doubt it.

Either way, for a fun read, Blow Me Down sails right along.