Customer Reviews

Calder's Rose

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've just read Calder's Rose by Kate Angell. I thought it was a really good romance with a paranormal twist (fictional characters come to life temporarily).

A brief summary:
Shane McNamara is a writer of a series of western books featuring Dare Calder, a gunslinger. Devin James is a writer of a series of western books featuring Rose Coltraine, a saloon owner. Their publisher convinces them to combine the two series for the next book.

So, they are living together for six weeks in order to write the book together. Both Shane & Devin have vastly different writing habits and personalities. The trade-offs that they make with one another are very entertaining.

Also, I loved Shane's T-shirt slogans - they are hilarious.

I finished this book in a day and to me this is the hallmark of a terrific author. I found this book very entertaining. I couldn't figure out if it was a contemporary or a western - and finally decided it was both rolled into one! The novel is written with a book-within-a-book concept and I found it very creative and interesting. The story is of 2 authors, who both write western series books, but each with a different twist. Their editor and publicist decide it would be a good idea for their two characters to meet in a combined story. Hence the title, Calder's Rose. Devin's heroine, Rose Coltraine, is a bit prudish, despite being a saloon owner. Shane's hero, Dare Calder, is a cocky gunslinger who loves `em and leaves `em. The 2 authors seem to have different outlooks on life and initially have a hard time getting along despite their obvious attraction. I thought their book would never get done! But the whole idea of the characters, Rose and Dare, playing matchmaker for Devin and Shane, was so inspired and original! Great story and definitely a 5-star read in my book.

Calder's Rose is a fun-filled stoy with terrific characters and a unique plot that keeps the reader turning pages to see what happens next. It's a story of two writers and their characters and how the characters get the authors to fall in love. Calder's Rose is a fresh story, a contemporary and a historical all in one book and delights from the first page. I loved it and can't wait for Ms. Angell to pen us another great read. Dianne Castell

Two authors, two genders. Put them together and the characters come alive....LITERALLY!

Shane McNamara writers western fiction. Devin James writes western romance. Their editors have decided to put them together and have their main characters rendevous. The problem is, the real chemistry is between the authors (all though the characters do get a little heated on the side).

Curious things start to happen. Shane thinks Devin is writing the book without him when pages start appearing in the mornings, and Devin thinks the same of Shane. (Insert Twilight Zone theme here) They're both wrong. The authors of this story are the fictional hero and heroine these two have created, and they're not happy to just sit back and let someone else decide their fate!

Kate Angell writes light-hearted fun reads. And sexy. Did I mention sexy? Shane is so yummy, I was starting to hope HE'D come to life!

CALDER'S ROSE is a wonderful and funny contemporary romance with a cool paranormal element. When western writer Shane McNamara is teamed up with romance/western author Devin James, the sparks fly. They have completely different writing styles, and opposing viewpoints on how the two main characters should behave. Shane and Devin are also opposites in real life: Shane is a hunky, `live-it-up' type of a guy who wears T-shirts with wild slogans, and Devin is button-down-shirt conservative, and wears her hair in a tight braid. While Shane rises to the challenge of loosening up his writing partner, the characters of their book, Rose and Calder, realize they're going to have to take matters in hand to get the book written, and they come to life in a unique paranormal twist and a book-within-a-book story. Warm, witty, and sexy, CALDER'S ROSE is a definite keeper.

CALDER'S ROSE is a wonderful and funny contemporary romance with a neat paranormal element. When western writer Shane McNamara is teamed up with romance/western author Devin James, the sparks fly. They have completely different writing styles, and opposing viewpoints on how the two main characters should behave. Shane and Devin are also opposites in real life: Shane is a hunky, `live-it-up' type of a guy who wears T-shirts with wild slogans, and Devin is button-down-shirt conservative, and wears her hair in a tight braid. While Shane rises to the challenge of loosening up his writing partner, the characters of their book, Rose and Calder, realize they're going to have to take matters in hand to get the book written, and they come to life in a unique paranormal twist and a book-within-a-book story. Warm, witty, and sexy, CALDER'S ROSE is a definite keeper.

CALDER'S ROSE is a wonderful and funny contemporary romance with a cool paranormal element. When western writer Shane McNamara is teamed up with romance/western author Devin James, the sparks fly. They have completely different writing styles, and opposing viewpoints on how the two main characters should behave. Shane and Devin are also opposites in real life: Shane is a hunky, `live-it-up' type of a guy who wears T-shirts with wild slogans, and Devin is button-down-shirt conservative, and wears her hair in a tight braid. While Shane rises to the challenge of loosening up his writing partner, the characters of their book, Rose and Calder, realize they're going to have to take matters in hand to get the book written, and they come to life in a unique paranormal twist and a book-within-a-book story. Warm, witty, and sexy, CALDER'S ROSE is a definite keeper.

STORY BRIEF:
Shane and Devin are authors. Shane writes the Texas West series about Dare Calder, a gunslinger who beds a lot of women and avoids commitment. Devin writes the Scarlet Garter series about Rose, virgin, lady, and owner of a Texas saloon. Shane and Devin sign a deal to co write a new book which has Dare and Rose meeting each other. Shane and Devin are living together in a cottage for six weeks to write the book. There are two stories happening: the Shane and Devin story and the Dare and Rose story.

The Shane and Devin story was a contemporary romance with conflict based on personalities. Shane liked writing at night. Devin liked writing during the day. Shane was messy, unstructured, and feared commitment. Devin was structured, organized, sweet and looking for romance. Secondary conflicts happen with Shane's former girlfriend.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
Much of the story had Shane and Devin arguing about what to write. Shane wanted Dare to do A. Devin wanted him to do B. There was too much analysis and disagreement over what the characters should be doing and why. The authors would be frustrated with each other and spent more time taking breaks than writing. The book was mostly about Shane and Devin with about ¼ Dare and Rose. For example, 7 pages about the authors and then 2 pages showing what was written about Dare and Rose. The Dare and Rose story was confusing and hard to follow, primarily due to each author describing different things they wanted the characters to do. Both stories were interrupting each other. I would have preferred one or the other, not both stories in this book. I like to lose myself in a story. This book had me constantly stepping outside to analyze it. It was frustrating. I wanted it to be over.

DATA:
Story length: 309 pages. Swearing language: moderate. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 6. Total number of sex scene pages: 15. Settings: current day Florida and 1896 West Texas. Copyright: 2003. Genre: contemporary romance with a little paranormal.

OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my reviews of other Kate Angell books, see my 5 star review of "Sliding Home" posted 9-18-09.

This is a story about two authors who are put together for six weeks to write a book combining their two characters. Sparks fly and you have a heating romance. The sub-plot is amazing since the character come alive and start writing the book. I have enjoyed all of Kate Angell books and I am sure you will too.

Devin James and Shane McNamara share two things in common. They both write western novels. However, the genre has room for plenty of styles with Devin and Shane on opposite spectrums when it comes to the lead protagonist. Devin's novels star a prim virginal female finding love while Shane's tales center on a macho gun-blazing male who sleeps around.

Editor Angela Reims decides that collaboration between Devin and Shane will mean big bucks for everyone involved. However, neither author can stand the other as they argue over whether Rose Coltraine will fall into bed with Dare Calder especially in the first few chapters. As the lead characters of the novel written in hell play matchmaker, Devin and Shane begin to see the full depth of their writing partner. Soon this blossoms into love, but will either admit that they want a lifetime partnership after their constant brawls as a writing team?

CALDER'S ROSE is an entertaining tale that "breaks" the wall with a book within a book. The lead couple(s) are fun as "real" life imitates art when the protagonists fuss, fight, and fall in love. Though the "four" prime players behave too stereotyped that ironically emphasizes the extreme differences between them as they star in a satirical look at western and western romance novels. This novel is fun enjoyable and entertaining. This is a five star read.

Harriet Klausner