Customer Reviews

The Corporate Raider

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I could not put this book down. I found myself taking it with me to work, and then when I was at home, I would sit up until I couldn't keep my eyes open, wondering....what was going to happen next. I found the characters brought many different feelings out in me, and I have to admit, that is what a good story is suppose to do, make you feel. I found myself wanting to just shake the Taylor Character at times and ask her what'w wrong with her. But then there were times I wanted to just smack the Alex Character. But overall I found myself feeling the love between them. Great Job D. Virtue, this reader hopes to hear more about Taylor and Alex

As a huge fan of Xena and Gabrielle alternative fan fiction (in particular the Uber genre) I was very interested in reading this piece - but it was very hard to finish it. The writing was passable for a story that cost nothing to read, but the web version of this book was sorely in need of editing. If severe editing hasn't taken place then you will find that the book is difficult to read due to the lame dialog and needlessly complex run-on sentences. The overall idea for the story is a good one, but its one that had already been written (and better executed) by Missy Good in "Tropical Storm". I think its wonderful that exceptional fan fiction writers are getting published, but consider purchasing novels by Sharon Bowers, B.L. Miller or Melissa Good BEFORE buying this one.

Overall this was a very enjoyable book to read. Alex Madison's character was so intriguing that I could not put this book down!! D. Virtue did an excellent job of keeping me on the edge of my seat with the plot. Despite minor problems with grammar and editing, I was still able to really get into the characters and storyline. I can't wait for the sequel as I'm sure it will be just as exciting and fun as this one!

A longish book - some 468 pages - but it doesn't read as such. Taken on its own merits, rather than the negative passé criticisms previously posted, there is more good about this book than bad - every character feels well rounded, and their motivations seem plausible with being overly obvious. This is a book that touches on a lot of political points (rape, religious clashes, women's rights, personal bounds and morality limits, corporate takeovers, culture clash, coming out, etc) but avoids the soapbox and none feels shoehorned in. Most importantly, this is an interesting story well written that carries you along to the very end, but you have to be willing to allow the story to unfold. While the setting and plot on first inspection could be considered mundane - It isn't!

As the story unfolds the reader follows, Madison, a domineering woman who knows what she wants in the business world and has taken over many international corporations ruthlessly, without thought to the individual structure, and has built a world wide empire. Alexandra, who has all the traits of non-caring female, or get in her way of being in complete control of her business and her life. But when young, untouched Taylor Young, who wants to stay out of the limelight and out of Alex's view, attempts to save her life, when other around her wanted Alex to come to harm, the Corporate Raider makes an immediate inquiry into the background of the young woman that has gone out of her way to remain out of Alex's view and makes Taylor her personal assistant.

Alex is a no-nonsense businesswoman in complete control of her professional and personal life, and having a hard, and sealed heart, but in the weeks that follow them working in close proximity, the strong woman realizes that there is more to Taylor than she originally thought. Alex is attracted to her not only because of her brilliant mind, but because of her tenderness.

An elevator rape encounter with a previous boyfriend, who belongs to a crime family, is saved by Alex. Alex not only befriends Taylor, but takes her into her home until after the trial. The friendship develops into a caring and loving friendly relationship. While visiting Taylor's grandmother, Alex confronts her personal assistant about her feelings and they agree to allow the relationship to develop at a rate that Taylor can handle.

Their ultimate romantic involvement is hampered by Salina, a jealous employee, who blackmails Taylor so that Taylor pulls away from Alex without telling her why. Taylor ultimately runs home to stay with her grandmother who takes ill and passes away. Alex respects the grandmother and does attend the funeral, although she stands as a distance and when Taylor walks towards her, she leaves before Taylor can approach her.

Eventually, Yasmeia Sains, Taylor's former supervisor and friend come upon a plot by Salina to jeopardize Alex's and her business in a "trading stock scandal". Yasmeia visits Taylor and they come up with a plan to help Alex without her knowledge, that will eventually clear Alex of all wrongdoing.

Taylor makes a last attempt to talk to Alex at her Christmas party to straighten out the situation. Alex still isn't swayed until she opens up one of the gifts from Taylor and finds a check.... a very large check for the money Taylor had caused Alex to loose during her early days with Madison. D'Angeleo, Alex's former male friend doesn't want Alex to give Taylor another try as he wants them to be more than a couple and even wants to marry Alex, but Alex realizes she is as much in love with Taylor as she ever was and Taylor has finally proved she has overcome the general taboo imposed by society on intimate relationship between two women.

There are a lot of outlandish twists and turn developments in this story, which clearly indicated a well thought out plot. A plot that includes placement of key individuals in different corporations with face lifts to make them unknown, Gionvanni gangster family, Alexandra European background, and the all knowing grandmother. Even though I found Alex frustrating at times with her domination of Taylor and her heavy handiness to be hard to understand, that is a prime example of density and the building of the character. Taylor appears to be overly subordinate to the somewhat ruthless Alex, but ends up overcoming her insecurities and showing strength and power in her determination to correct her mistakes and to be an equal partner with Madison. The secondary characters, although you may loathe Selina, and admire Yasmeia for standing up to Alexandra, a woman private investigator that adds mystery in her appearance, you realize that these characters are expressed nicely and add to the storyline that has a vibrant spin on universal themes. These secondary characters are an asset in my view, and they keep consistent from start to finish.
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There have been some criticisms that this is not a very good book, but I disagree. I will readily admit it does have faults: It definitely has some editing issues that were annoying; misspelled words were irritating and should have been corrected before publishing; the corporate issues and takeovers may leave some readers behind and could have been a little better depicted; and the sentence structure needs to be revised in places. If readers are looking for an in-depth cultural corporate takeover history, they might find this book a bit 'bitty', which is a shame, as this is a book that obviously has had a lot of work put into it.

Overall, I think that the enjoyment of this book will be down to personal taste - some people will love some sections, which will be loathed by others, and vice versa. With a little revision, I can see this as an excellent film presentation. Suggest you read it with an open mind, as you may be surprised by the depth of the story.

I thought that the Corporate Raider was an intriging book that I couldn't put down. It was entertaining and exciting to the point where you couldn't help but wonder what was coming up next. The love story between the two characters was endearing to the point where it hurt to see them apart. I highly recommend this to anyone that loves a good romance

I bought this novel on a whim, and am very happy I did. It's one of those books that you will do anything to find the time to read. The thing that impressed me the most were the charactors. They all were very belivable and stayed true to themselves throughout the story. As someone mentioned, you just can't help laughing, crying, or yelling at the charactors. I was very impressed.

Good writing style - a bit too much emotional b&d especially at the beginning, and the end was a bit predictable. But, in all a good read. Finally books that are thick enough to last me more than one night. THANK YOU PUBLISHERS AND WRITERS.

I READ THE CORPORATE RAIDER FIRST IN FAN FICTION,AND FOUND IT ONE OF THE FINER FIRST TIME LOVE STORIES I,VE EVER READ.TO NOW SEE IT IN FULL GLORY 486 PAGES LONG IS BEYOND BELIEF.D.VIRTUE WILL CONTINUE TO DRAW US TO THIS ENDLESS TAIL OF LOVE AND INTRIGUE LIKE ONLY SHE CAN DO.AND WE SHALL FOLLOW ALEX AND TAYLOR UNTIL THE STORY ENDS.

I've read many of the excellent, good, and not-so-good Xena Uber novels both in print and on the net. I didn't read this one on-line and really wish I had found it before I made the ghastly mistake of paying for a copy.

The first chapter was so poorly written, with such dreadful grammar, typos and other mistakes that I couldn't bear to read any more. I know some people who either don't care or don't notice such mistakes (one reviewer wrote about it being 'a good tail' - perhaps she thought she was reviewing an animal appendage rather than a story!) but such sloppy english just makes me grind my teeth in frustration. Having a poor storyline with shallow, unbelievable characters is one thing, but the constant barrage of mistakes made it unreadable. With hindsight, I should have returned this book to the publishers demanding my money back for such faulty goods. I don't understand how they dared think that the book was in a fit state to be put into print. The publishers should be ashamed of themselves.

This book was positively, absolutely, great!!! There was enough emotion, intensity, and drama to keep me reading until the last page!!!! The characters were perfect and thought out very well. I loved this book enough to read it three times and I don't usually read books more than twice. I recommend this book highly!!!!