Customer Reviews

Deal With This (The Goddard Project, Book 2)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Alan is working undercover as a freelance writer researching the Vancouver film industry. His ultimate goal is to find the culprit beyond industrial espionage at one of the production companies, with ties to organized crime. He soon finds himself attracted to his landlord Jillian, who is also the star of a science fiction TV series whose production company is the subject of his clandestine investigation. Someone is out to steal technology, and is willing to kill for it. As Alan delves deeper into his investigation and the lives of the people in his rooming house, he can't help but fall for Jillian, despite her strict no sleepover policy. Her best friend Amanda is enjoying watching Jillian squirm as she deals with these new feelings.

Though billed as the second story in the Goddard series, Amanda and geeky husband Simon appeared in Monroe's earlier novel "The Real Deal." Monroe packs on the passion and tells an interesting a entertaining story but the industrial espionage angle takes a back seat to the point where there is no real resolution, only a brief paragraph to tell how they captured the baddie. And I found it to be a bit of a cliche that every male associated with the Vancouver film industry was gay.

Length:: 1:56 Mins

Deal With This! Drama, espionage and romance! Agent Alan Hyatt is sent to investigate the selling of government secrets on the set of a popular SciFi TV show in Canada. This is a fun read and the 2nd in The Goddard Project Series. Also read Satisfaction Guaranteed (The Goddard Project, Book 1)

Actress Jillian Sinclair first appeared as the heroine Amanda's best friend in one of my all-time favorite romances - The Real Deal - so I couldn't wait to read about her finding true love with undercover agent Alan Hyatt. Alas, Deal With This did not live up to my expectations.

Alan Hyatt is undercover in Vancouver as a reporter in order to investigate pirated technology involving person or persons working on a syndicated SF series starring none other than former soap opera actress Jillian Sinclair. Because the show doesn't pay all that well, she also owns and runs, in a very "only in romanceland" manner, a boarding house lived in by many of those who also work on the show. Which is why Alan, of course becomes a boarder.

When Alan learns that Jillian is besties with Amanda, she becomes suspect number one, because, of course, Amanda's husband Simon is a high tech guru. But that doesn't stop the sexual chemistry from sizzling between the two. Jillian is a heroine type I've come across often, but usually in category reads. She's not as bad as a virginal radio sex therapist or virginal sex toy enthusiast, though a supposedly sexually liberated heroine who hasn't had intercourse in three years comes close. Jillian's insistence on sex without penetration, while steamy, results in love scenes that aren't particularly satisfying...there's something "off," something manufactured about a healthy couple doing everything but.

Alan falls for Jillian while she's still a semi-suspect in his mind, yet when they eventually sleep together, he somehow "knows" she's not guilty. My understanding is that blood flow is re-directed to parts below during sex; the idea that Alan's critical thinking kicks in during the throes of passion made no sense whatsoever.

While Monroe is an auto-buy author for me, her choice of words can be quirky at best...and clunky at its worst. Clunkiness wins out more often than not in this book. There's no good reason why, for instance, Jillian and Alan say "heck" rather than "hell," or "climax" rather than "come" during sex - who talks like that?

The book isn't entirely flawed; in fact, it's slightly better than average. Alan is the better of the two leads in terms of believability and overall wow factor, but together they make a good couple, and each has real reasons for avoiding a relationship. I also appreciated Monroe's treatment of Jillian's gay boarders as individual people rather than Carson Kressley clones (although one is a queen), and thought her skill as an author showed through in Alan's scenes with these men. Finally, while reunions with couples from previous books often backfire for me, some of the best moments come when the twosome visit Simon and Amanda's island home.

As for the pirated technology sub-plot, most of it went over my head. With the exception of Ready, I've not found Monroe's romantic suspense novels as successful as her straight romances. Instead of Deal with This, I'd recommend you try The Real Deal, Ready, or Come Up And See Me Sometime instead.

I really enjoy Lucy's books but I must admit this one left me bored and I didn't finish it. Not to her usual standard. Recommend you get this one from the library.

Undercover agent Alan Hyatt is in Vancouver investigating a science fiction production company that may serve as a front for the illegal selling and or stealing of high-tech information. He masquerades as a reporter and rents a room from actress Jillian Carlyle, who performs on the show he is looking into.

However, Alan has a problem as Jillian was intended only as a means to get onto the set. Instead he wants her so much so he struggles to concentrate on why he is in Vancouver and is falling in love with her. Jillian has a rule never to date a renter let alone jump into his bed that she owns. So why does she want to make Alan the exception to the rule? She knows the answer is because she is falling in love with him.

Although the high tech industrial espionage mystery takes a back seat to the romance, readers will appreciate this entertaining suspense laden tale of two people not wanting to commit end up falling in love. The story line is fast-paced from the moment that Alan and Jillian heat chilly Vancouver and never cools down until the final confrontation as time is running out on the investigative agent in more ways than just his case. Lucy Monroe writes a fun thriller.

Harriet Klausner

What's funny about this book is that I liked the secondary characters more than the main ones. I just never connected with Jillian and Alan. Alan is smart, looks like a God and is great at his job sure...but I just didn't see him and Jillian together. Perhaps it was because Jillian spends the majority of the book swearing her and Alan aren't going to hook up because he is a boarder (undercover) at her house and her main rule is no sex with the room mates. I mean, how many times can one girl say that to herself before something has to give? About a million apparently. I desperately wanted something to happen...anything to happen between them past the looks they gave each other. There just seemed to be way to much downtime between important plot points. I often had the urge to skip ahead to find out when/if something was going to happen.

Now Gavin? Yeah I liked him. He is completely spunky and fabulous in that way only a best friend can be. He says what he wants, hits on who he wants and doesn't give a damn what anyone else thinks. He is a fashion ICON..well maybe in his own mind anyway. I loved him. I was rooting for him and Perry throughout the entire book. I loved his sense of humor!

The writing in this particular book just seemed a bit off from what I've read in the past by Lucy. There seemed to be a disconnect from the readers. The plot was good and unique but I felt like I was being told everything second-hand instead of feeling it first hand.

I wanted to like this book...but it fell short for me. I think this easily could have been a novella instead of a full length novel. Overall I found it to be decent read, one that wasn't my favorite but still, I didn't put it down and I did finish it...so Im giving Deal With This by Lucy Monroe 2.75 stars!

Nikki- Ramblings From A Chaotic Mind

Sex was FANtastic. Attraction was unfelt, but I went along for the story.
The mystery was not so mysterious, but useful.
Loved the two points of view, especially the hero's!

I was not very impress with her story line; a little too boring for me. the romantic parts between the main characters were fantastic but the rest of the story was missing lucy monroe originality.

Lucy Monroe - Deal With This (Reviewed by Mark, Book Cove Reviews):

Alan Hyatt is an agent working for the Goddard Project and he's working undercover as a reporter in the Vancouver film industry. Jillian Carlyle is a beautiful redheaded actress who is also his landlady. He truly convince her that he is a reporter looking for a story and she's glad she can help out in any way she can. But she didn't intend to be attracted to home, she's bound and determined to live by the rule she set in that renters aren't allowed to date other renters. Although she is falling fast for this muscle toned man with gorgeous abs, that she's going to have to choose if she wants to keep that rule. All the while, Alan is also falling hard for Jillian; he must keep his head on the assignment he's been given in investigating high-tech espionage at the studio and trying not to blow his cover. What do you think will happen next? I guess that is what you're going to have to find out.

"Lucy Monroe, what can I really say about her besides she knows what she doing and she knows how to keep you absolutely engrossed in the story. Never read Lucy? Well you're in for a treat."

The first 90 pages consisted primarily of his and her thoughts about wanting each other but not having each other. After that, too much of the book was spent on the two characters pondering their feelings and wondering about each other. Toward the end, after Jillian realizes that she is in love with Alan, she gives him the silent treatment. Because she is doing it, he does the same thing in return. Soon after that, maybe a day later, they admit they love each other and things are fine again. What kind of conflict is that?

A subplot involved the following. Alan is a federal agent working undercover as a reporter to investigate high-tech espionage. He rents a room from Jillian, an actress working in a tv show, connected to the espionage. A few events happen along the way, but most of the action which solves the mystery happens at the end of the book. At this time, the author tells what happens, she doesn't show it. I was left wanting.

Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: seven. Setting: current day Vancouver B.C. Copyright: 2007. Genre: contemporary romance.

To date, I've read 6 Lucy Monroe books, as follows.
5 stars. Ready. Copyright 2005. My review posted 2/21/07.
5 stars. Willing. Copyright 2006. My review posted 2/21/07.
4 stars. And Able. Copyright 2006. My review posted 2/21/07.
3 stars. 3 Brides For 3 Bad Boys. Copyright 2005. My review posted 5/26/07.
1 star. Tempt Me. Copyright 2006. My review posted 5/26/07.
1 star. Deal With This. Copyright 2007. My review posted 6/14/08.