22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Double Dare, March 29, 2008
Abby Douglas is a finance guru just assigned an important portfolio that could define her career. While trying to catch the elevator to her office, she runs into a courier that is very attractive. When she learns that he is delivering a package to her firm, she plays the receptionist and accepts the delivery to get a better look at the stunning man. Zac Bordino couldn't believe his luck. He was just dropping off some papers for his mother, and ran into beautiful Abby Douglas. She assumed he was the courier, and so he played the role.
Both are lying to each other from the beginning, which made it very difficult to care about either one of them. The deception is completely unbelievable, and obviously contrived just to have a reason to throw them together. No real story development is present. Zac is a master manipulator used to getting anything he wants. Abby is fickle, selfish, and not very likeable either. I couldn't bring myself to care about them as a couple let alone individuals. The "steamy" scenes are forced for plot purposes, but can't be really felt by the reader. No sensuality or connection existed between them.
This book doesn't seem to ever end. The author dragged out the story far too long to hold any real interest from the reader. It was boring, and many elements were missing, so it was not a good read.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not your grandmother's romance novel, October 14, 2006
This review is from: Double Dare (Mass Market Paperback)
First let me say what this isn't. This isn't your grandmother's romance novel, although it's plenty romantic.
What this is, is a red hot read from page one, ranging from outspokenly explicit to lyrically beautiful.
You're Abby Douglas, a financial planner. You're running for the elevator on your way back to the office, when a muscled forearm holds the door so you can hop in. Attached to that muscled forearm is a dangerously sexy man. This is red hot romance, so you make no bones about wanting to jump his, well, bones. Then he follows you into your office, and it appears he's a courier there to make a delivery. Thinking he'll probably be turned off by your high powered career, you imply that you're a receptionist.
You're Zac Bordino, the son of wealthy parents each with sizeable business holdings. You're doing your mother a favor by delivering papers to the firm that handles her company's investments. Just as the elevator doors are closing, a woman calls out. Being a gentleman, you hold the door for her. In walks a red hot number, and she makes it clear she's interested in you. You both get off at the same floor, and it turns out she works for your mother's financial managers. She seems to be a receptionist, so you let her think you're simply a courier.
There you have the basis of the conflict between them. They're hot for the each other, but they're both pretending to be something they're not. When they begin to realize what's between them is more than just sex, they're both afraid to reveal the subterfuge. In fact, subterfuge is the underlying theme of the book. The secondary plot is affected by it, as well.
The settings are well described, from the back room of an alternative performance venue, to a luxurious suite in a Paris hotel, to the corporate boardroom. Ms. Walker has a way with settings that really gives a sense of place. I was pulling for Abby and Zac to work out their differences, and I definitely enjoyed the ride as they came to grips with their passion and growing attachment.
This is a story with well developed characters, outwardly very different people, who complicate their relationship from the very first meeting. Happily, the secondary story line has equally interesting characters and is equally well done. She shows us each character in his or her natural setting, so we can understand what makes them tick, and she gets the variety of environments spot on.
I first became familiar with Saskia Walker's writing through her erotic short stories published in numerous anthologies, so I was pleased to see the relatively new Berkley Heat line had taken her on. I'm happy to see this novel length story delivers on the promise of those shorter works.
An exciting and thought provoking read.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Less than stellar, October 11, 2006
This review is from: Double Dare (Mass Market Paperback)
If you are looking for a steamy read with a good story and well-developed relationships, this is not it. It is not even a quick light, entertaining read. This book just goes on and on. If the author had cut out thee quarters of the book and confined it to a short story, it might have worked out better. I initially wanted to give this 2 stars but I bumped it up to three because I liked the ending.
The main characters, Abby and Zac are both hard characters to like. I could not bring myself to care about them or their relationship until almost the end of the book. Abby seems like any guy could work for what she wants. Zac is not 'darkly dangoerous,' but spoiled and manipulative. They both are carrying out this ridiculous charade that two seemingly intelligent people should be able to see through in a short time, keeping the 'secret' about who they are long after it is necessary. The intimate scenes between them are mechanical and formulaic rather than provocative and sensual. No zing at all. It reached the point where I just skipped over these parts.
The secondary characters in the book however are very well done. From the workmates to the sleazy boss, and even Zac's parents, each one adds something to the story and makes it a little richer... except perhaps for the bi-sexual best friend, who seems to have been thrown in there to add a little sizzle factor to the plot. She appears twice and is rather lack luster and stereotypical to her role. The secondary romance between Nathan and the receptionist (I forget her name) is actually quite sweet.
Towards the end Abby and Zac become a little more authentic, leading up to a nice, not great, but nice ending. If you have the patience to read through all the rest of the book you will be fairly content at the end of it all. The bottom line is that it all the pieces seem to be in place for a great romantic read, but when you put them all together something is missing.
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