Customer Reviews

High-Powered, Hot-Blooded (Silhouette Desire)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

High Powered, Hot Blooded written by the New York Times best selling author, the enchanting Susan Mallery is a perfect holiday romance. It's the type of book you'll need to read in one seating because it's Mary Poppins meets Scrooge and it's so about love, family, trust and happy endings.

Duncan Patrick is a high powered, successful and ruthless millionaire and he's furious because one of his employees has embezzled $250,000. He goes looking for Tim McCoy and instead of finding Tim he meets his sister, Annie. He finds her sweet and the perfect woman to help him change his image as suggested by his uncle and the board of directors. The very same ruthless image the press has been reporting lately. So, he offers the sweet kindergarten teacher an offer she can't refuse, be his date and act like his girlfriend by attending holiday functions and he'll apply the money to repay half of her brother's debt. Part of the deal is to keep Tim out of jail so Duncan pays and sends him to rehab for his gambling problem. What Duncan doesn't count on is how much of an impact she'll have on his life.

Annie McCoy was one of the most charming characters I think I've read all year. Her sense of taking care of her family will warm your heart, especially at this time of year. Since her mother passed away, she's basically raised her brother, and cousins and also has an exchange student and the girls living with her. Plus she helps to pay for their college and food and provides a home for them. So now she has this dilemma, she's agreed to be Duncan Patrick's Holiday date and finds him to be more than a boss. What neither counts on is their attraction for each other and then they take it a step further to becoming lovers. Annie realizes she has no future with Duncan because he's already had one bad marriage and she sees through his toughness and finds him a caring, sweet and very handsome man, the very same man she loves.

Duncan definitely doesn't want to hurt Annie and really appreciates her efforts in changing his image. He also believes her to be a woman with a big heart and from time to time his soft side is shown when he does special things for her family but one definitely knows that for him because of his past with his mother and ex-wife leaving him, he's not going to take another chance at love. However, as one might expect, Christmas wishes due come true and to reveal them would ruin the book so I highly suggest you read this beautiful love story or purchase it for a friend because is truly a lovely holiday romance.

Behind the Book from Dear Reader:

"For my hero Duncan Patrick the holidays aren't the least bit special. He doesn't believe in tradition or family or even being nice to anyone. He doesn't see the point. For him, life is all about the bottom line. He's been so successful, he's completely lost what really matters.

Now Annie isn't looking for a powerful, determined, stubborn guy to warm her nights. But that's exactly who she's going to get. I think she'll thank me later." Susan Mallery

The fact that this is a Silhouette publication appropriately set my expectations for a "quick and fluffy" read.

I like Mallery and have almost all her books. The traditional wealthy and hunky hero demanded by any Silhouette along with the paragon of integrity and family-values heroine were aptly played. The expected "crochety" but golden-hearted older relative also common in these books was well-written too.

Silhouette and Mallery delivered what the publication banner is known for. I think that most of Mallery's recent work should have been published under that banner as well. She has proven that she is capable of far better and more developed characters but I'm satisfied with the price expected for this effort. I am not satisfied with the price when the same level of writing is produced under a label that leads me to expect higher-quality writing and storylines.

This one, however, is exactly what was advertised - a Silhouette book.

DL

High Powered, Hot Blooded written by the New York Times best selling author, the enchanting Susan Mallery is a perfect holiday romance. It's the type of book you'll need to read in one seating because it's Mary Poppins meets Scrooge and it's so about love, family, trust and happy endings.

Duncan Patrick is a high powered, successful and ruthless millionaire and he's furious because one of his employees has embezzled $250,000. He goes looking for Tim McCoy and instead of finding Tim he meets his sister, Annie. He finds her sweet and the perfect woman to help him change his image as suggested by his uncle and the board of directors. The very same ruthless image the press has been reporting lately. So, he offers the sweet kindergarten teacher an offer she can't refuse, be his date and act like his girlfriend by attending holiday functions and he'll apply the money to repay half of her brother's debt. Part of the deal is to keep Tim out of jail so Duncan pays and sends him to rehab for his gambling problem. What Duncan doesn't count on is how much of an impact she'll have on his life.

Annie McCoy was one of the most charming characters I think I've read all year. Her sense of taking care of her family will warm your heart, especially at this time of year. Since her mother passed away, she's basically raised her brother, and cousins and also has an exchange student and the girls living with her. Plus she helps to pay for their college and food and provides a home for them. So now she has this dilemma, she's agreed to be Duncan Patrick's Holiday date and finds him to be more than a boss. What neither counts on is their attraction for each other and then they take it a step further to becoming lovers. Annie realizes she has no future with Duncan because he's already had one bad marriage and she sees through his toughness and finds him a caring, sweet and very handsome man, the very same man she loves.

Duncan definitely doesn't want to hurt Annie and really appreciates her efforts in changing his image. He also believes her to be a woman with a big heart and from time to time his soft side is shown when he does special things for her family but one definitely knows that for him because of his past with his mother and ex-wife leaving him, he's not going to take another chance at love. However, as one might expect, Christmas wishes due come true and to reveal them would ruin the book so I highly suggest you read this beautiful love story or purchase it for a friend because is truly a lovely holiday romance.

Behind the Book from Dear Reader:

"For my hero Duncan Patrick the holidays aren't the least bit special. He doesn't believe in tradition or family or even being nice to anyone. He doesn't see the point. For him, life is all about the bottom line. He's been so successful, he's completely lost what really matters.

Now Annie isn't looking for a powerful, determined, stubborn guy to warm her nights. But that's exactly who she's going to get. I think she'll thank me later." Susan Mallery

This one's a keeper. The plot is tired and true. Scrooge meets Snow White, Scrooge falls for Snow White and all is good. Its an excellent book for Christmas and you can't help but fall in love with Duncan. I don't think he was that bad to begin with and he just got better and better as we lifted the layers from him.

And while Annie ran the danger of being too sweet and native, Susan Mallery made her someone you want to love and care for and protect.

This is definitely a Silhouette title given the plot but it also shows that under the care of a gifted writer, it becomes a memorable tale of romance and love. This is 100% a keeper.

It was delightful & I enjoyed it a lot. I highly recommend this book to everyone who is looking for a great read at Christmas time.

This was a really cute quick read. It took me a few hours to get through it. Duncan has that bad boy persona that I love so much. Kind of a jerk and selfish. As Annie get's to know him she sees that it's just a front and there is so much more to him. It turns out he is sweet and caring and not selfish in the least. The only thing I can say is I wish it was longer. I got a little teary eyed at the end, and thought the story very heartwarming

This is a perfect Christmas read!
It has:
1. A "scrooge" type hero that is desperately in need of a Christmas transformation
2. A "do good" heroine that sets out to show this man about what's important in life
3. A very quick read (it's a perfect one-sitting book)
4. A really sweet and satisfying ending
5. A safe "formula" that the Silhouette Desire line is known for

Around the holiday times, I find myself too busy to read ****gasp****, but too busy NOT to read. I NEED the escape to balance out the hectic holiday to do list. This book is perfect. It has all the necessary components of a terrific Christmas read (listed above), and requires literally no brain effort to get through. It was just what I was looking for. A sweet, quick, satisfying holiday romance. I will be revisiting this one next year!

I really liked this book. It was a fun and easy read! Duncan is a rich CEO who has a reputation of being ruthless and his board of directors have given him an ultimatum to change his image. He meets Annie, a kindergarden teacher who's brother just embezzled $250,000 from his company. Duncan feels Annie is the right candidate to help change his image so he makes Annie a business proposition. Annie needs to pretend to be Duncan's girlfriend and attend social functions during the holiday with him in exchange for repayment of the embezzled money and rehab for her brother. Annie agrees because she is willing to do anything for her family and loved ones. Annie and Duncan really begin to get to know each other and soon they become lovers. Will their relationship last beyond the agreed upon time frame? You will have to read it to find out!

Very sweet and heartwarming.

I LOVED this book. The characters are great, loved both the hero and the heroine. I liked that he was hardended by life and she made him want to be a better person because she was so sweet and giving. My only complaint is that it wasn't long enough. I wanted it to go on and on forever. If I had to put the book down for some reason I couldn't wait to get back to it. It's a rare and wonderful thing when you come across one like that. Get this book, it is wonderful!!!!!

Susan Mallery has always been one of my "safe" reads but I find that her books are no longer as good as they used to be. Perhaps she's trying to write them too quickly and the witty, well thought out characters are no longer around. She's never been one for mega conflict, which was always fine with me because angst mostly annoys me, but this book in particular was boring and predictable.

These characters had no personality or chemistry. I can't remember a single conversation between them that brought them closer or even let them into each others lives. The hero might've learned personal and private things about the heroine through talking but everything she learned about him, his past, his current life came from outside sources - the fashion guy he sent to outfit her for all the holiday parties, his business associates, his uncle. He never revealed anything personal to her at all.

This might be a good book to keep in the car to read when you're waiting for kids at school or waiting for the doctor but, for me, it wasn't one that I couldn't put down. So, sadly, I would say save your money and skip this one.