Customer Reviews

She's Got It Bad (Harlequin Blaze)

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

 

 

I have to admit that I don't read a lot of Harlequins, under the (mistaken?) assumption that many of them aren't any good, but I decided to give this book a try after reading a strong review on AAR. I'm so glad I did! This is an excellent contemporary romance, with tight, evocative writing that flows, characters who are fully fleshed out and interesting, and a straightforward, engaging plot.

Zoe and Liam are both damaged, and although sometimes you might want to shake some sense into them (Liam especially), their growth takes time and makes sense when it happens. It was a nice twist that in the beginning, it's the heroine that's messed up, although as the book progresses we see that Liam has issues, too. The characters struggle believably to deal with their feelings, intense attraction, and fears, and you can't help but root for them. I also enjoyed the supporting characters and the realistic look at both a tatoo parlor and a bike shop.

My one complaint is that the ending felt rushed; this book could easily have been 50 pages longer, although I imagine Harlequin has strict page limits.

Nevertheless, this one is worth seeking out if you love contemporary romance.

Grade: A

In 1997 in Melbourne, Australia when Zoe Ford was fifteen years old, seventeen year old Liam Masters moved into her family home following the death of his mother. Zoe fell in love almost instantly with the new border, but though attracted to her, Liam knew this was not right at this time. Instead, he left the Ford home as soon as he could so as not to betray his guardians or his friend her brother Tom.

A dozen years later, Liam is a self made millionaire who creates customized motorcycles. He obtains a nude painting of Zoe and decides to find her as he still wants her. When they meet up, he is shocked that the cute sweet teen who could turn him hard with a look is long gone replaced by a tattoo artist; apparently she fell apart after Liam left her hot and bothered. They remain attracted to one another, but will that prove strong enough in their late twenties when it failed when they were teens as her goal is to make him need it worse than she did then and does now.

This is an exciting contemporary Australian romance starring two refreshing lead characters and a strong support cast that brings the locale alive. Zoe steals the show as a unique female star with her prickly yet caring personality. Liam knows he did the right thing twelve years ago although it was the hardest (pun intended) choice he ever made, but still regrets leaving her as he never foresaw the consequences on her. Readers will appreciate this brisk second chance at love.

Harriet Klausner

Sarah Mayberry is one of my favorite Blaze authors and she proves it again this time around. Zoe is a very unlikely heroine, but I really liked her edgy side. Liam was to-die-for...delicious! They had great chemistry and both helped save the other for a nice balance in the end. If you ever see the name "Sarah Mayberry" on the cover, buy the book immediately!

I've always sneered at Harlequins in the romance aisle... I mean, really, "The billionaire sheik's pregnant virgin secretary" -- how is that not a joke? This was my very first Harlequin, and come to find out, the 'Blaze' line of books is NOTHING like your grandmother's Harlequins. I've since read all of Sarah Mayberry's books and a few other harlequin blaze titles, but Sarah Mayberry is definitely my favorite blaze author.

Back to the book at hand, it's an old plotline (he rejects his best friend's sister in high school for noble reasons and they meet back up later in life) but definitely a new spin. Zoe and Liam are very well-written characters; you will definitely be rooting for their happy ending. Both protagonists have some serious baggage and way they help each other resolve their issues is tender, appealing and believable -- the emotion in the story is amazingly real. It would be hard to summarize the plot without giving too much away so all I'll say is that I LOVED this book and can't wait to read more from Sarah Mayberry!

I picked this book by chance. I liked the theme of this book from the All About Romance Novels site.
This was truly an original take on themes we have read before. Boy with abusive father thinks he is not good enough for best friends sister. The sister is crushed by the rejection but they get back together. Yet, because of this authors great writing we feel like it is new. It is certainly contemporary and takes the reader to a place they haven't been before. I for the first time in a long time cried from a book, it was that good a read.

Neither the book cover or the title of this book does the story justice. Sarah Mayberry has crafted a beautiful, poignant and fully developed story about two damaged souls finding each other after 12 years. This book is amazing in its complexity and plot development. The ending is realistic and the two main characters are real, gritty, damaged but redeemable. Of course it is still a blaze book and so it's still jam packed with sexy love scenes, humor and romance. Definitely a buy.

I got so into these characters that I wished it was longer! Ending did feel rushed. Good writing from both characters points of view. However, I wished who asked who a very important question at the end had been reversed!