Customer Reviews

Sizzling (Wheeler Hardcover)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Reid Buchanan is horrified when one of his ex-lovers publishes a story regarding his skill (or lack thereof) in the bedroom. After an injury ended his career in baseball, Reid takes over the family Sports Bar where he can relive his glory days with his customers. The fact that women flock to him doesn't surprise Reid and he takes full advantage. Reid loves women and women love him. He always makes it clear that there are no-strings attached. When he hires a nurse for his grandmother, who is recovering from a broken hip, he's surprised that he's found one female that doesn't seem to want him.

Lori Johnson has one goal: to help her patient recover. The only thing that's unfortunate is that Lori is instantly attracted to Reid. She does everything she can to hide her feelings. Lori is mystified by her attraction to a man that he has such contempt for. What she doesn't realize is that there is more to Reid than meets the eye.

Susan Mallery continues the Buchanan saga with Reid, who is trying to find his way after being thrown in the unflattering public spotlight. While he is indignant about people assuming he's a bad lover, he feels worse when he finds out how his manager has been handling his affairs. While Reid tries to fill the sudden emptiness in his life, he realizes that Lori is more that she seems. Together, the two find their way through very complicated lives, to what they really want...each other. Mallery weaves this story in a way that will make you laugh, breaking your heart at the same time. With secondary characters we know and love, SIZZLING is a definite winner.

The term "sizzling" doesn't even describe Susan Mallery's third book in her Buchanan series SIZZLING. It's personally my favourite, was a hard choice to make but her two main characters Reid and Lori are amazing. Spirited, smart mouths both of them in a battle of wills testing each other each step of the way. The chemistry between Reid and Lori is sensual and then throw in a terminally ill sister, a cranky old grandmother, a difficult mom and a strong family with so many dynamics........It's hot, passionate and full of depth....it is simply a wonderful story.



Reid an ex-professional baseball pitcher, and knock down gorgeous male with a reputation for being a ladies man is faced with a problem.....a reporter who is after his hide and reputation so she states that he falls short in the bedroom. Because he's a celebrity and also owns a Seattle sports bar, he is faced with the press hounding him and the embarrassment it's created for him personally and for his family. On top of everything, he has to hire nurses to care for his impossible grandmother who has the reputation of a barracuda and is simply an old and angry woman.

Enter, the sweet and smart nurse Lori who gives both Reid and his grandmother a run for their money. Lori doesn't let him get away with a thing and gives him plenty to think about. However, she has a horrible crush on Reid and fights it every step of the way. She doesn't want to be another "notch". As you can well imagine, she falls under Reid's spell and their journey is one to the reader will long remember.

This was such an entertaining book. It was so full of warmth and the characters wormed their way into my heart. The Buchanan family series has been such an entertaining series set in Seattle with each family member being unique, dynamitic and full of depth. Again, Susan Mallery brings such enjoyment to her readers especially with this book, SIZZLING.

This book, "Sizzling" renews my belief that there are still some really good romantic reads out there. Sizzling tells the story of how a strong woman character (Lori Johnson) can truly reform a too handsome, self-absorb ex-baseball player (Reid Buchanan) into a really likable character.

Lori, a home care nurse takes the job of helping Reid's stubborn and horrid tempered grandmother (Gloria Buchanan) back to health, after she is release from the hospital into homecare. Lori sees beyond Grandmother Gloria's bad temper and shows Gloria that she can be just as stubborn when it comes to the health of her patients.

I like Lori because she takes no stuff. And this attitude comes in handy when Lori must deal with pretty boy Reid as well. Reid believes himself to be God's Gift to women; that is until a story appears in the paper about his supposedly lack luster sexual abilities in bed. (This is Not True) Although the newspaper article was written by a spurned female newspaper writer, the story takes off and now everyone's talking about Reid sexual skills and not in a good way.

In comes Lori, who is attracted to Reid, but cannot let him know it. Lori is an independent take charge type, who normally does not fall easily to a pretty face. But she finds it hard to resist the sexual chemistry that sparks whenever she is around Reid. Both main characters learn a lot about themselves as the story progresses. They both challenge one another and go through a character metamorphosis, and of course they fall in love. Reid is definitely a rogue. But this rogue becomes very likable and opens Lori up to her sensual side.

Although Sizzling is not the very best novel I've read, it does holds your attention and the storyline is told beautifully. There is a side story told about Lori's sister, which is also interesting. The story is aimed at Romance Readers that want a more mature romantic novel. This is a pretty modern day romance story. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.

Seriously, I have no idea why it's taken me so long to read one of Susan Mallery's books, but I'm so glad I finally did. With all the books she's written, I have enough to keep me busy for quite a while. She actually reminds me a little of Susan Elizabeth Phillips (or does SEP remind me of Ms. Mallery?) and I mean that in a good way.

In Sizzling, Lori takes a job nursing for the rude, ill-tempered and terribly mean Gloria Buchanan. Lori is a strong willed and surprisingly cheerful woman who refuses to be bossed around by her disagreeable patient or charmed by her patient's very charming grandson. Her first day on the job, a reporter prints an unflattering story about Reid Buchanan and his total failure in the bed department. Lori's first impression of Reid is that of a gorgeous but useless ex-baseball player who's gotten by on his looks and fame and little else. He's wasted his life doing nothing more important than sleeping with every willing woman to come along. She hates that she's attracted to him and lets him know exactly what she thinks of all of his shortcomings. Reid may sound like he's irredeemable, but he's actually a very likeable character. When faced with Lori's and the public's scorn, he quickly realizes that he needs to do something important with his life, and quickly takes action to go about accomplishing it.

Sizzling is a very charming story. Lori and Reid's romance is sweet and humorous and their sex scenes are surprisingly (well maybe not so surpising if you've read other books by Ms. Mallory) steamy. Usually side stories just annoy me, but here, the story with Reid's sister, Dani, had me eagerly flipping the pages- I'll have a difficult time waiting patiently until her book is published. Sizzling also took a surprising turn toward the end and despite the fact that I needed to reach for the tissue, it was yet another display of the author's skill in telling her story. I was very much caught up in these characters' lives and at no point did I feel the need to have read the other Buchanan books first. I really enjoyed Sizzling and I can definitely recommend it.

I love Susan's other books on the sexy Buchanan men but this one just didn't move me like the others. First the Matriarch of the family does a total 180 which is crazy becauseI love to hate Gloria. Then the heroine Lori just doesn't seem right I mean can ordinary people be just that self conscience and then become a vixen all in one book. Overall it was alright but the ending could of been better

When a local newspaper reporter writes an article disparaging the bedroom skills of retired pitcher and playboy Reid Buchanan, Reid is embarrassed. Then the national media picks up the story and Reid's embarrassment amplifies 100%. To evade the press, Reid takes refuge at his grandmother's home. His 'difficult' grandmother with the broken hip and around the clock nurses home.

Day nurse to Gloria Buchanan, Lori Johnson is the only nurse of the three hired to care for the cranky patient that didn't sleep with Reid Buchanan during the interview process. Not that she would. Lori is immune to womanizers. Well...normally she is. But for some reason, Lori isn't immune to Reid.

I love this series. I was especially eager for Reid's story. I have this thing for reformed womanizers and boy did Reid need reforming! I can understand why Lori found Reid impossible to resist. By making Reid see his weaknesses, not like them and try so hard to change himself for the better, Ms. Mallery made me weak knee'd for Reid. Just weak knee'd!

Not only does Reid change, but Lori undergoes a transformation herself and I was really moved by Lori's back story. In fact, I cried like a baby reading about Lori's sister, Madeline. Susan Mallery can make me a blubbering mess or she can make me squirming, sighing and crazy in love. In Sizzling, Ms. Mallery did it all.

In this latest installment of the Buchanan series, Sizzling, Susan Mallery penned a sexy and romantic story that just made my heart sing.

Annmarie reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Reid Buchanan is a former baseball pitcher who blew out his shoulder in a car accident and is having difficulty returning to civilian life. A ne'er do well playboy, Reid has not had to work for the attention of females - they come to him. But a nasty article in the paper denigrating his sexual prowess, as well as reports that he has let down his younger fans has him hiding from the press.

Lori Johnston is a nurse specializing in at home care. She accepts the day shift position for Reid's feisty grandmother and is immediately incensed that none of her grandchildren seem to care about Gloria (fans of the other books in the Buchanan series know why, as Lori will soon enough). Lori has always felt dowdy, particularly next to her stunning and statuesque sister Madeline - taking this lucrative position means she will be able to care for her sister who will die without a liver transplant. She does not want to be attracted to a playboy... but something about Reid gets her heart racing, and encourages her to let her hair down.

Suddenly Reid, who never had to woo a woman, finds himself wanting to woo his grandmother's nurse. And it appears the feeling is mutual, though neither wants to admit it. As Reid and Lisa spend more time together, and he helps her cope with her sister's illness and her strained relationship with her alcoholic mother, Reid is realizing that he might want more than to be just a figurehead in her family's restaurant business. After all, if a woman can tame Gloria... what could she do to Reid?

Mallery's latest installment in the Buchanan series ("Delicious" & "Irresistible") is definitely a sizzling read. The chemistry between Lori and the sexiest Buchanan is scorching, and Mallery has deftly laid the foundation for Dani's upcoming story, "Tempted," which is sure to keep readers glued to the conclusion of this series.

To me, this book by Susan Mallery had none of the charm, humor, or whimsy that has been present in all of her prior books. The characters were not likeable and the events not probable; especially the change in Gloria's personality as the result of a lecture by a stranger. What a crock! And no washed up athlete's bedroom life is the stuff of endless weeks of news coverage. This story just wasn't up to Mallery's par.

This is the 3rd installment of the Buchanan family series. This one tells the story of Reid & Lori. Oh.my.gosh! They are not only steamy hot together, but their relationship also seems so sweet. I did not expect to cry reading this book, but I actually had to grab some tissues. Such a heart gripping story and watching the Buchanan family come together as they always do was heart warming. I also laughed out loud plenty with this book. Gloria finally seems to come around and instead of being the wicked witch of the west, she's just sarcastic (which I love). I can't wait to read Dani's story next!

It was definitely a good plot. However, like other reviewers have said, I had a few problems with this book.

1. Gloria's change happened way too fast. First she's this grumpy, mean woman. Then all of a sudden, within about five pages, she's a totally different person. Not realistic.

2. Lori... I know what Susan was trying to do, but it didn't work. She was too bitchy. She even admitted it. The things she'd say were really mean and judgmental actually. I couldn't believe someone who was used to not being the pretty one would be so not understanding or harsh.

3. Who is Dani? Who even cares?! This isn't her book, why was she in here?

Now the things I liked. I liked Reid. I also liked the romance and steamy parts. But what's a romance novel without good writing behind it?