Customer Reviews

The Specialist (Harlequin Blaze)

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The Specialist by Rhonda Nelson
Harlequin Blaze # 277 - September 2006
Men Out of Uniform trilogy - Book 2

Ex-Ranger Brian Payne earned his nickname The Specialist because he was very good in everything he did. And his detail oriented approach to command had made his men fully understand just what a Major Payne he could truly be. General Garrett has need for Payne's well-honed abilities and has decided it's time to call in his favour. Payne's not pleased with his assignment but he's never gone back on his word and it will be a relief to have this last hold over him finally lifted. It's off to Gettysburg to find a legendary pocketwatch that supposedly was once owned by Robert E. Lee by way of inheritance from his father. General Garrett is an avid collector of all things Lee. Payne knows there's more to this hunt, and when he deplanes at the airport he discovers exactly what more there is. After eight years in the military, Emma Langsford had been forced to resign her commission to help her mom with her ailing grandfather and then deal with the huge medical debts. She needed the money General Hastings was offering her to find Lee's pocketwatch before his rival's man found it. Seems the two General's have made a bet and Emma's ruthless reputation is being pitted against Payne's sharp orderly mind. Only when Emma bumps into Payne, literally, Payne finds that this little bit of a woman packs a lot of fire, and he has to contend with the sparks. There's a lot more to this hunt than may the best man or woman win!

Ms. Nelson's sharp wit and wicked sense of humour come out marvelously in this book. Emma proves her resourcefulness time and again, much to Payne's astonishment and admiration. When Payne discovers the reason why Emma needs to win, that achieving her dreams depends on the money she'll earn; he quickly comes up with a plan where they both will win. The chemistry between these two scorches right off the pages. I laughed out loud during one scene where Emma proclaims "follow me again, and I'll not only flatten your tires, I'll climb up there and clobber you with them" And this produces a huge belly laugh from Payne, who at his 6'6" height towers over petite Emma's 5'2" and he further, lifts her by her arms right off the floor and plants a toe curling kiss. This is one of those sexy fun reads that you'll want to read again and again. :D

Men Out of Uniform trilogy
The Player - Harlequin Blaze # 255 - June 2006
The Specialist - Harlequin Blaze # 277 - September 2006
The Maverick - Harlequin Blaze # 283 - October 2006

This was my third foray into Rhonda Nelson's work, and my, my, my I think I'm in love! Nelson is definitely moving up my list of fav contemporary authors and Harlequin's Blaze series has definitely reshaped itself from being "all about sex" to being "all about the sexy"!

Major Brian Payne is one of the Rangers suffering from guilt over the death of their other Ranger buddy, Danny, and like the others, Brian has made a deal with the "Devil" Colonel Carl Garrett: His freedom from the service in exchange for an ambiguous, as needed "favor".

For Brian, the favor seems simple enough -- hunt down a pocketwatch legend says was owned by Robert E. Lee before his competition can. Brian heads out and bumps (literally) into Emma Langsford. Emma is on the hunt as well, working for Garrett's competition after accepting the job to help ease her family's horrible financial situation as well as fund her own quest to go back to school. Emma, however, is also ex-military and just as smart, determined, and crafty as Brian. Her reputation for "ruthlessness" definitely proceeds her.

From there on out it's a game of one-upmanship with Emma constantly throwing Mr. In Control for loop after sexy loop. What I love most about Nelson's pairings is she constantly finds couples that *fit*. They click together and you understand why they would be attracted (beyond the obligatory hot looks and great sex) to the other. Emma and Brian are no exception to this fabulous rule, and soon they're giving in to passion in bed... up against the wall... against the door... Whew! Hot stuff!

The funny thing about this couple is they're both very strong individuals who pride themselves on their brain power and strength, so when they're together and sense those same qualities in the other, they find those abilities even sexier and more admirable.

The Specialist was a great book and I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning just to finish it. I haven't been able to say that about a book in a long, long time. Definitely recommend it and the author and look forward to her future books!

Very fun book. First you have to get past the first chapter setting up this second book in this series. But as soon as the main characters meet, it picks up. Brian and Emma have a good spark and the humor is intelligent. The only thing I found really tiresome is Brian's self-flagellation over his friend's death.

Brian Payne aka Major Payne - haha, pun intended - hadn't been nicknamed "The Specialist" for nothing: he excelled in everything he did and never failed on any mission assigned to him - even though he still felt guilty about that one mission where one of his Army buddies ended up dead, that hadn't been his fault. Emma Langsford was also a former military, who was known for being ruthless and successful in all her missions. When those two were pitted against each other in what could be called "a treasure hunt" for a pocketwatch that was supposedly owned by Robert E. Lee, sparks flew and I was in for one of the most enjoyable - and steamy - rides of my life. I just loved seeing them trying to outmaneuver each other in their search for the pocketwatch - that Emma was full of tricks, LOL - and it was especially funny to read Payne's inner thoughts chastising himself for being so "helpless" when it came to her. Poor guy, he had taken the fall and there was no going back. ;)

This was another great book by Ms. Nelson, thank you very much! She's just became the author I'll run to whenever I'm in the mood for a quick, hot and entertaining read.

I love! this series! Brian and Emma are adorable and funny and normal-not the rich b*tch with the hoity-toity man. They are just regular people. I have read almost all 8 of the books that out so far. I started the series with this one and haven't gone back to read The Player, which is the first book; Payne just seems like the main character in every book, so I'm a little reluctant to find out if Jamie takes his place. I love the tricks Emma pulls to get away from Brian; I actually laughed out loud several times. The story is well-told and it makes sense-which says a lot considering this is still a romance novel. This series is great!

I've read Rhonda Nelson's first book, The Player and I was hooked. I purchased the entire series!!!!!

Rhonda Nelson is in rare form in this terrific story! Any fan of hers won't want to miss it!

Ms. Nelson writes a funny, sexy book and this one doesn't disappoint.

The Specialist is the nickname given to Major Brian Payne because he was very "detail oriented".
He is the second man that Colonel Carl Garrett called in his owed favor from. Major Payne <g> also felt the guilt of Danny's death.

On a bet, Garrett, alines Payne with Emma Langsford, a former millitary gal who needs money to pay off a morgage and she wants to return to school to become a vet.

The contratemps between Brian and Emma are a bit humorous and one-upmanship [at least on her part] and she is known to be ruthless in her pursuit of a goal.
These two were sent on a mission to locate a priceless military antique? if it does exist.

The characters are great - the plot is excellent - the s-- scenes are rediculous - so much descriptive passion without anything behind it.
A great cover. In keeping with the story.

Just no feeling with the passion? Who reads or writes this drivel. This will be my only foray into Blaze. Can't afford to waste my time.