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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Pleasant reading, but I wanted something a little more special or different. It also needed more showing about the bad guys., March 1, 2010
This review is from: Too Hot to Handle (Harlequin Blaze) (Mass Market Paperback)
STORY BRIEF:
Lexi works with precious metals and gems creating jewelry. She does custom pieces for the wealthy as well as costume pieces sold in stores. She has her own shop in Soho. A customer comes in with an antique emerald necklace, asking Lexi to change the setting to something more modern. Lexi locks the piece in her safe. That night, Charlie breaks in and steals it. Lexi lives above the shop and can't sleep so she heads down to her shop to work. She sees Charlie with the necklace in his hand. At the same moment, the police are banging on the front door saying "open up." Charlie tells Lexi that they are not the police and that she is in danger. Lexi and Charlie flee out the fire escape. The next day the newspapers say that Lexi's shop was completely burned with a dead woman's body inside. Everyone believes Lexi is dead. Charlie and Lexi work together to figure out the mystery and catch whomever is responsible. A second story involves Charlie's limo driver Healey and Lexi's assistant Amanda.
REVIEWER'S OPINION:
This was pretty good, but not as enjoyable as some of her other work. It was pleasant reading. But to give it more stars I wanted to be more surprised or delighted, with something more interesting about the characters. The situations were ok, but nothing special. The author's key ingredient was Charlie, a reformed thief. He was born to a wealthy family but stole for the thrill. He was never caught and eventually stopped stealing. That idea had potential, but it wasn't developed enough. It was hoping for something more creative or unexpected about his story. Another problem: by the end of the book, I didn't understand which bad guy did what earlier in the story. I wanted more explanation - or better yet - more showing about the bad guys. There was a small amount of sex which was ok, but I was bored with the first sex scene. The book is short - 210 pages. Most romance novels are over 300.
I had a minor annoyance with the cover. Lexi wears a gold dress with the necklace. Cover girl wears a green dress.
DATA:
Story length: 210 pages. Swearing language: moderate, including religious words. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: 4. Approximate number of sex scene pages: 10. Setting: current day New York City and Colorado. Copyright: 2010. Genre: contemporary romance.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
terrific romantic suspense, March 4, 2010
This review is from: Too Hot to Handle (Harlequin Blaze) (Mass Market Paperback)
Manhattan based jewelry designer Lexy Drake is an expert on modernizing antique family jewels. Charles Pendergraff III hires Lexy to create a special wedding ring. She is immediately attracted to her handsome suave client. For the first time in her professional life, Lexy considers breaking her iron rule of never mixing business with pleasure, which she does.
However, late one night, Lexy arrives at her studio to be greeted by her worst nightmare. Charles is stealing another customer's jewels, the Isabella Emeralds. Instead of lying, he grabs her and flees into the night. Soon afterward her studio turns into an inferno. After it cools down, a corpse is found. Hurt by Charles' betrayal and somewhat believing her "escort" is an arsonist killer, Charlie tries to convince the woman he loves he is not a murdering jewel thief, but danger stalks them.
Too Hot to handle is a terrific romantic suspense starring two intriguing lead characters. Lexy is a likable individual whose heart has been stomped on by a man who asks her for her trust. Charlie is the more fascinating protagonist as the audience wonders whether he is guilty on all accounts. As always Nancy Warren provides a strong tale that grips the reader the moment Lexy enters her studio late at night.
Harriet Klausner
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Not Too Hot to Handle, April 18, 2010
The book has two things going for it:
First, the female characters are delightful and well-drawn. Lexy's passion for her design work and her independence both stand out. Lexy's assistant Amanda is also quirky and lots of fun.
Second, the dialog sparkles. I especially liked the conversations between Lexy and Amanda. I love strong, believable female friendships in romances.
But the book has some serious problems. The biggest failure is the male lead, Charles. He's a former jewel thief who now works for the good guys in some mysterious capacity. His stint as a thief is rationalized as nearly noble: stealing was a challenge to relieve his boredom, and he only robbed people who were rich enough to lose the valuables. Both of these reasons are distasteful.
I could never figure this man out. Was he glamorous merely because he had lots of money and was once a bad boy? Or was he a criminal? Maybe I'd buy him as an attractive and sophisticated former rogue if he'd behaved decently toward Lexy. I don't think did. To "protect" Lexy he drugs her (makes me wonder why he just happened to have knock-out potion handy in his limo) and kidnaps her. Not honorable in my book.
Ultimately Lexi and Charles consummate their relationship. Sadly, the love scenes feel sterile and tepid compared to the usual Blaze.
Okay. So maybe not every woman wants hot. I'll accept that. But I will never, ever buy the HEA. This relationship is doomed. Charles is a man who once invaded people's homes, broke the law, and took their valuables--because he was bored. There is no way someone with that kind of self-absorbed entitlement could ever be faithful to the sincere Lexy. One minute of tedium and he'd take off.
Depressing love story.
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