Customer Reviews

Undressed (MIRA)

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

 

 

I was expecting a book entitled "Undressed", with a such a suggestive cover photo, to be a trashy romance novel with lots of sex and not much substance. Not so at all! This was a well-developed story about two police officers making changes in their lifestyles and career paths. Paul was trying to simplify his life and Lanie wanted more action and excitement in hers, and when they gradually fall in love, they must find the right balance to make their relationship work while still satisfying their respective career goals. Secondary characters round out the story well, and solving the crime adds adventure and depth to their plight. This story is romantic and sensual rather than overtly sexual. It is refreshing that the characters treated each other kindly and dialogue was very respectful, instead of the usual bickering and hostility found in other romances.

Life in Majestic, Colorado is boring for Deputy Lanie Prescott. When she gets the chance to move to another law enforcement job out of town, she jumps at it. Yet, on the night of her send off party, the offer falls through, leaving her stuck in Majestic, unemployed, and with a broken leg acquired trying ot apprehend a suspect. Still, Lanie makes the best of things, made easier when her replacement turns out to be handsome and charming Paul Caberra.

Paul finds life in star struck, quiet Majestic just what he needs to soothe the ache of an unresolved case he left in Miami. He never meant to romance Lanie, especially knowing she is only there temporarily. As neighbors in a duplex, though, the two find they have much in common. Friendship quickly becomes something more, but their time is limited.

*** Ms. Holm, like fellow Mira author, Debbie Macomber, brings a small town to life in her charming romance. Though light on action and suspense, it is long on laughter and warmth. ***

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore

When I read the summary on the back of the book I thought it was about a woman who was supposed to leave her local law enforcement agency, her hunky replacement, and the summer crime that has her back on the force. There is no big summer crime, but rather a jewel theif hitting small jewelry stores, and Lanie is only back on the force for a total of 48 hours (first for crowd control when Paul heads back to Miami for a couple of weeks and then after she almost catches the jewel thief.) She was mainly working as the police receptionist while the person who usually held that job was out on maternaty leave.
While I liked Lanie and Paul's romance, I was pulling for Lucille and Dutch more than I did for Lanie and Paul. Despite this and the misleading back summary, Undressed is still a good book, and a nice foil for all of the action packed thrillers that I normally read.

Lanie Prescott is ecstatic that she's leaving the misogynistic Majestic, Colorado police department when she accepts a position for a neighboring police force, as she's tired of being coddled by all the male officers. When her new position is put on hold, she finds herself in limbo, as she's already been replaced by hotshot Miami detective Paul Cabrera. He's even sublet her duplex.

When she breaks her leg giving chase to apprehend a suspect who stole her stereo, she finds herself attracted to the mysterious Paul. Being neighbors and her job as a glorified file clerk for the Majestic PD gives them an opportunity to get to know each other better, though Paul is reluctant to set down any roots ans has a few ghosts in his past. But soon they fall under each other's spell. Will the romance squash her plans to break out and prove herself.

With her quirky small town characters and unrushed romance between protagonists, Stef Ann Holm has quickly become a must-read author. She does a great job of taking two strong and independent characters and providing a relationship of equals using good plotting, realistic dialogue, and an entire novel to develop the relationship. Other Holm standouts include "Leaving Normal" and "Lucy Gets Her Life Back."

I found this treasure while at my local library. This is a fun love story of two police officers who find love in a small Colorado town. Lanie is leaving the Magestic police force and meets Paul her replacement from Miami. Lanie breaks her leg the night of her going away party chasing a suspect and Paul finds her and takes her the ER. The story of Lucille (Lanie mother) and Chief of Police Deutsch is sweet secondary romance. I plan to search out more of Stef Ann Holm novels.

After four years on the Majestic, Colorado police force with no opportunities to prove her worth, Lanie Prescott accepts a job with the Ludlow Police Department. However, the night before she is to leave, a civil rights case filed by her predecessor holds up her reassignment. A stunned Lanie meets her replacement Paul Cabrera; the former Miami cop burned out from working domestic dispute cases. After putting her foot in her mouth she goes to her car only to see someone stealing her stereo. She gives chase in heels and breaks her foot.

Majestic Police Chief Herb Deutsch may be a chauvinist when it comes to police work, but provides filing tasks that enable Lanie to bring in some income. As Paul begins to see her, Lanie falls in love with him and though she appreciates his show of support and belief that she can perform the duties of a real cop, she plans to go elsewhere to prove he is right.

Fans of police procedurals that provide insight into how a small town department operates will enjoy this tale that includes a romantic subplot. Though the action is somewhat limited, broken ankle chase and all, the story line provides a deep look at Lanie and Paul, but also enables the audience to see how Chief Deutsch feels especially about a female cop on his team. The love story between the two officers adds warmth to this life of a cop tale.

Harriet Klausner

What a great book! It is going on my keeper shelf. A stong female lead and a sexy male lead with in-depth character development and great plot keep this story moving. It heats up with not only sexy love scenes but, before they even get together physically, hot under the collar flirting. You also get two romances for the price of one with Lanie's mother's story. Don't get me wrong, this is not another action/sex book. This is a good story that can hold it's own. Strongly recommend.

I was kind of looking forward to this one. It looked cute and homey, and the back of the book detail seemed promising. However, things didn't maintain a decent speed for me, and there seemed to be no action what-so-ever at all after the big opening scene and the drama therein.
Laney seemed to be just sitting around while her widowed mother's love-life had a little drama thrown in with a possible love interest from the snotty and smarmy chief of policy, which seemed to pick up the storyline a bit. But even the new cop in town, Paul, who left Miami FL for the smalltown gig seemed like he was getting bored.
I started hesitating picking this book up, and eventually picked up something else. This one was tough to push through for sure. I only made it to chapter 8.

I enjoyed reading this quite a bit!

I had a very hard time putting it down. It's enticing and sweet. A very good romance overall.

Luckily, I didn't buy this book but I had it in hand and read it. I'd never read this author before, and never will again. I don't understand the positive reviews here. The outline of the story was alot better than the writing, which was clunky, and the sex scenes, which were strictly by the numbers. I could see the ending a mile off so there was little suspense. It's possible that I might have liked the book a little more if the characters ever came alive but both Lanie and Lucille were totally two-dimensional and not one real-sounding sentence came out of their mouths. Also, Lucille is about my age but her actions are portrayed as those of a much older woman. Why? Women in their fifties are not elderly!!

I'd recommend saving your money and not buying this book. If you want great characters with sensuality, try Lisa Wingate. If you want great characters, excellent sex scenes and lots of humor, try Deirdre Martin. There are some really good romance writers out there but SAH isn't one of them.