Customer Reviews

Ready & Willing (Berkley Sensation)

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

 

 

I love a good paranormal romance with ghosts. Sadly, this wasn't it. This story had so much potential but the author didn't really follow through.

Audrey Fine Magill is a widower, who is opening a store dedicated to hats. She went to an antique shop to buy some things for her place and a painting in the back caught her eye. It was a painting of Captain Silas Summerfield. And coincidentally, he originally lived in her place about 80-so years ago. She bought it and brought it back. What she didn't realize was that the spirit of the good captain was residing in it and was waiting for the chance to talk to her. He needed her to save his great-whatever grandson's, Nathaniel, soul. Of course, when Audrey does see the grandson, he was skeptical and lost his soul anyway. The story continues on where they try to get his soul back.

The dialogue between Audrey and Nathaniel is immature at best. I was so frustrated with their thought processes. Their thinking is juvenile and they constantly reused the same adjective or quote at least three times in the same paragraph. As though we didn't get their meaning the first time around. And I also believe someone mentioned this already in their review, but I have to emphasize it again. What was the point of saying, "My great-great-whatever grandson" every time they refer to Nathaniel. It was cute the first three times but after that, the author was just plain overdoing it. There is nothing wrong with referring to him as your "great grandson" since it was clearly known fact to everyone.

The only reason I gave this a 3 stars instead of 2 was the side love story of Silas and Cecilia. Wow. They had more romance in their souls (no pun intended) then the main characters. It's very telling that the side characters are more mature and lovable when both pairs have obstacles that could come between them. Audrey frustrated me with her emotional instability where her late husband was concern. She was a weak character. While Cecilia had legit reasons for her emotional problems, quickly work through them with some help with Silas. I respected her. Surprisingly, Nathaniel slowly redeemed himself with his willingness to believe in the paranormal and with the ability to look at himself in a new light.

I have never read this author before. I'm willing to read more of her books but with reluctance. Personally, this was an all right book. I would have saved my $8.00 though.

This is a great Elizabeth Bevarly book--I liked the ghost even, and I don't usually like paranomals :) I also loved the side story about the ghost's romance with the neighbors roommate! A great read and I can't wait for the next in the Derby stories. This one was good but totally different from the first Derby story, so I can't wait to see what #3 will be! Thanks Ms Bevarly!

In Kentucky Widow Audrey Magill enters the antique store to browse. She sees a portrait of nineteenth century riverboat Captain Silas Leyton Summerfield and feeling an odd affinity as well as believing the picture would be perfect for her hat shop that she plans to have opened in time for the Derby; she buys the portrait. However, she also learns the Captain once lived in the house she currently occupies.

Silas' spirit is on a quest to save the soul of his decedent Nathaniel who is about to make a Faustian deal. He asks Audrey to help him. However when the beautiful fruitcake warns Nathaniel that he is selling his soul and her source is great to the nth degree ancestor Captain Silas, he has no doubt that she is a nut. Audrey is taken aback by her attraction to Nathaniel as she never thought of finding love again ever since her spouse passed away. She insures she does not lose sight of her mission: save Nathaniel's soul.

The romance is well written while the Kentucky Derby serves as a background to Audrey's efforts to save Nathaniel's soul. Silas is an interesting matchmaker who knows if anyone can rescue his descendant it is the love of a good woman; in this case Audrey. Elizabeth Bevarly provides her fans an engaging paranormal contemporary romance.

Harriet Klausner

READY & WILLING is the second in a Kentucky Derby series by Elizabeth Bevarly. I loved both books and am looking forward to the third. I always enjoy the author's wordplay, dialogue, and character introspection. I always know I will get a romantic and sexy read when I buy one of her books. READY & WILLING, which includes two sets of heroes and heroines, kept me up late reading several nights in a row. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Audrey & Nathaniel and Cecilia & Silas reach their happily-ever-after.

REVIEWER'S OPINION:
I loved the secondary story between Cecilia and Silas, which was a very small part of the book, but I did not care for the main story between Audrey and Nathaniel. There was too much pondering within the minds of characters. At times, Audrey was too rude and smart-alecky for me. The plot concerning how Nathaniel was losing his soul and how it was resolved was a little odd but ok. Unfortunately, the other parts of the story were not as entertaining or interesting as I would have liked. I found one scene boring (pages 173 to 181). This is where Audrey has a conversation with Leo, a policeman who was Sean's partner (her dead husband.) They discuss her relationship with Sean. Leo says that Sean would have wanted her to move on with her life, but Audrey doesn't believe it.

Another problem bothered me a lot, which follows. Instead of using the names Silas and Nathaniel, the author used the following: "the great great however many greats grandson," "your great great et cetera grandfather," "great great blah blah blah grandson," "great great whatever grandfather," and "great great God knows how many greats grandfather." These and similar terms were used far too frequently. I wished the author had just figured out how many greats it was once, and then used that specific number once or twice. After that the author should have used names or the specific label. I was annoyed with the frequency of these vague terms.

STORY BRIEF:
Audrey's husband died three years ago. She still considers herself married for life and plans never to be with anyone else. She moves into an old home previously owned by Silas Summerfield who died in 1932. His ghost communicates with Audrey and asks her to help his great something grandson Nathaniel. Silas says that Nathaniel will lose his soul if he forms a business partnership with Edward Dryden. Audrey visits Nathaniel and tries to help. At first Nathaniel doesn't believe her, and he signs a contract with Edward. At that moment he begins to feel cold. He later sees Audrey and shakes her hand. Touching her is the only thing that reduces the cold that has been haunting him. The story continues with what to do about the contract with Edward, Nathaniel's disappearing soul and the relationship between Nathaniel and Audrey.

DATA:
Story length: 280 pages. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 2. Length of sex scenes: 1.5 and 8.5 pages. Setting: current day Louisville, Kentucky. Copyright: 2008. Genre: contemporary fantasy romance.

Widow Audrey Magill is prepared to begin a new life in some ways but definitely not others. Formerly a successful tax accountant she has thrown this all over to pursue her dream of making hats. Yes, hats. In Kentucky the right hat could net a milliner thousands of dollars just prior to the start of Kentucky Derby Days. Thus Audrey has purchased a house in the center of town to serve as both residence and business. Her grand opening is just days away and she is looking for just the right odds and ends to give her shop the right air. That is how she winds up in an antique store where she comes across a portrait she just has to have.

No the testosterone laden portrait is not the thing for her ultra feminine shop, but the subject of the painting had called out to her, and when she'd discovered that its subject, Riverboat Captain Silas Summerfield, had once owned her home and the price had mysteriously become affordable she'd snapped it up. She soon learns that the sudden affinity for the portrait had been no accident. Captain Summerfield had returned from the great beyond to save his descendant Nathaniel's soul. Silas' ghost is bound to his portrait, so wherever it goes, so he goes as well.

Audrey of course is to be charged by the Captain with the task of saving said descendant's soul, but she's not at all sure she believes in ghosts. After all, if they truly existed wouldn't her late husband, a police officer killed in the line of duty, have moved heaven and earth to be with her. Heaven knew, in the same position she'd have done so to be with him. But Silas soon convinces her to visit his great, great many times removed grandson and in spite of her better judgment she finds herself in Nathaniel Summerfield's office trying to persuade him to scrap a multimillion dollar real estate deal. It doesn't help that Nathaniel thinks she's a fruitcake or that he stirs emotions in her that not even her beloved husband ever had. He's insufferable to boot. Audrey returns home unsuccessful and Nathaniel strikes the deal.

But the instant the ink is dry on the paper, Nathaniel gets a strong sensation in the middle of his chest and it's clear to him he's lost something important. From that moment on he experiences a bone chilling cold that nothing can warm except for the touch of one Audrey Magill. The attraction between them is undeniable. Unfortunately Audrey is still very much in love with her late husband. She still wore her wedding ring on her finger and Sean's class ring on a chain around her neck. Can Nathaniel convince her to move on with her life? Can she help him to recover his soul?

In a neat little twist Silas, who had sired a son from an indiscretion, married as a result and lost the wife he'd barely known in childbirth, finds a sweet little romance of his own. Audrey's neighbor Cecilia had been demoralized and abused by her husband and had fled, flitting from town to town in hopes that he'd never find her. Something about the Kentucky town had called to her to stay though she'd still eschewed any contact with heterosexual men. When Audrey hires her to staff her ultra-feminine boutique it's the perfect situation. At first she can hear Silas but cannot see him but as the two get to know each other her heart opens her eyes. Silas was a true gentleman, nothing like her husband and being insubstantial he is totally safe. Only in her dreams can the two enjoy romantic interludes. Ms. Bevarly however does not whip up a hokey scenario to send Cecilia back in time or for Silas to materialize in the flesh. Still it was a delightful little side line and I'm not really sure which romance I enjoyed more. At times the main romance seemed a little one sided

I have to say that I didn't think as much of Audrey's late husband as she seemed to. He came off as selfish in bed and could have at least come in person to let her know that he was cool with her getting on with her life. It was painfully clear that Nathaniel would be the true love of her life and the reader will be glad that she finally realizes it. There's a nice little mystery to be solved as well as the pair works together to figure out exactly why Nathaniel's soul went missing after signing the contract.

READY & WILLING is a nice little contemporary romance with a fun paranormal element. It is a follow up story to FAST & LOOSE a straight contemporary romance which also involves the Kentucky Derby. ~ Reviewed for PNR Reviews