Review: Keep the story, lose the heroine
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 05 6, 2013
3.5 stars. Going a little manic on this rather cute rambling story... All up on the guys, it's a Holy Hotness Batman plethora of gorgeous maleness involving Dominic Anscombe (our hero) and his dreamy legal group, ADK, as well as his sexy brother Nick's security/investigation team, ASI. The h/Genevieve on the other hand was just TSTL, so I have mixed emotions here.New author for me, from New Zealand, and I love a foreign author AND I heard rumblings that this story had a KA quality to it. I was all in.What worked and what didn't:Dominic/H and the sexy team of lawyers and security guys, a big thumbs up. Although I have to question Mr. Hotness's mental wellbeing to lust after the heroine who's an idiot. Warning...if you're the type who has the strong desire to throw your e-reader after reading numerous stupid acts by a lead character - BEWARE!A KA likeness...kinda. There's a sort of Rock Chickesque quality. Yes, there's a coffee shop but only a couple of scenes are played out there. A security/investigation group...a la Nightingale Investigations with plenty of big bossy alpha male hotties - a definite YES! It's a New Zealand/Kiwi Hot Bunch so to speak. Was the heroine a bit dingy (putting it mildly) while resisting the truly wonderful, hunkalicious male in pursuit - Abso-freaking-lutely! Which to me is insane, I'd have dropped my drawers in a heartbeat for ole Dom, however, the males in these type stories dig this stuff so, that's the way this story rolls. Is there a mad cap zany chase involving bad guys and guns? You betcha. However, KA's Rock Chick stories always have some light humor...no humor here. But those are the similarities.The heroine/Gen/Genevieve. In a word- TSTL. Or words I should say - that's right too freaking stupid to live. While deciding to take legal action against her worthless ex-boyfriend to stop him from taking half her coffee shop in a threatened common law legal maneuver, she encounters the most beautiful guy she's ever seen/Dom. (LOL! Yea he could easily be a Dom, but never mind, this is not that kind of story). Dom is the wealthy senior partner in his law firm and evidently this guy could stop traffic with his good looks. Gen has no idea who he is and after an awkward exchange of silly banter in the lift he follows her into the legal office. We find out later that during this chance encounter Dom was beaten big time by the "love at first sight" stick. The guy is smitten, overwhelmed by our ditzo heroine (poor guy, no accounting for taste). Gen's lawyer, Finn Drake is no slouch either. This Gen must have some kind of enchanted aura because Finn gets a case of the "I want her" vibe as well. That's ok, I strongly suspect Finn gets the girl in another bk. In the meanwhile Brett, the ex, has a gambling problem and owes some mobster big bucks. He's not about to let Gen, his meal ticket, out of their relationship and he wants/needs her back. Gen is caught in the middle and Brett stirs up all kinds of drama with a couple of kidnappings and some shoot em' up stuff. While the legal/security alpha males rally behind our girl to keep her safe, Dom has taken charge as only a big bossy alpha male can. Dom's intense feelings and actions towards Gen are swoon worthy. Gen, stupidly resists and keeps threatening to take Brett back so she can keep her coffee/music/chocolate shop because it's her dream. The guys work day and night to keep Gen safe all the while she resists and does the ridiculous to get herself and others stuck in dangerous situations.If you're still reading, this is where the danger of kindle throwing comes in. Because despite repeated kidnappings and hospital visits the girl would still rather have Brett back than potentially lose her coffee shop in a legal battle she really doesn't have much of a chance of losing. This girl goes over the top allowing her fears to paralyze her. During all this Gen also reflects or has page long head ramblings that I decided early on to skip. After you've read a few of these, you're not missing any of the same recycled thoughts that continue. While still adding up the less than stellar Gen attributes, another big no-no for me was Gen puts Dom off his repeated attempts to have sex until well over 50% of the bk. Not that Dom doesn't try his seductive best. Score another negative big one for dummy Gen.To conclude, Gen finally pulls her head out of her behind, Dom finally gets the girl and his HEA, Brett's in the past, and things are looking up for potential bk 2 candidates. Despite the negatives, the cast here is a keeper, save the stupid heroine. Plenty of hot guys for the next girl up, even Gen's ex-military brother (no shortage of alpha's to go around in this series). The next female lead? Don't know...maybe Gen's BFF Kelly that runs the coffee shop who would rather pursue than be pursued could give one of the guys an interesting chase as well as Dom's sister Katie who I suspect has the I don't want him/I do's for Gen's bro Jason.Will I read bk 2? Surprisingly yes, throwing caution to the wind here...the author could surprise me and wrap these great group of guys around a more likeable heroine next time. I wasn't a fan of the Rock Chick bks until bk 3 and that paid off. So...we'll see.