Review: Mr. Machismo
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 9, 2012
You will either love or hate this hero; he's that polarizing. I've read several of Lynda Chance's heroes, and I have to say that Raul may just be the most outrageous, over the top, and overbearing of the lot. Some of the things he says to Elaina were almost cringe-worthy. For instance, when he asks if she's still a virgin, does she still have her "cherry," I had to wince at that. The dude was totally not smooth. Some of the things he says and the way he thinks about the heroine are chauvinistic and even antiquated. He takes traditional male to a whole new level. This might rub any reader the wrong way, and it definitely infuriates and scares Elaina most of the time.I have to say that Raul grew on me. Yes, he is OTT and overbearing, even going so far as to use intimidation tactics on the heroine, and judge me if you want, but I was digging the guy. He is that brooding hero I love, somewhat cold and arrogant and even lacking in any smooth social skills. He's just there, right in your face, daring you to like a man that raw and that masculine. Raul's the kind of hero who maybe I really should think is a little creepy and scary, but instead I found his intensity and overwhelming masculinity so very attractive. I wanted to eat Raul up with a spoon, jealous temper, dominating attitude and all.I also enjoyed the older man/younger woman slant to the story. Although Elaina is 21 and Raul 30 when they first meet, and while that's not necessarily a huge age difference (for this theme, I usually prefer about a 15-year age difference), there was still this sexy forbidden feeling to his desire for her. He mistakenly thinks she's still a teen-ager (18) and too young for him. I loved Raul wanting her and fighting this attraction. He was consumed with thoughts of her and constantly wondered how he was going to hold off until she was a little older and had lived a bit more. So when he finds out her real age, he's off the leash. No other way to describe it. He was barely under control.Overall, I enjoyed this story and loved this hero. While I do feel the heroine seemed immature at times and I would have liked her to be assertive in a more grown-up way, Raul is who made the story for me. At 101 kindle pages, this story gave me the non-PC, jerk hero I tend to fall for. Just be warned that Raul is no modern-day Prince Charming; you may half expect him to do a Tarzan yell at any given moment. Raul is about as smooth as sandpaper and is more like a knuckle-dragging alpha. He's jealous, tempermental, domineering, and to me, he was very sexy.