| CONTEMPORARY & HISTORICAL book reviews |
Conversely, Gregory also channels the emotional turmoil of a
young man ready to commit himself to a life-time partner but
unsure of himself as a faithful partner. He is torn between
devoting his time to his work and giving his undivided attention
to the one woman who gives him solace. Gregory shows that
she knows lover’s hearts and the insecurities that drive them
apart, and she guides them back.
| Reviewer: Susan Frances |
Love Unlocked
Libby Waterford
Contemporary Romance
Heat Rating: 3
All she wants is a fresh start…
Retired art thief Eve Caplin traveled
all the way from Paris to California
looking for a fresh start in a small
town. When she locks herself out of her home, she gets
much more than she bargained for in Hudson Cleary, parttime locksmith and world famous artist. She wants to resist
Hudson’s seductive pull, but can’t refuse his help when a man
from her past blackmails her into stealing a ten million dollar
painting. Not only does Hudson have access to the painting,
he may hold the key to her damaged heart.
All he wants is her…
Hudson hasn’t picked up a paintbrush in two years. When he
unlocks Eve Caplin’s door, the mysterious beauty arouses
much more than just his creative impulses. He needs Eve in
his studio and wants her in his bed. When he discovers danger
closing in, he must decide how far over the line he’s willing to
go to protect her.
Will he lose his heart, his muse, and his freedom all in one
unforgettable night?
REVIEW: A good looking guy meets a woman who is easy on
his eyes in this romantic tale. Although Thompson’s narration
is concise and the description of her characters response to
one another is instinctual and precise, the reader does not
acquire a feel for their connection or their respective situations.
Eve Caplin is re-inventing herself parlaying her skills as an art
thief into a legitimate profession while Hudson Cleary wants
to return to painting abstract artwork. Their situations are
explained to the reader rather than shown. The same is true for
their romantic liaison which is said rather than felt. There are
long stretches of lulls where little action is happening and then
the reader is overloaded with a scene changing rapidly. Eve
and Hudson’s bond is mainly based on their raging hormones.
They look good on paper but feel shallow to the reader.
| Reviewer: Susan Frances |
January 2014 | 29