Review - Midnight Run

Title: Midnight Run
Author: Lisa Marie Rice
Publishing Date: 2004
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: C
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: Received a used copy from Paperbackswap. Read it for Keishon's TBR Challenge but didn't quite make the date!

Midnight Run is the first book in Lisa Marie Rice's Midnight Trilogy. Lieutenant Tyler "Bud" Morrison is hanging out in a seedy bar undercover. While there Claire Parks catches his eye, mainly because she stands out like a pristine flower among tainted weeds. The person he was supposed to meet never shows. Claire is practically attacked by a persistent suitor and Bud comes to her rescue. He takes her home and they spend an unforgettable weekend together and the start of a new relationship.

Lisa Marie Rice is one of the first authors I read when I started reading romance and I really loved her sweet heroines and protective heroes. When I picked up Midnight Run, I knew exactly what to expect. It would be like settling in with an old friend. Only this time, I have realized my old friend and I have grown apart. We no longer have anything in common.

Midnight Run unfortunately is full of romance clichés. We have the sweeter than sugar heroine, who is a virgin who can't believe the sensations her man can give her vagina. We have the cop hero who rescues the heroine from danger and can still manage to give her an orgasm. All right, I admit I am being a little harsh, seeing as I really used to enjoy this stuff. But when I read this... how was I NOT supposed to role my eyes!!?

No, wait... he held her more tightly, slanted his mouth over hers, licked his tongue deep into her and she felt... she felt a flutter in her vagina!

I did enjoy the second half of the book better than the first part because finally there is conflict between Bud and Claire. Claire grows a backbone and becomes feisty and Bud in his over-protectiveness stifles Claire. Also, the heady internal dialogue diminishes to a tolerant level. This was a quick, pleasant read - if eye-roll inducing in the beginning.

Here is what others had to say:

I Just Finished Reading
J. Kaye's Book Blog

This book can be purchased in print and kindle format from Amazon.

Review - Dangerous Secrets

Title: Dangerous Secrets
Author: Lisa Marie Rice
Publishing Date: 2008
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Rating: C+
Sensuality: Hot

Nicholas Ireland is an undercover operative. His mission is to get close to Charity Prewitt, Parker Ridge’s local librarian. Unbeknown to Charity, her close friend Vassily Worontzoff is actually the head of the Russian mafia. The hope is that by Nick getting close to Charity he might be able to wrangle an invitation into Worontzoff’s compound. Of course what Nick, the “Iceman” doesn’t plan on is his attraction to Charity. She completely blows him off track with her beautiful looks and sweet demeanor.

Dangerous Secrets has a lot going for it; a great hero who is a complete badass when it comes to protecting his lady love, a smart heroine that readers can relate too and sexy love scenes that steam up the pages. It also has a decent suspense plot with a villain who was very vividly drawn. So why didn’t I like the book more?

Well, I think the main reason was the constant barrage of monologues from the characters, most especially Nick. It seemed to me that he kept continuously repeating the same thing over and over again. The book could have been written minus a 100 pages and it wouldn’t have been lacking at all. Being privy to the constant head talk made the story drag out unnecessarily, making the pacing of the book seem to slow. I wanted more action. When the characters were actually doing and not thinking, the book was really good. I am on the fence about this one. I guess I’ll give it a grade somewhere in the middle.

Here is what others had to say:

The Good, The Bad, The Unread