Limecello’s review of Bargained Into Her Boss’s Bed by Emilie Rose
Contemporary romance released by Silhouette Desire on 14 Apr 09
I have to be honest, too often I hate the titles to the books published by Harlequin/Silhouette. Luckily, the title has little bearing on the quality of the book. (Although this one really seems like it should be a Harlequin Presents…) Emilie Rose was one of my favorite harlequin authors, so I was really glad to get my hands on this book. It also happens to be the fourth installment in the Hudsons of Beverly Hills miniseries. However, the books can also be read alone. (At least, I didn’t really get lost in the mix of characters and plot lines.) While I did feel a bit let down by parts of this book, overall it was a nice, sweet read.
I really liked the heroine Dana Fallon, but she disappointed me at the same time. Dana is smart, creative, capable, and definitely someone who is in control of her own destiny. Unfortunately, she’s in love with her boss. That’s fine – but the fact that she allows him to treat her like a doormat is what bothered me. Dana seemed like a reasonable business women in all aspects, except when it came to Max’s personal life. I understand how being someone’s personal assistant can lead to blurred lines, but I felt it went too far here. I liked that Dana had the support net of a caring family, and that she generally tried to take proactive steps to change her life. I didn’t really find the reason for her staying when she tendered her resignation believable.
Max Hudson seemed to be a rather static character. He’s extremely wealthy, smart, capable, and has the world at his finger tips, but he’s emotionally barren. In fact, he refuses to let Dana quit, and after he thinks she might trading secrets, essentially decides to control her with sex. Nevertheless, Max is a good person. He’s hard working, cares for his family, and is so driven on this current film and project because it is for his grandmother. Max also is very much a man’s man, and I liked that that aspect of his character fit perfectly and was well written. He’s just a bit stupid with his actual reasons for wanting to keep Dana nearby. (And I didn’t appreciate that.)
I’m not sure if it was just this book, or Ms. Rose’s writing in the past few books, but I felt let down by the heroine. I hate to say it, but both the hero and the heroine seemed a bit thick. I was rather incredulous that Ms. Rose had Dana equating sex with love for much of the novel. Then, when Max and Dana make up, I felt that it was way too easy for Max. In a way I felt that Dana had “rolled over and died.” I know I think that for a number of books, but that was even more prominent here.
However, there were a number of things going on throughout this book, and I liked how every aspect worked with the next, and that every conflict, character, and repercussion mattered. It was also very interesting to get into the nitty gritty of film making, and the finer nuances that people don’t normally think about. Ms. Rose clearly did a lot of research, but it was all included naturally, and the actual details of editing, etc. weren’t unwieldy.
Another aspect I enjoyed was the fact that the Max and Dana had a number of obstacles to overcome. It was nice that Max began to see Dana for who she truly was, and that this happened because Dana decided she was going to quit and didn’t “care” anymore. Also the fact that Max was carrying a lot of baggage from the death of his first wife, and then there was the fact that he thought Dana was a spy, or at least leaking information to Hudson’s major rival. Yet even throughout all those issues, the romantic relationship between Max and Dana was not only developing, but real.
I really liked the secondary characters in this book, and will likely pick up the other ones – both the previous Hudsons of Beverly Hills books to fill in the hole,s and the subsequent ones to see how everything ends. Ms. Rose also write wonderful prose, and there’s a nice flow to her writing that makes it hard to put the book down. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy Ms. Rose’s writing, as well as anyone who is reading the Hudsons of Beverly Hills series.
Grade: C
Summary:
.
In the fast-paced, cutthroat world of Hollywood filmmaking, producer Max Hudson was a master at getting it done. With a movie deadline breathing down his neck, he wouldn’t let anyone get in his way, especially not his longtime assistant, Dana Fallon. Her tantalizing curves had wreaked havoc on his mind and his libido. But her sudden resignation caused chaos, and no amount of money would sway her. Luckily, Max had other means of persuasion….
.
Read an excerpt here.
This is why the “in love with the boss” theme is not one of my favorites. Heroine spends months/years pining for hero (boss) who never “sees” her until she decides to leave and upset his perfectly orderly world, then he finds some stupid way of keeping her there, usually playing on her emotions. I do like Emilie Rose, but this won’t be a book I’ll be reading.
I liked your review.
Stacy – Heh – yeah… that’s too bad because it’s better than Ms. Rose’s more recent books in my humble opinion, but I understand not liking this type of book. I sometimes have suspended belief as well, and/but it depends on how the author writes it.
Still, yeah – doesn’t say much for or about the hero that’s the only reason he notices; or that the woman was *gasp* pathetic enough to take care of every aspect of his life.
I, too, hate the titles of the books published by Harlequin. My husband makes fun of them when he reads the titles.
I don’t read Harlequins & Silhouettes often (unless they’re Nora Roberts) because they are shorter stories and I prefer the longer novels. But recently they are all I’ve been buying!
Tabitha, aren’t they awful sometimes? I can’t help but snicker at the titles at times as well. I like a good mix of novels and categories.
^Weird, I didn’t get an email update with your response…but anyhow, yes, the titles are just awful and not creative at all. If I were to go by just titles and covers alone, I would never buy these books and miss out on some good stories!
Tabitha, I agree! There are some books, where I just look at the title and cringe a little. AND … this one might get me in trouble… but there have been times, where I thought the book was interesting, but the title was just so very bad that I couldn’t bring myself to buy it :X
^Hahaha. I’ve done the same as you, Limecello, where I skipped on buying a book because of the cover or title. And ssssh, I even took the cover off a book once or twice (hardbacks!) while I was reading it in public because it was just so provocative. Lol..
Tabitha – Ooo you rebel! I admit to not buying a book last week because I didn’t want to walk up to the counter and slide that cover over. As to the hardcovers – huh. Sounds difficult – I can see a paperback being much easier.