LynneC’s review of Ultimatum: Marriage by Ann Major
Contemporary Romance published by Silhouette Desire 12 Oct 10

This is a Silhouette Desire Man of the Month book, and when I saw the cover, I knew I had to read this one! Unfortunately, the inside didn’t match the outside.

Jake has lost the woman he thought was the love of his life to his brother. But he sleeps with Alicia, the daughter of a business colleague, and gets her pregnant. Then her father is in trouble, for defrauding and embezzling, including a charity for rehoming people after Hurricane Katrina. He is a snake.

But the story starts after that bit. I really felt that I’d come in when the story was half told and I wanted the first bit. But it starts when Alicia comes to Jake and admits she’s pregnant and asks him to marry her. Despite initial resistance, he does so. Jake comes across as a whiny, indecisive character who doesn’t really understand his architect’s business or the woman he has agreed to marry. His attitude to life is to be as miserable as possible. When clients cancel their orders after his marriage, he accepts it, but doesn’t tell Alicia. And despite setbacks that would undoubtedly close a business that wasn’t in a Silhouette Desire, he continues on as a billionaire. Because he marries her, and because of what her father has done, he has to lay off staff and receive a number of cancellations. And she won’t even give him sex.

Alicia is even whinier than Jake, with a streak of TSTL on the side. She said she wanted to marry him to give her baby a name, and if that isn’t a lame reason, I don’t know what is. Jake accepts responsibility, offers to support the child, but she wants marriage. Which is likely to ruin his business and have a knock-on effect on his brother Logan’s business, too. Once he marries her, she sulks around his place, and gardens.

That last surprised me, because pregnant women are often told not to do any gardening, because of the bacteria in the dirt, but if she wanted to garden, at least it reduced her sulking time. She supports her father, despite all the evidence being that he did what he’s accused of, and even visits him. If she’d loved her husband, as she claims, surely she’d have cut herself off from her father, or at the least made sure the paparazzi didn’t follow her there. But the paps are the bad guys, as always, and they follow them around, taking pictures and asking them intrusive questions. In this case, I couldn’t blame them. Her father gives her a brooch that her mother owned, in a great big case, and she doesn’t want it, but he drops it in her shopping bags. So she finds it, and shoves it under her pillow.

I’d have been happy for Jake to send her away, give her money and support his baby. Despite a couple of sizzling sex scenes, I didn’t feel the love. I didn’t witness them falling in love in the first place, or rather, Alicia falling for Jake, and I never thought that Jake felt more than responsibility for Alicia, despite his declaration of love at the end. I love books set in New Orleans, but I never got a real feel for the place, despite constant geographical references and the occasional “cher.”

The story read flat for me, as if the author was fulfilling an obligation to write it, rather than getting into her characters. It does happen that way sometimes, when characters don’t gel or don’t work, and if the pressure is on, then the book has to be written regardless. It read like one of those.

Grade: D

Summary:

It had been sheer madness to bed Alicia Butler. The beauty’s father had cost Jake’s company millions and any association with her would surely create troubling tabloid fodder. But Alicia was pregnant with his baby and he would not walk away from this responsibility. Their only option was marriage and the hope that the gossip would dwindle…even as their passion reignited.

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:

Limecello’s review of To Tame Her Tycoon Lover by Ann Major
Contemporary romance published by Silhouette Desire on 8 Dec 2009

I read this book, and am so happy about it. I’ve been on this Nawlins/Creole kick, and grabbing To Tame Her  Tycoon Lover seemed serendipitous. I could be mistaken, but I’m a little surprised Ann Major wrote it. I really enjoy her stories- but this one was really sexy. (Or, I thought so – more than her usual book, maybe?) I loved the setting, loved the characters- it was just what I wanted.

Cici is a heroine that is likable, but I’m not entirely sure how I feel about her. Could I be any more vague? Likely. Cici is smart, caring, sweet, kind – and rather realistic… but in a way she’s selfish too. Those human traits make her a dynamic character, and I actually found that endearing… but I suppose I felt she fell for Logan too quickly again. Maybe she was lying to herself saying or thinking it could all be physical. I liked her, Cici has a great personality- I just think she caved a bit too easily.

Logan is an idiot. I want to say douche bag… and maybe he is. He just makes me so angry. I’m a little surprised by how much I like this book, considering how upset I am with Logan. However, I didn’t dislike him. Credit that to Ms. Major’s writing ability. Logan is confused, a jerk, high handed, lost, and really a hero who doesn’t seem to be much of a hero. He seduced a girl on purpose – so she wouldn’t get with his twin. And ruin the family. He’s estranged from his twin, essentially cheats on his girlfriend (who, incidentally, he is planning on marrying…), he hasn’t apologized for his actions… but through all this Logan still seems redeemable, and is. Truly. He feels guilty about it – just has a hard time putting things together and admitting how he feels – even to himself.

I will have to say… the ending flopped a little bit for me. I can’t help but think that  Cici forgave Logan a little too easily. He abandoned her again. Granted, he was doing it “for her own good” – and sometimes I get that and am ok with it… but not here. Idiot. That, and the focus on Jake and Alicia. I suppose I’m hoping for a sequel of sorts detailing their relationship – but in a way, not, because it was extraneous to this story. I didn’t appreciate the hooks for another sale. Perhaps I’ve become oversensitive to such things because I’m [mad] at series…but that bugged me. Also it’d be too pat what with Cici’s “they’re perfect for each other- both do-gooders” throwaway comment. (Don’t worry, that’s not a spoiler)

I suppose it doesn’t seem like it, but I really liked this book. There is so much going on. I’m always impressed by the star harlequin authors who manage to put a complete story that is well paced into such a little package. Cici and Logan both have side stories to the central romance. The secondary characters are developed and integral. The romance and physical relationship between Cici and Logan is suitably established, and satisfactory. I definitely plan on re-reading this book.

Grade: B+

As a girl from the wrong side of the bayou, Cici Bellefleur had loved one Claiborne brother…and been romanced by the other. Foolishly, she’d given Logan her innocence only to learn his seduction was but a means to an end. It was a betrayal she’d never forget—or forgive.

Discovering Cici had returned caught Logan by surprise…as did learning his desire for her had not diminished with time. Years before, he’d led her on to keep her away from his twin brother. Yet now the tycoon vowed to have Cici once again…this time to please no one but himself.

[Sorry - no excerpt. Ms. Major's website really needs updating.]

Limecello’s review of Mistress For a Month by Ann Major
Contemporary romance published by Silhouette on 1 May 08

Ann Major is an author I’m unsure about, but tend to like. Thus far, her books are hit or miss for me, but when she hits, they’re spot on. This was one such book. It’s typical of any other Silhouette Desire in some ways, yet completely different, and very well written.

Amelia Weatherbee starts off as a stereotypical character, one who just got tragic news and has decided to change her life. And she begins to take those steps, but there’s something different about Amy. She’s true to herself, and her emotions, but plays her cards close to herself. She’s also self aware, which I appreciated.

Remy de Fournier is a bit of a boilerplate category hero. He’s wealthy, titled even, smart, successful, tortured, a playboy, doesn’t want commitment, and more importantly, thinks he’s incapable of commitment or a serious relationship. What’s nice, however, is that he begins to change throughout the book, in a gradual believable way, and opens up with the heroine.

What I really enjoyed about this book was how realistic it was. Too often I read a book and think ‘no sane woman would ever do that.’ But I accept it, because, well, that’s how many romances are. There was very little of that here. The characters are reasonable, believable, rational and irrational at the right places, and there’s the terrific happy ending.

I found the title and back blurb were rather mediocre, as well as the beginning, but once the body of the book began, with Amelia in London, everything read well. Remy has been tarnished by the press – and hounded by the paparazzi. I think a reason this book really resonated with me is how it regards the press and paparazzi, alongside my deep and abiding dislike of both. The way Remy is hounded, you just have to feel bad for him, regardless of his past.

Amy and Remy are very realistic and pragmatic about their relationship, or lack thereof. Very quickly, however, both want more. Another aspect I loved was the fact that Amy kept it together, and didn’t try to push Remy for more. In fact, it was he who tried to change the rules, and got upset when Amy held fast to their initial agreement. (Very squee.) Still, a culmination of events separates them immediately after both admit their feelings. It was poignant, the way they reacted, and how they dealt with what life threw at them.

Of course, there was the happy ending, and after I finished, I was left wanting more. (I really did flip through the subsequent pages hoping for an epilogue or something.) This was a fun little read that was light, and short- and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a quick entertaining, well written read.

Grade: B

Amelia Weatherbee had inherited his family’s chateau, and Remy de Fournier vowed he’d buy it back…at any cost.
But Amelia’s price was high. She wanted the man from the tabloids-the privileged comte, the celebrity lover-to teach her the art of seduction…for one month. And Remy was only too happy to oblige. But Amelia’s sweetness and her innocence struck something deep inside him. When their thirty days of passion ended, would he get more than he ever bargained for?

Read an excerpt here.