Buddy Reading

 

Another notch added, really enjoyed this buddy read. This hit so good right now, probably haven't done a reread in over ten years, can still say remains an all time favorite and good example of trust building in a relationship. 

Johanna wasn't terrified now; she was determined. She had a sound plan. 

She had Gabriel. 

Shows believing in herself and using her own strength to act but bolstered by the emotions developed between her and Gabriel. 

He's not a crutch but added strength. 

Key romance relationship point! 

Her arms shook as she applied every bit of strength she possessed. And then she suddenly had the strength of twenty. Gabriel reached over her shoulders and placed his hand on top of hers. He waited for permission. She nodded. 

The punishment rod snapped in half. 

Maybe Top Ten romance scene I've read

Reading Update: 40%

And then, as her daddy would say, the devil got hold of her and she couldn't resist adding, "Of course, Elvis could be in the neighborhood. You might want to take the broom out with you, just in case." 

He stopped in his tracks. "Elvis?" 

She tore a sheet of aluminum foil and was piling vegetables in the center. "Our local celebrity. Last time anyone reported seeing him, he swore Elvis was sixteen feet long." 

"You named an alligator Elvis? What's the matter with you people?" 

"We don't name all of them," she defended. "Just the impressive ones." 

"You're joking about Elvis. Right?" 

She smiled sweetly. "Sort of."

"It's sort of damned cruel to torment a man who has an obvious phobia about alligators, Mike."

"I would prefer it if you called me Michelle."

"I would prefer it if you didn't joke about alligators."

Reading Update: 45%

Company salad turned out to be a square of lime Jell-O nestled on a bed of iceberg lettuce with a dab of mayonnaise on top. He hated Jell-O, but he ate it anyway so he wouldn’t hurt their feelings,

The Jell-O is what he hates here?!? Is, is this a thing, Company salad??? It can't be. Mayonnaise, iceberg lettuce AND Jell-O?????
This story involves a serial killer but learning about Company salad has terrified me more than him.

Review: Wired

Wired by Julie Garwood
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 stars

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Allison is close to finally graduating and after carrying the weight of taking care of her aunt, uncle, and cousin, she is ready to move cross country and start her life anew. Her life seems on track until the FBI comes knocking on her door wanting to know just how good of a hacker she really is.
Special Agent Liam has been so dedicated to his job, he wouldn't even know how to have a normal relationship but when he sets eyes on Allison, he wants some changes. Her brains and beauty pack a punch while her sweetness has his protective side flaring to life.
Cousins, jealous colleagues, and traitors try to derail these two but Allison and Liam make quite the team.

The thirteenth installment in the Buchanan-Renard series, Wired, immerses us back into the world of FBI agents and life and death action. There were a couple appearances by past couples but newcomers to the series could start here and be ok.

The beginning starts the reader right off into the action but with a timeline that fast forwarded awkwardly, it all felt a bit jumbled. We get some information dumps to thrust us into the story and with some repeats, the editing felt a bit off. As the story went on, it started to smooth out as our leads and characters took over.

Being with him even topped writing code, and how freaky was that?

Allison is a likeable heroine but with every reminder about how gorgeous she is, models high fashion on the side, and how amazingly brilliant she is at hacking along with her overly sweet "I must do everything for everybody" attitude, she became a bit eye-rolling. Her awkwardness is cute and empathetic to a point, about the millionth time I heard about her amazing legs and how she doesn’t need make-up point. Her inability for most of the story to stand-up to her over-the-top villainous aunt and uncle was also a bit much; it started to feel like unnecessary conflict that was dragged out.

Letting out a low whistle, he shook his head.
"She's gonna be trouble."

Liam for all his protective man in charge attitude still came off somewhat wooden. I never felt like his personality was too delved into, he was always on the go without the reader having time to really get to know him, let alone Allison. After I finished the book I can't even say for sure if they had an extended conversation. They did have moments of chemistry but their interactions were such hit and runs, nothing ever felt flushed out. The beat in their relationship just felt off.

Allison and Liam were two very analytical characters and that could be why they were harder to connect with as their thought patterns were pretty decisive but it also had them coming off a bit stiff. The over abundance of villains and obstacles thrown in their way was too much and clogged up the story. Allison had to battle her aunt and uncle, a jealous fellow student, and the FBI, all too much for only 300pgs.

Even though I felt the heroine was too sweet, the hero was a bit cardboard cut-out, and one too many bad guys running around, Garwood's writing still has a readability that can't be denied. The story was interesting with action and intensity but our hero and heroine didn't get a chance to rise a bit above the antics and emotionally shine.


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Reading Update: 50%

“What happened before was as much my fault as it was yours,” she explained very matter-of-factly. “For as long as I’m your asset, we’ll keep a professional relationship. I promise I won’t let you kiss me again. I have more self-control than you do.”
"You think so, huh?”
“Absolutely.”
He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “Wanna bet?”