The Contestant
Title: The Contestant
Author: Stephanie Doyle
Copyright: 2008 (Harlequin); 286 pgs.
ISBN: 0-373-51366-6
Series: Silhouette Bombshell #52
Sensuality: Warm
Who: Talia Mooney and Reuben Serrano
Where: South Pacific
Four and a half years after competing in her last Olympics, diver Talia Mooney finds herself participating in a different kind of competition. In an effort to help her treasure-hunting father pay off his debts to some shady people who plan to do bodily harm if they are not repaid, Talia signs up to compete on Ultimate Endurance, a new reality TV series. A group of eight contestants (four men and four women), two cameramen, and the host are dropped off on a tropical island. Through a series of competitions, the contestants will be eliminated, one by one, until there is only one remaining. The prize is a million dollars.
But things do not go smoothly. The competition has barely started when Evan — their host — informs them that, around the same time they left Hawaii, some one murdered an up-and-coming actress and made off with several millions-worth of jewelery. The police believe the murderer fled on one of ships that sailed that same night — including their yacht. Evan reassures the group that the captain searched the ship after receiving the warning and no castaway was found. As far as Evan is concerned, there is no need to worry — the game can continue. This doesn’t reassure anyone. Several members of the show were late additions, including Evan. Regardless, any one of the cast and crew could have done it, knowing they’d be sailing away from civilization for an extended period of time.
To say more about the plot might give it away, so I’ll leave it at that.
As for Talia and Reuben, both are at a crossroads in their lives; both are looking to be something other than what they were before, but for different reasons.
After her last Olympics, Talia went to school to be an accountant. After a lifetime of living on a boat, camping on tropical islands, and spending all her time in a bathing suit, Talia is looking for a normal, serious life. One where she can wear business suits and nice shoes; where she can have an apartment on solid ground and normal furnishings. Talia wants a life that she believes her mother — who died long ago — would have wanted her to have. Though Talia knows her mother loved her father very much, she can’t help believing her mother would have preferred living like a normal person. Yet, since graduating, Talia hasn’t been able to get a job. Nobody who has interviewed her for entry level positions can believe someone like her — her silver medal is listed on her resume — would be content to spend all day behind a desk, in front of a computer, crunching numbers. So far, no one will hire her, based on her background.
Half Irish, half Puerto Rican, Reuben comes from a family of cops. The only reason his maternal grandfather didn’t chase Reuben’s father off, when he starting dating his mother, was the fact that he was a cop (and Catholic). Reuben’s uncles are cops and his three brothers are cops. Being a cop was all he knew how to be. After getting shot though, Reuben had time on his hand to seriously reevaluate his life, and to decide if he truly wanted to return to the force, or if there was a dream he wanted to pursue instead Turns out, there was, but he needed ready money. He learned about the reality show from a fellow Iron Man competitor, and jumped at the chance to sign up.
Reuben is very blunt and a bit of jerk. He calls Talia “sugar” and “sweetheart”, and lets his intention be known. It was lust at first sight for him, but it has developed into something deeper. He’s reached a point where he’s thinking about a long-term commitment and finding away to have Talia in his life. He’s observant enough to know that Talia clamped down her own instant attraction to him and to know, even if she can’t figure it out, that she wouldn’t be happy confined to a cubicle. For her part, Talia initially fights the attraction because Reuben isn’t the safe, serious (boring) type she pictures herself married to; he doesn’t fit into her safe, serious (boring) future plans.
I really liked this book. I even liked Reuben, though he is a bit hard to take in the beginning. He has no problem with Talia taking the lead in situations where she has more expertise. It soften the alpha male tendencies somewhat. The rest of the characters are stereotypes, but that’s to be expected because even on reality shows, that’s what the contestants seen to be anyway. I had a hard time putting the book down. I didn’t guess who the murderer was right off and that kept me turning the pages.
Started: 10 July 2009
Finished: 11 July 2009
Rating:
Liked A Lot
~~~~~~~~~
30 Aug – KMont – I’m not a big fan of these kinds of reality shows, but somehow it sounds like it could make for a good book setup. Glad you enjoyed your category read this month! 
I’ve yet to try one of the mystery/suspense ones.
30 Aug – Me – I’m no fan of them either. *shudder* Thanks for stopping by!
Possessed
Author: Stephanie Doyle
Copyright: 2006 (Harlequin); pgs. 292
Series: Silhouette Bombshell #118
Sensuality: Warm
Who: Cassandra Allen and Malcolm McDonough
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Cassandra Allen is a medium. She can communicate with the dead. She has learned to control her gift so that the dead don’t overwhelm her with their attempts to contact loved ones. However, her quiet, simple life is also very lonely. Cassandra doesn’t like large crowds and strives to avoid being touched — regardless if it’s a friendly pat on the shoulder or an intimate caress. She has no social life and her efforts to shield herself have an adverse effect on her ability to keep a job. Eventually her reserved, standoffish and strange behavior gives her coworkers and boss the creeps, and she is fired. And if that doesn’t seal her fate, the appearance of a gun-toting and disturbed man showing up at the coffeehouse demanding to speak to her, will certainly do the trick. To offset her precarious employment situation, Cassandra does consultant work for the local police.
Detective Doug Brody, who lost his beloved wife, is Cassandra’s one friend. He believes in her abilities and her track record with helping him crack a case is good enough to ensure that the department doesn’t baulk too much when she’s called in. Her gift allows her to determine if a suspect is guilty or innocent. Doug asks for her help on a new case. A young woman, Lauren, was brutally murdered not far from where Cassandra currently lives. The police have the woman’s brother in for questioning. The problem is that Malcolm McDonough has connections and any misstep with him could bring the mayor’s office down on their heads. McDonough has been at the station for hours, without calling his lawyer, and the detective can’t get a good read on him: his icy behavior could either be his way of dealing with the tragedy or he’s a sociopath.
Malcolm is rude and insulting to Cassandra, but that doesn’t stop her from clearing him of suspicion. Within minutes of meeting him, Cassandra knows that Malcolm is innocent. Lauren is worried that her brother won’t be able to cope with her death, that he’ll isolate himself more now that he’s all alone. Lauren was the last of his family and she doesn’t want him to be lonely and unhappy. Malcolm doesn’t react well to learning how Cassandra knows what she does. He’s so angry and hurt, he briefly suspects her of having something to do with the murder.
Not only does Cassandra have to deal with Malcolm, something frightening is happening. She is being attacked, mentally, by a monster. Since contact with the dead always manifest itself on her body in some way — bloody nose, black eye — the monster’s presence is leaving her beaten and weak. She doesn’t know who the monster is trying to contact, since the first attack happened when she was alone in her apartment. The second attack takes place on a busy street, with many people about. Malcolm saves her from being hit by a car and sees first hand what she goes through. He’s still skeptical, but that doesn’t stop him from being concerned for her welfare.
Even more frightening than the monster is the possibility that Malcolm is getting too close; that there might be a connection between them that has nothing to do with Lauren. She’s so afraid of what might happen between them, that she doesn’t even realize that Lauren only contacts her when it’s absolutely necessary. Lauren’s wants her brother to be happy. Malcolm is coping with Lauren’s death, for not being able to protect or save her, by trying to help Cassandra. Regardless of the antagonism that crops up between them, they make each other happy.
I enjoyed this book very much. I thought Malcolm’s reactions to Cassandra were very realistic. Over time, as he witnessed what was happening to her, his skepticism is slowly chipped away. Both are independent, stubborn people who force each other to admit that they are closed off and lonely. I liked the fact that the monster wasn’t a real one (something supernatural like a demon, for example). Because the man who died was such a horrible person in life, that is how he is perceived. It added a layer of mystery to what was happening, since Cassandra couldn’t understand it or cope with it.
Teaser Tuesdays entry.
Started: 15 September 2008
Finished: 22 September 2008
Rating:
Liked A Lot
handbook
Teaser Tuesdays asks you to:
Grab your current read.
Let the book fall open to a random page.
Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
Please avoid spoilers!
The teaser:
Once, she thought it was his big brown eyes that were irresistible, but now she knew it was his voice. Half man’s, half boy’s, his voice compelled every woman in earshot to want to either save him or cook for him.
– from page 19, Possessed (Stephanie Doyle)
Why I picked this book: I’m reading this Silhouette Bombshell as part of the Ghostly Challenge. The main character, Cassandra Allen, is a medium and can talk to the dead. She occasionally helps the police on cases.
Something Wicked
Author: Evelyn Vaughn
ISBN: 0-373-51391-7 (Silhouette Bombshell)
Finished: 3 October 2007
Who: Katie Trillo and Ben Fisher
3rd in the Grail Keepers trilogy
Summary: When you curse your enemy, you curse yourself, too. Non-practicing witch Kate Trillo learned this when she walked in on her sister’s murder and fought off the gloating killer. Staring into his cold eyes, she spoke the words that would make his life a living hell until she could get vengeance; and then the strangest accidents began happening to her. To make matters worse, the killer had a perfect alibi or a look-alike. Had Kate said the wrong name, or was something wicked afoot? By uncovering her own secret heritage and finding a long-lost goddess grail, Kate might learn the truth. But would the truth set her sister’s killer free?
Comments: In the third Grail Keeper book, the grail-hunting duties have fallen to Kate Trillo, whose sister Diana was murdered for her Hekate cup. Katie is reluctant to search for the real goddess grail; she would rather it stay hidden than accidentally lead Victor Fisher — Diana’s murderer — to it’s resting place. Then Victor turns his attention to Katie’s cousin in Athens.
Helping Katie in her efforts to protect her cousin Eleni, and find the cup, is Ben Fisher. I liked Ben from the first. Poor guy. His identical twin brother murdered Diana and used his name. He’s constantly being mistaken for Victor and having to endure being hauled off to prove himself innocent of his brother’s misdeeds. He doesn’t know that Katie has him under a spell — and that his attraction to her may or may not be real. Though he doesn’t deny Victor’s guilt in Diana’s murder, Ben can’t help thinking that his brother was a victim as well. Their parents were murdered and Victor had witnessed it. Ben’s a real sweetheart.
I still enjoyed this book as much as the other two, though it took a moment to get used to Katie after having Maggi as a guide for two books. Maggi does make an appearance, though it is very brief. Overall, I liked the idea behind the goddess worship and how they could’ve all been connected. And I like the way Evelyn Vaughn tells a story. Can’t wait to read her Madonna Key books.
Enjoyed it!
Her Kind of Trouble
Author: Evelyn Vaughn
ISBN: 0-373-51331-3 (Silhouette Bombshell)
Finished: 23 September 2007
Who: Dr. Magdalene Sanger and Alexander Rothschild Stuart III
2nd in the Grail Keepers trilogy
Summary: Mysterious strangers, warnings at sword point, threats of bodily harm. . . all this effort to make me leave Egypt has made me more determined than ever to find the legendary Isis Cup and keep it out of the wrong hands. After all, I’m Maggi Sanger, full-time college professor, sometimes grail hunter and all-round stubborn woman who won’t be pushed around. And things are getting even more complicated. The local women want my help, my exasperating ex wants me to marry him and the bad guys want me dead. It’ll take some quick thinking and new allies to get me out of Egypt alive. . .
Comments: The story picks up shortly after A. K. A. Goddess. Lex has recuperated from the ordeal at the end of the first book. He and Maggi are dating, though it still rough. Honoring solemn vows is normally a good trait to look for in your significant other; however, when it involves a secret, goddess grail-hating society, it tends to put a strain on a relationship.
Maggi receives a phone call from Rhys Pritchard, in Egypt participating in a dig, informing her that someone tried to run him down. There is a strong possibility that the Isis Cup may be buried at that site, and Rhys may have been targeted for this reason. That’s enough incentive for Maggi to head out immediately.
Egypt, a country that once worshiped a goddess and was ruled by one of the most famous queens in all history, is now a country who’s primary religion isn’t big on empowering women. Naturally, Maggi encounters trouble before she’s even been in-country 24 hours. Though goddess worship and woman power may have been stamped out, the lines of grail keepers have managed to successfully passed down their lore from generation to generation, as Maggi learns to her great surprise.
Also returning from the first book, and with a slightly bigger roll, is Catrina Dauvergne. Though her actions in the first book were wrong, her anger at Maggi has some justification. Maggi’s actions can jeopardize archaeological projects, current and future. Catrina is as serious about her job as Maggi is about hers. Maggi grudgingly comes to understand and respect that, even if she can’t totally forgive her for what she did with the Melusine Chalice.
There is a secondary plot involving a custody battle between a British woman and her Egyptian ex-husband.
All in all, I enjoyed the book just as much as the first one. I particularly like the part when Maggi sets off to save the day, with Rhys and Catrina tagging along.
Favorite quotes:
“You could threaten them with a squeegee.”
– Catrina
“Are you sure this is wise?”
“Nope.”
“Just checking.”
– Rhys, Maggi
“Catrina, please get the scorpions.”
– Maggi
Liked A Lot
