That's what I look like when I'm having a "heady feeling".
Today I want to tell you about Ulterior Motive by Chandra Ryan.
For some reason, I like that.
So I read the Blurb:
Universal Defiance, Book One
On a rural settler planet, Kat must resort to putting out an
ad to find a husband. She doesn’t expect to find love—that’s a dream in these
parts—just a partner to help work her ranch. Then the devastatingly handsome Jasper
answers her ad and turns her on in ways she never dreamed possible. Too bad
he’s not who he says he is.
Jasper doesn’t know what he’s getting into when he ventures
undercover to investigate a legal claim against Kat’s ranch. But after a
toe-curling night under her roof and in her bed, he’s willing to do anything to
stay there. He can’t say no to the tough-as-nails businesswoman who makes his
body come alive.
When people start getting hurt, though, both Kat and Jasper
have to decide how valuable one piece of land is. And the ranch that brought
them together might be the very thing standing between them.
A Romantica® sci fi erotic
romance from Ellora’s Cave
Sounds good. Right?
So I read an excerpt:
When
he opened the door to the guestroom, though, the blaring of an alarm stopped him
from going any farther. At first he thought he’d somehow triggered the noise
but as soon as he smelled the first wisps of smoke, understanding filled him.
Something was on fire. He wanted to rush out into the safety of the open
grounds but he fought against the instinct. He had to make sure Kat got out as
well.
He
raced back to the bathroom to find her standing in the hallway, wrapped in
nothing but a towel, with her dark hair flung over one shoulder in a curly
mess. There were no tears or hysterical rants despite the fear clearly
reflected in her expression.
His job required him to make quick assessments of situations and he excelled at it. But sometimes that left him blind to the more subtle aspects of life. He’d seen a competent businesswoman when he’d first laid eyes on Katarina Maxim. She’d been nothing but efficient and practical from the moment she held her hand out to him. But now, as she shivered in front of him with alarms going off in the background, he realized how much he’d missed in that original assessment. He’d seen her as a businesswoman but the person standing in front of him now possessed so much more.
The
vulnerability of the moment and her calm resolve in meeting it added to her
strength and touched him.
“I
came to find you as soon as I heard the alarm.”
“Most
men would’ve gone to battle the blaze first.”
His
heart sank at her words. She saw him as a coward. Not that it mattered how she
saw him. He wasn’t really trying out for the role of her husband. As soon as he
finished his report, he’d be on his way back to his real life. But her words
still stung. He’d like to be the hero at least once. To be the one who rushed
in and saved the day.
“Don’t
look at me like I just kicked your damn puppy. I meant that as a compliment.
Most men stupidly let their hormones control them and they tend to get in the
way,” she added as she walked past him. “I’ve never been impressed with the
gender as a whole.”
He
felt fairly certain they did not share the same understanding of the word
“compliment” but didn’t dare ask for a clarification as she bustled down the
hallway all businesslike.
So I wanted to read this. Never mind I don't have time to be reading stuff given all the books I need to edit. But it's a novelette. How long could it possibly take to read?
Don't even get me started there. So much to do, so little time to do it.
However, I was a bit ahead of schedule today (I'm behind schedule as I write this) so I read it and here's what I thought.
THE REVIEW
Ulterior motives not only exist between Kat and her bought-and-paid-for-mail-ordered husband, Jasper, but they exist between Kat and unknown villains who
want her ranch.
Sounds like a great historical western, doesn’t it?
You’d be sooooo wrong. It’s set in the future, where
the outback becomes the outlying planets. It’s a futuristic Sci-Fi Spicy
Romance, only seven chapters long, but stuffed full of goodies. It’s got a great plot, an
endearing hero and heroine, and lot’s of hot spicey sex going on inside its covers.
Chandra Ryan has a lovely voice that pulls you into
the story, which flows beautifully, culminating into the perfect and most
satisfying solution. While the hero does something shocking to protect the woman
he loves, I was 100% with him on the decision. He did what had to be done. And I thought better of him for doing it.
For me, the book started off like a 4.5 star book,
which is really really good. But then halfway through it kicks up its shoes and ended
in a blazing 5 stars.
So I’m baffled what to give this…a weird 4.75 or go with
ending and give it a 5?
Average or End Result?
I’m going with the End Result.
I give Ulterior Motive 5 stars for a
completely satisfying conclusion to the plot, the people, and a grand set up
for a great future.
It left me totally satisfied!
Well done Chandra Ryan!
Buy links:
About Author:
Being from a rather nomadic family, Chandra Ryan loves to
travel and meet people. But she’s found that sometimes, like when you’re stuck
inside because of a good old-fashioned Southwestern heat wave, you have to make
do. Fortunately for her and her loving family, who don’t like seeing her suffer
from cabin fever, she’s found creating new people and places equally as
fascinating. Also, you’re a lot less likely to spill your ice tea.
Author Links:
Website: http://www.chandraryan.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chandra.ryan
Twitter: @ChandraRyan
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