1 post tagged “anne stuart”
So sorry again for not posting. I'm so bad at slacking, plus I've been super busy at work and life things.
I've suddenly developed a loving for a new author in my world. Her name? Anne Stuart.
I recently got this book out from the library and fell in love with Anne Stuart's characterization and storytelling abilities. She is utterly fabulous in my book. She is a perfect mix between Iris Johansen, Linda Howard and Nora Roberts, to me at least.
Amazon's book description:
Chloe Underwood, a 23-year-old American who regards herself as a disappointment to her high-achieving family, makes a meager living in Paris by translating children's books into English. After accepting a last-minute translating job in the French countryside, she discovers that rather than working for a consortium of food executives, she's stumbled upon a group of sadistic international arms dealers. Cold-blooded assassin Bastian Touissant, who was sent a year earlier by a nebulous "the ends justify the means" agency to infiltrate this shady group and try to stop its illegal activity, seems to blend right in. On meeting Chloe, Bastian isn't sure whether she's a spy, perhaps sent to kill him, or the innocent she appears to be. Despite his ruthlessness, Bastian can't resist saving Chloe's life (on multiple, graphic occasions) and attempting to send her back to her family in the U.S.
One thing Stuart does amazingly right that most romance authors do not: she doesn't soften the characters up too much. Bastian is a killer and he remains one at the end of the book. He doesn't suddenly become a big mushy sentimental guy because he realizes he loves Chloe. He doesn't lose that edge that you've loved from him throughout the entire book. Sure, I love mushy sentimental books like every romance reader, but I like true characterization every now and then. Stuart doesn't lay the sap on too thickly and her sex scenes aren't over the top or too many that you get bored with the amount of sex in one book lol.
I really recommend everyone pick up an Anne Stuart book if you like romance and you like suspense/thrillers. I also recently read Cold As Ice by her as well and although I didn't like the characters as much as Bastian and Chloe (who make a brief appearance), I still loved Stuart's writing.
Grade: A+
Amazon's book description:
Chloe Underwood, a 23-year-old American who regards herself as a disappointment to her high-achieving family, makes a meager living in Paris by translating children's books into English. After accepting a last-minute translating job in the French countryside, she discovers that rather than working for a consortium of food executives, she's stumbled upon a group of sadistic international arms dealers. Cold-blooded assassin Bastian Touissant, who was sent a year earlier by a nebulous "the ends justify the means" agency to infiltrate this shady group and try to stop its illegal activity, seems to blend right in. On meeting Chloe, Bastian isn't sure whether she's a spy, perhaps sent to kill him, or the innocent she appears to be. Despite his ruthlessness, Bastian can't resist saving Chloe's life (on multiple, graphic occasions) and attempting to send her back to her family in the U.S.
One thing Stuart does amazingly right that most romance authors do not: she doesn't soften the characters up too much. Bastian is a killer and he remains one at the end of the book. He doesn't suddenly become a big mushy sentimental guy because he realizes he loves Chloe. He doesn't lose that edge that you've loved from him throughout the entire book. Sure, I love mushy sentimental books like every romance reader, but I like true characterization every now and then. Stuart doesn't lay the sap on too thickly and her sex scenes aren't over the top or too many that you get bored with the amount of sex in one book lol.
I really recommend everyone pick up an Anne Stuart book if you like romance and you like suspense/thrillers. I also recently read Cold As Ice by her as well and although I didn't like the characters as much as Bastian and Chloe (who make a brief appearance), I still loved Stuart's writing.
Grade: A+
