Scan barcode
katyanaish's review against another edition
2.0
Meh.
I just couldn't get into this. Probably because I seriously disliked Lori. She was the worst kind of self-absorbed emo asshole. I wanted to like her - on the outside, I should have, because she's exactly the kind of woman I adore. One who has handled the shit in her life, runs her own business, in a man's world... one who is just longing for a little adventure.
The problem was her attitude, and her POV stuff. She is just so astoundingly emo. She hates her life, but she can't be bothered to get off her ass and do anything about it. She is utterly self-absorbed - yeah, yeah, you got into a no-strings-attached relationship, but you chose to do that with a friend, and so that means that 100% of your focus can't be on ONLY what you want. It's just so much mine mine mine I want me me me with her. She is using Quinn, and not even in a friendly, respectful way. And even worse, she's constantly shitty to him. I'm sorry, Ms. Self-Absorbed Asshole, but when you keep insisting that this is meaningless, you don't get to be a bitchy shrew when you see a photo of a woman he used to date.
She was appalling. And she was TSTL. I love romantic suspense. But I hate romantic suspense populated with heroines that have the brains of a B-movie horror star. No, don't go investigate things yourself. No, don't hide things from your best friend and especially not from the investigator.
Ugh.
Quinn was really really great. And Lori just bashed him down at every opportunity. Even stealing from him. But he kept coming back for more, like a love-sick puppy. He is basically begging for any scrap of affection that she deigns to give him. I was appalled. He deserves so much better.
I just couldn't get into this. Probably because I seriously disliked Lori. She was the worst kind of self-absorbed emo asshole. I wanted to like her - on the outside, I should have, because she's exactly the kind of woman I adore. One who has handled the shit in her life, runs her own business, in a man's world... one who is just longing for a little adventure.
The problem was her attitude, and her POV stuff. She is just so astoundingly emo. She hates her life, but she can't be bothered to get off her ass and do anything about it. She is utterly self-absorbed - yeah, yeah, you got into a no-strings-attached relationship, but you chose to do that with a friend, and so that means that 100% of your focus can't be on ONLY what you want. It's just so much mine mine mine I want me me me with her. She is using Quinn, and not even in a friendly, respectful way. And even worse, she's constantly shitty to him. I'm sorry, Ms. Self-Absorbed Asshole, but when you keep insisting that this is meaningless, you don't get to be a bitchy shrew when you see a photo of a woman he used to date.
She was appalling. And she was TSTL. I love romantic suspense. But I hate romantic suspense populated with heroines that have the brains of a B-movie horror star. No, don't go investigate things yourself. No, don't hide things from your best friend and especially not from the investigator.
Ugh.
Quinn was really really great. And Lori just bashed him down at every opportunity. Even stealing from him. But he kept coming back for more, like a love-sick puppy. He is basically begging for any scrap of affection that she deigns to give him. I was appalled. He deserves so much better.
silreadsalot's review
5.0
I loved this book. Talk Me Down was good but Start Me Up, IMO was even better. What a contraction to have a Sexy Nerd. But that is what Quinn is. He is also absentminded and too adorable for his own good. Lori is a sweet girl that would rather let people think she is a lesbian than to put up with the wrong man. She is an independent, take charge kind of gal. She has her weaknesses but who doesn't. Lori and Quinn have chemistry together. I loved how Quinn would read Lori's sexy books as homework to give her what she wanted. And did he ever. Highly recommended, I already bought the next book in this series Lead Me On. I hope is just as good if not better.
420blazeit's review
3.0
this one followed the last mcs bff (lori) and her brother (quinn), and it made some.. choices. first off, it was (again) SO insta-love. i mean they just saw each other once and were like ok ur hot. the smut really saved this book which is something i don't think i've EVER said. but its the truth. otherwise it would've been a really boring story. i mean, ben (the cop) really raNDOMLY reopens lori's dad's case and for some reason thinks its murder, and then everything works out and blah blah blah. but like realistically?? why would he ever reopen that case on his own? anyway, a good quick read but nothing too memorable.
nighteyes82's review
4.0
second instalement in the of Tumble Creek Trilogy.
I liked it but the whole S&M book was kind of lost to me didn't really get it. I guess it means I am not into it... lol
I liked it but the whole S&M book was kind of lost to me didn't really get it. I guess it means I am not into it... lol
thisismenow's review
4.0
Victoria Dahl is quickly becoming one of my favorite contemporary romance authors. As with her other novels, Start Me Up is sexy and fun with strong, interesting characters.
Lori Love was introduced in the previous book in this serious, Talk Me Down, and I found her background story to be easy to relate to and was looking forward to her book. She sacrificed her plans and dreams when her father was injured in what was thought to be an accident, and she's trying to keep the family garage afloat, despite her dire financial situation.
Quinn Jennings only made minor appearances in Talk Me Down, but from what information was gleaned from his best friend and younger sister, he sounded like a rather interesting guy, so I was somewhat surprised by his character in this book. I was anticipating someone a bit more geeky and possibly shy. However, he turned out to be sexy and somewhat absentminded, but I really liked him very much in the end.
I really enjoyed the mysterious aspect of the novels. Much like with Talk Me Down what could have been played up into something very over the top and dramatic wound up giving the story a subtle edge of intrigue without making it into a melodrama with the damsel in distress.
I have to admit that I was hoping for something a little more thrilling than what actually happened, but I thought it still worked well for the story. I didn't find myself getting as frustrated with Lori as I did with Molly in the previous book. Lori is a very independent woman and she's not used to leaning on others, so I thought it made sense for her to be reluctant to give in to her feelings for Quinn.
She also seemed to have a stronger sense of self-preservation. She always called for help in those moments where I thought she should, which was a huge contrast to Molly who would have played it off with a laugh and had me wanting to bang my head against the wall.
All in all, I thought Start Me Up was a great second book to the Tumble Creek series. It was just as sexy and fun as the previous book without feeling too similar to Talk Me Down. I also loved the blurbs from the erotic books that tied back to Molly's job.
I'm very much looking forward to reading the next and last book in the series, Lead Me On, and have high hopes that it will be just as good, if not better, than Talk Me Down and Start Me Up.
Lori Love was introduced in the previous book in this serious, Talk Me Down, and I found her background story to be easy to relate to and was looking forward to her book. She sacrificed her plans and dreams when her father was injured in what was thought to be an accident, and she's trying to keep the family garage afloat, despite her dire financial situation.
Quinn Jennings only made minor appearances in Talk Me Down, but from what information was gleaned from his best friend and younger sister, he sounded like a rather interesting guy, so I was somewhat surprised by his character in this book. I was anticipating someone a bit more geeky and possibly shy. However, he turned out to be sexy and somewhat absentminded, but I really liked him very much in the end.
I really enjoyed the mysterious aspect of the novels. Much like with Talk Me Down what could have been played up into something very over the top and dramatic wound up giving the story a subtle edge of intrigue without making it into a melodrama with the damsel in distress.
I have to admit that I was hoping for something a little more thrilling than what actually happened, but I thought it still worked well for the story. I didn't find myself getting as frustrated with Lori as I did with Molly in the previous book. Lori is a very independent woman and she's not used to leaning on others, so I thought it made sense for her to be reluctant to give in to her feelings for Quinn.
She also seemed to have a stronger sense of self-preservation. She always called for help in those moments where I thought she should, which was a huge contrast to Molly who would have played it off with a laugh and had me wanting to bang my head against the wall.
All in all, I thought Start Me Up was a great second book to the Tumble Creek series. It was just as sexy and fun as the previous book without feeling too similar to Talk Me Down. I also loved the blurbs from the erotic books that tied back to Molly's job.
I'm very much looking forward to reading the next and last book in the series, Lead Me On, and have high hopes that it will be just as good, if not better, than Talk Me Down and Start Me Up.
tsukikomew's review
3.0
This review was posted at Tsuki’s Book Blog on Sunday May 5, 2013
Do you hear the good book noise coming from my neck of the woods? I found a new author for myself and I am thrilled. I listened to an old podcast interview with Victoria Dahl and was fascinated. Tumble Creek features strong women having interesting jobs or just trying to get some awesome sex from super-hot guys in the small town.
I started with book two which is such a surprise to me. I usually can't stand to start anywhere else but with book one but this time I just had to read it. Book Two features a female mechanic who wants some hot lovin' from a man with no strings attached. She loves reading erotic romances and wants to re-enact some of the scenes. Who better to ask than her best friend's super-hot, absent-minded brother?
Quinn is the perfect fantasy for nerd-loving women out there. He's sexy for sure but he's academic and not at all a bad-boy. Quinn works all the time and only looks up occasionally but finds himself looking up more often when Lori is around. When he discovers her interest in no-strings sex, he can't help but offer himself up.
Lori and Quinn are super-sexy together and I loved reading the scenes when they acted out some of the erotic scenes. By far, outside of the Spanish restaurant was the best. Seriously guys, read that one and then immediately re-read it. Quinn speaking Spanish while they have their moment was spicy hot and just a bit of a fire-starter. Cue fans right then.
The conflict was sort of unnecessary when it came to it. I figured out the culprit right around the time Lori decided she wanted no-strings sex (which was roughly page 25). I also thought the conflict between Lori and Quinn towards the end, absolutely unnecessary. I understood Lori needed a kick in the pants when it came to moving forward with her life after her father's death but it was a bit ridiculous. Also Quinn seemed a little out of character.
I really enjoyed this one and already started book one. The first one has a heroine who writes erotic romances! I'm so excited for that one.
This is perfect for someone who wants a small-town contemporary with women in traditionally non-female workplaces. Also the Spanish restaurant makes up for most issues in the book.
3 Stars
Published by Harlequin--HQN
July 1, 2009
384 Pages
Provided by--the Library
Do you hear the good book noise coming from my neck of the woods? I found a new author for myself and I am thrilled. I listened to an old podcast interview with Victoria Dahl and was fascinated. Tumble Creek features strong women having interesting jobs or just trying to get some awesome sex from super-hot guys in the small town.
I started with book two which is such a surprise to me. I usually can't stand to start anywhere else but with book one but this time I just had to read it. Book Two features a female mechanic who wants some hot lovin' from a man with no strings attached. She loves reading erotic romances and wants to re-enact some of the scenes. Who better to ask than her best friend's super-hot, absent-minded brother?
Quinn is the perfect fantasy for nerd-loving women out there. He's sexy for sure but he's academic and not at all a bad-boy. Quinn works all the time and only looks up occasionally but finds himself looking up more often when Lori is around. When he discovers her interest in no-strings sex, he can't help but offer himself up.
Lori and Quinn are super-sexy together and I loved reading the scenes when they acted out some of the erotic scenes. By far, outside of the Spanish restaurant was the best. Seriously guys, read that one and then immediately re-read it. Quinn speaking Spanish while they have their moment was spicy hot and just a bit of a fire-starter. Cue fans right then.
The conflict was sort of unnecessary when it came to it. I figured out the culprit right around the time Lori decided she wanted no-strings sex (which was roughly page 25). I also thought the conflict between Lori and Quinn towards the end, absolutely unnecessary. I understood Lori needed a kick in the pants when it came to moving forward with her life after her father's death but it was a bit ridiculous. Also Quinn seemed a little out of character.
I really enjoyed this one and already started book one. The first one has a heroine who writes erotic romances! I'm so excited for that one.
This is perfect for someone who wants a small-town contemporary with women in traditionally non-female workplaces. Also the Spanish restaurant makes up for most issues in the book.
3 Stars
Published by Harlequin--HQN
July 1, 2009
384 Pages
Provided by--the Library