ROUNDTABLE REVIEWS'
Karen Anders Page
Harlequin
Blaze #103
ISBN: 0373791070
September 2003
Contemporary Series Romance
www.karenanders.com
By Tracy
Farnsworth
San
Diego Detective Sienna Parker is hot on the heels of a potential suspect in a
case involving a truck full of missing guns. She arrives at the man’s
apartment and immediately notices signs that an intruder is in the building.
Unfortunately, the intruder gets the upper hand and pins Sienna to the floor.
Little does she know this “intruder” is, in fact, a very buff, very sexy
Navy SEAL, one with whom her friends dare her to have a sizzling hot, brief
fling. Sienna’s not exactly the fling type, but this time her head is
begging her to accept the dare.
Lieutenant A.J. Camacho is uneasy about his stepbrother’s sudden
disappearance. He can’t believe the young man would toss away his
military career for some quick cash, but the clues point in that direction.
A.J. decides to pull a few strings to work side by side with Sienna on the case.
However, working together is complicated by the fact that they can’t seem to
keep their minds on anything but tangling in the sheets.
HERS
TO TAKE is the first in a three-book series that has Sienna and her two friends
accepting a dare to have a steamy encounter with the man of their fantasies.
Karen Anders sets the stage perfectly by bringing the reader into Sienna, Lana
and Kate’s world. Each is a career woman who can’t seem to keep her
eyes off one special man with whom she works.
Navy SEAL lovers are not going to be disappointed with A.J. He’s
romantic, tough and so tender all rolled into one hunky package. His
driving force is finding his brother, and he’s willing to break the rules to
get the job done. Sienna is his perfect counterpart as she is headstrong
and determined to take control of her case. She’s determined to stay top
dog while playing by the rules. Their witty exchanges add fire to the
flame that runs hot from the first encounter.
I eagerly await firefighter Lana’s own romance with co-worker Sean O’Neill
coming in November. I think this match-up is going to be fantastic!
~~~
Harlequin Blaze #111
ISBN: 0-373-79115-1
November 2003
Women Who Dare Series
Reviewed By Tracy Farnsworth
The second in the "Women Who Dare" trilogy starts off with a bang and keeps the romantic tension smoldering throughout. Firefighter fans will not want to miss Karen Anders latest!
Lana Dempsey takes her job seriously, but it's hard to keep her attention from her best buddy, Sean O'Neill. Sean is warm, funny and oh so sexy. She also has that dare going with her girlfriends - one stating she will seduce her man and prove it with a souvenir. It doesn't take long before the passion between the two is burning out of control. Can they remain friends and lovers?
Also on Lana's mind is a string of possible arsons that are getting more deadly. She is convinced that the headstrong investigator is missing potential evidence, but he is determined to keep a woman from doing what he feels is a man's job. Can Lana prove that a woman is every bit as good as a man?
The two layers to this story wind seamlessly around one another. The fire between Lana and Sean begins heated and stays that way throughout the book. It will certainly not disappoint Blaze readers. I also liked the lesser storyline regarding the arson investigation. Lana showed she had moxie, and her determination made her all the more likeable. I can't wait to dive into the final book in this wonderful trilogy!
~~~
Harlequin Blaze #119
ISBN: 0-373-79123-2
January 2004
Women Who Dare, Book Three
Reviewed By Tracy Farnsworth
Book three of the "Women Who Dare" series brings readers the long awaited ending to this trilogy. It's time for "Sister Kate" to shed her image and win her man.
Kate Quinn is sick of the nickname "Sister Kate" and all that it entails. Altering her appearance isn't hard. But even when the new Kate enters the courtroom, she turns everybody's head except for Jericho St. James. This is not what she expects.
Deputy D.A. Jericho hides his desire for Kate; he cannot let business and pleasure mix. Especially when he is planning to announce he is running for D.A.
When one of Kate's acquaintances is arrested for murder, Kate knows he didn't commit the crime. She goes head to head with Jericho to prove the man's innocence. As passions soar, can they possibly resist what their bodies and hearts are saying?
I would say that MINE TO ENTICE certainly ends this wonderful trilogy on a high note. The sexual tension between Kate and Jericho sizzles. Plus, you have the added drama surrounding the murder that adds depth to the story, as well as ensuring that Kate and Jericho are together at all hours. If you've missed any of the "Women Who Dare" books, you'll want to check them out. They are sure to deliver a satisfying read!
~~~
Harlequin Blaze #154
ISBN: 0373791585
October 2004
Category Romance
Reviewed By Tracy Farnsworth
Laurel Malone has always been a good girl; she’s obeyed her parents, followed their dream for her life, and she’s growing fed up of it. A quiz in Spice Magazine, “Who’s Your Hottie?”, is about to change her life. She takes the quiz, learns that her ideal man is a bad boy, and sets off to find a bad boy biker.
Mac Tolliver works for Laurel’s father’s brokerage. He finds Laurel to be incredibly sexy, but she won’t give him the time of day. In fact, she’s never noticed him at her dad’s office. When she leaves her quiz answers behind, Mac becomes determined to prove to her that she can fall for a stockbroker. He poses as a bad boy biker and catches her eye. However, how long can he keep up this ruse?
MANHANDLING is a feisty, enjoyable contemporary romance. Most women can empathize with Laurel’s desire to take on a bad boy. I think we’ve all been there. The romance moves pretty swiftly and leaves you wondering just how Mac will be able to reveal his secret. At times, I wished Mac would just get over it and tell her the truth, but then that might have shortened the length of the story. Laurel is hiding a secret of her own, as well. So there is plenty of room for misunderstanding in the book. Those who like plots revolving around misunderstandings/wrong ideals will love this book.
Though
the actual quiz is included in the book, there are no answers.
For those who want to find out who their Mr. Right is, I did find an online
quiz that is pretty comparable. Turns
out my ideal man would be a cross between a sensitive guy and a fun-loving
fellow. I think that’s pretty
accurate based on my hubby.
Hopefully, Karen Anders will continue this story. I adored Mac’s half-brother, Tyler. I wouldn’t mind seeing just how his life turns out.
~~~
A
Roundtable Interview with
Karen Anders
by Tracy Farnsworth
Tracy ~ Welcome to Roundtable Reviews. I’m always thrilled to chat with
a fellow Vermonter (even if you have transplanted to Virginia.) Do you
miss anything about living here? What don’t you miss? (I know
right now for me it would have to be the property values and taxes because I
have been looking into housing down south and am still shaking my head over the
differences!!)
Karen ~ Thank you for having me, Tracy. What I miss most about Vermont is
my family. In the early years, it was hard not having the support of
people close to me. But now I've made tons of friends and, although I
still miss my family, I have a wonderful support group. What I don't miss
about Vermont are the winters! They were brutal.
Tracy ~ Let’s discuss your latest release, HERS TO TAKE. Why a Navy SEAL
when most of your other characters in this series work for the FBI, some aspect
of law enforcement or firefighting? Did you have to do a lot of research
to build A.J.’s characteristics?
Karen ~ I had an idea to pair a police officer and a cop investigating a
military connected crime. I knew I wanted my setting to be San Diego
and the navy has the biggest presence there, so it made sense to chose a SEAL.
I did a lot of research on SEALs, but he doesn't act in his capacity as a SEAL.
He is working with Sienna as the liaison to the navy, a post he had his
stepfather (the senator) secure so that he could look for his half brother
who is somehow involved in the theft of military weapons. I made A.J. a SEAL
because they are the cowboys of the military, the free thinkers. It's
what they're trained to do, think on their feet. These hero characteristics fit
well in the story because Sienna needed a strong man and a man who was the
opposite of her. I knew it would cause sparks.
Tracy ~ Recently, I saw a comment made in a Yahoo reader’s group that
surprised me. I commented to the group about Navy SEAL fans would want to
check out HERS TO TAKE. One reader, who happens to be a reviewer, stated that
her experiences are that unless Suzanne Brockmann has written the book - there
are no SEAL books that are worth the money. What do you think? Do you feel
that for some character's professions only one author is worth your money? If
so, who is the author and what the character's profession?
Karen ~ First of all, I'm appalled that a reviewer would be so narrow-minded.
The very nature of a reviewer is to give every book a chance. Of course,
in the end, it is the reviewer's opinion she's giving the reader. I just
have to think that this is one person's opinion.
Secondly, no I don't feel that character's professions are taboo if one author
gains popularity by writing them. It would be like never buying books
about athletes because Susan Elizabeth Phillips is writing them so well and
you'd miss a fabulous book from Rachel Gibson called See Jane Score. Or
take that a step further. Forget romantic suspense because Elizabeth
Lowell has cornered the market or Nora is writing family sagas. Come on!
I
think an author is worthy of my buck if she writes a good book. That's all
that matters. It's all that has ever mattered. I think it's unfair
to rate my book unworthy. She may chose not to read my book, that's her
prerogative, but to deem it not worthy of a buck because it's about a Navy SEAL
is ludicrous. That kind of thinking robs a reader of some really good
books.
Tracy ~ HERS TO TAKE sets the stage for the “Women Who Dare!” series.
You have the workaholic Sienna; Lana, who is the more daring of the three; and
then prim Kate. You just finished Kate’s book. That must have been
a blast. Can you talk a little about each heroine and the situations they
find themselves in?
Karen ~ Sienna, Lana, and Kate have to get souvenirs. They make a pact in
Hers to Take. Sienna will go after A.J.; Lana will go after Sean; and Kate
will go after Jericho. This is what gets them pursuing their respective
hero.
Sienna plays by the rules and A.J. gets the job done. This causes conflict between them when A.J. wants to act instead of staying strictly within the boundaries of the law. And as I said, they investigate the disappearance of A.J.'s half brother and his involvement in the theft of military weapons. Lana is playing with fire. Seducing her co-worker and best friend could play havoc with both her professional and personal relationship with Sean. In the end she could lose big. She's also unofficially investigating what she believes are serial arsons.
Kate
wants to stop being called Sister Kate. She seduces Jericho, but he's the
one that brings out the wild woman in her. Trouble is that Jericho only
agreed to mix business and pleasure on a temporary basis. Kate uses her
forensic knowledge to set an innocent man free at the risk of her own life.
Tracy ~ Like me, you were in New York City last month. When you weren’t
at the signing, what else did you get to do?
Karen ~ My friend and I took a sightseeing tour of NYC. We went to the
Statue of Liberty, saw great architecture, and learned great trivia about NYC.
We also visited Ground Zero and paid our respects to the people who lost their
lives there.
We also went to the Off-Broadway play Perfect Crime. It was really
good.
I went to a lot of the Published Authors Network (PAN) workshops. I
listened to Dennis Palumbo who wrote the screenplay for “My Favorite Year”
among others. He went on to become a counselor to creative people.
His insights into who a writer is, their doubts and his affirmations were
wonderful. His book is entitled, Writing From The Inside Out. It's
fabulous. One of his affirmations is, "You as a writer, right here,
right now, is enough." I also was invited to dine with my editor and
senior editor at Tribeca Grille half owned by Robert DeNiro. The food and
conversation were great. But Bobby must have been busy, because he didn't
join us. LOL!
I also went to dinner with e-harlequin editors and fellow on-line read writers. We dined at Gramercy Tavern and, Tracy, if you're ever in New York City again, be sure to eat here. The food was scrumptious.
I attended the Harlequin/Silhouette party at the famous Waldorf/Astoria Hotel in the Starlight Room. What a shindig! The band was smoking. Me and my friends closed the place down. There was dancing and merriment.
I also went to the historic Woolworth building home of the Silhouette offices. They had an open house. It was great to see where editors worked. They track all the books they're working on, on these big bulletin boards, so, at a glance, they can see what stage each one is in.
I
did so much more, but I'll stop here for space reasons. Suffice it to say
that New York was a great conference.
Tracy ~ You have two school-aged daughters. I know my summers are much
busier with my son and daughter bickering over every little thing. Now not
only are you a single mom, but you also have an administrative job. How do
you arrange your writing schedule around so many “duties”? Like me,
you must be looking forward to them heading back to school, if they are not
already there!
Karen ~ I write mostly at night and on the weekends. My kids are extremely
supportive. Especially in the last nine months when I wrote three books.
Yes, I birthed triplets! It was a killer, but I'm proud of my series. Actually,
I find summers much easier then the hustle and bustle of catching the bus on
time, homework, and school supplies.
Tracy ~ When you are picking a setting for your romances, do you stick to place
you’ve visited?
Karen ~ No. I love researching new places. In the future, I hope to
be able to travel more and visit the places I write about.
Tracy ~ Writing for the Blaze line gives you more room to be a little hotter,
sexier. When you wrote your first Blaze, did you find it harder to come up
with the steamy sex? How do the Blaze authors know how much to include
without going overboard? That’s one thing that’s always amazed me ~
all of the books are steamy without becoming trashy.
Karen ~ My writing has always been of a sensual nature, so I just had to push
the envelope until I got my love scenes blazey enough. For my first book,
I delved into some common women's fantasies and let my imagination run wild.
Actually, I write what the love scene needs and I have never had my editor pull
me back. So Blaze wants us to press up against those boundaries and even
go a little overboard. It's great for the creative muse.
First
and foremost, Blazes are about love. They start off with the sex, but love
always follows. At their core they're romances. The hot, steamy
sex is just window dressing.
Tracy ~ You are such a busy lady, how do you manage to get any downtime?
What hobbies to you enjoy when, more like IF, you ever have any alone time?
Karen ~ I get very little downtime, but when I do, I like to read. I'm
currently reading THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN, the third Harry Potter book. My
TBR stack is enormous. I also enjoy going to the movies, out to dinner,
and shopping.
Tracy ~ You’re currently working on two new books, Margo and Laurel’s
stories. Can you tell readers more about these upcoming books?
Karen ~ I couldn't resist doing books about these two characters from my first
Blaze, The Bare Facts. Although I need to explain that these ideas are in
the fledgling state. They could change. But here are my tentative
plans for the next three books.
RISKY
BUSINESS
Up-and-coming advertising go-getter, Margo Grant must take on former bad-boy
goalie Tyler Hayes, president and owner of The Blue Line, a very popular and
lucrative athletic sporting goods chain. The large account will boost her
fledgling advertising agency into the big time. Only there’s one small
problem in a large, overbearing package . . .Tyler rubs Margo the wrong
way—until a challenge has him relinquishing his control to her body and soul.
HIS
WICKED DECEPTION
Stockbroker Macallister Tolliver, III knows that Laurel Malone wouldn’t be
interested in a man employed at her father’s firm. Laurel refuses to
date any man her father deems acceptable. But motorcycle riding, hard
loving, tough talking Mac is another story altogether. What happens when Laurel
falls for his wicked deception and discovers that Mac isn’t the man she
thought he was? Or is he?
ALMOST
NAKED, INC.
Dr. Jason Fox, inventor and owner of the new wonder fabric almostnaked© needs a
woman to pose as the owner of his sexy creations, but Bridget Cole, sharp,
take-charge PR executive may be more than this absent-minded professor bargained
for when she wants more from him than a job. She wants to open
negotiations for a hot time, fully naked, in his bed.
Tracy ~ Thanks so much for joining us for our September debut! It has been
so wonderful getting to know more about you and I wish you the best of luck with
HERS TO TAKE this month. If there is anything else you would like to
share, please don’t hesitate.
Karen ~ Thank you so much Tracy for having me.
I would like to mention that Hers to Take received 4 1/2 stars from Romantic
Times magazine. My first ever. I would also like to mention that I
will have a free on-line read at www.eharlequin.com starting on September 2
called TOO HOT TO HANDLE. This story will be told in chapter
installments over eight weeks. As you can see, it's a prequel to HERS
TO TAKE. Here's the blurb:
When an arsonist destroys sex toy distributor Paige Dempsey's warehouse, it's discovered that someone's been using the U.S. Postal service to perpetuate fraud. FBI agent Justin Conner wants to put Paige on the hot seat-except it's Paige that makes Justin's temperature rise. Can Paige's sister Lana and her two new friends Sienna and Kate get Paige out of hot water?
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