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Saddlers Prairie #2
Montana Doctor
To Mark Engle, it's simple. There's Los Angeles—success, money, excitement—and there's Montana. So when he finds himself stuck playing small-town M.D., Mark is less than pleased. The only appeal is clinic receptionist Stacy Andrews, a big-city escapee in love with Saddlers Prairie and its neighbors-are-family feel. Too bad rural and close-knit are exactly what Mark's looking to evade.
Stacy knows Mark's type too well. A career-driven man like that would never put a tiny community—much less a wife and family—first. So why is she hoping he'll stay? No one can overlook the chemistry between the pair, and soon the whole town conspires to push them together. But it'll take more than matchmaking for Mark to change his life plan, even if his heart truly belongs in Montana.
Stacy knows Mark's type too well. A career-driven man like that would never put a tiny community—much less a wife and family—first. So why is she hoping he'll stay? No one can overlook the chemistry between the pair, and soon the whole town conspires to push them together. But it'll take more than matchmaking for Mark to change his life plan, even if his heart truly belongs in Montana.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2012
16 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
About the author
Ann Roth
92 books71 followersI'm a bit of a voyeur. I love to stick my nose into total strangers' business and observe how they deal with life's hurdles and whatever obstacles fate throws at them. I can't think of anything more challenging or interesting than delving into a character's psyche to discover what makes her/him tick. The surprises and insights are amazing.
The people who interest me most are the ones I know will triumph despite life’s problems and challenges. For me, writing their stories is both rewarding and a whole lot of fun.
Publication didn't come easy for me--just ask my family! That took seven-plus years, during which I worked full-time as a banker, complete with an MBA in finance and human resources management. I wrote evenings and weekends, spending countless hours hunched in front of the computer while I painstakingly honed my craft, and collected folders of rejections. In 1999 my efforts at last paid off. That summer, I won the Golden Heart for best long contemporary romance. Sadly it is now defunct. Six months later, just four days before Christmas, I sold my first book to Silhouette Special Edition, also now gone. That book, STRANGER IN A SMALL TOWN, was a 2000 Romantic Times nominee (another loss) for best first long series novel.
Since then I have sold multiple novels to publishers and tried my hand at indie publishing.
But things change, so check back often for updates.
Thanks for stopping by, and come back soon!
The people who interest me most are the ones I know will triumph despite life’s problems and challenges. For me, writing their stories is both rewarding and a whole lot of fun.
Publication didn't come easy for me--just ask my family! That took seven-plus years, during which I worked full-time as a banker, complete with an MBA in finance and human resources management. I wrote evenings and weekends, spending countless hours hunched in front of the computer while I painstakingly honed my craft, and collected folders of rejections. In 1999 my efforts at last paid off. That summer, I won the Golden Heart for best long contemporary romance. Sadly it is now defunct. Six months later, just four days before Christmas, I sold my first book to Silhouette Special Edition, also now gone. That book, STRANGER IN A SMALL TOWN, was a 2000 Romantic Times nominee (another loss) for best first long series novel.
Since then I have sold multiple novels to publishers and tried my hand at indie publishing.
But things change, so check back often for updates.
Thanks for stopping by, and come back soon!
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 14, 2018
Stacy didn't ask for much. Her ideal partner didn't have to be handsome, and his annual income didn't matter. She simply wanted a man who shared her longing to raise a child or two, then grow old with each other. With maybe a dog to keep Smooth Talker on his toes.
*Carmen scratches her head* OKAY, well, this book is such a weird mixed bag that I am going to have a difficult time rating it. Perhaps writing a review will help me sort out my feelings.
The book's plot is that of DOC HOLLYWOOD or CARS. A popular plot, in which a doctor is driving to a Big City (usually in CA) in which he is going to be famous, get hot women, get lots of money, have a cushy job... but there is a car accident and he is forced to stay in a small town temporarily, falls in love with it/with a local female, and decides to stay in the small town, giving up his previous goals and dreams for new, cozier ones.
So, we already know the plot. Mark is a doctor on his way to L.A. Stacy is a receptionist/secretary in small-town Montana. When a woman has a stroke while driving, Mark gets out of the car and helps her, then gets roped into running the local clinic for a few weeks when the elderly doctor has a heart attack.
Let's tackle the bad first, and get it out of the way.
THE BAD
I can't really say I liked Mark. He wasn't an ASSHOLE, IMO, but he wasn't a naturally kind person, either. Also, he had a weird, robotic, awkward (not in a cute way) quality about him that made him seem like a Ken doll on autopilot.
I couldn't understand why Stacy found him so attractive. Let's go over some examples.
With chin-length blond hair, a small waist, curvy hips and slender, shapely legs, she wasn't at all the tight-ass librarian type he'd imagined.
Librarians can't be sexy? Librarians can't be... blonde? I don't really know where he's getting these ideas.
"Trust me, if they lived in the same town, people would look at you differently. You'd be an outcast."
What had happened to Mark to make him so jaded? "I doubt that," Stacy said. "So, is your girlfriend happy about your move?" She wanted to know if he was involved.
"I don't have one. Don't want one, either. My new job will be demanding, and the last thing I need is some woman nagging me to spend more time with her."
Stacy's eyes widened at his bitter tone.
Yeah, wow. Don't get involved with this man. Warning sign! Also, look at how clumsily she tries to find out if he has a woman. Roth is NOT a smooth writer, and this book is clunky and awkward. A lot of scenes are really cringeworthy, and it's not on purpose. The writing is... not atrocious, but definitely bad.
"He'd give the shirt off his back to someone in need."
The kind of man most people admired. Not Mark. "I'll take a big paycheck over a big heart anytime," he said.
So... he values money over kindness. Got it.
"I saw you sunning yourself out there." He gestured toward the living-room window. "You have great legs."
Stacy's face warmed, and she knew she was as red as the teenage girl downstairs. "You were WATCHING me?"
"Not intentionally. I was looking at the excellent view."
His gaze flitted over her, making her acutely aware of her own body. Of him. Automatically, she sucked in her stomach.
"Pretty darned impressive," he murmured.
Is this how he hits on women?!!?!? *facepalm* Don't do this. JFC. Just watches her eat lunch like a creeper and then is all, "Nice legs! Very impressive!" Like, what?!?!!? Get it together, man. This is so awkward and weird. Not sexy.
Mark soaked up her approving warmth like a wet dog in the sun.
It's writing like this that is making me scratch my head. There's something wrong here.
Mr. Madison had shown Mark the importance of setting a plan and course of action for his life, then using discipline and focus to achieve his goals. A plan that saved Mark from a dead-end job and a dead-end life.
Mark describes working a full-time job after graduating high school as "a dead-end job and a dead-end life." WOW. I'm insulted. That's very insulting. It's also completely untrue. AND, please let us note that our heroine is a receptionist. Does he think she has a dead-end job in a dead-end life because she works in a job that doesn't require a college degree and she lives in a small town?!?! This really isn't addressed, but Mark has a very disrespectful attitude, as you can see here and with the above quote about librarians and women 'nagging him' to spend more time with them when he's in a relationship with him. o.O
Then, when he and Stacy go to a party, the mayor rides his ass about staying in town and becoming the local doctor full-time. Sure, she is irritating and annoying. But Mark loses his temper at her. IMO a.) This doesn't warrant losing your temper over and b.) It would be SO MUCH SEXIER, hotter, and more attractive if he laughed everything off. Being tolerant, amused, easygoing... being able to shrug this kind of small irritant off is VERY SEXY. Losing your shit, getting irritated, snapping, having a short temper IS NOT. This is an example of what Roth doesn't really grasp about attractive men. I thought he was petty and short-tempered after this scene. I'm not attracted to short-tempered men, but even if I WERE one of those women who liked reading about "alphas", okay... even if I considered anger some kind of masculine, alpha trait (it's NOT, but often alpha heroes are portrayed as really angry all the time, and readers seem to like it), it's still weak and petty to be so bothered by this shit. Little, unimportant shit that shouldn't faze him.
But he remained silent, and after an uncomfortable few seconds, cleared his throat. "It's getting late and I want to finish my patient notes before dinner."
Hint taken. Stacy opened the front door.
This is what I'm talking about. Mark is so awkward. Again, not in a cute way.
Mark is staying in Tom's apartment while Tom is in the hospital.
Then he tossed a potato in the oven, made a salad and popped the cork on a bottle of cabernet sauvignon that had to cost at least fifty dollars. Tom had said to help himself. Besides, he OWED Mark.
Wow. Asshole.
Stacy, at one point, gets irked at Mark for reasons that she doesn't explain to him and then won't explain herself when he asks "What's wrong?" I have no tolerance for this bullshit, I hate when people pull this crap. She needs to woman-up and talk about her thoughts and feelings with him instead of playing games like this. It's bullshit.
"I took her out once."
The thought of Stacy with big, good-looking Cody Naylor did not sit well. Mark narrowed his eyes. "Did you sleep with her?"
Wow, rude. And also none of your fucking business.
After Mark has sex with Stacy, he tells her this the next day.
"I don't go around spending the night with just any woman, Stacy," he said. "I stayed because I like you. A lot."
Oh, wow. Be still my beating heart./s DO BETTER.
THE GOOD
There were things I liked in this novel, though. Surprisingly.
First, Stacy has self-confidence and she has a backbone. This is SO RARE in romance novels. I don't know why. But I was really cheering for her when she stood up to this doofus.
What about when Mark wants a second night of passion between them?
"Do you think I could come over again tonight?" he asked, hoping for another amazing night together.
All that warmth vanished, and her back straightened. "When we haven't spoken since you left Sunday morning, not even a phone call from you? I don't think so."
Damn! Nice! Especially since he actually turned out to be halfway decent in bed. You'd think this would be really hard for her, and she'd be weak. But no. She's just like, "Fuck that shit." Good for her! He didn't act right, and she's not going to take any of that shit.
Roth makes Stacy have a past - she was with Vince for 7 years, 6 of those being in an engagement - so she has a low bullshit tolerance now, since she dealt with so much bullshit with her ex. I really liked it.
And when Mark makes her the offer of inviting her to come live with him in L.A. after she gives him a year to get settled, she isn't having any of that shit, either.
In other words, Mark expected her to wait until HE was ready. She'd done that once already... Mark hadn't even said he loved her...
I really admire her for being so strong and demanding to be treated with the respect she deserves. It's very rare in these romance novels.
Then the book ends with Wow, I am honestly in shock right now. I re-read that last page three times just to make sure I hadn't misunderstood. An American Romance by Harlequin where the hero and heroine Unheard of. I'm very surprised. But pleased, too. This is more realistic, IMO.
HOW'S THE SEX, CARMEN?
Well, it's super-interesting you'd ask that! Let's get the more mundane things out of the way, first.
Muttering and wishing he had time for a run, he stepped into the icy shower. The whole cold-shower thing was a myth, but a guy had to try something to settle his body down. This morning, it was either shiver under icy water or resort to pleasuring himself.
Just masturbate like a normal person! JFC.
The slut-shaming in this book took a surprising turn. We are introduced to a woman who is man-hungry and described as a huge flirt. She calls and makes an appointment with Mark, and Stacy warns him that she probably doesn't even have a medical reason for being there, she probably just wants to hit on the hot doctor. But when she gets there - she does hit on the doctor. But she also has a lump in her breast. Mark admits she was flirty, but also says what a caring woman she is. Stacy apologizes to Mark for saying those things to him about the woman - she shouldn't have categorized her this way. And when the woman shows up later in the book, although she's still a flirt and obviously husband-hunting, she is also portrayed as a nice person and doesn't do mean things or hit on Mark again. *shrug* It was refreshing.
Okay, now let's talk about the sex.
It's very weird. For how wooden, awkward, and personality-less Mark is IRL, in bed he transforms into a kind of bossy, take-charge man who actually knows what he's doing in bed. I'm all for the 'knows what he's doing part.' I'm actually fine with men taking charge in bed, it can be super-fun, but I don't think it was set up very well here (or set up AT ALL for that matter) and it was jarring and completely at odds with the Mark we knew.
This could have been very hot. Like a lot of men in real life, you just cannot judge how men are in bed by their public persona. That is actually accurate. And I would agree with Roth that a lot of times you think a guy is goofy, awkward, a clown, or 'nerdy' or 'geeky' (not in a hot way, I know nerds and geeks are hot now) only to be stunned when he starts putting it down really good in bed. o.O The problem here is that there's no set up or lead-in to this and trying to reconcile how Mark has acted during the whole book to this weird bossy, actually sexually competent guy in the bedroom is quite jarring.
I don't think Roth crafts it or sets it up in a very good way.
He slid out of his sedan and shut the door. "Get out of the car."
"What for? Did Val say something to upset you?"
"This isn't about Val. Just do it."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Drill Sergeant," Stacy muttered as she complied.
She was barely on her feet when Mark approached her.
Without a word, he pulled her close and kissed her.
I don't think this kind of abrupt introduction to his sex-personality is very good. If I was with a robotic, awkward guy and then he did this ^^ I would be low-key pissed.
Stacy has small breasts and I like that and think it is a good feature (if a rare one) in romance novels.
"But I want to touch you," she said.
"And I want to finish inside you, understand?" He grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the stairs.
Like, okay. WHAT?!?!? You can understand my headdesk here. WHERE on Earth is this coming from? You can't just go from being an awkward and robotic guy to pushily demanding that she let you cum inside her. You just can't. Not only was I like o.O but you have to build up to that kind of shit.
"Finishing inside you" shit?
No, whatever kind of boss-idea he has for himself. One, dirty talking. If that's indeed what this is. Like, don't just start blurting out shit. This would be ten times better if he had slowly worked up to this. Coming out of the blue is just super-weird, especially since it's SO at odds with his personality that she knows and likes. Secondly, saying stuff like this is fine once you two are sexually familiar with each other and she is okay with you cumming inside her and she likes dirty talk and you are on established birth control, but just saying this when you are having first-time sex with someone is creepy and presumptuous. Don't do this. If telling women you are going to ejaculate inside of them is a turn-on for you (I guess this is a thing?), then that's fine. I have no problem with it. But you can't just SAY this the very first time you have sex when she has no idea really if she can trust you, if you're trustworthy sexually, if you are any good in bed, if this is a threat, if you have an impregnation fixation... I mean... WHAT? Come on, now. Be a little sensible.
Points to Roth for ACTUALLY DESCRIBING what is going on in bed. I'd given up on expecting this level of detail in an American Romance Harlequin. I mean, she was not only making it clear that Mark was going down on Stacy, but she actually gave me DETAILS on his technique. Gobsmacked. Why aren't more HARs like this?
Also, I really want to give Roth points for mentioning hickeys. They are an actual problem in real life, not to mention enjoyable, and kudos to her for bringing them up. I enjoyed that little touch.
The brief press of his lips to hers set her on fire, but she never had the chance to melt against him. He let her go to rub his chin with his thumb and forefinger. "Don't want to give you a beard burn. I really need a shave."
Who IS this guy and how is he the same wooden Ken Doll from the rest of the book? I swear, Mark just morphs into an entirely different person once you start doing sexual stuff with him. It's weird.
TL;DR - Well. What a strange little book. Certainly a mixed bag and difficult to rate. There were things I liked and things I didn't. I wasn't enamored with Mark or Stacy, but I didn't HATE either of them. Mark did a weird switcho/chango and actually had a personality in bed when he didn't IRL. Stacy had great backbone. I don't know. I wouldn't RECOMMEND this to anyone, but I didn't hate it.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES
Contemporary Romance
Non-Virgin Heroine
Doctor Romance
He's a Doctor, She's a Receptionist/Secretary
*Carmen scratches her head* OKAY, well, this book is such a weird mixed bag that I am going to have a difficult time rating it. Perhaps writing a review will help me sort out my feelings.
The book's plot is that of DOC HOLLYWOOD or CARS. A popular plot, in which a doctor is driving to a Big City (usually in CA) in which he is going to be famous, get hot women, get lots of money, have a cushy job... but there is a car accident and he is forced to stay in a small town temporarily, falls in love with it/with a local female, and decides to stay in the small town, giving up his previous goals and dreams for new, cozier ones.
So, we already know the plot. Mark is a doctor on his way to L.A. Stacy is a receptionist/secretary in small-town Montana. When a woman has a stroke while driving, Mark gets out of the car and helps her, then gets roped into running the local clinic for a few weeks when the elderly doctor has a heart attack.
Let's tackle the bad first, and get it out of the way.
THE BAD
I can't really say I liked Mark. He wasn't an ASSHOLE, IMO, but he wasn't a naturally kind person, either. Also, he had a weird, robotic, awkward (not in a cute way) quality about him that made him seem like a Ken doll on autopilot.
I couldn't understand why Stacy found him so attractive. Let's go over some examples.
With chin-length blond hair, a small waist, curvy hips and slender, shapely legs, she wasn't at all the tight-ass librarian type he'd imagined.
Librarians can't be sexy? Librarians can't be... blonde? I don't really know where he's getting these ideas.
"Trust me, if they lived in the same town, people would look at you differently. You'd be an outcast."
What had happened to Mark to make him so jaded? "I doubt that," Stacy said. "So, is your girlfriend happy about your move?" She wanted to know if he was involved.
"I don't have one. Don't want one, either. My new job will be demanding, and the last thing I need is some woman nagging me to spend more time with her."
Stacy's eyes widened at his bitter tone.
Yeah, wow. Don't get involved with this man. Warning sign! Also, look at how clumsily she tries to find out if he has a woman. Roth is NOT a smooth writer, and this book is clunky and awkward. A lot of scenes are really cringeworthy, and it's not on purpose. The writing is... not atrocious, but definitely bad.
"He'd give the shirt off his back to someone in need."
The kind of man most people admired. Not Mark. "I'll take a big paycheck over a big heart anytime," he said.
So... he values money over kindness. Got it.
"I saw you sunning yourself out there." He gestured toward the living-room window. "You have great legs."
Stacy's face warmed, and she knew she was as red as the teenage girl downstairs. "You were WATCHING me?"
"Not intentionally. I was looking at the excellent view."
His gaze flitted over her, making her acutely aware of her own body. Of him. Automatically, she sucked in her stomach.
"Pretty darned impressive," he murmured.
Is this how he hits on women?!!?!? *facepalm* Don't do this. JFC. Just watches her eat lunch like a creeper and then is all, "Nice legs! Very impressive!" Like, what?!?!!? Get it together, man. This is so awkward and weird. Not sexy.
Mark soaked up her approving warmth like a wet dog in the sun.
It's writing like this that is making me scratch my head. There's something wrong here.
Mr. Madison had shown Mark the importance of setting a plan and course of action for his life, then using discipline and focus to achieve his goals. A plan that saved Mark from a dead-end job and a dead-end life.
Mark describes working a full-time job after graduating high school as "a dead-end job and a dead-end life." WOW. I'm insulted. That's very insulting. It's also completely untrue. AND, please let us note that our heroine is a receptionist. Does he think she has a dead-end job in a dead-end life because she works in a job that doesn't require a college degree and she lives in a small town?!?! This really isn't addressed, but Mark has a very disrespectful attitude, as you can see here and with the above quote about librarians and women 'nagging him' to spend more time with them when he's in a relationship with him. o.O
Then, when he and Stacy go to a party, the mayor rides his ass about staying in town and becoming the local doctor full-time. Sure, she is irritating and annoying. But Mark loses his temper at her. IMO a.) This doesn't warrant losing your temper over and b.) It would be SO MUCH SEXIER, hotter, and more attractive if he laughed everything off. Being tolerant, amused, easygoing... being able to shrug this kind of small irritant off is VERY SEXY. Losing your shit, getting irritated, snapping, having a short temper IS NOT. This is an example of what Roth doesn't really grasp about attractive men. I thought he was petty and short-tempered after this scene. I'm not attracted to short-tempered men, but even if I WERE one of those women who liked reading about "alphas", okay... even if I considered anger some kind of masculine, alpha trait (it's NOT, but often alpha heroes are portrayed as really angry all the time, and readers seem to like it), it's still weak and petty to be so bothered by this shit. Little, unimportant shit that shouldn't faze him.
But he remained silent, and after an uncomfortable few seconds, cleared his throat. "It's getting late and I want to finish my patient notes before dinner."
Hint taken. Stacy opened the front door.
This is what I'm talking about. Mark is so awkward. Again, not in a cute way.
Mark is staying in Tom's apartment while Tom is in the hospital.
Then he tossed a potato in the oven, made a salad and popped the cork on a bottle of cabernet sauvignon that had to cost at least fifty dollars. Tom had said to help himself. Besides, he OWED Mark.
Wow. Asshole.
Stacy, at one point, gets irked at Mark for reasons that she doesn't explain to him and then won't explain herself when he asks "What's wrong?" I have no tolerance for this bullshit, I hate when people pull this crap. She needs to woman-up and talk about her thoughts and feelings with him instead of playing games like this. It's bullshit.
"I took her out once."
The thought of Stacy with big, good-looking Cody Naylor did not sit well. Mark narrowed his eyes. "Did you sleep with her?"
Wow, rude. And also none of your fucking business.
After Mark has sex with Stacy, he tells her this the next day.
"I don't go around spending the night with just any woman, Stacy," he said. "I stayed because I like you. A lot."
Oh, wow. Be still my beating heart./s DO BETTER.
THE GOOD
There were things I liked in this novel, though. Surprisingly.
First, Stacy has self-confidence and she has a backbone. This is SO RARE in romance novels. I don't know why. But I was really cheering for her when she stood up to this doofus.
What about when Mark wants a second night of passion between them?
"Do you think I could come over again tonight?" he asked, hoping for another amazing night together.
All that warmth vanished, and her back straightened. "When we haven't spoken since you left Sunday morning, not even a phone call from you? I don't think so."
Damn! Nice! Especially since he actually turned out to be halfway decent in bed. You'd think this would be really hard for her, and she'd be weak. But no. She's just like, "Fuck that shit." Good for her! He didn't act right, and she's not going to take any of that shit.
Roth makes Stacy have a past - she was with Vince for 7 years, 6 of those being in an engagement - so she has a low bullshit tolerance now, since she dealt with so much bullshit with her ex. I really liked it.
And when Mark makes her the offer of inviting her to come live with him in L.A. after she gives him a year to get settled, she isn't having any of that shit, either.
In other words, Mark expected her to wait until HE was ready. She'd done that once already... Mark hadn't even said he loved her...
I really admire her for being so strong and demanding to be treated with the respect she deserves. It's very rare in these romance novels.
Then the book ends with Wow, I am honestly in shock right now. I re-read that last page three times just to make sure I hadn't misunderstood. An American Romance by Harlequin where the hero and heroine Unheard of. I'm very surprised. But pleased, too. This is more realistic, IMO.
HOW'S THE SEX, CARMEN?
Well, it's super-interesting you'd ask that! Let's get the more mundane things out of the way, first.
Muttering and wishing he had time for a run, he stepped into the icy shower. The whole cold-shower thing was a myth, but a guy had to try something to settle his body down. This morning, it was either shiver under icy water or resort to pleasuring himself.
Just masturbate like a normal person! JFC.
The slut-shaming in this book took a surprising turn. We are introduced to a woman who is man-hungry and described as a huge flirt. She calls and makes an appointment with Mark, and Stacy warns him that she probably doesn't even have a medical reason for being there, she probably just wants to hit on the hot doctor. But when she gets there - she does hit on the doctor. But she also has a lump in her breast. Mark admits she was flirty, but also says what a caring woman she is. Stacy apologizes to Mark for saying those things to him about the woman - she shouldn't have categorized her this way. And when the woman shows up later in the book, although she's still a flirt and obviously husband-hunting, she is also portrayed as a nice person and doesn't do mean things or hit on Mark again. *shrug* It was refreshing.
Okay, now let's talk about the sex.
It's very weird. For how wooden, awkward, and personality-less Mark is IRL, in bed he transforms into a kind of bossy, take-charge man who actually knows what he's doing in bed. I'm all for the 'knows what he's doing part.' I'm actually fine with men taking charge in bed, it can be super-fun, but I don't think it was set up very well here (or set up AT ALL for that matter) and it was jarring and completely at odds with the Mark we knew.
This could have been very hot. Like a lot of men in real life, you just cannot judge how men are in bed by their public persona. That is actually accurate. And I would agree with Roth that a lot of times you think a guy is goofy, awkward, a clown, or 'nerdy' or 'geeky' (not in a hot way, I know nerds and geeks are hot now) only to be stunned when he starts putting it down really good in bed. o.O The problem here is that there's no set up or lead-in to this and trying to reconcile how Mark has acted during the whole book to this weird bossy, actually sexually competent guy in the bedroom is quite jarring.
I don't think Roth crafts it or sets it up in a very good way.
He slid out of his sedan and shut the door. "Get out of the car."
"What for? Did Val say something to upset you?"
"This isn't about Val. Just do it."
"Yes, sir, Mr. Drill Sergeant," Stacy muttered as she complied.
She was barely on her feet when Mark approached her.
Without a word, he pulled her close and kissed her.
I don't think this kind of abrupt introduction to his sex-personality is very good. If I was with a robotic, awkward guy and then he did this ^^ I would be low-key pissed.
Stacy has small breasts and I like that and think it is a good feature (if a rare one) in romance novels.
"But I want to touch you," she said.
"And I want to finish inside you, understand?" He grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the stairs.
Like, okay. WHAT?!?!? You can understand my headdesk here. WHERE on Earth is this coming from? You can't just go from being an awkward and robotic guy to pushily demanding that she let you cum inside her. You just can't. Not only was I like o.O but you have to build up to that kind of shit.
"Finishing inside you" shit?
No, whatever kind of boss-idea he has for himself. One, dirty talking. If that's indeed what this is. Like, don't just start blurting out shit. This would be ten times better if he had slowly worked up to this. Coming out of the blue is just super-weird, especially since it's SO at odds with his personality that she knows and likes. Secondly, saying stuff like this is fine once you two are sexually familiar with each other and she is okay with you cumming inside her and she likes dirty talk and you are on established birth control, but just saying this when you are having first-time sex with someone is creepy and presumptuous. Don't do this. If telling women you are going to ejaculate inside of them is a turn-on for you (I guess this is a thing?), then that's fine. I have no problem with it. But you can't just SAY this the very first time you have sex when she has no idea really if she can trust you, if you're trustworthy sexually, if you are any good in bed, if this is a threat, if you have an impregnation fixation... I mean... WHAT? Come on, now. Be a little sensible.
Points to Roth for ACTUALLY DESCRIBING what is going on in bed. I'd given up on expecting this level of detail in an American Romance Harlequin. I mean, she was not only making it clear that Mark was going down on Stacy, but she actually gave me DETAILS on his technique. Gobsmacked. Why aren't more HARs like this?
Also, I really want to give Roth points for mentioning hickeys. They are an actual problem in real life, not to mention enjoyable, and kudos to her for bringing them up. I enjoyed that little touch.
The brief press of his lips to hers set her on fire, but she never had the chance to melt against him. He let her go to rub his chin with his thumb and forefinger. "Don't want to give you a beard burn. I really need a shave."
Who IS this guy and how is he the same wooden Ken Doll from the rest of the book? I swear, Mark just morphs into an entirely different person once you start doing sexual stuff with him. It's weird.
TL;DR - Well. What a strange little book. Certainly a mixed bag and difficult to rate. There were things I liked and things I didn't. I wasn't enamored with Mark or Stacy, but I didn't HATE either of them. Mark did a weird switcho/chango and actually had a personality in bed when he didn't IRL. Stacy had great backbone. I don't know. I wouldn't RECOMMEND this to anyone, but I didn't hate it.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES
Contemporary Romance
Non-Virgin Heroine
Doctor Romance
He's a Doctor, She's a Receptionist/Secretary
August 14, 2019
The hero is a just certified doctor ready to move to LA and start living the good life. He's finished his training in Montana where he grew up, driving to the airport when a car nearly crashes into him and rolls into the ditch. The elderly woman driving appears to have had a stroke. He calls 911, looks after her, and is invited to dinner by her regular doctor in the nearby small town, where the older doctor tries to interest him in the clinic so the doc can retire. The heroine is the clinic office manager. She likes the hero, who takes over temporarily when the older doctor has a heart attack, but she doesn't like his focus on leaving Montana to make mega-bucks. It's a good read. I liked it.
September 16, 2020
Love this series
Easy reading. The stories flow but not obviously predictable. Life happens in small and large towns, but these stories focus on what is important in life
Easy reading. The stories flow but not obviously predictable. Life happens in small and large towns, but these stories focus on what is important in life
May 21, 2012
Good book. I really liked Stacy and the way she was so happy there. She had come to Saddler's Prairie for the job and realized that it was just the life she wanted. There was fresh air, people she liked and the chance to put down roots. When Mark got talked into filling in as doctor, he wasn't happy. He had a good job waiting for him in LA, that fit in with his plan to have everything he had wanted while he was growing up. He found himself very attracted to Stacy, but knew he should do nothing about it since he wouldn't be staying. I really liked the way that he fit right in with the town and his patients. He had the perfect way of dealing with each one, and even though he wouldn't admit it, he was happy there. I liked the way that Stacy refused to pressure him, but had no problem calling him on what she thought was behind his motivations.
March 10, 2013
One of the best things about Harlequins is the quick resolution to the plot but sometimes those happy endings happen simply with a big speech and a hug and a kiss but in Montana Doctor the real happy ending takes much longer but ends just as well.
Mark and Stacy both worked so hard and tried not to get attached to the other but as any regular reader knows, sex changes everything. Real relationships take work and finding out who you are and what you want. The way Mark figures it out was well done!
Mark and Stacy both worked so hard and tried not to get attached to the other but as any regular reader knows, sex changes everything. Real relationships take work and finding out who you are and what you want. The way Mark figures it out was well done!
May 18, 2013
I really enjoyed this read. It was fast moving, sexy, and humorous. I look forward to reading many more of Ann's books.
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June 30, 2016Miniseries: Saddlers Prairie
Category: Heart & Home
Category: Heart & Home
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews