Review and Giveaway: Jaded

Jaded (Walker's Ford - Book 2) by Anne Calhoun

Publication Date: 02/04/2014
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Sensation
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425265129
ISBN-13: 978-0425265123

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Sensation)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Anne Calhoun on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

Unforgiven (2013), Jaded (2014)

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

WARNING: The content of this excerpt and the book may be inappropriate for readers under 18 years.

Excerpt from Jaded, courtesy of the author's website.

Synopsis:

They can’t hide from desire…

After life as a cop in Denver leaves him burned-out, Lucas Ridgeway returns to Walkers Ford, South Dakota, to serve as their chief of police. He’s hoping to start over with a clean slate and avoid any emotional entanglements—even after his next-door neighbor kisses him senseless. Alana is passionate, dedicated, and most importantly leaving town soon. So why not have some fun?

Alana Wentworth comes from a larger-than-life political family, yet all she wanted was to be a librarian. Then after an embarrassing marriage proposal from Mr. Not-For-Her, she jumps at the chance to live her dream for a few months. She wasn't supposed to get involved with the community—or sexy, troubled Lucas. But when the time comes for Alana to put Walkers Ford behind her, she’s not ready. And Lucas may not be ready for her to go…

Thoughts:

Author Anne Calhoun continues her Walkers Ford series with Jaded, the story of a big city cop who returns to his small hometown to become sheriff and a pretty young librarian who is about to leave town for good. Readers who haven't read Calhoun's other books will be surprised by her expertise with setting. Walkers Ford gives readers an enchanting small town feel with engaging, reoccurring, characters and plenty of spice. A great feel good story that will leave readers wanting more.

What I liked:

There were plenty of things to like about this book, which happened to be my first from Anne Calhoun. Walkers Ford is the kind of small mid-western town that many readers would like to live in. The community is close and everyone knows everyone. Unfortunately that means everyone knows your business too. LOL! I thought the author did a great job of showing what life is like in a small town. There was definitely a lot of realism in this story and I liked this town.

Heroine Alana Wentworth isn't exactly a part of the town of Walkers Ford. Shes only in town in order to save the local library and ends up showing everyone what the library means to them. I loved this plot line. I am a library reader. The library changed my life and showed me that I could go anywhere in the world in the pages of a book. So Alana's cause was one after my own heart. I loved the fact that not only did she show real heart by trying to save the library, but she also tried to help others as well. A great lead character, who wanted to have a little fun with no strings attached.

Lucas Ridgeway has been a cop in Denver for far too long. He's become jaded and wants a change so her returns to his hometown, he puts me in mind of another cop who became police chief, Jesse Stone, I'm sure many of you are familiar with Robert Parker's Paradise chief. Lucas has some issues and wants some peace of mind and a little affair with the chick next door wouldn't hurt. I thought Lucas was a bit hard in the beginning, but he needed to be to pull off the whole idea of a jaded cop. I loved the way he began to open up when his relationship with Alana got more serious. He did a 180 not only with her but in the way he dealt with his cousin and everyone else in his life. He turned out to be quite a good hero.

The chemistry between these two was electric. It obvious when they meet that sparks will fly. It's just a matter of whether it will stay fling or whether it will become more. At first their sexual relationship reminded me of a 'friends with benefits' kind of thing, but it quickly heated up to something a whole lot more complicated. Out of frying pan and into the fire as far as Lucas is concerned. In end it comes down to whether Alana will return to her wealthy family in Chicago or whether she will stay in Walkers Ford. 

What I didn't like:

There were a few moments where Lucas comes across as a self serving egotist. But like I said I think that had to be the way he was portrayed. Maybe he could have come around a little sooner and not been so abrasive for so long. 

Bottom Line:

I definitely want to go back and read book one and I want to read other books by this author. I loved the setting and the whole sex with no strings fling grew on me. I think readers will fall in love with Walkers Ford and the people who live there. 

Jaded is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

After doing time at Fortune 500 companies on both coasts, Anne Calhoun landed in a flyover state, where she traded business casual for yoga pants and decided to write down all the lively story ideas that got her through years of monotonous corporate meetings. Her first novel won the EPIC Award for Contemporary Erotic Romance. 

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Jaded by Anne Calhoun.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, March 14th.

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