Carolina Valdez
Author of Tie 'Em Up, Hold 'Em Down
Series
Works by Carolina Valdez
Woman In Black Lace 3 copies
Tears of the Dragon 2 copies
Frequently, Secretly 2 copies
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Reviews
Christina wants to be a knight but she is the daughter of Lord Michael, Earl of Gladsbury. Her father wants her to dress and behave as a girl. He has a plan but Christiana is not happy with it. Arriving to joust at Gladsbury is Rowan, the fifth son of a Normany lord. He pledges his allegiance to Lord Michael but his heart belongs to a woman in Normandy. Guy DeBere, a knight who saved Sir Michae's life in the Crusades, wants to marry Christiana. Chistiana does not want to get married. What is show more she to do?
I enjoyed this story. I did not think I would but I could not put it down. Christiana is feisty and has a mind of her own. Rowan is at a loss as to what to do. He has been besotted for years with Diantha but does not have enough money to provide a house for her. Now he is attracted to Christiana. When Christiana runs away, Rowan goes hunting for her and they come to an understanding. I liked their solution as well as her father's.
The medieval period comes through very well. I felt I was back in that time period. This is worth reading. I also have seen a few more books by Carolina Valdez that I want to read. show less
I enjoyed this story. I did not think I would but I could not put it down. Christiana is feisty and has a mind of her own. Rowan is at a loss as to what to do. He has been besotted for years with Diantha but does not have enough money to provide a house for her. Now he is attracted to Christiana. When Christiana runs away, Rowan goes hunting for her and they come to an understanding. I liked their solution as well as her father's.
The medieval period comes through very well. I felt I was back in that time period. This is worth reading. I also have seen a few more books by Carolina Valdez that I want to read. show less
This is the first book I have read by this author, and I will try another. It was a good romance, and had a some strong points working for it.
First, I really liked that it was contemporary. The setting is Los Angeles, and the epilogue even mentions the California Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage and the ballot measure to ban it that is still to come. It made the story more real, with men that still have to hide their orientation to protect their jobs, and who realize that though the show more decision was groundbreaking, it didn’t fix the social issue. Anotehr positive is that the author spends a lot of time setting the story up and introducing the main character, Robert “Bear” Barrington. He’s a fireman, and part of the canine Search and Rescue team. His new partner is Dane. Both find the other attractive, but neither is sure of the other is gay. Both are part of a “macho” career field, and making an unwelcome advance could be more than just inconvenient. So, they spend time getting to know one another through a local baseball team, on the job and at company gatherings. The tension slowly builds.
Once the men are stranded after an avalanche, the tension breaks. The sex is frequent and hot once the main characters get together. But, this is where the story wobbled. Bear is very afraid of losing the career he worked so hard for and pushes Dane away. This naturally causes angst for the two men. I’ve read this in other gay romances, and it works fine. What I didn’t like was how a BDSM theme was suddenly thrown in and became a device to get the two men together. Frustrated at not having Dane, he visits a friend’s sex club to have anonymous submissive sex with a stranger. Huh? The author didn’t give any premise to Bear being into BDSM, and it made the character look like an ass for cheating on Dane. He obviously cares about Dane, but rather than take the risk of a relationship he decides to become a one-night sub? Even more ridiculous was his friend substituting Dane in for the masked dom. Surely Bear would recognize Dane’s body? And wouldn’t Dane be mighty ticked off? Luckily, after this weird intervention, the relationship moves forward albeit in secret. However, the story comes to an end all too quickly after this. The epilogue gives a hint of where they are, but it seemed as if the author intends a sequel and didn’t want to give anything away. But, it made this story feel rushed.
Overall, this was worth reading and had plenty of steamy sex, but the romance itself needed some work. Hopefully, future novels will address that. show less
First, I really liked that it was contemporary. The setting is Los Angeles, and the epilogue even mentions the California Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage and the ballot measure to ban it that is still to come. It made the story more real, with men that still have to hide their orientation to protect their jobs, and who realize that though the show more decision was groundbreaking, it didn’t fix the social issue. Anotehr positive is that the author spends a lot of time setting the story up and introducing the main character, Robert “Bear” Barrington. He’s a fireman, and part of the canine Search and Rescue team. His new partner is Dane. Both find the other attractive, but neither is sure of the other is gay. Both are part of a “macho” career field, and making an unwelcome advance could be more than just inconvenient. So, they spend time getting to know one another through a local baseball team, on the job and at company gatherings. The tension slowly builds.
Once the men are stranded after an avalanche, the tension breaks. The sex is frequent and hot once the main characters get together. But, this is where the story wobbled. Bear is very afraid of losing the career he worked so hard for and pushes Dane away. This naturally causes angst for the two men. I’ve read this in other gay romances, and it works fine. What I didn’t like was how a BDSM theme was suddenly thrown in and became a device to get the two men together. Frustrated at not having Dane, he visits a friend’s sex club to have anonymous submissive sex with a stranger. Huh? The author didn’t give any premise to Bear being into BDSM, and it made the character look like an ass for cheating on Dane. He obviously cares about Dane, but rather than take the risk of a relationship he decides to become a one-night sub? Even more ridiculous was his friend substituting Dane in for the masked dom. Surely Bear would recognize Dane’s body? And wouldn’t Dane be mighty ticked off? Luckily, after this weird intervention, the relationship moves forward albeit in secret. However, the story comes to an end all too quickly after this. The epilogue gives a hint of where they are, but it seemed as if the author intends a sequel and didn’t want to give anything away. But, it made this story feel rushed.
Overall, this was worth reading and had plenty of steamy sex, but the romance itself needed some work. Hopefully, future novels will address that. show less
BOOK BLURB:
A near-fatal accident brought them together, but never could two men be farther apart in lifestyle and social status than Boon Andrews and Ryan Halloran. Boon, a tattooed high school drop out, wears earrings and dresses in frayed cutoffs and “Doc” Martens boots. He cleans pools and windows for a living. Ryan Halloran holds a master’s degree from the most famous film school in southern California and, as the vice president of a motion picture studio, dresses in Versace suits show more and Bruno Magli shoes. He keeps time by a gold Rolex. Boon’s watch is a water resistant Timex. Attracted to Boon the moment he saw him on the window cleaners’ gondola outside his high rise office, horror had swept through Ryan when the cable broke on one end. His call to 911 saved the lives of Boon and his co-worker.
Elegant , cultured and self-controlled, Ryan not only responds to Boon’s carefree spirit and relaxed manner, he lusts for him. Boon discovers his craving for nude sex play with this man turns out not to be based on gratitude that Ryan saved his life ... it turns out to be love.
As Ryan wrestles with work problems that could mean the loss of the film studio, he falls deeply in love with the one-of-a-kind Boon. But when they start appearing in public together, and a former lover makes an appearance, the differences in their social status may well destroy their future.
BOOK REVIEW:
If you're looking for a light, Mills-and-Boon-esque, gay romance, then this is the book for you. Ryan and Boon meet in the most unlikely of circumstances, and the story tumbles enthusiastically towards their happily ever after, each of the hardships that threaten their relationship serving to bring them ever closer.
Viewed as a classic romance, with some racy sex scenes to heat things up, it's pretty good. Perhaps it's a little thin, but that may be because it's part of a series and I read it as a stand alone, but the writing is solid, and there are plenty of scenes where the characters shine ~ confident career man Ryan's nerves about meeting Boon's friends at a barbecue, for example, I could really empathize with.
On the other hand, if you're looking for a story that uses erotic romance to delve into the class issues mentioned in the book's blurb, then you may be disappointed. I certainly was, and by the time I was halfway through the book, the feeling that the story had been miss-sold had undone all the good work the author had done in setting up the main characters and their circle, which meant I was really irritated by by the story's moments of romantic cliche and some terminology in the sex scenes, which rubbed up the wrong way against some of my personal bugbears. It's about class issues like "the secretary and the sheik" romances are about race issues ~ I was hoping for more than that.
I'm glad I stuck with it, though, as Boon helping Ryan overcome his fear of heights with Boon's window cleaning kit is a striking symbol of them building their future together, and, emotionally, I got my happy ending.
(Originally reviewed fro Rainbow Reviews - http://www.rainbow-reviews.com/?p=1034) show less
A near-fatal accident brought them together, but never could two men be farther apart in lifestyle and social status than Boon Andrews and Ryan Halloran. Boon, a tattooed high school drop out, wears earrings and dresses in frayed cutoffs and “Doc” Martens boots. He cleans pools and windows for a living. Ryan Halloran holds a master’s degree from the most famous film school in southern California and, as the vice president of a motion picture studio, dresses in Versace suits show more and Bruno Magli shoes. He keeps time by a gold Rolex. Boon’s watch is a water resistant Timex. Attracted to Boon the moment he saw him on the window cleaners’ gondola outside his high rise office, horror had swept through Ryan when the cable broke on one end. His call to 911 saved the lives of Boon and his co-worker.
Elegant , cultured and self-controlled, Ryan not only responds to Boon’s carefree spirit and relaxed manner, he lusts for him. Boon discovers his craving for nude sex play with this man turns out not to be based on gratitude that Ryan saved his life ... it turns out to be love.
As Ryan wrestles with work problems that could mean the loss of the film studio, he falls deeply in love with the one-of-a-kind Boon. But when they start appearing in public together, and a former lover makes an appearance, the differences in their social status may well destroy their future.
BOOK REVIEW:
If you're looking for a light, Mills-and-Boon-esque, gay romance, then this is the book for you. Ryan and Boon meet in the most unlikely of circumstances, and the story tumbles enthusiastically towards their happily ever after, each of the hardships that threaten their relationship serving to bring them ever closer.
Viewed as a classic romance, with some racy sex scenes to heat things up, it's pretty good. Perhaps it's a little thin, but that may be because it's part of a series and I read it as a stand alone, but the writing is solid, and there are plenty of scenes where the characters shine ~ confident career man Ryan's nerves about meeting Boon's friends at a barbecue, for example, I could really empathize with.
On the other hand, if you're looking for a story that uses erotic romance to delve into the class issues mentioned in the book's blurb, then you may be disappointed. I certainly was, and by the time I was halfway through the book, the feeling that the story had been miss-sold had undone all the good work the author had done in setting up the main characters and their circle, which meant I was really irritated by by the story's moments of romantic cliche and some terminology in the sex scenes, which rubbed up the wrong way against some of my personal bugbears. It's about class issues like "the secretary and the sheik" romances are about race issues ~ I was hoping for more than that.
I'm glad I stuck with it, though, as Boon helping Ryan overcome his fear of heights with Boon's window cleaning kit is a striking symbol of them building their future together, and, emotionally, I got my happy ending.
(Originally reviewed fro Rainbow Reviews - http://www.rainbow-reviews.com/?p=1034) show less
Little Grizzly Lake is not exactly your ordinary mountain location, vampire, werebears and one werecat inhabit it, but as usual the danger doesn’t come from them.
Trent is the last arrival to the town and he is soon “welcomed”: drugged and almost raped by some punks. Lucky him Martin was out there in the night mind his business and decided he didn’t want to witness to that. When Trent awakes in Martin’s cabin, the handsome Iroquois Native American not so subtly make him aware of show more his interest, an interest that Trent would be willing to reciprocate if not for the fact that he is in Little Grizzly Lake to search his lost twin.
The author chose to plunge the reader directly in the middle of the story. That Trent is newly arrived in town and that it was not the first time he met Martin are all details the reader learns in a second-hand way, through memories and chatting. Even Trent’s real reason for being in town, Paul, is somewhat like an afterthought, and even if Trent is a cop he doesn’t really behave like one, actually Martin, the owner of a gym, appears to be more “professional” than Trent.
The author mostly focuses on Trent and Martin’s blossoming relationship and on Martin’s everyday life; even Choco, Martin’s cat, has a bigger role in the story than Trent’s search for his brother. And due to the “abrupt” ending, I think the author didn’t really “close” this story, and that she is maybe planning a sequel, since, more or less, there are a lot of loose ends, like for example the simple fact that Trent is a L.A. cop and that I don’t see Martin moving away from Little Grizzly Lake.
The small town itself is very interesting: a place where an ancient clan of werebears is living in peace, even if not really all the town is aware of their true nature; moreover also a group of vampires made of Little Grizzly Lake their own reserve and they grudgingly cohabit with the weres, even if there is not really good neighbour relationships between them, but more a live and let live motto.
All in all the story was good above all since it was an original intake of an abused theme; I’m not really sure I fully understand everything, I had the feeling there was even a “sad” undertone I’m not sure it was willingly intertwined by the author in the plot.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0046LV2JW/?tag=elimyrevandra-20 show less
Trent is the last arrival to the town and he is soon “welcomed”: drugged and almost raped by some punks. Lucky him Martin was out there in the night mind his business and decided he didn’t want to witness to that. When Trent awakes in Martin’s cabin, the handsome Iroquois Native American not so subtly make him aware of show more his interest, an interest that Trent would be willing to reciprocate if not for the fact that he is in Little Grizzly Lake to search his lost twin.
The author chose to plunge the reader directly in the middle of the story. That Trent is newly arrived in town and that it was not the first time he met Martin are all details the reader learns in a second-hand way, through memories and chatting. Even Trent’s real reason for being in town, Paul, is somewhat like an afterthought, and even if Trent is a cop he doesn’t really behave like one, actually Martin, the owner of a gym, appears to be more “professional” than Trent.
The author mostly focuses on Trent and Martin’s blossoming relationship and on Martin’s everyday life; even Choco, Martin’s cat, has a bigger role in the story than Trent’s search for his brother. And due to the “abrupt” ending, I think the author didn’t really “close” this story, and that she is maybe planning a sequel, since, more or less, there are a lot of loose ends, like for example the simple fact that Trent is a L.A. cop and that I don’t see Martin moving away from Little Grizzly Lake.
The small town itself is very interesting: a place where an ancient clan of werebears is living in peace, even if not really all the town is aware of their true nature; moreover also a group of vampires made of Little Grizzly Lake their own reserve and they grudgingly cohabit with the weres, even if there is not really good neighbour relationships between them, but more a live and let live motto.
All in all the story was good above all since it was an original intake of an abused theme; I’m not really sure I fully understand everything, I had the feeling there was even a “sad” undertone I’m not sure it was willingly intertwined by the author in the plot.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0046LV2JW/?tag=elimyrevandra-20 show less
Statistics
- Works
- 29
- Members
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- Rating
- 3.3
- Reviews
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- ISBNs
- 25