Deirdre Martin (1)

Ooh here comes my optimism again, the book starts off really good with lots of funny lines. Gemma's inner dialogue reminds me a lot of my own. I love when the firemen keep calling her ma'am and she thinks "When did I go from miss to ma'am?" I have thought that a lot lately also! Strangely it seems to miff me a little bit.
The connection between Gemma and Sean hits hard and fast, they sleep together before they even have a first date. When Sean finds out Gemma practices Wicca you can feel his show more panic, you know he's thinking "She thinks she's a witch, a witch!" I really sympathized when Gemma grabbed a stuff animal to cuddle with after Sean snuck out; what woman hasn't went to the faithful stuffed animal in times of heartbreak?
I just love how the author writes Gemma. Before Gemma and Sean really get to know each other she imagines how everything is going to be. Again what woman doesn't go a little crazy imagining the perfect date or how every little detail of the relationship is going to pan out. It's great how Deirdre Martin writes what Gemma imagines and then what really happens. No one ever quite imagines it the way it eventually turns out do they?
The author kind of recycles a storyline she used in her other book "Chasing Stanley", Gemma doesn't get along with Sean's friends and Sean doesn't get along with Gemma's friends and then they wonder if they have anything in common since each others friends don't like them. I was a little disgruntled the author wrote the scenes to be so similar.
I really, really liked this book. The book, story line, and characters felt "real" to me. The realness of Gemma and Sean's relationship problems thoroughly sucked me into the story and the back story line involving Gemma, her mother, and their inability to connect. Ah, the wonder of mother/daughter relationships. Plus some of the ways Sean acts towards Gemma made me feel mushy on the inside, he did some pretty sweet things. This story wasn't an epic romance but a great real life romance story, definitely a keeper for me. And hey who doesn't love reading about those rugged heroes called firemen!

I forgot to mention this book could be considered part of Deirdre Martin's NY Blades series because a couple characters from previous books make an appearance here; it would be #3 in the series I think. Anyway it is not necessary to read the previous books to understand this one.

A show less

What is it about a Deirdre Martin book that I get giddy excited just reading the first sentence of the book? The character of Katie and Paul are classic Deirdre Martin, real- with all their flaws and insecurities.
I was a little astonished at how soon Katie gets over her embarrassment and nervousness around Paul; they end up sleeping together on their second date, the first date she ended up throwing up.
Have I mentioned I love the humor Deirdre Martin writes in her books, because I do, I show more really do. I laughed myself silly when Katie and Paul are busted having an afternoon sleepover by Katie's mom, really great comedic scenes. The situations she puts her characters into could be taken right out of everyday life and the way they react is so normal and real. Well real if every lady had an ex-NHLer drooling after them as is the case in this book.
Oh God, a big thank-you to the character "Snake" for giving one of the best lines I have read in 2009: "Sports ain’t macho unless something dies.” Anyway I like how Martin always pairs hilarious situations with a side storyline which involves a deep emotional real-life problem. In this case Katie's sister is a recovering druggie who is in rehab while her son is staying with their mom and Katie is helping to take care of him. Emotional stuff which somewhat steals the spotlight from the romance storyline of the book, but done so well I didn't really mind.
This book is all about if you can go home again, family dynamics, coming to terms with your past and future, and what you really want out of life. Sometimes the romance aspect of the story takes a backseat, but I didn't mind, well ok I started to mind when the last 30 pages or so had basically no interaction between Katie and Paul. The ending was a bit abrupt and a tad unsatisfactory, give me a little more here Martin! However, I love books which make you feel, think, and question what is important in your own life; this book certainly does all that. The first 90% of the book was really great and even though the last 10% of the book started to drag with its lack of romance, I am still going to make this book a personal keeper. (My love for the NHL absolutely didn't influence this decision at all, really....ok maybe a little)

A- show less

To be clear, every single star in that rating goes to Laura Florand's story. I didn't even finish Deirdre Martin's, and while Christie Ridgway's tale was readable, I found myself restraining the occasional violent urge toward her hero and heroine.

But Laura Florand's story...bestill my heart, man. Beautiful, evocative writing. Likable, and flawed, protagonists. The magic of Paris (which I'm generally indifferent about) and chocolate (which I am never indifferent about). A sexy, decadent, show more utterly charming story. Seriously: it is entirely possible that time stopped whilst I read it. I will definitely be reading the others in her Amour et Chocolat series. show less

Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Oct08

Let me just start off by admitting that I’ve never watched a hockey game (I’m a southern girl, born and bred), and I’m also not a big fan of the ‘sports’ genre of romance. But it didn’t take more than a chapter or two for me to realize that good romance is good romance regardless of the setting; and “Power Play” by Deirdre Martin is good romance! He’s a hockey star and she’s a soap opera star, but they have more in common show more than either would have guessed.

Eric’s a tomcatting hockey star who’s just been traded and is the ‘new guy’ with big shoes to fill. His big mouth starts him off on the wrong foot with his teammates and his poor playing starts him off on the wrong foot with the fans. Maybe his guest spot on the #1 rated soap will help with the fans AND his teammates since the whole team is addicted. It will also provide him the opportunity to meet his fantasy woman, leading lady Monica. The meeting between Eric and Monica doesn’t exactly go swimmingly, but Eric’s ego is stroked when he gets a call from Monica’s PR rep to act as her escort. He knew she couldn’t resist him!

Monica can’t quite believe how pitiful both Eric’s acting and pick-up lines are! But when a young ingénue called Chesty, I mean Chessy, is hired for the soap, she places a panicky call to her PR rep who suggests that Monica go out to see and be seen and get some ink. When said rep suggests Eric as an escort, Monica isn’t thrilled, but hey…how bad can it be? They’ll just have a little mutual business thing that’ll be good for both their images, right?

These two made me laugh…a lot! Eric with his often stereotypical playboy ‘jockness’ and Monica with her soap star insecurities are quite the pair. I liked that there isn’t any immediate hopping into bed between these two, there’s attraction sure, but Monica isn’t ‘into’ casual flings and she sets the boundaries right up front. They’re just business associates…until gradually they become friends…and then lovers. And it’s all the more believable because of that gradual growth in their relationship. They each have ups and downs, both personal and professional; they have to learn how to work through them while still supporting their ‘friend’.

The sheer cattiness and shallowness of the acting world is beautifully (and hilariously) written and had me rolling a few times. And Martin’s portrayal of locker room jesting and antics is much like I’ve imagined it would be. The initial façade for both of these characters is pulled away slowly to reveal what’s beneath their masks…and every step was clearly described. Some of these revelations come about via some interesting secondary characters that further the plot instead of detract from it. And the sexual tension between the leads is very steamy and very well done.

I’m altogether glad I read “Power Play” by Deirdre Martin. It was both more and less than I’d imagined a ‘hockey love story’ would or could be. For me, the important and memorable scenes from this novel are the ones which show the changing way the characters relate to each other and their stubbornness in recognizing their growing feelings. That is a part of love and romance that never seems to change, whatever the scenery!! show less