Slow Heat in Heaven

Slow Heat in Heaven has been recommended to me a few years ago, but I hesitated to start it for a number of (mostly ridiculous) reasons. It took a trip to New Orleans for me to finally consider picking it up, due to the book's rural Louisiana setting. Yes, I totally counted it as research.

That said, for a while A Confederacy of Dunces had been a serious competitor, but let's face it: when it comes to holiday reading, the frivolous always wins out.

For those of you dreading the soap opera feels... you're completely justified! There's a rich family with a big house, and vast expanses of land. There's an ailing father on the brink of death, so naturally the feuding sisters are not far off either. There's lots of intrigue, along with a show more hefty dose of misunderstanding, generally solved by someone finally saying "Oh no, I had no idea you thought that! You should know I would NEVER EVER do *insert dramatically heinous act*!".

And of course, there's a hot romance to be had between the gorgeous but utterly broken Schyler Crandall, and the mysterious, hotter-than-the-Louisiana-sun-at-noon, Cash Boudreaux. Yes, I greatly enjoyed every single spark of that chemistry... when I wasn't busy cursing their many will-they-won't-they dances.

The setting on the other hand, that was just masterfully done. As far as I'm concerned, the book's biggest assets were the amazing descriptions of rural Louisiana, with its sweltering heat, dangerous swamps, and treacherous bayous. So glad I managed to finish it before I got to the swamp tour! I totally spent that hour and a half picturing Schyler and Cash, frolicking amidst the Cajun country wilderness.

Score: 2.7/5 stars

If you enjoy your lurid soap operas in prose format, I would definitely not miss a single page of this book. If you're not the biggest romance fan, but feel you can stomach some syrup for the promise of an amazing journey through rural Louisiana, deep breath and take the plunge. Otherwise, you can look forward to spending a few hours complaining about soap opera cliches in general. show less

This book was not for me. From the first couple of chapters I could tell I didn't like it, but forcing myself through it was really hard. Seriously, it was really hard. I can easily admit that I'm not the right audience for this book.

It is an older book, first and foremost. This is a reprint of Slow Heat in Heaven by Sandra Brown.

I found that this book had the creepiest of starts - there's a man watching Schyler in the bayou. He has creepy Edward Cullen vibes and that continues through most of the book for me. Cash Boudreaux, this creeping man, is described as undisciplined, not well liked, rude, cruel and mischievous. And, of course, he's the romantic love interest! Let's make out with the creepy, cruel man! That makes so much show more sense.

Then there's all of the side characters. Schyler's sister Tricia is mean and cruel and is an absolute cow. I can't find one thing I like about her, and it frustrates me. I dislike characters who have no human trait or good thing about them. Everyone can be likable in some sense or have human qualities about them. This woman is not! Calling her sister white trash was the final straw for me.

Ken, Tricia's husband and Schyler's ex, seems nice enough but still makes me feel sick. I just don't like him.

And Schyler and Tricia's Father is named Cotton. Plus there's Jigger and his dog fighting. It's just too much.

There's so many racist and sexist comments in this that I just couldn't. It was really hard to find things I liked about this book. I'm sure there are going to be readers who like it, but it's not for me. One hundred and fifty percent not my kind of book. I finished it to give it the due respect it deserves, but I don't want to read anymore books like this. I might give Sandra Brown another chance, but the two books I've read of her I haven't exactly enjoyed.

One out of five stars.

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. show less

It's hard for me to rate this, as I kind of enjoyed the sheer are-you-fucking-kidding-me levels of wtf going on, but it's difficult because there were quite a few slurs (of the racial and homophobic variety) that I had a hard time with. I understand that this was written a while ago (but not that long ago) but every time it was like being slapped in the face. There were certainly a ton of flawed, complex characters and I think that the language was used as a way to portray who the real villains were, but it felt unnecessary.

Also, too many viewpoints and an abrupt ending.

This book is kinda like Gone with the Wind on crack of the 20th century and its based in Louisiana. Instead of Tara you have Belle Terre. Before the book starts you have older sister that seduced younger sister fiance and married him which caused younger sister Schyler to run away to London for 6 years.. She comes back because her father (adopted father - both daughters were adopted) had a heart attack. In coming back she finds out her home that she loves is in danger of foreclosure. That her fathers Lumber business has been closed by her brother in law (who used to be her fiance) and that his marriage to her sister is a joke and he is constantly telling Schyler he made a mistake.. Then you have Cash who grew up in a shack on Belle show more Terre with his mother who was Schyler's father mistress. He is the quote Hero unquote of this book. But he constantly sleeps with other women through out pretty much the whole book.. The sexual tention between him and Schyler is hot through out the whole book. He is very angry about how he and his mother was treated when he was growing up and hates Schyler's father (for good reason - I am leaving out a big spoiler on that one) Then you have one of Schyler childhood friends who had to become a whore to pay for her mothers medical bills which in turn upset her childhood sweetheart to the point he ended up throwing away his football career and ended up in prison (which in this book deplicts him getting raped in prison). Ohh and the bad guy raises dogs to fight - and we the reader get to "go to" one of these..ICK.. Man I could go on and on about the craziness and disfunction of this book.. I still give it a four rating cause it was so disfunctionable that you couldnt put it down. You needed to see how this thing was going to end. show less

another strong romance; includes family loyalty, dark secrets and betrayal...the perfect mix. the heroine was a little ridiculous in her actions but storyline was strong; strong alpha

Typical early contemporary Brown. The characters make or break her books.

I thought this was a great book. Strong plot and interesting characters.....a real page turner.