Rating: 
Summary: Karen--where are your morals??
Review: I don't want to sound like an fuddy-duddy, but how can readers sympathize with a woman who has no compunction whatsoever about cheating on her husband and endangering the career of her lover in the process? How can anyone like a hero who cheats with the wife of an old family friend, endangers his own and his partner's business with the affair, and admits to having cheated on his previous wife with no legitimate reason? Yes, there were some very sexy scenes in this novel, but there's no real love between the two main characters. If Ronnie wasn't great looking, what would Tom see in her? I kept asking myself that question as I read and came up with nothing. She's a gold-digger plain and simple. She acted irresponsibly and childish in her pursuit of Tom.Sorry, Karen, but this one is just hard to stomach.
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic Book
Review: I loved this book! I really felt like I knew the characters and was happy that everything worked out well for Ronnie and Tom. I loved how it wasn't just some cheesy romance novel. It had lots of suspense, struggle, and emotion.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't "listen" to other reviews-read it for yourself!
Review: I read the reviews and then read the book afraid that this was going to be one that I put down before finishing. But I didn't come out with the same results as other reviewers. Ronnie was raised in a poor, torn-up family, with little love. She set the goals of marrying wealthy so she would never have to do without again. She was even careful with her reputation and didn't date just anybody. In her college years she met a wealthy older man that had it all. His first marriage had had problems and was in its final stage (all that was left was signing the papers). He offered Ronnie a job in his political arena and started pursuing her heavily. Finding out that it was going to take marriage before he could get her in bed he made the offer. Marriage! Thinking he would have a young, beautiful, "trophy" wife. He continued having other woman, though. By their third year Ronnie was on longer giving him rights to her bed due to his other affairs. Divorce wasn't a question, though, due to her husband's political career for re-election. A 2nd divorce would ruin his chance for re-election. I do feel that KR made her characters rather shallow for the reader, not giving us enough information to feel some warm for them. But I did not come away feelig like other readers did about Ronnie and Tom. Ronnie was young & beautiful, with her guard up since she was the 2nd wife, accused of breaking up a marriage (though it was on the rocks before she even showed up). She thought having material things and money would feel the void of love until she found someone that showed her kindness and later on love. Remember (if you have already read it), that Ronnie had not reached out to any other man during her marriage until Tom came on the scene. So she was trying to deal with it. Tom was hired by Ronnie's husband as a campaign adviser to help get his campaign back on track. He, himself, was in the process of rebuilding his business with his partner and was good at his business. He started working with Ronnie, seeing right off a woman that was being treated harshly by the public as well as being alone in her private life. He reached out to her with lust in his mind when they first got together sexually- but then it turned into love, realizing that they cared for each other. Doesn't that happen in a lot of relationships? Then there is the murder of the senator and Ronnie is accused of doing it. It turns into a "who done it" story. It's not the best I have read, but it sure isn't the worse, either. I really wanted to judge it with a 3 1/2 stars but felt bad about all of the other low reviews that I went with a 4 stars. Read it for yourself and see what you think!
Rating:
Summary: ok
Review: I read this book but really once I finished I reading it I had no desire to recommend it to my friends. Just the idea of the main character looking from the beginning for someone to excite her other than her husband, I don't go for. I have read most of Ms Robards books and this is really the only one that I find almost offensive.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Book I Have EVER read!
Review: I thought that this was definetly a wonderful book! Although I may be under age, but I am a very advanced reader. I felt that Ronnie was certainly a character to care for. She was into a affair with Tom, a political consultant, and was smart and did not mention the publicity out loud. I disagree with some of the reviews I have read. I have read over 2000 books and I feel that this one is certainly MUCH, MUCH better than any other Adult book I have ever read.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a single redeeming character in the book!!!
Review: I've read many of the reviews written here and I can't believe all the people who still liked Tom.
I agree completely that Ronnie is the most selfish, shallow, mercenary character I have ever encountered in a book. In any other book, she would have been the protagonist, not the heroine. She isn't a character that you love to hate. She is a character that you wish had been killed off early in the book to make room for more interesting characters.
But, it seems that everyone is ignoring the past history of Tom and many of the reviews are making him out to be Ronnie's victim. The man openly admitted he cheated on his wife, but when he caught her cheating on him, he went ballistic and a messy divorce ensued. I threw the book across the room in a fit of rage after reading that bit of hypocrisy!!! Can anyone say "double standard"? The sanctimonious, self-righteous attitude of his made me want to puke. How could anyone admire a "man who is trying to turn his life around" when he is the one who sent it into the toilet to begin with? He blamed his wife for setting him on a path of self-destruction, but he totally justified the fact that he had been cheating on her for years by saying he was only having one-night stands with "women who made themselves very available". Let's have a dose of reality here, buddy! If it's good enough for the gander, it's good enough for the goose.
I'm very glad I found this book at a used book store and didn't pay full price for it. I would truly be tempted to ask for my money back otherwise. Karen Robards has always been an author that I automatically bought her books without reading the back cover. You can bet I will be more careful in the future. This book offended my moral standards of right and wrong. All the characters in this book were just plain WRONG!
Rating:
Summary: The Best Book I Have EVER read!
Review: I've read some of the other reviews and a common theme was that the main characters, and particularly Ronnie were not likeable. I definitely agree. I can't think of another book ever with such a totally selfish, destructive, narcissistic main character as Ronnie. The story opens with Ronnie covered with red paint and called a name,while her protectors stood and watched unable to apprehend the woman. I was sympathetic until the author developed Ronnie's character more. Ronnie sold herself to the highest bidder and then refused to sleep with her husband or wholeheartedly try to help him win his election. She did continue to enjoy the lavish lifestyle provided by the horrible husband. Then, when Tom was hired to change her image, she scornfully refused to cooperate. When Tom refused to sleep with her, because he had a second chance to turn his reputation around and become a success professionally, Ronnie kept up the pressure until she eventually destroyed his business and reputation. Well if it dresses like a duck, quacks like a duck, walks like a duck, it must be a duck(or high-priced prostitute). I also had no sympathy for this poor thing whose x-rated pictures were published. Wow, take off your clothes and seduce a guest at a large party, don't bother to shut the curtains. I'd say the person wanted to be seen. When Ronnie refused to cooperate with the lawyer because she couldn't believe anyone could think she killed her husband, it was truly ridiculous. Ronnie may have graduated from college, but she never showed a sigh of intelligence. I tended to have sympathy with Tom for part of the book, however, any man who throws away a girlfriend of several years and a chance to redeem his reputation and business because he can't keep his pants zipped deserves no sympathy. Tom criticized his best friend for a short fling, and turned around and destroyed the business and their reputation for an affair with a married woman. What a self-centered, hypocrite! Ronnie didn't deserve the millions from her dead husband, but I guess she will need it to take care of Tom after destroying his business. I guess that will make him for sale as much as she was. I really think Marla was the only character with moral value. At least she knew what she was. I can't believe I spent the money to buy a hardback book. I would have felt cheated if I'd paid a quarter for the book at a yard sale. Well, enjoy Karen Robards. From my feelings and the reviews of some of the other readers, I think you'll lose money on future books. The suspense wasn't there, the romance wasn't there, the story continuity wasn't there; and steamy sex between characters you don't like doesn't cut it.
Rating:
Summary: First, last and only Karen Robard's book
Review: I've read some of the other reviews and a common theme was that the main characters, and particularly Ronnie were not likeable. I definitely agree. I can't think of another book ever with such a totally selfish, destructive, narcissistic main character as Ronnie. The story opens with Ronnie covered with red paint and called a name,while her protectors stood and watched unable to apprehend the woman. I was sympathetic until the author developed Ronnie's character more. Ronnie sold herself to the highest bidder and then refused to sleep with her husband or wholeheartedly try to help him win his election. She did continue to enjoy the lavish lifestyle provided by the horrible husband. Then, when Tom was hired to change her image, she scornfully refused to cooperate. When Tom refused to sleep with her, because he had a second chance to turn his reputation around and become a success professionally, Ronnie kept up the pressure until she eventually destroyed his business and reputation. Well if it dresses like a duck, quacks like a duck, walks like a duck, it must be a duck(or high-priced prostitute). I also had no sympathy for this poor thing whose x-rated pictures were published. Wow, take off your clothes and seduce a guest at a large party, don't bother to shut the curtains. I'd say the person wanted to be seen. When Ronnie refused to cooperate with the lawyer because she couldn't believe anyone could think she killed her husband, it was truly ridiculous. Ronnie may have graduated from college, but she never showed a sigh of intelligence. I tended to have sympathy with Tom for part of the book, however, any man who throws away a girlfriend of several years and a chance to redeem his reputation and business because he can't keep his pants zipped deserves no sympathy. Tom criticized his best friend for a short fling, and turned around and destroyed the business and their reputation for an affair with a married woman. What a self-centered, hypocrite! Ronnie didn't deserve the millions from her dead husband, but I guess she will need it to take care of Tom after destroying his business. I guess that will make him for sale as much as she was. I really think Marla was the only character with moral value. At least she knew what she was. I can't believe I spent the money to buy a hardback book. I would have felt cheated if I'd paid a quarter for the book at a yard sale. Well, enjoy Karen Robards. From my feelings and the reviews of some of the other readers, I think you'll lose money on future books. The suspense wasn't there, the romance wasn't there, the story continuity wasn't there; and steamy sex between characters you don't like doesn't cut it.
Rating: 
Summary: Ho Hum...
Review: If romances were only about the hero, this book would be fine. But they're not - you also need a heroine who's relatable and some sparks between the characters. I guess my problem with this story was that I didn't really like Ronnie that much. I mean - she seemed nice enough, but Robards never really discussed why she had such a *need* for money... and had been essentially willing to prostitute herself for it. She also seemed to have a superior attitude towards people who didn't wear designer clothes. Ronnie was more like the lead characters in a Jane Krantz book than a Karen Robards book (all glitz and glamour and no substance underneath it all). And I liked Tom enough. But again - not enough character development. He had a lot of potential, and certainly was sexy, but I didn't *care* about him like I like to care about the hero in a good romance. I guess that's the problem with this book - the characters were interesting... I just didn't really care about them. When I finished, I looked around and said "What next?" rather than wishing the book wasn't over.
Rating:
Summary: I Expected Something That Sizzled, Not Stank
Review: Not knowing what genre Ms. Robards writes, I had assumed by the title and flap copy that this was a love romance and a political potboiler. What I found was a badly written novel where the two main characters, Ronnie and Tom, were one-dimensional. Their feelings for each other were very primal and basic, and yet for people who discovered that the other was his/her true love I just couldn't shake the feeling that the characters just didn't give a darn about the other. I felt no sympathy for either of them. As for the "political scandal" where Tom and Ronnie are photographed in the act, in light of the Clinton impeachment I just didn't find this to be all that earth-shattering. In fact, their stupidity in not bothering to close the drapes and acting like teenagers rather than adults with a conscience irritated me. Then there's the ultra corny subplot of Ronnie's husband being murdered and the reasoning for it. For most of the book I felt that there was no point to this, and in the end when the person behind it wasn't at all who I thought it would be but a character that barely had more than five pages devoted to him I felt cheated. I sensed that Ms. Robards couldn't decide between a traditional romance or a Baldacci-style political thriller, and her end result was far from perfect. How her editor and agent let this get through without a serious rewrite is beyond me.
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