Rating: 
Summary: Did not finish
Review: I would not normally write a review on something I did not finish, but I felt like putting my two cents in. The book started off pretty good. I like when the main characters share a past. But I was getting kind of antsy and skimmed thru the pages. Well I came across a sex scene and I was kind of shocked. And let me tell you it takes a lot to shock me.
The scene seemed so vulgar. I hate when the guy in the book thinks he can have his way with the girl, most importantly, when it comes to sex. And I hate when the girl gives in. It seems so degrading and I was not impressed.
Now, I did not finish the book or even get that far, so I guess I can't make a great review. I just thought it was too much. Maybe I'll go back and read it, but for now it turned me off.
Rating: 
Summary: Better and better
Review: So far I have read all of Laurne Bach's books. They progress as she wrote more. So far this is the best book she wrote and I liked it. There are some minor details that need work, but overall this is a great romantic suspence.
It all starts as Alec comes back into town to protect Keira, whom he left without a word to 10 years ago. The story takes off from there. They have an explosive romance with lots of sparks. Their love scenes get your blood pumping and their fights light up the pages. The suspence keeps you wondering and on the edge without being too dark.
Willie is a hoot and Franny was one of my favorite characters aside from the main ones. Scarlet was almost a waste of a character. She is one of the details that need work. As well as some plot work. There were just not enough details in some of the more important scenes. Like with Alec leaving. That is a big issue and a big part of the story line, yet it does not get much focus.
This is a story with great characters, a good plot and good story line. The romance does not take a backseat to the suspence and both elements keep you on edge. I do recommend this book and hope you enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Fast paced writing and sexual tension -- Highly recommended
Review: Ten years ago Alec Dempsey promised Keira Morgan the world, but left her with only empty promises. Now pending danger to Keira forces Alec to confront the past when the ATF sends him back to Freedom, Arkansas. Five years ago Ian Griggs and his two brothers hijacked an armored truck, stealing two million dollars. No one recovered the money.Now Griggs sentence has been commuted, and he'll be returning to Freedom to live in a halfway house. Alec also knows about the assault and battery, and attempted rape Ian was never charged with, against Keira. Ian blames Keira for his brothers' death, and the ATF intends to use her and the missing money to apprehend not only Ian, but also his mobster link. When the FBI calls to inform Keira of Ian's return to Freedom, they use her affection for her grandfather to secure her cooperation in their case. But Alec arrives in town early, catching her unprepared. Despite meddlesome rivals, sexual tension sends sparks of electricity neither can ignore. But when the danger ends, Alec has a life elsewhere, and Keira's life is firmly bound to the small town of Freedom. With her first release, LONE RIDER, author Lauren Bach established her hard hitting, powerful style in the romance genre. SLOW HANDS continues that extraordinary voice in a novel rich with fast paced writing and sexual tension. While readers may grow a bit impatient with the man hunting, secondary character who successfully intimidates Keira in her personal life, they will cheer Keira's spunk as she handles testosterone laden professional rivals and lurking danger. A quick read, readers will thoroughly enjoy Bach's SLOW HANDS. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: fast-paced romantic suspense
Review: The FBI recruits ATF agent Alec Dempsey to go undercover in his hometown of Freedom, Arkansas. Alec initially refused to participate as he not only never wants to return there, but he knows he hurt the only woman he loved, Keira Morgan when he left ten years ago. The FBI persuades Alec to cooperate when they inform him the threat is to Keira. Five years ago Ian Griggs and his two brothers robbed an armored truck. His siblings died in a crossfire, but Ian lived to serve a life in prison. The loot was never recovered. Before he was caught, Ian tried to rape Keira. The FBI thinks he will go home for the loot and take revenge with Keira as the target. Alec arrives in town early so he and Keira can get their story straight. Though Alec tries to keep Keira safe from Ian, she does not want to cooperate. Soon that high spark between them reignites into a fiery love, but as the danger mounts for Keira she wonders how soon after the peril ends he will leave this time. SLOW HANDS is a fast-paced romantic suspense that hooks the audience into anticipating when Ian will strike. Alec is an engaging hero though the audience will question the way he left Keira a decade ago. Readers will appreciate Keira a brave soul running a business in a male chauvinist environment in which she refuses to take crap, but loathe Keira the wimp accepting junk from a "plastic" rival in her personal life. Still Lauren Bach furnishes sub-genre readers with a pleasant tale. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: A scorcher!
Review: The last thing in the world that Alex Dempsey wanted to do was to return to Freedom, Arkansas. When he had run out on his high school sweetheart on the day of their elopement ten years ago, he had been determined to find a life for himself outside of the small town confines of Freedom - even though it had broken his heart to leave Keira behind. He was happy with his life now as an ATF agent. When he was assigned as an undercover agent on an assignment back in Freedom, he refused to go. Until he was told that Keira's life was in danger. Why did his heart speed up just thinking about Keira? He was over her. Wasn't he? Would she still hate him, still be carrying a grudge against him for leaving her behind, never contacting her in those ten long years? Keira Morgan had finally gotten over the heartbreak of having Alex stand her up on the day they were supposed to elope. It had been a long time ago. Ten years in fact. One could get over anything in ten years. Couldn't they? As she came face to face with Alex outside Franny's Style Salon in the newly revived downtown district of Freedom, she discovered that the one thing a person couldn't get over was being stood up at the altar - even though it had been ten long years ago. Seems Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose. Lauren Bach has written one hot book - in more ways than one. Word of warning - you will need an oven mitt to handle SLOW HANDS. The steam literally rises from the pages as you turn them. Lauren has a fascinating way of combining two genres, romance and mystery, that leaves the reader breathless - and begging for more. ***
...
Rating: 
Summary: Slow Hands is okay but not great
Review: This is my first book by Lauren Bach. I realize that by not loving Slow Hands, I set myself apart from some very popular reviewers. However, I saw nothing in the book that made it more than an average read. It could be that I am unaccustomed to Bach's writing style. The story does improve after the halfway point and therefore the book gets better once you work past the typical, overused romance lines and situations. Although the book improves with reading, the writing is still totally predictable and the situations often unbelievable. An example would be the female antagonist, Scarlett. She is a far-fetched character as a small town woman who is an over-the-top witch and troublemaker for the leads' romance. Anyone who was really that mean would not be accepted in small town society. And the heroine, Keira, while very likable, has so many TSTL (to stupid to live) moments that I seriously doubted her intelligence. Again and again she places her life at risk even after realizing someone not only wants to do her serious harm, but also wants her dead. The FBI has borrowed Alec Dempsey, an agent with the ATF, for an assignment in his hometown of Freedom, Arkansas. Alec is to provide undercover protection for Keira Morgan from convicted killer, Ian Griggs. Griggs is being released years early from prison (too early for believability) as part of an FBI investigation. Griggs had not only been involved in a major robbery but had been convicted six years earlier of murder as well. Another of his crimes that he had never been tried for was the beating and attempted rape of Keira Morgan. Alec reluctantly accepts the assignment sensing that something is strange about this investigation. His primary reason for accepting the job, however, is his past ties to Keira. Keira and Alec had been deeply involved in a love relationship and planned to marry ten years ago. Suddenly, Alec left Freedom those ten years ago without a word to Keira, and the two have not communicated at all since then. Alec is the standard contemporary romance hero. He is handsome, extremely skilled at protecting others, very sexy, and doesn't believe he will ever marry and settle down. Keira is the owner and successful operator of an electrical company. She is a down to earth type of southern gal who has not been too interested in men and finds a lot of fulfillment with her friends, work, and her grandfather. She loves Freedom and never wants to leave. Keira doesn't want Alec back in town - especially close enough to her to provide protection. She had been shattered at Alec's desertion all those years ago and wants him to stay far from her. She cannot allow him to hurt her again.
Slow Hands would fall into the Romance Suspense category - one that is increasing in popularity. It is not one of my favorite categories because the romance often takes back seat to the action. I read romance writing for romance and mystery/suspense writing for a good mystery. I have not seen many instances where both facets in Romance Suspense are written well. This book does have more action pages than romance pages. And although Keira falls into the "I don't like you but can't keep from having sex with you" situation over and over again, Alec and Keira's romance does have a magical quality to it. We can see both of the leads maturing and becoming more tender and understanding of each other. This is one book where the sensual scenes were one of the best parts of the book without being gratuitous. These scenes rate about a 4.5 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). They are rather explicit for romance writing. Slow Hands had the potential to be a very good story. However, there were just too many misunderstandings and lies for me to truly enjoy it. I felt like I read one cardboard scene after another. The ending did have somewhat of a surprise element to it. Maybe I wasn't paying good enough attention but the villain did catch me unaware. I cannot recommend that you not read this book. It has some very good pages. Just don't expect unusual characters or deep emotions. It is not a light-hearted book but is not a deep book either.
Rating:
Summary: Slow Hands is okay but not great
Review: This is my first book by Lauren Bach. I realize that by not loving Slow Hands, I set myself apart from some very popular reviewers. However, I saw nothing in the book that made it more than an average read. It could be that I am unaccustomed to Bach's writing style. The story does improve after the halfway point and therefore the book gets better once you work past the typical, overused romance lines and situations. Although the book improves with reading, the writing is still totally predictable and the situations often unbelievable. An example would be the female antagonist, Scarlett. She is a far-fetched character as a small town woman who is an over-the-top witch and troublemaker for the leads' romance. Anyone who was really that mean would not be accepted in small town society. And the heroine, Keira, while very likable, has so many TSTL (to stupid to live) moments that I seriously doubted her intelligence. Again and again she places her life at risk even after realizing someone not only wants to do her serious harm, but also wants her dead. The FBI has borrowed Alec Dempsey, an agent with the ATF, for an assignment in his hometown of Freedom, Arkansas. Alec is to provide undercover protection for Keira Morgan from convicted killer, Ian Griggs. Griggs is being released years early from prison (too early for believability) as part of an FBI investigation. Griggs had not only been involved in a major robbery but had been convicted six years earlier of murder as well. Another of his crimes that he had never been tried for was the beating and attempted rape of Keira Morgan. Alec reluctantly accepts the assignment sensing that something is strange about this investigation. His primary reason for accepting the job, however, is his past ties to Keira. Keira and Alec had been deeply involved in a love relationship and planned to marry ten years ago. Suddenly, Alec left Freedom those ten years ago without a word to Keira, and the two have not communicated at all since then. Alec is the standard contemporary romance hero. He is handsome, extremely skilled at protecting others, very sexy, and doesn't believe he will ever marry and settle down. Keira is the owner and successful operator of an electrical company. She is a down to earth type of southern gal who has not been too interested in men and finds a lot of fulfillment with her friends, work, and her grandfather. She loves Freedom and never wants to leave. Keira doesn't want Alec back in town - especially close enough to her to provide protection. She had been shattered at Alec's desertion all those years ago and wants him to stay far from her. She cannot allow him to hurt her again.
Slow Hands would fall into the Romance Suspense category - one that is increasing in popularity. It is not one of my favorite categories because the romance often takes back seat to the action. I read romance writing for romance and mystery/suspense writing for a good mystery. I have not seen many instances where both facets in Romance Suspense are written well. This book does have more action pages than romance pages. And although Keira falls into the "I don't like you but can't keep from having sex with you" situation over and over again, Alec and Keira's romance does have a magical quality to it. We can see both of the leads maturing and becoming more tender and understanding of each other. This is one book where the sensual scenes were one of the best parts of the book without being gratuitous. These scenes rate about a 4.5 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). They are rather explicit for romance writing. Slow Hands had the potential to be a very good story. However, there were just too many misunderstandings and lies for me to truly enjoy it. I felt like I read one cardboard scene after another. The ending did have somewhat of a surprise element to it. Maybe I wasn't paying good enough attention but the villain did catch me unaware. I cannot recommend that you not read this book. It has some very good pages. Just don't expect unusual characters or deep emotions. It is not a light-hearted book but is not a deep book either.
Rating:
Summary: WOW! Lauren Bach Has Done It Again!
Review: This is the second story by Lauren Bach and I must say that I am not disappointed in the least! This story was great and I found myself not wanting the story to end. The story of Alec and Keira is a story of second chance at love. Alec left Freedom Arkansas looking for "freedom". What he left behind was the only girl that he has ever loved. He is now back 10 years later as a member of ATF and undercover to protect that girl and hopefully be able to get out of Freedom with his heart intact. Keira has stayed on in Freedom and has gotten on with life and has put the heartbreak of Alec behind her. At least she thinks she has but when circumstances require Alec to come back and use her and their old relationship as a cover she finds out that she still loves him. The suspense in the story is entwined and is built upon so there is a great ending in store for the reader. This is a great sencond novel by this author and I can hardly wait for her next novel. I hope that she is working on it now!
Rating:
Summary: WOW! Lauren Bach Has Done It Again!
Review: This is the second story by Lauren Bach and I must say that I am not disappointed in the least! This story was great and I found myself not wanting the story to end. The story of Alec and Keira is a story of second chance at love. Alec left Freedom Arkansas looking for "freedom". What he left behind was the only girl that he has ever loved. He is now back 10 years later as a member of ATF and undercover to protect that girl and hopefully be able to get out of Freedom with his heart intact. Keira has stayed on in Freedom and has gotten on with life and has put the heartbreak of Alec behind her. At least she thinks she has but when circumstances require Alec to come back and use her and their old relationship as a cover she finds out that she still loves him. The suspense in the story is entwined and is built upon so there is a great ending in store for the reader. This is a great sencond novel by this author and I can hardly wait for her next novel. I hope that she is working on it now!
Rating:
Summary: Slow developments marks a slow sizzler
Review: This sophomore offering from Lauren Bach when juxtaposed to her scorching debut Lone Rider - is as what the title suggests - a slow sizzler. This has to be attributed to the formulaic plot of prodigal son Alec Dempsey returning to Freedom, Arkansas with a hidden agenda. As an ATF agent engaged to assist the FBI in recovering the lost coins as evidence to nail mob boss Joseph Ciccone and felon Ian Griggs, Alec has to face his cherished lost love Keira Morgan again. After his abrupt departure from the small-town a decade ago, Keira is left confused and despondent. The hurt she endured spawns the hostility towards Alec as the heartless deserter. In the face of treachery and sabotages, Alec and Keira is forced to acknowledge their passion. Alec takes on the role as a protective alpha male when Keira is harrassed by the vengeful Ian Griggs where she tips the police off five years ago and caused the death of his brothers. Their tenuous relationship festers under the intrusion of Keira's love rival Scarlet and her lack of trust. Slow Hands lacks the more developed romance and emotional intensity in its predecessor. While the suspense runs along smoothly, it is unequivocally the smoldering passion that raises temperature in the meandering story-line that diminishes the emotional connection between the two. Though the poignancy is more subdued here, Slow Hands nevertheless scorches sensually albeit in a decelerating mode compared to the swift Lone Rider.
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