Thoughts: Superb and Sexy

Superb and Sexy

by Jill Shalvis
Book 3 (final) of Sky High Air

~ Goodreads ~

Rating:  3.5 Stars

Buckle Up.  It’s Going To Be Quite A Ride...

Despite his brooding bad-boy attitude, Brody knows life has treated him pretty well.  His luxury charter airline, Sky High, has given him financial security and the means to take to the skies whenever things on the ground get complicated.  And lately, things have become very complicated, thanks to the insanely passionate, or perhaps just insane, kiss he shared with Sky High’s gorgeous, wisecracking concierge, Maddie.  He’s tried to keep his distance, but now Maddie desperately needs help, and it’s triggering protective alpha-male urges Brody didn’t even know he had...

For months, Maddie hid her crush on sexy, exasperating Brody behind a cool, kick-ass exterior…and then blew that to smithereens by jumping him in the lobby.  Yeah, real smooth.  She’s tried to break her ties with Sky High, but Brody won’t let her walk away—especially now that he knows that Maddie and her twin sister Leena are in big-time trouble.  To save Leena, Maddie and Brody must pose as husband and wife, and Maddie is amazed that the man she thought was oblivious to her existence knows her very well indeed.  But that’s nothing compared to the way she’s about to get to know him—intimately, in depth, and over and over again...

This Sky High book was clearly supposed to have been the big bang to end off the trilogy.  It felt like it was supposed to be the best of the three books, but apparently I'm delusional and come up with weird ideas all the time.

That being said, Superb and Sexy was still, most certainly, enjoyable and entertaining.  And then it started getting a little bit deliberate in its endeavor to be big and bad and better than the previous two books.  Or, once again, maybe it wasn't really trying, but I felt like it was trying.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is:

Maddie Stone is a wonderful, kickass, strong female character that I can totally stand behind and love.  Brody is the typical broody, main male character with Neanderthal thoughts even if no Neanderthal tendencies--the usual.  And because this couple was actually pretty entertaining with a great romantic development and lots of fun, Jill Shalvis-level banter, I absolutely wanted them to be my favorite of the three Sky High couples.  And they would have been, except for that all too familiar back-and-forth Noble Idiot™ device that kept lurking its way back into the plot time and time again.

Basically, Maddie's continued insistence on sacrificing her life for her sister while running away from Brody to keep him safe would have worked for me as part of the story's Suspense attractiveness.  But then it kept getting reused throughout the whole book that it started getting annoyingly tiresome.  Using that device once was enough; twice is pushing it; three or four times is just frustrating.

Nonetheless, the book was still very enjoyable and I still DID love Maddie a lot, if only because she's so kickass.  Brody was a breath of fresh air in some aspects, but let's face it, he's the usual Jill Shalvis main male hero: big, muscled, broody, alpha, clueless.  He's a great guy; he just doesn't stand out.

The rest of the book's story and the rest of the characters weren't bad either.  I appreciate bringing Noah, Shayne, and Dani into the book, even if just briefly.  I even enjoyed Leena's presence and the brief side tangent with her and Ben, even if it was also quite brief.  And the story's build-up of suspense as a semi-crime thriller made a very valiant attempt as well.

In light of not wanting to ruin anything with spoilers, however, the only thing I'll say about the ending, was that it could have been better outlined.  Instead, the conclusion came about like some cheesy family movie flick ending wherein we rush to some half-assed resolution that would really only make sense if we weren't really trying hard enough to think about it.  And then we get a short epilogue sequence slash character curtain call that felt extremely narrated to death.

And some story tangents, once again, got left in the dust.  I'm not even sure the underlying conflict between Leena and Ben got resolved so much as scrapped with a universal "love conquers all" stamp.

I'm not gonna lie--as much as I love HEAs, this one was a little pathetic.  Granted, it was a nice little HEA.  I don't dislike it.  I guess I just kind of accepted it as the best that I'd get out of this trilogy.

In the meantime, I guess I'll just go back to the Lucky Harbor series.  Maybe Ms. Shalvis was really meant to write contemporary more than anything else.  After all, even with a Romantic Suspense tag on these three Sky High books, they really DID feel like they were more in the vein of a Contemporary Romance that just so happened to use a crime thriller base board to jump off of.

Not that that's a problem or anything, because I still enjoyed them.  These were still enjoyable books with lovely characters and lots of steamy, hot sex.  The Jill Shalvis charm is definitely there.

Except for Smart and Sexy.  I might have to pretend that first book didn't happen the way that it did, Jill Shalvis charm or no.


***

2016 Reading Challenges:
• Goodreads Reading Challenge
• BookLikes Reading Challenge
• Bookish Resolutions Challenge

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This review was originally posted at Ani's Book Abyss / BookLikes in January 2016.

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Thoughts: Strong and Sexy

Strong and Sexy

by Jill Shalvis
Book 2 of Sky High Air

~ Goodreads ~

Rating:  3.5 Stars


This second installment to the Sky High Air trilogy is definitely loads more enjoyable than the first.  Jill Shalvis' humor and charm has its chance to shine in a much better fashion with a better set of main characters in Shayne and Dani.

The story's plot itself was a bit flimsy, but I overall enjoyed the character interactions better and liked the heroine more.  It's still not Lucky Harbor caliber, but it'll do.


The Story in Brief:
Between seeing disappearing dead bodies and having an invisible stalker, Dani Peterson's reputation for being crazy is certainly catching up to her.  Fortunately for her, Shayne Mahoney is willing to believe that she is genuinely terrified about something that's happening around her and sticks by her side.

In the meantime, there's sizzling chemistry between them and they can't seem to keep their hands off of each other.


My Thoughts:
So the entirety of this book really centered around whether Dani is really witnessing random acts of crime (a murder in the parking lot, an unwelcome presence in her apartment, a gun planted in her coat, a shooter firing at her at work, another disappearing dead body...), and the Friends-With-Benefits relationship she develops with Shayne.

Every other issue that might have been brought up throughout the course of this book ended up as loose ends in the scheme of a haphazard crime thriller and lots of steamy sex.

So basically, this book really WAS all about the sex.

Of course, the part that kept my attention, really, was the almost non-standard female heroine's penchant for klutziness and her inability to NOT look like a disheveled mess 24/7.  Dani Peterson is the classic clumsy female lead who has trouble setting one foot in front of the other without tripping over herself, who manages to drip ketchup on her blouse all the time, and who inadvertently stabs her lover in the eye whilst trying to caress his face.  She's that heroine we all love to hate because, who's really THAT clumsy and socially awkward?

Except that Dani really isn't that socially awkward and her klutzy personality somehow comes off kind of endearing.  Because Jill Shalvis is a genius and managed to insert all of Dani's disheveled, clumsy moments at all the most likely moments--they aren't randomly forced to insert said disheveled, clumsy personality onto the heroine to deliberately make her seem endearingly klutzy and socially awkward.

In other words, this kind of a heroine may not work for a lot of people.  But the way in which Dani was portrayed kind of works for me.  Top that with the ever-perfect boyfriend and protector Shayne Mahoney who's willing to stick by her side despite his own reserves about whether or not she's really crazy... I kind of found myself loving the antics and bond and steamy chemistry this couple presented.

It's certainly still not the healthiest relationship in the world, but a vast improvement from the previous couple's love story in Smart and Sexy.

The only problems I had with this book were fairly straight forward:  We left a lot of tangent story lines unresolved.  And the one tangent story line that felt like it had been resolved was kind of unsatisfying--the relationship between Dani and her step siblings could have been expanded upon just a bit more.  The relationship between Dani and her coworkers were background set-up that felt like it could have been expanded upon, especially her friendship with Reena, or even the unrequited interest between Dani and her neighbor, Alan.

It just felt like we were so focused on the somewhat flimsy suspense part of the book and the relationship between Dani and Shayne that we've forgotten that there are other people in this world and other conflicts needing tending to.

Nonetheless, Strong and Sexy was enjoyable enough that I liked it a lot.


***

2016 Reading Challenges:
• Goodreads Reading Challenge
• BookLikes Reading Challenge
• Bookish Resolutions Challenge

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This review was originally posted at Ani's Book Abyss / BookLikes in January 2016.

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Rambling Rant: Smart and Sexy

Smart and Sexy

by Jill Shalvis
Book 1 of Sky High Air

~ Goodreads ~

Rating:  1.5 Stars

-- SPOILER ALERT --

**This review is a long rambling rant that contains spoilers and a lot of ranting and maybe some crass language. Continue at your own risk.

Flying Solo Is Way Overrated

Noah Fisher has worked for months to make Sky High the most prestigious charter airline in California.  He's long overdue for a break--something involving ski slopes, cold beers, and hot ski bunny babes, not necessarily in that order.  The itinerary doesn't include being hijacked by Bailey Sinclair, gorgeous widow of one of Sky High's wealthiest (ex-) clients.  But here they are, and being crammed in a cockpit with the scared, stubborn, unbelievably sexy former model he's been fantasizing about invokes Superman tendencies that could get Noah in serious trouble.

Bailey is desperate to find the stash of money hidden by her conniving, thieving late husband--before the bad guys he owed find her.  It's a long shot, but nothing compared to the gamble she's taking by being so close to Noah.  Every minute in his company has Bailey thinking about doing crazy, reckless things like touching, grabbing, kissing. . .and oh wow, being kissed right back.  Suddenly, seat-of-your-pants seems like the only way to fly, and maybe it's the altitude playing tricks, but this is one trip she never wants to end. . .

There is nothing wrong with a Jill Shalvis book, except when there is.  I loved the first three Lucky Harbor books I’ve already read, and in fact, one of my favorite couples happens to be Chloe and Sawyer from the third book, Head Over Heels--their relationship’s development is sweet and their chemistry is amazing!

So it comes as a disappointment that I really did not care for Smart and Sexy, the first book in the Sky High Air trilogy.  The premise drew me in and it is even a Romantic Suspense, my go-to comfort genre.  I was excited.  I really, really wanted this book to be great.  And it wasn’t even like I over-hyped myself.  I’ve read a mediocre Jill Shalvis book before (Room Service (Do Not Disturb)); and I have also dropped one Jill Shalvis book (Get A Clue) because the logic of the story progression did not make sense and the characters were annoying as hell.

I probably would have dropped this book as well if not for the fact that I see potential in the next two books.  I’m crossing my fingers that they will redeem this series.  Otherwise, I suppose I’ll just have to bury myself in Lucky Harbor to reconnect with my enjoyment of Jill Shalvis.

To the point, the logic in this book was extremely hard to grasp, even with my willingness to suspend disbelief--I read a lot of Romantic Suspense where suspending disbelief for the sake of a sweet and cutesy HEA is typically necessary (though usually those books are enjoyable enough that I’m not bothered).

Unfortunately, when you suddenly start questioning whether or not the heroine even realizes that she’s on the run as she drags out her dangerous scavenger hunt, and even has time to get down and dirty with her man at the most inopportune times while dressing all fashionably trendy and admiring her own cute sandals, questions of the book’s progression and logic DO tend to be harder to ignore.

Aside from a huge long rant I’d already written before finishing the book, I’m not sure what else to say.  So I’ll just detail my thoughts at three different points in my reading, including 50%, 56%, and 100%.


@50% read on 1/18/2016
First of all, the entire hijacking scenario was stupid.  There is no way to mistake the barrel of a gun with a Bic pen.  Then again, I assume that Noah has probably never had a gun pointed at him and shoved between his shoulders… so maybe he could make that mistake.  Hardest to understand, for me, however, is why Bailey felt the need to hijack the plane in the first place.  Noah did NOT know she was aboard and probably would have never known she was on his plane until landing.  By then she would have arrived at her destination and could find ways of escaping or sneaking off.  She could have just remained hidden until Noah lands in Mammoth and then figured things out from there.

Secondly, this book is teetering on a 2.0 Star rating because I’m fast becoming irritated with our female heroine.  I keep asking myself, “What the heck is wrong with this girl?”  Because there’s nothing more annoying than seeing a character put another character’s life in the line of danger, and then resolutely refuse to tell said other character what’s going on for well over half of the book (I suspect this is just going to be an endless cycle).

I get the whole Noble Idiocy™ thing--people like to be self-sacrificial with all the good intentions in the world.  But they do it with all the intelligence and common sense of a punching bag.

Bailey’s ideals are noble, I’ll give her that.  And at the beginning, she came off as more than just a sexy, air-headed model.  But as the story progressed, I just really wanted to slap her upside the head and tell her to get over herself.  She keeps talking about not wanting to entangle Noah in her mess because she doesn’t want to put him in danger.  But the problem with that is that she ALREADY did so when she chose to board his plane and drag him into her mess by pretending to hijack him.

Honestly, it all smacks of her WANTING him to be there to be dragged into her mess.

In which case, he’s already there because you put him there, so why not at least let him know what he’s been dragged into so he can take the necessary precautions to keep HIMSELF safe, even if you don’t want him to keep YOU safe?  The logic is irrational with this one.  Especially when she keeps feeding him little nuggets of information, thus permanently keeping him in the loop so that he has no choice but to help her, or look like a jackass by sending her off to her death.

Why would you do that to a noble guy like Noah?  Aside from some manhandling and the fact that he can’t seem to go thirty minutes without thinking about sex while running from danger, he’s actually a pretty awesome guy.  He’s like MacGyver, but sexier and more naive with an overactive libido.

And then the first intimate sex scene… was a little hard to accept.  Basically, Noah finger-fucks (excuse my language) Bailey while she’s dead asleep.  She is literally completely zonked out when Noah starts feeling her up.  This is NOT okay.  I mean, okay, she was probably dreaming about him and his sexy talents… but that still doesn’t make it okay for him to just stick things in orifices without consent, even if great orgasms were had by all.  But we make matters somehow justifiable because Bailey had wanted him and wanted sex with him anyway.  I’ll chalk it up to adrenaline rush, I guess, but it still doesn’t make things okay.

In which case he also seems to be using the good ol’ “sex as manipulation” tool to get answers he wants.

I’m not down with this at all.  This honestly DID ruin any sense of me rooting for the romance period.  Because, WTF?!

But let’s just let this slide because apparently the two of them got what they wanted in the sex arena anyway.

All the while, Bailey is STILL adamant about keeping secrets and Noah is STILL adamant about muscling his way into her mess.  And to be totally honest, if Bailey really was that adamant about “keeping Noah out of danger,” then she really shouldn’t have gotten onto his plane in the first place, because there is a very subtle hint that she specifically waited for Noah to be piloting a plane and that she knew Noah would help her if she stowed away on his plane.  And the fact that Noah had already pretty much figured out what’s sort of, kind of going on with Bailey and then for her to STILL hold out all the truth and STILL doubt his trustworthy status despite how he’s putting his life in danger for her… it’s not working for me.

I’m not quite sure how much more fucked-up this story could get.  (Again, excuse the language.)

What happened to a good, tried-and-true Jill Shalvis book?  Then again, I guess the Lucky Harbor stories came after this little romantic suspense piece.  Right?


@56% read on 1/18/2016
When I was wondering whether or not the story could get worse, I wasn’t really challenging it to do so.  But with one simple scene, I really just automatically dropped half a star (which is ridiculous because I should have already dropped a full star after the first sex scene), because these two characters are so frustrating and no doubt, will not change.

What really rankles me with some characters are the double standards tossed between them.

Bailey refuses to talk about what’s going on with her, but pushes to find out about what’s going on with Noah.  If you’re not parting with secrets, honey, you can’t demand them from others.

Noah, on the other hand, is pushing for Bailey to part with her secrets, but gets tight-lipped and visibly upset when Bailey asks about his secrets.  Again, if you’re not willing to share, you can’t force others to share.

Granted, Bailey’s secrets could cause mortal peril as kept secrets, and Noah’s secrets are really none of her damn business; but the situation still stands.

These two were probably meant for each other and will continue on to have one of the most dysfunctional relationships based on keeping secrets from each other and non-consensual sex and inappropriately timed sex and lots of groping while being chased by armed men.

Goodness, isn't this book just chock full of all the romance novel cliches?


@ 100%, finished with book on 1/19/2016
And as a continuation of the previous thought, Bailey and Noah are likely the most ill-equipped people to survive a romantic suspense.  Well, at least Bailey is; Noah seems to know how to do everything, so even if his mind is on how great it would be to have sex with Bailey all the time, he’ll still survive a zombie apocalypse, no less running from dangerous goons out to kill.  As I already stated, for 90% of the book, I actually spent my time wondering whether or not Bailey realized she was a woman on the run, because apparently she still found time to freshen up, wear cute shoes, and demand character backstory at all the worst possible times.

Yes.  In the middle of being chased by the bad guys and being shot at, in the middle of a scavenger hunt for the something that’s supposed to be keeping her alive, Bailey changes into three different trendy winter outfits, cute sandals and stiletto heeled boots included, and even finds time to hassle Noah about one of the most traumatic moments in his life for three pages straight.  I don’t believe I’d ever been so frustrated with a heroine within a few select paragraphs (this is obviously an exaggeration, but it applies).  She actually refuses to keep moving out of danger territory until Noah answers her questions about what happened to him six months ago that changed his life--and then even after he berates her for choosing the utmost worst moment to play the “Getting to know each other” game, she continues her barrage of questions.

And all this time, she still refuses to tell Noah about what’s going on with her and why there are bad guys chasing her and why he’s putting his life on the line for her.  She continues to feed him half-truths and continues to play that “I don’t know if I can trust him” game.  And all this time, Noah willingly does what he can to keep her safe without pushing for answers.


Final Thoughts:
Jill Shalvis writing has a certain comedic charm to it when done right.  It’s what I loved a lot about the three Lucky Harbor books I’d just recently read. And it totally shows in certain scenes in Smart and Sexy, and probably would have been quite enjoyable if I hadn’t already been frustrated beyond belief with both Noah and Bailey (moreso Bailey).  In fact, Shayne, Brody, and Maddie seem interesting enough and I’m actually quite intrigued by the pending relationship and developing romance between Brody and Maddie… which is the last book in this trilogy.

Now those two are a pair with an attractive chemistry I could probably end up liking.  At least I hope so.  There are reviews that the next two Sky High Air installments are much better than this first one, which is a disappointment since I would like for the first book to be excellent as well (it’s important to draw your audience in with that first book, not frustrate the heck out of them).

But I’m a girl who gives second chances, and I already know that Jill Shalvis can create enjoyable stories out of the most overused romance plots.  Maybe she just does Contemporary better than Suspense.  Maybe Smart and Sexy was just a fluke.

Who knows?


***

2016 Reading Challenges:
• Goodreads Reading Challenge
• BookLikes Reading Challenge
• Bookish Resolutions Challenge

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This review was originally posted at Ani's Book Abyss / BookLikes in January 2016.

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