ALL SHOOK UP
When an unexpected inheritance brings J.D. Carver to Star Lake Lodge, the sexy, street-wise man expects trouble. But though he thinks the warmly welcoming Lawrence clan must be working some sort of angle, a tiny part of him longs for their home-and-hearth life – and the rest of him desires beautiful, former bad-girl and clearly off-limits Dru.
Susan: ALL SHOOK UP by Susan Andersen. Where to begin? Overall, I greatly enjoyed her style and this book was no exception. Andersen always writes very compelling characters. Her abilities and skill as a writer in many ways saved this book for me.
Ann: I agree. Susan Andersen is an auto buy for me. Oh? Was there something about the book that you weren't sure about?
Susan: The one aspect of the book I could have done without was Butch and the convenience story robbery. As the story progressed I knew that Butch would reveal himself. The story for me could have just been centered on Dru, her family and her relationship with J.D..
Ann: Really? I thought the book would have worked without it, but it WAS an excellent vehicle to show J.D.'s development from self-centered "out for me" to someone who does think and act in the interests of others.
Susan: I think you bring up an excellent point about J.D.'s development from the self-centered "out for me" to a more rounded person. However, J.D. had already shown that he was concerned about others by turning in his boss for deficient materials, etc.
Ann: I'm not so sure J.D. was overly concerned with others when he turned his boss in; he makes a statement to the effect that it was now HIS projects that were being effected.
Susan: I disagree. J.D. tells Butch that people could have been hurt if something had happened to the building. Though I do agree that his motivation was probably selfish.
Ann: Not so much that it was needed to show J.D's development. But it showed his struggle in admitting that people change as they grow up.
J.D. was struggling with misplaced loyalty, and knew it - he did double check Butch's story - but doesn't want to really admit it. Because then he would have to admit that he had grown apart from the last link to his childhood.
Susan: Andersen did make a nice point of pointing out J.D.'s loyalty to his childhood friend and how misplaced it was at the end.
Ann: Exactly! And when we are adults, we still use our growing up years to help define or ground us. By giving up Butch (a bad phrase, but I can't think of a better one) he loses that part of himself - a scary prospect for anyone.
Ann: I thought the scene in the hardware store when Kev and J.D. meet the first time is so priceless because I have seen it happen!!
That whole "male posturing" is very true to life.
Susan: Wasn't that a great scene! I laughed because it was so true!
Ann: This is a *vintage* Susan Andersen read. I think, the chemistry between Dru and J.D. was particularly strong and the humor quite sharp.
I was reading on my way home from work and I remember thinking - after the encounter outside the kitchen - that if I *ever* find a man who can make me feel like that, I'm making sure he doesn't get away!
Susan: What did you think about Dru?
Ann: I liked Dru, I thought her reaction to what happened when she was 19, and then having to live in a small town where everyone knows everything about everyone, was believable and quite understandable.
Susan: Andersen did a great job developing Dru. She seemed very real to me - flaws and all.
Ann: As much as I enjoy humorous contemporary romances, I sometimes find the characters two dimensional, and I was very pleased that Dru was so real, including her flaws. But I *will* say, I had a hard time believing that she and her family decided to accept J.D. and not contest the will the way they did.
Susan: I did enjoy Dru's relationship with her son. I believe it was very well drawn. Many times children are nothing but plot devices and do little to enrich the story. In this case I think it was different.
Ann: I also liked the by-play between Sophie and Ben. I think that is another strength of Susan's; her secondary characters are very strong.
Susan: Every relationship in the book was very well done - down to Dru and the temperamental chef. I'm giving ALL SHOOK UP a BEATING HEART and a hearty recommendation! This was definitely a very fun read!
Ann: Scary enough, I completely agree with you on both the BEATING HEART and the hearty recommendation!
|
|
ALL SHOOK UP
Susan Anderson
ISBN 0380807149
Avon Books
 |
Susan
Gives This Book
A
|
Ann
Gives This Book
A
|
Read more about Susan Andersen at The Best Reviews
