Once in a while, I run across an author who makes everything I slog through
as a reviewer worthwhile. Such authors are squee-worthy, and as soon as I
develop a powerful new author crush, I immediately run off to my blog because I
want to tell the world about it. I'll write a formal review of The Devil's Candy for RRT, but I want to gush
a bit before I get down to business.
Meet my latest eighth wonder of the
world, Lauren Sharman. Not since I
stumbled on the Delaney books, written
by Iris Johansen, have I had such a giddy feeling of incredulous delight. Ms.
Sharman is writing a series of linked single-title books about a clan of rough
and tumble men who live in Maryland. With names like Rebel and Blackie, these
men embody the Old West style of men who are ready to throw down but also eager
to make sweet, sweet love to their women. Imagine being the heroine, formerly
alone in the world, suddenly surrounded by a close-knit group of men who love
you and will protect you to their last breath. Sound delicious? It really, truly
is. I've never been to Maryland, but her setting intrigues me so much that I
want to vacation there now.
Ms. Sharman has almost reinvented the
contemporary genre because she doesn't write about the rich and the beautiful.
These are downhome people, blue collar romances. The heroines fix their own cars
and shoot guns like pros. Her heroes have been to prison a time or two and maybe
ran with a biker gang back in the day. Her writing style is captivating. I'm so
excited by her book, The Devil's Candy,
that I'm running out to buy the prequel right now. I'm sort of anal in that I
hate reading books out of order, but she managed to make this book totally stand
on its own, so I didn't feel like I was clueless about all the action that had
come before in No Worries. I'm getting
it, though. I need to read Rebel and Gypsy's story now. (How can you not love an
author who can make names like this work? They're part and parcel with her
setting, evoking wilderness and the Wild West right there in Maryland). Ms.
Sharman's style reminds me a little of Sharon Sala, if that helps any. She wrote
a fabulous book called Jackson Rule,
which had an ex-con hero like these McCasseys.
Blackie was so good. Who doesn't love a big, tough man who
is gentle as a lamb with the woman he loves? He could kill a man with one blow,
and he has killed before, but he'd never
lay a hand on his woman. For her part, Angel is a killer too; she's mean as
snake, but I adore her. She's Blackie's match from the jump. I love this bit:
"If you're going to continue to do that," she said, "then you'd
better kill me. I may be a woman and I may be small, but I'm evil, and as
dangerous as any of you with a gun. Wasting your sorry ass would make my day,
Prince. It wouldn't be the first time I've killed a man, either. And I don't
have the conscience my brother did, so if you think I'd get cold feet just
before pulling the trigger, you're dead wrong."
These
McCassey men are rough and rugged with dark hair and deep blue eyes. When
they're young, they terrorize Washington County with their wild ways, but once
they're tamed by a woman's love, they become the ultimate family men, willing to
lay down their lives for their ladies. If you've read Iris Johansen's Delaney books or Nora Roberts's Chesapeake Bay saga, then you know exactly what
I'm talking about. You mess with one McCassey, you fight them all. Ms. Sharman
evokes this feeling of devotion and family that's tearfully joyous in its
warmth.
I feel like I'm not expressing just how cool her writing is.
Best I can do is recommend you check her out for yourself. I could read tons of
books about these McCasseys. hope she never gets tired of writing them.
______________________________________________________
Two
Lips Reviews
|
|
|
Title: The Devil’s
Candy
Author: Lauren N.
Sharman
Publisher: Whiskey Creek
Press
Genre: Contemporary/Suspense
Publication
date: May 2007
ISBN: 978-1-59374-843-2
Pages: 321
Series: The McCassey Brother’s Trilogy: Book
2
|
|
| |
|
Blackie McCassey a/k/a Devil is a
bad boy who comes on strong but underneath is the most sensuous and protective
man you would ever want to have covering your back. He’d always
seen Angel Shelby as nothing more than a friend and the sister of his best
friend, Digger. Until he agreed to do a favor for Digger – marry
his sister so he wouldn’t have to worry about her while he was in prison for
three years and could no longer protect her.
Angel Shelby was about to lose the
only job she’d ever had and known how to do – help run her brother’s bar - when
she discovered her brother was being sent to prison for tax evasion.
The only way to hold on to the bar was by agreeing to her brother’s
terms, which consisted of marrying Blackie McCassey. For the past
ten years her ex-husband’s family had hounded Angel after she’d murdered him in
self-defense. His family didn’t see it that way. But
it was someone else, unbeknownst to her, who was out for revenge that she needed
to fear more.
In this second installment of the
McCassey Brother’s trilogy, The Devil’s
Candy, you’ll meet up with all the McCassey brothers and cousins
once more, providing you with just as much intrigue, tortured pasts, suspense
and calamity as you discovered in No Worries. You can’t
help but be drawn into their lives, as they’re unlike any other family you’ve
probably ever encountered or likely to in this current day and age.
They’re a family from the wrong side of the tracks but are just as loyal,
if not more, to one another, when it comes to protecting those they love. But
beware, they are a law among themselves and will not take any guff from anyone
that threatens their livelihood, family and friends. Because justice never
prevailed for anyone in this family, there are times when they feel they must
take the law into their own hands if it means keeping their family members safe
and alive.
Sensational is an
understatement when describing Lauren
Sharman’s second tale of
suspense, vengeance, and family loyalty and last, but not least, another set of
two tortured souls searching for a love neither ever thought
possible!
Once again, I was pulled in from
the very first page and couldn’t put The Devil's Candy
down until I reached its end. I am looking forward to reading more
about this violently strange, but endearing close-knit family that consists of
Rebel’s and Blackie’s other brothers and cousins. Just as you had to
with No Worries, you’ll want to plan to set aside enough
time to read this story from beginning to end in one fell swoop…and once again,
you won’t be sorry you did.
_________________________________________________________
Ecataromance
Genre: contemporary
ISBN:
978-1-59374-843-2
Page Count: 321
Reviewer: Kimberley Spinney
Sensuality Rating:
Sensuous
Star Rating: 5 Stars!Lauren Sharman has done it again. Her second novel in the McCassey trilogy
is just as amazing as the first. It is a must read from start to finish. With
all of the same characters from the first book, we get to fall in love all over
again with this rough and tumble family.
Blackie has been in and out of trouble all of his life. It has been four
years since he got out of prison and he has spent those years staying out of
trouble. When his best friend Digger requests a favor of him, he knows he owes
him and agrees to marry his friend’s sister for her protection. Angel is not
that happy about being forced into marriage but she likes Blackie and
understands her brother’s reasoning. When the past comes back to haunt both
Angel and Blackie, they will learn the true meaning of love.
This is another must read novel from Lauren Sharman. The romance and emotion
she brings forth in her books make her a master at her craft. I am impatiently
waiting for the third book in this trilogy because I am sure it will be just as
stellar as the first two.
__________________________________________________________
Coffeetime
Romance
|
|
| |
Blackie McCassey has a heart that some believe is cold and harsh. Nicknamed,
the ‘Devil,’ it does not bother him that people avoid him, including women,
except for Angel.
Angel Shelby works in her brother’s bar. Ten years ago she killed her
ex-husband in self defense, but someone has returned seeking revenge.
Blackie has a soft spot in his heart for Angel. There is nothing he would not
do for her. When Digger, Angel’s brother, learns he is going to prison for three
years for tax evasion, he asks Blackie to marry Angel. This throws Blackie for a
loop, but not as much as it does Angel. His brothers are not too happy with the
idea either. Angel knows that Digger’s Bar usually has a fight everyday, but
nothing she cannot handle. Digger is certain Blackie can offer the best
protection. Nnow that Marshall’s brother is in town seeking revenge for Angel
killing his brother, Digger worries even more. As much as Angel hates the idea
of Digger’s request, she hates disappointing him. Can they live in a
make-believe marriage for three years? Angel and Blackie may never be perfect
for anyone else but in time they may learn they have something special.
Devil’s Candy is the second book in the trilogy series of the McCassey’s
brothers. I found Blackie a loyal, fascinating character, who would give the
shirt off his back to help anyone in need. The wounded past he and Angel have
both suffered has a way of linking their tormented souls together. Even Digger
has an effect on the reader. Ms. Sharman never fails in creating life-like
characters with down-to-earth problems that leap into the reader’s heart. She
creates a non-stop page-turner in this sensational suspenseful read.
Cherokee
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
Reviewer for Karen Find Out
About New Books _______________________________________________________
5
Angel's from Fallen Angel Reviews
Blackie McCassey has always been in
trouble but ever since his brother Rebel married Gypsy and had children Blackie
has been much calmer. Angel Shelby was raised by her brother Digger in his bar
and is as tough a woman as Blackie has ever laid eyes on. Blackie generally
doesn't have any use for women, but Angel is different. Now Digger, Angel's
brother, has to go to prison for tax evasion and he wants Blackie to marry Angel
to protect her and help her run the bar. Neither Angel nor Blackie ever intended
to marry anyone and they think Digger's idea is lousy. Somehow Angel and Blackie
find themselves married and it's not so bad. Then trouble starts, someone is
trying to harm Angel and Blackie and his family protects what is theirs and
Angel is a McCassey now. Can Angel and Blackie figure out what is going on
before someone is hurt or killed and will either of them ever admit that what
they feel for each other is more than fulfilling an obligation for Digger?
Lauren Sharman has done it again and brought blue collar, less than
perfect characters into her romantic suspense and made the reader fall in love
too. The Devil's Candy is the second McCassey Brothers book and it
is just as full of action, suspense, and romance as the first book was. I love
these less than perfect characters with flaws, tempers, blue collar jobs, bad
reputations, foul mouths, and fierce family loyalty and love for one another. I
would think it is much easier to write about characters who have lots of money
to solve their problems, or who had perfectly idealistic childhoods, and who are
successful at whatever they chose to do. But Ms. Sharman writes about characters
that have been failures, who have done things they are ashamed of, who have had
tough childhoods, and yet with love are redeemable. Oh, and Ms. Sharman isn't
done yet. There is still one more brother to go in this trilogy and I can't wait
to see what kind of trouble is headed for Judd and what kind of woman it will
take to tame him!
Reviewed by: Stephanie B.
|
| |
