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2nd out of 5 books
—
6 voters
Intimate Strangers (Fallen Angel 0.5)
by
Laura Taylor (Goodreads Author)
School teacher and advocate of abused children Hannah Cassidy invades a private retreat in the N. Nevada wilderness. Ignoring posted No Trespassing signs and the property's angry owner, she dismisses his threats and demands that he reveal her missing brother's location.
Nicholas Benteen, ex-mercenary and former CIA covert operative, assumes she is yet another adversary inte...more
Nicholas Benteen, ex-mercenary and former CIA covert operative, assumes she is yet another adversary inte...more
ebook, 154 pages
Published
August 19th 2011
by Blue Jay Media Group
(first published 1994)
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I hate to admit it, but I related more to the male character in this book. Hurt and betrayed one time too many to allow himself to trust, Nicholas was suspicious when Hannah wandered into his life.
Did I mention that Nicholas had a dark past and built himself a fortress in the woods? Some might consider him paranoid, but he prefers to just consider himself cautious. Suddenly a stubborn, petite woman with a shapely hour glass figure arrives at his door and he finds himself aroused just looking a...more
Did I mention that Nicholas had a dark past and built himself a fortress in the woods? Some might consider him paranoid, but he prefers to just consider himself cautious. Suddenly a stubborn, petite woman with a shapely hour glass figure arrives at his door and he finds himself aroused just looking a...more
The premise that Nicholas Benteen is holed up on his considerable acres and protecting his former associates (including Hannah's brother who hasn't contacted the family for 15 years)and himself from assassination is interesting and deviates from the usual run of fare in mystery/romance plots. I congratulate the author, because it is extremely difficult to find a different angle for this genre.
Laura Taylor has created great sympathy for her hero - a battle-scarred and grieving former mercenary -...more
Laura Taylor has created great sympathy for her hero - a battle-scarred and grieving former mercenary -...more
The cover blurb says "Ms. Taylor writes with the power and sensuality of the best authors in romance." This may be the case, but if so, this book must represent one of her earlier efforts, before she attained that status. This erotic romance automatically lost one star for use of the phrase "throbbing loins." Twice. There are two extremes the erotic romance writer can fall to that make the book less than pleasurable for the reader: so much clinical detail that it reads like a gynecologist's repo...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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A few weekends ago I downloaded INTIMATE STRANGERS by Laura Taylor to my Kindle and began an unforgettable journey of two strangers who feel like anything but. The instant chemistry and connection between Hannah and Nicholas, no matter how much they fought it, was intriguing (and even familiar). Taylor drew this out with just the right amount of tact and patience.
Hannah and Nicholas's storyline developed in a parallel to their intense feelings for one another, something only a talented author ca...more
Hannah and Nicholas's storyline developed in a parallel to their intense feelings for one another, something only a talented author ca...more
I picked up this book because Nicholas Benteen is an ex-mercenary who has carved out a private retreat on tens of thousands of Nevada property to protect himself and his friends. I have a hard time resisting a bad boy, and Nicholas didn't disappoint.
With the arrival of Hannah Cassidy on his doorstep, we see Nicholas in action as the gruff mercenary who shuns society and nearly all contact with the world outside his retreat. He doesn't trust anyone seeking him out because he and his friends have...more
With the arrival of Hannah Cassidy on his doorstep, we see Nicholas in action as the gruff mercenary who shuns society and nearly all contact with the world outside his retreat. He doesn't trust anyone seeking him out because he and his friends have...more
Nicholas Benteen is an ex-mercenary who now lives alone in a remote part of Northern Nevada in a secluded location. Nicholas has designed his home himself to be an isolated retreat; it is filled with security devices to protect his privacy. He also owns tens of thousands of acres of land that he has created a safe haven not only for himself but for the people who worked and helped him from his past and he has vowed to keep them safe and protect them. Nicholas sees this as his penance for dispens...more
This is the first Laura Taylor book I have read, I didn't love it and I didn't hate it.
Hannah Cassidy looking for her long lost brother Sean, their mother is sick and would like to see Sean, Hannah's search leads to Nevada and to the wilderness home of Nicholas Benteen. At first Nicholas is reluctant to speak to Hannah but Hannah is stubborn and refuses to leave, then Nicholas caves in and brings Hannah into his home this is when Nicholas is shocked by his physical reaction to Hannah, it's not l...more
Hannah Cassidy looking for her long lost brother Sean, their mother is sick and would like to see Sean, Hannah's search leads to Nevada and to the wilderness home of Nicholas Benteen. At first Nicholas is reluctant to speak to Hannah but Hannah is stubborn and refuses to leave, then Nicholas caves in and brings Hannah into his home this is when Nicholas is shocked by his physical reaction to Hannah, it's not l...more
If I could give it 3 1/2 stars I would, not quite a 4, but...
The book was really well-written. At times I felt as if I could see the beauty of the location, but perhaps only because I became involved with the characters. While Nicholas was gruff and hard on the exterior, Taylor got me to empathize with him through his background information. At first I though Hannah was merely pig-headed and stubborn, but there was a lot more to her as well. The story was truly a lesson in the importance, and po...more
The book was really well-written. At times I felt as if I could see the beauty of the location, but perhaps only because I became involved with the characters. While Nicholas was gruff and hard on the exterior, Taylor got me to empathize with him through his background information. At first I though Hannah was merely pig-headed and stubborn, but there was a lot more to her as well. The story was truly a lesson in the importance, and po...more
With two dozen 1 and 2 star reviews, I wasn't sure what to expect with Intimate Strangers. But honestly? I was pleasantly surprised.
****POSSIBLE SPOILERS**** (but not major spoilers)
I enjoyed the character development, the interpersonal conflict, and even the basic plot-line, that Hannah was searching for her brother, Sean, whom Nicholas was protecting because of Sean's severe PTSD. I enjoyed the verbal conflict between Nicholas and Hannah, and what other readers thought them rude and abrasive,...more
****POSSIBLE SPOILERS**** (but not major spoilers)
I enjoyed the character development, the interpersonal conflict, and even the basic plot-line, that Hannah was searching for her brother, Sean, whom Nicholas was protecting because of Sean's severe PTSD. I enjoyed the verbal conflict between Nicholas and Hannah, and what other readers thought them rude and abrasive,...more
am just about to start this one so ill let you know another time. AM finish and I LOVE IT.
An inspiring romance for the many cynical minds of the world, i love the bond that has been form among the ex-mercenaries, the drive Hannah has to find her brother and the way she paved the way for his healing through that drive to unite her family once more. Nicholas poor fellow trying to fight the inevitable his process of healing was heart warming and the changes he made to a great man to do such. He sa...more
An inspiring romance for the many cynical minds of the world, i love the bond that has been form among the ex-mercenaries, the drive Hannah has to find her brother and the way she paved the way for his healing through that drive to unite her family once more. Nicholas poor fellow trying to fight the inevitable his process of healing was heart warming and the changes he made to a great man to do such. He sa...more
Got it for free on my kindle. Yes Yes Yes, I wanna read more. :')
Nicholas Benteen is an ex-assassin for the US and Hannah Cassidy, a kindergarten teacher, hunted him down so she could talk to him about her brother whom was traced back to Nick and worked with him.
While the beginning was going back and forth between Hannah and Nicholas, I felt as if I was in the book beside them. I was waiting for something to happen and it happened. The constant fighting between 2 strangers turned into something...more
Nicholas Benteen is an ex-assassin for the US and Hannah Cassidy, a kindergarten teacher, hunted him down so she could talk to him about her brother whom was traced back to Nick and worked with him.
While the beginning was going back and forth between Hannah and Nicholas, I felt as if I was in the book beside them. I was waiting for something to happen and it happened. The constant fighting between 2 strangers turned into something...more
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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1 like · like · see review
It was okay. Once again I find a romance book that has all the right chemistry for a great relationship but it all starts and hits its peak in like 5 days. I know and believe in love at first sight but really? I knew when I first saw my husband in junior high that I would fall in love with him. It still took a while. And that was with teenage hormones in the mix! Just wish they would give more time for their relationship to grow. It was all too quick and it left me feeling a little cold towards...more
I enjoyed this book. I loved Nicholas and Hannah, both separately and together. I thought they fit each other well.
This book did have some problems though. I found myself skimming the love scenes after a while. They were so wordy that many times I'd lose what was happening and what was where. There were also a lot of POV changes with no really visable markers, so sometimes you weren't sure who was really speaking.
But even with all that, I'm still glad I read this book. It was a good story.
I s...more
This book did have some problems though. I found myself skimming the love scenes after a while. They were so wordy that many times I'd lose what was happening and what was where. There were also a lot of POV changes with no really visable markers, so sometimes you weren't sure who was really speaking.
But even with all that, I'm still glad I read this book. It was a good story.
I s...more
I picked this book up for free on Amazon. The blurb made it seem interesting since I am on a tortured/flawed hero kick lately :) I really enjoyed Nicholas and Hannah. Their relationship started quickly and progressed very quickly, within a week or two, but I got past that, it is a book. Nicholas had a lot of emotional walls up and Hannah was the one to break through and help him move on. Even though everything happened quickly, the author did a decent job of explaining Nicholas' past and why he...more
I really like the premise of this story, specifically Hannah's search for her lost brother and Nicholas's protection of him. The two main characters were excellent counterparts, but their depiction didn't leave me with too much empathy for either. I honestly found the sex parts boring and drawn out - and frankly unnecessary to the story. I also didn't find that the writing drew me into the story for the most part, as there was far more telling than showing. Reveals were too obvious, which remove...more
![Michelle [Helen Geek]](http://d.gr-assets.com/users/1350347351p2/5557851.jpg)
I'm not going to give this one a star rating. Too many disconnects early in the story for me, but others may not notice and may like it. I think the story would be good. I just can't abide emotions that seem outside the characterization the author is trying to develop. When it doesn't make sense, or I think the characters acting "out of character", I have issues.
So, no rating on this one. I did not finish it. Just bothered me too much in the first 5 chapters or so and wasn't in the story at that...more
So, no rating on this one. I did not finish it. Just bothered me too much in the first 5 chapters or so and wasn't in the story at that...more
1 like · like · see review
Intimate Strangers by Laura Taylor
164 pages
Check the book out here at GoodReads
Purchase at Amazon
Synopsis: School teacher and advocate of abused children Hannah Cassidy invades a private retreat in the N. Nevada wilderness. Ignoring posted No Trespassing signs and the property's angry owner, she dismisses his threats and demands that he reveal her missing brother's location.
Nicholas Benteen, ex-mercenary and former CIA covert operative, assumes she is yet another adversary intent on exacting l...more
164 pages
Check the book out here at GoodReads
Purchase at Amazon
Synopsis: School teacher and advocate of abused children Hannah Cassidy invades a private retreat in the N. Nevada wilderness. Ignoring posted No Trespassing signs and the property's angry owner, she dismisses his threats and demands that he reveal her missing brother's location.
Nicholas Benteen, ex-mercenary and former CIA covert operative, assumes she is yet another adversary intent on exacting l...more
It's been a while since I read a book without werewolves, vampires, or supernatural beings.
I wasn't sure if I could read anything "normal" anymore.
This book put me straight.
I loved it. Nicholas was a wounded soul (still a big soft spot of mine) his ice cold exterior hid a soul tormented, and a heart yearning for love.
It drew me in, and kept me there till I finished.
I had wondered it the author had written anything on Sean (a secondary character) and had hoped she could do a series in the sou...more
I wasn't sure if I could read anything "normal" anymore.
This book put me straight.
I loved it. Nicholas was a wounded soul (still a big soft spot of mine) his ice cold exterior hid a soul tormented, and a heart yearning for love.
It drew me in, and kept me there till I finished.
I had wondered it the author had written anything on Sean (a secondary character) and had hoped she could do a series in the sou...more
I tend to lean toward the Cop/CIA/FBI/Mercenary type male leads because I find them much more interesting than the Lawyer/Business type. This man in haunted by his past and it shows all through the book. I actually enjoyed this book alot. It had it's moments where I just wanted to scream "got it, he hates himself, get over it already" or with her "stop being so freakin sweet and understanding" I guess I'm a fan of conflict. The ending was a little abrupt, could have used a few more pages of lead...more
From the way the story starts, I have to say that I was expecting something so much more than I got. Laura Taylor is clearly a talented writer (hence 2 stars instead of 1), but unfortunately the storyline was bland and cliched. When it came to the more adult scenes, there was far too much of the "I-will-I-won't" toing and froing to keep me interested, and then when the characters did finally succumb to each others charms, the sex was too overly described.
If you're looking for a quick read (I rea...more
If you're looking for a quick read (I rea...more
I was not too sure about this one when I first started it. The story seemed to be going in circles, but for some reason I was really intrigued and could not stop reading. The further you get into the book, the better it gets. The "steamy" scenes were very well written - not cheesy porno or "Skinemax" fluff. I just wish that the ending was a tad different. There needs to be more development there. He came back to her way too soon and there needed to be more story between her leaving Nevada &...more
"When a man finds a woman who is capable of accepting him for himself, he'd be a fool to let her get away. When a man discovers a woman who believes in him and who is strong enough to understand and forgive his past, he's finally able to stop wrestling with his conscience and his self-doubt. He welcomes that woman into his life and his heart, and he thanks God that they found each other in time to make a life together. And when a man loves a woman who's that unique, he damn well marries her."
Hm...more
Hm...more
This story was really cute and I enjoyed the quick read. There was not much character development and some of the things that should have been interesting and delved into where kinda just glossed over. The funny thing about the story is that nothing was very descript or at least not detailed but for this story it seemed to work. I think that is maybe why I only gave it three stars. I had a hard time picturing things as a whole. I actually would recommend this book for some light entertainment.
I truly did enjoy this book but it had the potential to be more. Some of the story line was rather questionable, if you want to be very nit picky about that. For what the Nicholas' background was, Hannah shouldn't have been able to find him at all!! but yet she was able to so easily???? Okay, enough is enough. Really it was a quite enjoyable read. It definitely had the romance and I loved the ending. I gave it 4 stars only because it deserved more than 3.
Enjoy it for what it is, a romance.
Enjoy it for what it is, a romance.
This is definitely not my usually type of topic. I thought there would be more action or at least more suspense. It's a sex story. Please bear with my bluntness. Glad it was a free title.
I only give it two stars because it just seemed way too simplistic. No way such well trained personnel are going to be dragged along by their loins like this. And it seemed that it was just.... ugh, it was just not my typical story to read. I really cant give a good review for this book. I lack the ability to de...more
I only give it two stars because it just seemed way too simplistic. No way such well trained personnel are going to be dragged along by their loins like this. And it seemed that it was just.... ugh, it was just not my typical story to read. I really cant give a good review for this book. I lack the ability to de...more
Another really great story. Dark though it may be, it does have a happy ending.
I'm hoping to read the next story and hope it stars Sean. He deserves a "happy ending" of his own.
I live in my own world where bad things never happen. However, I am aware of the other side of reality and this story gives a little insight into what can happen. It's nice to have the fantasy of everything working out in the end.
Good story, hot sex and happy ending. A good read.
I'm hoping to read the next story and hope it stars Sean. He deserves a "happy ending" of his own.
I live in my own world where bad things never happen. However, I am aware of the other side of reality and this story gives a little insight into what can happen. It's nice to have the fantasy of everything working out in the end.
Good story, hot sex and happy ending. A good read.
Okay, so this is your story of ex-merc. who is full of self-loathing and isolates himself from the world. Then you have the woman who lights his fire ;-) but unlike most books she isn't some wimpy,helpless female in distress.
She is looking for her brother whom she hasn't seen in 15 years and her letters were being returned. She has a message for him and refuses to give it to anyone but him.
It was a fast read and yes predictable, but, I really did enjoy it.
She is looking for her brother whom she hasn't seen in 15 years and her letters were being returned. She has a message for him and refuses to give it to anyone but him.
It was a fast read and yes predictable, but, I really did enjoy it.
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Laura Taylor is an award-winning author and a highly regarded editorial consultant with more than a million books in print and more than 500,000 ebooks downloaded by romance readers. Published in both mainstream and romantic suspense fiction, she is the recipient of numerous writing awards, including:
* RWA RITA Finalist - Mainstream Women’s Fiction
* Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award as Bes...more
More about Laura Taylor...
* RWA RITA Finalist - Mainstream Women’s Fiction
* Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award as Bes...more
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“I do look for the good in everyone. I also give them a chance to be their best, and I try to cope with my disappointment when they're not”
—
21 people liked it
“When a man finds a woman who is capable of accepting him for himself, he’d be a fool to let her get away. When a man discovers a woman who believes in him and who is strong enough to understand and forgive his past, he’s finally able to stop wrestling with his conscience and his self–doubt. He welcomes that woman into his life and his heart, and he thanks God that they found each other in time to make a life together. And when a man loves a woman who’s that unique, he damn well marries her.”
—
5 people liked it
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