Colters' Woman (Colters' Legacy, #1)

Feb 06, 2013 UniquelyMoi *Dhestiny* BlithelyBookish rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who likes menage, graphic sex and doesn't mind a weak plot.

Shelves: reviewed-by-me, western-contemporary, genre-erotica, 2-stars, author-maya-banks, great-writing-style, couldnt-connect-with-characters, its-probably-just-me, sizzzzzle

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
This was my first taste of Maya Banks, and I enjoyed her writing style, for the most part.

However, in general I found the book to be disappointing. The story opens with one of the Colter brothers finding a woman laying in a ditch on their property. He picks her up to take her into their home and immediately thinks "she's the one." No sooner is she inside, still unconscious, when the other two brothers see her and think "she's the one." Now, while this is a common occurrence in PNR, what with bon...more

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Nov 03, 2008 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of romantic erotica

Recommended to Laura by: Auntee

Shelves: romantica-erotica

I really didn’t know what to think about his one. I like Maya Banks, but there were so many meh reviews about this book I waited a long time to finally read it. Who knew it would end up being my fav of her novels so far? LOL

The Colters are a strange family. It seems the brothers search for one woman to marry and share between them. It’s a chemistry thing, meaning they only marry a woman they all fall in love with. So when she appears, they all fall for her, and she falls for all of them. Their m...more I really didn’t know what to think about his one. I like Maya Banks, but there were so many meh reviews about this book I waited a long time to finally read it. Who knew it would end up being my fav of her novels so far? LOL

The Colters are a strange family. It seems the brothers search for one woman to marry and share between them. It’s a chemistry thing, meaning they only marry a woman they all fall in love with. So when she appears, they all fall for her, and she falls for all of them. Their mother and fathers were like this, and so were their grandmother and grandfathers. Like I said, it’s a family thing. Kinda strange, but you just have to go with it, ya know?

The three Colter brothers (Adam, Ryan, and Ethan) were beginning to think they would never find that one special woman. Then one day after a snowstorm Adam walks down the driveway to get the mail and sees a body in the snow. From the moment he gathers Holly up in his arms and rushes her back up the driveway to their cabin in the Rockies, he knows she’s the one.

Holly is on the run from the gangster she unknowingly married. She left San Francisco on her wedding night after she saw him shoot and kill a man. Wow. Now she’s falling for the brothers as fast as they are falling for her. Yeah, this is one of those really good m/m/f/m ménage novels with a HEA ending.

Okay that’s one reason why I liked it (you know how I am about HEA ménage novels). Another reason is it’s a Samhain novel, so it’s written lean and tight, and there’s no padding in it like in some of Bank’s novels from big publishers. I know. Padding drives me nuts, and I start skimming pages to get to the good stuff. Plus, the brothers weren’t emotional basket-cases like Lora Leigh’s “Men of August” series. All good reasons to like this novel.

But most of all I loved Holly. Why? The woman is a walking hormone. She’s horny 24/7. Sound familiar (naughty grin)? Yeah, Holly and I could be sisters. Only thing is she has three gorgeous guys to “scratch her itch” several times a day. Dear Goddess, what a lucky woman!!

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Jul 28, 2008 Isis FG rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: menage fans

Recommended to Isis FG by: my GR friends

Shelves: info-full, genre-romance-erotic, reviewed, 2008, z2008-july-dec, theme-menage-hea, format-trade-pb, stars-4, series-colters-legacy, pbs-received

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book because there is such a varied opinion of it among my GR friends. Some loved it, some thought it was okay, others hated it.

Me, I ended up enjoying it quite a bit. I did roll my eyes a few times in the beginning when the brothers kept going on about "you're the one" and "you belong to us now" because it came off a little ridiculous, but it didn't annoy me too much. It just seemed a bit silly.

But overall, I didn't have any major problems with the book. I...more I wasn't sure what to expect from this book because there is such a varied opinion of it among my GR friends. Some loved it, some thought it was okay, others hated it.

Me, I ended up enjoying it quite a bit. I did roll my eyes a few times in the beginning when the brothers kept going on about "you're the one" and "you belong to us now" because it came off a little ridiculous, but it didn't annoy me too much. It just seemed a bit silly.

But overall, I didn't have any major problems with the book. I'm a sucker for a menage story with a happy ending for ALL of them. There's a lot of explicit sex in the book, but there was still enough of a story going on to keep me interested. So the book didn't seem like just a bunch of gratuitous sex to me.

At the risk of having some of my GR friends thinking I'm nuts, I have to admit that I liked the character of Holly. I can sort of understand the other comments about how she was whiny and annoying and all that, but to me, she was just a different type of heroine than you find in most romance novels these days. She came off a bit old-school to me - a woman who defers to her man and wants him to take care of her. It's a bit atypical and I wouldn't want to read about that kind of heroine all the time, but it didn't really bother me. And I liked that she showed she did have some inner strength by escaping from her kidnapper and for taking charge of the situation with her husband toward the end.

I would liked to have seen a little more character-background development. Banks only gave the necessary details of their pasts needed for the story, but didn't develop them more than that. I wanted to know more - where were the brothers parents? What was it like growing up with a polygamous family? What was Holly's family like? Those kind of details give you insight into the characters and it was lacking in this book.

Other than that, I thought this book was an enjoyable erotic menage romance. I did have to suspend reality a bit - I mean, Holly trying to be sexually available to 3 virile men is a bit much - but I thought it was a fun read.(less)

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Oct 14, 2008 Mahlet rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of menage erotica

Shelves: erotic-romance, own, cowboys-ranchers, menage

It was a very hot read, but I had a few issues. To say that the female lead Holly was stupid would be an understatement. Also, some of the storytelling was just a little unbelievable. At one point, I busted out a piece of paper and started making a list with 2 columns “Stupid/Pathetic” and “Unbelievable.” But Holly made a MAJOR turn-around for the better about two thirds of the way into the book, so I got over all of it :)

The Colter brothers have a family tradition going back at least several g...more It was a very hot read, but I had a few issues. To say that the female lead Holly was stupid would be an understatement. Also, some of the storytelling was just a little unbelievable. At one point, I busted out a piece of paper and started making a list with 2 columns “Stupid/Pathetic” and “Unbelievable.” But Holly made a MAJOR turn-around for the better about two thirds of the way into the book, so I got over all of it :)

The Colter brothers have a family tradition going back at least several generations: the 3 brothers will share a wife. And they’ll just know “the one” when they find her. All brothers will be instantly attracted to her and recognize her as their mate. The book gets off to a very quick start when Adam Colter finds Holly lying unconscious in the snow near their property. The Colters live together in a secluded Colorado ranch up in the mountains. They earn a comfortable living guiding hunters during the warmer seasons, but it’s Winter now, so they’ve got nothing better to do than have hot sex with their recognized mate Holly :) Unfortunately, Holly happens to be on the run from her crazy, killer husband.

I loved the unique personalities of the brothers. Adam is the very authoritative older brother, so much so he even frightens Holly in the beginning. Ethan is the middle child, and definitely the softest one of the bunch. A little bit of a sap, so Ethan was my least favorite. The youngest brother Ryan was the most complex and definitely the hottest. Ryan was an Iraq POW for several weeks, and the pain and memories still haunt him. Ryan has refused to discuss it, and his brothers recognize he needs healing. (I’m not alone in loving Ryan as he was also the favorite of all my Cincinnati girlfriends who read this book)

The Sex! Here’s where some of the unbelievable part comes in….someone has saved their virginity for marriage, runs away from their husband before consummation, and gives it up to 3 strangers?? And the ease with which Holly has rather advanced sex was very troubling. So you’ll need to suspend your disbelief a bit. But do it, because MAN was it hot! Ryan, the military man, was very dominating in the bedroom. When he orders you to drop your pants, you listen! :) Lots of spontaneous sex in a barn, an elevator, a hotel room, and bedrooms. Men drawing hot baths for you, bathing you, washing your hair---it was a woman’s dream. Holly has individual and ménage a quatre sex with all the brothers. (Note: it’s too bad hotels don’t clean their sofas often, because they use the hell out of one in Denver!)

Although the “mate” recognition is instant, the loves takes time and it comes across as believable. Three hot cowboys loving on one woman was enough to redeem all the problems I had with this book.
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Jul 23, 2009 Eastofoz rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-with-cooties, contemporary, erotica, e-book

This book is sooooo bad. It starts with an interesting idea but goes downhill fast. The poster child for the TSTL heroine is in this book. The brothers are moronic and it's totally unbelievable given the fact that the girl who's a virgin suddenly turns into this Debbie Does Dallas character. Bad writing all around.

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Feb 07, 2008 Daisiemae rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone who likes Menage Books

Recommended to Daisiemae by: Amazon post

I admit I am not into reading the menage thing too much. This book had it's good and bad points.

Good: I thought the heroes could have all stood alone with their own book. Each brother was interesting, but honestly I would have liked their own book. Of course, this can't be since they are all sharing, and in love with the same woman.

Bad: I didn't like the heroine. I know she was on the run from her husband, but I thought she was weak. She didn't contribute anything to anybody. She sat around bei...more

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Mar 23, 2009 Collette rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: banks, ebook-erotica-mfm

The story has been repeated several times around here so I won't bore you all with that but I will agree that the heroine caused my eyes to roll more times than I care to remember. Maybe I'm just not into the weak, can't-think-for-myself type of heroines in my books or maybe she just was extremely irritating but either way the brothers swooped in and saved the day. I loved them all with each of their different personalities. After all, if you are going to be tossed around among three gorgeous me...more

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Apr 28, 2008 Colleen (NerdyWoman) Kayter rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: erotic-romance, total-keepers

I love all my friends here on goodreads. You're all so serious about reading! Goodness knows I'm intense and tend to over-engineer projects here and there, but sometimes...

Colters' Woman is a R-O-M-P (lotsa sex wrapped in a little storyline)! It takes a ridiculous situation, adds love-at-first-sight X 3, throws in a wimpy/wussy/whiny heroine for the 3 hunky brothers to fawn over, and then throws in an impossible life-or-death situation for suspense. At what point are we expecting to find a real...more

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Dec 28, 2010 The UHQ Nasanta rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: erotic-a-menage, obtained-free, own, erotic-a, e-books, series-0-connected-family, 1st-in-series, reviewed

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I'd just like to start out by saying that around Chapter 3 I read a funny 1-star review by Zosia that influenced the way I read the rest of the book.

Having already downloaded Colters' Wife for free a few months ago but waiting to read it until I'd read Colters' Woman, I immediately jumped on the chance to download this for free at Borders.com today.

I am not new to menage romance, having read menage a trois before (sorry, no accents since I'm too lazy to figure out how to put it there). Still,...more

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Aug 09, 2010 Jan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, z-2010, menage

This is the first menage romance I've ever read, and I don't think it's really my thing. At the other hand, that also might have to do with the fact I didn't really like the characters in this story.

Holly is a a bit of a pushover, and she's stumbled into a situation she's totally unqualified to handle. Besides that she doesn't really have a character. Except the fact that the three brothers obviously find her attractive, I found it hard to understand what is what they found so appealing. She jus...more
This is the first menage romance I've ever read, and I don't think it's really my thing. At the other hand, that also might have to do with the fact I didn't really like the characters in this story.

Holly is a a bit of a pushover, and she's stumbled into a situation she's totally unqualified to handle. Besides that she doesn't really have a character. Except the fact that the three brothers obviously find her attractive, I found it hard to understand what is what they found so appealing. She just wasn't that interesting.

The brothers are a different story. The author manages to paint 3 different men, but I only really liked one of them. Ryan has an interesting background, and I like how he words his thoughts. Ethan I found kinda flat, but Adam ticked me off the most. He's way too dominant for my liking, and I dislike how he orders everyone around. Even if it's for the best, that's still inconsiderate behavior.

The erotica was steamy at times, but often felt a bit too much as 2nd grade pornography to me. For men who bait Holly with promising 3 men devoted to her pleasure, the action often seemed focused too much on their wants and needs instead of mutual wants and needs.

However, I did sympathize with the story, and read it one go, skipping a few hours of sleep. And the next days the story lingered on in my head. And with the sequel coming out soon, I have to admit I look forward to it. I just don't understand why.

I think it might have to do with how obviously happy they all were at the end. Most romances have an HEA, but it's often only a short glance, the future only hinted at. Here the author took some time to shed a light on that future, and at that point the sheer happiness of everyone involved dripped of the screen. And happiness can be addictive.

So even if I find the idea that a sexual preference for menages is genetically inheritable utterly ridiculous, I'm pretty sure I'll be buying the 2nd book in the series that features the children of Holly and the Colter Brothers. (less)

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Nov 15, 2009 Janna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: menage, m-f

This is a very hot ménage romance about three sexy brothers and their woman. When the oldest brother Adam finds Holly unconscious in the snow and carries her inside his house, he instantly feels attracted to her, very attracted. It’s every woman’s dream to have a man, just one man, feel that strongly for her. But this lucky lady does not only arouse the sexual feelings of this one man, but also those of his two equally hot brothers, Ryan and Ethan. Three men are already lusting after her while s...more This is a very hot ménage romance about three sexy brothers and their woman. When the oldest brother Adam finds Holly unconscious in the snow and carries her inside his house, he instantly feels attracted to her, very attracted. It’s every woman’s dream to have a man, just one man, feel that strongly for her. But this lucky lady does not only arouse the sexual feelings of this one man, but also those of his two equally hot brothers, Ryan and Ethan. Three men are already lusting after her while she’s still unconscious and the beauty is that they are happy that the other men feel that way. No jealousy! Because the three brothers want to share a woman as their wife, just like their mother and three fathers had lived together.
These brothers are really great guys. Maya Banks managed to give them all three their own unique characteristics, although I think that Ethan remains a bit colorless. He’s the kindest and most empathic person in the world, which makes him fade a little bit into the background besides his more dominant and controlling older brother Adam and the traumatized, troubled and sensitive Ryan, the youngest of the three. Ryan is adorable and plays an active role in the story. He’s the one that needed a woman like Holly the most, she makes him happy again and helps him deal with his nightmares, which he had since his return from Iraq. In the action part of the story (where they all have to deal with the threat of Holly’s ex-husband) Ryan’s the one taking a bullet which makes Holly realize that she can’t live without him and that she loves the brothers.
The sex scenes are very hot and graphic, the ménage scenes as well as the one on one scenes, which are sometimes really sweet. But I didn’t find it very realistic that Holly knew how to do all the things she did to satisfy more than one man at a time, while she was still a virgin. With her lack of experience some things just were hard to believe she could do without even wincing or gagging for example. But besides that, the feelings and actions of the characters were very well written about, which filled my heart with sympathy, love and tenderness for these four sexy people.

Maya Banks wrote an epilogue to Colters' Woman, called 'Colters' Wife', which can be downloaded for free from her website. It's fun, as an addition to this novel, to read what happens with Holly and her three husbands after their reunion...
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Dec 21, 2011 Denise rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

I know I am in the minority here, but I do not understand how anyone can read this book and give it a 5 star review!! I understand that this is erotic fiction but it should at least be some what plausible to retain the interest of the readers. In the first chapter the eldest brother finds Holly in a ditch and brings her to him and his brother's cabin -- believable. They think finding her is fate and she may be "the one" -- okay, also believable knowing they are looking for one woman to share the...more

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Dec 02, 2010 Kellyflower rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-ve-enjoyed, series-sequels-trilogies

So... your running from an abusive husband and are found by 3 very hunky men, who want You to be their woman.(yes that's right they want to share you, adore you & love you)
Seems a little weird doesn't it? I mean it's not very believable. Hell it's usually only crack heads who are missing teeth that want to share me, Kidding!
Although the story line seems unbelievable, it works!
Well, I did have a hard time with how fast she said yes, but then again it is an erotic novel.
The more I read th...more

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Apr 10, 2010 seton rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Written April 9, 2010 -

Colters' Woman was reissued this week with a new "expanded ending and bonus material." There is also an excerpt for the upcoming ebook Colters' Lady (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77...). For those who have already read the original 2006 version (and they are legion), I would say that the added material is not worth getting this again unless you are hardcore or have OCD. Like me! :-)

The expanded ending consists of one chapter added to the original story. The original...more Written April 9, 2010 -

Colters' Woman was reissued this week with a new "expanded ending and bonus material." There is also an excerpt for the upcoming ebook Colters' Lady (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77...). For those who have already read the original 2006 version (and they are legion), I would say that the added material is not worth getting this again unless you are hardcore or have OCD. Like me! :-)

The expanded ending consists of one chapter added to the original story. The original had 29 chapters. This is Chapter 30 and it features their wedding ceremony. I would say that it's most notable for introducing the Colter brothers' parents. The original's ending was really abrupt so I guess this is an improvement.

The bonus material is a short story called "Callie's Meadow." Not to be confused with Colters' Wife (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/71...) which is a different short, that also comes after Colters' Woman. Callie's occur approximately eight years after the end of Colters' Woman and it's mostly about the birth of their fourth child Callie, who will get her own story in Colters's Daughter (release date unknown). I put Callie's through WORD and it's approximately 12K. It's similar to Colters' Wife in that Holly is a regular prairie woman but this time, Adam doesnt liken Holly to a mare (that Adam is SO smooth). There are no sex scenes. I guess having three rambunctious sons even puts a damper on the sex lives of the Colters. What a shock!

For those who have not read the original Colters' Woman, I am posting my original review from 3 years ago below:

Written February 17, 2007 -

Holly, our heroine, is running away from her psycho-killer husband. Fate decree that Holly ends up at the Colters’ ranch with the three Colter brothers. The Colter have a family tradition that is like a reverse Mormon — instead of one dude having many wives, all 3 dudes are looking for just one wife . . . to share. This is suppose to be a menage a quartre romance. Holly, with her virginity (she ran away from psycho hubby on her wedding nite) and her big-ass trust fund, is obviously The One the Colters Have Been Waiting For. Much sexual antics ensues with some weak suspense elements thrown in.

This e-book had been at the top of the Samhain website’s Bestseller List for MONTHS so I finally gave in to see what all the fuss was about.

The verdict? This is some good smut. Exhausting, going-at-it-like-bunnies, how-the-heck-do-they-do-that, jaw-dropping smut. You know how exhausting it is to read about Skye O’Malley or Erica Kane as they go through their countless marriages and lovers over a period of 25 years? Well, Colters’ Woman is like that, except condensed to about, um, 2 weeks.

Okay, so why the B- grade? Well, a girl cannot live on smut alone (altho seton tries, really really hard) and the falling-in-love aspects are not very believable. IMO, Holly only has a real connection with Ryan, the youngest Colter brother. I wouldnt be surprised if Holly and Ryan run off together and leave the other 2 behind. However, I admire Banks for going out there with this story that I will swallow the whole fantasy.
The fantasy that Holly loves all the Colters equally.
The fantasy that Holly has the energy to service all three oversexed men at least once.
Every. Single. Day.

Jeez, I’m exhausted just typing this book review.(less)

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Sep 04, 2008 mlady_rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of erotica/romantica that are morbidly curious how such a relationship would work.

Recommended to mlady_rebecca by: Summary in RT Magazine

Shelves: 2008, genre__contemporary_romance, sex__m_f_m, sex__incest, 2011__gave_to_charity, in_retrospect__forgettable

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 30, 2012 Zoe rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

TSTL virgin damsel in distress is rescued by three hot brothers who instantly decide they all love her/want her for their wife 'cause apparently that's the way they roll. They call her "doll" and "baby" before they even learn her last name or who she is, and have very cleverly choreographed inventive sex with her, which is perfect despite the fact she's a virgin and three other people are participating.

She proceeds to take baths and have threesomes with brothers. Takes more baths. Has more thre...more

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May 10, 2013 Letitia added it · review of another edition

Shelves: erotic-romance-erotica, dnf

Okay, so, yesterday I bought this one on a whim since it was $1.99... and soon after regretted my impulse buy. Had to DNF this at 44%.

I'll admit, I wasn't sold on the premise for this one from the get go but I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt since it's Maya Banks. Unfortunately, I never could shake the whole Deliverance vibe.

Cue the dueling banjos.

If this had been set in a historical period where women were scarce - or a dystopian setting with the same lack of females issue - I migh...more

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Feb 23, 2013 Michelle rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people who like lots of sex and zero storyline

This is one of the dumbest plot lines I've ever read - and I haven't even been able to finish it yet.

If you want very graphic sex with zero plot then this is the book for you.

I have read the KGI series by Maya Banks and enjoyed the stories and the romantic scenes and so I tried to find other books/series of hers to try.

I read 2 books from the Sweet Series and found myself put off by all the menage with no plot--but even those books had more storyline than this one.

I read a lot of other reviews h...more

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Jan 04, 2013 Grace rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Bored people with low expectations

Shelves: abused-female, finished-jan-2013, menage, multiple-pov, stalker, yummy-man, irritating-woman, would-not-read-again, first-in-series

Holly is on the run from her abusive husband after witnessing him commit a crime and after he threatened her and hit her. However, her car breaks down and she ends up falling over in a load of snow. She is rescued by Adam Colter - who takes her inside and puts her in a bath to warm up. He then introduces her to his two brothers (Ethan and Ryan). All three men immediatley recognise her as the woman they want to share between them for the rest of their lives (just like generations of their family...more Holly is on the run from her abusive husband after witnessing him commit a crime and after he threatened her and hit her. However, her car breaks down and she ends up falling over in a load of snow. She is rescued by Adam Colter - who takes her inside and puts her in a bath to warm up. He then introduces her to his two brothers (Ethan and Ryan). All three men immediatley recognise her as the woman they want to share between them for the rest of their lives (just like generations of their family have done before them). But can struggle to convince Holly that this is meant to be as Holly is reluctant to jump into a new relationship - especially since she is still married and is sure her husband will stop at nothing to get to her.

To be honest, I actually really loved this book. The three men are all delicious to read about and I liked the way they all had distinguishable personalities (e.g. they all had different pet names for Holly). Suprisingly, I was not annoyed as I usually am by their instant "OMG, she is the one. We must marry her and have children with her and live for ever and ever and ever blah blah blah...." In fact, I think it was handled very well as they all wern't in love with her as soon as they saw her, they just accepted in was inevitable that they would love her in the future. And the sex between the four of them was REALLY hot. Although I did find it a little strange/annoying how Holly instantley went from being a shy, insecure virgin to master at all things sex.

Then why didn't I gove it 5 stars?

Holly (the protaganist) was such an irritating character. I can not even begin to describe how angry and annoyed I am at her because (at least for me) she ruined the entire book. She has so many flaws that just want to make me punch her and tell her to man up. Throughout the beginning of the book she came across as childish or like a wounded animal. I get that she's traumatised or something but this was serious overkill. I'm talking about things like hiding behind Eric when Adam was talking to her. Little things like that all build up until its just too much.

Also, as I mentioned earlier, it was irritating how she was all shy and scared but also desperate to sleep with them and was immediatley super amazing in bed with three guys even though she'd never slept with a single guy on his own.

Furthermore, I was annoyed at how fakely innocent and naive she came across. I mean she didn't know her husband at all when she got married and she was so stupid money wise. She has millions of dollars in her trust fund but she stressed more over the fact that she's done a rush dye job on her hair and it didn't look good. Boo-hoo.

Finally though, what most annoyed me about Holly was how she never stood up for herself. She let herself get walked on by her husband (incedently if she had a stronger personality she would never be in this situation) and throughout the book she would start to say something and then stop and wait until one of the brothers gave her permission or asked her to tell them something. It was RIDICULOUS! This most of all is what made me want to punch her. She just had no backbone even after she had supposedly grown into a strong, confident woman. What utter BS.

Sorry for my looong rant but I was just so annoyed. Anyway I feel better now after a little Goodreads therapy. I would recommend this book to people looking to pass the time but would warn anyone about to read it to seriously lower their expectations beofre starting.(less)

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Dec 15, 2012 Dorothy Parker rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thought this book was a bunch of BS. While I do enjoy a good menage book, I mean who wouldn't two/three men at your beck and call, this story is stupid. The heroine is silly and the brothers, outside of Ryan, were cardboard cutouts.

I didn't care for the insta-love. "She's the one for us" got a little tired after a while. In addition, the fact that the oldest brother has his hands all over her while she's sleeping was a big turn-off. I mean, you just picked this woman up out of the snow, she ha...more

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Aug 29, 2012 P.A. Lupton rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Unfortunately, I couldn’t finish this book. I think this may have just been a personal taste—other people may really like it. Maya Banks is an excellent writer and I’ve never had an issue with her other books so I will keep reading her novels.

So, why didn’t I like Colter’s Woman? The romance developed WAY too fast. I mean, the heroes met the heroine while she was unconscious and decided she was the one. They were talking about marrying her before they’d even had a ten minute conversation with t...more

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Apr 25, 2012 Eternal-Love78 Michelle Rossi's Reviews rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Another Grab the Closest Warm Body Next to You Kind of Book! SINFULLY HOT, OUCH!

I have no idea how Ms. Banks turns a simple blank piece of paper, into GOLD, with its WHIRL-WIND of EMOTIONS, GRATIFYING ACTION/SUSPENSE, & EROTIC HEAT!

It's usually very difficult for most authors to write about a torrid liaison with several different main characters involved--all the while, trying extremely hard NOT to confuse the reader. But the way Ms. Banks writes a SINGE-THE-PAGES HOT Ménage or in this case...more Another Grab the Closest Warm Body Next to You Kind of Book! SINFULLY HOT, OUCH!

I have no idea how Ms. Banks turns a simple blank piece of paper, into GOLD, with its WHIRL-WIND of EMOTIONS, GRATIFYING ACTION/SUSPENSE, & EROTIC HEAT!

It's usually very difficult for most authors to write about a torrid liaison with several different main characters involved--all the while, trying extremely hard NOT to confuse the reader. But the way Ms. Banks writes a SINGE-THE-PAGES HOT Ménage or in this case a Ménage quartos is CATASTROPHICALLY BREATHTAKING!

As I delved deeper into the storyline, I became envious of Holly. For I've been trying for years to have my husband fawn over my every move. She not just gets 1 man, but 3 diverse personalities, and TO-DIE-FOR GORGEOUS ALPHA-MALES TO DO SO, WHO-WEE!

Don't get me wrong, I know full well that this story is purely fictional, but I'm truly convinced it HAS TO DERIVE FROM SOMEWHERE!

These men (Adam, Ethan, & Ryan), were without-a-doubt willing to risk their lives for a woman they barely knew. But they knew in their hearts, just by ONE TOUCH, ONE GLANCE that she was the ONE & ONLY who could TRULY COMPLETE them as a WHOLE. The devotion that they possessed for Holly, was as equivalent to 1 husband to 1 wife, but UNFATHOMABLE from 3 husbands to 1 wife. (Which technically is extremely illegal in the USA, but this still being FICTION & ALL!)

Besides being infatuated with the way Ms. Banks writes, I feel a certain kinship to her-- when I'm enthralled into one of her novels, I feel as though I know exactly which direction she is going with the characters involved. As though I can finish her sentences without even continuing, as you would do with a best friend--know exactly where their heading by the conversation you're having. It's a strange feeling to have towards an author, especially if you never truly expected it to happen. It's especially bad, when I'm up late reading, and I TALK, LAUGH, and ANSWER the characters back OUT LOUD, causing a HUGE pillow to thrown in my direction by my husband.

WELL DONE MS. BANKS ANOTHER 10 GOLDEN STARS RATING!!
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Jan 18, 2012 KatiD rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When Adam Colter goes out in the bitter cold to check the mail, the last thing he expects to find is an unconscious, freezing woman. But when he picks her up, and holds her to his body, he knows. She's The One. Adam, and his brothers, Ethan and Ryan had an unusual upbringing. Their mother was married to three men, at the same time. None of them know exactly who their biological father is, and they knew, even as they grew up that their relationship with The One would be the same as their parents'...more When Adam Colter goes out in the bitter cold to check the mail, the last thing he expects to find is an unconscious, freezing woman. But when he picks her up, and holds her to his body, he knows. She's The One. Adam, and his brothers, Ethan and Ryan had an unusual upbringing. Their mother was married to three men, at the same time. None of them know exactly who their biological father is, and they knew, even as they grew up that their relationship with The One would be the same as their parents'. They would love and care for the same woman, and she would have a relationship with all three of them. The challenge, of course, was in finding the right woman. Now, here in his arms, she is.

Holly is on the run. She's running from her abusive husband, and had to abandon her car a few miles away. He'd beaten her badly, so she didn't make it very far before succumbing to the cold. When she awakens, it's to find herself with three gorgeous brothers, all of whom make her want inappropriate, carnal things. She's distressed to find herself attracted to all three, and even more upset to find all three more than willing to engage with her, seemingly without jealousy. What the heck is going on?

For their parts, all three Colter brothers know almost immediately that Holly is The One. And they want nothing more than to protect her, and cherish her, particularly from her brute of a husband. They band together to make Holly feel wanted and safe and comfortable. They facilitate her divorce and in doing so, fall in love with her even more deeply. While Holly is confused in the beginning, she pretty quickly understands that the brothers don't have a jealousy thing going on. They're OK with her having encounters with each of them independently, or frankly, together. And the longer she's with them, the more she sees their gifts, and she falls in love with each of them more and more deeply.

Where to start with this book? I enjoyed it. Enough that I bought the rest of the series once I finished it. But yowza, did I have to turn off my analytical hat during the sex scenes. There's a lot of "going where your brother has JUST been before" and multiple blow jobs all the way (eww, that's a lot of swallowing). All of which combined to make me do the wrinkle my nose thing more than once. To be clear, there was absolutely NO contact between the brothers, but they were in *very* close proximity to each other, and very often climbing on top moments after the last one finished. All of it sounded quite unsanitary and a bit ick to me.

That being said, I enjoyed the romance part quite a bit, particularly because it gave the perspective of three very different men loving the same woman. This is definitely a fantasy book, where no one gets jealous or upset. The brothers are very evolved in their acceptance of their woman being with other men, even if they are your brothers. But overall, the story worked for me, it was just the sloppy seconds aspect of the love scenes that exercised my quick factor.Colters' Woman is a different, if quite enjoyable romance, by an author who rarely fails to deliver for me.

Final grade: B-(less)

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Sep 21, 2011 Kathy Davie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: erotica, romance

First in the Colters' Legacy erotic romance series set in the Rocky Mountains around a long-practiced family history of polygamy…in the lady's favor.

The Story
Terrified, Holly struggles to escape, desperate to put as many miles as possible between her and the man she married. The man she realizes she never knew. In retrospect, it's fortunate for Holly that one of the Colter brothers finds her almost frozen in a ditch just outside their cabin. Unfortunately for Holly, the brothers realize she is t...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Laura Kaye rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Many! This was one sexy, sensual book. While I'm a fan of reading about group sex, I'm not generally a fan of polyamorous relationships. I think they can be interesting fiction, but I have a hard time fully believing in the mechanics of a real-life polyamorous relationship, and so as a reader I just have a harder time buying in. I did here, though, completely. All three Colter brothers separately would be hot, compelling heroes. Together, they're off the charts. Once they meet the woman they bel...more

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Jan 19, 2011 Sandy M rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, erotic

Though I keep reading erotic romance and I keep giving fairly low review grades on most of them, there are those few authors out there who know how to write them. Maya Banks is one of those authors. She gives a reader a complete story and doesn’t rely wholly on the erotic to carry her through to the end.

Adam discovers a woman nearly frozen to death on the side of the road near the mountain home he shares with his brothers. The moment he picks her up, holds her in his arms, he knows she’s the one...more Though I keep reading erotic romance and I keep giving fairly low review grades on most of them, there are those few authors out there who know how to write them. Maya Banks is one of those authors. She gives a reader a complete story and doesn’t rely wholly on the erotic to carry her through to the end.

Adam discovers a woman nearly frozen to death on the side of the road near the mountain home he shares with his brothers. The moment he picks her up, holds her in his arms, he knows she’s the one he, Ethan, and Ryan have been waiting for, the one woman who will complete their lives, who will finally give them the family they’ve always wanted.

She’s run from the viciousness of one man into the arms of kindness, gentleness, and lustiness of three handsome men. Holly is afraid to let herself stay with the Colter brothers, knowing she’ll bring danger to their doorstep. But what woman can resist their plea for trust to take care of her, love for a lifetime, and hard bodies to keep her sated to her heart’s content?

Danger does come calling eventually and Holly takes control, resolves the issue her own way and the brothers must wait for the outcome, not knowing if their woman will come home again.

I have to admit I like the story idea behind this book. The Colters, as far back as two generations, have lived this life of three brothers sharing one wife. But it’s more than just sex that you get in most erotic books. You feel the emotions of each character, very distinct with each personality. Love is the main emotion this family has known for years, handed down from each generation, but they run the gamut of every other emotion in between, including, of course, lust and desire.

And these men are quite lusty indeed. This is the only area where I had a nitpick, however. Holly is a virgin. The Colter brothers have very, very healthy appetites in the bedroom. Granted, she goes in with her eyes wide open, but they go full bore with her the first night. One, she should have been exhausted much sooner than she was; two, she shouldn’t have been able to take everything and then some that they doled out to her the first time around with no problem.

But who am I kidding. Women, me included, drool over men like this because they’re well-rounded in all areas of a relationship. Because Ms. Banks gives an interesting story to go along with all that loving, I can overlook little nits like that. And I certainly did.

I would have liked a little more history, though, on how this lifestyle actually began. We know the brothers’ grandparents lived this way, as well as their parents, but we’re never given anything as to why, how, when, where, and all those little details. It wouldn’t have to be much, just a tidbit or two of the genesis for something so unique that has lasted so long.

There is also a short story, Callie’s Meadow, included at the end of this book. It’s a follow-up eight years into the Colters’ marriage, letting us see how they’re getting along, what’s happened down the road, and a definite surprise for all involved, causing reactions aplenty when the news is revealed.

I enjoyed this so much that I’ve already started the next book in the series, Colters’ Lady. I just couldn’t wait, anxious to find out how the next generation gets through and deals with life and love in the Colter household.(less)

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Sep 25, 2010 Jane Stewart rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: erotic-romantic-suspense

3.5 stars. Fairy-tale, fluffy, feel good. 3 men love and share 1 woman at the same time.

STORY BRIEF:
Three brothers have a family tradition. They want one woman to be a wife to the three of them. This was done by their grandparents and parents. Adam was interested in Lacey but the two brothers were not, so that relationship was stopped. Then Holly appears. All three men are immediately attracted to her and tell her about their family tradition. She is also attracted to the three of them, and they...more 3.5 stars. Fairy-tale, fluffy, feel good. 3 men love and share 1 woman at the same time.

STORY BRIEF:
Three brothers have a family tradition. They want one woman to be a wife to the three of them. This was done by their grandparents and parents. Adam was interested in Lacey but the two brothers were not, so that relationship was stopped. Then Holly appears. All three men are immediately attracted to her and tell her about their family tradition. She is also attracted to the three of them, and they give it a try. Holly’s background provides the major conflict. She married Mason, but saw him kill a man, and then Mason hit her on their wedding night. She ran away in fear and has been on the run for a few weeks. Mason is trying to find her. Holly fears for herself and for the three brothers.

REVIEWER’S OPINION:
Very sweet story. Damsel in distress. Three brothers find her, cherish her, want to take care of her, and want her to have their babies. They say things like “I’ll kill any other man who touches you” and “You belong to us, heart and soul, and if another man so much as looks at you, we’ll rip off his ___ and cram it down his throat.” Ok, so this is a little over the top in a fairy-tale kind of way, but it was a pleasant escape. There were several group sex scenes (3 men and 1 woman) with rear door activity. I was actually laughing during some of the sex scenes in a “oh, come on, would that really happen?” kind-of-way. Just know what you are getting. This is fluffy, feel good. It has a simple plot. The events are predictable. It is not thought provoking. There is no depth. But, I was curious to keep reading, and the lack of realism provided a few chuckles.

DATA:
Story length: 266 pages. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 9. Total number of sex scene pages: 44. Setting: current day hunting lodge in the Rocky Mountains and Denver, Colorado. Copyright: 2006. Genre: erotic romantic suspense.

OTHER BOOKS:
To date, I’ve read one other story by Maya Banks. I gave 2 stars to “Love Me, Still” copyright 2007, which appears in the anthology “The Perfect Gift.” My 4 star review for the anthology was posted on 8/19/08.(less)

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Sep 10, 2010 Lynette rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When Adam Colter finds Holly lying in the snow, he knows he’s finally found the woman he’s been looking for and so do his brothers. For Adam and his brothers are looking for one woman to share their bed and their lives, like their fathers’ and grandfathers’ before them. Yet, despite the feelings raging inside Holly for the Colter men, she has a past that she can’t escape from. How can she accept her future, when she has so much trouble from her past that still haunts her?

Maya Banks is an author...more When Adam Colter finds Holly lying in the snow, he knows he’s finally found the woman he’s been looking for and so do his brothers. For Adam and his brothers are looking for one woman to share their bed and their lives, like their fathers’ and grandfathers’ before them. Yet, despite the feelings raging inside Holly for the Colter men, she has a past that she can’t escape from. How can she accept her future, when she has so much trouble from her past that still haunts her?

Maya Banks is an author who is pretty much an auto-buy for me. Whenever I see one of her single-title releases, I make sure I pick it up. So, I’ve been curious to read one of her e-book releases. However, before I’d even received a copy of COLTERS’ WOMAN I’d heard the buzz about this book. There were several bloggers who read COLTERS’ WOMAN and just didn’t like it. I figured, because I’m such an ornery person and often march to the beat of my own drummer that since everyone else didn’t like it, I’d love it.

Well, I wouldn’t go that far. The first third of COLTERS’ WOMAN had my eyes rolling. I had serious issues with the set-up. If I hadn’t read Ms. Banks works before and if the writing wasn’t so good, I probably wouldn’t have kept reading COLTERS’ WOMAN. However the last two-thirds of COLTERS’ WOMAN was better drawn out and motivated.

The beginning really bothered me. It involves a man getting turned on by a woman who’s near death. It (and other instances) gave me a feeling of “eww.” I mean seriously. I felt like climbing in the novel and giving Holly tips on how to fill out a personal protection order against one of the heroes of the book.

To elaborate, in the opening of COLTERS’ WOMAN, Adam finds Holly in the snow near death. He immediately gets turned on. No I’m not kidding. It was very off-putting. He takes her home (where he’s brothers’ feel turned on by the unconscious heroine as well) strips her clothes to get her warm and climbs in bed with her (and no, it’s not explained that he’s doing it for warmth – he’s not). The thoughts going through Adam’s head really creeped me out and I swear my fingers were going to the phone so that I could dial 911. Adam and his brothers were treating Holly not as a stranger but as a woman they had known all their life and expected her to immediately accept that she was theirs now.

Umm, I guess I should explain. Adam and his younger brothers are looking to find the one woman who completes them all, like their fathers’ and grandfathers’ before them. They despair of ever finding a woman who will meet their needs until Holly appears. They can’t wait to make Holly their own, but Holly has secrets of her own.

Holly seems to accept this unconventional life-style a little too easy for me, especially with all that she’s been through. It was hard for me to suspend disbelief regarding the situation.

Ms. Banks writing and storytelling abilities carry the story for me. If the writing wasn’t so awesome, I doubt if I would’ve kept reading. I’m glad I did, as the middle and end of COLTERS’ WOMAN definitely made up for the rocky start. I ended up loving Holly and her men, and intrigued to see the next installment in this series.
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Aug 09, 2010 Camille rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, on-my-nook

I'd like to say that I got this free or that I started reading it without realizing what it was about. Oh goodness, menage a quatre?!? What a surprise! But no, I saw it on a Goodreads list and actually paid for it. I can't help it, I'm fascinated on how this would really work. Hey, I watch Big Love and I'm all the time saying there's no way. I have to say though, I think one woman and multpile works better than one guy and multiple women. It's still not really belieable though. I thought brother...more

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Jul 29, 2010 Amy Jacobs rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After many recommendations for this book, I finally caved and got it. Wow! All those recommendations were right! First of all, look at that cover! Who wouldn't want to sit down and read a book about those three men? Those eyes an all three of them are telling you to read it!

I loved each one of the characters of this book. It's hard to pick a favorite. Each brother has his own personality that makes you fall for them. Adam is the serious older brother that likes to have everything planned and in...more

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Colters' Woman (Colters' Legacy #1)

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