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Danger #1
Danger, Sweetheart: A Novel
Blake Tarbell has a town to save. Rich, carefree, and used to the Vegas party lifestyle, Blake is thrown for a curve when his former cocktail-waitress mother pleads he go back to her roots to save the town she grew up in. Blake's used to using money to solve his problems, but when he arrives in Sweetheart, North Dakota, this city boy has to trade in his high-priced shoes for a pair of cowboy boots...and he's about to get a little help from the loveliest lady in town...Natalie Lane's got no time for newbies. The prettiest gal to ever put on a pair of work gloves, there's nothing she can't do to keep a farm up and running. But when a handsome city-slicker rolls into town with nothing but bad farmer's instincts and good intentions, Natalie's heartstrings are pulled. She's about to teach him a thing or two about how to survive in Sweetheart. And he's about to teach her a thing or two about love...in MaryJanice Davidson's Danger, Sweetheart.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 10, 2016
41 people are currently reading
1192 people want to read
About the author
MaryJanice Davidson
145 books5,402 followersMaryJanice Davidson is an American author and motivational speaker who writes mostly paranormal romance, but also young adult and non-fiction. She is the creator of the popular UNDEAD series and the time-traveling historical fiction A CONTEMPORARY ASSHAT AT THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. MaryJanice is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author who writes a bi-weekly column for USA Today and lives in St. Paul with her family. You can reach her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
April 18, 2016
Not your typical romance!
MarJanice Davidson pays homage to standard romance tropes in Danger, Sweetheart, i.e. twin brothers named Blake (good twin) and Rake (bad twin). As a result, the narrative is a bit over the top (as it's meant to be). This is a quick, entertaining read filled with humor, and of course, romance!
I received this book from GoodReads in exchange for an honest review.
MarJanice Davidson pays homage to standard romance tropes in Danger, Sweetheart, i.e. twin brothers named Blake (good twin) and Rake (bad twin). As a result, the narrative is a bit over the top (as it's meant to be). This is a quick, entertaining read filled with humor, and of course, romance!
I received this book from GoodReads in exchange for an honest review.
February 14, 2023
I had read the author's Undead books before & "Me, Myself and Why?" and loved them, so when I saw her name on the book spine at the library, it was a no-brainer for me.
Also, the cover evokes westerns, and I hadn't read a western romance in a while. I was expecting a Harlequinesque type of novel, but instead, I got a romantic comedy peppered with all these niche references which I got, making me feel intelligent (well-read). Now I feel inspired to talk like the hero; like "how they talk in books" (a quote from a very side character).
The book also has a chock-full of tropes (45 to be exact), which is done on purpose. I didn't even catch more than half of the tropes, tbh, and I've read over 1,000 romance novels.
At first, the writing style threw me off a bit. Don't read this when you're dead tired, or you'll be confused (as the story is often interrupted for comedic purposes). I was surprised and then amused. I especially liked all the English history references: there's a grumpy horse Blake names Margaret of Anjou; a pig (I think Blake) named the White Rose of York; and plenty of references to the House of Lancaster, Richard III, even Henry VII & Anne Bolen (Anne Boleyn deserved better).
It took forever for the main characters to kiss, and then when it was about to be sexy, the author inserted too much humour in the scene to let us enjoy it. (That is a weird thing I never thought I'd write. It felt like "haha, my characters are having sex now".) Not everything needs to be a joke.
I liked this book more when I think of it as something to make me laugh, but it doesn't satisfy the romance kink (need). One reason this book me so long to finish is that I put it down for a bit around page 108 in search for a book with more romance. (I didn't have much luck with that 🤐)
This is what I originally wrote while I was currently reading the novel: "on page 108: idk about this one: it's funny, but where's the romance??" (I hate the new ((well it's not new anymore)) Goodreads update. It's harder to write reviews & see your reading updates for each book.
P.S.
Usually, the heroine is the most important character in the romance novel (even though, it can be hard to choose), but in this book, Blake was the one finding his person. I liked how it was different.
"I love you and I love all your weird ways, because our weird ways complement each other."
Happy Valentine's Day! 💙
Also, the cover evokes westerns, and I hadn't read a western romance in a while. I was expecting a Harlequinesque type of novel, but instead, I got a romantic comedy peppered with all these niche references which I got, making me feel
The book also has a chock-full of tropes (45 to be exact), which is done on purpose. I didn't even catch more than half of the tropes, tbh, and I've read over 1,000 romance novels.
At first, the writing style threw me off a bit. Don't read this when you're dead tired, or you'll be confused (as the story is often interrupted for comedic purposes). I was surprised and then amused. I especially liked all the English history references: there's a grumpy horse Blake names Margaret of Anjou; a pig (I think Blake) named the White Rose of York; and plenty of references to the House of Lancaster, Richard III, even Henry VII & Anne Bolen (Anne Boleyn deserved better).
It took forever for the main characters to kiss, and then when it was about to be sexy, the author inserted too much humour in the scene to let us enjoy it. (That is a weird thing I never thought I'd write. It felt like "haha, my characters are having sex now".) Not everything needs to be a joke.
I liked this book more when I think of it as something to make me laugh, but it doesn't satisfy the romance kink (need). One reason this book me so long to finish is that I put it down for a bit around page 108 in search for a book with more romance. (I didn't have much luck with that 🤐)
This is what I originally wrote while I was currently reading the novel: "on page 108: idk about this one: it's funny, but where's the romance??" (I hate the new ((well it's not new anymore)) Goodreads update. It's harder to write reviews & see your reading updates for each book.
P.S.
Usually, the heroine is the most important character in the romance novel (even though, it can be hard to choose), but in this book, Blake was the one finding his person. I liked how it was different.
"I love you and I love all your weird ways, because our weird ways complement each other."
Happy Valentine's Day! 💙
March 11, 2016
Honestly after reading this book I don't even know where to begin. This is my first book by Ms. Davidson and after reading the blurb I figured why not let's give this go and see what happens.
The book starts off in the past with how Blake's mom got pregnant ( yes you are reading that right) and then jumps almost to 30 years in the future where Blake ends up in to help his mother bring her town back alive. While Blake is in North Dakota he is cut off from his trust fund and has to work on the ranch with people who don't like him, a pony who secretly wants to kill him and a woman who is driving him crazy.
For starters I have to say this must be the funniest book I have read in a really long time. When I started this book I was caught between wtf?! And literally laughing my ass off. Davidson had some outrageously funny scenes that were topped off with nonsense rambling and dialogue from her characters.
For a period when I was reading I was asking myself what is this book really about and where is it going? Do I even like the characters? Once the story started to unfold I couldn't stop reading and the characters just started to unfold.
Blake and his twin Rake are absolutely funny and while they give each other such a hard time I couldn't help but love the bond they had. Natalie took a while for me to warm up too since she comes off a little bitchy but you could see how Blake was getting to her.
Okay Blake rambles a lot but OMG I seriously loved him and all his rambles. He comes off as the rich guy who all the girls want for money but I definitely saw a deeper side to him.
I have to admit some of the references I didn't understand but I am glad Davidson included authors notes to help me through it.
As far as the romance goes it really doesn't come about until maybe 75% in because trust me their is a lot that leads up to the grand moment and it's also pretty freaking hilarious. It was honestly one of my favorite parts of this story.
After reading this I'm so glad I did and I'm really excited to read Rakes story. I mean who wouldn't knowing this millionaire is stuck in Italy with no money and no pants lol I seriously can't wait!
If you are looking for a good laugh and a little romance I would recommend this book! I'm already wondering if it's too soon to read it again?
The book starts off in the past with how Blake's mom got pregnant ( yes you are reading that right) and then jumps almost to 30 years in the future where Blake ends up in to help his mother bring her town back alive. While Blake is in North Dakota he is cut off from his trust fund and has to work on the ranch with people who don't like him, a pony who secretly wants to kill him and a woman who is driving him crazy.
For starters I have to say this must be the funniest book I have read in a really long time. When I started this book I was caught between wtf?! And literally laughing my ass off. Davidson had some outrageously funny scenes that were topped off with nonsense rambling and dialogue from her characters.
For a period when I was reading I was asking myself what is this book really about and where is it going? Do I even like the characters? Once the story started to unfold I couldn't stop reading and the characters just started to unfold.
Blake and his twin Rake are absolutely funny and while they give each other such a hard time I couldn't help but love the bond they had. Natalie took a while for me to warm up too since she comes off a little bitchy but you could see how Blake was getting to her.
Okay Blake rambles a lot but OMG I seriously loved him and all his rambles. He comes off as the rich guy who all the girls want for money but I definitely saw a deeper side to him.
I have to admit some of the references I didn't understand but I am glad Davidson included authors notes to help me through it.
As far as the romance goes it really doesn't come about until maybe 75% in because trust me their is a lot that leads up to the grand moment and it's also pretty freaking hilarious. It was honestly one of my favorite parts of this story.
After reading this I'm so glad I did and I'm really excited to read Rakes story. I mean who wouldn't knowing this millionaire is stuck in Italy with no money and no pants lol I seriously can't wait!
If you are looking for a good laugh and a little romance I would recommend this book! I'm already wondering if it's too soon to read it again?
May 13, 2016
If you are a fan of the quirky and the books that make you LOL and chuckle as you read the pages, books that make you shake your head with their ridiculousness . Then you need to pick up a copy of Danger, Sweetheart by MaryJanice Davidson. From the very first page when Shannah was talking about awkward sex places e.g a wax museum to meeting her twins Blake and Rake to their family dialogue. I knew this book was going to be quite a humourous read and that it definitely did turn out to be. I found myself getting really into their odd ways and wit as we meet Shannah whom fell pregnant to a wealthy Tarbell who then passed away and left his fortune to Shannah and the boys. This family has never really found a home though as they have been moving around, living out of suitcases and not ones for settling down. When their mother recieves another inheritance, this time some farming land from her parents - a farm called Heartbreak Ranch in a small country town called Sweetheart. The town though is becoming a ghost town and slowly dying and Shannah is the only one who can save it as their ranch is the last one left to purchase. Shannah then enlists the help of her wiser son of her two twins Blake to help her save the smalltown of Sweetheart. While there Blake meets Natalie Lane who is from the bank and wants a piece of Sweetheart for herself as if they sell she can get a mighty fine comission and a way out of this podunk town. What neither Blake nor Natalie realise is that being in Sweetheart and pushed together , will have them slowly falling in and out of love - mainly in love with each other. Will Sweetheart and Heartbreak Ranch finally get it's long overdue HEA or will their efforts in saving the town be for nothing ?
For a great laugh , don't delay and pick up Danger, Sweetheart by MaryJanice Davidson today.
For a great laugh , don't delay and pick up Danger, Sweetheart by MaryJanice Davidson today.
December 31, 2021
Our hero gets a call from his mother to come to her hometown and save it. But he can't let anyone know who he is and he can't just throw money at it. As a matter of fact his mother has cut off his cash flow until he figures himself out.
A hilarious book with fun characters and a great romance.
A hilarious book with fun characters and a great romance.
May 8, 2016
I love Ms. Davidson’s humor and the idea of sending up romantic tropes is right up my alley, but the plot wanders more than a kid with ADD on pixie sticks. There’s plenty of hysterical moments, and if you can keep the thread of the story and not lose it in the insane amount of stream of consciousness comments by the narrator, then you may enjoy this.
**ARC provided by publisher via netgalley for review**
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June 1, 2024
Frustrating fun!
This book is a contemporary romantic comedy…of sorts. It is simplistically sweet and nefariously evil.
It is also the mother of all tropes –You MUST read MJD’s Author’s Note before you start this book or you will just think it is the worst piece of drivel that ever came out of an author’s keyboard.
I loved this book and I hated it. I laughed so hard in spots that I thought I would wet myself; some spots I hated. I was curious as to how the book was going to end and then I lost interest and then I got curious again. It was the kind of book that should either be shelved on your comfort read shelf, or throw with great strength against the wall. This book was easy to understand and at the same time filled with none of the information you needed. The romance ends on the expected HEA note starting with the expected über steamy sex scene.
This book is filled with twists and turns and also stagnates. It has some of the coarsest language I have ever read outside of …well I don’t know what, and it also has pithy and deep language and footnotes. If I had to read the word ‘douche’ one more time, my head would have exploded.
Yes there really is such a thing a ‘horse-porn’. *shiver*
What can I say it has something for everyone! I can’t wait for Jakes book.
This book is a contemporary romantic comedy…of sorts. It is simplistically sweet and nefariously evil.
It is also the mother of all tropes –You MUST read MJD’s Author’s Note before you start this book or you will just think it is the worst piece of drivel that ever came out of an author’s keyboard.
I loved this book and I hated it. I laughed so hard in spots that I thought I would wet myself; some spots I hated. I was curious as to how the book was going to end and then I lost interest and then I got curious again. It was the kind of book that should either be shelved on your comfort read shelf, or throw with great strength against the wall. This book was easy to understand and at the same time filled with none of the information you needed. The romance ends on the expected HEA note starting with the expected über steamy sex scene.
This book is filled with twists and turns and also stagnates. It has some of the coarsest language I have ever read outside of …well I don’t know what, and it also has pithy and deep language and footnotes. If I had to read the word ‘douche’ one more time, my head would have exploded.
Yes there really is such a thing a ‘horse-porn’. *shiver*
What can I say it has something for everyone! I can’t wait for Jakes book.
October 13, 2023
Blake ends up in Sweetheart ND because his mother needs his help. Natalie is used to hard work and getting dirty (don't go there, wait, do go there). Blake needs her help.
So, this had all the tropes. I mean all (the author lists them). Totally done on purpose. I thought this would be funny, but instead I was bored and a bit annoyed. It was chaotic and I couldn't really connect with any of the characters or the romance. I just didn't care.
So, this had all the tropes. I mean all (the author lists them). Totally done on purpose. I thought this would be funny, but instead I was bored and a bit annoyed. It was chaotic and I couldn't really connect with any of the characters or the romance. I just didn't care.
January 4, 2022
I'm so sorry MJD. I tried to like this. I kept in mind the tropes and your purpose in writing it but I could not like it. I read the Author's Note and because it's MJD gave it my best shot but it's just not good. It's over the top, it's even over MJD's top.
May 11, 2016
Where do I start with this review? I tried I really did, to get into this book, but I found it to be just far too wordy and with too many grammatical errors, it just became a very difficult book to read indeed.
I started to have concerns with this book as early as the Prologue. There was no mention as to when this particular event took place. So for the first chapter I had no clue what was going on or who the characters were, because it turns out the Prologue was about Blake and his twin brother Rake's mother.
I think the over-use of complicated, uncommon, foreign names for things was unnecessary. Perhaps they were used to add to the humour of this book, but sadly I just didn't find any humour in it.
The characters are not at all engaging. They have far too many inner monologues for my taste. These same monologues are also thrown in mid conversation or mid sentence which seriously affects the flow of the story.
It was also hard to distinguish someone's age, for example I couldn't get a feeling for Blake and Rakes mothers age, she could have been a 25 year old supermodel or a 100 year old war veteran. I just got no sense of life experience from her.
Another major flaw with this book was the lack of masculinity for the male characters. It was hard to distinguish them from the females in the book. I like my fictional men to be men. Not necessarily of the alpha variety all the time, but considering this book is mainly told in Blakes point of view I would have thought that his gender would have been clear.
In addition to that, the language and conversations the characters have are very old fashioned and not at all what I would come to expect from a modern day romance book. On one hand this book was trying to be intelligent by the use of large, uncommon, foreign words and then in the next breath an adult character would say something that was completely immature and juvenile and not at all appropriate for that character. Was this meant to add to the humour? Unfortunately I didn't find any humour in it.
Now I want to take the time to discuss the romance element between Blake and Natalie, because I have to say that I found this completely lacking. For instance this particular part........He’d been filching toast again. She should be grossed out, being able to taste his breakfast. (I am not grossed out.).......Well, I was really grossed out and in all honesty I do feel the word 'filching toast' isn't the correct word to be using when the character is thinking about kissing another character. Maybe the words, stealing or even pilfering would have made it less stomach churning. Again, I assume this was meant to add humour, but I was simply too disgusted by the thought of anyone kissing someone and being able to taste their breakfast.
I didn't feel very much romance or chemistry between Natalie and Blake at all. It felt almost clinical.
I like to consider myself fairly linguistic and find I can adapt to lots of different writing styles, but with this book, I unfortunately couldn't connect whatsoever and the storyline just didn't enthrall me and considering this book is by a published author, I am very disappointed indeed.
I started to have concerns with this book as early as the Prologue. There was no mention as to when this particular event took place. So for the first chapter I had no clue what was going on or who the characters were, because it turns out the Prologue was about Blake and his twin brother Rake's mother.
I think the over-use of complicated, uncommon, foreign names for things was unnecessary. Perhaps they were used to add to the humour of this book, but sadly I just didn't find any humour in it.
The characters are not at all engaging. They have far too many inner monologues for my taste. These same monologues are also thrown in mid conversation or mid sentence which seriously affects the flow of the story.
It was also hard to distinguish someone's age, for example I couldn't get a feeling for Blake and Rakes mothers age, she could have been a 25 year old supermodel or a 100 year old war veteran. I just got no sense of life experience from her.
Another major flaw with this book was the lack of masculinity for the male characters. It was hard to distinguish them from the females in the book. I like my fictional men to be men. Not necessarily of the alpha variety all the time, but considering this book is mainly told in Blakes point of view I would have thought that his gender would have been clear.
In addition to that, the language and conversations the characters have are very old fashioned and not at all what I would come to expect from a modern day romance book. On one hand this book was trying to be intelligent by the use of large, uncommon, foreign words and then in the next breath an adult character would say something that was completely immature and juvenile and not at all appropriate for that character. Was this meant to add to the humour? Unfortunately I didn't find any humour in it.
Now I want to take the time to discuss the romance element between Blake and Natalie, because I have to say that I found this completely lacking. For instance this particular part........He’d been filching toast again. She should be grossed out, being able to taste his breakfast. (I am not grossed out.).......Well, I was really grossed out and in all honesty I do feel the word 'filching toast' isn't the correct word to be using when the character is thinking about kissing another character. Maybe the words, stealing or even pilfering would have made it less stomach churning. Again, I assume this was meant to add humour, but I was simply too disgusted by the thought of anyone kissing someone and being able to taste their breakfast.
I didn't feel very much romance or chemistry between Natalie and Blake at all. It felt almost clinical.
I like to consider myself fairly linguistic and find I can adapt to lots of different writing styles, but with this book, I unfortunately couldn't connect whatsoever and the storyline just didn't enthrall me and considering this book is by a published author, I am very disappointed indeed.
April 5, 2016
I truly wanted to like this book. I have read many books by MJD and enjoyed quite a few. Her Fred and Betsy series are great and fun reads. Did I mention I wanted to like this book? It was a rambling, chaotic read. While the inner monologues of the lead character were humorous, I never could take him or his family seriously. And yes, I know this is a comedy, but, wow.
All I can say is I wanted more, and did not get it. There was no connection for me, and no way to relate to these characters.
Received as an ARC from Netgally for an honest review
All I can say is I wanted more, and did not get it. There was no connection for me, and no way to relate to these characters.
Received as an ARC from Netgally for an honest review
not-going-there
May 25, 2016It's nothing but overused tropes. The author thought it would be cute: a romance story using old tropes, but the reader is in on it this time. Uh, what? When are we not in on it? We know when tropes are being used. This doesn't sound appealing at all. Especially after skimming the "here are all the tropes I used in order" page and seeing a dozen or more tropes I strongly dislike.
Read
March 16, 2016honestly i got to 38% and DNF
I could not connect with the characters, or the story. I had really high hopes.
honestly, tho these things happen. I will come back and finish what i started.
arc received from Netgalley for an honest review.
I could not connect with the characters, or the story. I had really high hopes.
honestly, tho these things happen. I will come back and finish what i started.
arc received from Netgalley for an honest review.
May 8, 2016
The book was ok. Well, better than ok. Maybe good, i just felt at times the author was trying too hard and the authors note at the begining felt a bit much. The fact that i want to read the second book means the author has done something right, but i don't know what
June 6, 2022
A new version of hell
Annoying dialogue. Weird characters. Unclear plot. I didn’t like this book, at all. It was painful to read so I skimmed for the most part.
What I’ve found with MaryJanice is that all of her main characters have chaotic thought patterns and she (the author) enjoys letting her readers in on her characters’ inner thoughts. It’s honestly a version of hell that I don’t want to visit again (after I catch up on the Undead series, I’m 3 books behind). I’ve definitely outgrown MaryJanice’s writing. I don’t find it humorous just annoying.
Annoying dialogue. Weird characters. Unclear plot. I didn’t like this book, at all. It was painful to read so I skimmed for the most part.
What I’ve found with MaryJanice is that all of her main characters have chaotic thought patterns and she (the author) enjoys letting her readers in on her characters’ inner thoughts. It’s honestly a version of hell that I don’t want to visit again (after I catch up on the Undead series, I’m 3 books behind). I’ve definitely outgrown MaryJanice’s writing. I don’t find it humorous just annoying.
May 8, 2016
INITIAL THOUGHTS
It's been a while since I have read anything by this author. I loved both her Vampire & mermaid book series. I am looking forward to this one as MaryJanice Davidson is so witty in her writing so am looking forward to reading this book and it making me snicker, smirk and laugh!
THOUGHTS WHILST READING
Not as an amusing read as I had initially expected. Though to be totally fair this book is classed as contemporary romance and doesn't really mention comedy/humour. I'm definitely sticking with reading this book though as I want to find out who Natalie really is and why she seems so determined not to even like Blake Tarbell, let alone have any type of romance with him at this point I am at reading the book.
REVIEW
I was so lucky to be offered and sent a paperback copy of this book in exchange for my honest review by the publishers Little Brown.
The cover of the paperback is a bright eye catching yellow, the spine of the paperback is orange and they both have elements of green on them too. This sounds. . well super strange when I read it back but honestly it works! The cover has a cowboy hat and what I can only describe as a very "doily" like pattern on the front cover.
So would the cover make me pick this book up in a book store? I would certainly pick this book up as it is brightly coloured, grabs your attention and the fact it is written by MaryJanice Davidson would make me want to investigate further!
I know I've already done my cover comments above but looking from the perspective of having read the book I think I do need to add that I think the cover suits the contemporary style of the book.
The book is primarily set in a small rural community and farming area of Sweetheart.
So the main character is Shannah Banaan (who hates to be called Shannah Banana!!) without giving away too much, she has a one night stand, becomes pregnant, then has twins. Shannah gets no help at all from her family and it is most certainly a "bad thing"/stigma in her small community. Shannah still owns a farm/ranch in Sweetheart and wants her sons to save what is a dying community. Shannah suggests, coaxes, tricks, cajoles and blackmails her son Blake into helping out at Heartbreak.
The book then jumps forward in time and the main characters are Blake and Rake Tarbell, Shannah's sons. It seems Shannah is now much more well off and so are her sons. So much so they are in the perfect position to help the little community that once snubbed them by buying land, and also farming Heartbreak Farm/Ranch. In fact by holding onto Heartbreak and refusing to sell they are preventing a large business concern from building a golf club. Also thrown into the mix is Natalie Lane who has craftily made Blake Tarbell think she is part of the Heartbreak workforce. Natalie thinks that Blake is just another spoilt rich business man slumming it on a farm for a few months until he gets fed up. What would Natalie make of Rake. . . the . ..er ladies man, who tends to get what he wants when, and how he wants it.
I have read quite a lot of MaryJanice Davidson's paranormal titles, both the Queen Betsy Series and her Fred the Mermaid Series too which I really loved. I admit I don't read all that much contemporary, but was still looking forward to reading this book. The pace was a little slow for my taste as a reader and most likely my preconceived ideas of what I thought the book would be like, but I was actually a little bit disappointed that there wasn't as much comedy in this book as in MaryJanice Davidson's paranormal titles. I did laugh at the interaction between Blake Tarbell and the ill tempered cantankerous pony that lives at Heartbreak, called Margaret of Anjou.
One point I wasn't very keen/impressed with is the one of the male characters called Garrett describes is mother as having "pudding for brains" and then goes on to say"F**k*ng Alzheimers, it made patients a zillion times more irritating while taking years to actually kill them" Though this may be the case and this is a character perhaps just being flippant I found it unnecessary and somewhat derogatory.
So Did I enjoy the book? I thought it was an okay contemporary read. Sadly I just didn't love it like I had expected to.
Would I recommend the book? Only to those who really like the contemporary genre.
Would I want to read another contemporary book by MaryJanice Davidson? I would read the blurb of any other contemporary book by MaryJanice Davidson but I'm not sure I would read another, it would depend on the individual blurb. There were times when I felt like not finishing this book too which is rare for me.
Would I read another book by MaryJanice Davidson? Sadly if I am truly honest the answer would have to be a no to other contemporary books by MaryJanice Davidson. Having said that I would definitely read other paranormal books by MaryJanice Davidson.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I certainly didn't think I would ever say I wasn't so keen on a book written by this author having read so many of her books. However, I just didn't fully get into this book. On reading the blurb it sounds like the type of book I would read and enjoy, and the characters are good too. I don't know how to explain further than just saying the book was okay. I guess I am shocked and a little underwhelmed. Maybe I had built up my expectations too much based on the paranormal fiction I have read by MaryJanice Davidson.
It's been a while since I have read anything by this author. I loved both her Vampire & mermaid book series. I am looking forward to this one as MaryJanice Davidson is so witty in her writing so am looking forward to reading this book and it making me snicker, smirk and laugh!
THOUGHTS WHILST READING
Not as an amusing read as I had initially expected. Though to be totally fair this book is classed as contemporary romance and doesn't really mention comedy/humour. I'm definitely sticking with reading this book though as I want to find out who Natalie really is and why she seems so determined not to even like Blake Tarbell, let alone have any type of romance with him at this point I am at reading the book.
REVIEW
I was so lucky to be offered and sent a paperback copy of this book in exchange for my honest review by the publishers Little Brown.
The cover of the paperback is a bright eye catching yellow, the spine of the paperback is orange and they both have elements of green on them too. This sounds. . well super strange when I read it back but honestly it works! The cover has a cowboy hat and what I can only describe as a very "doily" like pattern on the front cover.
So would the cover make me pick this book up in a book store? I would certainly pick this book up as it is brightly coloured, grabs your attention and the fact it is written by MaryJanice Davidson would make me want to investigate further!
I know I've already done my cover comments above but looking from the perspective of having read the book I think I do need to add that I think the cover suits the contemporary style of the book.
The book is primarily set in a small rural community and farming area of Sweetheart.
So the main character is Shannah Banaan (who hates to be called Shannah Banana!!) without giving away too much, she has a one night stand, becomes pregnant, then has twins. Shannah gets no help at all from her family and it is most certainly a "bad thing"/stigma in her small community. Shannah still owns a farm/ranch in Sweetheart and wants her sons to save what is a dying community. Shannah suggests, coaxes, tricks, cajoles and blackmails her son Blake into helping out at Heartbreak.
The book then jumps forward in time and the main characters are Blake and Rake Tarbell, Shannah's sons. It seems Shannah is now much more well off and so are her sons. So much so they are in the perfect position to help the little community that once snubbed them by buying land, and also farming Heartbreak Farm/Ranch. In fact by holding onto Heartbreak and refusing to sell they are preventing a large business concern from building a golf club. Also thrown into the mix is Natalie Lane who has craftily made Blake Tarbell think she is part of the Heartbreak workforce. Natalie thinks that Blake is just another spoilt rich business man slumming it on a farm for a few months until he gets fed up. What would Natalie make of Rake. . . the . ..er ladies man, who tends to get what he wants when, and how he wants it.
I have read quite a lot of MaryJanice Davidson's paranormal titles, both the Queen Betsy Series and her Fred the Mermaid Series too which I really loved. I admit I don't read all that much contemporary, but was still looking forward to reading this book. The pace was a little slow for my taste as a reader and most likely my preconceived ideas of what I thought the book would be like, but I was actually a little bit disappointed that there wasn't as much comedy in this book as in MaryJanice Davidson's paranormal titles. I did laugh at the interaction between Blake Tarbell and the ill tempered cantankerous pony that lives at Heartbreak, called Margaret of Anjou.
One point I wasn't very keen/impressed with is the one of the male characters called Garrett describes is mother as having "pudding for brains" and then goes on to say"F**k*ng Alzheimers, it made patients a zillion times more irritating while taking years to actually kill them" Though this may be the case and this is a character perhaps just being flippant I found it unnecessary and somewhat derogatory.
So Did I enjoy the book? I thought it was an okay contemporary read. Sadly I just didn't love it like I had expected to.
Would I recommend the book? Only to those who really like the contemporary genre.
Would I want to read another contemporary book by MaryJanice Davidson? I would read the blurb of any other contemporary book by MaryJanice Davidson but I'm not sure I would read another, it would depend on the individual blurb. There were times when I felt like not finishing this book too which is rare for me.
Would I read another book by MaryJanice Davidson? Sadly if I am truly honest the answer would have to be a no to other contemporary books by MaryJanice Davidson. Having said that I would definitely read other paranormal books by MaryJanice Davidson.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I certainly didn't think I would ever say I wasn't so keen on a book written by this author having read so many of her books. However, I just didn't fully get into this book. On reading the blurb it sounds like the type of book I would read and enjoy, and the characters are good too. I don't know how to explain further than just saying the book was okay. I guess I am shocked and a little underwhelmed. Maybe I had built up my expectations too much based on the paranormal fiction I have read by MaryJanice Davidson.
August 15, 2020
Fairly ridiculous and a bit over the top with the tropes, it was a nice romance with a stretched out plot.
May 16, 2016
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We love them. We hate them. Literary tropes have been a point of debate among readers and reviewers alike over the years. Some see them as lazy writing and some simply adore them. And there are others who believe that plot and thematic tropes when done right, can be quite successful.
MaryJanice Davidson's Danger, Sweetheart is full of common tropes found in the romance genre. 45 of them, actually. Yes, you read that right.
Written as a homage to romance tropes, Danger, Sweetheart was not what I expected. Davidson forewarns us in her wacky author's note that the idea came out of an office discussion that included her co-workers listing out their favorite tropes. I am no stranger to the romance genre - From Regency romances to contemporaries so I love them tropes and all.
Danger, Sweetheart is a small town Western romance that features an entertaining cast of characters including a city guy in a small town (your typical fish out of water trope), a pony who's conspiring our hero's murder, a pig who's named the White Rose of York and a snarky lady with an affinity for the wittiest one-liners. Sparks fly the moment Blake Tarbell, the emotionally distant (who's just waiting for the right woman to come along, of course!) hero of our story and Natalie Lane, the blue-eyed heroine set their eyes on each other. But of course, things aren't all that rosy so our hero and heroine must overcome sinister plot twists, deceptions and misunderstandings that are easily solved only if they took one second to actually communicate.
The novel pulls you in with its witty characters and quick pacing. Davidson's writing style is as wacky as the story, making it a fun if sometimes silly read. The author also weaves in her own commentary with the story and I found myself smiling more than once. I also found the inner monologues of some of the characters as entertaining as hell.
One of my quibbles was the non-linear timeline in the first portion of the novel. The flashbacks were somewhat jarring with the story going back and forth a couple of times. While I didn't have a problem keeping up with the plot, I can see that it may be annoying or even confusing for some readers. Danger, Sweetheart may come off as rambling mess to some readers but I found the chaos and the crazy writing style refreshing!
THE RATING
3 Stars
QUOTE-WORTHY
FINAL VERDICT:
Danger, Sweetheart is a quick and fun read that is sure to coax a smile out of the most jaded of readers. Pick it up for its witty one-liners and some truly wacky writing!
A literary trope is the use of figurative language – via word, phrase, or even an image – for artistic effect such as using a figure of speech. The word trope has also come to be used for describing commonly recurring literary and rhetorical devices, motifs or clichés in creative works.
We love them. We hate them. Literary tropes have been a point of debate among readers and reviewers alike over the years. Some see them as lazy writing and some simply adore them. And there are others who believe that plot and thematic tropes when done right, can be quite successful.
MaryJanice Davidson's Danger, Sweetheart is full of common tropes found in the romance genre. 45 of them, actually. Yes, you read that right.
Written as a homage to romance tropes, Danger, Sweetheart was not what I expected. Davidson forewarns us in her wacky author's note that the idea came out of an office discussion that included her co-workers listing out their favorite tropes. I am no stranger to the romance genre - From Regency romances to contemporaries so I love them tropes and all.
Danger, Sweetheart is a small town Western romance that features an entertaining cast of characters including a city guy in a small town (your typical fish out of water trope), a pony who's conspiring our hero's murder, a pig who's named the White Rose of York and a snarky lady with an affinity for the wittiest one-liners. Sparks fly the moment Blake Tarbell, the emotionally distant (who's just waiting for the right woman to come along, of course!) hero of our story and Natalie Lane, the blue-eyed heroine set their eyes on each other. But of course, things aren't all that rosy so our hero and heroine must overcome sinister plot twists, deceptions and misunderstandings that are easily solved only if they took one second to actually communicate.
The novel pulls you in with its witty characters and quick pacing. Davidson's writing style is as wacky as the story, making it a fun if sometimes silly read. The author also weaves in her own commentary with the story and I found myself smiling more than once. I also found the inner monologues of some of the characters as entertaining as hell.
One of my quibbles was the non-linear timeline in the first portion of the novel. The flashbacks were somewhat jarring with the story going back and forth a couple of times. While I didn't have a problem keeping up with the plot, I can see that it may be annoying or even confusing for some readers. Danger, Sweetheart may come off as rambling mess to some readers but I found the chaos and the crazy writing style refreshing!
THE RATING
3 Stars
QUOTE-WORTHY
“This is a great time to shut up and kiss me."
To her delight, Blake obliged.”
FINAL VERDICT:
Danger, Sweetheart is a quick and fun read that is sure to coax a smile out of the most jaded of readers. Pick it up for its witty one-liners and some truly wacky writing!
April 12, 2016
Received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 for storyline but kicked up to 3 for how often it made me laugh.
You should read the Author's Note which explains the concept behind this book. In short, it's an homage to romantic tropes. And there are a LOT of tropes covered.
It's been awhile (few years?) since I read a MJD book...I can't remember why I tapered off in any specifics but I think I was just tired of Betsy's series' just going on and on and on. I ran across this on NetGalley and figured I'd give her a try again since this was contemporary and there were no vamps to be seen. I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting but I can guarantee this wasn't it.
The best way to explain it, take squirrel and grant him the ability to read and speak, force it to read a hundred romances in the contemporary romance genre, feed it a few lines of coke and then request him/her to tell you a romance story and PRESTO! You get Danger, Sweetheart.
I had to take this book in small doses. Not that it wasn't funny, it had some great humor, but that at times it made my head want to explode because it was so hard to follow the storyline and I couldn't figure out what was going on. I wonder if after so long I've lost some of my ability to follow her rhythm in writing.
What I liked: The relationships Blake had with his mom, brother and Natalie. Margaret of Anjou, the evil pony and The White Rose of York who happens to be a very friendly pig. The humor, even as scattered as this story sometimes read for me it was still really funny most of the time.
What didn't work for me: Obviously the randomness of the storytelling I found frustrating. Since this was an ARC there were issues with some of the names being wrong or switched with each other...hopefully since this doesn't release until May those issues would be corrected but it made it even harder to follow what was going on when I had to go back and re-read portions to try and figure it out. Even after finishing the book I didn't understand what was going on in Sweetheart, what Blake's mom expected him to do, or what might have happened to Sweetheart in the end. Maybe we'll get more info in Rake the Terrible's book. So I may not have loved the homage as much as I'd hoped, but it was nice to delve into MJD's mind once again even if it was like dealing with a coked up squirrel.
2.5 for storyline but kicked up to 3 for how often it made me laugh.
You should read the Author's Note which explains the concept behind this book. In short, it's an homage to romantic tropes. And there are a LOT of tropes covered.
It's been awhile (few years?) since I read a MJD book...I can't remember why I tapered off in any specifics but I think I was just tired of Betsy's series' just going on and on and on. I ran across this on NetGalley and figured I'd give her a try again since this was contemporary and there were no vamps to be seen. I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting but I can guarantee this wasn't it.
The best way to explain it, take squirrel and grant him the ability to read and speak, force it to read a hundred romances in the contemporary romance genre, feed it a few lines of coke and then request him/her to tell you a romance story and PRESTO! You get Danger, Sweetheart.
I had to take this book in small doses. Not that it wasn't funny, it had some great humor, but that at times it made my head want to explode because it was so hard to follow the storyline and I couldn't figure out what was going on. I wonder if after so long I've lost some of my ability to follow her rhythm in writing.
What I liked: The relationships Blake had with his mom, brother and Natalie. Margaret of Anjou, the evil pony and The White Rose of York who happens to be a very friendly pig. The humor, even as scattered as this story sometimes read for me it was still really funny most of the time.
What didn't work for me: Obviously the randomness of the storytelling I found frustrating. Since this was an ARC there were issues with some of the names being wrong or switched with each other...hopefully since this doesn't release until May those issues would be corrected but it made it even harder to follow what was going on when I had to go back and re-read portions to try and figure it out. Even after finishing the book I didn't understand what was going on in Sweetheart, what Blake's mom expected him to do, or what might have happened to Sweetheart in the end. Maybe we'll get more info in Rake the Terrible's book. So I may not have loved the homage as much as I'd hoped, but it was nice to delve into MJD's mind once again even if it was like dealing with a coked up squirrel.
June 23, 2016
Danger Sweetheart by MaryJanice Davidson is a parody that takes jabs at every romance trope out there. I highly suggest reading the author’s note before diving into the “story” because it describes how this book came to be and what exactly it is all about.
Blake Tarbell has a town to save. Rich, carefree, and used to the Vegas party lifestyle, Blake is thrown for a curve when his former cocktail-waitress mother pleads he go back to her roots to save the town she grew up in. Blake's used to using money to solve his problems, but when he arrives in Sweetheart, North Dakota, this city boy has to trade in his high-priced shoes for a pair of cowboy boots. Natalie Lane's got no time for newbies, and there's nothing she can't do to keep a farm up and running. But when a handsome city-slicker rolls into town with nothing but bad farmer's instincts and good intentions, Natalie's heartstrings are pulled. She's about to teach him a thing or two about how to survive in Sweetheart. And he's about to teach her a thing or two about love...
Danger Sweetheart takes jabs at just about every romance trope out there- but frankly without having read the author’s forward I would have just thought the book was silly, trying too hard, and likely would not have finished it. Even having read the explanation of the book I was not impressed. There were a couple fun moments that kept me reading, but I think the effort to achieve a parody or satire felt too forced to make it really work for me. I almost put it down, but I was too curious to see how one of the promise tropes was worked in to walk away. The characters occasionally offered the quirky fun I expect from Davidson, in such an over the top way necessary in a parody, and that was the other thing that kept me reading when I might have otherwise given up.
Danger Sweetheart made me sad. I love the writing style of Davidson, how her characters are quirky and can laugh at themselves (and each other) and move forward. I think in trying so hard to be funny the charm that usually keeps me happily read was lost.
Blake Tarbell has a town to save. Rich, carefree, and used to the Vegas party lifestyle, Blake is thrown for a curve when his former cocktail-waitress mother pleads he go back to her roots to save the town she grew up in. Blake's used to using money to solve his problems, but when he arrives in Sweetheart, North Dakota, this city boy has to trade in his high-priced shoes for a pair of cowboy boots. Natalie Lane's got no time for newbies, and there's nothing she can't do to keep a farm up and running. But when a handsome city-slicker rolls into town with nothing but bad farmer's instincts and good intentions, Natalie's heartstrings are pulled. She's about to teach him a thing or two about how to survive in Sweetheart. And he's about to teach her a thing or two about love...
Danger Sweetheart takes jabs at just about every romance trope out there- but frankly without having read the author’s forward I would have just thought the book was silly, trying too hard, and likely would not have finished it. Even having read the explanation of the book I was not impressed. There were a couple fun moments that kept me reading, but I think the effort to achieve a parody or satire felt too forced to make it really work for me. I almost put it down, but I was too curious to see how one of the promise tropes was worked in to walk away. The characters occasionally offered the quirky fun I expect from Davidson, in such an over the top way necessary in a parody, and that was the other thing that kept me reading when I might have otherwise given up.
Danger Sweetheart made me sad. I love the writing style of Davidson, how her characters are quirky and can laugh at themselves (and each other) and move forward. I think in trying so hard to be funny the charm that usually keeps me happily read was lost.
Read
June 4, 2016Danger, Sweetheart is a romance tropes mash-up as charming homage to many of the most popular themes in the genre. (Be sure to read the Author's Note and the Romance Trope List.) Natalie and Blake's story is so much fun, with many laugh aloud passages. It reminded me of all the reasons why MJ.D. earned my loyalty after reading one of her early mayhem-as-courtship, non-supernatural stories (from a Wicked Women Who... anthology?).
[proofing oversights: chapter 12, 4th paragraph - refers to Rake and his thoughts as the younger brother, but the rest of the details are from Blake's brain and experiences; pg.249 - The character Sandy Cort says, "That's true, Sandy," Cort added, amused. "You do." Is he speaking to himself? Because it seems like someone else says this to Sandy; pg.270 - Black female Dr. Wen says, "If it was 1920," was the dry response, "would I be a doctor?" First, Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler earned her M.D. in 1864. Second, Meharry Medical College was founded in 1876. My mentioning these two facts isn't about being the critical PC police. It's about my surprise that MJ.D. didn't use this as an opportunity to reveal these little-known (to some readers) facts as she usually does, especially with details related to her non-Anglo or non-hetero or otherwise marginalized characters.]
6/4/16 Later addendum about punctuation: There was at least one case of ellipsis, then closed quotes followed by the m-dash, which of course poked at my ongoing (yes, OCD!) issue with the publishing world's inability to apply uniform usage rules.
[proofing oversights: chapter 12, 4th paragraph - refers to Rake and his thoughts as the younger brother, but the rest of the details are from Blake's brain and experiences; pg.249 - The character Sandy Cort says, "That's true, Sandy," Cort added, amused. "You do." Is he speaking to himself? Because it seems like someone else says this to Sandy; pg.270 - Black female Dr. Wen says, "If it was 1920," was the dry response, "would I be a doctor?" First, Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler earned her M.D. in 1864. Second, Meharry Medical College was founded in 1876. My mentioning these two facts isn't about being the critical PC police. It's about my surprise that MJ.D. didn't use this as an opportunity to reveal these little-known (to some readers) facts as she usually does, especially with details related to her non-Anglo or non-hetero or otherwise marginalized characters.]
6/4/16 Later addendum about punctuation: There was at least one case of ellipsis, then closed quotes followed by the m-dash, which of course poked at my ongoing (yes, OCD!) issue with the publishing world's inability to apply uniform usage rules.
March 26, 2016
ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest Review
I have a confession-way back - oh say at least ten years ago, when I read the very first Betsy book by MJD I fell in love with the all snark and heart and crazy goodness. Sadly for me, around 2010 MJD changed the way she wrote. So much of what I loved was...different. Shame on me, but I quit reading (but not buying-I still have a shelf filled with her books that now, after reading Danger, Sweetheart I'll be revisiting ASAP).
When I saw DS up on NetGalley I was...excited? Intrigued? So I asked and received and boy, am I ever so happy.
For me, MJD is back baby! All her crazy writing like chicken running around with it's head cut off is there. I love each and every wacky sentence? Word?
Whatever, however- I LOVED IT.
Even better, MJD warns you at onset the book is filled with romance tropes. Seriously, it has just about everything (but maybe not the kitchen sink! ha ha ha)It's aptly named, perhaps again, as even a warning to we the reader.
I can't even begin to describe the crazy fun this book is, except I will warn you that you will want to prepare to be able to gobble it up all in one sitting. And if you're like me, maybe the ending will have you squealing and hoping that maybe, just maybe another book isn't too far off. Another trope in and of itself!
I have a confession-way back - oh say at least ten years ago, when I read the very first Betsy book by MJD I fell in love with the all snark and heart and crazy goodness. Sadly for me, around 2010 MJD changed the way she wrote. So much of what I loved was...different. Shame on me, but I quit reading (but not buying-I still have a shelf filled with her books that now, after reading Danger, Sweetheart I'll be revisiting ASAP).
When I saw DS up on NetGalley I was...excited? Intrigued? So I asked and received and boy, am I ever so happy.
For me, MJD is back baby! All her crazy writing like chicken running around with it's head cut off is there. I love each and every wacky sentence? Word?
Whatever, however- I LOVED IT.
Even better, MJD warns you at onset the book is filled with romance tropes. Seriously, it has just about everything (but maybe not the kitchen sink! ha ha ha)It's aptly named, perhaps again, as even a warning to we the reader.
I can't even begin to describe the crazy fun this book is, except I will warn you that you will want to prepare to be able to gobble it up all in one sitting. And if you're like me, maybe the ending will have you squealing and hoping that maybe, just maybe another book isn't too far off. Another trope in and of itself!
June 21, 2016
I wasn't sure what to expect when I read that MaryJanice Davidson had written a romance novel. More famous for her Undead supernatural and paranormal series about vampires this was a fairly new departure for Davidson.
It has been over 24 hours since I finished the book - not always a given that I would - and I'm not quite sure how to categorise it. In a nutshell it is Twin Peaks meets Dallas. Think money and privilege and ranches and stubborn ponies and baby piglets and sports cars and... Confused yet? I confess that I was utterly lost at various points in the book. The main characters (Rake and Blake) are both annoying and trite. One more so than the other.
Their mother was a cocktail waitress who became pregnant by very wealthy man. He acknowledged his relationship to twins and left them everything in trust when he died. This trust fund managed by their mother Shannah until their 30th birthday.
The only advice that I can give you when approaching this book is to read the author's forward carefully. Pay particular attention to the concept of tropes. It may well change how you view the book. At several points in the story it was the only thing that kept me reading!
Supplied by Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
It has been over 24 hours since I finished the book - not always a given that I would - and I'm not quite sure how to categorise it. In a nutshell it is Twin Peaks meets Dallas. Think money and privilege and ranches and stubborn ponies and baby piglets and sports cars and... Confused yet? I confess that I was utterly lost at various points in the book. The main characters (Rake and Blake) are both annoying and trite. One more so than the other.
Their mother was a cocktail waitress who became pregnant by very wealthy man. He acknowledged his relationship to twins and left them everything in trust when he died. This trust fund managed by their mother Shannah until their 30th birthday.
The only advice that I can give you when approaching this book is to read the author's forward carefully. Pay particular attention to the concept of tropes. It may well change how you view the book. At several points in the story it was the only thing that kept me reading!
Supplied by Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
October 16, 2016
(Oct) 3.5* I love MJD. I have read much of what she's published, and enjoyed most of it (some of her Betsy books fell short as did other books and short stories here and there). I think she writes the best "Forwards" of anyone - you must read them before diving into her books. Here she warns readers that she is writing not a parody as much as an homage to romance books. I love romance and like all dedicated romance readers, there are some tropes I love and others I can't stand (hello secret baby!). I think she stretched thin her list of tropes she added to this book, but much of it was spot on.
The book begins with a Vegas cocktail waitress having just finished a barely adequate one night stand. Next thing we know she's knocked up with twins and baby daddy is not interested. Ok, so far, easy enough. That is all the prologue and then Chapter One begins and the twins are all grown up. This is the story of Blake, the "good" twin. His brother Rake (really?) is terrible. We know this because Blake tells us -and everyone else - about a million times throughout the book. Rake only appears once or twice here. Anyway, Blake a rich single guy, likes to sleep around, dedicated to his business (not sure what that is). He ends up in Sweetheart N.D. to help his mother.
Now, I know I'm not a business woman, nor a land speculator. But I also like to think I'm of above average intelligence and can understand many things when explained (ok, not math or science, but still...). However, I have absolutely no idea - none - as to what the storyline is that brings Blake to N.D. Somehow his mother is there, there is a farm, Blake gave money...to the bank? to the farms? to a bad guy trying to turn the entire town into a mini golf resort? I did not understand at all what Blake did that was so awful, why his mom Shannah was mad at him, why she insisted he go there, what she expected him to do while he was there, why Natalie was pretending to own the farm and what she was doing there, why Shannah kept Blake's money from him...I mean basically the entire plot was so either over my head or non existent that it was not my fault I missed it. Seems to me if Natalie thought Blake was rich (he is but his mom controls his trust fund until he turns 30, which is a year (?) away) she should be bringing him breakfast in bed and providing bjs on demand in order to save the farm that is not hers. Instead she too hates Blake at first and works him almost to death to prove a point that was never explained. If any of this had made sense, I probably could have given this a full 4*. But even without understanding the premise of the book at all, and even with not really caring for Natalie, and even finding Shannah annoying, and even not getting the brief introduction of the Grandfather character, and even not really getting most of the supporting characters...I rated this as high as I did because I loved Blake. He was anal, he was pompous, and he was so much fun. I loved his song list for Margaret (I was truly hoping to see one more Blake/Margaret scene after he rose from his sick bed), I loved his bond with Rose, I enjoyed his bizarre stream of consciousness. He made me laugh even though I had no idea what was going on. While I lament MJD no longer writes hot and steamy as she did in the first Wyndham Werewolves and Betsy books, the one sex scene was well done. And now, of course, I must know why Rake is in Italy! So I will definitely pick up the next book and hopefully that plot will make more sense (any sense would be appreciated).
The book begins with a Vegas cocktail waitress having just finished a barely adequate one night stand. Next thing we know she's knocked up with twins and baby daddy is not interested. Ok, so far, easy enough. That is all the prologue and then Chapter One begins and the twins are all grown up. This is the story of Blake, the "good" twin. His brother Rake (really?) is terrible. We know this because Blake tells us -and everyone else - about a million times throughout the book. Rake only appears once or twice here. Anyway, Blake a rich single guy, likes to sleep around, dedicated to his business (not sure what that is). He ends up in Sweetheart N.D. to help his mother.
Now, I know I'm not a business woman, nor a land speculator. But I also like to think I'm of above average intelligence and can understand many things when explained (ok, not math or science, but still...). However, I have absolutely no idea - none - as to what the storyline is that brings Blake to N.D. Somehow his mother is there, there is a farm, Blake gave money...to the bank? to the farms? to a bad guy trying to turn the entire town into a mini golf resort? I did not understand at all what Blake did that was so awful, why his mom Shannah was mad at him, why she insisted he go there, what she expected him to do while he was there, why Natalie was pretending to own the farm and what she was doing there, why Shannah kept Blake's money from him...I mean basically the entire plot was so either over my head or non existent that it was not my fault I missed it. Seems to me if Natalie thought Blake was rich (he is but his mom controls his trust fund until he turns 30, which is a year (?) away) she should be bringing him breakfast in bed and providing bjs on demand in order to save the farm that is not hers. Instead she too hates Blake at first and works him almost to death to prove a point that was never explained. If any of this had made sense, I probably could have given this a full 4*. But even without understanding the premise of the book at all, and even with not really caring for Natalie, and even finding Shannah annoying, and even not getting the brief introduction of the Grandfather character, and even not really getting most of the supporting characters...I rated this as high as I did because I loved Blake. He was anal, he was pompous, and he was so much fun. I loved his song list for Margaret (I was truly hoping to see one more Blake/Margaret scene after he rose from his sick bed), I loved his bond with Rose, I enjoyed his bizarre stream of consciousness. He made me laugh even though I had no idea what was going on. While I lament MJD no longer writes hot and steamy as she did in the first Wyndham Werewolves and Betsy books, the one sex scene was well done. And now, of course, I must know why Rake is in Italy! So I will definitely pick up the next book and hopefully that plot will make more sense (any sense would be appreciated).
July 27, 2021
“Danger, sweetheart” is an entertaining romance novel that aims to poke fun at various romance novel tropes including flashbacks, flash forwards, and a rake just to name a few of the tropes.
The novel begins with a section of several quotes followed by a prologue which is a flashback of a one night stand between Las Vegas waitress Shannah Banaan and and rich man Benjamin Tarbell. After discovering that she is pregnant, Shannah tells Benjamin she’s pregnant and he reacts negatively by questioning if he’s the father and telling her he won’t give her any money. The prologue ends with Shannah deciding to tackle motherhood alone.
Chapter one is a flash forward to almost thirty year old Blake Tarbell and his latest sexual conquest as they prepare to part ways. Blake is soon summoned by his mother and twin brother Rake at a local restaurant. During their meal at the restaurant, Shannah informs her sons that she is returning to her hometown of Sweetheart, South Dakota because she has inherited land from her family members.
Although Blake and Rake are uncertain of their mom’s plan, the reluctantly support her. Not long after Shannah leaves
Las Vegas for Sweetheart, she calls Blake and pleads with him to come and help her. Blake uses his money to solves the problems he’s aware of in Sweetheart however Shannah soon tells him that the people of the town don’t need his money, they need him to learn empathy and why the town is worth saving. Blake is upset and furious that he’s stuck in a small town for six months and have to work as a farmhand. The only bright spot to his current situation working on the farm is that his boss
Is an attractive woman named Natalie Lane.
Natalie Lane is one of the few people who wants Sweetheart to not become a ghost town and is worried when city boy Blake arrives into town with no farmer instincts and good intentions. Although Natalie views Blake as a pampered city boy who is there to play on the farm, he eventually wins her over by showing that he is a hard worker. Throughout the course of the novel, there are misunderstandings and mistaken identity but by the end of the novel, both Natalie and Blake learn a lot about each other as well as why Sweetheart is a town worthy of saving.
I liked that the book doesn’t take itself too seriously and I liked the use of footnotes throughout the novel. Although this book follows that conventional romance novel, I enjoyed in which the author creates likable characters as well as builds a multilayered plot. Lastly, I liked that the author used the romance novel tropes in a skillful manner and that she listed of all the romance novel tropes that were used throughout the novel at the end of the book to make the reader aware of all the different ways in which a romance novel can be manipulated.
The novel begins with a section of several quotes followed by a prologue which is a flashback of a one night stand between Las Vegas waitress Shannah Banaan and and rich man Benjamin Tarbell. After discovering that she is pregnant, Shannah tells Benjamin she’s pregnant and he reacts negatively by questioning if he’s the father and telling her he won’t give her any money. The prologue ends with Shannah deciding to tackle motherhood alone.
Chapter one is a flash forward to almost thirty year old Blake Tarbell and his latest sexual conquest as they prepare to part ways. Blake is soon summoned by his mother and twin brother Rake at a local restaurant. During their meal at the restaurant, Shannah informs her sons that she is returning to her hometown of Sweetheart, South Dakota because she has inherited land from her family members.
Although Blake and Rake are uncertain of their mom’s plan, the reluctantly support her. Not long after Shannah leaves
Las Vegas for Sweetheart, she calls Blake and pleads with him to come and help her. Blake uses his money to solves the problems he’s aware of in Sweetheart however Shannah soon tells him that the people of the town don’t need his money, they need him to learn empathy and why the town is worth saving. Blake is upset and furious that he’s stuck in a small town for six months and have to work as a farmhand. The only bright spot to his current situation working on the farm is that his boss
Is an attractive woman named Natalie Lane.
Natalie Lane is one of the few people who wants Sweetheart to not become a ghost town and is worried when city boy Blake arrives into town with no farmer instincts and good intentions. Although Natalie views Blake as a pampered city boy who is there to play on the farm, he eventually wins her over by showing that he is a hard worker. Throughout the course of the novel, there are misunderstandings and mistaken identity but by the end of the novel, both Natalie and Blake learn a lot about each other as well as why Sweetheart is a town worthy of saving.
I liked that the book doesn’t take itself too seriously and I liked the use of footnotes throughout the novel. Although this book follows that conventional romance novel, I enjoyed in which the author creates likable characters as well as builds a multilayered plot. Lastly, I liked that the author used the romance novel tropes in a skillful manner and that she listed of all the romance novel tropes that were used throughout the novel at the end of the book to make the reader aware of all the different ways in which a romance novel can be manipulated.
March 13, 2021
This is MJD’s romance version of “Shaun of the Dead” so it is a compilation of as many different romance tropes as possible shoved into one plot. MJD includes a master list of tropes at the end of the book and some of the listed tropes stuck the landing more than others. Some tropes were used really well and advanced the plot in a way that made this parody book stand up as a good romance book in its own right while other tropes felt like they were being used for the sake of being used. 30+ tropes were utilized in this book yet not one of them was my personal favorite “there was only one bed!” If you like MJD’s writing style (footnotes where she laughs at what she writes, nothing is taken seriously), light westerns/farm settings this would be an enjoyable read for you. If you don’t like romance novels, or really like serious books then this is not the book for you.
This is the first of three books all about different romance tropes and I look forward to reading book 2 “The Love Scam” soon because Rake is terrible.
This is the first of three books all about different romance tropes and I look forward to reading book 2 “The Love Scam” soon because Rake is terrible.
March 5, 2020
A very spicy novel. The witty, cleverly written banter between Blake Tarbell, and Natalie Lane and their chemistry is palpable. Blake prides himself in being the better twin, and in helping his Mom paying off the lands in Sweetheart, North Dakota that was left to her as her inheritance. Little did he know that by doing that, he complicated things even more. As a way to try to fix things, he travels there and his adventure soon starts. He finds himself with no access to his money, and is forced to work as a stable hand. He is forced to grow up and realize the significance and value of hard work, and what it feels to be in love, and care about more than materialistic, and superficial relationships. I very much enjoyed all the tropes throughout the book.
May 16, 2017
The interrupting quotes mid sentence drove me crazy. The novel was paced quite quickly but some of the nonsense while amusing at times was also confusing. While the hero has the necessary revelation it felt slightly rushed and not supported, he didn't have many connections to the area or love for the farm by the time he had a eureka moment. Love at first sight worked but it didn't get too deep. It was a light read with a typical storyline and it did kind of poke fun at itself. A few solid laugh out loud moments in the latter half of the book.
February 18, 2019
MaryJanice Davidson romance using all the romance tropes she can think and then listing them at the end of the book. Danger, Sweetheart has all the off-the-wall humor that you expect of an MJD novel. Blake Tarbell, a Vegas millionaire, thinks he is using his money to help his mother out of situation instigated by her family when they leave her several bankrupt farms. Wrong, mom takes away access to his money and forces him to work the family farm and make it succeed. Hidden identities, accidents, fevers, nasty ponies, pet piglets and love ensue.
May 13, 2016
Oh my word, guys, THIS book! I honestly have no idea where to start, maybe with saying that I have never before read a book that annoyed the hell out of me and made me laugh so much at the same time. After reading the blurb I thought, why not, let's see what's going to happen but I wasn't prepared for this chaos - but chaos in a positive sense, as it turned out at the end.
I've never read MaryJanice Davidson before, even though the list of her titles at the beginning of the book is really impressive, and so I truly didn't know what to expect, and this novel has just killed me. Killed me with its plot, the way it was written, with the characters... I really have no idea how to write a review for it, I think I've never read anything like this before. Yes, we have a small town girl here, very rich hero with a twin and thousands of challenges, but believe me, the way it was written changes everything, and the way the author complicates things and adds other sub - plots, challenges (also on the animal front...) made this novel exceptional. In a good sense. Even though I was so frustrated at the beginning that I wanted to put this book away and never look at it again, and only the fact that I am a part of the blog tour kept me going - because at the beginning I had a very overwhelming feeling that the author has just tried much too much, that she was going out of her way with the humour and the characters reminded me of the characters from "The Dynasty" soap opera - it was all so far - fetched, too overblown, too exaggerated and it nerved me soooo much, but I kept going and kept reading and soon I got used to this writing style and I started to laugh. Because you must laugh when reading this story, it is sometimes so absurd and so unrealistic but nevertheless, it's still funny!
Shortly, it is a story about Blake, the rich, carefree and used to partying in Las Vegas Blake Tarbell is going to get a taste of country life, life very different to the one he is leading and he must exchange his expensive shoes for cowboy boots and who finds himself in North Dakota to help his mum with the farm that she inherited and to bring the town back to life, because everybody wants to leave Sweetheart (yes. That's the name of the town). While there, his mum (Shannah Banaan - yeah, I know. But you don't want to call her Shanna - Banana, though I'm not sure what's going to happen when you do) cuts him off from his trust fund (no idea why, to be honest), so Blake must work on the ranch even though he has no idea about farming, moreover, with people who don't like him, with a girl who drives him crazy (welcome Natalie, who, on the other hand, knows everything about running a farm and she's about to teach Blake a thing or two, but also Blake is going to teach her something. But first of all he must learn that Natalie takes no prisoners) and also doesn't like him, with a hen with a strange name consisting of numbers only, pig and a pony who wants to kill him, while his twin brother enjoys his life in Venice or some other place (even though he has no idea how come he is in the place for a first). Lots of "no ideas" here, right? But altogether, and this is the strangest thing guys, it all just worked together. Maybe I didn't connect with the characters so much, or didn't fell for them with my whole heart, but I liked them and they made me laugh hard. So hard.
So really, at first I was caught between not believing my eyes and thinking WTF??? and laughing so much that my sides hurt. Some of the scenes were so unrealistic and so far - fetched, and add to this dialogues that sometimes didn't make any sense to me, but it was FUN. PURE.
Yes, there were moments that the events were happening so quickly, and everything was just hard to follow and I needed a moment or two to think where we are and what's happening and why. There was some randomness in the storytelling, it felt too chaotic and you needed a breather then. Also, I am still not sure what's happened with the farm and why Blake's mum inherited it, what happened, what could happen if Blake won't come to help her and I assume that the last pressure method was visit from Blake's grandmother, but why? It is also written in an unusual way, when the characters are speaking they start to think things that are written then in another font in the brackets, they were commenting the conversations in their heads and it was throwing me a little off the astride and took me some time to get used to, and the plot was a little confusing at some points.
It is not a book that'll have you gushing about the depth of the plot, characters changing and developing, about hidden messages - no. But it is entertainment pure and while I was so sceptical at the beginning, after my initial uncertainty, I truly, truly enjoyed this novel. So really, if you are looking for a good laugh, some work on the farm and a little romance, this is a book for you. There was something addictive in this and after I stopped wanting to put it away, I just didn't want to put it away anymore, and I've read it in two days. I am really like, 3 stars for the storyline, and the additional star for this overwhelming sense of humour. And only now I am seeing that this book is the beginning of the series - is that so? And if it is, then I am looking forward to reading the next book, really.
Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for a review.
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