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Bachelor Arms
The Strong, Silent Type
Apartment for rent
One bedroom
Bachelor Arms. 555-1234
Come live and love in Los Angeles with the tenants of Bachelor Arms. Meet colorful neighbors you'll bump into again and again.
"Have you heard about Josh Banks?"
Strong and silent Josh had never been the subject of gossip before. But suddenly his neighbor Madame Kuryan was giving him advice on love. And Tru and Garrett--his two buddies at Bachelor Arms--were warning him about wild women. All because he'd promised a friend he'd keep Taryn Wilde out of trouble. Of course, the infamous party girl and tabloid darling had turned out to be a real handful. But she was also sexy, gorgeous and exciting. He could handle her ...couldn't he?
One bedroom
Bachelor Arms. 555-1234
Come live and love in Los Angeles with the tenants of Bachelor Arms. Meet colorful neighbors you'll bump into again and again.
"Have you heard about Josh Banks?"
Strong and silent Josh had never been the subject of gossip before. But suddenly his neighbor Madame Kuryan was giving him advice on love. And Tru and Garrett--his two buddies at Bachelor Arms--were warning him about wild women. All because he'd promised a friend he'd keep Taryn Wilde out of trouble. Of course, the infamous party girl and tabloid darling had turned out to be a real handful. But she was also sexy, gorgeous and exciting. He could handle her ...couldn't he?
224 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1995
About the author
Kate Hoffmann
406 books106 followersKate began reading romance in 1979 when she picked up a copy of Kathleen Woodiwiss's Ashes in the Wind. She read the book from cover to cover in one very long night and was immediately hooked on the genre.
The next morning, she was standing at the door to her local Waldenbooks and when they opened, she hurried inside and asked for everything else written by Woodiwiss. At the same time, she found wonderful books by Rosemary Rogers, Laurie McBain, and Jennifer Blake.
Nearly 10 years later, while working as an advertising copywriter, Kate decided to try writing a romance of her own. After a history of interesting jobs in teaching, retailing, advertising, and nonprofit work, she was determined to add romance author to that list.
After numerous failed attempts over three years, Kate decided to forget writing historical romance and turned to category romance. Six months later, her first story, A Vagabond Heart, was finished. A year later, Harlequin bought the book after Kate won the national 1992 Harlequin Temptation contest. The book was published in 1993 as Indecent Exposure.
Her dream of adding romance writer to her resume came true and in December of 1993 she turned off her alarm clock, shredded her pantyhose, and became a full-time writer.
Since then, Kate has written numerous books for Temptation, Weddings by DeWilde, Harlequin anthologies, Love and Laughter, and Duets. Her new Duet, Three Babies and a Bargain (July 2000) will be her 24th project for Harlequin and All Through the Night (August 2000), a Temptation Blaze, will mark her 25th.
Kate lives in southeastern Wisconsin in a cozy little house in a picturesque village. Two cats also live with her—Tansing, a grumpy Himalayan, and Tibriz, a tortie Persian mix that she rescued from an animal shelter. She enjoys gardening, golf, reading, and romantic movies.
The next morning, she was standing at the door to her local Waldenbooks and when they opened, she hurried inside and asked for everything else written by Woodiwiss. At the same time, she found wonderful books by Rosemary Rogers, Laurie McBain, and Jennifer Blake.
Nearly 10 years later, while working as an advertising copywriter, Kate decided to try writing a romance of her own. After a history of interesting jobs in teaching, retailing, advertising, and nonprofit work, she was determined to add romance author to that list.
After numerous failed attempts over three years, Kate decided to forget writing historical romance and turned to category romance. Six months later, her first story, A Vagabond Heart, was finished. A year later, Harlequin bought the book after Kate won the national 1992 Harlequin Temptation contest. The book was published in 1993 as Indecent Exposure.
Her dream of adding romance writer to her resume came true and in December of 1993 she turned off her alarm clock, shredded her pantyhose, and became a full-time writer.
Since then, Kate has written numerous books for Temptation, Weddings by DeWilde, Harlequin anthologies, Love and Laughter, and Duets. Her new Duet, Three Babies and a Bargain (July 2000) will be her 24th project for Harlequin and All Through the Night (August 2000), a Temptation Blaze, will mark her 25th.
Kate lives in southeastern Wisconsin in a cozy little house in a picturesque village. Two cats also live with her—Tansing, a grumpy Himalayan, and Tibriz, a tortie Persian mix that she rescued from an animal shelter. She enjoys gardening, golf, reading, and romantic movies.
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
September 16, 2021
This review is of The Strong, Silent Type, book #2 in the “Bachelor Arms” series and the 2nd of 3 books in the series written by Kate Hoffmann.
The book begins with Josh Banks, the hero of the book and a tax accountant (yes, you read that correctly), meeting with one of his clients, actress Olivia Wilde (NOT the current actress using the stage name, this Olivia Wilde is a 75-year-old octogenarian actress). Olivia asks Josh for a favor; to keep her granddaughter, Taryn, out of Los Angeles for a few weeks (Olivia is up for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar and feels that Taryn–a tabloid darling–might scupper her chances for the award with her behavior).
When Josh meets Taryn, the heroine, he offers her money to leave L.A. She refuses. She’ll only agree to behave if Josh does something for her, which he is not willing to do at first. (He does agree, eventually, to pose for her).
As the book goes on, Taryn gets into some mishaps which Josh has to extricate her from. They also discover two things: One, their personalities are very different; and two, they are ragingly attracted to each other. They later act on this attraction and become lovers.
For a while, Taryn and Josh are happy. That happiness ends when Olivia tells Taryn that she suggested that Josh seduce her to keep her out of trouble while Olivia’s Oscar nomination is pending (Olivia later wins the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress). Taryn leaves L.A. to get space and clear her head. One thing remains clear, though; she’s still in love with Josh.
In the end, Taryn and Olivia begin to reconcile their relationship, as do Taryn and Josh. They elope to Las Vegas, marry and begin their Happily Ever After.
Upside: First, I really liked Josh as a hero. (This is highly unusual for me, being a straight man, to view heroes as anything more than necessary evils in romance novels). “The Strong, Silent Type” is probably the first book-at least the ones I’ve read-to feature a tax accountant as a hero. He’s also very shy and, at times, uncomfortable around women. However, being raised partially by a single mother-his father passed when Josh was 12–and having three older and two younger sisters have given Josh a great understanding and respect for women. Although he does do a few arrogant things, overall, Josh is very respectful towards women, which is great to see.
Ms. Hoffmann made a great decision to pair him with Taryn. A quiet man in a romance novel needs to have a spirited woman to play off of, and Ms. Hoffman has certainly provided that in Taryn Wilde.
Downside: When I read a romance novel, I want to love the heroine, even if just a little bit.
I didn’t feel that way entirely about Taryn. I liked her, I understood why she acted the way she did without Ms. Hoffmann’s explanations, but Ms. Hoffmann also didn’t get me to love Taryn the way I wanted to. It’s certainly not a deal-breaker, but it was an issue for me.
Sex: One love scene that generates some heat, but for the most part, is fairly tame.
Violence; Several scenes of assault and battery. The violence is not graphic.
Bottom Line: Ms. Hoffmann’s first installment in the “Bachelor Arms” series, Bachelor Husband, was a very good book. Her second, The Strong, Silent Type, is just a good book. 3.67 stars.
The book begins with Josh Banks, the hero of the book and a tax accountant (yes, you read that correctly), meeting with one of his clients, actress Olivia Wilde (NOT the current actress using the stage name, this Olivia Wilde is a 75-year-old octogenarian actress). Olivia asks Josh for a favor; to keep her granddaughter, Taryn, out of Los Angeles for a few weeks (Olivia is up for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar and feels that Taryn–a tabloid darling–might scupper her chances for the award with her behavior).
When Josh meets Taryn, the heroine, he offers her money to leave L.A. She refuses. She’ll only agree to behave if Josh does something for her, which he is not willing to do at first. (He does agree, eventually, to pose for her).
As the book goes on, Taryn gets into some mishaps which Josh has to extricate her from. They also discover two things: One, their personalities are very different; and two, they are ragingly attracted to each other. They later act on this attraction and become lovers.
For a while, Taryn and Josh are happy. That happiness ends when Olivia tells Taryn that she suggested that Josh seduce her to keep her out of trouble while Olivia’s Oscar nomination is pending (Olivia later wins the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress). Taryn leaves L.A. to get space and clear her head. One thing remains clear, though; she’s still in love with Josh.
In the end, Taryn and Olivia begin to reconcile their relationship, as do Taryn and Josh. They elope to Las Vegas, marry and begin their Happily Ever After.
Upside: First, I really liked Josh as a hero. (This is highly unusual for me, being a straight man, to view heroes as anything more than necessary evils in romance novels). “The Strong, Silent Type” is probably the first book-at least the ones I’ve read-to feature a tax accountant as a hero. He’s also very shy and, at times, uncomfortable around women. However, being raised partially by a single mother-his father passed when Josh was 12–and having three older and two younger sisters have given Josh a great understanding and respect for women. Although he does do a few arrogant things, overall, Josh is very respectful towards women, which is great to see.
Ms. Hoffmann made a great decision to pair him with Taryn. A quiet man in a romance novel needs to have a spirited woman to play off of, and Ms. Hoffman has certainly provided that in Taryn Wilde.
Downside: When I read a romance novel, I want to love the heroine, even if just a little bit.
I didn’t feel that way entirely about Taryn. I liked her, I understood why she acted the way she did without Ms. Hoffmann’s explanations, but Ms. Hoffmann also didn’t get me to love Taryn the way I wanted to. It’s certainly not a deal-breaker, but it was an issue for me.
Sex: One love scene that generates some heat, but for the most part, is fairly tame.
Violence; Several scenes of assault and battery. The violence is not graphic.
Bottom Line: Ms. Hoffmann’s first installment in the “Bachelor Arms” series, Bachelor Husband, was a very good book. Her second, The Strong, Silent Type, is just a good book. 3.67 stars.
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