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Return To Me
When the only man Ellen Kent has ever loved, famous photojournalist Simon Riley, returns home to investigate his uncle's mysterious death, their long-ago passion is reignited, but someone is determined to keep them apart. Reprint.
382 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2004
57 people are currently reading
969 people want to read
About the author
Shannon McKenna
127 books1,451 followersAlso wrote five category romances under the penname Shannon Anderson
::From The Author's Website::
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
I started writing my first romance novel in secret. I was working a temp job in an insurance office in Manhattan at the time, and the office manager had made it clear that even if there was nothing to do, I still had to look busy-- never one of my big talents. I felt bad about the wasted time, though, and I needed something to round out my other chosen career, which was singing. Yeah, that's right. Most artists choose a more practical Plan B to back up their improbable Plan A. Me? No way. "Long Shot" is my middle name.
So I sneakily set up a Document 1 and a Document 2 with a spreadsheet on it. If my Boss du Jour walked by I could quick-like-a-bunny switch screens, and whenever the coast was clear, I went back to my story. Not that I was slacking, mind you. If there was work to be done, I did it. The sneakiness felt familiar, though, because I've been teased about reading romances since I was a kid. I think the day I finally grew up was the day I stopped trying to cover up what I was reading on the bus, train or subway. Let people think whatever they like.
It wasn't until I moved to Italy (details of that Long Shot provided later on) that I got serious about writing, though. I found myself with many long, quiet days alone with nothing to do, so I slogged my way bravely to the end of the manuscript and sent it out. Everybody rejected it-except for Kensington. I wrote for them for a few years, and then made a bid for an erotic novella for the new Brava imprint, and oh joy, they accepted it. Then I wrote BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. And so on, and so forth.
That's how I started. I can't think of anything I'd rather do. I never knew it would be so scary, and so hard . . . all that solitude and silence, a blank computer screen, and no one to blame. But still. It's worth it. It's great.
::From The Author's Website::
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
I started writing my first romance novel in secret. I was working a temp job in an insurance office in Manhattan at the time, and the office manager had made it clear that even if there was nothing to do, I still had to look busy-- never one of my big talents. I felt bad about the wasted time, though, and I needed something to round out my other chosen career, which was singing. Yeah, that's right. Most artists choose a more practical Plan B to back up their improbable Plan A. Me? No way. "Long Shot" is my middle name.
So I sneakily set up a Document 1 and a Document 2 with a spreadsheet on it. If my Boss du Jour walked by I could quick-like-a-bunny switch screens, and whenever the coast was clear, I went back to my story. Not that I was slacking, mind you. If there was work to be done, I did it. The sneakiness felt familiar, though, because I've been teased about reading romances since I was a kid. I think the day I finally grew up was the day I stopped trying to cover up what I was reading on the bus, train or subway. Let people think whatever they like.
It wasn't until I moved to Italy (details of that Long Shot provided later on) that I got serious about writing, though. I found myself with many long, quiet days alone with nothing to do, so I slogged my way bravely to the end of the manuscript and sent it out. Everybody rejected it-except for Kensington. I wrote for them for a few years, and then made a bid for an erotic novella for the new Brava imprint, and oh joy, they accepted it. Then I wrote BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. And so on, and so forth.
That's how I started. I can't think of anything I'd rather do. I never knew it would be so scary, and so hard . . . all that solitude and silence, a blank computer screen, and no one to blame. But still. It's worth it. It's great.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
September 5, 2011
reviewed at the passionate reader
http://thepassionatereader.blogspot.c...
"Sometimes—in fact, lots of times--I just want a down and dirty bad boy hero who sweeps into town, throws the good girl over his shoulders and drags her off to a happy ending. This bad boy does and then gets the nice girl story has been done many times by Shannon McKenna, sometimes well (think Extreme Danger) and, unfortunately for this reviewer, sometimes terribly. It’s hard to find much to like about Ms. McKenna’s overblown Return to Me.
The hero, Simon, is a self-absorbed jerk whose behavior between the sheets is so aggressive it’s kinda gross. The woman he’s burning for, Ellen, he deflowered and then dumped seventeen years ago. But Ellen, an enabler if ever I’ve seen one, just lets him right back into her heart and other parts. I wish I could tell you why Ellen is such a pushover for Simon and his constantly feeling sorry for himself ways, but I can’t because Ms. McKenna hasn’t bothered to develop Ellen or Simon into in-depth characters.
Nor has she produced a coherent plot. As best I could tell, Simon left town after being accused of burning down a barn—we know he wasn’t really isn’t a bad guy because he did try to save the horses. Ellen stayed in town—and I mean stayed in town, it’s as if she has never been anywhere other than LaRue—and became the controlling owner of a bed and breakfast. We are supposed to think she’s sweet—as opposed to stupid--because she has an assistant who is terrible at all things bed-and-breakfasty but Ellen keeps her on, smiling benevolently when, yet again, Missy burns the muffins. Simon has come back to town because his uncle Gus shot himself and something about that just doesn’t feel right to Simon. That doesn’t stop him from constantly ruing that he’s returned to LaRue. (He feels he is brings bad luck to the entire town—yes, it really is all about him!) There’s a psycho villain who has disgusting flashbacks to Vietnam where he learned to enjoy setting others on fire. There’s an uptight guy, Brad, who was engaged to Ellen but really should be with Cora, a woman whose reputation he ruined. (Cora and Brad are actually much more interesting a couple than Simon and Ellen although that isn’t saying much.)
There’s lots and lots of sex and none of it’s very sexy. Both characters are described routinely as gorgeous, hot, and desirable, but given that neither of them were anyone I would ever want to meet, I found page after page of them moaning into each other’s mouth just plain out dull. Plus, the idea of this couple reproducing is so appalling, I kept worrying that one of the bazillions of condoms—Simon is a lot like the Energizer Bunny--they were using might fail. When Ellen and Simon aren’t in the sack, they spend way too much time feeling sorry for themselves. Ellen doubts herself for being with Simon, Simon doubts himself for being with Ellen. Halfway through the tale, I doubted myself for buying this book.
By the time I got to the incredibly bizarre scene where Simon and Ellen, escaping someone or something—it’s all a blur—, find themselves in a hidden grove filled with huge animal statues made by Simon’s dead mother, I gave up. I flipped to the end and was unhappy to see they appeared to having unprotected sex and planning a family. Hopefully, they and their progeny will never leave LaRue."
http://thepassionatereader.blogspot.c...
"Sometimes—in fact, lots of times--I just want a down and dirty bad boy hero who sweeps into town, throws the good girl over his shoulders and drags her off to a happy ending. This bad boy does and then gets the nice girl story has been done many times by Shannon McKenna, sometimes well (think Extreme Danger) and, unfortunately for this reviewer, sometimes terribly. It’s hard to find much to like about Ms. McKenna’s overblown Return to Me.
The hero, Simon, is a self-absorbed jerk whose behavior between the sheets is so aggressive it’s kinda gross. The woman he’s burning for, Ellen, he deflowered and then dumped seventeen years ago. But Ellen, an enabler if ever I’ve seen one, just lets him right back into her heart and other parts. I wish I could tell you why Ellen is such a pushover for Simon and his constantly feeling sorry for himself ways, but I can’t because Ms. McKenna hasn’t bothered to develop Ellen or Simon into in-depth characters.
Nor has she produced a coherent plot. As best I could tell, Simon left town after being accused of burning down a barn—we know he wasn’t really isn’t a bad guy because he did try to save the horses. Ellen stayed in town—and I mean stayed in town, it’s as if she has never been anywhere other than LaRue—and became the controlling owner of a bed and breakfast. We are supposed to think she’s sweet—as opposed to stupid--because she has an assistant who is terrible at all things bed-and-breakfasty but Ellen keeps her on, smiling benevolently when, yet again, Missy burns the muffins. Simon has come back to town because his uncle Gus shot himself and something about that just doesn’t feel right to Simon. That doesn’t stop him from constantly ruing that he’s returned to LaRue. (He feels he is brings bad luck to the entire town—yes, it really is all about him!) There’s a psycho villain who has disgusting flashbacks to Vietnam where he learned to enjoy setting others on fire. There’s an uptight guy, Brad, who was engaged to Ellen but really should be with Cora, a woman whose reputation he ruined. (Cora and Brad are actually much more interesting a couple than Simon and Ellen although that isn’t saying much.)
There’s lots and lots of sex and none of it’s very sexy. Both characters are described routinely as gorgeous, hot, and desirable, but given that neither of them were anyone I would ever want to meet, I found page after page of them moaning into each other’s mouth just plain out dull. Plus, the idea of this couple reproducing is so appalling, I kept worrying that one of the bazillions of condoms—Simon is a lot like the Energizer Bunny--they were using might fail. When Ellen and Simon aren’t in the sack, they spend way too much time feeling sorry for themselves. Ellen doubts herself for being with Simon, Simon doubts himself for being with Ellen. Halfway through the tale, I doubted myself for buying this book.
By the time I got to the incredibly bizarre scene where Simon and Ellen, escaping someone or something—it’s all a blur—, find themselves in a hidden grove filled with huge animal statues made by Simon’s dead mother, I gave up. I flipped to the end and was unhappy to see they appeared to having unprotected sex and planning a family. Hopefully, they and their progeny will never leave LaRue."
November 30, 2009
I just spent ages writing a review and it's disappeared, so here goes with review no.2 Hey Ho.
I read this a few days ago and have spent time diliberating whether it's a 4 or 5 star read so perhapes it should be 4 1/2.
Simon and El share a sad past, and whilst Simon has moved on and made a name for himself El has stayed in the same small town all her life and is now a sucessful business woman. When circumstances dictate that their paths cross again (albeit under sad ccircumstances) all the old shared feelings come back for both of them.
Seventeen years ago Simon, bad boy and rebelious teenager, was forced to leave LaRue following a sequence of tragic events. The town only holds bitter memories for him except for the times he spent with El, now he's back and the feelings of unease and doom are closing in again. Simon knows his time in LaRue is limited and falling in love with El is out of the question, so why is he getting angry all the time?
Since Simon left El has moved on and whilst she's never really stopped thinking about him she doesn't hold out any hope of ever actually seeing him again. Until he walks into her B and B that is. El knows Simon isn't the person he's made out to be, and she understands fully that he's here to tidy things up and then he'll be gone again, so it's best not to tell him what she really feels , just have some hot sexy fun , love him for the moment then let go when she needs to.
Simon is a tough Alpha type but, and it's a big but, he's very emotionally insecure this coupled with the feelings of forboding that seems to follow him around make him not the easiest of people to get along with. El on the other hand is sweet and lovely but has enough emotional strength for both of them ( and a good job too).
I loved watching how the relationship between Simon and El was re-kindled and the way they worked magic together with one hot sexy relationship. It was a nice relationship to read about when you understand the part they play in each others lives. And whilst Simon did and said some spectularly stuipd things I loved the way El stood by him b/c 'she understood and knew him'. I also loved the way Simons feelings slowly cracked through that tough heart to reveal a man who cared alot for his old friend.
The sub plot for this story fell quiet during the middle part of the book but it's an integral part of Simon and Els story so remians there slowly simerigng in the background (without the sub plot Simon wouldn't be who he is) only to come back with avengance towards the latter part of the story when all is revealed.
All in all a great read with some good secondary characters who kind of had their own little story within a story, which I found enjoyable. Will definatley read more by this author.
*Fingers crossd this one will go even tho' it's not as good as my first review boo hoo:)*
I read this a few days ago and have spent time diliberating whether it's a 4 or 5 star read so perhapes it should be 4 1/2.
Simon and El share a sad past, and whilst Simon has moved on and made a name for himself El has stayed in the same small town all her life and is now a sucessful business woman. When circumstances dictate that their paths cross again (albeit under sad ccircumstances) all the old shared feelings come back for both of them.
Seventeen years ago Simon, bad boy and rebelious teenager, was forced to leave LaRue following a sequence of tragic events. The town only holds bitter memories for him except for the times he spent with El, now he's back and the feelings of unease and doom are closing in again. Simon knows his time in LaRue is limited and falling in love with El is out of the question, so why is he getting angry all the time?
Since Simon left El has moved on and whilst she's never really stopped thinking about him she doesn't hold out any hope of ever actually seeing him again. Until he walks into her B and B that is. El knows Simon isn't the person he's made out to be, and she understands fully that he's here to tidy things up and then he'll be gone again, so it's best not to tell him what she really feels , just have some hot sexy fun , love him for the moment then let go when she needs to.
Simon is a tough Alpha type but, and it's a big but, he's very emotionally insecure this coupled with the feelings of forboding that seems to follow him around make him not the easiest of people to get along with. El on the other hand is sweet and lovely but has enough emotional strength for both of them ( and a good job too).
I loved watching how the relationship between Simon and El was re-kindled and the way they worked magic together with one hot sexy relationship. It was a nice relationship to read about when you understand the part they play in each others lives. And whilst Simon did and said some spectularly stuipd things I loved the way El stood by him b/c 'she understood and knew him'. I also loved the way Simons feelings slowly cracked through that tough heart to reveal a man who cared alot for his old friend.
The sub plot for this story fell quiet during the middle part of the book but it's an integral part of Simon and Els story so remians there slowly simerigng in the background (without the sub plot Simon wouldn't be who he is) only to come back with avengance towards the latter part of the story when all is revealed.
All in all a great read with some good secondary characters who kind of had their own little story within a story, which I found enjoyable. Will definatley read more by this author.
*Fingers crossd this one will go even tho' it's not as good as my first review boo hoo:)*
March 25, 2008
What an utterly fantastic book! I wasn't sure what to expect from it since it was a book I randomly picked up the library. It just looked interesting, and since I love romantic suspense (and that's what it was labeled as) I thought, what the hell, why not? And I ended up loving the book, even though it was completely not what I expected.
Return To Me is best described as a thoroughly primal, raw, passionate, story. It's extremely erotic. It might not be the most sophisticated story in terms of language, style, and plot, but it more than makes up for it with bold sexuality, strong characters, and an interesting storyline. Though the book is classified as a romantic suspense, it is not on the level on your typical book of that genre. The suspense plot is subtle, more of a background aspect, and there's not a lot of guess-work involved. The story is more focused on the characters themselves, but it works for the book.
Simon is the typical tortured, bad boy hero and I was instantly fascinated by him. He's so internally conflicted about what he wants, what he deserves, and the demons from his past, but yet he doesn't lost that Alpha male personality. I just wanted to give him a big hug. Ellen is the polar opposite...the shy, wealthy, good girl. It's one of my favorite dynamics in romance books. The depth of the characters is fairly thorough. There were a few points I thought could have been better explored, but for the most they had nice dimension. They had a powerful chemistry together, but were constantly fighting themselves over preconceptions, deservedness, and a host of other issues. Their relationship was very push-pull. I was rooting for them from the beginning.
The book - though I adored it - isn't for everyone. With such a strong, in-your-face sexuality throughout the entire story, there are a lot of people who won't care for it. There's nothing pretty or tame about the sex in the book. It's down and dirty and raw, but passionate at the same time. It's one of the things I loved most about the story. I've always wanted to read a romance book with a high level of eroticism but yet a complete romance. It's just not something you tend to find in the mainstream. Sex is more pretty and mild in those and more about the romance, which is fine most of the time. There's a lot of erotica on the 'net, but those are generally just gratuitous sex with no romance or just a smidge. So it was exciting to find a book with a bold sexuality and yet a wonderful romance to go with it. But with that said, like I stated previously, Return To Me won't appeal to everyone. If you like your sex on the vanilla side and sporadically occurring, then you'll hate the book so DON'T READ IT!, but if you like some chocolate with your sex you'll love it as much as much as I did.
So...fantastic book in my opinion. I can't read to go find more of McKenna's stories.
Return To Me is best described as a thoroughly primal, raw, passionate, story. It's extremely erotic. It might not be the most sophisticated story in terms of language, style, and plot, but it more than makes up for it with bold sexuality, strong characters, and an interesting storyline. Though the book is classified as a romantic suspense, it is not on the level on your typical book of that genre. The suspense plot is subtle, more of a background aspect, and there's not a lot of guess-work involved. The story is more focused on the characters themselves, but it works for the book.
Simon is the typical tortured, bad boy hero and I was instantly fascinated by him. He's so internally conflicted about what he wants, what he deserves, and the demons from his past, but yet he doesn't lost that Alpha male personality. I just wanted to give him a big hug. Ellen is the polar opposite...the shy, wealthy, good girl. It's one of my favorite dynamics in romance books. The depth of the characters is fairly thorough. There were a few points I thought could have been better explored, but for the most they had nice dimension. They had a powerful chemistry together, but were constantly fighting themselves over preconceptions, deservedness, and a host of other issues. Their relationship was very push-pull. I was rooting for them from the beginning.
The book - though I adored it - isn't for everyone. With such a strong, in-your-face sexuality throughout the entire story, there are a lot of people who won't care for it. There's nothing pretty or tame about the sex in the book. It's down and dirty and raw, but passionate at the same time. It's one of the things I loved most about the story. I've always wanted to read a romance book with a high level of eroticism but yet a complete romance. It's just not something you tend to find in the mainstream. Sex is more pretty and mild in those and more about the romance, which is fine most of the time. There's a lot of erotica on the 'net, but those are generally just gratuitous sex with no romance or just a smidge. So it was exciting to find a book with a bold sexuality and yet a wonderful romance to go with it. But with that said, like I stated previously, Return To Me won't appeal to everyone. If you like your sex on the vanilla side and sporadically occurring, then you'll hate the book so DON'T READ IT!, but if you like some chocolate with your sex you'll love it as much as much as I did.
So...fantastic book in my opinion. I can't read to go find more of McKenna's stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2016
Hubo una época donde devoré los libros de Shannon Mckenna, y en mi convalecencia (?) estoy abierta a todas las posibilidades, así que buscando en mi Kindle encontré este ebook, agregado hace bastante.
Siempre digo que cuando la pareja principal es opacada por otras historias secundarias y esos personajes te interesan más, entonces la novela pierde su atractivo. Me ocurrió exactamente eso; prefería a la pareja de Cora y Brad, y eso es un mal síntoma.
La historia es sexo, sexo, sexo, mezclado con los histerismos del héroe atormentado pero no en el buen sentido (si es que lo hay xD), este tipo tira más a emo con sus cabellos largos y ropa de motero. La mitad de la novela estuve pensando cuándo iba a bañarse y me ALEGRABA cuando la autora hacía que se duchara aunque tuviera que soportar otra escena de sexo tórrido bajo el agua.
En síntesis, el héroe prometía sexo del bueno y se quedó como Grey, que le dijo en la película a Ana "te voy a cog3r duro" y bleh, unos tristes chirlos y ya está.
Las escenas se repiten bastante: ella sucumbe, él lo disfruta, se aleja, discuten así muy cliché-mente como en una sit-com y el ciclo vuelve a comenzar.
Le pongo tres estrellas porque es una lectura ligera después de tanta oscuridad que estuve leyendo (Pennies de Pepper Winters, nada más deprimente para leer en un post-operatorio) y me hacía falta.
Siempre digo que cuando la pareja principal es opacada por otras historias secundarias y esos personajes te interesan más, entonces la novela pierde su atractivo. Me ocurrió exactamente eso; prefería a la pareja de Cora y Brad, y eso es un mal síntoma.
La historia es sexo, sexo, sexo, mezclado con los histerismos del héroe atormentado pero no en el buen sentido (si es que lo hay xD), este tipo tira más a emo con sus cabellos largos y ropa de motero. La mitad de la novela estuve pensando cuándo iba a bañarse y me ALEGRABA cuando la autora hacía que se duchara aunque tuviera que soportar otra escena de sexo tórrido bajo el agua.
En síntesis, el héroe prometía sexo del bueno y se quedó como Grey, que le dijo en la película a Ana "te voy a cog3r duro" y bleh, unos tristes chirlos y ya está.
Las escenas se repiten bastante: ella sucumbe, él lo disfruta, se aleja, discuten así muy cliché-mente como en una sit-com y el ciclo vuelve a comenzar.
Le pongo tres estrellas porque es una lectura ligera después de tanta oscuridad que estuve leyendo (Pennies de Pepper Winters, nada más deprimente para leer en un post-operatorio) y me hacía falta.
May 10, 2010
Shannon Mckenna is about the only non-pnr, rom/suspense writer I read anymore. (well aside from Pamela Clare!) Thank God I haven’t made it thru her entire backlist yet because I hear her latest couple releases haven’t been as hot- (which tends to happen in a long series).
However, Return to Me, I’m happy to report, I thoroughly enjoyed!
Though its not part of her McCloud Brothers series, it has all the hallmarks of a good McKenna read- a lost soul alpha hero, a heroine who knows and loves him to the depth of her being, sexy heat and a bad guy that won’t stop till both are dead. (The bad guy part is really just background noise as far as I’m concerned, but you’ll have this with alot of romantic suspense now-a-days.)
Successful photojournalist Simon Riley has loved El Kent for a very long time. He never thought he’d see her again after the town wrote him off all those years ago as the boy from the wrong side of the tracks who would never amount to nothing, but when his uncle turns up dead from an apparent suicide he must go back to face the demons of the past… and the one woman whom he could never forget. Little does Simon know that someone in town is out to make sure those demons stay buried- even if they have to kill to do it.
As I mentioned above this book delivers on numerous levels- long lost love is an easy hook for me and the author sure knows how to maintain scintillating chemistry between her characters. I love that in a romance novel. The only drawback for me was the worn psycho killer plot and that character’s obvious motivations. Still, if you like romantic suspense with an over the top heat factor, you can’t get much better than a Shannon Mckenna novel- and this one is no exception.
4 out of 5 from me.
However, Return to Me, I’m happy to report, I thoroughly enjoyed!
Though its not part of her McCloud Brothers series, it has all the hallmarks of a good McKenna read- a lost soul alpha hero, a heroine who knows and loves him to the depth of her being, sexy heat and a bad guy that won’t stop till both are dead. (The bad guy part is really just background noise as far as I’m concerned, but you’ll have this with alot of romantic suspense now-a-days.)
Successful photojournalist Simon Riley has loved El Kent for a very long time. He never thought he’d see her again after the town wrote him off all those years ago as the boy from the wrong side of the tracks who would never amount to nothing, but when his uncle turns up dead from an apparent suicide he must go back to face the demons of the past… and the one woman whom he could never forget. Little does Simon know that someone in town is out to make sure those demons stay buried- even if they have to kill to do it.
As I mentioned above this book delivers on numerous levels- long lost love is an easy hook for me and the author sure knows how to maintain scintillating chemistry between her characters. I love that in a romance novel. The only drawback for me was the worn psycho killer plot and that character’s obvious motivations. Still, if you like romantic suspense with an over the top heat factor, you can’t get much better than a Shannon Mckenna novel- and this one is no exception.
4 out of 5 from me.
September 29, 2020
I am pretty easy on erotic romance books. These are my escape, and as long as I find myself transported I am willing to overlook many things. This book was bad in so many ways that even I, with my low expectations and profound wish to be entertained, found little to like. I will list my 5 biggest complaints.
1. The lead characters were terrible. Simon is an asshole of the highest order, and El is boring, weak, without pride, a terrible business person, and has no desire to know anything other than how to make good pies and please her man. I love baked goods and sex, but that alone does not make me a person worth learning about.
2. The sex was good. The characters were awful. Is there anything less the stuff of fantasy than people you don't like having great sex?
3. There seemed to be a message that empowered woman must flaunt their sexuality in the most obvious ways, and that women who don't walk around in corsets and Daisy Dukes are shriveled souls who are ignoring their inner strength. Yuck.
4. The language used during sexy times is really off-putting. I won't provide a lot of detail, but I will leave you with the two phrases that most squicked me out "girl juice" and "dick drool." 'Nuff said.
5. The secondary characters are laughable. Mousy employee, BMOC who is a victim of his own act, defensive trailer park slut, deranged psychopathic pyromaniac, low-IQ evil henchmen, tight-ass rich lady political wife, corrupt sheriff. All these tropes and more. Yawn.
You don't want to read this, trust me.
1. The lead characters were terrible. Simon is an asshole of the highest order, and El is boring, weak, without pride, a terrible business person, and has no desire to know anything other than how to make good pies and please her man. I love baked goods and sex, but that alone does not make me a person worth learning about.
2. The sex was good. The characters were awful. Is there anything less the stuff of fantasy than people you don't like having great sex?
3. There seemed to be a message that empowered woman must flaunt their sexuality in the most obvious ways, and that women who don't walk around in corsets and Daisy Dukes are shriveled souls who are ignoring their inner strength. Yuck.
4. The language used during sexy times is really off-putting. I won't provide a lot of detail, but I will leave you with the two phrases that most squicked me out "girl juice" and "dick drool." 'Nuff said.
5. The secondary characters are laughable. Mousy employee, BMOC who is a victim of his own act, defensive trailer park slut, deranged psychopathic pyromaniac, low-IQ evil henchmen, tight-ass rich lady political wife, corrupt sheriff. All these tropes and more. Yawn.
You don't want to read this, trust me.
June 20, 2010
Yet again another book by Shannon McKenna that I loved. This book grabbed me from the very beginning and kept me interested all the way through. The heat level was good for me and the hero was absolutely yummy. The heroine had eye's only for the hero and stuck by her man no matter what. The action was really good and the bad guy was completely crazy.
Thanks Kris for the rec :)
Thanks Kris for the rec :)
October 3, 2019
2,5-3 de 5 estrellas
Sí, pero no. Está claro que no le cojo el punto a esta autora.
Prometía. De verdad que prometía muchísimo la trama de suspense, peeerooooo... Generalmente no tengo problema con las escenas de sexo en las novelas, lo único que pido es que casen en la trama, que lo pida la escena que está contando, y aquí no sucede. Es sexo, sexo, sexo porque sí, para rellenar o yo que sé y me aburrí; de hecho, algunas me las salté.
Hubo personajes secundarios que me resultaron más creíbles que los protagonistas. Con él tuve la sensación de que era un veleta histérico y con ella tuve la sensación de que sus actos no avalaban sus palabras.
En fin, le doy un 5 ramplón por la ambientación, sino estaría a un tris de suspender.
Sí, pero no. Está claro que no le cojo el punto a esta autora.
Prometía. De verdad que prometía muchísimo la trama de suspense, peeerooooo... Generalmente no tengo problema con las escenas de sexo en las novelas, lo único que pido es que casen en la trama, que lo pida la escena que está contando, y aquí no sucede. Es sexo, sexo, sexo porque sí, para rellenar o yo que sé y me aburrí; de hecho, algunas me las salté.
Hubo personajes secundarios que me resultaron más creíbles que los protagonistas. Con él tuve la sensación de que era un veleta histérico y con ella tuve la sensación de que sus actos no avalaban sus palabras.
En fin, le doy un 5 ramplón por la ambientación, sino estaría a un tris de suspender.
January 15, 2013
Return to Me is a decent book that somehow failed to grab my interest. It was too easy to put down. Part of the problem is the emphasis is on the romance instead of balancing the romance with the suspense plot. I also had the suspense plot figured out very early on, so there wasn't much to hold my interest. While Simon and El tried to figure out their relationship (El loved him and he figured he was bad for her), they had sex. Lots of sex. LONG sex scenes that went over many pages. I found myself skimming the sex scenes to get back to the meat of the story, which was would Simon quit being a douche to El and would they figure out where Gus hid the evidence he alluded to in his email?
Although I felt like the sex scenes were fairly well written, I was pulled out of them by the things Simon said. The author puts words in this tough guys mouth that no man would ever say. I would say the sex scenes, while not erotica, certainly qualify as romantica instead of mainstream romantic love scenes. I'm finding that these types of love scenes are not my favorite. I enjoy hot sex scenes, but there is a certain style of language I don't find sexy.
Although I felt like the sex scenes were fairly well written, I was pulled out of them by the things Simon said. The author puts words in this tough guys mouth that no man would ever say. I would say the sex scenes, while not erotica, certainly qualify as romantica instead of mainstream romantic love scenes. I'm finding that these types of love scenes are not my favorite. I enjoy hot sex scenes, but there is a certain style of language I don't find sexy.
February 7, 2008
I wanted a fast read to occupy me in the last days of November and so I grabbed this book. I haven't been to fond of McKenna's books I've read but this one ended up being better than the ones I tried before.
Seventeen years after bad boy Simon Riley sped out of town Ellen Kent has finally got her life together. She's very busy running her successful bed and breakfast in Oregon's LaRue River Valley. And she's engaged - to a man who doesn't exactly make her knees weak with lust, but so much the better. It's time for a quiet home with a family, dog hair on the sofa, all the trappings, even if she has to retool her emotional wiring to a much lower wattage to get it. After all, passion - of the pants at the ankles, lips in serious lock, hands roaming frantically on the way down the hall - well, it's just an unrealistic fantasy...like the man pulling up to her door on his motorcycle...
Simon swore he'd never come back to this backwater town where trouble followed at his heels. The only good thing about the place had been El Kent, who had been his friend despite his rep. Now, he's back to investigate his uncle's sudden death and face the demons of his past. But he hadn't counted on El's lush, sensual beauty, the innocent seductiveness of her every gesture. She has no business marrying that lacklustre clown of a fiance. What she needs is a serious wake-up call, the kind that starts at the mouth and leads down to complete abandonment and total ecstasy. He never expects his strategy to backfire and leave him so hungry for more...But Simon has done more than stir El's passions and his own. His very presence has brought danger into her life, and they will have to learn to trust each other if they want to survive...
I think things started a bit too fast between El and Simon and he starts chasing her even thinking he might not stay and that will hurt her. But once they were in a relationship I actually enjoyed it because while he is still rough she seems to became stronger, although a hard man Simon didn't seem as cavemen as McKenna's previous heroes. And there was a mystery regarding his uncle that I quite enjoyed even if I felt it could have been better explored, we knew who the bad guy was but it was interesting to find out the real story as the action progresses.
I had a bit of problem with El and Simon as characters because after a while it seemed they were taking a bit to long to solve their problems and when something happens near the end and Simon is accused by the cops the first thing he thinks of was running away and leaving El behind. That was what he had done all those years back and I was very annoyed that the same was going to happen all over again.
By this time I was more interested in the secondary couple's love story than El and Simon. Brad and specially Cora were really interesting people with a past story and lot to catch up with and make up to (specially Brad) and McKenna really creates some sizzling scenes between these 2. I wish she had given them more space.
Grade: B-
Seventeen years after bad boy Simon Riley sped out of town Ellen Kent has finally got her life together. She's very busy running her successful bed and breakfast in Oregon's LaRue River Valley. And she's engaged - to a man who doesn't exactly make her knees weak with lust, but so much the better. It's time for a quiet home with a family, dog hair on the sofa, all the trappings, even if she has to retool her emotional wiring to a much lower wattage to get it. After all, passion - of the pants at the ankles, lips in serious lock, hands roaming frantically on the way down the hall - well, it's just an unrealistic fantasy...like the man pulling up to her door on his motorcycle...
Simon swore he'd never come back to this backwater town where trouble followed at his heels. The only good thing about the place had been El Kent, who had been his friend despite his rep. Now, he's back to investigate his uncle's sudden death and face the demons of his past. But he hadn't counted on El's lush, sensual beauty, the innocent seductiveness of her every gesture. She has no business marrying that lacklustre clown of a fiance. What she needs is a serious wake-up call, the kind that starts at the mouth and leads down to complete abandonment and total ecstasy. He never expects his strategy to backfire and leave him so hungry for more...But Simon has done more than stir El's passions and his own. His very presence has brought danger into her life, and they will have to learn to trust each other if they want to survive...
I think things started a bit too fast between El and Simon and he starts chasing her even thinking he might not stay and that will hurt her. But once they were in a relationship I actually enjoyed it because while he is still rough she seems to became stronger, although a hard man Simon didn't seem as cavemen as McKenna's previous heroes. And there was a mystery regarding his uncle that I quite enjoyed even if I felt it could have been better explored, we knew who the bad guy was but it was interesting to find out the real story as the action progresses.
I had a bit of problem with El and Simon as characters because after a while it seemed they were taking a bit to long to solve their problems and when something happens near the end and Simon is accused by the cops the first thing he thinks of was running away and leaving El behind. That was what he had done all those years back and I was very annoyed that the same was going to happen all over again.
By this time I was more interested in the secondary couple's love story than El and Simon. Brad and specially Cora were really interesting people with a past story and lot to catch up with and make up to (specially Brad) and McKenna really creates some sizzling scenes between these 2. I wish she had given them more space.
Grade: B-
January 25, 2015
A boring story with a non-existent mystery. No build of tension around the villain's transparent intentions, which could have saved the fact that the reader knows who the villain is from the get-go, but the characters don't.
The book reads like it was written with a teenager's understanding of how 30-somethings act and speak (they speak of love like inexperienced teenagers; someone uses "Not" without any irony; the supposed town slut is called a "tramp" by several people), and the one-dimensional secondary characters who make up family and townspeople have 18th century values (oh noes: the unwed hero is staying in the heroine's home which has been converted to a B'n'B! Something untoward MUST be going on).
The hero can only articulate how sweet and beautiful the heroine is, and the BIG conflict between them is that the cliched hero isn't a "stickin' around" kinda guy. (But wait, then they have magic, condom-free sex, and he starts to feel differently)! That's when I quit.
The book reads like it was written with a teenager's understanding of how 30-somethings act and speak (they speak of love like inexperienced teenagers; someone uses "Not" without any irony; the supposed town slut is called a "tramp" by several people), and the one-dimensional secondary characters who make up family and townspeople have 18th century values (oh noes: the unwed hero is staying in the heroine's home which has been converted to a B'n'B! Something untoward MUST be going on).
The hero can only articulate how sweet and beautiful the heroine is, and the BIG conflict between them is that the cliched hero isn't a "stickin' around" kinda guy. (But wait, then they have magic, condom-free sex, and he starts to feel differently)! That's when I quit.
March 7, 2016
เป็นเรื่องที่ใช้เวลาในการอ่านนานมาก เพราะดันไปเอาเรื่อง Never Never มาอ่านคั่น(แล้วดันผิดหวังสุดๆ) เรื่องนี้สนุกดี ชอบพระเอกกับนางเอก แรงดึงดูดระหว่างกันมหาศาล จะว่าไปเขาก็รักกันตั้งแต่เด็กๆแล้วนี่เนอะ เนื้อเรื่องในส่วนความรักก็สนุก เรื่องในส่วนลุงของพระเอกก็น่าติดตาม แต่มันจบง่ายๆไปหน่อยในส่วนนี้ คือรู้ตัวคนร้ายตั้งแต่ต้นเรื่อง เพราะคนเขียนเปิดเผยให้เห็นเลยว่าใคร แต่ที่บอกว่าง่ายนี่คือ แรงจูงใจของคนร้ายไม่ได้มีอะไรมากมายเลยspoiler: อ่อแล้วก็..ฮ็อทด้วยเรื่องนี้ ฮ่าาา
September 22, 2010
Great read.
So far, I have read and loved five of Shannon McKenna's books. Her characters are different and interesting. Her books are thrillers, with terrible bad guys and a lot of suspense, and always a happy ending. She's one of my favorite authors.
For a list of my reviews of other Shannon McKenna books, see my 5 star review of “Ultimate Weapon” posted 11/15/08.
So far, I have read and loved five of Shannon McKenna's books. Her characters are different and interesting. Her books are thrillers, with terrible bad guys and a lot of suspense, and always a happy ending. She's one of my favorite authors.
For a list of my reviews of other Shannon McKenna books, see my 5 star review of “Ultimate Weapon” posted 11/15/08.
August 13, 2013
I love Shannon McKenna!!! Plus a second chance romance with a hot scene on a bike!!! Oh, ya...while this man is slightly less uber, alpha than her other men...still loved him!
August 24, 2014
What a mess.
August 9, 2020
2.5*
I was desperate for a book to get me out of a reading slump I've been in for about 3 months and I decided to re-read this book. Man did I like it much more the first time around than this time. There were too many frustrating arcs that grinded my gears.
I was desperate for a book to get me out of a reading slump I've been in for about 3 months and I decided to re-read this book. Man did I like it much more the first time around than this time. There were too many frustrating arcs that grinded my gears.
April 22, 2022
I love everything Shannon writes and this is no different. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. I'll let the book summary explain the book I just want to say amazing!
May 23, 2022
As a fan of McKenna's work, I was thrilled to be offered an opportunity to read and review one of her earlier works. I can't believe I missed Return To Me in my search for all things McKenna.
I was immediately intrigued by the protagonists (childhood friends) Simon and Ellen - a tortured bad boy hero and a shy, insecure good girl heroine.
I was pleased to discover that this story is as good as the McCloud Brothers Series. McKenna is an expert in the romantic/erotic suspense genre.
The characters of Simon and Ellen are slowly revealed to us through descriptions of their back story and their interactions with each other and others. Throughout the story, Simon's inner turmoil reveals the depth of his love and gratitude for Ellen. This makes him endearing even as he continues to be quite self centered. Ellen seems to be this simple girl next door who knows him better than he knows himself and still loves him, but again through her constant support and defense of Simon, she reveals her deep conviction that he was and still is a good, decent man deserving of love.
As expected, many naysayers surround them attempting to keep them apart but the mystery of Simon's uncle's suicide provides them with a good reason to spend time together.
Unlike other McKenna novels, the mystery is not as suspenseful as I expected. I figured it out early on in the story but, the development of Simon and Ellen's relationship, their rekindled chemistry, and their many sexual encounters are so descriptive and erotic, it makes up for the lack of McKenna's usual twists and turns in the plot.
I found Return To Me, an amazing love story. Simon and Ellen have pined for each other for 17 years and a tragedy is the excuse they need to fight their way back to each other. In the end, the mystery is solved and their destiny is fulfilled.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was immediately intrigued by the protagonists (childhood friends) Simon and Ellen - a tortured bad boy hero and a shy, insecure good girl heroine.
I was pleased to discover that this story is as good as the McCloud Brothers Series. McKenna is an expert in the romantic/erotic suspense genre.
The characters of Simon and Ellen are slowly revealed to us through descriptions of their back story and their interactions with each other and others. Throughout the story, Simon's inner turmoil reveals the depth of his love and gratitude for Ellen. This makes him endearing even as he continues to be quite self centered. Ellen seems to be this simple girl next door who knows him better than he knows himself and still loves him, but again through her constant support and defense of Simon, she reveals her deep conviction that he was and still is a good, decent man deserving of love.
As expected, many naysayers surround them attempting to keep them apart but the mystery of Simon's uncle's suicide provides them with a good reason to spend time together.
Unlike other McKenna novels, the mystery is not as suspenseful as I expected. I figured it out early on in the story but, the development of Simon and Ellen's relationship, their rekindled chemistry, and their many sexual encounters are so descriptive and erotic, it makes up for the lack of McKenna's usual twists and turns in the plot.
I found Return To Me, an amazing love story. Simon and Ellen have pined for each other for 17 years and a tragedy is the excuse they need to fight their way back to each other. In the end, the mystery is solved and their destiny is fulfilled.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 30, 2013
Before Brian and I stay at bed and breakfasts, we always have to weigh the advantages of good food and beautiful locations with the disadvantage of the inevitable chatty host who will want to share his / her Views On The World. Our favorite B&B is owned by a druid who joins guests at breakfast to air his thoughts on local politics and environmental degradation. It would have been less annoying if we hadn't been on our honeymoon.
Apparently though, our perceptions are all wrong. The tree-hugging druids and the motherly women who want to chat about their sons in college while we gamely plow our way through their extra healthy oat cakes are actually a front for the seething cauldron of passions that every bed and breakfast contains. How do I know this? I have it on good authority. I read romance novels.
This romance novel bed and breakfast is no different -- it also seethes. In fact, there's so much seething, it's amazing the main character has time to do much inn-keeping. On the up side, Return to Me includes one of SMK's patented Manly Eaters who consumes massive breakfasts (8 muffins!) and reminisces about manly meals from the past (elk steaks!) On the down side, it's a little gory for my taste.
Apparently though, our perceptions are all wrong. The tree-hugging druids and the motherly women who want to chat about their sons in college while we gamely plow our way through their extra healthy oat cakes are actually a front for the seething cauldron of passions that every bed and breakfast contains. How do I know this? I have it on good authority. I read romance novels.
This romance novel bed and breakfast is no different -- it also seethes. In fact, there's so much seething, it's amazing the main character has time to do much inn-keeping. On the up side, Return to Me includes one of SMK's patented Manly Eaters who consumes massive breakfasts (8 muffins!) and reminisces about manly meals from the past (elk steaks!) On the down side, it's a little gory for my taste.
December 7, 2014
This should be a 1.5 if that existed. I'm sure this book is great to some people. However I didn't care for a lot of the dialogue and I didn't like the male protagonist. El was better but she seemed weak...I mean....she is engaged to a guy who she doesn't love, isn't interested in sexually and can't stand his family. Has she ever heard of online dating? This book occured in the present. It wasn't like she had to settle for the local townfolk and the first suitor that made an offer.
Spoiler warning:
I have no idea how to insert a spoiler warning since I never write reviews, so I'm hoping entering down a couple spaces work. Not that this is much of a spoiler. When the lead characters first mess around El is engaged. This goes right back to my weak point. I get that she really shouldn't have been engaged to Brad but it doesn't take away from the point that she was engaged. Not cool. She didn't even put up any resistance. Hard for me to root for main characters and a central romance when things like that occur.
Spoiler warning:
I have no idea how to insert a spoiler warning since I never write reviews, so I'm hoping entering down a couple spaces work. Not that this is much of a spoiler. When the lead characters first mess around El is engaged. This goes right back to my weak point. I get that she really shouldn't have been engaged to Brad but it doesn't take away from the point that she was engaged. Not cool. She didn't even put up any resistance. Hard for me to root for main characters and a central romance when things like that occur.
July 30, 2013
With nary a McCloud in sight, this one is getting rated on its own merits.
The story was fine, with the usual overbearing, possessive alpha dude-bro and the sexually unawakened, sweet, shy, secretly-a-firecracker lady, plus a whiff of paranormal stuff. But it lacked the sheer, over-the-top WTF aspect of the McClouds series that makes up for the fact that the dude is basically steam-rolling over the lady's protests, sexual and otherwise, and the lady is a waffle who is also a doormat. And despite being ostensibly a suspense novel, the suspense aspect is super under-developed and has a villain who is just another example of "crazy dudes be crazy". And a throw-away secondary romance.
And I am really over "girl lube" as a descriptor. It makes my skin crawl.
The story was fine, with the usual overbearing, possessive alpha dude-bro and the sexually unawakened, sweet, shy, secretly-a-firecracker lady, plus a whiff of paranormal stuff. But it lacked the sheer, over-the-top WTF aspect of the McClouds series that makes up for the fact that the dude is basically steam-rolling over the lady's protests, sexual and otherwise, and the lady is a waffle who is also a doormat. And despite being ostensibly a suspense novel, the suspense aspect is super under-developed and has a villain who is just another example of "crazy dudes be crazy". And a throw-away secondary romance.
And I am really over "girl lube" as a descriptor. It makes my skin crawl.
April 3, 2012
This book was really frustrating for me...i'm giving it 2.5 stars bc i really like the author and it did have some really fun parts...I never really felt connected to El and I wanted to shake some sense into Simon on several occasions!! I wish there had been more detail in the end, Ray's story, what made him that way...more on Gus and a whole lot more on Simon's mom. I did like Brad and Cora and Missy rocks!
July 5, 2022
I am beginning to see a trend for my preferences in books. If the story is just pages and pages and more pages of graphic carnal encounters it’s ALSO got to have a VERY strong plot. I am not talking about shallow nonsense that is used as page filler…but an ACTUAL story.
Sadly this book is not up to scratch.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1.75 Stars ⭐️
Sadly this book is not up to scratch.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1.75 Stars ⭐️
July 12, 2012
um I finished it but can't actually remember it, so was ok but nothing special which is probably why I failed to update on it.
February 17, 2022
I'll admit to being a die-hard Shannon McKenna fan up-front--and was thrilled to learn that another publisher is reprinting revised and updated versions of her backlist titles, because Return To Me is one of her early titles I missed when it was first published, and I was thrilled when she asked me if I wanted to read and review it (Thanks, Sharon!). Return To Me is an interesting combination of some of my favorite tropes, friends-to-lovers, bad boy makes good, second chance romance, and romantic suspense, and it works on all those levels. It was a 5-star read for me, as unputdownable as all of her other novels.
Ellen (El) Kent loved town bad boy, Simon Riley--they were best friends for years, and after losing their virginity to one another, while still in their teens, Simon abruptly left town after being accused of burning down someone's barn (he didn't), what he did do was break El's heart. He was a wild young man with quite a reputation for getting into trouble, and was placed finally with his Uncle Gus, an alcoholic veteran living in a run-down shack at the edge of a grander home and property owned by the well-to-do Kent family, the property having been lost to an earlier Riley family member when it was wagered in a card game.
Seventeen years later, Simon's military service photos led to a successful career as a photojournalist. When he receives a 5-month old letter from an attorney telling him that Gus has committed suicide, he returns to his small town of LaRue to handle Gus' estate. To say that no one seems thrilled to see him back in town, is putting it mildly, and he didn't expect to see that El had turned into a beautiful woman, or learn that she was engaged to marry Brad Mitchell, a self-important, rich young man, as snooty as his parents, and whom Ellen doubted she even loved, especially after seeing Simon again. She had bought the Kent home from her parents, and turned it into a successful bed and breakfast inn. When Simon sees what a disaster Gus left behind in his shack, he takes an available room at Ellen's B&B, and no one in town seems to approve of that arrangement, especially her fiance, his parents and Ellen's own, and that's only the beginning of the troubles she and Simon will soon face.
While Simon has always believed he lived under a dark cloud of trouble, Ellen has never doubted him, and although 17 years have passed, the chemistry between these two is smoking hot, and yes, Shannon McKenna has included some incredibly sexy scenes in this novel--she does them so well!
When mishap after mishap occurs not only to Simon, but extends to attacks on Ellen as well as her B&B inn, there's plenty of danger afoot, and more than one mystery to solve, especially when we learn that Gus didn't commit suicide. There's also plenty of emotional angst and drama as the attraction between Simon and Ellen heats up, and Simon's misgivings and feelings of unworthiness lead him to make some painful and hurtful decisions he will soon regret.
I found Return to Me to be a gripping, sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, well-plotted,
steamy and exciting read, and I'm happy to recommend it.
Ellen (El) Kent loved town bad boy, Simon Riley--they were best friends for years, and after losing their virginity to one another, while still in their teens, Simon abruptly left town after being accused of burning down someone's barn (he didn't), what he did do was break El's heart. He was a wild young man with quite a reputation for getting into trouble, and was placed finally with his Uncle Gus, an alcoholic veteran living in a run-down shack at the edge of a grander home and property owned by the well-to-do Kent family, the property having been lost to an earlier Riley family member when it was wagered in a card game.
Seventeen years later, Simon's military service photos led to a successful career as a photojournalist. When he receives a 5-month old letter from an attorney telling him that Gus has committed suicide, he returns to his small town of LaRue to handle Gus' estate. To say that no one seems thrilled to see him back in town, is putting it mildly, and he didn't expect to see that El had turned into a beautiful woman, or learn that she was engaged to marry Brad Mitchell, a self-important, rich young man, as snooty as his parents, and whom Ellen doubted she even loved, especially after seeing Simon again. She had bought the Kent home from her parents, and turned it into a successful bed and breakfast inn. When Simon sees what a disaster Gus left behind in his shack, he takes an available room at Ellen's B&B, and no one in town seems to approve of that arrangement, especially her fiance, his parents and Ellen's own, and that's only the beginning of the troubles she and Simon will soon face.
While Simon has always believed he lived under a dark cloud of trouble, Ellen has never doubted him, and although 17 years have passed, the chemistry between these two is smoking hot, and yes, Shannon McKenna has included some incredibly sexy scenes in this novel--she does them so well!
When mishap after mishap occurs not only to Simon, but extends to attacks on Ellen as well as her B&B inn, there's plenty of danger afoot, and more than one mystery to solve, especially when we learn that Gus didn't commit suicide. There's also plenty of emotional angst and drama as the attraction between Simon and Ellen heats up, and Simon's misgivings and feelings of unworthiness lead him to make some painful and hurtful decisions he will soon regret.
I found Return to Me to be a gripping, sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, well-plotted,
steamy and exciting read, and I'm happy to recommend it.
January 13, 2025
อย่างที่บอกไปแล้วนะคะ หนังสือเรื่องนี้ก็คือการเอาเรื่อง Quinn's Return มาเขียนใหม่ และมันช่างเป็นการเขียนใหม่ที่เพิ่มเติมความสมบูรณ์แบบให้เนื้อเรื่องอย่าง มาก
ตัวแม็กซ์เองกลายมาเป็นแฟนหนังสือของแชนน่อนก็เพราะเล่มนี้ (เราอ่านเรื่องนี้ก่อนอ่าน Quinn's Return ค่ะ) คนแต่งเขียนได้ดีมากขนาดที่เราไม่รู้เลยสักนิดว่าส่วนที่เพิ่มเติมเข้ามาคือ ส่วนแทรกขึ้น ไม่ใช่ส่วนหนึ่งของพล็อตเรื่อง
พล็อตของหนังสือเรื่องนี้เหมือนกับเรื่อง Quinn's Return ชนิดลอกกันมากเลยแหละ (ก็มันลอกกันจริง ๆ นี่) เพียงแต่ในเล่มนี้พระเอกของเราชื่อว่า ไซม่อน ไรลี่ย์ เขาเป็นช่างภาพระดับเจ้าของรางวัล และผ่านการถ่ายภาพในสงครามโหดมาแล้ว เขาตัดสินใจเดินทางกลับบ้านเกิด เพราะอีเมลล์ที่ได้รับจากกัส ผู้เป็นลุง ซึ่งในตอนเปิดเรื่องได้เสียชีวิตลงแล้ว ลุงของเขาได้ชื่อว่าเป็นคนเพื้ยนและชอบใช้ความรุนแรง ซึ่งไซม่อนรู้เป็นอย่างดี แต่ในอีเมลล์นั้นมันราวกับว่า กัสมีช่วงเวลาที่ชัดเจนเกิดขึ้น ในอีเมลล์กล่าวถึงเหตุการณ์บางอย่างในอดีตที่กัสได้เข้าไปเห็นเป็นพยาน การกระทำที่โหดเหี้ยมผิดมนุษย์ การกระทำที่ตามหลอกหลอนกัส และเป็นสิ่งที่กัสต้องการให้ไซม่อนระวังตัวจากผลพวงของมัน
ไซม่อนเดินทางกลับมา และเขาก็ได้พบกับเอล หรือเอเลน เค้นต์ สาวน้อยที่บัดนี้ได้กลายเป็นเจ้าของโรงแรมชนิดเบดแอนด์เบรคฟาสต์ที่ซึ่งเขา มาเข้าพัก (ส่วนนี้เหมือน QsR ค่ะ) และเช่นเดียวกัน เอเลนที่รักไซม่อนมาตลอดชีวิต เธอตัดสินใจเลิกรอคอยการกลับมาของเขาแ���้ว เธอได้หมั้นหมายกับแบรด ชายหนุ่มผู้เพียบพร้อม แต่แล้วการกลับมาของไซม่อนก็ทำให้เอเลนต้องทนทวนทุกอย่างอีกครั้ง
ในหนังสือเล่มนี้ ความผูกพันระหว่างไซม่อนและเอเลนถูกถ่ายทอดออกเป็นตัวหนังสือไ้ด้ชัดเจน ทำให้แม็กซ์รู้สึกถึงความรักที่เริ่มต้นจากความเป็นเพื่อน จนกลายเป็นความรักฝังใจที่ไม่ว่าเวลาจะผ่านไปนานเท่าใด ก็ไม่อาจทำให้ไซม่อน และเอลลืมเลือนอีกฝ่ายได้เลย
ในเล่มนี้อดีตของไซม่อนถูกเล่าออกมามากพอจนทำให้แม็กซ์เข้าใจความต้องการ หลีกหนีความรักของเขา เข้าใจว่าทำไมเขาถึงมองว่าตัวเองไม่เหมาะกับความรัก เข้าใจเหตุผลที่เขาเลือกที่จะเดินออกจากชีวิตของเอล (ในขณะที่ QsR มันเป็นคำถามข้อใหญ่ที่เรามี) แม้จะไม่เห็นด้วยนะ แต่อย่างน้อยก็ไม่รู้สึกว่าพระเอกงี่เง่าที่เดินจากสิ่งดี ๆ อย่างเอลไป
นี่ยังไม่ได้พูดถึงฉากเซ็กส์ที่ฮ็อตกว่าอีกค่ะ ความสามารถของแชนน่อนก็คือ เธอไม่ได้เปลี่ยนแปลงองค์ประกอบอะไรในเรื่องเลย การเพิ่มดีกรีความร้อนแรงไม่ได้ทำให้เนื้อเรื่องสูญเสียไป
นอกจากนี้แล้วการเติมพล็อตในส่วนของความลึกลับในอดีตของกัสที่ตามมาระราน ไซม่อนในปัจจุบันก็ทำให้เรื่องมีน้ำหนัก และน่าติดตามอ่านยิ่งขึ้น
และส่วนที่แม็กซ์ชอบมากที่สุดก็คือ เรื่องนี้คู่หมั้นของเอลไม่ใช่ตัวร้ายที่เป็นอย่างใน Quinn's Return เพราะแบรดมาด้านลึกที่ซ่อนเอาไว้ เราชอบมาก ๆ ที่แชนน่อนเขียนแบรดในเวอร์ชั่นใหม่ ผู้ชายที่มีสองด้าน ด้านนึงอาจจะไม่ชอบไซม่อน (ใครจะชอบเขาได้ในเมื่อไซม่อนคือตัวปัญหาในวัยเด็ก และยังแย่งเอลไปจากแบรดอีก) ในอีกด้านนึงเขาก็ยังเป็นมนุษย์ที่รู้จักผิดชอบชั่วดี
คะแนนที่ 87
การที่แม็กซ์ได้มีโอกาสอ่าน Quinn's Return ที่แม้จะไม่ได้สนุกอะไร แต่เราก็ไม่ได้คาดหวังหรอกนะคะว่าจะสนุก แม็กซ์คิดเสมอว่าหนังสือที่สั้นขนาดนั้น แทบจะไม่มีโอกาสที่จะสนุกขึ้นมาได้หรอก การที่เราได้เห็นต้นแบบของ Return to me ทำให้เราตระหนักแก่ใจถึงพัฒนาการของแชนน่อนในฐานะนักเขียนยิ่งขึ้น เพราะหนังสือทั้งสองเรื่องนี้ใช้พล็อตและการดำเนินเรื่องที่เกือบเหมือนกัน แต่การเพิ่มเติม เปลี่ยนแปลงเล็กน้อยกลับทำให้ความเห็นที่เรามีต่อหนังสือสองเล่มนี้แตกต่าง กันไปโดยสิ้นเชิง
July 16, 2017
17 years ago Simon Riley left the one girl that loved him more than anything because of a fire he did not set. With his uncle's passing, he returned to his hometown and entered Ellen (El)'s life again.
The reason I did not give this book more stars is because Simon Riley drove me nuts with his "I'm bad luck" persona. Woe is me, I'm no good for you, I should leave. I wanted to throw myself down my own stairs. I couldn't take much more of his I want you but no, I really don't because I'm bad for you. And all of this was every time they had sex. How convenient.
There were side stories to this book which was okay but kind of distracted me from the main plot, mainly because there was no depth to the side stories. Even the bad guy's side story was not developed enough. Simon wanted to solve the mystery of his uncle's death because he didn't believe he committed suicide. But let's face it, to his hometown Simon was a bad seed which made his search for the truth harder.
El hung in there, with him all the way, even though in every chapter he was pushing her away after sex, over and over and over again and it drove her crazy.
The book was pretty good for the most part but could have been better.
The reason I did not give this book more stars is because Simon Riley drove me nuts with his "I'm bad luck" persona. Woe is me, I'm no good for you, I should leave. I wanted to throw myself down my own stairs. I couldn't take much more of his I want you but no, I really don't because I'm bad for you. And all of this was every time they had sex. How convenient.
There were side stories to this book which was okay but kind of distracted me from the main plot, mainly because there was no depth to the side stories. Even the bad guy's side story was not developed enough. Simon wanted to solve the mystery of his uncle's death because he didn't believe he committed suicide. But let's face it, to his hometown Simon was a bad seed which made his search for the truth harder.
El hung in there, with him all the way, even though in every chapter he was pushing her away after sex, over and over and over again and it drove her crazy.
The book was pretty good for the most part but could have been better.
February 21, 2022
Simon never wanted to return home after living through so much loss and heartbreak. But he finds himself back home after his uncle sudden dies under suspicious circumstances. He also finds himself facing the only woman he has ever loved and was forced to leave behind. Ellen has tried to move on after Simon left her. She has a successful business and is engaged to be married. When Simon suddenly appears on her doorstep, old feelings come rushing back. Simon and El have such a strong bond and chemistry that they can't stay away from each other, rekindling their fiery love. But as Simon gets closer to the truth of his uncles death, the chaos that surrounds his past threatens both El and his safety. I was so captivated by this steamy and suspenseful story. I loved how Simon and El found their way back to each other but especially how El grew to find the strength to take control of who she was and what she wanted. I really enjoyed this intriguing story, with complex characters, and heartfelt, sizzling hot passion!
March 1, 2022
The first time that I read Return to Me was when it was originally issued almost 20 years ago! I still have my original paperbacks and reread them often. I love the angst filled story of second chance love between Ellen and Simon. These two teen loves were ripped apart by a crime but now it is also 20 years later for them and Simon has returned home to bury his uncle and not only are mysteries unearthed but his love of his youth is still living in town. El has turned her childhood home into a bed and breakfast. She has a good life, is recently engaged to one of the wealthiest men in town and the last thing that she expects or wants is her old childhood crush turning up back to upend her life again. Return to Me is definitely one of Shannon McKenna's more erotic books yet there is a very solid story and mystery underneath. It is a complete stand alone, has wonderful supporting characters, is told from multiple POV's and should not be missed.
December 2, 2018
Simon Riley 17 years ago hopped on a freight train out of town and left Ellen Kent she had a bed-and-breakfast in Oregon and one day she gets a knock on the door and he’s back no idea that he was a famous photojournalists working in the war zones and she is so glad that he came back because she was so in love with them
Simon swore that he’ll never come back but he had to find out what happened to his uncles death and face what happens with her
When he comes back this book is a little slow sometimes but you find out that Brad‘s father was the one that killed Simons uncle and Simon’s mom Ray was just a sick person
I’m glad how the book ended with Ellen and Simon. As well as the other couple Brad and Cora
Book was explicit in parts that I was not expecting
Simon swore that he’ll never come back but he had to find out what happened to his uncles death and face what happens with her
When he comes back this book is a little slow sometimes but you find out that Brad‘s father was the one that killed Simons uncle and Simon’s mom Ray was just a sick person
I’m glad how the book ended with Ellen and Simon. As well as the other couple Brad and Cora
Book was explicit in parts that I was not expecting
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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