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ARTemis, Inc. #3
Take Me for a Ride
A stolen necklace, a hidden family treasure and the Russian mob collide in a sizzling-hot romance from the “witty, irresistible” imagination of Karen Kendall . . .
Art restorer Natalie Rosen is a true romantic, inspired by the world’s great art and literature. But nothing stirs her emotions like the legendary St. George necklace, which once belonged to Catherine the Great. The priceless heirloom was seized by the Nazis from Nat’s family in Old Russia, never to be seen again. When against all odds, the necklace turns up in her office for repairs before auction, it vanishes, along with the impulsive Natalie.
Hard-living recovery agent Eric McDougal is no gentleman, but then he’s never advertised himself as one. McDougal thrives on chasing women — and stolen art. Now he gets a dream assignment to do both, and thinks it’ll be a cinch. But he doesn’t count on his high-octane attraction to Natalie, or that she’ll unwittingly lead them both into a dangerous underworld where falling in love — and staying alive — are part of the game.
Art restorer Natalie Rosen is a true romantic, inspired by the world’s great art and literature. But nothing stirs her emotions like the legendary St. George necklace, which once belonged to Catherine the Great. The priceless heirloom was seized by the Nazis from Nat’s family in Old Russia, never to be seen again. When against all odds, the necklace turns up in her office for repairs before auction, it vanishes, along with the impulsive Natalie.
Hard-living recovery agent Eric McDougal is no gentleman, but then he’s never advertised himself as one. McDougal thrives on chasing women — and stolen art. Now he gets a dream assignment to do both, and thinks it’ll be a cinch. But he doesn’t count on his high-octane attraction to Natalie, or that she’ll unwittingly lead them both into a dangerous underworld where falling in love — and staying alive — are part of the game.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Karen Kendall
43 books36 followersKaren Kendall is the author of many disasters and nine romantic comedies. She grew up in Austin, Texas, and credits her early interest in writing to several teachers and her mother, a professor of comparative literature.
A graduate of Smith College, Karen studied the mysteries of modern and contemporary art before enrolling in a masters program in Museum Education, with the aim of teaching children about art. She worked for several museums and galleries before following her lifelong dream and completing a novel.
Karen is still a big fan of children's art, but she now writes full time and lives in Florida with her husband, Don, and attack-cat Boo, who turns up her nose at chicken and fish but adores asparagus and mint-chocolate-chip ice cream.
A graduate of Smith College, Karen studied the mysteries of modern and contemporary art before enrolling in a masters program in Museum Education, with the aim of teaching children about art. She worked for several museums and galleries before following her lifelong dream and completing a novel.
Karen is still a big fan of children's art, but she now writes full time and lives in Florida with her husband, Don, and attack-cat Boo, who turns up her nose at chicken and fish but adores asparagus and mint-chocolate-chip ice cream.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 16, 2009
Based on the blurb and cover, I expected a darker romantic suspense. That isn't what I got. Despite being lighter than I expected, it started out fairly well. Unfortunately it quickly went downhill.
Most of my issues stemmed from the fact that Natalie is completely too stupid to live. She had absolutely no common sense. Right from the beginning I was scratching my head at her antics. The way she refused to go to the police and blindly trusted a stranger she met in a bar was just the beginning of a whole book full of stupid moves on her part.
I liked Eric a bit better, but it annoyed me how he claimed to be such a lady chaser and yet we saw no evidence of it. He was portrayed as a strong, chivalrous man right from the beginning. If the author hadn't continually beat me over the head with his thoughts of how out of character it was for him to be so sweet I would never have known he was an asshole.
Most of my issues stemmed from the fact that Natalie is completely too stupid to live. She had absolutely no common sense. Right from the beginning I was scratching my head at her antics. The way she refused to go to the police and blindly trusted a stranger she met in a bar was just the beginning of a whole book full of stupid moves on her part.
I liked Eric a bit better, but it annoyed me how he claimed to be such a lady chaser and yet we saw no evidence of it. He was portrayed as a strong, chivalrous man right from the beginning. If the author hadn't continually beat me over the head with his thoughts of how out of character it was for him to be so sweet I would never have known he was an asshole.
November 5, 2009
Natalie Rosen is in a bit of a bind. She's an accidental jewelry thief. When she first sees the legendary St. George necklace, she immediately knows it was the one her grandma had always talked about and in a fit of temporary insanity, she swipes it from the repairs office she works at and takes the necklace to her grandmother.
What she never even thought about is that her grandma would be adamant in not giving it back to Nat so then everyone, including her boss, would think she stole it.
That's when Eric McDougal comes in. The company he works for, ARTemis, specializes in recovering stolen artand they have been hired by Natalie's boss to found the necklace. He thrives on getting back the pieces of arts he's paid to recover but he's also a big ladies man and when the opportunity to capture Natalie and the necklace presents themselves, he's definitely more than willing to go for it. However, he never counted on the undeniable attraction he would soon develops for Nat.
Because things are never easy, Natalie and Eric end up in the middle of deadly game. Some not-very-nice people want that necklace and they're willing to do anything to get it, including getting Eric and Nat out of the way - permanently.
Take Me for a ride is a complete thrill ride! Eric and Nat have an amazing chemistry that just comes right off the page and it was incredibly entertaining to read. The story has all the right elements - great plot that keeps the reader wanting more until the very end, super hot moments and a wonderful set of character. This is the first book by Kendall that I've ever read and I can honestly say that I will definitely be reading more!
What she never even thought about is that her grandma would be adamant in not giving it back to Nat so then everyone, including her boss, would think she stole it.
That's when Eric McDougal comes in. The company he works for, ARTemis, specializes in recovering stolen artand they have been hired by Natalie's boss to found the necklace. He thrives on getting back the pieces of arts he's paid to recover but he's also a big ladies man and when the opportunity to capture Natalie and the necklace presents themselves, he's definitely more than willing to go for it. However, he never counted on the undeniable attraction he would soon develops for Nat.
Because things are never easy, Natalie and Eric end up in the middle of deadly game. Some not-very-nice people want that necklace and they're willing to do anything to get it, including getting Eric and Nat out of the way - permanently.
Take Me for a ride is a complete thrill ride! Eric and Nat have an amazing chemistry that just comes right off the page and it was incredibly entertaining to read. The story has all the right elements - great plot that keeps the reader wanting more until the very end, super hot moments and a wonderful set of character. This is the first book by Kendall that I've ever read and I can honestly say that I will definitely be reading more!
June 21, 2011
Karen Kendall writes a male heroine like no other, always sexy, always believable. The 3rd book in this series is no difference and he is the ultimate bad boy. Plus I liked that this book was the darkest of the three, with references back to WWII and Nazi's and of course, good old fashioned art theft. A great summer read!
May 6, 2015
This is one of those books you simply can't put down once you stated it. It has everything a book needs to have an attractive plot, mistery, romance, erotica and action. It is like a movie, a thriller that keeps you glued until the end.
The recovery of a stolen jewell is the trace the story follows... is not an ordinary jewell.... I won't say more, just read it
The recovery of a stolen jewell is the trace the story follows... is not an ordinary jewell.... I won't say more, just read it
December 16, 2009
This was a fun book to read -- lots of laugh-out-loud dialogue between h/h. Plenty of suspense set in a storyline involving a stolen Russian necklace.
October 2, 2011
Still straining credulity, and still writing well enough that it’s not really a problem.
February 14, 2015
Very entertaining.
One of its kind when I read it years ago.
Loved it.
One of its kind when I read it years ago.
Loved it.
March 2, 2015
Great read!!!:)Hope there are more books to come in this series!!!:)
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews