Helpful Score: 4
Zack, the hero, does not have the appeal that explains the "must have him" response he gets from Sky, the heroine. The sexual situations rely a great deal on 'risky' locations rather than emotional depth. Pretty predictable, I even guessed the color of her dress on the third date. The mystery/action plot was okay.
Helpful Score: 3
Erotic contemporary/suspense romance by Cheyenne McCray. Years ago, Zack left his one love, feeling that he wasn't good enough for her. Now, Zack is back in an official capacity, and is determined to fix his mistake. Sky has never forgotten Zack, and no man has ever measured up to him. Now, Zack is back, but Sky is afraid to risk love again. In addition to the romantic, drama, someone is cattle rustling from Sky's ranch, and Zack is part of the investigating team. The plot is good, the chemistry between Zack and Sky is good, the sex scenes are hot. Overall, the book is fair, if kind of predictable.
Helpful Score: 2
This story has been done so many times before, and much better. The characters were stagnant and predictable; the plot was predictable; everything about it was predictable to the point of boring (even the sex). The author took what could have been a quick story (in an anthology, perhaps), and made us slog through 269 pages - yuk.
Helpful Score: 2
Um yeah, I really did not like this book. This book contains the following....predictable/boring story, boring/uninteresting characters, okay sex scenes. This book series had pretty good ratings so I gave it a chance. Not for me I guess. I gave up half way thorough. Don't think I'll continue with the rest of this series.
Helpful Score: 1
I didn't think the characters had an overabundance of chemisty and the storyline was a bit predictable, but overall an entertaining read.
Helpful Score: 1
I can't really put my finger on what I didn't like about this book. Zack was a hot alpha male who wanted what he wanted and took it without mercy. Skylar was determined not to let Zack in again but while her brain was saying no, her body was saying yes. I just didn't feel anything for these two characters at all. The sex was hot but there really wasn't any depth to either Zack or Sky. I was not impressed.
Cheyenne McCray says in an author's note that this was a previous short story. I believe she should have left it alone as her improvements didn't improve anything at all. As a short story it might have been better since you don't really expect the characters to be as developed as in a full length book.
Cheyenne McCray says in an author's note that this was a previous short story. I believe she should have left it alone as her improvements didn't improve anything at all. As a short story it might have been better since you don't really expect the characters to be as developed as in a full length book.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a pretty good book. It was my first by this author and I liked her style. I liked the character Zack in the book and will definitely read more of her books.
Good read - more romantic suspense than some of her other stuff. Set near the Arizona/Mexican border the novel has an action plot - agents trying to break up the smuggling of drugs and people into the US and cattle being rustled back to Mexico. The relationship is a second chance romance - hero walked away from the girl ten years ago. Now he's walking back in and she alternately wants to slug him and kiss him. He knows which choice he prefers...
The author's note includes the information that a much shorter version of the story was released with a small press publisher but that it has been substantially rewritten. I'm pretty sure this was released by Ellora's Cave as Wild Fire and other the change in names didn't seem wildly different to me. But because I did recognize so much of it, perhaps I did not read carefully.
Armed and Dangerous
Zack (2008)
Luke (2009)
The author's note includes the information that a much shorter version of the story was released with a small press publisher but that it has been substantially rewritten. I'm pretty sure this was released by Ellora's Cave as Wild Fire and other the change in names didn't seem wildly different to me. But because I did recognize so much of it, perhaps I did not read carefully.
Armed and Dangerous
Zack (2008)
Luke (2009)
AKA Wild Series Book 1 Wildfire (ebook) with names changed
I didn't even finish this book it was 1-boring and 2-predictable and frankly after 40 pages, I just didn't care enough to even finish it. Wont' be reading the others in the series.
Not my favorite book by her. Kind of slow and not that interesting. Rushed to get through it.
Alpha cowboys, independent women, a little bit of danger - all the ingredients of a steamy novel but unfortunately it didn't deliver.
The relationship between Zach and Sky was lukewarm at best. Storylines where the lead male tries to win & control the girl through nothing but his "magic stick" and an abusive childhood sob story is pretty lame. Also all respect I have for Sky as the independent women is lost because all she can think of was Zach's "magic stick."
It wouldn't have been so bad if there was movement in the story in either their relationship or in finding out who were involved in theft. But it's pretty stagnant all the way through. I was forcing myself to read chapter after chapter of nothing happening other than Sky thinking "I want to get in his pants but I'll never give him my heart again" and Zach thinking "I have to prove to her I won't hurt her again so I'm going to use sex or lack of it to coerce her into accepting me again." More than halfway through the book I gave up and really didn't want to waste anymore time.
Big disappointment. Waste of time.
The relationship between Zach and Sky was lukewarm at best. Storylines where the lead male tries to win & control the girl through nothing but his "magic stick" and an abusive childhood sob story is pretty lame. Also all respect I have for Sky as the independent women is lost because all she can think of was Zach's "magic stick."
It wouldn't have been so bad if there was movement in the story in either their relationship or in finding out who were involved in theft. But it's pretty stagnant all the way through. I was forcing myself to read chapter after chapter of nothing happening other than Sky thinking "I want to get in his pants but I'll never give him my heart again" and Zach thinking "I have to prove to her I won't hurt her again so I'm going to use sex or lack of it to coerce her into accepting me again." More than halfway through the book I gave up and really didn't want to waste anymore time.
Big disappointment. Waste of time.
Thank-cosmo for the red-hot read!
Ten years ago Zack Hunter walked out of Sky McKenna's life. Now he is working as an ICE agent investigating a string of cattle thefts.
Sky never got over Zack but she refuses to trust him again with her heart. Zack is pretty determined. He realizes he made a big mistake and will do anything for Sky to give him another chance.
While trying to convince Sky of his love Zack also has to try to find the cattle rustlers. This was a sexy, suspenseful story. Zack was a little overbearing at times but I just fell in love with him. The sexual chemistry between Zack and Sky is hot.
Sky never got over Zack but she refuses to trust him again with her heart. Zack is pretty determined. He realizes he made a big mistake and will do anything for Sky to give him another chance.
While trying to convince Sky of his love Zack also has to try to find the cattle rustlers. This was a sexy, suspenseful story. Zack was a little overbearing at times but I just fell in love with him. The sexual chemistry between Zack and Sky is hot.
Zack Hunter was known as a 'bad boy', but Skylar loved him with everything she had. But he walked away from her 10 years ago.
As an ICE agent, he has returned to his hometown to reclaim Sky as his own .. and to round up some cattle rustlers who are shipping prime beef into Mexico .... along with the possibility of drugs.
An informant has stated that someone close to the investigation is involved ....and it's someone Sky knows.
Zack is doing what he can to find the people responsible and to get Sky to trust him again.
The heart loves who the heart loves and Sky has never stopped loving Zack ... but she's hesitant to give her heart to him again. But it feels so good to be held by him again. He's not the same boy he was all those years ago ...he's a MAN ... and one she can't keep her hands off of.
Lots of romance and graphic intimacy. Zack is the guy all of us ladies wish we had and Skylar is the woman we envy. Lots of energy and action and plenty of characters to play "who's the bad guy'.
I enjoy Cheyenne McCray's books .... a departure from what I normally read ...but a nice change. I like a little spice. The author does a good job in balancing the sex scenes with the suspense. Her characters are well-rounded and there's always hints on why they are the way they are. It makes them much more believable.
As long as the author continues to write, I will continue to read.
As an ICE agent, he has returned to his hometown to reclaim Sky as his own .. and to round up some cattle rustlers who are shipping prime beef into Mexico .... along with the possibility of drugs.
An informant has stated that someone close to the investigation is involved ....and it's someone Sky knows.
Zack is doing what he can to find the people responsible and to get Sky to trust him again.
The heart loves who the heart loves and Sky has never stopped loving Zack ... but she's hesitant to give her heart to him again. But it feels so good to be held by him again. He's not the same boy he was all those years ago ...he's a MAN ... and one she can't keep her hands off of.
Lots of romance and graphic intimacy. Zack is the guy all of us ladies wish we had and Skylar is the woman we envy. Lots of energy and action and plenty of characters to play "who's the bad guy'.
I enjoy Cheyenne McCray's books .... a departure from what I normally read ...but a nice change. I like a little spice. The author does a good job in balancing the sex scenes with the suspense. Her characters are well-rounded and there's always hints on why they are the way they are. It makes them much more believable.
As long as the author continues to write, I will continue to read.
great read.
This is the first in the Armed and Dangerous Series. And I can't wait to read the rest. Loved this book and the characters. Heroine is Sky(lar) McKenna and hero is Zack Hunter. Short storyline is that Zack left Sky (he's the only one who calls her is nickname) 10 years ago, but has never stopped loving her. He returns to start a relationship again with her. Sky also has never gotten over him and is very resistant to enter into one with him scared that he'll break her heart again.
Sky also has the problem of her cattle being rustled. Zack, an agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is also invstigating the case.
There are a host of characters in the book who could be involved with rustling from Sky's ranch: foreman Luke Rider-who is the hero in the second book in the series; Wade Larson, Sky's neighbor and ex-lover; and the bad guy of the following two books, Francisco Guerrero. The author does a great job of leading the reader in different directions as to who is actually rustling. I thought it was Wade Larson, but no.
Sex scenes are very hot and erotic. Muy Caliente. I would rate this 4.5 chili peppers. While the sex scene with the resturant is hot, I thought the first one between Sky and Zack was the hottest. Was also interesting that no condom was used, but one was used in the other sex scenes. And it was not discussed.
Really like how the author uses withholding sex. Not the female with holding from the male, but male withholding from female. Zack keeps teasing Sky until she agrees to enter into a relationship.
I want to know more about Cabe, Zack's other brother. Other characters are introduced such as Clay, the county sherrif, Rylie, Sky's best friend.
On page 28 and 51 the phrase of "trophy being used to ward off Zack," is used by both the Sky and Zack. I had a hard time accepting both the characters would use this phrasing.
While there is alot of unresolved feelings between Sky and Zack, I did not read a lot of angst. I thought the emotions were handled well.
A great start to what appears to be great series.
Sky also has the problem of her cattle being rustled. Zack, an agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, is also invstigating the case.
There are a host of characters in the book who could be involved with rustling from Sky's ranch: foreman Luke Rider-who is the hero in the second book in the series; Wade Larson, Sky's neighbor and ex-lover; and the bad guy of the following two books, Francisco Guerrero. The author does a great job of leading the reader in different directions as to who is actually rustling. I thought it was Wade Larson, but no.
Sex scenes are very hot and erotic. Muy Caliente. I would rate this 4.5 chili peppers. While the sex scene with the resturant is hot, I thought the first one between Sky and Zack was the hottest. Was also interesting that no condom was used, but one was used in the other sex scenes. And it was not discussed.
Really like how the author uses withholding sex. Not the female with holding from the male, but male withholding from female. Zack keeps teasing Sky until she agrees to enter into a relationship.
I want to know more about Cabe, Zack's other brother. Other characters are introduced such as Clay, the county sherrif, Rylie, Sky's best friend.
On page 28 and 51 the phrase of "trophy being used to ward off Zack," is used by both the Sky and Zack. I had a hard time accepting both the characters would use this phrasing.
While there is alot of unresolved feelings between Sky and Zack, I did not read a lot of angst. I thought the emotions were handled well.
A great start to what appears to be great series.
