EXTREME BACHELOR

Author: Julia London ISBN: 0425209199 5/2006 CONTEMPORARY Publisher: BERKLEY

A former CIA operative, Michael Raney loves that his new gig as stunt coordinator combines the two things he likes most in this world—extreme sports and lots of beautiful actresses. He has earned his reputation as the Extreme Bachelor honestly...but when one of the actresses on a new feature film turns out to be the only woman he could never forget, Hollywood’s notorious heartbreaker will have to mend his ways and risk it all to win the one who got away. Leah Klein hasn’t seen Michael in five years, but she hasn’t forgotten a single moment she spent with him. His entreaty to return to what they had is tempting—but his extreme past not only tarnishes what could be a new beginning, it’s also dangerous...extremely dangerous...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

How can you not love Julia London? First and foremost, I'm a fan of historicals, but Julia London is one author I don't hesitate to read regardless of the time period. I can count on her to give me a good story. The guys are always hot and would be welcome to hang their hat here any day. The ladies are the sort I can relate to almost entirely. This author also has a knack for combining just the right amount of humor, seriousness and hot 'character interaction'. I look forward to reading her books.

EXTREME BACHELOR is no exception. Michael Raney is the guy we all dream of. A guy whose looks say "God's Gift to Women", and yet he doesn't seem to realize it.

Michael knows how to use his charm, but is surprised by its success. A man who just loves women, and loves that they are seem to love him. He tells himself he couldn't ask for more. In truth, it hardly matters, deep down, because Michael blew it with the one woman he ever truly loved. He left her in a bad way—and knows it—but convinces himself it was the right thing. When fate puts her in his path a second time, Michael isn't about to let her out of his life again.

Leah Klein had everything going for her—her acting career was taking off, opportunities were banging on her door and her boyfriend completed everything. She was sure Michael was about to pop the question and shattered when he dumped her out of the blue. Leah is devastated and disillusioned, and anything that was going for her went on without her. Finally getting it together, she heads to Hollywood to fulfill her destiny.

Barely getting by, she feel's fate is playing a cruel joke when Michael is once again thrown into her life. Leah is determined to remember the lesson learned five years earlier. Easier said than done. Michael stirs feelings that haven't been felt since their involvement. Blindly giving into these feelings hadn't turned out so well the first time around. Leah isn't sure she would survive a second time.

One of the things I liked about this story is how easy it was to relate to the characters. I couldn't help feeling bad for Michael. He was a fool and he knows it. At the same time, I wanted to say, "You brought this on yourself, buddy." Still, he has some valid points and explanations for what happened.

Leah's heartbreak is felt so easily. She is not about to make it easy for Michael. If Leah were my friend, I'd be telling her she's out of her mind to even consider giving him a second chance. But I wanted to say, "Aw, cut the guy a break." In retrospect, his explanations answer the many questions she has—once she believes their truth. In reality, nothing Michael can say changes the trauma he caused to her heart and life.

The panic and frustration is evident for both. At the same time, it was fun seeing the struggle between these two.

Leah is quite creative in her ability to throw Michael's efforts back in his face, usually in a very public and humbling manner. Gotta love how hard she makes it.

Michael's determination is a strong as his own creativity. His best weapon is his memory. He uses it to get to get under Leah's skin and prove how much she is under his. Michael also learns a lot about himself along the way.

The scenes are alternately humorous and sexy. Just when Michael seems to make headway, something happens to make him look bad. From his end, it's not difficult to feel bad for him. From Leah's, it's easy to feel her outrage. However, when things turn to his advantage, it is to both his and Leah's. Let's just say we should all be so lucky—Ooh, baby!

I especially enjoyed the dilemma they find themselves in near the end. Without giving it away, it's quite precarious, should be especially terrifying for Leah, but spins into a rather comedic scene. I couldn't help but be amused.

As in most novels, the settings and events are what few of us would find ourselves in. However, we could be any of the characters here. For me, this was a good read and I would not hesitate to recommend it.

Sue Cloud