Return to Me

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 wait to go find more of McKenna's stories.

This is the fourth or fifth book I've read by Shannon Mckenna. I've loved them all, and this one is just as good as the others. Basically, hot bad boy Simon is back in town to investigate his uncle's mysterious death, and he hooks up with the girl whose heart he broke 17 years ago. There's a little mystery and some danger, and Simon does some struggling with his inner demons, but it's mostly love story and love scenes and overall, pretty convincing. And very, very hot. Simon is a bit different from the author's other heros - not as needy, and he doesn't whine as much. He does speak in slightly too flowery prose for a studly bad boy on occasion, but it's not as bad as some of the out-of-character moments in the author's other books. There is the usual bad guy stalker plot going on in the background, but for once it stays in the background, which was kind of a relief since the hot love scenes were more interesting anyway. And although the bad guy is yet another whacko serial killer, he's ever so slightly more believable than the author's other whacko serial killers, who are always a bit too evil to be taken seriously. Another plus for this book is that there is less conversation in the midst of the love scenes - this author has a tendency to have characters speak in whole paragraphs while making love, which is always a little annoying. It's more toned down, here. To sum up, I couldn't put it down and read the whole thing in about two days.

This story to date has been my favorite by Ms. McKenna and I've read all of her stories. We meet a whole new group of people and the storyline is entertaining. So if you have read all of her full length novels your in for a treat. This book is very different from "Behind Closed Doors" and "Standing In The Shadows". This is more of a downhome story with the characters all having had a past history together. They grew up experienced good times/bad times...you get the picture. There is a slight suspense storyline in the background. The main focus of this story is the renewed relationship between the towns "bad boy" Simon Riley and the "good-girl" Ellen Kent.The chemistry between Ellen and Simon is both sweet and explosive. It was very entertaining to read how these two very different people managed to face that which scared them the most and how they each could be the strength for the other. While at the same time trying to figure out if Simon's uncle killed himself or was murdered.This was a fast paced read that kept moving. There were no slow spots to drag down the story. Secondary characters and flashbacks help with the background that was missing. Ms. McKenna is a truly gifted storyteller and one that I highly recommend!

Return To Me by Shannon McKenna has all the hallmarks you love in her books' passion, laughter and suspense.Simon Riley is returning home to tend to his late uncles estate. When he was just a young man, he couldn't get out of town fast enough. Everyone had labeled him a bad seed, all but Ellen Kent.Ellen thought she had put her young love for Simon behind her. She is engaged to another man and running a successful inn. But seeing Simon again has made her question her true feelings.As Simon works his way back into her life, danger is lurking in the wings. Simon's uncles death was ruled a suicide but things are not adding up and someone wants to keep the truth quiet.Ellen and Simon have an attraction that is incredible. Each time they connect is more erotic and passionate then the last. Shannon McKenna tells a tale that will make you reach for the fan to cool off. She is an auto-buy for me and will be looking forward to her next book.

By now you are probably aware of Ms. Mckenna's incendiary style of writing from her first two novels Behind Closed Doors and Standing In The Shadows.It's a definative style that you will either love or hate. In Return To Me Ms.Mckenna keeps tradition and the heat well and truly turned up. The mystery/plot in this one is not as strong as her previous novels but for pure erotic escapism you can't buy a better read. The characters are appealing and sexy and my only quibble would be the naivete displayed by the heroine at the age of 32, it was slightly unreal in places ~ namely with her fiance at the start of the story.However, overall it was a really enjoyable and sexy read and I look forward to the next one.