Talk Me Down has the dubious honour of getting the worst review I’ve ever seen in Romantic Times Magazine. Romantic Times has a reputation for awarding 4 and 4.5 star reviews to every crappy book to grace the shelves, so a 2 star review really made me take notice.
Dahl’s novel is all about sex, with a few pages dedicated to actual suspense involving a stalker. The heroine acts like a dog in heat and rarely shows any sign of intelligence, while the hero lacks the self-control that is characteristic of his profession. Despite these flaws, once the reader gets three-quarters of the way through the book, providing they get that far, the suspense kicks in and the characters become something other than sex- crazed lovers.
After I’d stopped laughing at the image of the bitch in heat, I googled a few more reviews to see what other readers thought. Opinions seemed to be bipolar. Some people loved the book. Others were horrified by it. Any book which creates such diversity of opinion intrigues me. So when I saw it reduced on Amazon, I decided to take a chance.
Dahl puts a new spin on the old premise of the heroine moving back to her home town after several years in the big city and reconnecting with her high school flame.
Molly Jenkins returns to tiny Tumble Creek, Colorado, with a mysterious secret: her job as a bestselling erotic fiction writer. She’s on the run from a crazy ex-boyfriend, her muse has run dry, and she still has an unrequited crush on her brother’s best friend.
Ben Lawson is now the chief of police. He hasn’t seen Molly in almost a decade and is not at all sure he wants to see her now. An intensely private person, he despises gossip, and Molly attracts attention wherever she goes. Despite his initial reluctance, there’s an undeniable chemistry between them, and a shared history. It doesn’t talk Molly long to seduce Ben and set the tongues of Tumble Creek wagging.
Meanwhile, Molly’s crazy ex is stalking her…or is he? What will the good residents of Tumble Creek have to say when they discover Molly’s profession? And how will Ben react when he discovers he provided the inspiration behind her debut erotic novel?
I really enjoyed this book! It’s well-written and several scenes made me laugh out loud -for all the right reasons.
Frankly, I’m baffled at the outrage. There’s probably a bit more sex here than in the average mainstream romance, but not that much. I get the impression, though, that the main objection is Molly’s unabashed sexual confidence. Accepted in chick lit, this seems to be frowned upon in the straight romance genre, where heroines are required to have some sort of sexual hang-up which is miraculously cured by finding Mr. Right.
I found Molly refreshing. She knows what she wants and has a good time getting it, and not just sexually. Ben is the strong silent type, and a perfect foil for her vivacity. I thought they made a convincing couple and I believed in their Happy Ever After.
Unfortunately, the weak suspense plot detracted from the whole. It could have been left out entirely and the book would have been stronger for it.
All in all, this was a fun read. I plan to read more of Victoria Dahl’s novels. Grade: B
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