Sun Kissed

Book Description

When Samantha Harrigan attends the local rodeo, she doesn't expect to wind up in jail. But that's what happens when she tries to stop a drunkard from abusing his horse. Tucker Coulter, a handsome local veterinarian, comes to her defense, and both of them are arrested. The charges are dropped, but Sam's troubles have only started...

Customer Reviews:

disappointing read, expected more.......2007-07-17

in buying this book, i thought that i would be getting the same quality of story as with her previous coulter books, namely phantom waltz, blue skies, sweet nothings and bright eyes. but this book fell far below my expectations, it was not funny, heartwrenching or even that interesting.

The story was slow paced and boring. nothing compelled me to finish this book other than the fact that i like to end a story once i start reading it. nothing interesting happened for almost half of the book, except for them getting arrested which was drawn out. all that could have taken up a fraction of the pages to leave room for a more developed storyline where the hero and heroine could interact more, as in her other books, which leads me to my next point.

i found it unbelievable that these two people could fall in love by the end of the book. it seems to just lay the ground work for a relationship that could occur later on. the two main characters seem to fall in love because you expect them to. it did not have the depth of emotion that you come to expect from her characters. to me, it seems that the most emotion shown in this book was her love for her horses. and her 'love' for tucker was pale in comparison, which is quite reasonable considering the short duration in which they actually knew eachother.

the plot was poor and anyone could see who the bad guys were. there was no suspense at all. usually i'm not expecting a deep suspense plot in romances, but the book needed more for that aspect of the plot to be interesting. it's like bad page filler.

this book is not the quality read that many expect from her previous books. it is lacking in romance, humour and deep emotion which is what readers expect in her books.

Not one of my favorites from Anderson, but still pretty good.......2007-06-16

As with every single Catherine Anderson book I've read, this one was excellently written and very engaging. I've not yet read a book of hers that didn't capture me and that I didn't thoroughly enjoy. She's a very vibrant and talented writer in the general romance genre.

Even though I enjoyed Sun Kissed a lot, I'll be honest and say that there was just something missing in it. I'm not quite sure what. The book was a quick read for me; it kept my attention and I couldn't wait to finish it, but it was lacking a certain spark that's existed in most of her other books. I think it had something to do with the balance between the characters & romance, and the plot of the story. Anderson usually has a very nice balance in her books. Sometimes they are more purely character and romance dramas, and other times, they're characters & romance with a mildly suspenseful plot added in. Either way, they're just nicely balanced, but in Sun Kissed, the suspense plot seemed to overwhelm the story.

I wouldn't go so far as to call the book a romantic suspense...it didn't have the frenetic pace of a suspense book, but the storyline of what was happening with Sam's horses was the purveying theme throughout the book. Pretty much every scene related to the horse situation and to me it just seemed to take away something from the book. It kept the characters and the romance from standing out like they do in most of Anderson's books. I would have liked a better balance there. I think it would have given the book more of the poignant sentimentality that you find in her other stories. Most of Anderson's books have been known to suck me in, chew me up and spit me out on the emotional-angst level, but Sun Kissed didn't. The potential was there, but the horse storyline just sucked up all the book's energy.

My only other gripe with the book is one I've had with Anderson before: that she doesn't utilize her past characters and storylines enough. Sun Kissed had guest appearances from a few of the past characters, but most of them were given only passing mentions, and that's just disappointing in such a family oriented series. I wanted more cameos from them and wanted to know more about how they were doing and what's been going on with them. Anderson created such special characters in her past books that they deserve a little more in her latter books.

Overall, it was sill a good/great book. I wasn't really disappointed in it, just found it lacking a bit of the magic I loved in her other stories. But I did like it. Tucker and Sam make a good couple. There wasn't a lot of physicality between them because the plot took up so much time and there was the religion issue, but oh well. I also enjoyed how, as she does in most books, Anderson drops in unexpected humor every so often. Some of the lines just crack me up. So if you're a reader of Anderson's books, especially the Coulter series, you'll probably like Sun Kissed.

Worst I've Read in Years.......2007-04-27

It's been a long time since I've bought a book that I just couldn't finish. "Sun Kissed" is so sickeningly sweet it's not even interesting. If I'd wanted a book on catholic laws and rules, I would have gone to a catholic book store. If all of this had been worked into a decent plot with more substantial characters, it probably would have worked better. However, it felt like Catherine Anderson's real purpose with this book was to convert her readers to the wonders of the catholic church. The plot, characterization and storyline were so insipid, it seemed they were secondary to her religious goal.

Save your money if you are looking for decent fiction.

Looking for a great romance? ... Keep Looking!.......2007-04-17

Catherine Anderson used to be a great author. If you're looking for romance, look to her earlier (early 90's) books.
If you're looking to attend a Catholic mass without leaving your home, then perhaps this book is for you.
If you're looking for romantic fiction, you can find MUCH MUCH better - elsewhere. Keep looking!
This book tells no real story, the characters are dumber than dirt, and there's no "romance" in this badly written tale. It's too bad, because there was such potential.
Bottom line: Learn from my mistake. Don't waste your time with this book.
It was so bad, I won't be reading any further books from CA again, ever.

Not the best CA I have read.......2007-03-23

Not a bad book. Definitely not a wall banger, but absolutely not my favorite Catherine Anderson. I was looking forward to the book about Tucker, but he was so different from the past. He was really a completely different person. And I would put this book in the inspirational category without a doubt. I'm not a Catholic and if I want to read about this subject I don't want it to be in a romance novel unless I know upfront that it is an inspirational novel. There are a few reasons for buying this book. First: you really love horses. Second: you are a devoted Catholic. Third: you love everything CA writes and you would even enjoy her grocery list.
If this is your first CA I would strongly advice you to try the rest of the Coulter/Kendrick series. The other books are so much better. I really loved My Sunshine.
I hope that CA reaches that level again in the books about Samantha's brothers. I will give it a try but maybe, just maybe the next one is also my last one.

Average customer rating:

Sunscreen required - 'Sun-Kissed' is smoking!
Fast, fun read
Should've Stopped After Two
A Really Good Book
Fair

Sun-kissed (Au Pairs)
Melissa de la Cruz
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1416917462

Book Description

Be careful or you'll get burned.

The three hottest au pairs in history are back, and this time they're ready to rule the Hamptons. Mara has all the VIPs in the hottest clubs hanging on her every word. Eliza's family is back from financial ruin; and she's got the platinum charge cards to prove it. Jacqui is newly single and ready for some steamy summer hook-ups. The girls seem to have it all this summer...but looks, as we all know, can be deceiving.

Mara's living every girl's dream: playing house with her boyfriend, Ryan Perry, on his parents' luxury yacht while writing a column about night-life in the Hamptons. With a press pass to every hot event, Mara's ready to hit the red carpet and scoop even the most seasoned journalists. If only she could get a pass from Ryan, who just wants her to stay home and cuddle.

Last summer's "No boys!" mantra is a distant memory for Jacqui. While the new au pair, Shannon, handles the Perry kids, Jacqui searches for some serious fun. And she doesn't have to look far: Three dot.com boy millionaires have moved in next door and are more than happy to compete for her affections. Thus Jacqui's new mantra is, "Why have just one when you can have them all?"

Eliza and Jeremy are in total relationship bliss. She's decided to take the next step with Jeremy and nothing's going to stop her this time. Unfortunately, what she thought would be a cakewalk internship for a famous fashion designer turns out to be more hours of hard labor than she, or her relationship, are ready for. Too bad Jeremy won't stop questioning her work ethic long enough for Eliza to get back in the mood.

The Au Pairs: Sun-kissed. Because it's soooo much more than just a job.

Customer Reviews:

Sunscreen required - 'Sun-Kissed' is smoking!.......2007-08-29

Two summers have passed, and the third is on the horizon. But this year, things are quite different from the past. Fashionista, Eliza Thompson, bookworm Mara Waters, and Brazilian bombshell, Jacqui Velasco have waved goodbye to high school, and are looking forward to the future. Unfortunately, while the future lands them all in the Hamptons, this summer, they'll be working in three very different professions that will leave them struggling to find time for one another.

For the past year, Eliza has found herself in relationship bliss with Jeremy Stone, a local Hamptons "gardener," of sorts, who just opened his own business. The two couldn't be happier, but Eliza is still uncomfortable with the fact that her V card is still intact; which is why she plans on handing it over to the wonderful Mr. Stone at the next available opportunity. But opportunities are scarce when you're interning for fashion-do-turned-fashion-don't designer, Sydney Minx, a veritable tyrant who seems to have lost his artistic light, and is searching to steal it from anyone possible. Eliza, with her over-the-top fashion sense, doesn't mind lending a helping hand; after all, she has just snagged a spot at Princeton, and can't wait to set off on the road to higher education in the fall, even if it means slaving a way for an untalented schmuck over the summer.

Mara is finally with the guy of her dreams - Ryan Perry. After two years of being hot-and-cold with the billionaire brother of her charges, this au pair finally sunk her claws into the boy of the hour. And, even though their relationship has been long distance over the past year, they've held tight to their blooming romance. This summer, however, Mara has ditched diaper duty, and is interning at HAMPTONS Magazine, where she'll have the chance to rub elbows with the rich and famous, and write about it in a society column. Even better, after a long day at work, Mara gets to come home to Ryan for snuggle sessions upon his father's yacht - The Malpractice - where the two are playing house for a full three months. The only problem is that Ryan keeps questioning Mara about her impending attendance at Dartmouth University - where Mara has been wait-listed - and Mara is forced to decide whether Columbia or Dartmouth is the proper place for a budding journalist, like herself, to be.

Jacqui, as always, is the epitome of hotness. Having broken up with her boyfriend, Kit Ashleigh, after a few months of bickering, Jacqui is once again single and looking for love. And this summer, she seems to have found it in the form of three billionaire hotties next-door. Smooth-talking Grant Kotack, sensitive Ben Defever, and the hilarious John Duffy are the creators of DormDebauchery.com, and renting out the Reynoldes' house next-door for the summer. While tossing money around like water, and hosting a slew of parties, all three guys are also vying for Jacqui's affections, and waiting for the chance to be called her "boyfriend." While the attention from the three guys is fabulous; Jacqui finds it hard to keep her mind in one place, especially due to the fact that NYU has just broken the news to her regarding the fact that she's missing mathematics and science credits, and will have to complete a fifth year of high school, dashing Jacqui's dreams of embarking on the college experience with her friends. And, to top things off, she's attempting to contend with the newest addition to the au pair line-up, a fifteen-year-old from New Jersey named Shannon Shin, who is utterly obsessed with Jacqui and her friends.

Together, the three girls will have to find a way to survive the summer, or be eaten by the monster known as the Hamptons.

I fell in love with Eliza, Mara, and Jacqui when Melissa de la Cruz first introduced them to the world in THE AU PAIRS, and, over the years, I find myself delving deeper and deeper into their privileged world. SUN-KISSED is no exception. Once more, de la Cruz paints the Hamptons in a light that will make readers want to escape there for a short vacation, then escape from the over-indulgent world for a reality check. Discarding Poppy and Sugar Perry in Los Angeles, where the two have become non-stop party girls, and leaving Kevin Perry in New York, so that Jacqui must contend with the oft-times step-monster, Anna Perry, all by her lonesome, de la Cruz introduces many new difficulties and problems that come along with growing up. Mara is still the most down-to-earth character, as she looks towards her future, and attempts to make the appropriate decisions that will suit her the best in her future. She has truly matured quite a bit since recovering from the "diva" syndrome that plagued her last summer in SKINNY-DIPPING. Eliza, on the other hand, has returned to her pampered princess ways. With her parents having reclaimed their fortune, Eliza is once again, riding high. However, she exceeded my expectations when she really began to get her hands dirty, and prove that, even though she's a spoiled little rich girl, she can work it like a pauper. Jacqui, while still an au pair for the Perry's, really shows a new side to herself, as well. Gone is the unsympathetic nature that she had towards the opposite sex in THE AU PAIRS, and, in its place, comes a kind, caring persona, who wants to spare people's feelings - no matter how hard she needs to work to do so. The introduction of Shannon Shin is entertaining. She talks a mile-a-minute, and seems like an obnoxious character at times, but she certainly redeems herself as the story continues, and leaves you hoping for her return in the next book. The presence of the children - Madison, William, Zoe, and Cody - is minimal within SUN-KISSED. However, that isn't too odd, considering all of them have grown up so much, and are displaying new traits and characteristics that they lacked in previous installments. Sunscreen required - SUN-KISSED is smoking!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

Fast, fun read.......2007-02-23

I was surprised to see some of the reviews here. I guess some people felt this book was not as good as its predecessors in the series. I thought it was maybe a little better, since the 3 girls were no longer working together. As a result, there were more varied storylines. It also seemed like Eliza, Jacqui and Mara had developed more distinct personalities. And each one had troubles that a teenage girl (or any woman, for that matter) could relate to.

Eliza gets hired as an assistant to a diva-esque designer, only to get fired for upstaging him. Mara dives into her job as a cub reporter with enthusiasm, but her relationship is on the line, because Ryan would rather surf than go to parties where Mara needs to interview celebrities. NYU turns Jacqui down because she didn't take enough math and science courses in Brazil.

The plot twists are entertaining and numerous, if not always believable. They helped make the book a compelling read. If you liked The Au Pairs and Skinny Dipping, I don't see why you wouldn't like this one.

Should've Stopped After Two.......2006-07-24

Ms. de la Cruz's writing was flawless as usual, but the content was a disappointment compared to the first two in the series. I know that you have to read these knowing they're unbelievable, but this one went too far in my opinion. Mara somehow manages to be one of the best writers for a magazine and gets published in a big name paper; three incredibly cute and successful guys all want to be with Jackie; and Eliza starts her own fashion line--complete with a show--and the press comes to see it. Oh, and the girls throw a huge party for Anna and Kevin so they won't get a divorce. And Jacqui uses Anna's ATM account without any trouble at all. It was just too much.

Also, whereas with the last two books I felt like there was a nice progression through time, this one was different. It seemed like the summer went by without anything really happening. Mara and Ryan live on a boat together. All Ryan does is surf and Mara puts out amazing articles. The only conflict was that Ryan wanted Mara to be with him more often. He ends up coming off as some weak pansy. Jacqui just goes on dates with the boys next door and has trouble deciding which one is for her. The kids are hardly mentioned. There's a new Au-Pair whose only purpose in the book is to hack into computers because she's a smart Asian. The series should not have been entitled Au-Pairs since the third book had nothing do with it.

My main problem with the book is that there were only the big events that were covered, so it felt like I only got to see what they were doing every three weeks or so. To be perfectly honest, there just wasn't much of a plot. It was still an entertaining read, but I was disappointed after the first two were so great. Ms. de la Cruz said she might write a fourth, so I'm hoping it will be better, and a little more believable--like the first two.

A Really Good Book.......2006-06-28

Well, It's really hard for me to say whether or not it was worse then the other two in the series (Au Pairs, Skinny-Dipping), but but it was amazingly intersting and fun to read.
The book is about three girls who come back for their third summer in the Hamptons. Jacqui is still an Au Pair for the Perry's, Eliza lands a job as an interen for a famous designer but ends up designing some clothes along the way, and Mara is staying with Ryan on his yacht! TOGETHER!
Of course, their are some problems that develop with the three girls. The Perry Parents are fighting and Mr. Perry files a divorce with Anna (his wife). This is not going to work for Jacqui because if she can't keep this job, then she can't go to school in New York!
Eliza gets fired from her designing job (You'll see why), gets a new job at a crappy lunch resturant, fights with her boyfriend Jeremy because he used to date her evil ex-coworker.
Mara's boyfriend Ryan doesn't understand how important Mara's job is to her. He wants her to stay home with him and have fun all day. Mara's extremly upset because she got accepted into a good school in New York that has a great writing program, but she finds out she acepted into Darthmouth, the school that Ryan goes to, and she doesnt want to tell him that she thinks that she should go to the school in New York (I think it's Columbia). Read to find out what happens!

Fair.......2006-06-07

I really enjoyed the other books in the series, if, as I had previously stated, you were ready to suspend your disbelief.

I found this one very hard to get through. I think the problem is that the storyline felt forced. The author was attempting to show that each of the au pairs had individual lives, while at the same time, trying to write stories showing them together.

It did not work. I think what worked so well in the first books was the fact that the au pairs were always basically together - since they all worked together. Now, the cuteness has been lost and I frankly found myself not caring about any of them.

I think its time to retire this series.

Sun-Kissed (Smart Novels: Vocabulary) (Smart Novels: Vocabulary)

Average customer rating:

PG 15
BEST BOOK EVER

Sun-Kissed (Smart Novels: Vocabulary) (Smart Novels: Vocabulary)
SparkNotes Editors
Manufacturer: SparkNotes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1411400801

Customer Reviews:

PG 15.......2006-12-16

Do not use these books to improve the vocab of younger kids, even those who might be taking the SAT for "talented student" search programs in 7th grade, unless you are OK with your kids reading in great detail about cute guys sticking their hands "down the pants" of girls who "claim not to be virgins." I don't think "virgin" is an SAT word, but I might be wrong. Apparently, one must write cliched scenes about virgins to intrigue high schoolers? Adults in these "SAT vocabulary novels" also "need a beer" from time to time. I'm not a prude, but I think the books should disclose their content accurately so I could choose what to present as educational material to my kids.
That all being said, the books do use a lot of good vocab words. Playboy might, as well, but I am not having my 12 year old read it.

BEST BOOK EVER.......2006-03-29

This book was awsome it had a great combination of love and drama it so kept me wanting to read more and on top of reading a great book I crammed in some SAT words i would defenetly recomened this book

Sun-Kissed Quilts and Crafts: Create Original Sun-Printed Designs on Fabric, Paper and More

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Sun-Kissed Quilts and Crafts: Create Original Sun-Printed Designs on Fabric, Paper and More
Barbara Baker , and Jeri Boe
Manufacturer: C&T Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1571202986

Book Description

•Use the power of the sun to create crafts.

Customer Reviews:

Boringly average.......2002-05-04

This book is like many others from the same publisher, a monochrome monotony of pictures of young men - although beautiful young men in well arranged posed photographs. I whish the publisher would have taken the opportunity to add some color pictures as well as different scenery or just a little pizzaz.

I can only say: Once you've seen one - you've seen them all.

"Sun, Sea, and Lots of Smiles".......2002-03-23

There's a lot of smiles on the models in this collection of male nude images and a lot of fun and fooling around for the camera. These photos were taken on a beautiful day at the beach. What beach, I don't know, but I assume it's in Germany, however, I may be wrong. The young men in this collection are good-looking and in great shape. You can tell they had a lot of fun posing for Michael Reh in all of these black & white images. This is another collection published by Bruno Gmunder, who has done a wonderful job in showcasing the current male nude photographers. On a cold winter's day these photos certainly make you want to be on the beach hanging out with these guys in the warm sun. Michael Reh started his photography career in 1998 photographing many celebrities & fashion models. This book brought a smile to my face, and I look forward to Michael's future work. Recommended!

very sensual photographs........2001-12-17

So beautiful and sensuous boys they are !
Well tanned and marvelously definitionned bodies they have !!
I recommend the book for everybody of both sexes to purchase , because the models are so attractive even for the eyes of heterosexual men.
I hope each family should have one copy of the book in the livingroom or in the guest room.

A bientot !

Average customer rating:
4 Titles By Catherine Anderson : Summer Breeze - Baby Love - Sun Kissed - Only By Your Touch
Catherine Anderson
Manufacturer: various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000X1GP50

Product Description

multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.

500 Mediterranean Recipes: A fabulous collection of classic sun-kissed recipes, from appetizers and side dishes to meat, fish and vegetarian options, all ... step-by-step with 500 color photographs

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500 Mediterranean Recipes: A fabulous collection of classic sun-kissed recipes, from appetizers and side dishes to meat, fish and vegetarian options, all ... step-by-step with 500 color photographs
Julia Canning
Manufacturer: Lorenz Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Book Description

Nothing evokes the sun-drenched pleasures of a Mediterranean holiday more than a leisurely meal made with authentic local ingredients. This stunning collection of 500 recipes draws on the Mediterranean's traditional fresh and healthy produce.

6 Books: 1- Hot And Bothered: Four Steamy Tales of Love and Seductionthat Will Leave You... / 2- Going Overboard / 3- Bet Me (Jennifer Cruise) / 4- Sun Kissed / 5- Tongue in Chic / 6- Sex, Lies, and Online Dating (Unboxed Set of Sexy Chic Lit Contemporary Romance Books)

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6 Books: 1- Hot And Bothered: Four Steamy Tales of Love and Seductionthat Will Leave You... / 2- Going Overboard / 3- Bet Me (Jennifer Cruise) / 4- Sun Kissed / 5- Tongue in Chic / 6- Sex, Lies, and Online Dating (Unboxed Set of Sexy Chic Lit Contemporary Romance Books)
Christina Skye , Christina Dodd , Jennifer Crusie , Jennifer Cruise , Catherine Anderson , Lori Foster , Laura Bradley , Victoria Marquez , Gayle Callen ( , and Rachel Gibson
Manufacturer: various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000W22OZ0

Product Description

6 Titles By Anderson - Simply Love - Seventh Heaven - Baby Love - Bright Eyes - My Sunshine - Sun Kissed

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6 Titles By Anderson - Simply Love - Seventh Heaven - Baby Love - Bright Eyes - My Sunshine - Sun Kissed
Catherine Anderson
Manufacturer: various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000RMSNR8

Product Description

Multiple books shipped as one item for your convenience. Save on Shipping/Handling charges.

7 PBs by Catherine Anderson: Only By Your Touch, Sun Kissed, Blue Skies +4 More

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7 PBs by Catherine Anderson: Only By Your Touch, Sun Kissed, Blue Skies +4 More
Catherine Anderson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UGIG2I

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