Firstborns do it better
“Out of Control” by Shannon McKenna
So little tidbit for you guys out there. La Lola is the eldest of 4 kids. Which I think is a fair explanation for my forceful personality and take-charge attitude, although Sheridan and Mimi insist a likelier explanation is that I made a pact with Satan. (All lies!) Hence, I like books with the eldest sibling as hero/ heroine, because I can identify with the whole “listen to me and do what I say or I’ll turn you into a splotch†approach to fraternal bonding. But swear to God, my siblings adore me!
I was all prepared to adore Davy McCloud’s book, because first, he’s a Shannon McKenna hero, and that lady knows what I like in a man. Secondly, he’s the eldest of 4, just like me! We were meant to be together. We can bond over how our siblings never know what’s good for them and how if we were just handed the keys to the world, there’d be no more war, famine, Osama, global warming and low-fat granola bars. Thirdly, he can cook! And I like to eat! So there you have it. We’re a better match than Mattel and China.
But alas, I was quite disappointed with Davy’s book. Primarily because I thought the heroine, Margot, was the dumbest thing to crawl up the pipe since that dwarf who attached a vacuum to his dick. (Google if you don’t believe me. There might be pictures.)
Margot’s on the run with a new identity, because her boyfriend’s turned up mysteriously dead, and the police suspect her of being involved. Her boyfriend was killed by some secret cult/ mind control shadowy organization. Is it just me, but do these weirdass evil organizations seem to pop up in the McClouds’ world like propagating jack-rabbits? She ends up teaching aerobics at a centre next to Davy’s gym, and catches the eye of the big man himself.
Davy McCloud is a master of kung fu/ karate (sorry I can’t quite remember). There’s a fair bit of arcane martial arts going down, which seemed a bit more “Mr Miyagi†than anything else. But Davy’s hot, so I’ll allow it. After all, Davy can be a crouching tiger if he’ll promise to show me his hidden dragon. *ducks to avoid tomatoes being thrown at her by Sheridan and Mimi*
He thinks that Margot is hot, but is hesitant to get involved because he does a background check on her (you can never be too careful!) and discovers that her identity is not what she claims. So when Margot turns up at his gym, asking for his help because there’s a stalker after her, he’s not exactly forthcoming, telling her that he’s no longer in the PI business. But he changes his mind, and badgers Margot into having dinner with him. Actually, he just shows up with a big bag of Mexican food and bribes Margot and her dog Mikey into having dinner with him.
Davy takes care of Margot, and is always trying to keep her fed and happy but Margot can’t bring herself to trust him. I can understand that, because having your ex-boyfriend turn up dead hanging from the ceiling and stuck full of needles can make you question your taste in men. But after Davy has proved time and time again that he is dependable and trustworthy, Margot still doesn’t accept it.
She keeps arguing that Davy has control issues. What control issues? Knowing that if you want a job done right if you have to do it yourself and arranging your underwear drawer according to the amount of lace on each piece does NOT mean that you have control issues. Oh sorry… bit of self-projection there.
And finally, Margot flips out and thinks that based on one phone call which she has misconstrued, that Davy’s actually the stalker who’s after her. She runs away, fleeing the safety of his strong, muscular arms, and winds up being attacked by the real stalker. Davy catches up and rescues her (much to La Lola’s disappointment, because such stupidity surely deserves its own unique reward). After a bit of hand-wringing on Margot’s part, Davy forgives her. Far too easily to my way of thinking. I may have a heart of stone, but I truly believe that I would not be able to share a pillow with someone who thought that I was cuckoo enough to be a stalker and stick another person full of needles. (Dude, if I were that crazy, I’d be smothering you with the pillow instead, ever think about that?) Insulting does not even begin to cover this.
So sadly, I finished the book, having liked Davy McCloud and all, but not being able to overcome the tragic dimness of Margot. Let’s hope that Sheridan has more luck with Sean McCloud (i.e youngest son of the McCloud pool of testosterone). And again, I’m positive my siblings adore me.
Pretty sure anyway.
What’s not to love?
Angielicious said,
May 10, 2008 @ 3:36 am
OK. Just finished this one and while it wasn’t the best it was good (Seth’s story is still the best IMO). I’m skipping Sean’s story and will read ibefore Kevin’s story comes out (2009?). Shannon McKenna’s website states that she’s writing Tamara’s story first and then Kevin’s. Tamara’s should be very interesting. I’ve started Extreme Danger (Nick’s story) and am already LOVING the first few chapters!!!
La Lola said,
May 10, 2008 @ 1:32 pm
Ooh Kevin and Tamara? That should be interesting! I can hear Sheridan from my room shrieking “I knew Kevin was alive!” Extreme Danger is HOT Angielicious. Nick is TO DIE FOR. Maybe literally for Becca.