RITA Reader Challenge Review

RITA Reader Challenge Review: A Cop in Her Stocking by Ann Voss Peterson

C-

Title: A Cop in Her Stocking
Author: Ann Voss Peterson
Publication Info: Harlequin 2010
ISBN: 9780373695058
Genre: Romantic Suspense

RITA®, and the RITA statuette are service marks of Romance Writers of America, Inc.Linsalot challenged herself to read one book from every category for the RITA® Reader Challenge. She’s a badass, that Linsalot.

Book CoverPlot Summary: Tyler Davis comes from a long line of cops, and he’s learned the hard way that police work and families don’t mix. But his solitary life is about to be called into question with the return of Megan Garvey, the woman he once loved…and lost.

Now, Megan is determined to keep her emotional distance— though it’s clear that she and the rugged lawman still share something special. But a predator has come to Lake Hubbard for Christmas. And when Megan’s young son disappears, there’s only one cop to believe in. This holiday, Ty has been given a second chance to be the hero Megan needs…if he can bring her boy home alive.

I did not like this book.  The only reason it’s a C- and not a D is because the suspense plot had a somewhat unpredictable twist which I enjoyed.

The characters were not only one dimensional but had a bad case of internal monologue diarrhea.  Their internal monologues go on for whole pages and it’s always the same thing (She has trust issues and MUST do everything herself buts she so lonely and tired; He screwed up and wants her back but she’ll never trust him and he’s so sad blah blah blah).  There are much better ways to build both characters and romantic tension.

Then there’s the fact that these internal monologues are running while they are in the midst of doing criminal acts in order to save her kidnapped 3 year old son.  All the internal angst just seemed out of place and really detracted from the suspense story.

The real icing on the cake for me though was the fact that the boy gets kidnapped in the first place because our hero (a cop) was too busy staring at the lingerie department and imagining sexy times with the heroine to keep on eye on her son.  Not exactly my idea of a leading man.


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Comments are Closed

  1. Danielle says:

    Wow, the hero sounds like a real winner. :/

    Also, is it just me or does the title not seem to really fit the storyline? I’d expect a cop she hadn’t met before based on a title like that. The fact that they used to know each other makes me feel like this is a kind of re-gifting situation… probably because he’s not really worth keeping.

  2. Abby says:

    I really hate it when the hero is the source of the problem.  It is such a pet peeve of mine, especially when it goes so far beyond a Big Mis.  Her SON was kidnapped!  I bet she totally forgives him too.  Gah.

  3. Alley says:

    I just made a horrible honking laugh at the hero fantasizing about Sexy Times while the heroine’s kid is KIDNAPPED.  Hey, you know who I don’t want to involve in my life or my kid’s?  The the guy whose negligence led to my kid being KIDNAPPED.

  4. keri says:

    I know that romance titles can be cheesy, especially these Harlequin series ones, but oh my wow “A Cop in her Stocking” takes the cake for this month. It sounds like something decidedly unpleasant, like say an acorn hat stuck inside your stockings and even inside your shoe. (I’m not the only one who still uses the word “stocking” or “stockings” when referring to legwear more substantial than pantyhose and thicker than tights, right?)

    Somehow, I’m not super surprised that the Cop in question isn’t such a great guy, according to this review.

  5. Linsalot says:

    Not only does she forgive him, she forgives him within SECONDS of finding out her son is missing.  Like pretty much the first thing out of her mouth is “it’s not your fault” and this is a man she had dated years ago but hadn’t seen for years. Ughh so many angry making things about this book.

  6. Lori says:

    I originally read the title as “A Cop in her Stockings” and was picturing a cross-dressing storyline. That’s not my thing, but if I had to chose between a cross-dresser who paid attention and a guy who let my kid get kidnapped I’d go with opening my heart and my lingerie drawer.

  7. cleo says:

    Great review of a not so great sounding book.  I also snort laughed when I read about the hero fantasizing while the heroine’s son is kidnapped – and I know if I actually read the book, I’d be yelling instead of laughing.  So thank you Linsalot for saving me from an annoying read and making me laugh.

  8. crow girl says:

    The real icing on the cake for me though was the fact that the boy gets kidnapped in the first place because our hero (a cop) was too busy staring at the lingerie department and imagining sexy times with the heroine to keep on eye on her son.  Not exactly my idea of a leading man.

    Ugh.  This is why I can’t read romantic suspense.

    Too often the “hero” is a cop / PI / bodyguard hired to help or protect the heroine, but because he can’t stop thinking about how he’ll get his hoo-hoo-dilly into her cha-cha, she ends up getting beaten / kidnapped / terrorized / etc.

    Maybe I’ve just read a bunch of the BAD variety?  :/

  9. Diva says:

    So the “hero” was drooling over lacy panties and let her kid get abducted? Ew. Not my idea of a prince, sorry.

    There is just no way I could accept the heroine thinking of him romantically after his careless disregard for her child’s safety. No. Way.

    Like that’s my romance novel fantasy? Some lazy dick who ignores my child?

  10. LizW65 says:

    “Dumb cops, dumb cops,
    Watcha gonna do?
    Watcha gonna do when they come for you?…”

    Seriously, this is why a lot of romantic suspense doesn’t do it for me—so many of the characters are just too stupid to live.  I’m just finishing up a Georgette Heyer(!) mystery in which the plot requires everyone, including/especially the undercover cop, to act like a complete idiot.  It was her first, and it shows.
    This sounds worse.  Thanks for taking one for the team!

  11. Noite says:

    Why would she let someone she hadn’t really seen or spent time with in years babysit her three year old son anyway?  That seems like a poor choice for childcare…

  12. Linsalot says:

    The reason why she lets her son go with him is because the police department has a program where a cop takes a kid shopping. Now the program has actually ended and he has lied about it to her, because he wants to give her a good christmas.  His lie is actually what she gets most angry about in this book and not the fact that he lost her son.  So many things about this book made me angry I could have written so much more about it.

  13. Cathy B says:

    The reason why she lets her son go with him is because the police department has a program where a cop takes a kid shopping. Now the program has actually ended and he has lied about it to her, because he wants to give her a good christmas.  His lie is actually what she gets most angry about in this book and not the fact that he lost her son.  So many things about this book made me angry I could have written so much more about it.

    So he’s actually on duty and manages to lose her child anyway?
    Wow. That one’s a real prize. Don’t let him get away, sistah.

    spamword: minutes 47 – I sure wouldn’t spend 47 minutes deciding I didn’t need a man like that anywhere near me or my children.

  14. Emily says:

    Where is the father of the child?
    I assume it isn’t the police officer.
    He’s probably dead. But if he isn’t. maybe he can sue for custody.

  15. AgTigress says:

    I’m just finishing up a Georgette Heyer(!) mystery in which the plot requires everyone, including/especially the undercover cop, to act like a complete idiot.  It was her first, and it shows.

    Footsteps in the Dark (1932), right?  No, definitely not one of her best.  It wasn’t by any means her first novel, of course, only her first contemporary mystery. 
    🙂

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