After surviving the rigors of writing a psychology dissertation, the author known as Jennifer Lane has happily turned to writing fiction. She still maintains her psychology practice in Ohio, but please rest assured that she's not psychoanalyzing you right now. The tales of healing and resilience from her career have inspired her to write her own stories: The Conduct Series. With Good Behavior began with two cons trying to make it on the outside: running from the Mafia, joking about sexy vegetables, and just maybe falling in love. Bad Behavior, the next in line, reveals that it's not so easy to escape the past, but the plucky parolees once again strive to persevere. Jen is currently at work on the third and final installment of the series: On Best Behavior. She's found that whether writing or reading, she loves stories that make her laugh and cry. In her spare time Jen enjoys competitive swimming, attending book club, and hanging out with her sisters and their families in Chicago.
Author Information:
Jennifer Lane, Author
Romantic Suspense featuring Healing and Redemption
With Good Behavior (The Conduct Series #1) released July, 2010
Bad Behavior (The Conduct Series #2) released March, 2011
Summer Breeze Anthology (short story Swim Recruit) released July, 2011
Website: http://jenniferlanebooks.com
Twitter: JenLanebooks
Facebook: Jennifer Lane, The Conduct Series
Goodreads: Jennifer Lane
Book Blurb:
In a world gripped by organized crime, family dysfunction, and dim hopes of redemption, can true love persevere? For Sophie Taylor, a beautiful psychologist who lost everything when she violated an ethical boundary, and Grant Madsen, a handsome naval officer who sacrificed everything to protect a loved one, finding that love may carry an unbearable cost.
Starting their lives over in Chicago, both are fighting influences from their family and running as fast as they can to escape the past. When their paths cross outside the parole officer's door, the attraction is instantaneous. But a hidden connection may not only shatter their fledgling love, but prove deadly to them both.
Starting their lives over in Chicago, both are fighting influences from their family and running as fast as they can to escape the past. When their paths cross outside the parole officer's door, the attraction is instantaneous. But a hidden connection may not only shatter their fledgling love, but prove deadly to them both.
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| Fantastic Book |
With Good Behavior by Jennifer Lane is a very good contemporary romance because it offers such an original premise for a love story which takes place in Chicago. Emotion grips you for the entire length of the story. And you cannot help but swoon, laugh, cry, gasp, etc. as you read.
Sophie Taylor and Grant Madsen meet in front of Parole Officer Jerry Stone’s office where they must check in every Wednesday. Yes, this is a love story about convicted felons. But, do not let that fact detract you from picking up this book and reading it. This story is about so much more than their felonious situation.
There is an instantaneous attraction when they meet for the first time outside their PO's office. Unbeknownst to them their lives are deeply connected. This story offers horrific and emotionally distressing flashbacks from each of the main characters, especially from Grant. There are mob connections and abuse in their pasts that color the world they currently live in which was beyond my comprehension; but, Ms. Lane is able to illicit the the true nature of how the past can color your perceptions of the world around you. Even if you do not have the emotional reference, she is able to convey the seriousness of the tragedies that have occurred in their lives.
There is an instantaneous attraction when they meet for the first time outside their PO's office. Unbeknownst to them their lives are deeply connected. This story offers horrific and emotionally distressing flashbacks from each of the main characters, especially from Grant. There are mob connections and abuse in their pasts that color the world they currently live in which was beyond my comprehension; but, Ms. Lane is able to illicit the the true nature of how the past can color your perceptions of the world around you. Even if you do not have the emotional reference, she is able to convey the seriousness of the tragedies that have occurred in their lives.
They are now trying to make up for their past indiscretions that caused them to sacrifice everything. The price they pay is steep and has the reader’s heart twisted up in emotion because these are two very good people whose lives have been over taken by circumstance. Finding each other, guides both Sophie and Grant on a path of emotional healing. But, the process of healing and attempting to rebuild their lives, is both cathartic and emotionally exacting.
In addition, the secondary characters add more emotional grounding for Grant and Sophie because they play a part as a sounding board and become an emotional support group which further aids Sophie and Grant’s emotional healing and confidence building. The psychological factors that add up and threaten to overwhelm the main characters make which make this novel very exciting and emotionally charged.
I really enjoyed reading With Good Behavior. Jennifer Lane has an excellent talent in story-telling. Her voice is smooth and the conveyance of using flashbacks from either Grant’s or Sophie’s perspective is uncanny and has the reader’s heart aching. There are times you just want to wrap your arms around either one, rock them back and forth while you croon supportive murmurs to them. What a great book! I am really looking forward to finding out how Grant and Sophie are doing in the next book, Bad Behavior by Jannifer Lane.
Happy Reading from Bona Fide Refelctions!!
Happy Reading from Bona Fide Refelctions!!
Bad Behavior Book Blurb:
Grant Madsen’s got issues. He’s still battling his Mafia family and doing everything possible to keep his loved ones safe. With the cruising season coming to an end, he has to find another job soon or he’ll rejoin his father in prison. And he’s trying to convince his rebellious teenage nephew to stay away from their criminal relatives (you can imagine how that’s going). But worst of all, Grant’s parole officer has mandated that he attend therapy.
The only saving grace is that they’re couples sessions with his girlfriend, Sophie Taylor, a fellow parolee who’s struggling with a few issues of her own. Sophie desperately hopes her past with Grant’s brother won’t destroy her future with him. There’s a sleazy professor at work who revels in sexually harassing women in the psychology department. And her father still hates Grant.
Their psychologist has his work cut out for him.
When Grant’s ruthless father hints at a plot to get out of prison, Grant must use everything he’s learned in therapy and beyond to try to stop him. It’s a race against time -- and a race to rescue Sophie from the Mafia’s clutches once again. But this time McSailor and Bonnie refuse to play victims. This time the cuffs are coming off.
The only saving grace is that they’re couples sessions with his girlfriend, Sophie Taylor, a fellow parolee who’s struggling with a few issues of her own. Sophie desperately hopes her past with Grant’s brother won’t destroy her future with him. There’s a sleazy professor at work who revels in sexually harassing women in the psychology department. And her father still hates Grant.
Their psychologist has his work cut out for him.
When Grant’s ruthless father hints at a plot to get out of prison, Grant must use everything he’s learned in therapy and beyond to try to stop him. It’s a race against time -- and a race to rescue Sophie from the Mafia’s clutches once again. But this time McSailor and Bonnie refuse to play victims. This time the cuffs are coming off.
Click here to view The Conduct Series Tour Schedule...
Thank you Julie for all of your hard work!!
12 comments:
I enjoyed the synopsis and your thoughts on the first book. This book must be really neat to draw all those emotions out of you.
Thanks for the review!
I did not see a place for it, but if I were to win, I would like 'With Good Behavior'. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Thank you for participating!
Thanks for the insightful review and author intro!
yadkny@hotmail.com
I loved With Good Behavior. It was sooo good, and I'm not usually a fan of contemporary romance. Jennifer is one of my notable exceptions. Maybe because she is a trained psychologist and really opens up her characters' psyches for the reader. Bad Behavior is definitely in my TBR. Great review.
Another well deserved great review. I loved Grant and Sophie and I think Jen's unique perspective to the psychology of the characters only made it better.
I'm looking forward to reading both WITH GOOD BEHAVIOR and BAD BEHAVIOR.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
It's your birthday today, right Laurie? HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I feel like it's MY birthday to receive such a lovely review from you. Thank you, sweetheart. My heart aches for Grant too and he appreciates your lovin'. I'm basking in the purple of your blog. Hope you enjoy Bad Behavior, and thank you for being part of the tour!
This does sound like a story that will evoke a mix of great emotions. If I can cry, laugh and gasp in a whole story, that sounds good to me.
I really enjoy books that can make me swoon, laugh and cry. This series sounds great! Thanks for the insightful review.
I enjoy reading author interviews. I would also love to read her novel. Conduct series: I like that thought.
love your blog decor.
Count me in for the giveaway! Thanks!
Margaret
singitm@hotmail.com
Excellent review. I'm looking forward to reading With Bad Behavior. This series sounds like something I will enjoy.
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