Overwhelm Me (Callahan series book 1) is by AC Marchman. It is a simple romance and is quickly read. AC has developed the characters well and the plot, though it seems simple to begin with, has several twists and turns until you get to the end. It does include sexual content and should only be read by those seventeen or above as recommended on Amazon. It is set in Atlanta, Georgia. Allie Marshall is in the last year of her undergraduate education. If she passes this last final, she will graduate with a 4.0 average and hopefully get a recommendation and acceptance into the Physician Assistant program at Emory. As usual, she is running late and can’t be late or she will not be able to take the final. As she runs down the hallway to class, she literally runs into a gorgeous man and knocks him down. As he gets up and helps her up, she swiftly apologizes and tells him she has a final and runs off. All the while, she remembers his beautiful features and wishes she had time to spare. Later that evening, she and her roommate, Livey, go to the Peachtree Tavern with two friends to celebrate graduation that weekend. Here she runs into the gorgeous man again and this time she dances with him. He tells her that a jerk was talking about what he would do to her so the gorgeous man stepped in first. He also says he wanted to dance with her. Thus, Allie meets Dr. Donovan Callahan. Donovan is a second year resident at a nearby hospital. It was pure luck that he was at the school at that precise time and that he ran into her tonight. He is quickly taken with her and she with him. When she introduces him to Livey, Livey recognizes him as the man who dated Claire Dubois, a reality star who had been convicted of killing her husband. Donovan tells Allie he is through with Claire. Allie ends up going to bed with Donovan which surprises both of them. An argument almost breaks them up when Allie insinuated he might be sleeping with someone else. He gets angry that she doesn’t believe him as he is an honest man. He has no idea where that came from and Allie isn’t ready to tell him. The next night on their first true date, he takes her to the Sun Dial which is a very upscale restaurant. He even gives her a dress to wear when she says she doesn’t have anything appropriate. On this date, Allie finds out he is the son of the owner of Callahan Vineyard and Winery and is quite wealthy. He tells her about Claire and the publicity surrounding them and how he hated the publicity. He also told her that he and Claire had an affair when he was only 17. He had no idea she had killed her husband until she was arrested. Because of the publicity and the murder charge against her, he had not said anything about an affair. Allie takes it all in and decides to accept it and go on with their romance. On the way out, the press is there and takes photos of them and asks questions as to who his new friend was. They both knew they would end up in the society pages the next day. Allie is concerned because the press may look into her background and find out her secret. What neither of them knows at this point is that Claire has seen the society pages and now suddenly wants to have Donovan visit her in prison. How will things turn out? After being lied to and cheated on by her first boyfriend, Allie is nervous about it happening again. Will Donovan betray her? Is he just using her as a shield for a while? What can Claire do from prison? spoilersi liked this book, no messing around, just straight into the main love storywithin the first 3 chapters you get most of the back stories. (the first meeting, the flirting , sexual tension, all the main players are introduced and then straight to the hot sex)it moves at a nice quick pace(perhaps maybe a little rushed)our leads = Alison - has just graduated,is going into medical care, she's young, smart, but has issues with trust and self esteem. when she was in her teens her boyfriend Matt raped her while his friend (a bunch of pot heads) watched and took pictures then posted in on facebook. they all went to jail and wound up on the young offenders list. but that's not all, she also got pregnant (her first and only time pre- Donovan having sex) and gave up Jackson (her son)for adoption but his adopted parents let Allie see him from time to time. he knows who she is but thinks of her as his birth mother not real mum. She is a sweet character and quite likable. Donovan- a doctor with lots of money (mainly family money from a winery they own) he has a sister and dad and then step mum he hates, his real mum left he when he was a kid, she would hit the kids when she was a drunk. he is charming, sexy, funny and a total old school gentleman. he has had a few years in the spotlight due to a relationship with a celeb from some trashy reality TV show years back when he was a teenager, some headcase called Claire who killed her husband so she could be with Donovan. she is now in jail and from all accounts was an abusive bitch to Donovan during there relationship, he was young and they had a affair. Donovan is still hounded by the press now.Claire - is also planning on getting out of jail soon and wants rid of Allison because Donovan is her "soulmate". she has help in the form of Regina Claire's sister who was also on the reality TV show with Claire she is trying to help her and trying to get Donovan to stay with her sister and not move on.Livey - Alison best friend and roommate, not that interesting really and a little overprotective but i don't mind her. her and Alison work for Livey's father at a golf course and is very rich, her dad is like a second father to Alison.i wouldn't call this erotic more romance with some steamy sex that isn't overly described don't get me wrong the sex scenes are good but i have read steamier.they seem to fall for each other pretty quickly after the first meeting and it all gets quite serious very quickly (meeting parents, money spent on her, weekend away at his folks winery)it goes from sexual attraction to love in a few short chapters.Donovan gets a lot of female attention (but he seems to only have eyes for Alison)but it really annoys Alison.he has also has had a lot of one night stands. this makes Alison upset and cause her to over think a lot and worry she is just another notch on his bedpost and not good/ hot enough for him. Donovan can be pretty moody especially with anything to do with Claire and Alison over thinking/doubting him/themthe writing style isn't the worst or the best,it does sometimes feel like you reading a teenagers diary and although it flows well some little details are over described such as every time they get in a car the "engines roars to life" or people's height and hair/ eye color within the first second they hit the page. also some conversations feel forced and a bit too sickly sweet.an enjoyable read, quick and simple. i would call it a fluff read perfect for the beach or a rainy weekend. good but needed a little more bite, looking forward to book 2 and a little more substance and evolution of the relationship.
What do You think about Overwhelm Me (2000)?
The story definitely had potential but it lacked substance. Don't really know how I feel about it.
—lucysue8780
I loved this book. I laughed. I cried. I fell in love with Donovan and Allison.. Livey too.
—Tatie
Can't wait for more about Ally and Donovan's love story and steamy sex scenes!!!
—manderc1
DNF at 13%I could not move past the author's writing style.
—semilover98
