SHAKE UP (An Edison Bay Romance)

Shake Up is a contemporary love story packed with a myriad of emotions, plenty of sensual detail, and an abundance of humor.

>>> A hero with a protector complex and his feisty, risk-taking heroine mix it up in this high-spirited love story.

Lacey, a gifted marksman and law enforcement professional, is tired of the sheriff (who happens to be her husband) assigning her to ‘the safe zone.’ Like most cops, she wants to see some action. It is obvious to her the only way that will happen is for her to change agencies, and that’s exactly what she does. She never expected, though she should have, her overprotective husband’s meltdown due to the deal. Fate intervenes and for the sake of their family, the couple is forced to learn the meaning of compromise.

>>> There’s plenty of trouble in the booming beach-bordering town of Edison Bay.

Whether Lacey’s out with her girlfriends at their favorite hangout, Barney’s Pub, horny as all get out when John slips in beside her, or skinny-dipping at night on a public beach with said friends, and her husband shows up just as a bunch of randy cops are stripping down to join them, or at The Shoot Out, her father’s gun club, when her undercover target crosses her path, the woman has no problem finding trouble.

~ POSTED REVIEWS ~

Reviewer: James V Long (Verified Purchaser) Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2025

4.0 out of 5 stars ~ Great Characters and a Sweet Romance

Shake Up was a good romance. The plot is fast and well written, and the characters are strong, independent, and well written. I enjoyed the novel, never got bored, and read it in one night. I’m glad I found this author.

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Reviewer: Susan P. April 19, 2011

4 hearts review from the 2010 original version published by Cobblestone Press entitled Shaken Vows

Lacey and John are very much in love and I was rooting for them from the beginning. This book is really two stories that have been seamlessly woven together by the author. The DEA undercover operation to take down a killer is played out against the backdrop of John and Lacey’s attempt to fix their marriage. Both stories are well done. The DEA investigation is tense and suspenseful. The secondary characters are well developed and I would love to see a few of them get their own stories. The Parker’s efforts to reconcile their differences are touching and heartfelt. They make realistic concessions to try and preserve their marriage. John and Lacey’s sexual encounters are scorching hot. Their sex scenes are explicit and steamy. Apparently, marriage doesn’t have to dim the fire. This is a very enjoyable story and I look forward to reading more from Ms. Palmer.

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For a fast-paced and entertaining read that will make you laugh and cry, and tingle in all the right places grab a copy today.

Reviewer: Lilly’s Book World Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2017

4.0 out of 5 stars ~ Action with great characters

I loved this story quite a lot. It has quite nice characters, both knowing what they want and doing what it takes to achieve it. Yes, it does have some issues, in my opinion, but it is a very enjoyable read, that will stir some of those romantic feelings.

A protective husband, a much determined wife, these are our main characters and they are quite a couple. When Lacey is accepted as a DEA agent, you can imagine how furious her husband had become. Especially since his protective nature wanted her as close as possible. His possessiveness becomes unbearable so Lacey needs some time away to figure things out. When divorce becomes an issue, John realizes they may have bigger problems than he thought. In parallel with their issues, we have undercover agents trying to capture a big time drug dealer. How’s a husband supposed to deal with that?

Lacey started as a confident woman, but later in the story she proves to be weaker and always in need of a savior. I appreciated the connection Lacey and John shared and his willingness to do what it takes to recover their marriage. This comes in contradiction with the image of a DEA agent, willing to fight crime. Their love life is quite intense and the way the author describes it is weaved greatly in the story.

Beginning was great and action packed and the characters seemed very strong and developed. But towards the end, the book becomes predictable and it reduces the action part of the story. However, the focus is more on the main characters and how they find common ground.

Even if there may be some items that did not stand quite well with me, I cannot give this book less than 4 stars, as it made me feel good, it made me feel emotions and it kept me focused on both levels - the relationship between the main characters, but as well the case waiting to be solved by the agency. I can’t wait to read more about the other characters and more by this author. Hope you like it as well! Enjoy J

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Reviewer: Leslie O’Brien Reviewed in the United States on December 22, 2017

5.0 out of 5 stars ~ What’s a woman to do? (This review was originally posted on The Romance Reviews.)

What’s a woman to do when the men in her life persist in telling her what she can and cannot do without checking with her first? Well, in Lacey Parker’s case, you take a field position with the DEA and when your husband tells you, no, you leave and don’t look back. Then, when he doesn’t come for you, you resort to something drastic to shake things up in SHAKE UP by Joyce Palmer.

Likes: I really enjoyed the characters. Both John and Lacey seemed like a good match for each other and played off each other’s strengths and weaknesses. I thought the secondary characters helped round out the story and I loved how protective everyone was. The bad guys (and girl) were just menacing enough to keep the suspense going until the end.

If you enjoy contemporary romance with hot sex and strong characters, then you definitely want to give Ms. Palmer’s story a read. It has all the makings for and enjoyable evening and you may find youself staying up well past your bedtime because you couldn’t put it down.

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