*ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
First thing first, I LOVE THE COVER! Well, I love red so I may be biased *shrug*
This is *ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
First thing first, I LOVE THE COVER! Well, I love red so I may be biased *shrug*
This is not a first time I read a romance where I got a fighter heroine. So it shouldn't surprise me with all the fightings, the bruises, and the jacks, right? The thing is all those kinda books are usually a paranormal ones, so it's still feel different, you know. Like the fact that this is a first time I got a villain that looked like a warm aunt but turned out to be an evil ditchy-witchy (don't know what it means, but sounds fit)
Devin and Ryder (Ryder, really?) had one night stand together when Ryder's friend, Sylvie, urged her to once again went out of her comfort zone. Instead went to a safe, nerd man like she usually did in her non-commitment-year, she went to a macho, tattooed man, our hero Devin. One night, amazing f*ck, and bye-bye. Rejected calls and texts followed.
The problem was Ryder (remind me she's not a guy) had a problem with trusting men, because well, she's often fallen for wrong guys. Pretty poor her. She's a fighter and worked with her brother in security field. When some company needed her security skills, she marched up like a professional cold woman in her all-black-suit. Imagine her surprise when she had to look eye to eye with the hot guy who made her fell apart in his hands. Devin, the devil! (sounds like a curse, but it still suit :p there's something wrong with my head today)
Long story short so I won't give any spoilers, they had to work together to capture the embezzler. It'd be pretty easy without the sexual tension between them, really.
This is also my first time reading a book by this author. Yeah, the author did a pretty good job in her writing style. Really, nothing's worse the mood when you read about a fight but it felt like imagining them having tea. In this one, I could really imagine them having a fight and man, you'd absolutely fall for Devin too.
A hot, tattooed guy with bruises on his drooling-worthy-abs after a dirty fight? Hold up your pants, girls!
Overall, this book's quite more than I expected, but in a good way. I enjoyed it a lot, and imagine if there's a film about this. Hey, that sounds cool! Oh, but I forgot, I can't forgive the author for not giving an epilogue. Hence, the 4 stars instead of 4.5 stars....more
*ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
*SOME SPOILERS AHEAD*
4 stars for a sweet heart-warming story about a prince and his Cind *ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
*SOME SPOILERS AHEAD*
4 stars for a sweet heart-warming story about a prince and his Cinderella. This story was literally like a Cinderella story where a beautiful yet common woman dressed in a beutiful gown, pretended to be a princess and met her Prince Charming. The difference was this Cinderella story was definitely an adult-version, where a princess could stay through the night, if you know what I mean ;)
The plot was rather unoriginal, right? I've read a lot of stories just exactly using this plot. But like I said, it's the author's job to make it unique to each own. And this author was rather succeessful in hers.
Mia, a school teacher, had been asked by her princess cousin, Birgitte to stand in for her in a ball because they're resembled to each other. That night, Mia and Vittorio met as a royal couple. Vittorio didn't know that Mia was not the Ice Princess he intended to marry and set to allure her, beside he'd already felt a strong connection with her, what's the wrong if he extended his hope? Mia, after almost of her life being treated as a second best after her cousin, wanted to be the one lucky princess that seduce the prince charming that night.
The morning after, the princess was dissappear. And the prince charming searched for her.
When Vittorio knew that Mia had deceived him he felt betrayed and crushed. Crushed because he'd already set his hope soared higher than before, that he could have a royal marriage where he had a suitable bride. Instead, the bride turned out to be a commoner, and his country had this silly marriage decree that royalty must married another royalty. So he couldn't have her as a wife, right? The solution? Kidnapped her and made her his mistress until the real princess returned.
The beginning itself turned out to be better than I expected. Yes, I'd been bored a little bit until Vittorio finally knew the truth. After that, the story was kinda hooked me all along. Things got interesting after she became his 'mistress'. I liked how the author was not focused too much to the hero and heroine only. There's more than their passionate love-making that I could learn to love Mia and Vittorio for themselves.
I certainly liked Mia's character. Hers was very mature, strong and developed at some turns. Vittorio's not the alpha hero-jerk like usual, he's certainly being selfish about her 'owing' him. But he treated her like a true princess and gradually became a wonderful hero in my eyes.
I found that some scenes were quite heart-breaking, such as where he stayed up at night to find a way around the royal marriage decree or when she tried to stay strong by saying no. Finally, the King himself found his wisdom and rescinded the decree so they now could married because they loved each other.
And to the man she loved, who had showed her she could be more than she thought she could be. Who was strong enough to not let her go. Who believed in her and the life they could live together.
I only need an epilogue and the second book about Rico. Oh, by the way, there's only one character that confused me. Brigitte. Was she supposed to be a selfish person that left Mia and agreed to a cold marriage, or a cousin who looked lost after Mia refused to stand in for her again (well, Vittorio asked her help) because she cared enough to Mia's happiness? What?...more
You would love our heroine. She's charming, intelligent yet so innocent in a good way. She's absolutely ha4.5 stars. This book was hilariously funny.
You would love our heroine. She's charming, intelligent yet so innocent in a good way. She's absolutely had a strong instinct to live :)) While our hero was a rogue duke who lived with his own rules. At first I wanted to smack his head for being so selfish but well, since it's romance I figured it out that's quite nice. Especially with the HEA, of course.
Totally liked it. I liked both the characters. The h was a strong woman yet had a golden heart, she might be a virgin and a little bit vulnerable at tTotally liked it. I liked both the characters. The h was a strong woman yet had a golden heart, she might be a virgin and a little bit vulnerable at times. But when times came hard for the thing that matters, she's a kind of person who you want to be with.
The H was not really hateful. He misjudged the h but he believed her early in the story (and only based on her words too!) and tried to make things right until there's a slight missed communication in his company that h left him in result. I'd say that's what would happen if you owned too much companies :))
Overall, this is a good story where the characters is both lovable too. Recommended for a mild romance....more
Cristo and Belle (love the names btw) had a marriage of convenience for their brothers & sisters' sake. QuiteA pretty good romance from Lynne Graham.
Cristo and Belle (love the names btw) had a marriage of convenience for their brothers & sisters' sake. Quite a mess, I'd say. Belle hated the Ravelli family to the core, especially her siblings' father. While Cristo, an unfeeling man, was focused on the scandal that it would bring. He already felt guilty after created such a mess between his brothers.
So they had their own focus, but it only resulted to one solution. Marriage, of course. I like they're both mature persons. I know they had some flaws, made some mistakes, but the way they handle it was good. Yes, they fight, they yelled to each other, but they honest to each other. That's a plus.
The story only need a heavier conflict to make this a better one. Still a pleasurable read!...more
I was so bored. And that says a lot since I'm all for a sexy hot romance but this book actually made a sexy scene sounds boring.
There're their POVs, tI was so bored. And that says a lot since I'm all for a sexy hot romance but this book actually made a sexy scene sounds boring.
There're their POVs, they met, they fight, they had sex, their POVs again, they met again, they fight again, aaanndd they had angry sex...again. Repeat. Nothing's happened, absolutely there's no development in their relationship. So it fell flat.
That's happened until page 150-something out of 300-something. Couldn't get pass the chapter nine.
Don't get me wrong, I love their sexy scenes, I love their tension to each other, but I think it's over done. Now, who's not getting a hots for a sexy woman and a beautiful bastard to have sexual tension? Not me. But describe it one too many, it ruined the point. Seriously? You can't wrap nine repetitive-chapters (and words) up to a couple only? All the public sex? They even hadn't reached a bed. And I wasn't yet get to the next 150-something-pages.
I took a glimpse at the next half but I already fed up with the first half and decided it's not worth trying. A pity, because I really like the heroine.
She's one of a sexually independent woman who's not afraid to get what she wants. Something rare you find in romance, even in contemporary ones.
If only the author could make it to a 200 pages-only. Or at least put something different between the sex. Or maybe the author could find some different creative descriptions and words to tell the same scenes. Well... ...more
**spoiler alert** This book really gave me a good laugh. I know, i know, it supposed to be an angsty story with all that pregnancy and cheating-hero t**spoiler alert** This book really gave me a good laugh. I know, i know, it supposed to be an angsty story with all that pregnancy and cheating-hero type.
Cristos saw Betsy first a month before and immediately fancied her.When he's back, he's surprised by his cousin with a limousine service which Betsy whom the chauffeur. Of course Cristos wouldn't waste time to seduce her. Betsy took offence by his approach and called him snob. *chuckle* Then they're kidnapped.
The thing was their kidnapper was so 'kind' to provide them with an exotic island and a honeymoon villa. See, just from this point alone was kind of ridiculous. Betsy tried to back him off when he still shamelessly tried to seduce her even when he believed she's behind his kidnapping. But she really stood her ground (not a weak woman indeed).
'I can admire a painting without wanting to buy it-'
I almost danced with joy when she said it! Finally someone said it in HP! I'm bored with HP scenes where a hero call the heroine a liar when she tell him she don't want him, just because he sees the way she look at him. Puhlease *rolling eyes*
Their heated arguments were some so funny I couldn't help to laugh. Cristos was a shameless confident playboy in one. When Betsy rejected him bluntly he even dare to take offense at this point.
'Why wouldn't you fall in love with me?'
I had to laugh at this one. Really? Anyhoo, after an 'agreement-that-nobody-get-hurt' finally the inevitable happened of course, with all the spark of sexual electricity between them. They had enjoyed a happy 'escape' for five days when they're rescued.
It's then revealed that their kidnapper was his cousin who conveniently dead in helicopter accident right after he dropped them on the island. Poor him, tsk.
He asked her to be his mistress but Betsy, felt betrayed because Cristos in fact had a fiancee, totally denied him. Until she realized that she's pregnant so she seek him again. She expected him to hold his promise to support her when she's fallen pregnant. What she didn't bargain for was he immediately asked her to marry him.
Uhm..for me the plot was ended on that because the scenes after that were simply a series of something in order to the common ending in HP, the love confession.
Now, as for the characters. I usually hate it if my hero was a cheater. Whether he cheats on heroine or cheats with her. Cristos was clearly had a fiancee when he slept with Betsy (at least he realized that it's his mistake later). But I simply couldn't hate him. In my eyes, he didn't even a tough, ruthless alpha hero. He was a spoils rotten golden boy who simply didn't understand words No. Brush aside his cheating way, I had to admit he's rather cute.
Betsy was one hell of a bossy woman. She loved car, she had a goal to open garage. Not your usual heroine. I like her with her wittiness and bluntness. She's an open book but had strength to defend her own feeling. I think they're suitable because he needed someone who could discipline him. Whereas she needed someone with his arrogant way who couldn't accept a No.
Their characters were bordering to funny ones. Their relationship reminded me of a naughty and sulky little boy with his tough mummy. Lol. At this point I already forgot that I supposed to read an angsty story. Instead I ended up focusing on their amusing behavior.
'Your conviction that you're an intensely lovable person and fatally attractive to virgins,'
While he was being treated like the plague for being engaged, Betsy was entertaining-in a room with a bed in it-the louse who had cheated on her with her own sister. Where was the justice in that?
'I didn't think you would. You have the sensitivity of a concrete block.'
'You just rang a bell and summoned another person to pour two drinks from a cabinet only ten feet away from you.' His winged ebony brows pleated. 'What of it?' 'Oh ... nothing,' she muttered.
'You're engaged to another woman yet you've slept with me and you've asked me to be your mistress. With that evidence, I don't need to be bright to deduce that you would be the equivalent of the husband from hell!'
'You'd have to be faithful ... no excuses, no slips. I'd help you ... I' d watch you like a hawk,' she warned him. 'You won't get away with anything, not even a flirtation if you marry me. Could you live like that?'
'Patras said no woman could be interested in hearing what a smart-mouthed kid I had been unless she loved me. I didn't believe him.'
I was bored so I read this. Aaand..nothing's special. It didn't make me feel glad I'd picked it to spend my boring time. Just..okay.I was bored so I read this. Aaand..nothing's special. It didn't make me feel glad I'd picked it to spend my boring time. Just..okay....more
**spoiler alert** I've been waiting for this book since like..forever, okay i exaggerate, since i read the third book of course. despite the low ratin**spoiler alert** I've been waiting for this book since like..forever, okay i exaggerate, since i read the third book of course. despite the low rating i gave to it.
But who wouldn't be curious to know Chase' story?
And to my expectation, this book certainly did a good, no, a great job to end the series. I always suspected that Chase was a woman, and she would meet her match in Duncan West. But i would never expect them to render me speechless with all their dark secrets and romance. Their stories was deep, devastating yet beautifully wrapped in SM's hands.
Last but not least, i would really love to read Caroline's story! That girl was a diamond....more
"God help him, he wanted to kiss her senseless, odd or not. He wanted to kiss her senseless because she was odd."
One thing I love about historical "God help him, he wanted to kiss her senseless, odd or not. He wanted to kiss her senseless because she was odd."
One thing I love about historical romance is it tells you a painful intense story. Maybe it's because it usually comes with more pages :))
Anyway, this story about Jasper and Pippa was a great journey of love. Jasper, or Cross, was a second son of Earl. He's kind of hero that usually comes as a villain jerk OM. He lied, he cheats, and he didn't hold his promises. After his brother, the heir, dead and his sister became a limp, his parents kept telling him that it should be him who died. His parents were awful, really. Well, at one time I thought he chose the path him self so he deserved it.
So, instead of proved them wrong, he ran away, ran from his responsibility and guilt, once again proved them they're right all along. It should be him. (well, what did you hope, buddy? You're jerk)
Honestly, I didn't particularly care about him. It seemed he didn't change, he didn't even try to set things right for his sister until someone's threaten her. Such a big brother. So, it's just lately that he suddenly found his sense of responsibility, strong man like he was. *please ignore my sarcasm* I still think he's unworthy. But, with his passionate need for Pippa for all of her, odd or not, he redeemed a little in my eyes.
He's the weak link here. Pippa, on the other hand, was a scientific woman. She's smart ass with crooked finger and brain for a doctor. She amused me a lot. Pippa was to be married in 2 weeks and she curious about the technicality of uhm...breeding. She made a plan to ask a legendary famous lover to answer her questions, starts with tongue involved in kissing. I laughed a lot at her blunt words. Her bravery for a lady, in historical it is, was very refreshing for me.
So begun their rather explicit encounters. I must say that Cross did a pretty good damn job to restrain him self from the hurricane Pippa with all her surprise.
“I won’t ruin your life, Pippa. I won’t let you be destroyed.”
I still didn't find the sense of this. I thought he meant scandal but how could he ruined her (reputation) just because he believed he'd killed his brother? So what? You're an Earl. Also you didn't particularly kill or ruin someone *rolling eyes*
Anyho, he believed he's unworthy. His parents did. His sister did. I did. Tsk. Only Pippa didn't. It's the point of love, you love them good and bad. That's good, otherwise we wouldn't have this story and the biggest scene of all where he almost crashed her wedding. Luckily he found her outside the church instead. I admit this scene of his declaration of love put a big score in my list (it's the only score tho, lucky him it's a grand). At least, now he's worthy of her love.
A sweet yet painful romance. Still worth 3.5 stars....more
Read it a long time ago. I remember it made me smile so it's worth 5 stars still.
A cute romance. Matt fell in love at first sight with Harriet. HarrieRead it a long time ago. I remember it made me smile so it's worth 5 stars still.
A cute romance. Matt fell in love at first sight with Harriet. Harriet's the same. Matt believed that Harriet loved Ben, her best friend, and saved her virginity for Ben.
His jealousy seemed so painful, at first. After a while, despite of her insistence that she didn't love Ben as a lover, his jealousy had grown and furthermore became a silly one. It's funny, tho. This's why I smiled a lot. *chuckle* So to avoid gossip in his office, he forced her to get engageg and marry him. See?
Oh well, what can I say, love makes people ridiculous, maybe?
A story about a spoiled rich girl and a brooding man. Gotta like them. The hero's rather cute, not really alpha for my taste. The heroine's strong andA story about a spoiled rich girl and a brooding man. Gotta like them. The hero's rather cute, not really alpha for my taste. The heroine's strong and really confident. A great character for a virgin. And surprisingly, all the other characters were likable enough. ...more
A good story about marriage of convenience. Little bit odd in the beginning, really who would think to marry a stranger they just met? Started a relatA good story about marriage of convenience. Little bit odd in the beginning, really who would think to marry a stranger they just met? Started a relationship, maybe, but marriage in exchange for money?
Anyway, both of the characters are likable. It really showed that their love grew gradually. Recommended for a mild romance....more