365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #319

The Shy Socialite - Lindsay Armstrong
Harlequin Presents Extra
Harlequin, 2011
ISBN: 9780373528455

N.B. This is a North American release - the UK and Aus/NZ title is 'The Socialite and the Cattle King'.








My rating

From the back cover:

"Prim and proper socialite-turned-journalist Holly Harding is looking for her first big scoop. And what better topic than the infamous cattle king Brett Wyndham? But when Holly meets Brett she notices something inherently dangerous about the enigmatic billionaire, and she quickly finds her professional no-nonsense attitude slipping! 
When their plane crashes in the middle of the Outback she is forced to rely on Brett for protection. How long can inexperienced Holly deny their sizzling attraction…?"


Another Presents. I have a confession to make... I actually got this book out from the library ages ago (when it came out here in the UK) and didn't realise that this was the same book, I really wish they wouldn't have different titles, it is very confusing. I never actually finished reading it, I got a couple of chapters in and wasn't enjoying it so I stopped reading it. Anyway, once I had started reading this one and realised my mistake I thought I would continue on with it, you know, perhaps I would like it this time...

The heroine Holly is trying to make a new life for herself away from the limelight of her previous society life, and has recently got a job as a journalist. Her first interview is with Brett, the hero, a well known yet very private Cattle Station owner. Brett hates publicity but agrees to an interview with Holly, sensing that she is different from many other women, he is also very attracted to her. Holly is not used to male attention and is flustered around Brett, but when they are forced into making and emergency lading in the Australian Outback she has to rely on him. As they try and find shelter and help, Brett and Holly get to know one another and the feelings for one another that started out as desire soon turns into much more.

The descriptions of the Outback setting are so vividly portrayed that it is such a shame that I found this book so boring! I found that the story was OK, but manages to be both dull and unbelievable - the crash and everything could have been made really exciting, but just ended up dragging. The relationship and desire between the hero and heroine seemed a little forced in, in my opinion.

This book just didn't work for me, and it left me disappointed and bored. YMMV, of course!

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... Book #317

Trouble in a Pinstripe Suit - Kelly Hunter
Harlequin Presents Extra
Harlequin, 2012
ISBN: 9780373528582

N.B. This is a North American release - UK and Aus/NZ title is 'Sleeping Partner'.








My rating

From the back cover:

"Restoring a dilapidated hotel doesn't come cheap, but Mia Fletcher doesn't want to accept financial help from Ethan Hamilton. This dangerously sexy businessman isn't someone who takes no for an answer, however, and soon their flirting turns into something more.… 
Mia knows Ethan isn't a forever kind of guy, but she cannot resist taking what he has to offer by getting him out of his immaculate suit and into bed! Surely their explosive affair will burn itself out—unless Mia can tame his untouchable heart.… "

I bought this book recently with a bunch of other Harlequin Presents. I love this title!

The heroine Mia arrives on the island of Penang after learning that she has inherited a hotel from the mother she thought had died many years before. When she finds the rather dilapidated hotel, she is met by the hero Ethan, whom she discovers is the son of the man her mother had left her father, and her, for. Ethan knows that it is hard for Mia to find out the truth about her mother, and he wants to help her through it, but Mia refuses. Mia decides to try and renovate the hotel, and during the process learns a lot about the mother she never got the chance to know. And as much as she tries to ignore him, Mia can't deny the affect that Ethan has on her. She wants to hate him but the more time they spend together the more she falls for him. Ethan also realises that his feelings for Mia run deeper, especially seeing her strength as she comes to terms with everything, but he doesn't know if he can ever give her more.

This is a really fascinating book, and I enjoyed it. It has a nice blend of emotion and charm, and the writing is full of passion. The exotic setting is vividly portrayed and very evocative, but I got a little bored with all the myths and ghost stories after a while. The relationship between the hero and heroine felt very natural and full of spark, but I didn't quite understand the fact that the hero was the one who did most of the chasing, then changed his mind about what he wanted from the heroine - it came off as a little shallow.
The plot around the heroine's mother choosing a different life was emotional, and handled well by the author - it was written with a refreshing honesty that I really responded to.

Overall, an enjoyable book.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... book #154

The Picture of Innocence - Jacqueline Baird
Harlequin Presents Extra
Harlequin, 2011
ISBN: 9780373528097


N.B. The above details relate to the North American release of this book.


My rating






From the back cover:

"Lucy Steadman refuses to be intimidated by brooding Italian Lorenzo Zanelli. He may hold the fate of her family's business in his iron fist, but she will not submit to his more personal demands.
As a talented artist, Lucy can see the truth in beauty; Lorenzo may be devastatingly handsome, but he has a soul blackened by his desire for revenge. And to give in to such a man, even for a single kiss, would be to lose her head— and her heart—forever..."


Back to another Presents. I love this title (I really think that the titles of the Modern/Presents books are getting better) so I was looking forward to reading it. It's OK.

The heroine Lucy is all alone in the world, the only thing she had left of her family is a small share in the families business. One of the other shareholder planning to redevelop the area and Lucy goes to see the hero Lorenzo, the other shareholder, to try and convince him not to vote on the redevelopment. Lorenzo has no time for Lucy as he still blames her brother for the death of his brother many years back, all of which he takes great pleasure in telling her. However his initial reaction to her changes when he sees her again at the wedding of a mutual friend, and he decides to pursues her for an affair. Lucy tries to resist him but she is drawn to his brooding personality, and when they do get together she is excited and happy that this could be the start of something special for them. But Lorenzo brutally crushed her hopes when he tells her he wanted nothing but an affair and he still doesn't really like her. She moves on and managers to make plans for her family business with the other partner, but once again Lorenzo crushes her hopes when he returns after getting pressure from his mother and hearing about Lucy's plans.

I really wanted to like this book, and at times I did, but for the majority of it I found it very difficult to read. In my opinion the author has taken the alpha-male concept WAY too far, there's a difference between a dominating male and a controlling bastard, and unfortunately the hero of the book falls into the latter (He calls the heroine fat, for goodness sake). I also think there are too many conflicts in this story, it got a little frustrating. I did like the heroine though, she is feisty and independent.

The story idea is good but, in my opinion, it is overcomplicated and poorly executed.

Disappointing.

Xx

365 books in 365 days Challenge ... book #144

Untouched Until Marriage - Chantelle Shaw
Harlequin Presents Extra
Harlequin, 2011
ISBN: 9780373528066

N.B. The above details relate to the North American release of this book.


My rating





From the back cover:

"When infamous Raul Carducci learns that a little baby may challenge his inheritance he will stop at nothing—a new Carducci heir will not take away what is rightfully his.
To safeguard baby Gino, unassuming Libby Maynard has been forced to pretend she is his mother—but she hasn't counted on having to convince the wolfish Raul Carducci of her deception.
And when Raul, with his achingly seductive voice, asks her to marry him, Libby is powerless to refuse…even if their wedding night will blow her cover!"


I have been reading a lot of older books recently, so I thought I would go back to some more recent ones. Looking at my TBR pile, I have to warn you, there is going to be a lot of Modern/Presents coming up!

The hero Raul is livid when he discovers that not only does his late adopted father have an infant son but also that he will not gain full control of the family business because of this. He tracks down the baby and his mother and is shocked to discover that the mother is the very young and very beautiful Libby, the heroine. He thinks Libby is a gold differ as why else would she have an affair with a man more than twice her age. Libby is actually baby Gino's sister, it was her mother who had the affair with Raul's father and she died suddenly not long after the birth. Libby has been pretending to be Gino's mother in order to stop him being taken away and put into care. When Raul informs her that Gino has been provided for in his father's will and that Raul plans to bring him up as his own son she continues with the pretence, taking all of Raul's scorn fearing he would take the Gino away from her. Raul suggests that they marry, he wants to adopt Gino and despite what he thinks of her, he knows she loves Gino. Libby agrees knowing this is best for Gino but worries about Raul's reaction if he realises she is a virgin as well as worrying about the ulterior motives Raul has for marrying her.

I quite enjoyed this book, as expected from Chantelle Shaw, the book is quite emotional and full of misunderstandings. The story itself is quite original and well written, the characters interact well also. At times the hero did act a little cruel towards to the heroine and this was frustrating, I kept wanting to tell the hero to shut up, and tell the heroine to actually stick up for herself! The pace of the book does drag a little at times and I feel the ending was a little too rushed.

Overall, the book is interesting, emotional and passionate. Worth a read.

Xx