It was suggested that I read this book and give a review by a friend since it had all the elements in a book that I like. I was hesitant in reading this book after reading the reviews. Surely this book couldn't be that bad so I decided to give it a try. Boy, was I wrong.First sign should have been how hard it was for me to get into the story. I put it down after the first couple paragraphs. It just wasn't giving me the urge to keep reading but since I said I would read it, I picked it back up and made myself finish reading it.This book is described as an erotic romance suspense novel. It was erotic at best and that is me being nice. There was lust between the characters but I wouldn't say there was romance. Suspense? Yeah, no. I have read plenty of suspense and thriller novels as well as erotic and romance novels that just grab you within the first few paragraphs and you honestly can't put the book down because you absolutely must know what happens next. This book was seriously lacking in that department. I am not sure what was suppose to be the suspense: the blackmail with no motive, the murder of Sally (the blackmailer), finding out who did it or learning the many personalities of Will.When I pick up an erotic romance it is because like other hot blooded woman and some men of the world we like the effects it has on us and how it makes us feel as well as what could happen after we are done reading the book. This erotic suspense novel left me feeling like I wasted my time reading it.What really turned me off was not only the constant recapping of everything that was happening but the constant name dropping of designer brands at the beginning of the book which the author seem to give up on except for describing the stilettos Trudy wore; the phrases "ex-sex, predator eyes, Dunkin Donuts grin (we get it Ethan has a goofy grin and loves Dunkin Donuts), oh my God he is filling me/my God he is filling me (seriously?), there is no us (we also get it, Trudy and Charlie are done), gaming me/being gamed, and James Bond life style"; the constant reminder of who everyone is to who as well as herself ("I am a successful, professional, strong woman" which in the end was changed to "I am a professional, modern woman"); the use of chinos (every time I read that word I instantly read it as chonies but which is apparently another word for pants.There is one bit where the author changes voice (first person to third person back to first person). I had to stop and re-read that part again just so it would make sense. Also a slight timeline that didn't make sense. And comparing being handcuffed to a bed for one night to the likes of Stockholm Syndrome is just wrong. Stockholm Syndrome happens over time, not one night.I get the story is based in England. Maybe because of this setting the author felt it necessary to drop the names of Hugh Grant, Jane Austen and James Bond into the story as well. Honestly, nothing of what Will did would have made me think "James Bond/MI5/MI6". Yeah he was secretive but definitely not comparable to James Bond. Also part of me wonders if the author has read "Fifty Shades" because of some of the similarities as soon as I read them popped out as so Fifty Shades/Christian Grey/chauffeur/place.The ending was rather bland. You find out who killed Sally but are still left without knowing why she was blackmailing the one person that was supposedly helping her in the first place; how did Will know that something was wrong and where to find Trudy and her captor. And seriously using your elbow to shatter a "windscreen" (windshield) would leave someone in serious pain and no way in any condition to be handcuffed with their arms over their head to a bed only a short time later.What the book ended with was kind of disturbing to say the least. Without giving it away for those that do decide to read this book, a big thing happens that again is kind of unexplainable because you don't see any hint of it during the book and then Trudy and Will go back to what they were doing.I understand this is a complied version of three books. However, overall this book frustrated me and I wouldn't recommend it. There are better books out there worth reading.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.This for me started off quite funny - Charlie, big knickers and the churchyard - the life and loves of an American living in the UK. The differences, quirkiness, similarities, attitudes between the two countries/people. It could have been hilarious but then the plot changed into a suspense/murder mystery. The suspense plot was good but needed more development and depth. More accuracy would have made the plot better. E.g. Trude, as an American wouldn't have been able to get a job in the UK without a work permit. She wouldn't have been able to get a work permit without a job offer. To make it more realistic why wasn't Trude just on a long term transfer from the New York office to the London office - simple. The wedding vows - to obey - yes these are part of the wedding vows in the UK but why get hung up on them unless they are an essential to the plot, this went nowhere. I realise the author wrote this in small novellas and then joined it together, however, I wish she had taken all the repeats, which I found annoying, at the beginning of each chapter out and given more time to develop the stores and characters. It would have been a great novel but sadly as it stands I can only give it three.
Do You like book The Object Of His Desire (2013)?
At her estranged brothers wedding Trudy is introduced to Will and his family. An old school powerful, rich family. There is something about him that draws her in from that first sight. She finds herself in the middle of a secretive world where Will does who knows what for the government but she can't seem to figure out if its good or bad. As she's tries to understand her confusing relationship Trudy gets drawn into a would she barely understands. There's also an ex who doesn't want to remain an ex. Who will she end up with, if anyone. Can she ever understand what's really going on.I enjoyed the mystery and intrigue of this book. My only conflict with it was how certain things were repeated over and over again summarizing the book up until a certain point before returning to the story.
—Maria
Received a ARC for an honest review (my first one)It all starts when Trudy goes nervously to her brother's wedding which she has not seen for a couple of months and never even met his fiancée Eleonar. To make things more awkward she finds out that her EX-boyfriend Charlie is also her brother's best man. Standing at the church she meet’s the eyes of a handsome stranger.. a tempting, but dangerous stranger. In the beginning you have very funny and HOT scenes, concerning Ex-boyfriend Charlie and not to forget the “BIG GIRL PANTIES”, which everybody can visualize now in their mind how the look like :o).After coming to understand that the handsome stranger is in fact the brother of the bride, the attraction starts. Will has a lot of dark secrets but you don’t get a full perspective of this.But then I got confused as the story starts having a lot of repeated sentences. And before you know the story ends abruptly, with no real ending. First I thought ok this will mean that there will be a sequel coming! NO because this was already published before in 4 short stories and now put together in 1 book. So why does the author not rewrite the story and change the repeating sentences, get more in detail about Will, Trudy and his strange possessive family?? Does their relationship stand a chance? I expected more from this story, but I want to thank the author for giving me a chance to review this book.
—Peggy
Trudy goes to her brother's wedding a little unsure of herself. She hasn't seen her brother Ethan in a while and is meeting his soon to be wife for the first time. Trudy sees Will across the room and she is intrigue. Will is a long time friend of Ethan's and also the bride's brother. Will comes from a wealthy family and Trudy thinks him to be full of himself. Will likes her and he has to have her. Meanwhile, Trudy runs into her ex-boyfriend Charlie also a long time friend of her brother's that she lived with for over a year. Charlie wants Trudy back. So, Trudy has two handsome men trying to win her heart. Trudy knows she has to let Charlie go it didn't work out the first time, besides she has a insane amount of sexual chemistry with Will. Will redeems himself to Trudy and they get together only to be torn apart by a secret long ago buried. Murder,Mystery,suspense,and hot sex from the beginning to end. It was a really good read with a great plot. It had me guessing till the end. The only thing I didn't care for was the recaps in the beginning but with that being said I will be checking out more books by P.J. Adams.
—Dayna
