Tag «workplace romance»

Series Review: Sex, Love and Stiletto by Lauren Layne

Series Review: Sex, Love and Stiletto by Lauren Layne

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

booksynopsis

Synopsis for After the Kiss (from Goodreads):

Lauren Layne kicks off her Sex, Love & Stiletto series with a delightful short novel! In After the Kiss, the star columnist of Stiletto magazine will do anything for a story. Anything . . . except fall in love.

Julie Greene loves flings. Loves steamy first dates, sizzling first kisses, and every now and then, that first sexy romp between the sheets. Comfy pants, sleepy Sundays, movie nights on the couch? Shudder. But when Julie gets assigned the hardest story of her career—a first-person account of that magical shift between dating and “I do”—she’ll need a man brave enough to give a total commitment-phobe a chance at more.

Normally, Mitchell Forbes would be exactly that man. A devastatingly hot workaholic who tends to stay in relationships for far too long, he should be the perfect subject for Julie’s “research.” But what Julie doesn’t know is that Mitchell is looking to cut loose for once in his life. And the leggy journalist notorious for avoiding love is exactly the type of no-strings fling he’s looking for. In other words, Mitchell is the polar opposite of what Julie needs right now. And, at the same time, he’s exactly what she wants.

breakdown

SERIESous’ Top Picks: Must Read Author
Series: Sex, Love and Stiletto

There is a spin-off series: Oxford Series

Author: Lauren Layne
# of Books: 4 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Connected
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Heat Rating: Toasty
Point of View: Third Person, Alternating
Publication Dates: August 2013 – March 2015
Source & Format: Public Library–Audiobook

thoughts

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

I did things a little backwards with this series. I actually read the first novel after I had read the first novel in the spin-off series, Oxford, not realizing that they were connected. But having that little bit of exposure to the established couples made me excited to get their backstories so I was eager to dive in.

The Plot:

These books feel and read like a Lifetime Movie rom-com. They’re quick, cute and flirty but don’t really delve into the crux of everything. And sometimes, that’s what you want out of a romance read. More often than not though, I gravitated to the darker reads, so this was quite “vanilla” and tame to my usual mix. I found myself getting a little bored (and my ratings reflect that) but that might have been the result of me listening to the audio versions which take me nearly double the amount of time to finish had I read them in print.

The Characters:

I liked everyone we meet enough. I really loved the female comradery that the girls had. It was great to see women support each other throughout the series. For the most part, both leads grew into better people so there was some growth by the end.

The Romance:

Each book explores a different trope or two which is fun. Like I said above, you kinds just graze the surface of what the connection is because things are happening fast. And to go back to the female comradery, I liked that the pursuit of love never put down other girls or forced them to compete along the way.

My Audiobook Experience:

The audiobooks were good. For the most part the female narrator did a good job with the male voices (though sometimes they were annoying). I can read a 250 page novel in 3-4 hours whereas the audiobook is 6-7 hours; so I did get bored or found my mind wandering away while listening. I often sped the speed up to 2X (I usually listen at 1.5X for reference) just so I could get through them faster and keep my focus.

Series Rating: 3/5

After the Kiss 4/5 | Love the one You’re With 3/5 | Just One Night 3/5 | The Trouble With Love 2/5

overall

Looking for something light and quick? These would be great!

Read if You Like: rom-coms, quick reads
Avoid if You: want erotica, darker romances

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Series Review: The Rule Breakers by Jennifer Blackwood

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

booksynopsis

Synopsis for The Rule Book (from Goodreads):

Starr Media Second-Assistant Survival Guide

1. Don’t call your hot boss the antichrist to his face.
2. Don’t stare at hot boss’s, um, package or his full sleeve of tattoos. (No. Really. Stop!)
3. Don’t get on the malicious first assistant’s bad side.
4. Don’t forget to memorize the 300-page employee manual.
5. If you value your cashmere, steer clear of boss’s dog.
6. Boss’s dimples are lust-inducing. Do. Not. Give. In.
7. “The elevator ate your clothes” is not a valid excuse for showing up to important meetings half dressed.
8. Don’t break seven of the rules within the first week of employment if you, ya know, are in dire need of money to support your sick mom.
9. Whatever you do, don’t fall for the boss. See rule eight about sick mom.
10. Never forget the rules.

breakdown

Series: The Rule Breakers
Author: Jennifer Blackwood
# of Books: 2 (The Rule Book, The Rule Maker)
Book Order: Connected
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Workplace, Humour
Heat Rating: warm
Point of View: First Person Single; Alternating (The Rule Maker)
Publication Dates: May 2016 – January 2017
Source & Format: Own & Public Library–eBook

thoughts

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

Kobo had been recommending this series to me for forever, so I decided to pick up The Rule Book one day. Of course, I didn’t read it right away but when my “big city” library card was expiring, I decided to read my copy so I could read the library’s copy of the sequel and save myself some cash 😛

I love a good contemporary romance in the workplace. But seeing as I read this on the cusp of the #metoo movement, I went in a little hesitantly. This promised to be funny and light so I went in optimistically.

The Plot:

Both books are pretty simple in terms of their plot execution. It mostly focuses on the girls fighting the forbidden feelings they have for their respective boys but failing at it spectacularly. That leads to some funny moments that definitely had me chuckling along.

These books have a lot of build up to the “main event” (ie the characters giving into their feelings and starting a romance) and not a lot happens. Then suddenly the relationship starts, the big conflict arises and the book is wrapped up within a chapter or two. For me, it just made everything seem rushed and I wasn’t a fan.

This was the case in particular with The Rule Book. It really irked me that the drama at the end of the novel was caused by simply omitting something. I put my complaint in spoilers below because it is hard to explain but I kept it pretty general so it isn’t a major spoiler.

My Problem with the Ending of The Rule Book

When Brogan accuses Lainey of the breach, she makes no effort to defend herself whatsoever. Perhaps she feels like it’s a waste of breath because Brogan is completely convinced, but she just takes it as is and leaves. While I understand that that is part of Lainey’s character flaw (look how the other assistant treated her and how she just let him), her inability to even try to right the situation really bothered me.

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The Characters:

I liked all the characters and their humour. It provided a lot of great scenes and witty remarks. They’ve all got their flaws that they have to work at so I appreciated their vulnerability.

In some ways I wish Brogan had his own POV in The Rule Book because it would have been nice to get to know his character a little more. But on the other hand, I enjoyed slowly learning about him as Lainey did. There is something to be said about a little bit of mystery!

The Romance:

This was definitely stronger in The Rule Book (#1) than in The Rule Maker (#2) I really struggled with the romance in The Rule Maker because I never saw that deeper connection between them nor did I feel the tension brimming. It just made the whole story seem a little lackluster and I felt myself getting a little bored.

Series Rating: 3.5/5

The Rule Book 3.5/5 | The Rule Maker 3/5

overall

If you’re looking for a lighter read that doesn’t focus on sexy times and has a dash of humour, these books are great, quicker reads!

Read if You Like: workplace romance, light reads, humour
Avoid if You: want erotica, want longer stories, want more emotion

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Single Sundays: Savage Love by Ella Miles

Single Sundays: While this blog may be focused on reviewing book series as a whole, we can’t forget about the good ole’ standalone novel! On Sundays, I will review a novel that is considered to be a standalone novel. Here is this week’s offering:

Synopsis for Savage Love (from Goodreads):

I hate him.

He’s made my life a living hell every day since we were five years old. We’ve been enemies since the day he cut off my pigtails in first grade and I retaliated by drawing on his face with a sharpie.

Our hate of each other grew stronger as we got older. We grew more savage in the way we dealt with each other. We broke bones in fights, sabotaged each other’s dates, and ruined any chance each other had at happiness.

We went our separate ways after college. I never thought I’d have to deal with that asshole again.

But I’m out of a job, so when the opportunity to compete for one of the highest profile PR jobs presented itself, I jumped at the chance. Even if it means I’ll have to compete with Carter for the job. I’ll be more than happy to crush him on the way to my dream job. I’m willing to do anything, savage things, to ensure I win.

There’s just one problem. I forgot how much my body betrays me every time I see Carter. Because despite all the horrible things he’s done, it doesn’t stop me from wanting to do naughty, unthinkable things with him. Will my savage heart be enough to resist his charms?

breakdown

SERIESous’ Top Picks: Must Read Author
Author: Ella Miles
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Drama
Heat Rating: Hot
Point of View: First Person, Alternating
Publication Date: February 26th, 2018
Source & Format: Author–eBook

thoughts

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

I’m a huge fan of Ella Miles and her darker contemporary works. So I was really excited to see what she would do in a more contemporary, slightly lighter romance.

I’m a huge fan of the hate to love you trope and when it’s linked to the “in love with brother’s BFF” one? And you add in some pranks? I’m so there!

The Concept:

It definitely lives up to the “Savage” title with some of the ways these two try to out smart each other!

These two go to the extremes in their efforts to out match each other. Being a seasoned Ella Miles reader, I know that she will take things to that next level and that’s the case here. It makes the read entertaining though and keeps you hooked because you have to know what will happen between them.

The Plot:

I loved the back and forth nature of this story–it’s one of my favourite aspects of the hate to love you story. The characters would have these moments where they want to rip each other apart and then they want to rip each other’s clothes off. I love that type of drama and this book had it in spades.

My only complaint was with some of the dramatic elements that came as a result of the job they were competing for. They both are PR “fixers” but their solution to the situations just didn’t seem plausible to me. Plus, it resulted in some drama that I wasn’t a fan of.

The Characters:

I really liked these leads. I loved how driven Victoria was. How she wouldn’t stay down for long because she’d come back fighting.

It helped getting Carter’s POV as well because you start to understand his rational for his actions and thoughts. I’m not sure if I would have liked him as much if his POV was omitted because I really appreciated that insight into his mind. I did think he changed his tune a little too quickly but I enjoyed watching him trying to make things right.

The Romance:

For me, it was so easy to see why these two have been at ends with each other for years: they are too similar and so stubborn that they clash whenever they meet. I always love watching leads who are so perfect for each other fight the obvious and this was no exception. Their romance was definitely a highlight of the story and met my every expectation.

My only complaint was with some of the dramatic elements that came as a result of the job they were competing for. They both are PR “fixers” but their solution to the situations just didn’t seem plausible to me. Plus, it resulted in some drama that I wasn’t a fan of.

My Rating: 4/5

overall

If you love dramatic “hate-to-love-you” stories with plenty of steam, pick this up now!

Read if You Like: hate to love you, rivals, second chances
Avoid if You: dislike steamy scenes, dislike lots of drama

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Series Review: Atlanta Affair by Isabella Rae

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

book4

booksynopsis

Synopsis for A Workplace Affair (from Goodreads):

There are those once in a lifetime opportunities that come along, that in your wildest dreams would never happen to you. When independent Victoria Bryant’s opportunity comes, a climb up the corporate ladder turns into an affair with the owner. Now she must make decisions that will change her life forever. Will she choose to forgive the man she’s grown to love, or watch him walk away and give up everything that might have been…..

When Leland Ambrose started his company he was young and in charge, but when he meets Victoria, he discovers a weakness he hadn’t counted on. A weakness so great that his company could pay the price. Will he stand up for the woman he loves, or protect the company he’s worked so hard to build…

breakdown

Series: Atlanta Affair
Author: Isabella Rae
# of Books: 4 (A Workplace Affair, A Sweet Affair, A Wedding Affair, A Hidden Affair)
Book Order: Connected
Complete?: No, Hidden Affair, is slated to be published
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Heat Rating: really warm
Point of View: First Person, Alternating
Publication Dates: September 2013 – ongoing
Source & Format: Own–Kindle

thoughts

Disclaimer: After finishing A Workplace Affair (Book 1), I opted not to continue this series. Find out why below…

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

Have you ever put a book on your TBR list, excited to read it and then when you finally do years later, you can’t remember why you were so excited to read it? That’s me with this series.

I was really excited to read A Workplace Affair. It was marked on my Kindle Wishlist for a long time and I finally snagged a copy when the price dropped to $1 a few years ago. I think I was eager to try another contemporary romance after loving the Worth It Series by Karen Erickson. Or, I was mixing it up with Kristen Proby’s With Me in Seattle Series. Regardless, I remember being excited to read it when I bought it but when I reread the synopsis just before I started it, I didn’t have that same enthusiasm but I went in with an open mind.

What I Liked:

–The Integration of the Secondary Characters–

In a series where the sequels involve secondary characters, its always a nice to get to know them before hand so you are invested in getting their stories in the next novel. A Workplace Affair did a good job at giving you a little taste of all the subsequent leads and making you curious about their lifestories.

What I Didn’t Like:

–A Very Rushed Romance–

This story was a classic case of love at first sight. Leland sees Victoria and instantly has to have her. I think they talk twice before he is asking her to move in. I get instant connections but these two had hardly had a conversation before they were making these life altering decisions. Ugh.

–Unnecessary Drama–

One of my biggest pet peeves in contemporary romances is the communication assumption. You know, when the characters assume something to be true but never seek confirmation and drama ensues. But what’s even worse is when the character(s) purposely leave something out. Absolutely frustrating.

Spoiler: Unnecessary Drama Example #1

Leland has decided that he wants to move to Atlanta because he knows it’s too much for Victoria to move to NYC. So when she tells him she is willing to move, he says he doesn’t want her to move in with him anymore…and leaves it at that. Full well knowing it will drive Victoria away because he has a “surprise” (aka he is moving to Atlanta to be with her). Why couldn’t he just say that?!!??!?!

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The other time is when Victoria knows that what has happened is outside of Leland’s control, gets that there is nothing he can do but then proceeds to be super upset by it. And I get that the situation was upsetting but I felt like she really blew things out of proportions.

Will I Finish It?

I do have A Sweet Affair on my Kindle since I picked it up as a freebie years ago but given my experience with A Workplace Affair, I’m not too optimistic that I will enjoy the rest of the series.

Series Rating: DNF

A Workplace Affair 2/5 | A Sweet Affair N/A | A Wedding Affair N/A | A Hidden Affair TBR

overall

If you like quick romances and don’t mind some cliche plot lines, you will likely enjoy this series! Otherwise, there are stronger adult contemporary romances out there.

Read if You Like: insta-love, workplace romances, quick stories
Avoid if You: dislike cliche plots

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DNF Series Review: Hart by Ann Stewart and Stephanie Nash

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

The Hart Series

 book2 book3

SERIESous’ Top Book Series: Guilty Pleasure Read 2014
Series: The Hart Series
Author: Ann Stewart and Stephanie Nash
# of Books: 3 (Chosen Heart, Shattered Heart, Destined Heart)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Drama, Soap Opera, Workplace Romance
Heat Rating: getting hot
Point of View: First Person

Thoughts on Chosen Heart:

Disclaimer: I will not be picking up the sequel, Shattered Heart. Find out why below…

When I read the synopsis for this book when browsing Kindle’s Bestseller Freebie lists, I was really excited to read it. Never mind the other 100 books that I had previously acquired for my Kindle or the books I had out from the library–I had to read this one. The whole “you don’t marry your dirty little secret” line of the synopsis is what really drew me in. In my mind, that meant I was in for some good drama and a dash of mystery so I was there.

My initial impression of Chosen Heart was that is was very Fifty Shades of Grey-esque. A younger, just starting out in the real world (in this case a new job) girl meets a mysterious rich, slightly older man; has a best friend who is in love with her and features the classic “I’ll save you” at the bar scene. But to be fair to this book, it isn’t a regurgitation of Fifty Shades. Yes it has similar elements but I didn’t feel as though I was rereading Fifty Shades. Another key difference is that this book features an alpha male but one who isn’t super rich or into BDSM–so score there on that last point (unless you like that kind of thing)! So while this book starts as your typical contemporary, business setting romance it moves in a completely different direction.

The best way to describe this book is as a soap opera in a novel. There is a lot of back and forth between Alex and Elyssa in terms of their relationship and there are plenty of rivals for their affections at every turn. The last quarter of the book is the very definition of a soap opera to me when everything starts to come together and the drama unfolds. I felt like I was watching an episode of Dallas because it got very soapy near the end 😛

Truth be told, I probably would have stopped reading it because it felt like it was dragging at times. It’s weird to say that things were dragging considering everything really happens in a matter of days but it just seemed like it was the same regurgitation of things: he likes me, he ignores me, we reunite, we stop talking, ex-boyfriend shows up, etc. But this book kind-of became a guilty pleasure to me because I really wanted to know what all the secrets were. And I have to say that while I had my suspicions about what they would be and I was correct, there were a few good spins that I didn’t see coming that really added to the over-the-top drama.

I had a bit of a love-hate relationship with the characters of Alex and Elyssa. Sometimes I would like them and other times I just wanted to smack them on the head. I never really liked Elyssa to be honest though there were a few moments I thought I might get on her side. She just rubbed me the wrong way with how she handled things and I felt like she was expecting too much from something that happened so quickly. She makes a lot of assumptions about things and sometimes the assumptions seemed so out of left field. Though to be fair, Alex was just as bad with his assumptions as well.

Alex was a very alpha male character and I didn’t feel that it was totally warranted at times considering they just met. I also felt like he was just going through the motions of the stereotypical alpha male but was missing a few things along the way. I didn’t always get how he got from point A to B–I just felt like he was missing a piece to his character here and there. Most of the time I think it was used to create drama for the reader but all it did for me was irritate me because it seemed to be so senseless. But I did like him when he expressed his views about the “big freshman secret” because he was completely right in my opinion–even if I didn’t like his physical reaction to it.

As I was finishing this book, I sort-of came to the conclusion that I wouldn’t be reading the sequel. I didn’t love Chosen Hart as much as I thought and I really didn’t see what could happen in a sequel–so I wasn’t about to subject myself to more “he loves me, he loves me not” chapters. But once I got to the final few chapters, I found myself curious to see what would happen next. I think if my reading list permits it, I will check out the sequel but as of this moment, I am going to leave the series as is and finish it at a later time.

Conclusion:

If you are looking for a good soap opera book, this is it. I felt like I was watching an episode of the Bold and the Beautiful unfold before my eyes as I read. A definite guilty pleasure read!

Rating: 2.5/5

Similar Reads: Fifty Shades of Gray by E.L. James (Fifty Shades Trilogy #1) and Wanted by Kelly Elliot (Wanted Series #1)

Synopsis for Chosen Heart (from Goodreads):
Elyssa Hart has tried to forget that frightful night during her freshman year of college. Since then it’s been hard to let anyone close, which is why she only has one friend near and dear to her heart. Forsaking all others, she lives a silent, lonely existence. That was until she jumped into the next chapter of her life; Sales Executive at the prestigious Salerno Health, Inc.

The moment she met the always calm and collected Alexander James, her life was set on a new path. One moment she’s slowly falling in love and the next she’s plummeting painfully to the ground with the realization that you don’t marry your dirty little secret; you keep her in the closet. That was, until she found out she was not his only kept secret.

Will the enigma of Mr. James be more than Elyssa can handle? Or will she choose him, like she promised she always would.

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Single Sundays: Crazy, Undercover, Love by Nikki Moore

Single Sundays: While this blog may be focused on reviewing book series as a whole, we can’t forget about the good ole’ standalone novel! On Sundays, I will review a novel that is considered to be a standalone novel. Here is this week’s offering:

Synopsis for Crazy, Undercover, Love (from Goodreads):
Uber-feisty career girl Charley Caswell-Wright travels to Barcelona for a weekend assignment as PA to the gorgeous Alex Demetrio, CEO of Demetrio International.

But she’s there under entirely false pretenses: to get her life back on track. Having lost the job she worked so hard to earn, she’s determined not to give it up so easily, especially when she didn’t deserve to lose it in the first place.

Mr Dreamy CEO is her only chance of clawing back her career – and her reputation. So she has to keep things strictly professional… boy, is she in trouble!

Review:

This book was just what I needed–a fun yet heartwarming romance novel that put a smile on my face as I was reading and when I finished.

It was refreshing to read a story with a strong heroine and a CEO who doesn’t have some kinky sexy obsession or alpha male tendencies. I get that reading is fiction so it’s nice to lose yourself to a fantasy–but every once and a while it’s nice to read about some down to earth characters (all things considered).

Although this book takes places over a weekend, I really liked the relationship that develops between Alex and Charley. It felt genuine to me and wasn’t based on just their physical attraction to each other. And their conversations weren’t laced with innuendos or useless prattle but interesting topics. But, the sexual tension is right there from the start so I never felt like it was lacking in any means!

The reason Charley is in Barcelona is because she lost her job and wants it back–and this adds an interesting spin to the book. I really liked this plotline and it added a more serious tone to the book which kept things a little more interesting though the focus is mostly on the romance. But be warned if you are hoping to read more about the city of Barcelona, there really is only one chapter where the city is toured so not much is described if that is what you are looking forward to the most.

While this book seems straight-forward and most readers will probably have a good idea on where everything is headed before you even start the book, there were some good plot twists along the way that made everything a little more interesting and made the book that much more enjoyable.

Conclusion:

If you want a romance that is just a straight, “vanilla” romance that is quick and entertaining, this is it. Just a great, light hearted read that is delivered well and is simply charming to read.

Rating: 4/5

Shorthand Stats:
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Chick Lit, Brit Lit, Travel, Workplace Romance
Recommended for: 26+ women
Heat Rating: warm
Point of View: first person
Similar Reads: Worth the Scandal by Karen Erickson (Worth it Series #1)

Series Review: A Long Road to Love by Liza O’Connor

SERIESous’ Top Book Series: Guilty Pleasure Read 2014
Series: A Long Road to Love Trilogy
Author: Liza O’Connor
# of Books: 3 (Worst Week Ever, Oh Stupid Heart, Coming to Reason)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Humour
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: Third Person, Alternating

Thoughts:

NOTE: I have only read the first book, Worst Week Ever, of this series.
I picked up Worst Week Ever as a freebie from Amazon one day and I needed a light-hearted book to read around that time so I decided to read it right away.

It is important to go into this book knowing it isn’t going to be the greatest book ever. The writing isn’t anything fantastic and the plot is over-the-top. But it you go into the book knowing that, you will enjoy reading it.

The situations Trent and Carrie find themselves in were very entertaining and often hilarious. Trent reminded me a lot of Drew from Tangled in how he views life and women–but Trent is much more over-the-top. Carrie is easy to empathize with and she keeps a level head despite all the craziness.

I will be reading the next book in the series, Oh Silly Heart, but I would have been happy with the series ending at Worst Week Ever. I’m not in any rush to read it but I hope to read it one day.

Conclusion:

Part of the reason I liked this book so much was that I didn’t pay the $5 for it and I went in with low expectations. I wanted a fun book that would potentially make me laugh. If these books pop up for free on Amazon and you want to read something that is lighthearted and doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Rating: 3.5/5

Similar Reads: Tangled by Emma Chase (Tangled #1)

Synopsis for Worst Week Ever (from Goodreads):
Trent Lancaster spends one month without his Executive Assistant (or as his drivers refers to Carrie: ‘Trent’s brain, left hand, and right hand’. He’s had a miserable month without her at his side and to ensure it never happens again, he intends to marry this brilliant beauty. Only given all the times he’s threatened to fire her, he’s not sure she even likes him. However, the future of his company and his happiness depend upon him succeeding, so Trent begins a slow one week seduction, that happens to coincide with Carrie Hanson’s Worst Week Ever when everything that can go wrong does so in hilarious form. (Hilarious to the reader, Carrie is not having much fun this week.)

Series Review: Worth It by Karen Erickson

Series Review: Worth It by Karen Erickson

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

   

booksynopsis

Synopsis for Worth the Scandal (from Goodreads):

Alexander Worth, President and CEO of Worth Luxury Goods, is a man never to be crossed. His unwavering sense of responsibility to the family business requires him to always be in complete and utter control. Until it comes to Tessa Crawford.

She’s quietly professional, shy, voluptuous…and she works for him. Which means she is the one woman he must never touch, no matter how hard his gut twists with need for her.

After rising above her disadvantaged childhood, Tessa knows the last thing she should do is risk throwing it all away by falling into bed with her sexy boss. But on an extended European business trip, all self-imposed barriers burn away in the heat of their sizzling chemistry.

Once back home, though, whispers of corporate espionage turn into full-blown scandal-and Tessa finds out the hard way where Alex’s loyalties lie. Determined to soldier on, she picks herself up and carries on with a secret, yet welcomed burden. Never guessing that Alex will make a reappearance in her life, ready to show her once and for all that family does, indeed, come first.

Warning: Contains a sweet-yet-strong woman, and a bossy alpha male brought to his knees by the woman he desperately loves. Involves enough begging and groveling that the reader may be tempted to “accidentally” leave it for her significant other to “find.” For instructional purposes only, of course.

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Series: Worth It

There is also a spin-off series: The Renaldis

Author: Karen Erickson (aka Monica Murphy)
# of Books: 4 (Full Reading Order Here)
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Heat Rating: Toasty
Point of View: Third Person, Alternating
Publication Dates: March 2012 – February 2013
Source & Format: Own–eBook

thoughts

Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:

I learned about this series when I discovered that Worth the Scandal was a free eBook on Amazon. Although Alex and Tess weren’t my favourite characters to read about, I was hooked into the series.

The Concept / The World:

The series follows the three Worth brothers who run a fashion empire. Each is unique in their own way and this is reflected into their stories. There are a ton of little twists along the way in each of the books that make you turn the pages.

The Plot:

These books read a little like soap operas. You’ve got all the family drama of the Newmans (The Young and the Restless) or Dynasty when it comes to running a family business mixed in with passionate love affairs. With the exception of the last book, Worth Everything, I found each book had an overall dramatic plot that kept me hooked and contributed to the overall romance. And I also found that while the drama was wrapped up sufficiently within each book, there is enough lingering to make me want to pick up the next book.

The Characters:

I didn’t really like Tessa and Alexander from Worth the Scandal (#1) — but rarely do I enjoy the first set of leads in a romance series that focuses on family (see The Sullivans or The Wright Brother) so I take that with a grain of salt. I find that the little inklings we get of everyone in the first book intrigue me to pick up the rest of the series and that’s what happens here.

The Romance:

All these romances happen rather quickly thanks to lusty passions but I found by the end of the book, I knew why the attraction was there and could see why these couples would work long term.

My Expectations for the Spin-off — The Renaldis:

I’m very excited for this spin-off! I can’t wait to get to know more about this family!

Check out my review here!

Series Rating: 4/5

Worth the Scandal 3.5/5 | Worth the Risk 4/5 | Worth the Challenge 4.5/5 | Worth Everything 3.5/5

overall

If you like contemporary romances with millionaire businessmen, business-savvy women and lots of heat, then you will love this series.

Read if You Like: quick contemporary romance reads, family drama / soap operas
Avoid if You: want a darker romance
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