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wilko's review against another edition
5.0
You will laugh, crying, get frustrated, want to knock some heads together so they see sense as well as chew your nails as you see Verena's family business in crisis and about to be lost to a scoundrel whilst potentially lose the perfect man for her. Verena goes through so much in this book, but she also gets to see who her friends really are and how much they and her family care and then there is a Lance, I want a Lance all of my own!! I absolutely loved this book and can not wait for the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
4.0
Flawless by Jan Moran is the first book in A Hostile Beauty series. Verena Valent runs her families company Valent Swiss Skincare which was founded by her grandmother in 1948. She has been running the company since her parent's died in a car accident when she was eighteen. Verena plans on expanding the company into Asia and has invested heavily into the venture when she loses her line of credit. Her banker, Marvin Panetta is dead and so is the financing. Verena tries to find other financing, but, with the help of her fiancé Derrick Logan, Verena goes to Herringbone (capital venture firm). This moves turns out to be the worst decision Verena has ever made (except for getting engaged to Derrick).
Along the way Verena has to deal with her grandmother, Mia (who is not in the best of health), her twin sisters, Anika and Bella (just thirteen), and Lance Martel. Lance captured her interest at an awards dinner. He made her dinner and then they continued to run into each other. The attraction was instantaneous but Verena kept resisting. Verena felt she made a commitment to Derrick and should stick with it (despite the horrible thing he does to her). Thankfully, Verena has some wonderful friends (Scarlett, Dahlia, and Fianna) as well as her family.
Flawless captured my attention right away and I could not put this book down. Romance, mystery, and some intrigue along with good writing. I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. There are two more books in A Hostile Beauty series: Beauty Mark and Runway. Beauty Mark is currently available and Runway will be out March 28, 2015. A lot happens in Flawless. I tried to give you a brief summary without giving away any spoilers!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Along the way Verena has to deal with her grandmother, Mia (who is not in the best of health), her twin sisters, Anika and Bella (just thirteen), and Lance Martel. Lance captured her interest at an awards dinner. He made her dinner and then they continued to run into each other. The attraction was instantaneous but Verena kept resisting. Verena felt she made a commitment to Derrick and should stick with it (despite the horrible thing he does to her). Thankfully, Verena has some wonderful friends (Scarlett, Dahlia, and Fianna) as well as her family.
Flawless captured my attention right away and I could not put this book down. Romance, mystery, and some intrigue along with good writing. I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. There are two more books in A Hostile Beauty series: Beauty Mark and Runway. Beauty Mark is currently available and Runway will be out March 28, 2015. A lot happens in Flawless. I tried to give you a brief summary without giving away any spoilers!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
wilko's review
5.0
You will laugh, crying, get frustrated, want to knock some heads together so they see sense as well as chew your nails as you see Verena's family business in crisis and about to be lost to a scoundrel whilst potentially lose the perfect man for her. Verena goes through so much in this book, but she also gets to see who her friends really are and how much they and her family care and then there is a Lance, I want a Lance all of my own!! I absolutely loved this book and can not wait for the next one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
mwenglarski's review
3.0
3 1/2 ⭐️ any book that mentions kismet is bound to be a “Hallmark” read, but this is one was enjoyable
falulatonks's review
3.0
This was a really random pick-up - the most eye-catching book out of the ebook freebies I was offered - and maybe that randomness is what's left me with conflicting feelings.
This is probably more of a chick lit book than it is a romance - ie, career woman, family, friends! - and though I headed in expecting the latter, it does the first thing REALLY WELL - an easy four out of five stars. I like the setting of it, and the characters. I adore Verena and her family, and I loved how easy it was to get invested in this shitty situation, and how mad I got when things started going really south. It was interesting, and involving, and not like the usual books I get my hands on, which made this really worthwhile.
That said - there didn't seem to be thrust to the story? I predicted what would happen, and I was right; every beat. I was hoping for a little more business intrigue, something to kind of...set this book apart? from what I thought was a rather by-rote story. Maybe I just needed an emotional climax, but since it felt so normal, standard to me that it ended up not letting me feel much. Even the romance felt almost discardable - like Moran was going to lean into it, and then thought she wouldn't, and decided to not let that be any significant part of the book either. I like it when chick lit doesn't hinge on the love interest, and ultimately I did enjoy that Lance's participation had no effect whatsoever on Verena's story or life - but the leaning-in in the first couple of chapters made me settle in for a different kind of story with this relationship too, and it felt me unsatisfied there too. So while I was with all of this in theory, in execution I found it wanting.
I really think the main reason I'm thinking so hard about this one is that I don't know what exactly I found distancing? I don't know why I didn't react to this the way I almost wish I could have. The things about this that work really do work. The things that don't made it fall flat.
I do like Moran's writing style, and I liked that it never got over-emotional or melodramatic where it easily could have. That bodes well for future novels in the series, and honestly makes me want to look out for the next one when it comes. For now, though, no thanks to this one.
This is probably more of a chick lit book than it is a romance - ie, career woman, family, friends! - and though I headed in expecting the latter, it does the first thing REALLY WELL - an easy four out of five stars. I like the setting of it, and the characters. I adore Verena and her family, and I loved how easy it was to get invested in this shitty situation, and how mad I got when things started going really south. It was interesting, and involving, and not like the usual books I get my hands on, which made this really worthwhile.
That said - there didn't seem to be thrust to the story? I predicted what would happen, and I was right; every beat. I was hoping for a little more business intrigue, something to kind of...set this book apart? from what I thought was a rather by-rote story. Maybe I just needed an emotional climax, but since it felt so normal, standard to me that it ended up not letting me feel much. Even the romance felt almost discardable - like Moran was going to lean into it, and then thought she wouldn't, and decided to not let that be any significant part of the book either. I like it when chick lit doesn't hinge on the love interest, and ultimately I did enjoy that Lance's participation had no effect whatsoever on Verena's story or life - but the leaning-in in the first couple of chapters made me settle in for a different kind of story with this relationship too, and it felt me unsatisfied there too. So while I was with all of this in theory, in execution I found it wanting.
I really think the main reason I'm thinking so hard about this one is that I don't know what exactly I found distancing? I don't know why I didn't react to this the way I almost wish I could have. The things about this that work really do work. The things that don't made it fall flat.
I do like Moran's writing style, and I liked that it never got over-emotional or melodramatic where it easily could have. That bodes well for future novels in the series, and honestly makes me want to look out for the next one when it comes. For now, though, no thanks to this one.
sweetj's review
4.0
I̤̮ e̤̮n̤̮j̤̮o̤̮y̤̮e̤̮d̤̮ t̤̮h̤̮i̤̮s̤̮ b̤̮o̤̮o̤̮k̤̮ j̤̮ṳ̮s̤̮t̤̮ t̤̮h̤̮o̤̮ṳ̮g̤̮h̤̮t̤̮ i̤̮t̤̮ h̤̮a̤̮d̤̮ t̤̮o̤̮ m̤̮ṳ̮c̤̮h̤̮ d̤̮e̤̮t̤̮a̤̮i̤̮l̤̮s̤̮!
nesita's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
booklvrkat's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this story. The women are strong, the characters are built nicely.
marthasweeney's review
4.0
A great fun ready for all women who need some inspiration or motivation!
Enjoyed this story. Jan captured my heart when I got to meet her at a recent author event and even more with the story involving business in a fun and flirtatious way. Loved the names of all of the characters, loved Verena, even when she drove me nuts a few times (which was great) and loved the karma in the story. I think Mia was my favorite character.
I can't wait to read more of Jan's books.
Enjoyed this story. Jan captured my heart when I got to meet her at a recent author event and even more with the story involving business in a fun and flirtatious way. Loved the names of all of the characters, loved Verena, even when she drove me nuts a few times (which was great) and loved the karma in the story. I think Mia was my favorite character.
I can't wait to read more of Jan's books.