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a_ravenn's review
4.0
i'm not sure if it's because Nora is a veteran writer but the way she writes truly makes you fall in love. after being on a binge of modern romance books, it's different. dont get me wrong, the modern romance likes to spice things up with the possessiveness and whatnot. but this book... it encapsulates the difference between possessive and territorial yet also "dont mess with my woman, she will kick your ass xD
it's a little quick-paced in my opinion, everything (literally) happens so fast but the subtle, loving lines really make up for it. the way that this is written feels like you're one of the main characters, in a sense where you know it's happening too fast, you know it's not the best to dive in deep but also... you don't want to stop. <3
Best Parts:
[1] Celebration Ship and the whole crew <3
[2] Serena MacGregor (this woman put the Q in Queen xD)
[3] the pacing. yes, it was fast, but there was no boring parts in this book
Worst Parts:
[1] i quite literally almost puked at Justin's backstory T^T HE DESERVES HIS SISTER AND HE DESERVED TO HAVE BEEN PROTECTED FROM THAT MAN WHO CUT HIM
Favourite Quotes:
[1] "You have the eyes of a witch. I'm a superstitious man." (ABSOLUTELY WRECKED ME)
[2] "Be miserable without me" - "I did what you asked. I was miserable without you."
[3] "I want you somewhere I know nothing can touch you." // "You can't know anything!" // "I know that I love you!"
[4] "I've played the odds all my life. Not with you."
[5] Everything up to this moment seems like a prelude.
it's a little quick-paced in my opinion, everything (literally) happens so fast but the subtle, loving lines really make up for it. the way that this is written feels like you're one of the main characters, in a sense where you know it's happening too fast, you know it's not the best to dive in deep but also... you don't want to stop. <3
Best Parts:
Spoiler
[1] Celebration Ship and the whole crew <3
[2] Serena MacGregor (this woman put the Q in Queen xD)
[3] the pacing. yes, it was fast, but there was no boring parts in this book
Worst Parts:
Spoiler
[1] i quite literally almost puked at Justin's backstory T^T HE DESERVES HIS SISTER AND HE DESERVED TO HAVE BEEN PROTECTED FROM THAT MAN WHO CUT HIM
Favourite Quotes:
Spoiler
[1] "You have the eyes of a witch. I'm a superstitious man." (ABSOLUTELY WRECKED ME)
[2] "Be miserable without me" - "I did what you asked. I was miserable without you."
[3] "I want you somewhere I know nothing can touch you." // "You can't know anything!" // "I know that I love you!"
[4] "I've played the odds all my life. Not with you."
[5] Everything up to this moment seems like a prelude.
pjane22's review
4.0
I've been wanting to read more of Nora Roberts backlist, specifically her romances, I have memories from childhood of reading some of these stories that were definately too old for me! This was a good story, not my favorite and a little problematic from todays viewpoint but I cant ignore the way Nora forms a good romance with strong characters.
kathydavie's review
3.0
Publications-wise, it's first in the McGregor family romance series, and third chronologically. The couple focus is on Serena MacGregor and Justin Blade.
This series is a mess chronologically and has a number of stories combined into single books, so you may want to explore my list of the MacGregor family saga.
My Take
What can I say? I like a woman who knows what she wants and is prepared to go after it. And then there's all those alpha males...yummy!
It's a fluffy read; not one of Roberts' best.
The Story
Having achieved three degrees, Serena takes a job as a croupier on a cruise ship. As she explains it to her very wealthy father, she wants to meet a wide variety of people from all over the world. She wants to be accepted for who she is and not who her family is. A year has now passed and Serena is quitting her job. She knows what she wants now she just has to convince her dad that it's a good idea.
Justin Blade has been gifted into taking a cruise by a friend who feels that Justin needs to take some time to relax. It's inevitable that he should meet Serena as Justin is an inveterate gambler. Despite the no-fraternization rule, Justin overwhelms all of Serena's objections until she finds out who sent him the tickets.
The Characters
I liked the characters in this story. Serena MacGregor is strong and honest. Serena's brothers, Alan and Caine, are strong, powerful men with a realistic and equal view of their baby sister while their father, Daniel, is a no-nonsense kind of guy who cares very much for his children and wife. Their mother, Anna, is a surgeon who does needlepoint with a realistic view of the husband she loves as well as her children.
Justin Blade is ruthless, demanding, and considerate (in his way).
The Cover
The cover is odd. Two white hyacinths against a dark background. Now in the language of flowers, hyacinth can refer to games and sports and that is the closest reason I can arrive at as to why they grace the cover. Subtle. Too subtle for me.
This series is a mess chronologically and has a number of stories combined into single books, so you may want to explore my list of the MacGregor family saga.
My Take
What can I say? I like a woman who knows what she wants and is prepared to go after it. And then there's all those alpha males...yummy!
It's a fluffy read; not one of Roberts' best.
The Story
Having achieved three degrees, Serena takes a job as a croupier on a cruise ship. As she explains it to her very wealthy father, she wants to meet a wide variety of people from all over the world. She wants to be accepted for who she is and not who her family is. A year has now passed and Serena is quitting her job. She knows what she wants now she just has to convince her dad that it's a good idea.
Justin Blade has been gifted into taking a cruise by a friend who feels that Justin needs to take some time to relax. It's inevitable that he should meet Serena as Justin is an inveterate gambler. Despite the no-fraternization rule, Justin overwhelms all of Serena's objections until she finds out who sent him the tickets.
The Characters
I liked the characters in this story. Serena MacGregor is strong and honest. Serena's brothers, Alan and Caine, are strong, powerful men with a realistic and equal view of their baby sister while their father, Daniel, is a no-nonsense kind of guy who cares very much for his children and wife. Their mother, Anna, is a surgeon who does needlepoint with a realistic view of the husband she loves as well as her children.
Justin Blade is ruthless, demanding, and considerate (in his way).
The Cover
The cover is odd. Two white hyacinths against a dark background. Now in the language of flowers, hyacinth can refer to games and sports and that is the closest reason I can arrive at as to why they grace the cover. Subtle. Too subtle for me.
illusie's review
3.0
I could tell by the writing that this was one of Nora Roberts' earlier works. It had a slow start but was an enjoyable read
morellomel's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
txnighthuntress's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
3.0
My review has nothing against Nora Roberts it just didn't hold my interest like most of her books do.
digir's review
2.0
I’m 8% into it. Serena just met Justin and it’s feeling a bit like sexual harassment to me.
Maybe it’s supposed to be an unavoidable chemistry but it’s not reading that way. It’s a man that just met a woman and is sexually advancing on her. She isn’t even encouraging him, so it’s not giving ‘mutual’ at all. If I wasn’t so sure this was the MMC, I’d think this was a bad guy.
I’ve read a bit further in and it’s feeling a bit more mutual now. In a she has given in way. Hopefully I can ignore my mind enough to ‘enjoy’ reading this
Maybe it’s supposed to be an unavoidable chemistry but it’s not reading that way. It’s a man that just met a woman and is sexually advancing on her. She isn’t even encouraging him, so it’s not giving ‘mutual’ at all. If I wasn’t so sure this was the MMC, I’d think this was a bad guy.
I’ve read a bit further in and it’s feeling a bit more mutual now. In a she has given in way. Hopefully I can ignore my mind enough to ‘enjoy’ reading this
elodiethefangirl's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0