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mrsherrera's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
scoutmomskf's review against another edition
5.0
Good book. I really liked Ashley. She was such a cheerful, enthusiastic person. I thought that she was exactly what Devon needed. I liked the fact that Devon hadn't wanted to deceive her. I thought her dad had his heart in the right place, wanting to make sure she was taken care of, but his execution stunk. I could see that Ashley was wiggling into Devon's heart, but he didn't realize what it meant. He just kept feeling off balance and blamed her for it. When she found out about the deal, he went after her for all those qualities. She then tried to change to get him to love her. When he finally realized what he had done, he knew he had to fix it. I loved his "go big or go home" moment. I'm looking forward to Cam's story next.
tsukikomew's review against another edition
3.0
This review was posted at Tsuki’s Book Blog on Wednesday May 8, 2013.
I love Maya Banks' Harlequin Desire books a lot. I'll admit I keep checking to see if she'll write more but so far nope. This is actually the third book in the series but I read it second because book one was checked out from the library when I went looking. I seem to be breaking all the rules now.
This book follows Devon and Ashley's romance though it's very turbulent and intense marriage. Devon wants Ashley's father to cut a deal with him but the father's condition is for Devon to marry Ashley. Ashley falls in love with Devon before finding out it was a business deal on her wedding night. At that point she starts to change herself to be the perfect wife for Devon but once her pregnancy is discovered her outlook on life changes drastically.
Ashley was an interesting character. She started out being sweet and bubbly. She would call Devon to tell him she loved him in the middle of the day. Her family treated her like she was some exotic flower that needed to be protected and coddled but she seemed relatively happy with them anyway. She stupidly tried to change herself which I've found to be a common theme in HP. Unfortunately I hate that story usually because the hero is a true asshat.
Devon is the definition of asshat in this book. He sees nothing wrong with marrying her for a deal. He sees nothing wrong in telling her she's childish and needs to grow up. He sees nothing wrong in belittling her job because it's only charity work. So I sort of wished he got kicked in the nuts at least once. Unfortunately he isn't aware enough to actually realize he was in love with Ashley as she was until two people point it out to him at the convenient moment when it was necessary.
It was a cute story to read and I enjoyed the time I spent reading it. The problem with it was the analysis value. When I looked back at the books I found myself disappointed in the characters. Ashley was too much of a doormat when her personality in the beginning seemed too strong to allow herself to be lost. Devon never really grew as a person until the book decreed he had to...as in the last twenty pages.
It's a fun story but I have higher hopes for the other ones in the quartet. To be honest, I'm really excited for Cam's book but it's the last one...
3 Stars
Published by Harlequin--Desire
193 Pages
March 1, 2012
Provided by--the Library
I love Maya Banks' Harlequin Desire books a lot. I'll admit I keep checking to see if she'll write more but so far nope. This is actually the third book in the series but I read it second because book one was checked out from the library when I went looking. I seem to be breaking all the rules now.
This book follows Devon and Ashley's romance though it's very turbulent and intense marriage. Devon wants Ashley's father to cut a deal with him but the father's condition is for Devon to marry Ashley. Ashley falls in love with Devon before finding out it was a business deal on her wedding night. At that point she starts to change herself to be the perfect wife for Devon but once her pregnancy is discovered her outlook on life changes drastically.
Ashley was an interesting character. She started out being sweet and bubbly. She would call Devon to tell him she loved him in the middle of the day. Her family treated her like she was some exotic flower that needed to be protected and coddled but she seemed relatively happy with them anyway. She stupidly tried to change herself which I've found to be a common theme in HP. Unfortunately I hate that story usually because the hero is a true asshat.
Devon is the definition of asshat in this book. He sees nothing wrong with marrying her for a deal. He sees nothing wrong in telling her she's childish and needs to grow up. He sees nothing wrong in belittling her job because it's only charity work. So I sort of wished he got kicked in the nuts at least once. Unfortunately he isn't aware enough to actually realize he was in love with Ashley as she was until two people point it out to him at the convenient moment when it was necessary.
It was a cute story to read and I enjoyed the time I spent reading it. The problem with it was the analysis value. When I looked back at the books I found myself disappointed in the characters. Ashley was too much of a doormat when her personality in the beginning seemed too strong to allow herself to be lost. Devon never really grew as a person until the book decreed he had to...as in the last twenty pages.
It's a fun story but I have higher hopes for the other ones in the quartet. To be honest, I'm really excited for Cam's book but it's the last one...
3 Stars
Published by Harlequin--Desire
193 Pages
March 1, 2012
Provided by--the Library
theeditorreads's review against another edition
4.0
I have joined Manali Dey, a friend on Bookstagram, for the #MillsandBoonReadathon for which we are reading 18 books, coz it's '18! This is Book 11.
For Devon Carter, Ashley Copeland is nothing more than a means to an end. So, he seduces her with the promise of love and happy ever afters because he wants to merge her Dad's company with his company in order to create the largest and most exclusive line of resorts in the world. But, all this is happening mainly due to terms set by Ashley's father. And she doesn't have an inkling about it. Devon doesn't like it at all, but he needs it for his business.
And then Ashley comes to know about everything, on their wedding night. She is as naive as they come, having grown up in a sheltered environment with too much of TLC.
This book is written from both their POVs. I loved Ashley's sweet nature. And her chatterbox self. Her open affection towards everyone is so contagious. And Dev, for all his deviousness, is attracted to Ash and a great self-critic. Ash confesses her love for him even before they are physically intimate. Their talks are something else, they seem to be totally compatible. The way Dev takes care of her is so sweet! And the Copeland family is charming, however grisly the deal sounded earlier. They are so big and boisterous. It would be lovely to have a family like that. And her quartet of friends is lovely too. Always have each other's backs.
The only thing that rankled me about this book was Ashley thinking,
"If he didn't want/love her, then one option was to become someone he could love." Change myself for a person I love so that he loves me back? Nah, not doing that. Mutually adjusting in marriage is okay, I guess, but complete change? Nope.
And then, "Could she make him fall in love with her?"
There is grovelling at the end, though it could have been more. And for the epilogue part, I think I'd have to wait for the next book. Sigh!
Also, nothing much was mentioned about Devon's background, his family. Knowing that about him would definitely have helped me to understand him better, what makes him tick, what drives him. Only in passing is it mentioned about his parents, his mother, not wanting him.
P.S. Rafael de Luca, Ryan Beardsley, Devon Carter, and Cameron Hollingsworth are business partners. And the books in the series are respectively about them.
I don't read books serial-wise half the time, and then I understand my folly. Bryony gives birth to a daughter (Rafe and Bryony, the couple from the first book.)
This is my second read by [a:Maya Banks|24978|Maya Banks|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1490067531p2/24978.jpg]. But, nothing can beat [b:The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress|4003551|The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress (Anetakis Tycoons, #1)|Maya Banks|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1542721229s/4003551.jpg|4049778]. It is my all-time favourite read in the M&B World, and I'm going to re-read it as a part of this readathon.
For Devon Carter, Ashley Copeland is nothing more than a means to an end. So, he seduces her with the promise of love and happy ever afters because he wants to merge her Dad's company with his company in order to create the largest and most exclusive line of resorts in the world. But, all this is happening mainly due to terms set by Ashley's father. And she doesn't have an inkling about it. Devon doesn't like it at all, but he needs it for his business.
And then Ashley comes to know about everything, on their wedding night. She is as naive as they come, having grown up in a sheltered environment with too much of TLC.
This book is written from both their POVs. I loved Ashley's sweet nature. And her chatterbox self. Her open affection towards everyone is so contagious. And Dev, for all his deviousness, is attracted to Ash and a great self-critic. Ash confesses her love for him even before they are physically intimate. Their talks are something else, they seem to be totally compatible. The way Dev takes care of her is so sweet! And the Copeland family is charming, however grisly the deal sounded earlier. They are so big and boisterous. It would be lovely to have a family like that. And her quartet of friends is lovely too. Always have each other's backs.
The only thing that rankled me about this book was Ashley thinking,
"If he didn't want/love her, then one option was to become someone he could love." Change myself for a person I love so that he loves me back? Nah, not doing that. Mutually adjusting in marriage is okay, I guess, but complete change? Nope.
And then, "Could she make him fall in love with her?"
There is grovelling at the end, though it could have been more. And for the epilogue part, I think I'd have to wait for the next book. Sigh!
Also, nothing much was mentioned about Devon's background, his family. Knowing that about him would definitely have helped me to understand him better, what makes him tick, what drives him. Only in passing is it mentioned about his parents, his mother, not wanting him.
P.S. Rafael de Luca, Ryan Beardsley, Devon Carter, and Cameron Hollingsworth are business partners. And the books in the series are respectively about them.
I don't read books serial-wise half the time, and then I understand my folly. Bryony gives birth to a daughter (Rafe and Bryony, the couple from the first book.)
This is my second read by [a:Maya Banks|24978|Maya Banks|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1490067531p2/24978.jpg]. But, nothing can beat [b:The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress|4003551|The Tycoon's Pregnant Mistress (Anetakis Tycoons, #1)|Maya Banks|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1542721229s/4003551.jpg|4049778]. It is my all-time favourite read in the M&B World, and I'm going to re-read it as a part of this readathon.
brenaew's review against another edition
3.0
A good Harlequin read. Out of the 3 books so far in the series this one was my favorite.
girlwithhearteyes's review against another edition
DNF @ 13%. I love Maya Bank's historical romances, but somehow it doesn't QUITE translate for me with her contemporary romances. But I will keep trying.
liyak's review
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
aefedele's review
3.0
This review was posted at Tsuki’s Book Blog on Wednesday May 8, 2013.
I love Maya Banks' Harlequin Desire books a lot. I'll admit I keep checking to see if she'll write more but so far nope. This is actually the third book in the series but I read it second because book one was checked out from the library when I went looking. I seem to be breaking all the rules now.
This book follows Devon and Ashley's romance though it's very turbulent and intense marriage. Devon wants Ashley's father to cut a deal with him but the father's condition is for Devon to marry Ashley. Ashley falls in love with Devon before finding out it was a business deal on her wedding night. At that point she starts to change herself to be the perfect wife for Devon but once her pregnancy is discovered her outlook on life changes drastically.
Ashley was an interesting character. She started out being sweet and bubbly. She would call Devon to tell him she loved him in the middle of the day. Her family treated her like she was some exotic flower that needed to be protected and coddled but she seemed relatively happy with them anyway. She stupidly tried to change herself which I've found to be a common theme in HP. Unfortunately I hate that story usually because the hero is a true asshat.
Devon is the definition of asshat in this book. He sees nothing wrong with marrying her for a deal. He sees nothing wrong in telling her she's childish and needs to grow up. He sees nothing wrong in belittling her job because it's only charity work. So I sort of wished he got kicked in the nuts at least once. Unfortunately he isn't aware enough to actually realize he was in love with Ashley as she was until two people point it out to him at the convenient moment when it was necessary.
It was a cute story to read and I enjoyed the time I spent reading it. The problem with it was the analysis value. When I looked back at the books I found myself disappointed in the characters. Ashley was too much of a doormat when her personality in the beginning seemed too strong to allow herself to be lost. Devon never really grew as a person until the book decreed he had to...as in the last twenty pages.
It's a fun story but I have higher hopes for the other ones in the quartet. To be honest, I'm really excited for Cam's book but it's the last one...
3 Stars
Published by Harlequin--Desire
193 Pages
March 1, 2012
Provided by--the Library
I love Maya Banks' Harlequin Desire books a lot. I'll admit I keep checking to see if she'll write more but so far nope. This is actually the third book in the series but I read it second because book one was checked out from the library when I went looking. I seem to be breaking all the rules now.
This book follows Devon and Ashley's romance though it's very turbulent and intense marriage. Devon wants Ashley's father to cut a deal with him but the father's condition is for Devon to marry Ashley. Ashley falls in love with Devon before finding out it was a business deal on her wedding night. At that point she starts to change herself to be the perfect wife for Devon but once her pregnancy is discovered her outlook on life changes drastically.
Ashley was an interesting character. She started out being sweet and bubbly. She would call Devon to tell him she loved him in the middle of the day. Her family treated her like she was some exotic flower that needed to be protected and coddled but she seemed relatively happy with them anyway. She stupidly tried to change herself which I've found to be a common theme in HP. Unfortunately I hate that story usually because the hero is a true asshat.
Devon is the definition of asshat in this book. He sees nothing wrong with marrying her for a deal. He sees nothing wrong in telling her she's childish and needs to grow up. He sees nothing wrong in belittling her job because it's only charity work. So I sort of wished he got kicked in the nuts at least once. Unfortunately he isn't aware enough to actually realize he was in love with Ashley as she was until two people point it out to him at the convenient moment when it was necessary.
It was a cute story to read and I enjoyed the time I spent reading it. The problem with it was the analysis value. When I looked back at the books I found myself disappointed in the characters. Ashley was too much of a doormat when her personality in the beginning seemed too strong to allow herself to be lost. Devon never really grew as a person until the book decreed he had to...as in the last twenty pages.
It's a fun story but I have higher hopes for the other ones in the quartet. To be honest, I'm really excited for Cam's book but it's the last one...
3 Stars
Published by Harlequin--Desire
193 Pages
March 1, 2012
Provided by--the Library
mousegoddess's review
4.0
I really liked the heroine and I thought everyone acted well in character. There were no misunderstandings, there were just MAJOR fuck ups (mostly on the part of the hero). I get so tired of the "Tragic Misunderstanding" particularly when coupled with the noble idiot trope, so this story was a relief. Maya Banks is fast becoming a favourite of mine because she creates characters that I believe I could meet walking on the street.
The bonus story by Brenda Jackson at the end was great. It was short, but she presented things in such a manner that the quickness of everything totally made sense within the context of the story. I love it when I read a short story and I'm not thinking "Well, THAT needed twenty more pages!". The length, pace and everything of this short story was spot-on.
The bonus story by Brenda Jackson at the end was great. It was short, but she presented things in such a manner that the quickness of everything totally made sense within the context of the story. I love it when I read a short story and I'm not thinking "Well, THAT needed twenty more pages!". The length, pace and everything of this short story was spot-on.