Lorelei's Lit Lair
Written on Mar 19, 2019
HGTV’s Property Brothers meets The Marriage Bargain in this second volume in the Billionaire Builders series, an all-new heart-wrenching and sexy contemporary romance from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.
When she was a teen, Raven Bella Stratton’s father was killed in a horrible car crash. The bigger shock was the discovery of a woman with him—Diana Pierce—and their two fully packed suitcases with airline tickets to Paris. Devastated by her father’s betrayal, Raven went to live with her aunt, never truly overcoming the traumatic event. When she discovers that the mysterious woman had a family with a husband and three boys, Raven vows to leave the memory of her father behind.
Until Dalton Pierce visits one night and suddenly her past challenges her future...
Leaving his life in California behind to run Pierce Construction with his two older brothers, Dalton Pierce has enjoyed returning home and studying his passion of woodworking. But when he visits the local bar with his brothers one evening, he’s immediately drawn to the smart-mouthed, badass, sexy bartender who sets his body on fire. Unfortunately, she doesn’t seem as intrigued by him, and his multiple advances are met with rejection. When he offers to restore the bar back to its original glory, he begins to work with her on a daily basis, and falls harder. His plan of seduction slowly weaves a web around them both, until they are caught up in the spell. But Dalton doesn’t know the secret that can either destroy them both...or finally mend two broken hearts.
- ISBN10 1501124277
- ISBN13 9781501124273
- Publish Date 24 January 2017
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Publisher Simon & Schuster
- Imprint Gallery
- Format eBook (EPUB)
- Pages 400
- Language English
Reviews
kimbacaffeinate
Written on Feb 9, 2017
Narrated by Sebastian York and Madeleine Maby I once again chose to listen to the audio. Maby has a pleasant voice and captured our heroine Raven wonderfully, but her male voices were lacking for me. Narrators like York and Petkoff have spoiled me with their amazing ability to capture both the male and female voices.
If you listened or read book one, EVERY WHERE, EVERY WAY, then you will remember Raven is the new owner of the bar, My Place. She didn't like the Pierce brothers from the onset but was immediately attracted to Dalton. It is something she desperately tries to deny. Dalton is a player, but Raven has gotten under his skin and so has her antique bar. We learn he has been visiting My Place daily and soon become privy to the banter between these two. Dalton tries desperately to get his hands on the bar and the girl, and when an upscale magazine shows an interesting in interviewing Raven, a mixology expert and her bar he soon may get the chance.
The tale that unfolds shares a passionate romance, between reluctant lovers who find something more. But there are secrets to be revealed, past scars to address and growth needed before they have any hopes of happily ever after. While there were are a couple of slow spots in the story, I spent a good portion of it, feeling for these characters, wanting to shake them and demanding a happy ending. This story wasn't as heavy on the HGTV factor that I loved in the first, but Dalton got me hot talking about wood.
Secondary characters and his brothers are present for interventions, and I was delighted to see them. We get hints about the next book, share laughs when the ladies learn poker and feel a sense of community. Raven's cook has me curious, and I wonder if Probst will delight us with his story. Maybe a novella? (hint-hint)
ANY TIME, ANY PLACE delivered allowing me to become attached to this couple. The mix of snark, swoons, and feels made their story feel genuine and gave the heat sizzle.
Copy provided by publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer