Archives for August 23, 2018

* Review * IN HIS FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS by Danielle Steel

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * IN HIS FATHER’S FOOTSTEPS by Danielle SteelIn His Father's Footsteps by Danielle Steel
Published by Delacorte Press on September 4, 2018
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four-half-stars

In this powerful novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel tells the story of two World War II concentration camp survivors, the life they build together, and the son who faces struggles of his own as a first generation American determined to be his own person and achieve success.

When U.S. troops occupy Germany, friends Jakob and Emmanuelle are saved from the terrible fate of so many in the camps. With the help of sponsors, they make their way to New York. In order not to be separated, they allow their friendship to blossom into love and marriage, and start a new life on the Lower East Side, working at grueling, poorly paid jobs.

Decades later, through talent, faith, fortune, and relentless hard work, Jakob has achieved success in the diamond business, invested in real estate in New York, and shown his son, Max, that America is truly the land of opportunity. Max is a rising star, a graduate of Harvard with friends among the wealthiest, most ambitious families in the world. And while his parents were thrown together by chance, Max chooses a perfect bride to start the perfect American family.

An opulent society wedding. A honeymoon in Tahiti. A palatial home in Greenwich. Max’s lavish lifestyle is unimaginable to his cautious old-world father and mother. Max wants to follow his father’s example and make his own fortune. But after the birth of children, and with a failing marriage, he can no longer deny that his wife is not the woman he thought she was. Angry and afraid, Max must do what he has never done before: struggle, persevere, and learn what it means to truly walk in his father’s footsteps, while pursuing his own ideals and setting an example for his children.

Moving from the ashes of postwar Europe to the Lower East Side of New York to wealth, success, and unlimited luxury, In His Father’s Footsteps is a stirring tale of three generations of strong, courageous, and loving people who pay their dues to achieve their goals.

 

A powerfully compelling story of strength, love and gumption! We’re magically thrust into a story of two people who face the worst and yet prosper with little more than the love they share and the clothes on their back simply because of their unique mindset of being grateful for every single thing they have in life. The two of them and the foundation they laid for their family simply made this story! The characters and early plot were complex and rich. The later story had a little less follow through but still gave a fulfilling conclusion. Overall I really enjoyed it!

Through tortuous situations, heartache and loss, Jakob Stein and Emmanuelle Berger manage to hold on long enough to be rescued from their imprisonment in a German conservation camp. Knowing little about each other, but knowing a kindred spirit when they see one, they decide to trust in their friendship enough to wed before being sponsored to freedom in the United States and let their love brew and grow naturally. They find themselves living miserly in low paying jobs and hard conditions, but are thankful for how far they have come since losing their family, history and possessions to such horror. As the years pass, they lean on each other through it all and devote their lives to the son they were blessed with as they bask in their love. They try to teach him how important family is, and the proper work ethic to go through life with in order to never be placed in a position of having to pull yourself up from rock bottom.

Their son Max grows into a well educated Harvard graduate who takes the knowledge and help his father shared with him to go on and prosper through real estate ventures to become an early success. He finds who he thinks is the love of his life and through an elaborate ceremony and opulent lifestyle sets out to grasp the world at his fingertips and go for a ride of riches and prosper. Years later he finds himself delighted with the birth of children, yet overworked and stressing more every day about becoming all that he can become while his marriage seems to get worse by the day with a woman that isn’t at all what he was expecting. Finally finding himself faced with a dire situation, he must reevaluate his life and struggle like his parents before him to make sure his family is at the top of his mindset as he forges a new life from the ruins he’s climbing out of.

four-half-stars

* Review * A RING TO TAKE HIS REVENGE by Pippa Roscoe

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * A RING TO TAKE HIS REVENGE by Pippa RoscoeA Ring to Take His Revenge by Pippa Roscoe
Series: The Winners' Circle
Published by Harlequin Presents on September 1, 2018
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four-stars

He’ll do anything to settle the score…

…even fake an engagement!

To secure his revenge against his cruel father, billionaire Antonio Arcuri needs a fake fiancée—fast! He demands his shy PA, Emma Guilham, wear his diamond. In return, he’ll help fulfill her dreams—starting with a jet-set trip to Buenos Aires! It’s a simple charade, until the burning tension between them erupts into irresistible desire. Now Antonio must decide between vengeance and Emma…

 

Revenge is a powerful motivator! Pippa Roscoe brings us the story of a man who cares deeply for his family and wants the man that brought them pain to suffer justly. He’s willing to use a woman he really knows very little about in order to further his cause … but as he begins to learn her story and see the person behind the shyness, he starts to want to protect her just as much as his family. The characters are intriguing and the story line was satisfying.

Antonio Arcuri has been waiting sixteen years to reap the revenge his family so richly deserves against the man that tore them apart and left them in ruins. On the cusp of a business deal that would be the final shove needed to ruin his father once and for all, Antonio will stop at nothing to make sure it happens. Even fake an engagement with the least likely woman around!

Personal assistant Emma Guilham is rather meek when it comes to his overbearing nature, and she never expects him to offer to make all of her dreams come true if only she’ll pretend to be his fiancee for long enough to get this contract that will revenge his family. She reluctantly agrees to the farce, but as they spend time together and set out to be seen as a couple, it starts to feel all too real!

four-stars

* Review * THREE-WAY SPLIT by Elia Winters

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

* Review * THREE-WAY SPLIT by Elia WintersThree-Way Split by Elia Winters
Series: Comes in Threes
Published by Entangled: Scorched on August 20, 2018
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four-stars

Hannah Stewart knows what she likes, and it doesn't include relationships. She has enough on her plate with her fledgling adult novelty shop, Yes Please. But even with an arsenal of sex toys at her disposal, she's hit a dry spell—one she wishes the sexy Mitchell Fredericks would help her out with.

There's just one snag. His sexy roommate and business partner, Ben Harrington.

The last thing she wants to do is come between their friendship—even though she'd like to come between them in other ways. Instead, she comes up with a proposition for them, one that might lead to a very hot, very unexpected outcome.

 

Decadently steamy! A story of three people, all strong and sassy in their own way, who find their way into a situation that none of them are sure how to handle at first. Hannah doesn’t want to call it a relationship, Mitchell feels more than he’ll ever admit, and Ben has been hurt before and is gun shy. Through sharing themselves with each other, an awakening of love and laughter leads them to a happiness none of them ever imagined. A solid story line with delectable characters. Must be okay with menage and M/M interactions to enjoy!

Adult novelty store owner Hannah Stewart doesn’t do commitment, but she does enjoy sex … a lot … and for the last year, she’s been lusting after Mitchell. They are friends around the neighborhood and at the community business meetings they both attend, but when they’re alone, flirting commences.

Chef and pub owner Mitchell Fredericks loves running Mapleton Pub with his best friend and roommate Ben. They’ve been in each other’s lives since high school and are now enjoying the good life of being successful business men. They are both bi-sexual, and in the last couple of years have been enjoying each other more than ever before, but Mitchell has also been yearning for Hannah.

Brewer and pub owner Ben Harrington hits on Hannah the minute he meets her, but he can tell there’s spark there between her and Mitchell as well. His playful nature might be just what these two need to finally take it to the next level, and he hopes he’ll be joining in!

four-stars