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Mad About the Boy
Julia Mendoza is driven by the success of her business. Since her husband Carlos passed away at such a young age, her business By Design is her number one priority. In her late twenties she works too hard and doesn’t take time out for fun. Annoyance with a pesky ex-friend has her begging one of the local surfer’s with a cheeky smile in the grocery store to pretend he’s her boyfriend. Suddenly, life takes a sudden detour from her business plan; much to the delight of her boisterous Latin American family.
Christophe Augustine is groomed to take over his father’s successful chain of luxurious hotels. With a wealthy French-American background, Chris has been given privileges that not many have. He works hard, plays harder but seeks approval and recognition above all else. Family is a top priority for him as he fights for custody of his young brother. His parent’s divorce has not diminished his faith in romance. When a gorgeous Latino woman changes one boring morning into an interesting game of role play, though reluctant to help at first, he soon realises she’s not like the string of other women he’s known.
A romantic first date ending dramatically doesn’t stop Chris from wanting to know Julia more. And for Julia, she’s all for a bit of fun but when things get too serious she’s running the other way. Too alike, in some ways and complete opposites, in others ways, Julia and Chris fumble through fun moments, annoying confrontations, passionate times and heartbreaking revelations.
Love has no boundaries when soul-mates meet but when one is ready to love and the other one isn’t...
Christophe Augustine is groomed to take over his father’s successful chain of luxurious hotels. With a wealthy French-American background, Chris has been given privileges that not many have. He works hard, plays harder but seeks approval and recognition above all else. Family is a top priority for him as he fights for custody of his young brother. His parent’s divorce has not diminished his faith in romance. When a gorgeous Latino woman changes one boring morning into an interesting game of role play, though reluctant to help at first, he soon realises she’s not like the string of other women he’s known.
A romantic first date ending dramatically doesn’t stop Chris from wanting to know Julia more. And for Julia, she’s all for a bit of fun but when things get too serious she’s running the other way. Too alike, in some ways and complete opposites, in others ways, Julia and Chris fumble through fun moments, annoying confrontations, passionate times and heartbreaking revelations.
Love has no boundaries when soul-mates meet but when one is ready to love and the other one isn’t...
- GenresRomance
166 pages, ebook
First published September 7, 2011
1 person is currently reading
57 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
November 26, 2011
I promised an honest review, so here goes...
Chris Augustine is the type of man every woman dreams of someday finding. He's kind, sensitive, easy-going, charming and oh so romantic. Let's not forget that he is insanely wealthy. Julia Mendoza was the complete opposite. She's a widow still mourning the passing of her young husband, she doesn't want a real relationship but she wants Chris to involve her in his every day including solving work related problems, family, etc. Which is why I found myself wanting to shake Julie Mendoza several times per chapter and wondering why Battah would match these two characters together. However, that is what makes this book worth the read. Opposites do attract. Not everyone is ready to jump into a relationship after the passing of a loved one, regardless of how long ago it happened. Unlike many other books, Suzan Battah's heroine is not perfect, she is flawed and a bit of a nutcase. The characters are real and believable. Mad About the Boy was and entertaining read and I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading about real characters with real every day problems and overcoming them.
Chris Augustine is the type of man every woman dreams of someday finding. He's kind, sensitive, easy-going, charming and oh so romantic. Let's not forget that he is insanely wealthy. Julia Mendoza was the complete opposite. She's a widow still mourning the passing of her young husband, she doesn't want a real relationship but she wants Chris to involve her in his every day including solving work related problems, family, etc. Which is why I found myself wanting to shake Julie Mendoza several times per chapter and wondering why Battah would match these two characters together. However, that is what makes this book worth the read. Opposites do attract. Not everyone is ready to jump into a relationship after the passing of a loved one, regardless of how long ago it happened. Unlike many other books, Suzan Battah's heroine is not perfect, she is flawed and a bit of a nutcase. The characters are real and believable. Mad About the Boy was and entertaining read and I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading about real characters with real every day problems and overcoming them.
April 5, 2012
This review was between a 3 and a 4 for me. View my original review to see why.
Review originally posted on Words at Home blog April 5, 2012: http://www.wordsathome.ca/2012/04/mad...
Mad About the Boy is a surprisingly substantial contemporary romance following the complicated, romantic and sometimes heartbreaking romance of Julia, a self-made business woman and young widow, and Chris, a perpetual bachelor, surfer and heir to a successful chain of hotels.
What I loved: The characters. Julia and Chris are the perfect contemporary romance couple. Julia was a really complicated character and at different times thorough out the novel I was rooting for her, angry with her ridiculous behavior, and just feeling for her in general. She had a lot going on in her life and more than her fair share of emotionally draining and difficult situations. As a young widow she was left emotionally scarred and truly believed that she would never be able to love again. Chris on the other hand was rich, famous and seemingly carefree. At first glance this beach loving ladies’ man appeared to have as much depth as a pizza box but he really surprised me and I ended up falling for him completely! I loved the fact that love did not come easily to this couple. They had very real struggles and challenges and Battah was able to write about these characters in a way that made me not only care for them but ache for them as well. Julia and Chris were surprisingly complex, authentic and human.
When I started reading Mad About the Boy I was expecting a light fluffy love story but there was so much more than that going on in this novel. It was actually a lot more serious and emotional than I expected. Just wait for some of the curveballs that Battah added in to completely turn this story on its head! I won’t give you any spoilers but I can tell you that they definitely keep the story interesting and you will not seem them coming!
What I didn’t love: The editing, it felt sloppy. I am not one to comment on editing, punctuation or word choice but in this case I need to say something. See, I really loved the story, and characters, and the author actually made me feel something when I was reading. Mad About the Boy had the potential to be a really GREAT book for me, but sloppy editing diminished that. There were a lot of sentences that had the wrong words inserted, and awkward phrasing. I truly believe that with a thorough and professional edit Mad About the Boy could be a 5 star read for me and that is why I’m being so critical. It frustrates me when I storyline and characters that I love fall flat.
At times it felt as though there was not enough follow through with ideas. It was as if the author knew exactly what she wanted to happen to her characters but didn’t fully explain or realize her ideas. One thing that really bothers me is laundry listing a scene, or telling rather than showing what is going on. There was a lot of this going on in Mad About the Boy. For example about half way through the novel Julia was in need of a mini vacation from her life and got away for a few days to the islands. There was the buildup of her trip, talk of her getting on the plane, landing on the island and then a paragraph break and BAM! I’m reading about how she finally got home. WHAT? Finally got home, as far as I was aware she barely left. Either follow through on the idea or leave it out – I was left completely annoyed after that particular passage and would have found it more satisfying to read something as simple as “after a weekend away Julia felt…” Again I think this all comes down to the editing as the author had everything needed to make this a fantastic romance.
Mad About the Boy was a tricky book for me. I wanted to love it and give it a 5 (or at least 4) star rating because I fell in love with the characters and their many levels, and loved the different layers to the story but the editing (or lack thereof) took away from that special something that I originally saw and left me sort of disappointed. Battah has created a phenomenal plotline but in my opinion it just wasn’t fully realized. That being said I will definitely be reading more from Suzan Battah, I can assure you that this is an author with a story to tell.
I received an e-review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review originally posted on Words at Home blog April 5, 2012: http://www.wordsathome.ca/2012/04/mad...
Mad About the Boy is a surprisingly substantial contemporary romance following the complicated, romantic and sometimes heartbreaking romance of Julia, a self-made business woman and young widow, and Chris, a perpetual bachelor, surfer and heir to a successful chain of hotels.
What I loved: The characters. Julia and Chris are the perfect contemporary romance couple. Julia was a really complicated character and at different times thorough out the novel I was rooting for her, angry with her ridiculous behavior, and just feeling for her in general. She had a lot going on in her life and more than her fair share of emotionally draining and difficult situations. As a young widow she was left emotionally scarred and truly believed that she would never be able to love again. Chris on the other hand was rich, famous and seemingly carefree. At first glance this beach loving ladies’ man appeared to have as much depth as a pizza box but he really surprised me and I ended up falling for him completely! I loved the fact that love did not come easily to this couple. They had very real struggles and challenges and Battah was able to write about these characters in a way that made me not only care for them but ache for them as well. Julia and Chris were surprisingly complex, authentic and human.
When I started reading Mad About the Boy I was expecting a light fluffy love story but there was so much more than that going on in this novel. It was actually a lot more serious and emotional than I expected. Just wait for some of the curveballs that Battah added in to completely turn this story on its head! I won’t give you any spoilers but I can tell you that they definitely keep the story interesting and you will not seem them coming!
What I didn’t love: The editing, it felt sloppy. I am not one to comment on editing, punctuation or word choice but in this case I need to say something. See, I really loved the story, and characters, and the author actually made me feel something when I was reading. Mad About the Boy had the potential to be a really GREAT book for me, but sloppy editing diminished that. There were a lot of sentences that had the wrong words inserted, and awkward phrasing. I truly believe that with a thorough and professional edit Mad About the Boy could be a 5 star read for me and that is why I’m being so critical. It frustrates me when I storyline and characters that I love fall flat.
At times it felt as though there was not enough follow through with ideas. It was as if the author knew exactly what she wanted to happen to her characters but didn’t fully explain or realize her ideas. One thing that really bothers me is laundry listing a scene, or telling rather than showing what is going on. There was a lot of this going on in Mad About the Boy. For example about half way through the novel Julia was in need of a mini vacation from her life and got away for a few days to the islands. There was the buildup of her trip, talk of her getting on the plane, landing on the island and then a paragraph break and BAM! I’m reading about how she finally got home. WHAT? Finally got home, as far as I was aware she barely left. Either follow through on the idea or leave it out – I was left completely annoyed after that particular passage and would have found it more satisfying to read something as simple as “after a weekend away Julia felt…” Again I think this all comes down to the editing as the author had everything needed to make this a fantastic romance.
Mad About the Boy was a tricky book for me. I wanted to love it and give it a 5 (or at least 4) star rating because I fell in love with the characters and their many levels, and loved the different layers to the story but the editing (or lack thereof) took away from that special something that I originally saw and left me sort of disappointed. Battah has created a phenomenal plotline but in my opinion it just wasn’t fully realized. That being said I will definitely be reading more from Suzan Battah, I can assure you that this is an author with a story to tell.
I received an e-review copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
November 12, 2011
Mad About the Boy by Suzan Battah is, to be redundant, a “maddeningly” reading experience, but in a good way. When I replied to the author’s request for a review, I didn’t know what I would be in to. A sucker for good love stories, I was attracted to the synopsis. When I got the review copy, I decided, out of spite for myself, to just read the first page to check the writing style. Guess where it led me? I spent the following hours reading the book—laughing at the characters, sympathizing with the mothers, and stamping down the urge to give Julia a pretty good scolding—until I was done. Thank God it was my day-off!
Mad About the Boy is Julia’s and Chris’ love story. Julia is the widowed Latino beauty and the talented interior designer, Chris the hunk of a surfie and the Augustine “Boy”. They first meet, quite awkwardly, in a supermarket. As it turns out, Julia is selected to redesign the Augustine Hotels that coincidentally Chris’ family owns and Chris is personally managing. This means that the duo will be spending a lot of time together.
I like Chris’ character—simple, fun, open-minded, and outgoing. He is one persistent suitor simply because he knows what he wants, which is to get to know Julia more. He sure knows how to court his way to a woman’s heart. His methods are surprisingly sweet. Despite the fact that his father is very sick, he still manages to be around Julia, especially after a car accident when she terribly needs a strong support system.
On the other hand, Julia, to put it bluntly, is an almost hopeless nutcase. She has difficulties moving on after her husband dies of an illness a couple of years ago. Although it takes her so long to understand how important Chris—a living, breathing, loving person—is in her life, she is able to smack herself with the realization just in time before I did it myself. Julia is a rollercoaster ride. It’s no wonder she is driving me and Chris crazy. There are pages when she is happy but in the next, she is so unhappy I have to read back a few paragraphs to figure out what went wrong. Understandably, Julia is still grieving for her husband. Accepting the fact that he is already very dead is something Julia needs to deal with if she doesn’t want to lose Chris completely.
One of the things I love about the book is how the author shows that her characters are simply human—prone to accidents, misunderstandings, and blunders. Mad about the Boy shows that bad things could happen even to good people. At the end of the day, the characters must decide if they want a happy ending. If they want one, they have to work for it, not wait for it. Despite a series of seemingly unbelievable misfortunes, Julia and Chris work to have their happy ending, that’s for sure. Were they successful? That would be interesting for you to find out.
There is only one minor snag, I think, which bothered me, but not much. Where were Julia’s family after the car accident? Sure, their warm bodies are there. But I was not able to feel her family’s support I expect from them for Julia’s full recovery physically and emotionally. Even Chris overlooked Julia’s emotional and mental battles. But that’s just about it.
I must express my admiration for Suzan Battah’s clear and neat writing style, her brave use of foreign languages injected in the story seamlessly, and her creation of other adorable characters, such as Randy and Boric.
I don’t often come across multicultural romances like Suzan’s debut novel, Mad About the Boy. For me, this rich contemporary, chick lit romance is a great read.
Suzan, you have my banner of five stars.
From my blog, http://www.nancycudis.com
Mad About the Boy is Julia’s and Chris’ love story. Julia is the widowed Latino beauty and the talented interior designer, Chris the hunk of a surfie and the Augustine “Boy”. They first meet, quite awkwardly, in a supermarket. As it turns out, Julia is selected to redesign the Augustine Hotels that coincidentally Chris’ family owns and Chris is personally managing. This means that the duo will be spending a lot of time together.
I like Chris’ character—simple, fun, open-minded, and outgoing. He is one persistent suitor simply because he knows what he wants, which is to get to know Julia more. He sure knows how to court his way to a woman’s heart. His methods are surprisingly sweet. Despite the fact that his father is very sick, he still manages to be around Julia, especially after a car accident when she terribly needs a strong support system.
On the other hand, Julia, to put it bluntly, is an almost hopeless nutcase. She has difficulties moving on after her husband dies of an illness a couple of years ago. Although it takes her so long to understand how important Chris—a living, breathing, loving person—is in her life, she is able to smack herself with the realization just in time before I did it myself. Julia is a rollercoaster ride. It’s no wonder she is driving me and Chris crazy. There are pages when she is happy but in the next, she is so unhappy I have to read back a few paragraphs to figure out what went wrong. Understandably, Julia is still grieving for her husband. Accepting the fact that he is already very dead is something Julia needs to deal with if she doesn’t want to lose Chris completely.
One of the things I love about the book is how the author shows that her characters are simply human—prone to accidents, misunderstandings, and blunders. Mad about the Boy shows that bad things could happen even to good people. At the end of the day, the characters must decide if they want a happy ending. If they want one, they have to work for it, not wait for it. Despite a series of seemingly unbelievable misfortunes, Julia and Chris work to have their happy ending, that’s for sure. Were they successful? That would be interesting for you to find out.
There is only one minor snag, I think, which bothered me, but not much. Where were Julia’s family after the car accident? Sure, their warm bodies are there. But I was not able to feel her family’s support I expect from them for Julia’s full recovery physically and emotionally. Even Chris overlooked Julia’s emotional and mental battles. But that’s just about it.
I must express my admiration for Suzan Battah’s clear and neat writing style, her brave use of foreign languages injected in the story seamlessly, and her creation of other adorable characters, such as Randy and Boric.
I don’t often come across multicultural romances like Suzan’s debut novel, Mad About the Boy. For me, this rich contemporary, chick lit romance is a great read.
Suzan, you have my banner of five stars.
From my blog, http://www.nancycudis.com
February 26, 2012
Would you be able to pick up the pieces of your life if you became a widow at too young an age? Would you be able to be happy just having a good time, and not believing in "happily ever after" ever again? Can you deny your attraction for a new man and a second chance of being in love, by clinging to your lost love? These are the questions that Julia Mendoza must answer in Mad About The Boy.
Julia Mendoza is a twenty-something young widow, who has given up on love and the "happily ever after" dream. To mask her grief and loneliness, her interior design company becomes her everything, she's all work and no play. When she is confronted at the grocery store by an ex-friend who had been stalking her, she asks a stranger to come to her aid and play her boyfriend. To thank the handsome stranger for his assistance, she agrees to go out to dinner with him. What she doesn't know is that she just met Christophe Augustine, the wealthy heir apparent to the luxurious Augustine Hotel chain, and her design company's new client. There is a mutual attraction for each other, sparks fly with a lot of sizzling passion ... but Julia can't let go of the ghost of her dead husband Carlos. Will Julia's motto of "just having fun without a serious relationship" be enough to sustain what she has with Chris? Can Julia let go of the past and allow herself to believe in love and "happily ever after" again? Or will she be forever chasing the ghost of her past?
Mad About The Boy is a delightfully playful and lighthearted story of love lost, love found, and love's redemption. The storyline was intriguing and I enjoyed following Julia and Chris's journey of finding love. Their journey had many layers of complex issues that they had to deal with. There was so much passion and sizzle between them, that I found myself cheering them on, yet there were times when I wanted to smack Julia for trying to sabotage her second chance at being loved. The characters were engaging and fun, the different personalities gave the story the playfulness that made it more endearing and fun to read. I absolutely loved Chris's character, he is the type of guy that makes romance readers sigh over, me included. What I loved most about this story was that the author gives the reader a glimpse into the complexities of a relationship, and that there is hope for second chances of finding love.
I thought this was an ambitious and complex story that the author chose for her debut novel. While there were a lot of plots that made the story a little bit hard to follow a times, overall I think that the author was able to pull it together and provide the reader with an enjoyable storyline about second chances and soul mates. I would recommend this novel to romance fans who would enjoy reading a story that is anything but the typical romance story.
Disclaimer: At the request of the author, publisher and Chick Lit Plus, a Kindle edition of the book was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest review and participation in the virtual book tour event.
Virtual Book Tour Event: On Sunday, February 26, 2012, in association with Chick Lit Plus, Suzan Battah participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
Julia Mendoza is a twenty-something young widow, who has given up on love and the "happily ever after" dream. To mask her grief and loneliness, her interior design company becomes her everything, she's all work and no play. When she is confronted at the grocery store by an ex-friend who had been stalking her, she asks a stranger to come to her aid and play her boyfriend. To thank the handsome stranger for his assistance, she agrees to go out to dinner with him. What she doesn't know is that she just met Christophe Augustine, the wealthy heir apparent to the luxurious Augustine Hotel chain, and her design company's new client. There is a mutual attraction for each other, sparks fly with a lot of sizzling passion ... but Julia can't let go of the ghost of her dead husband Carlos. Will Julia's motto of "just having fun without a serious relationship" be enough to sustain what she has with Chris? Can Julia let go of the past and allow herself to believe in love and "happily ever after" again? Or will she be forever chasing the ghost of her past?
Mad About The Boy is a delightfully playful and lighthearted story of love lost, love found, and love's redemption. The storyline was intriguing and I enjoyed following Julia and Chris's journey of finding love. Their journey had many layers of complex issues that they had to deal with. There was so much passion and sizzle between them, that I found myself cheering them on, yet there were times when I wanted to smack Julia for trying to sabotage her second chance at being loved. The characters were engaging and fun, the different personalities gave the story the playfulness that made it more endearing and fun to read. I absolutely loved Chris's character, he is the type of guy that makes romance readers sigh over, me included. What I loved most about this story was that the author gives the reader a glimpse into the complexities of a relationship, and that there is hope for second chances of finding love.
I thought this was an ambitious and complex story that the author chose for her debut novel. While there were a lot of plots that made the story a little bit hard to follow a times, overall I think that the author was able to pull it together and provide the reader with an enjoyable storyline about second chances and soul mates. I would recommend this novel to romance fans who would enjoy reading a story that is anything but the typical romance story.
Disclaimer: At the request of the author, publisher and Chick Lit Plus, a Kindle edition of the book was sent, at no cost to me, for my honest review and participation in the virtual book tour event.
Virtual Book Tour Event: On Sunday, February 26, 2012, in association with Chick Lit Plus, Suzan Battah participated in a virtual book tour event with an Author Guest Post on Jersey Girl Book Reviews.
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...
October 18, 2011
Julia Mendoza is as far from focused on romance as it gets. After the death of her young husband, this beautiful Latino woman shifts priorities and pours her energies into her personal business, much to the chagrin of her rambunctious family members. After all, Julia is only in her late twenties, and already it seems that life is all work and no play for her. That is the case until an aggravating ex-friend has her caught in a game of grocery store role play with a hunky surfer...
...When Christophe Augustine encounters Julia in the grocery store, he reluctantly agrees to play along with her game in order to help her circumvent the annoyance of an ex-friend. So for the time being Chris gets to act as Julia's boyfriend. Like Julia, he is focused on professional successes, such as those involving his wealthy father's luxury hotel chain, and he is adamant about receiving recognition for his work, as well as approval. But Chris knows how to be playful, and not even his parent's divorce can shake his faith in romance. Though initially skeptical upon meeting Julia, he finds that she is quite different from the other women with whom he has shared any intimate connection. And now, despite a dramatic first date, he is quite determined to know her a little better, but as their experiences together grow more serious and gradually intensify, Julia is challenged by the urge to flee from the situation. When two soul-mates meet, the connection is real and difficult to ignore, but where does it lead when one is ready to love and the other is not? Find out what happens when Julia turns out to be Mad About the Boy.
Suzan Battah may not be a familiar name to many, yet this is about to change. Currently, she works as an executive assistant, but such a busy schedule by day does not prevent her from focusing on her passion for writing. Mad About the Boy is her first finished novel, an entertaining and fun read that explores the complications of love and delves deep into the process of achieving balance between one's professional life and romantic life.
If you are in the mood for a romance story with a great sense of humor and a lot of imagination, then look no further than Mad About the Boy . Considering the extent of her passion for writing, it seems that we will have a lot more to enjoy from Suzan Battah in the future. Check out, Mad About the Boy, now in bookstores everywhere.
...When Christophe Augustine encounters Julia in the grocery store, he reluctantly agrees to play along with her game in order to help her circumvent the annoyance of an ex-friend. So for the time being Chris gets to act as Julia's boyfriend. Like Julia, he is focused on professional successes, such as those involving his wealthy father's luxury hotel chain, and he is adamant about receiving recognition for his work, as well as approval. But Chris knows how to be playful, and not even his parent's divorce can shake his faith in romance. Though initially skeptical upon meeting Julia, he finds that she is quite different from the other women with whom he has shared any intimate connection. And now, despite a dramatic first date, he is quite determined to know her a little better, but as their experiences together grow more serious and gradually intensify, Julia is challenged by the urge to flee from the situation. When two soul-mates meet, the connection is real and difficult to ignore, but where does it lead when one is ready to love and the other is not? Find out what happens when Julia turns out to be Mad About the Boy.
Suzan Battah may not be a familiar name to many, yet this is about to change. Currently, she works as an executive assistant, but such a busy schedule by day does not prevent her from focusing on her passion for writing. Mad About the Boy is her first finished novel, an entertaining and fun read that explores the complications of love and delves deep into the process of achieving balance between one's professional life and romantic life.
If you are in the mood for a romance story with a great sense of humor and a lot of imagination, then look no further than Mad About the Boy . Considering the extent of her passion for writing, it seems that we will have a lot more to enjoy from Suzan Battah in the future. Check out, Mad About the Boy, now in bookstores everywhere.
January 10, 2012
http://www.romancenoveljunkies.com for readers
Brief Summary
Julia meets Christophe (Chris) Augustine under chance circumstances in the local supermarket. They have an instant attraction, an attraction Julia hasn't felt in a long time since her husband Carlos died. Julia is a designer and is contracted by The Augustine Hotel to do some renovations, unaware to Julia, Chris owns the Augustine. Chris tries to pursue a relationship with Julia but she is fearful of losing someone else she loves. Can a fearful woman and two workaholics develop a relationship, I think so....
Thoughts
This story started off sweet with an interesting storyline. Chris is determined to get to know Julia better but feels like she is afraid to get close. Little does he knows that Julia was married before, which he doesn't find out about until way later after they are intimate. The story starts to go all over the place, Julia has a car accident, Chris is trying to adopt his little brother, Julia's mother-in-law is a thorn in her side etc....... Julia tries to push Chris away and he keeps coming back for more! And when he tries to be tough with Julia he whimps out! I thought the island scene or the gala opening at the Augustine or even Chris's 30th birthday party were good scenes!!! I also liked how Julia would curse in her native tongue (Spanish) when she got really frustrated and Chris would speak romantically to her in French.
All in all, I liked the story line. I thought the story got a bit repetitious with them not having time to be together due to working so much. Also, they both had secrets and they were not revealed until way after they were in a relationship. You felt Chris's need to protect Julia at all times and she begins to let go of her fear and finally allows Chris to love her.
Story: Good
Intimacy: Sweet
Enjoyment: Good
Reviewed by Davia R.V. for
Romance Novel Junkies
Romance readers chat:
http://rnjforumchat.romancenoveljunki...
Brief Summary
Julia meets Christophe (Chris) Augustine under chance circumstances in the local supermarket. They have an instant attraction, an attraction Julia hasn't felt in a long time since her husband Carlos died. Julia is a designer and is contracted by The Augustine Hotel to do some renovations, unaware to Julia, Chris owns the Augustine. Chris tries to pursue a relationship with Julia but she is fearful of losing someone else she loves. Can a fearful woman and two workaholics develop a relationship, I think so....
Thoughts
This story started off sweet with an interesting storyline. Chris is determined to get to know Julia better but feels like she is afraid to get close. Little does he knows that Julia was married before, which he doesn't find out about until way later after they are intimate. The story starts to go all over the place, Julia has a car accident, Chris is trying to adopt his little brother, Julia's mother-in-law is a thorn in her side etc....... Julia tries to push Chris away and he keeps coming back for more! And when he tries to be tough with Julia he whimps out! I thought the island scene or the gala opening at the Augustine or even Chris's 30th birthday party were good scenes!!! I also liked how Julia would curse in her native tongue (Spanish) when she got really frustrated and Chris would speak romantically to her in French.
All in all, I liked the story line. I thought the story got a bit repetitious with them not having time to be together due to working so much. Also, they both had secrets and they were not revealed until way after they were in a relationship. You felt Chris's need to protect Julia at all times and she begins to let go of her fear and finally allows Chris to love her.
Story: Good
Intimacy: Sweet
Enjoyment: Good
Reviewed by Davia R.V. for
Romance Novel Junkies
Romance readers chat:
http://rnjforumchat.romancenoveljunki...
December 18, 2012
Reviewed by: Marcia C.
Member of Livin' la vida Latina
[...]
Review: It was interesting how Julia and Chris met in the beginning with Chris being shanghaied into a ploy. That instant spark between is a rare thing these days.
Although it did seem that they were trying too hard at times--he was too busy trying to come out like Mr. Perfect, and she was busy trying not to look like a fool in front of him, which was both endearing and ridiculously funny. Still, there was no denying the burgeoning passion between them, even though it may have been a little too intense from the start.
I liked how there was an emotional struggle with Julia. The guilt over her late husband played a major interference in her romance with Chris, which brought a challenge for them and pushed the plot forward. Her remembrance of Carlos and how they came to be was genuinely heartfelt. I was especially impressed that Chris was not afraid of Julia's resistance and still continued to pursue her. Although I'm not sure about dating someone you work for. That would just complicate things--and it did!
This was a good illustration of the ups and downs of a relationship (probably the reason why some people avoid them.)
The fact that Julia was Latina was something I could relate to; however, I felt that her ethnicity was too muffled. A few Spanish curse words along with Mendoza for a last name didn't quite make Julia "Latina enough" for me. The summary made a big point of saying that she was Latina, but I needed the story to actually show it (it's the old "show, don't tell" rule.) Honestly, I got more French than anything else. In the story, the author would simply state that Julia was speaking Spanish, but she wouldn't actually speak it.
The author's devotion to the craft was evident in the writing. I really love it when writers put the care and efforts in their work and it all shows in the end. I only wish more effort was put into the editing phase as there were some errors.
Member of Livin' la vida Latina
[...]
Review: It was interesting how Julia and Chris met in the beginning with Chris being shanghaied into a ploy. That instant spark between is a rare thing these days.
Although it did seem that they were trying too hard at times--he was too busy trying to come out like Mr. Perfect, and she was busy trying not to look like a fool in front of him, which was both endearing and ridiculously funny. Still, there was no denying the burgeoning passion between them, even though it may have been a little too intense from the start.
I liked how there was an emotional struggle with Julia. The guilt over her late husband played a major interference in her romance with Chris, which brought a challenge for them and pushed the plot forward. Her remembrance of Carlos and how they came to be was genuinely heartfelt. I was especially impressed that Chris was not afraid of Julia's resistance and still continued to pursue her. Although I'm not sure about dating someone you work for. That would just complicate things--and it did!
This was a good illustration of the ups and downs of a relationship (probably the reason why some people avoid them.)
The fact that Julia was Latina was something I could relate to; however, I felt that her ethnicity was too muffled. A few Spanish curse words along with Mendoza for a last name didn't quite make Julia "Latina enough" for me. The summary made a big point of saying that she was Latina, but I needed the story to actually show it (it's the old "show, don't tell" rule.) Honestly, I got more French than anything else. In the story, the author would simply state that Julia was speaking Spanish, but she wouldn't actually speak it.
The author's devotion to the craft was evident in the writing. I really love it when writers put the care and efforts in their work and it all shows in the end. I only wish more effort was put into the editing phase as there were some errors.
January 14, 2012
http://www.romancenoveljunkies.com for readers
Davia's Review
Brief Summary
Julia meets Christophe (Chris) Augustine under chance circumstances in the local supermarket. They have an instant attraction, an attraction Julia hasn't felt in a long time since her husband Carlos died. Julia is a designer and is contracted by The Augustine Hotel to do some renovations, unaware to Julia, Chris owns the Augustine. Chris tries to pursue a relationship with Julia but she is fearful of losing someone else she loves. Can a fearful woman and two workaholics develop a relationship, I think so....
Thoughts
This story started off sweet with an interesting storyline. Chris is determined to get to know Julia better but feels like she is afraid to get close. Little does he knows that Julia was married before, which he doesn't find out about until way later after they are intimate. The story starts to go all over the place, Julia has a car accident, Chris is trying to adopt his little brother, Julia's mother-in-law is a thorn in her side etc....... Julia tries to push Chris away and he keeps coming back for more! And when he tries to be tough with Julia he whimps out! I thought the island scene or the gala opening at the Augustine or even Chris's 30th birthday party were good scenes!!! I also liked how Julia would curse in her native tongue (Spanish) when she got really frustrated and Chris would speak romantically to her in French.
All in all, I liked the story line. I thought the story got a bit repetitious with them not having time to be together due to working so much. Also, they both had secrets and they were not revealed until way after they were in a relationship. You felt Chris's need to protect Julia at all times and she begins to let go of her fear and finally allows Chris to love her.
Story: Good
Intimacy: Sweet
Enjoyment: Good
Davia's Review
Brief Summary
Julia meets Christophe (Chris) Augustine under chance circumstances in the local supermarket. They have an instant attraction, an attraction Julia hasn't felt in a long time since her husband Carlos died. Julia is a designer and is contracted by The Augustine Hotel to do some renovations, unaware to Julia, Chris owns the Augustine. Chris tries to pursue a relationship with Julia but she is fearful of losing someone else she loves. Can a fearful woman and two workaholics develop a relationship, I think so....
Thoughts
This story started off sweet with an interesting storyline. Chris is determined to get to know Julia better but feels like she is afraid to get close. Little does he knows that Julia was married before, which he doesn't find out about until way later after they are intimate. The story starts to go all over the place, Julia has a car accident, Chris is trying to adopt his little brother, Julia's mother-in-law is a thorn in her side etc....... Julia tries to push Chris away and he keeps coming back for more! And when he tries to be tough with Julia he whimps out! I thought the island scene or the gala opening at the Augustine or even Chris's 30th birthday party were good scenes!!! I also liked how Julia would curse in her native tongue (Spanish) when she got really frustrated and Chris would speak romantically to her in French.
All in all, I liked the story line. I thought the story got a bit repetitious with them not having time to be together due to working so much. Also, they both had secrets and they were not revealed until way after they were in a relationship. You felt Chris's need to protect Julia at all times and she begins to let go of her fear and finally allows Chris to love her.
Story: Good
Intimacy: Sweet
Enjoyment: Good
March 18, 2012
Mad About the Boy by Suzan Battah
Julia was shopping when Kelly saw her and attempted to meet up with her.
Julia found a cute guy and asked him to be her pretned boyfriend and he agreed to have dinner with her Friday night in exchange.
They finally got rid of Kelly and exchanged cell phone numbers and then left the store.
Kelly was mad that she'd not heard back from Sebastian when she thought Julia was dating him.
By Designs is her company and a lot of the detailed descriptions are about the places she goes through and sees.
She's not felt anything for a man since her husband died 2 years ago.
He is a surfing champion and also is part owner of THE Augustine Hotel there in Miami.
Surfing lessons, like to learn new things with each book I read.
He has the hots for her but is too busy with charity events he has no time for himself.
She has the hots for him and wants him but her dead husbands face keeps coming into her line of vision and she feels like she'd be out of line by forgetting him and moving onto another man.
After a long time in the hospital recuperating from a car crash her mother in law comes to the rescue and gets her to not feel guilty and to start eating again.
He whisked her away for a few days to a private island where we find it a hot and steamy scene.
They return after much needed relaxation to their jobs which leave them but just a few hours every week to get together with one another.
The wedding of her girlfriend finally happens and he has had a visit from his fathers wife, leaving Dylan the 4 yo at his apartment, til she takes him back from the nursery school.
Health issues arise leaving him very concerned about her.
Death, custody and other major things happen that keep them away from one another and at the same time bring them together.
Will they ever be at a place where both of them can come together?
Julia was shopping when Kelly saw her and attempted to meet up with her.
Julia found a cute guy and asked him to be her pretned boyfriend and he agreed to have dinner with her Friday night in exchange.
They finally got rid of Kelly and exchanged cell phone numbers and then left the store.
Kelly was mad that she'd not heard back from Sebastian when she thought Julia was dating him.
By Designs is her company and a lot of the detailed descriptions are about the places she goes through and sees.
She's not felt anything for a man since her husband died 2 years ago.
He is a surfing champion and also is part owner of THE Augustine Hotel there in Miami.
Surfing lessons, like to learn new things with each book I read.
He has the hots for her but is too busy with charity events he has no time for himself.
She has the hots for him and wants him but her dead husbands face keeps coming into her line of vision and she feels like she'd be out of line by forgetting him and moving onto another man.
After a long time in the hospital recuperating from a car crash her mother in law comes to the rescue and gets her to not feel guilty and to start eating again.
He whisked her away for a few days to a private island where we find it a hot and steamy scene.
They return after much needed relaxation to their jobs which leave them but just a few hours every week to get together with one another.
The wedding of her girlfriend finally happens and he has had a visit from his fathers wife, leaving Dylan the 4 yo at his apartment, til she takes him back from the nursery school.
Health issues arise leaving him very concerned about her.
Death, custody and other major things happen that keep them away from one another and at the same time bring them together.
Will they ever be at a place where both of them can come together?
February 17, 2012
Suzan Battah is on tour with CLP Blog Tours. Mad About the Boy follows Julia Mendoza, a workaholic widow in her late twenties, who spends all her time building up her business instead of having fun. A panicky moment in the grocery store with an ex-friend causes her to ask the stranger next to her to be her boyfriend. Julia doesn’t realize the stranger is Christophe Augustine – the Christophe Augustine who is set to take over his father’s super-luxe chain of hotels. Christophe is immediately taken by Julia, but she isn’t so sure. Losing her husband Carlos at such a young age has closed off a part of Julia’s heart. Can Christophe find a way to let Julia love again, and will these soul mates be able to get through the struggles to find true happiness?
I enjoyed reading Mad About the Boy, but at times I also struggled. It’s a super cute romance idea, and I thought it was very intriguing that Julia is such a young widow. Christophe is a fine gentleman, who made me swoon throughout the book. I struggled when the plot started to go a bit all over the place. Julia is in a terribly car accident, Christophe is trying to adopt his little brother, Julia’s ex-mother-in law likes Julia then seems to not like her so much...a lot happens and it was a little difficult to keep up with. But I did like that this didn’t seem like a typical romance book. The characters were deep and had many layers, and overall, I read recommend this book to chick lit and romance fans!
I enjoyed reading Mad About the Boy, but at times I also struggled. It’s a super cute romance idea, and I thought it was very intriguing that Julia is such a young widow. Christophe is a fine gentleman, who made me swoon throughout the book. I struggled when the plot started to go a bit all over the place. Julia is in a terribly car accident, Christophe is trying to adopt his little brother, Julia’s ex-mother-in law likes Julia then seems to not like her so much...a lot happens and it was a little difficult to keep up with. But I did like that this didn’t seem like a typical romance book. The characters were deep and had many layers, and overall, I read recommend this book to chick lit and romance fans!
March 10, 2013
I really enjoyed the start of this story. Julia is in the supermarket when her crazy friend starts calling her name. In an attempt to avoid yet another confrontation, she asks the man she bumps into to pretend to be her boyfriend. He is startled by the request and asks her if the press sent her. Julia does not recognize him but he is the gorgeous hotel heir known as the Augustine boy. After promising him dinner if he helps her, he agrees. But once Julia walks away with a rush of feeling for this gorgeous man, she immediately realizes dinner might not be so easy. Julia is not looking for romance or any man since the loss of her husband two years earlier. Julia has no intention of ever enduring that kind of pain ever again.
Chris Augustine has other ideas. Since he first met Julia, he knew he wanted a relationship with her. He was an awesome Guy, who knew what he wanted. He was always supportive and caring of Julia. As the book progresses Julia's
issues keep snowballing. She actually becomes very frustrating. If I could have reached in to the book and shook her I would have. Her reasoning for hiding the loss of her husband mad nonsense to me. If she had explained this to Chris in the first place, her resistance to a relationship would have made more sense. Instead she looks like shes hiding stuff and an all round basket case. This is a romance that progresses slow ( because of Julia) but they get there in the end.
Chris Augustine has other ideas. Since he first met Julia, he knew he wanted a relationship with her. He was an awesome Guy, who knew what he wanted. He was always supportive and caring of Julia. As the book progresses Julia's
issues keep snowballing. She actually becomes very frustrating. If I could have reached in to the book and shook her I would have. Her reasoning for hiding the loss of her husband mad nonsense to me. If she had explained this to Chris in the first place, her resistance to a relationship would have made more sense. Instead she looks like shes hiding stuff and an all round basket case. This is a romance that progresses slow ( because of Julia) but they get there in the end.
January 14, 2012
Synopsis:
Julia Mendoza has been grieving the loss of her husband Carlos. He died two years ago but Julia feels she is not ready to move on. The only interests she has are having fun and expanding her business. Maybe also getting rid of a stalker? She meets Chris while trying to dodge her stalker. Julia thinks the relationship is all in fun, but could it become more serious? Chris is one of the Augustine boys who runs a conglomerate of hotels. He runs into Julia who he hired to do some work at his hotel. Will sparks fly? Will Julia change her mind about the relationship?
My Thoughts:
I found the story interesting. I felt the story had many twists and turns in it. I found myself drawn to the characters in this novel. I could easily identify with Julia’s dilemmas throughout the novel. Ms. Battah did a great job exploring the stages of grief and how they affect a character such as Julia. The setting is great for this book. I am a fan of the Florida area but I have never been to Miami. There is richness to the story that builds throughout the novel. A great beginning for Ms. Battah.
Julia Mendoza has been grieving the loss of her husband Carlos. He died two years ago but Julia feels she is not ready to move on. The only interests she has are having fun and expanding her business. Maybe also getting rid of a stalker? She meets Chris while trying to dodge her stalker. Julia thinks the relationship is all in fun, but could it become more serious? Chris is one of the Augustine boys who runs a conglomerate of hotels. He runs into Julia who he hired to do some work at his hotel. Will sparks fly? Will Julia change her mind about the relationship?
My Thoughts:
I found the story interesting. I felt the story had many twists and turns in it. I found myself drawn to the characters in this novel. I could easily identify with Julia’s dilemmas throughout the novel. Ms. Battah did a great job exploring the stages of grief and how they affect a character such as Julia. The setting is great for this book. I am a fan of the Florida area but I have never been to Miami. There is richness to the story that builds throughout the novel. A great beginning for Ms. Battah.
Read
August 25, 2012 I liked this book but I often found myself frustrated with the main character, Julia. She often makes a big deal about doing what is right, but at the same times makes very irrational, biased decisions. I wanted to have sympathy for her because she was a young widow, but found it difficult when she couldn’t see that there was a great guy in front of her, even after everyone important in her life kept stating that fact outright.
I did like that this book didn’t evoke any of the clichés that one tends to see in most romances. I also really liked that the couple met in a supermarket in a rather awkward manner. That scene alone cemented my love for this book.
I thought that plot did get divided into a few too many subplots; there was a lot to keep track of. Regardless, I did enjoy the book quite a lot. One of the things that also stuck out to me was the mother-in-law’s actions. I can’t help but wonder whether or not she overstepped her bounds. Part of me thinks that she did, but also that to an extent, she had no choice but to act the way she did. This book gave me a lot to think about.
I did like that this book didn’t evoke any of the clichés that one tends to see in most romances. I also really liked that the couple met in a supermarket in a rather awkward manner. That scene alone cemented my love for this book.
I thought that plot did get divided into a few too many subplots; there was a lot to keep track of. Regardless, I did enjoy the book quite a lot. One of the things that also stuck out to me was the mother-in-law’s actions. I can’t help but wonder whether or not she overstepped her bounds. Part of me thinks that she did, but also that to an extent, she had no choice but to act the way she did. This book gave me a lot to think about.
January 11, 2012
I wasn't sure if I was going to like this read when I first began it. By the end however I was hooked and really enjoying the ride. The writing was a little loose and flabby in spots where, if tightened, it could have made the more dramatic scenes pop, and, at times, mid-text POV switches and more telling than showing drew the reader out of the moment. But overall, this was a sweet story with twists and turns and layers enough for the most adventurous reader of romance. Battah creates some powerful scenes in a relationship between two people that she makes neither easy nor cut and dry, electing instead to show the true complexities of modern romance. She allows her characters their nuances and contradictions, and I applaud her for it - for their humanness as portrayed. A solid start, I look forward to reading more from this author!
January 13, 2012
I really enjoyed this story. Filled with lots of struggles to come to terms with their past Julia and Chris overcame them with help from lots of great characters and the beleif in true love
August 24, 2015
So. Much. DRAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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