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Shameless
Emotional second-chance romance by USA Today bestselling author Rebecca J. Clark. "Steamy, dramatic & intense, this is a novel you won't soon forget!"
Haunted by a tragic accident 20 years ago, John Everest knows he doesn't deserve a family of his own, so he spends his days building the most successful fitness franchise in Seattle...and his nights alone. But that all changes when Samantha Rossi storms back into his life.
Happily single, Samantha feels there are only two types of men in this those who are good for nothing and those who are good for one thing. Now she needs that one thing desperately, because she wants a baby. John, a man from her past, is the perfect donor. He doesn't want children. He doesn't want a wife. He just wants her body. She can deal with that.
John agrees to Samantha's no-strings-attached proposal, never expecting to fall for the fiery beauty he'd wronged so many years ago. It'll take more than a shameless proposal to overcome their tragic past, but with a little luck and forgiveness, anything is possible.
Author's This is a stand-alone novel, no cliffhanger, but if you want to read the tragic prologue in Samantha's point of view, check out the prequel SHAMEFUL. It's free!
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Haunted by a tragic accident 20 years ago, John Everest knows he doesn't deserve a family of his own, so he spends his days building the most successful fitness franchise in Seattle...and his nights alone. But that all changes when Samantha Rossi storms back into his life.
Happily single, Samantha feels there are only two types of men in this those who are good for nothing and those who are good for one thing. Now she needs that one thing desperately, because she wants a baby. John, a man from her past, is the perfect donor. He doesn't want children. He doesn't want a wife. He just wants her body. She can deal with that.
John agrees to Samantha's no-strings-attached proposal, never expecting to fall for the fiery beauty he'd wronged so many years ago. It'll take more than a shameless proposal to overcome their tragic past, but with a little luck and forgiveness, anything is possible.
Author's This is a stand-alone novel, no cliffhanger, but if you want to read the tragic prologue in Samantha's point of view, check out the prequel SHAMEFUL. It's free!
Join my occasional newsletter to
Upcoming book news
Exclusive teasers
Cover reveals
Health & fitness tips (I'm a personal trainer in my other life)
Healthy recipes
To sign up, paste this URL into your browser's address bit.ly/1ebrEDS
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2012
5 people are currently reading
156 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 11, 2012
4.5 Stars
The plot of Shameless almost exactly mirrors another very popular book I just finished - The Proposition by Katie Ashley. A woman desperately wants a baby because her biological call is tick, tick, ticking like a time bomb. She doesn’t want or do relationships and after several failed invitro attempts, she decides to try baby making the old fashioned way. She just needs to find a willing victim...errr sperm donor.
If you liked The Proposition then you will love Shameless namely because the story is great and as an added bonus, it's a complete story in one book (no having to wait for book 2). I really loved the back story between Sammy Jo and Johnny and how it influenced and shaped the adults they had become. Also the sub-plot with the at risk youth will break your heart.
It’s hate at first sight for Samantha Rossi when John Everest backs her into a corner, forcing her to accept his invitation to go on a date when he chooses her at a big charity gala even though she's only there covering the event for the newspaper where she works. But this isn’t the first time Sam and John have crossed paths....
John Everest is an extremely successful businessman, gives back to the community and runs a program for at risk youth at one of the gym’s he owns...but that wasn't always the case. Although John escaped his past and made a name for himself, he’s never been able to forget the night 20 years ago that changed his life forever. A night when rash actions as a teenager cost so many lives to be lost and for one fleeting moment brought Sammy Jo into his life. He’s been letting that night define and determine his destiny ever since.
When John discovers Sam’s plan to have a baby sans a “participating father” he reluctantly agrees to be her donor for reasons of his own. But he only agrees if they conceive the old fashioned way. No sterile room, plastic cup or porno magazine required for him to make a deposit.
With her prospects slim, Sam agrees to John’s stipulations still clueless about the past they share. You just know that’s gonna blow up in someone’s face at the exact wrong moment. What would Sam do if/when she found out who John really was? I for one was highly anticipating that moment.
Although Sam and John both agree to enter this partnership with a no strings attached attitude, it doesn‘t take long before deeper feelings develop under such intimate circumstances. Trying to keep things impersonal isn’t working out too well and it definitely starts causing a riff within their relationship.
I loved Shameless. The love and depth of the story really pulled me in. Sam and John were both strong characters and the secondary characters including one particular youth from the rec center whose home life is particularly sad will break your heart.
The plot of Shameless almost exactly mirrors another very popular book I just finished - The Proposition by Katie Ashley. A woman desperately wants a baby because her biological call is tick, tick, ticking like a time bomb. She doesn’t want or do relationships and after several failed invitro attempts, she decides to try baby making the old fashioned way. She just needs to find a willing victim...errr sperm donor.
If you liked The Proposition then you will love Shameless namely because the story is great and as an added bonus, it's a complete story in one book (no having to wait for book 2). I really loved the back story between Sammy Jo and Johnny and how it influenced and shaped the adults they had become. Also the sub-plot with the at risk youth will break your heart.
It’s hate at first sight for Samantha Rossi when John Everest backs her into a corner, forcing her to accept his invitation to go on a date when he chooses her at a big charity gala even though she's only there covering the event for the newspaper where she works. But this isn’t the first time Sam and John have crossed paths....
John Everest is an extremely successful businessman, gives back to the community and runs a program for at risk youth at one of the gym’s he owns...but that wasn't always the case. Although John escaped his past and made a name for himself, he’s never been able to forget the night 20 years ago that changed his life forever. A night when rash actions as a teenager cost so many lives to be lost and for one fleeting moment brought Sammy Jo into his life. He’s been letting that night define and determine his destiny ever since.
When John discovers Sam’s plan to have a baby sans a “participating father” he reluctantly agrees to be her donor for reasons of his own. But he only agrees if they conceive the old fashioned way. No sterile room, plastic cup or porno magazine required for him to make a deposit.
With her prospects slim, Sam agrees to John’s stipulations still clueless about the past they share. You just know that’s gonna blow up in someone’s face at the exact wrong moment. What would Sam do if/when she found out who John really was? I for one was highly anticipating that moment.
Although Sam and John both agree to enter this partnership with a no strings attached attitude, it doesn‘t take long before deeper feelings develop under such intimate circumstances. Trying to keep things impersonal isn’t working out too well and it definitely starts causing a riff within their relationship.
I loved Shameless. The love and depth of the story really pulled me in. Sam and John were both strong characters and the secondary characters including one particular youth from the rec center whose home life is particularly sad will break your heart.
May 13, 2013
This is a great romance, as the writing is solid and the characters believable and likeable! I found myself routing for John and Samantha and for them to overcome the accident that marred their lives.
That said, the opening scene is tough. Well written and strongly in a young man's POV, but tough on the heart/nerves because it felt real and dealt with some ugly humans. After that opener, you really want the characters to get a second chance. That's the mark of a great story--when you the reader feel invested!
At times the style leans towards women's fiction, because she takes the time to let the reader get close to the characters in a way that is not hurried or full of purple prose, which in my opinion ups the quality of the story overall.
Anyway, if you like well-written romance, this is your ticket!
That said, the opening scene is tough. Well written and strongly in a young man's POV, but tough on the heart/nerves because it felt real and dealt with some ugly humans. After that opener, you really want the characters to get a second chance. That's the mark of a great story--when you the reader feel invested!
At times the style leans towards women's fiction, because she takes the time to let the reader get close to the characters in a way that is not hurried or full of purple prose, which in my opinion ups the quality of the story overall.
Anyway, if you like well-written romance, this is your ticket!
April 15, 2013
"Until you see and experience true love, you can’t really know what it looks like, what it feels like. So you make mistakes."
I read this one late last year, I wasn't able to write some review though but here I am now. Ok so this book is amazing and truly worth it! The story itself is very interesting enough to catch my attention despite it being not a "popular choice" for others. Maybe it's just me who's always into older stuff (plot wise/character wise) but this made me laughed, cried, pissed andoccasionally blushed. One more thing I like about this is that it's practically all-in-one I mean no book 2,3,4, etc. necessary. Of course John Everest is the man!
I read this one late last year, I wasn't able to write some review though but here I am now. Ok so this book is amazing and truly worth it! The story itself is very interesting enough to catch my attention despite it being not a "popular choice" for others. Maybe it's just me who's always into older stuff (plot wise/character wise) but this made me laughed, cried, pissed and
December 23, 2013
I was given Shameless as an ARC in return for a fair review. I have to start by saying, I was really looking forward to reading this book. I liked the idea behind the story, of a woman who wants a baby, but doesn't want a relationship, something I haven't read about in many of the books I have read. The opening scene really caught my attention, but quickly my attention began to fade as I didn't necessarily enjoy the writing style, the characters, nor the pace of the book. I actually found myself more interested in the sub story than in the main story, but even that wasn't enough to force myself to continue to read. Its a shame, and perhaps I will try to revisit this at a later time.
March 13, 2018
Wow this book was a rollercoaster. I wasn’t overly fond of how it started due to sam’s bitchy-ness and the pretty creepy sex deal they make but after she stops acting like an ice sculpture the book gets much better. Once again the author created real attraction between the characters which made this an enjoyable read even when sad things were happening
December 19, 2013
Shameless. Rebecca J. Clark
Review from Jeannie Zelos Book reviews.
Wanting a simple easy romance I picked up this one. And got exactly that – a fun, uncomplicated read. Sometimes you want complex, in-depth plots and others just a gentle foray into happy fiction. Well, Shameless delivers that – Samantha wants a baby, but not a husband/father but is having problems finding the right man. John doesn't want either wife or child, but because of his feelings of guilt about Sam's past he agrees to father her child, on condition that’s all. No after contact, no responsibility, no maintenance. That suits Sam fine except...John wants to make a baby the traditional route not the baster one! She agrees and .. the action gets hot and heavy, sensual and steamy, there's some very active and sexy love scenes here.
I liked Sam, loved the way Rebecca transformed her feelings about John and men in general over the course of the book. John was a great guy too – I understood his feelings of guilt, but it was heartbreaking that he'd let them get so dominating in his life. As well as the Sam/John/baby plot there was more to the book. The clubs for disadvantaged children he and his business partner Alex had set up, brought in some kids who really needed that help. Poor Brian, what a sweet kid and what an awful situation he was in, and I cried at That Part :( Then there's Alex mysterious past girlfriend Lori – they'd parted when they were in their teens and no-one has yet matched up to her. He was someone deserving of a HEA, kind, thoughtful, trying to help where he could but his romance from the past dominated his present.
It was full of little day to day dramas that make fiction so realistic, and people feel like friends. I cared about them – to the point I was in tears at one part...and so cross at times, when they just didn't seem to see what was so obvious to me. Its a great, fun read, full of drama and emotion but not too deep, so perfect for those days when you want a good book, but not one that requires too much deep thinking, remembering who is who and how they fit the plot. In this book it all falls together naturally and makes for an enjoyable, easy read. Excellent value too at £2.59 for 386 pages.
Stars: four and a half.
ARC supplied via Netgalley
Review from Jeannie Zelos Book reviews.
Wanting a simple easy romance I picked up this one. And got exactly that – a fun, uncomplicated read. Sometimes you want complex, in-depth plots and others just a gentle foray into happy fiction. Well, Shameless delivers that – Samantha wants a baby, but not a husband/father but is having problems finding the right man. John doesn't want either wife or child, but because of his feelings of guilt about Sam's past he agrees to father her child, on condition that’s all. No after contact, no responsibility, no maintenance. That suits Sam fine except...John wants to make a baby the traditional route not the baster one! She agrees and .. the action gets hot and heavy, sensual and steamy, there's some very active and sexy love scenes here.
I liked Sam, loved the way Rebecca transformed her feelings about John and men in general over the course of the book. John was a great guy too – I understood his feelings of guilt, but it was heartbreaking that he'd let them get so dominating in his life. As well as the Sam/John/baby plot there was more to the book. The clubs for disadvantaged children he and his business partner Alex had set up, brought in some kids who really needed that help. Poor Brian, what a sweet kid and what an awful situation he was in, and I cried at That Part :( Then there's Alex mysterious past girlfriend Lori – they'd parted when they were in their teens and no-one has yet matched up to her. He was someone deserving of a HEA, kind, thoughtful, trying to help where he could but his romance from the past dominated his present.
It was full of little day to day dramas that make fiction so realistic, and people feel like friends. I cared about them – to the point I was in tears at one part...and so cross at times, when they just didn't seem to see what was so obvious to me. Its a great, fun read, full of drama and emotion but not too deep, so perfect for those days when you want a good book, but not one that requires too much deep thinking, remembering who is who and how they fit the plot. In this book it all falls together naturally and makes for an enjoyable, easy read. Excellent value too at £2.59 for 386 pages.
Stars: four and a half.
ARC supplied via Netgalley
December 22, 2013
Review will be posted at www.books-n-kisses.com .
NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4 1/2
REVIEW:
20 years ago John and Sammy Jo meet under the worst circumstance but they lived through it. Now 20 years later John has tracked her down again. But only wanting to see that she is okay quickly changes with John realized that Sammy Jo has grown into a very beautiful women. Just one date. That is all he wants, just to make sure she is okay.
Samantha is a woman on a mission. She wants a baby, but so far things have not gone her way. A chance meet with John Everest at a fundraising event will change Samantha’s plan for the future and who will father her baby.
This was a great story!! Shameless takes you on a wild ride of emotional highs and lows. There were so many times I wanted to shake then hug the crap out of both John & Sam. Both have so many demons in their past that shape the future of every relationship in the future. Both know what they want but neither is willing to jump. With their future slowly slipping out of their fingers John & Sam have two choices let go or hang on tight.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & Aspendawn Books in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
NUMBER OF HEARTS: 4 1/2
REVIEW:
20 years ago John and Sammy Jo meet under the worst circumstance but they lived through it. Now 20 years later John has tracked her down again. But only wanting to see that she is okay quickly changes with John realized that Sammy Jo has grown into a very beautiful women. Just one date. That is all he wants, just to make sure she is okay.
Samantha is a woman on a mission. She wants a baby, but so far things have not gone her way. A chance meet with John Everest at a fundraising event will change Samantha’s plan for the future and who will father her baby.
This was a great story!! Shameless takes you on a wild ride of emotional highs and lows. There were so many times I wanted to shake then hug the crap out of both John & Sam. Both have so many demons in their past that shape the future of every relationship in the future. Both know what they want but neither is willing to jump. With their future slowly slipping out of their fingers John & Sam have two choices let go or hang on tight.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley & Aspendawn Books in exchange for an honest review. This review is my own opinion and not a paid review.
January 7, 2014
Wow! A romance told in one book, how novel! I so appreciated this offering from Rebecca Clark. It was a classic, simple, second chance at love story. Ms. Clark has peopled her story with the kind of characters you would encounter in real life. Her characters are quirky, flawed, multi dimensional realistic people. She puts them in the kind of everyday situations a reader can identify with. She made me care about the characters; so they made me happy, sad, angry, the gamut of emotions, but they made me feel engaged emotionally. The pacing was fairly even, the story well plotted, the settings detailed and the dialogue appropriate to the characters and situations. I would definitely read more from this author.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
Read
August 24, 2014Stopped at about 50 %. The subplot, which may or may not be tying into the main couple's plot, just made me uncomfortable and sad. Probably because I've recently finished a romance (Cop of the Year) with a troubled teen character, which was done very nicely and heartbreakingly real, this just fell flat. At this point, I've also lost interest in the main couple, and so I won't spend more time trying to finish it. Too bad, because the storyline held a lot of promise. Might give it another go when I'm traveling if I find myself out of books to read on my Kindle.
No rating since I didn't finish it and it wouldn't be fair of me to rate it something less than it might have deserved if I had finished.
No rating since I didn't finish it and it wouldn't be fair of me to rate it something less than it might have deserved if I had finished.
July 31, 2014
***ARC from NetGalley in Exchange for an honest review***
The opening of this book was, I thought, preparation for a deeper subplot besides just a let’s-have-a-baby-no-strings one. While the set-up was remarkable, it felt flat quite quickly when the story revolved around 2 people avoiding relationships, one wanting children and the other saying yes out of guilt…Oh…I almost caused you to be killed so here let me give you a baby? Hmmm…Samantha and John have hang-ups galore and not just because of the “shared” accident incident. While the events detailed seemed disjointed, I did enjoy their growth and development - I chose to disregard the beginning – in their relationship. So mixed feelings about this one.
The opening of this book was, I thought, preparation for a deeper subplot besides just a let’s-have-a-baby-no-strings one. While the set-up was remarkable, it felt flat quite quickly when the story revolved around 2 people avoiding relationships, one wanting children and the other saying yes out of guilt…Oh…I almost caused you to be killed so here let me give you a baby? Hmmm…Samantha and John have hang-ups galore and not just because of the “shared” accident incident. While the events detailed seemed disjointed, I did enjoy their growth and development - I chose to disregard the beginning – in their relationship. So mixed feelings about this one.
July 1, 2014
I absolutely loved this book! The story is beautifully written and comes together, for both the major and minor characters, in the best and most complex ways. Sam is a beautiful but complicated heroine and John is the hero who's successfully put some, but not all, of his past behind him. I loved that these characters were flawed and had a messy history, because they were real and relatable. Minor characters Alex and Brian were equally real and riveting. I truly could not put this book down and cannot wait to read more by Clark. This story has real emotion, believable conflict, and a wonderfully happy ending. Her focus on family and forgiveness made for some wonderful themes from beginning to end.
5 stars!
5 stars!
March 11, 2014
This book was a fantastic read! I did not know what to expect as this is my first from this author. But, this book was an emotional read all around.
I loved the storyline, loved the characters and sub characters. Your heart just felt for not only John and Sam but also even for young Brian. I found it to be an emotional read. I would recommend this book to others for sure.
My only negative would be the last page in the book! I wanted a little glimpse into the HEA!! But, it was still a great, great read!
Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the storyline, loved the characters and sub characters. Your heart just felt for not only John and Sam but also even for young Brian. I found it to be an emotional read. I would recommend this book to others for sure.
My only negative would be the last page in the book! I wanted a little glimpse into the HEA!! But, it was still a great, great read!
Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2016
MORE @ http://melenasreviews.wordpress.com
Rebecca J. Clark has a way of bringing two people together in an unusual way yet love is all there. John is a man who is not only stuck in the past but determined to make things right. He has come a long way from the man he used to be and Samantha as well. These two are like all into each other it’s hard to know they have never been together before. I loved that even though it started as a job for John it has become more. Rebecca J Clark not only brought these together but showed us that no matter how terrible ones past is honesty and love is all that matters.
Rebecca J. Clark has a way of bringing two people together in an unusual way yet love is all there. John is a man who is not only stuck in the past but determined to make things right. He has come a long way from the man he used to be and Samantha as well. These two are like all into each other it’s hard to know they have never been together before. I loved that even though it started as a job for John it has become more. Rebecca J Clark not only brought these together but showed us that no matter how terrible ones past is honesty and love is all that matters.
April 4, 2014
Sexy, stylish and shameless!
Rebecca creates a fast-paced romance with long-ago secrets that affect their relationship. Both want something from the other; those wants are not in agreement which creates interesting twists and turns. I found myself cheering for both Samantha (Sam) and John, wondering how they'd resolve their differences, share their secrets and move forward (and whether that moving forward would be together or apart). It's a fun weekend read, great for the beach and I've rated it suggestive and sometimes direct in its sexual encounters.
Rebecca creates a fast-paced romance with long-ago secrets that affect their relationship. Both want something from the other; those wants are not in agreement which creates interesting twists and turns. I found myself cheering for both Samantha (Sam) and John, wondering how they'd resolve their differences, share their secrets and move forward (and whether that moving forward would be together or apart). It's a fun weekend read, great for the beach and I've rated it suggestive and sometimes direct in its sexual encounters.
November 29, 2014
Fast and easy read with a better than normal plot and very likable characters. Even secondary characters were well thought out. I appreciated the growth in each character due to the typical self realization of past events, but what I really liked is that the main characters were not weak to begin with. They were strong in spite of their circumstances, but just a bit broken. Really well written. A little bit of smut in a few scenes- not too much to be crass, but enough to make things exciting. I'll read more from this author.
December 11, 2013
i was very surprised with this book.
The beginning was a bit slow for me
but im glad i pushed through to keep on reading!
i was misty eyed by the last 80%.
though im not surprised about what happened.
i loved the book!
The beginning was a bit slow for me
but im glad i pushed through to keep on reading!
i was misty eyed by the last 80%.
though im not surprised about what happened.
i loved the book!
September 8, 2015
Five Stars!
Wow! Such a heartfelt book! The story of the main characters as well as the stories of the other characters. It's so well written! It really tugs at your heart! I couldn't put this book down! Loved it so much!!!!
Wow! Such a heartfelt book! The story of the main characters as well as the stories of the other characters. It's so well written! It really tugs at your heart! I couldn't put this book down! Loved it so much!!!!
October 19, 2015
Amazing
This book was filled with a rollercoaster of emotion. I think a lot of people could relate to this story in some way. A lot of people dwell in the past and think they have done something to not have a bright future.
This book was filled with a rollercoaster of emotion. I think a lot of people could relate to this story in some way. A lot of people dwell in the past and think they have done something to not have a bright future.
November 27, 2017
This is the 1st book I read by Rebecca J Clark. The beginning of this story got my attention even though I didn't agree with the language & behavior. I thought Sammy Jo was rude to John. I felt this story had too many things going on in it for me.
Want to read
August 28, 2014PASSIONATE KISSES BOXED SET
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews