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NSC Industries #1
Angel
Olivia Thomas is in love, pure, simple soul consuming love. Nathan Carter is her other half, her light, her passion. After three years of being together at university; three years of being joined, of a love so intense, passionate and spirited they thought their future was safe and endless but life always finds a cruel way to interfere and they soon find their relationship can’t withstand destiny’s intrusions and obstacles.
Two decades later destiny apologises and brings them back together by sheer chance, re-igniting their intense passion, connection and love but they soon find that twenty years of life, secrets and lies creates difficulties and struggles even their bond might struggle to endure.
When an evil from Olivia’s’ past returns to haunt them and rip apart everything they have managed to build back up can the lovers survive with their love and souls still intact…or their lives?
This book contains explicit sex scenes, adult language and violence…oh and one hot alpha male! Enjoy!
Two decades later destiny apologises and brings them back together by sheer chance, re-igniting their intense passion, connection and love but they soon find that twenty years of life, secrets and lies creates difficulties and struggles even their bond might struggle to endure.
When an evil from Olivia’s’ past returns to haunt them and rip apart everything they have managed to build back up can the lovers survive with their love and souls still intact…or their lives?
This book contains explicit sex scenes, adult language and violence…oh and one hot alpha male! Enjoy!
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2013
47 people are currently reading
3385 people want to read
About the author
D.H. Sidebottom
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
May 6, 2014
2.5 stars, mainly for the sex scenes.
There were lots of things I liked in this story but also lots I didn't like.
I loved that the main characters were 40, with some baggage, I loved that they worked together, I loved how devoted he was to her and the sex scenes were frequent and hot.
Here's the But...
I really didn't like the reason why they'd been apart for 20 years; It just didn't make sense, it was full of holes and it was inconsistent with their characters. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone else but given that she's supposedly devoted to her family and would selflessly do anything to protect them and does the best she can for them, her actions simply didn't stack up. And working as a PA for 3 months without learning the identity of the boss - really? And how did she not keep tabs on him at any point in the last 20 years? She found him in seconds once she did finally Google him.
The grammatical errors also drove me mad - this story really needed an editor to check it properly. Apostrophes were positively abused in this (and that's 'were' not 'we're'; it's amazing the difference an apostrophe can make...)
I'm glad this had a proper ending, no cliffhanger but I'm not invested enough in this series to read any more.
There were lots of things I liked in this story but also lots I didn't like.
I loved that the main characters were 40, with some baggage, I loved that they worked together, I loved how devoted he was to her and the sex scenes were frequent and hot.
Here's the But...
I really didn't like the reason why they'd been apart for 20 years; It just didn't make sense, it was full of holes and it was inconsistent with their characters. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone else but given that she's supposedly devoted to her family and would selflessly do anything to protect them and does the best she can for them, her actions simply didn't stack up. And working as a PA for 3 months without learning the identity of the boss - really? And how did she not keep tabs on him at any point in the last 20 years? She found him in seconds once she did finally Google him.
The grammatical errors also drove me mad - this story really needed an editor to check it properly. Apostrophes were positively abused in this (and that's 'were' not 'we're'; it's amazing the difference an apostrophe can make...)
I'm glad this had a proper ending, no cliffhanger but I'm not invested enough in this series to read any more.
November 30, 2014
OMG! I have just literally pulled an all nighter! My goodness this book drew me in from the first word and I couldn't put it down! I love a second chance love story and with D.H Sidebottom you know there's going to be an extra side order of angst and erotic ministrations that makes your heart pound, your stomach drop and your sexual libido rocket to epic proportions.
Liv and Nate are that couple from younger years that fell into that beautiful, all consuming love. The promise of forever a hares breath away, until that very moment when University ends and the prospect of a real future beckons. Liv is protecting the biggest secret a woman could have, and telling Nate would put a hold on the perfect career opportunity he has been offered in Edinburgh. Putting her love and his dreams first, Liv walks away with a part of the man she would love forever.
Twenty years later, Liv is a divorced single Mum starting a new secretarial job for NSC Industries; a highly renowned and respected company in the city. With a sleazy boss and a good bunch of colleagues, Liv makes it work but she's also trying to move on from a very turbulent and abusive marriage and her boss is pushing those professional limits putting her on edge.
Running head first into the company chairman on your second time being late that week wasn't the smartest move, face planting into his groin as you hit the floor an absolute disaster but nothing could compare her for the shock to realise that NSC Industries is owned by none other than Nathan Carter, the man she left behind all those years ago.
Nate has never moved on emotionally, never been able to settle with another. His reputation as a billionaire playboy bachelor a hot topic in many gossip columns, but to see her again knocks the breath right out of him.
Rekindling that spark from their youth comes easily, but Liv has changed, she has been through hell and not only is Nate learning of the fate that befell her when he left for Edinburgh, his guilt and anger spears them both as they try to move forward together.
All seems well until her ex Husband catches up with them both looking for revenge on the man who held his wife's heart captive, and the secret that she has harboured all these years may just be the clincher that destroys them both...
God, I absolutely loved this book! D.H Sidebottom has now jumped into my top British Author list. She destroyed me with The Decimation of Mae but the way she pulls you in with her stories that hold a dark and sinister edge just completely compel you. Her books are not always pretty but they are passionate and raw, and I am pretty sure after delving twice now into her work, I am going to love everything she writes. She does tackle some deeply upsetting subject matters and isn't afraid to hit them hard, but I love her for that. Life isn't pretty sometimes, but the prospect of better, of more, is always her final parting message.
This is a standalone read with a wicked pace and an alpha to die for. I absolutely LOVED Angel, and I cannot wait to pull more of this author's work off my to-read shelf. Brilliant!!!!
Fans of Bared to You and The Blackstone Series should read this!
Liv and Nate are that couple from younger years that fell into that beautiful, all consuming love. The promise of forever a hares breath away, until that very moment when University ends and the prospect of a real future beckons. Liv is protecting the biggest secret a woman could have, and telling Nate would put a hold on the perfect career opportunity he has been offered in Edinburgh. Putting her love and his dreams first, Liv walks away with a part of the man she would love forever.
Twenty years later, Liv is a divorced single Mum starting a new secretarial job for NSC Industries; a highly renowned and respected company in the city. With a sleazy boss and a good bunch of colleagues, Liv makes it work but she's also trying to move on from a very turbulent and abusive marriage and her boss is pushing those professional limits putting her on edge.
Running head first into the company chairman on your second time being late that week wasn't the smartest move, face planting into his groin as you hit the floor an absolute disaster but nothing could compare her for the shock to realise that NSC Industries is owned by none other than Nathan Carter, the man she left behind all those years ago.
Nate has never moved on emotionally, never been able to settle with another. His reputation as a billionaire playboy bachelor a hot topic in many gossip columns, but to see her again knocks the breath right out of him.
Rekindling that spark from their youth comes easily, but Liv has changed, she has been through hell and not only is Nate learning of the fate that befell her when he left for Edinburgh, his guilt and anger spears them both as they try to move forward together.
All seems well until her ex Husband catches up with them both looking for revenge on the man who held his wife's heart captive, and the secret that she has harboured all these years may just be the clincher that destroys them both...
God, I absolutely loved this book! D.H Sidebottom has now jumped into my top British Author list. She destroyed me with The Decimation of Mae but the way she pulls you in with her stories that hold a dark and sinister edge just completely compel you. Her books are not always pretty but they are passionate and raw, and I am pretty sure after delving twice now into her work, I am going to love everything she writes. She does tackle some deeply upsetting subject matters and isn't afraid to hit them hard, but I love her for that. Life isn't pretty sometimes, but the prospect of better, of more, is always her final parting message.
This is a standalone read with a wicked pace and an alpha to die for. I absolutely LOVED Angel, and I cannot wait to pull more of this author's work off my to-read shelf. Brilliant!!!!
Fans of Bared to You and The Blackstone Series should read this!
June 9, 2013
Let me start out by saying that Olivia Thomas is a kickass tough as nails woman. In all the bad that has happened in her life she has found inner strength from the love she shared with Nathan Carter. The kids wills her to live but the love that is shared by Olivia and Nate is what keeps her going over twenty years. Throughout the hardship and abusive marriage, she finds a way to survive. All the things that happened to her I was beginning to think how much more will she has to endure before she finds any form of happiness. Nate, the beautiful man that he is, is now reunited to the angel of his soul and does anything and everything to heal her and start new memories.
It’s a page turner and will make you read until the end.
It’s a page turner and will make you read until the end.
July 13, 2013
I feel like I could write the same review for all of the DH Sidebottom books I've read. It's not so much that it's the same story (though after four books, I'm starting to seem some similarities) but the basic feeling of all of them has been the same. Hard core angsty, OTT tragedy, and usually something that makes me seriously dislike the hero or heroine (or sometimes both)
In this case it was Liv who I ended up disliking
That said, there is also always something compelling in the intensity of these characters relationships that draws me in, and keeps me hooked, which is why I will continue to pick up her books in the future.
In this case it was Liv who I ended up disliking
That said, there is also always something compelling in the intensity of these characters relationships that draws me in, and keeps me hooked, which is why I will continue to pick up her books in the future.
June 28, 2013
Love not only last a lifetime but truly conquers all…"The other half of me, the angel of my soul"…thank you for loving her so much Nate!!! Nate and Liv have an amazing love that guides them through their lives. Angel will sweep you off your feet the moment Nate and Liv meet! You will feel the love, hurt and joy Nate and Liv experience. Be sure to have a tissue. 5 Stars and more! Wll done D.H. Sidebottom!!!
D.H. SidebottomAngel
D.H. SidebottomAngel
November 7, 2014
A 3.5 read for me. I feel like I should have liked this more with the damsel in distress and the rich millionaire but there were a couple holes in the story, I didn't like a major a decision that the heroine makes very early on, and it was pretty over the top at times. I may try one more book in the series though. I think I might just be in a funk.
April 28, 2013
Enjoyed this angst ridden book of a second chance love.
Nate was the perfect boyfriend, and his love was certainly put to the test when he encountered the secrets & surprises that had haunted Olivia's life since their youth.
Nate was the perfect boyfriend, and his love was certainly put to the test when he encountered the secrets & surprises that had haunted Olivia's life since their youth.
June 22, 2014
This is a very bad book and for so many reasons. I hate that Liv only stands up for herself with Nate and no one else. Seriously though I have never met or read about anybody who is the magnet for disaster that she is.
What I found immediately ironic was the comparison between Evil Petersen's behaviour toward Liv and Nate's - they literally came off to me exactly the same way, skeevy and creepy. The only difference being that Liv found Nate attractive. Literally the first comment that Nate makes to Liv after 20 years of absence and in front of co workers no less is that he should be used to seeing her on her knees, to which she blithely comes back with how he should definitely recognise the back of her head. It was just wrong in so many ways.
Also for an Alpha male Nate is incredibly sulky (read teenager) and broody which is definitely NOT an attractive quality in my lead men to say the least. And, when you finally find out the reason for Liv leaving Nate all those years ago at 60% through I was so pissed off with her I almost stopped reading. Just stupid and ridiculous really, completely unlikely and entirely predictable. Oh and the plot holes and story conveniences in and around Liv's interactions with her stalker are laughable.
I had hoped for more from this and certainly didn't get it.
What I found immediately ironic was the comparison between Evil Petersen's behaviour toward Liv and Nate's - they literally came off to me exactly the same way, skeevy and creepy. The only difference being that Liv found Nate attractive. Literally the first comment that Nate makes to Liv after 20 years of absence and in front of co workers no less is that he should be used to seeing her on her knees, to which she blithely comes back with how he should definitely recognise the back of her head. It was just wrong in so many ways.
Also for an Alpha male Nate is incredibly sulky (read teenager) and broody which is definitely NOT an attractive quality in my lead men to say the least. And, when you finally find out the reason for Liv leaving Nate all those years ago at 60% through I was so pissed off with her I almost stopped reading. Just stupid and ridiculous really, completely unlikely and entirely predictable. Oh and the plot holes and story conveniences in and around Liv's interactions with her stalker are laughable.
I had hoped for more from this and certainly didn't get it.
June 10, 2014
Not sure I understand how this one has so many five star ratings.
I found this book infuriating. Olivia kept her children in an abusive household when she had a way out. One phone call and their torment would have been over. I felt like her character was treated like a hero, when really, she allowed her child to be emotionally abused and to witness her physical abuse.
I nearly stopped reading it several times, and really wish I had. The violent scene at the end was over the top. I do think the blurb should have warned about the rape scene.
And, wow, the grammatical errors were hard to get past.
I found this book infuriating. Olivia kept her children in an abusive household when she had a way out. One phone call and their torment would have been over. I felt like her character was treated like a hero, when really, she allowed her child to be emotionally abused and to witness her physical abuse.
I nearly stopped reading it several times, and really wish I had. The violent scene at the end was over the top. I do think the blurb should have warned about the rape scene.
And, wow, the grammatical errors were hard to get past.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2013
OMG...if i didn't love DH's books before, I do now...she keeps thrilling me with her awesomesauce writing and characters. I absolutely love this book and can't wait to read the rest of this series. What an emotional read, and I'm still reeling from it hours after finishing it...dont quite know what to say either...definate book hangover! LOVE the story of Nate and Olivia, they are definate soul mates, and go through some tragic events to be together, and have more love for each other than imagineable! I can't say enough...read these books people!!! LOVE!!!
April 24, 2013
I really enjoyed this story. If I could change one thing about the formatting of the book, it would be the paragraph lengths. There were some paragraphs that were up to 3 pages long. This made the story hard to follow at times.
May 13, 2013
Hot alpha male + Female lead with a troubled past = another fucking awesome read!
Gotta love the raw and emotional stories - they make the best reads!!
Off to read more of DM Sidebottom!!
Read Shocking Heaven as well - AWESOME!!!
Gotta love the raw and emotional stories - they make the best reads!!
Off to read more of DM Sidebottom!!
Read Shocking Heaven as well - AWESOME!!!
November 14, 2013
I'm a wreck, the pain Liv suffered, her selflessness held no bounds, how she survived it I don't know.
Nates love never swayed, yes he shouldn't have left her, but God did they both pay for it.
I've already read the NSC series, so I know how they get on, great writing, highly recommended
Nates love never swayed, yes he shouldn't have left her, but God did they both pay for it.
I've already read the NSC series, so I know how they get on, great writing, highly recommended
May 10, 2014
this was great. it was nice to read a story that when the instalove hit there was a reason, a histort behind it. Nate was a fantastic character and there was action, suspense and danger along with the romance.
April 17, 2016
Loved this book! Loved the suspense and the chemistry between Nate and Liv! I don't understand why Liv did what she did to Nate by keeping Jay from him! I don't think I could forgive her for that! Liv is a strong woman though, that's for sure! I can't wait to read more!!
May 19, 2013
Well lets just say I lost a whole day to Liv and Nate,it was practicably a threesome and I pretty much lived in these pages.Super hot !!
Don't miss out on this one...Trust me...
Don't miss out on this one...Trust me...
October 26, 2013
oh i love nate loved this story i read it after heart of stone but it didnt bother me much great read
December 17, 2013
Love it, to see Nate and Liv's story, couldn't put the book down x
July 27, 2015
DNF @ 60%.
February 22, 2016
My first book by this author & all I can say is wow!!! Heartbreaking at times but still a very good read!!!
March 4, 2018
OMG! I literally pulled an all niter! My god this book drew me in from the first word and I couldn’t put it down!
I love a second chance love stories and with D.H Sidebottom you know there’s going to be an extra side order of angst and erotic ministrations that makes my heart pound, my stomach drop and my sexual libido rockets to epic proportions.
Liv and Nate are that couple from younger years that fell into that beautiful, all consuming love. The promise of forever a hares breath away, until that very moment when University ends and the prospect of a real future beckons. Liv is protecting the biggest secret a woman could have, and telling Nate would put a hold on the perfect career opportunity he has been offered in Edinburgh. Putting her love and his dreams first, Liv walks away with a part of the man she would love forever.
Twenty years later, Liv is a divorced single Mum starting a new secretarial job for NSC Industries; a highly renowned and respected company in the city. With a sleazy boss and a good bunch of colleagues, Liv makes it work but she’s also trying to move on from a very turbulent and abusive marriage and her boss is pushing those professional limits putting her on edge.
Running head first into the company chairman on your second time being late that week wasn’t the smartest move, face planting into his groin as you hit the floor an absolute disaster but nothing could compare her for the shock to realise that NSC Industries is owned by none other than Nathan Carter, the man she left behind all those years ago.
Nate has never moved on emotionally, never been able to settle with another. His reputation as a billionaire playboy bachelor a hot topic in many gossip columns, but to see her again knocks the breath right out of him.
Rekindling that spark from their youth comes easily, but Liv has changed, she has been through hell and not only is Nate learning of the fate that befell her when he left for Edinburgh, his guilt and anger spears them both as they try to move forward together.
All seems well until her ex Husband catches up with them both looking for revenge on the man who held his wife’s heart captive, and the secret that she has harboured all these years may just be the clincher that destroys them both…
I absolutely loved this book! I absolutely love D.H Sidebottom and she has now jumped into my top British Author list.
She destroyed me with The Decimation of Mae, The Heart of Stone series is phenomenal The way she pulls you in with her stories that hold a dark and sinister edge just completely compels you. Her books are not pretty but they are passionate and raw, I delve quite often into her books, her work has the power to say WTF have I just read I love everything she writes. If you are a new comer to her works be warned She does tackle some deeply upsetting subject matters and isn’t afraid to hit them hard, but I love her for that. Life isn’t pretty for some it can be harsh soul destroying and so painful, but the prospect of better, of more, is always her final parting message.
Just like life itself you always hope to achieve the ultimate, MORE
This is a standalone read with a wicked pace and an alpha to die for. I absolutely LOVED Angel, and I cannot wait to pull more of this author’s work off my to-read shelf. Brilliant!!!!
I love a second chance love stories and with D.H Sidebottom you know there’s going to be an extra side order of angst and erotic ministrations that makes my heart pound, my stomach drop and my sexual libido rockets to epic proportions.
Liv and Nate are that couple from younger years that fell into that beautiful, all consuming love. The promise of forever a hares breath away, until that very moment when University ends and the prospect of a real future beckons. Liv is protecting the biggest secret a woman could have, and telling Nate would put a hold on the perfect career opportunity he has been offered in Edinburgh. Putting her love and his dreams first, Liv walks away with a part of the man she would love forever.
Twenty years later, Liv is a divorced single Mum starting a new secretarial job for NSC Industries; a highly renowned and respected company in the city. With a sleazy boss and a good bunch of colleagues, Liv makes it work but she’s also trying to move on from a very turbulent and abusive marriage and her boss is pushing those professional limits putting her on edge.
Running head first into the company chairman on your second time being late that week wasn’t the smartest move, face planting into his groin as you hit the floor an absolute disaster but nothing could compare her for the shock to realise that NSC Industries is owned by none other than Nathan Carter, the man she left behind all those years ago.
Nate has never moved on emotionally, never been able to settle with another. His reputation as a billionaire playboy bachelor a hot topic in many gossip columns, but to see her again knocks the breath right out of him.
Rekindling that spark from their youth comes easily, but Liv has changed, she has been through hell and not only is Nate learning of the fate that befell her when he left for Edinburgh, his guilt and anger spears them both as they try to move forward together.
All seems well until her ex Husband catches up with them both looking for revenge on the man who held his wife’s heart captive, and the secret that she has harboured all these years may just be the clincher that destroys them both…
I absolutely loved this book! I absolutely love D.H Sidebottom and she has now jumped into my top British Author list.
She destroyed me with The Decimation of Mae, The Heart of Stone series is phenomenal The way she pulls you in with her stories that hold a dark and sinister edge just completely compels you. Her books are not pretty but they are passionate and raw, I delve quite often into her books, her work has the power to say WTF have I just read I love everything she writes. If you are a new comer to her works be warned She does tackle some deeply upsetting subject matters and isn’t afraid to hit them hard, but I love her for that. Life isn’t pretty for some it can be harsh soul destroying and so painful, but the prospect of better, of more, is always her final parting message.
Just like life itself you always hope to achieve the ultimate, MORE
This is a standalone read with a wicked pace and an alpha to die for. I absolutely LOVED Angel, and I cannot wait to pull more of this author’s work off my to-read shelf. Brilliant!!!!
February 15, 2020
I LOVED IT.
Nate and Olivia’s love story starts at the uni,they meets at a party, he approaches her, looks at her intensely and kisses her with one of those kisses who make your knees tremble. And they begin a relationship that lasts 3 years, until they finish their studies and he tells her that he is going to Edinburgh to work in his dream job. She is so in love with him that she encourages him to leave and fulfill his dreams and they don’t see each other again until 20 years later ( I like to see a romance of people in their 40s).
“I love you too, baby.” And I did; an overwhelming love that threatened to suck the entire life out of me from the first time he had kissed me at the Christmas party. Over the years our love had deepened, he was my soul mate and I was his. We both adored each other with a passion neither of us had ever felt before; we needed each other to breathe, to survive and to live. We had been inseparable since that night and our passion had soared from the first time we made love, making us both in awe of how intense our sexual chemistry was; it was hot, extreme and mind blowing all at the same time.
“I love you Olivia May Thomas and I always will. I’ll never be far baby, always with you. You’ll never leave my heart. You own it Liv, you own all of me. Your beauty will follow me to the ends of the earth. You’re the other half of me, Liv. The angel of my soul.”
“ I wasn’t going to see Nate again, no matter how much love we had for each other.”
She starts working at NSC industries and runs into him, it turns out that he is the owner of the company. He invites her to eat to catch up and he tells her that he is still in love with her, that he never could forget her. And both begin again their relationship with the same passion as before.
“I love you, Liv. I always have and I always will. You’re the other half of me, the Angel of my soul. You are so beautiful, Angel. You take my breath away,”
“And you don’t know how beautiful you are Nate. You make my heart stop when I see you, my mouth goes dry when you look at me like I’m the only woman in the world, and I can’t breathe when you touch me. I’ll always love you Nate . . . always.”
But Olivia’s ex-husband, James, is not willing to let her be happy and he prefers to see her dead than with another man.
It is a story that has reached my ❤️, poor Olivia survives a hell of a marriage, always protecting the people she loves, and when ir seems she can finally be happy...
Love the sex scenes( fucking hot) and the love declarations of Nate, and his ability to forgive Olivia after discovering about Jay.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Nate and Olivia’s love story starts at the uni,they meets at a party, he approaches her, looks at her intensely and kisses her with one of those kisses who make your knees tremble. And they begin a relationship that lasts 3 years, until they finish their studies and he tells her that he is going to Edinburgh to work in his dream job. She is so in love with him that she encourages him to leave and fulfill his dreams and they don’t see each other again until 20 years later ( I like to see a romance of people in their 40s).
“I love you too, baby.” And I did; an overwhelming love that threatened to suck the entire life out of me from the first time he had kissed me at the Christmas party. Over the years our love had deepened, he was my soul mate and I was his. We both adored each other with a passion neither of us had ever felt before; we needed each other to breathe, to survive and to live. We had been inseparable since that night and our passion had soared from the first time we made love, making us both in awe of how intense our sexual chemistry was; it was hot, extreme and mind blowing all at the same time.
“I love you Olivia May Thomas and I always will. I’ll never be far baby, always with you. You’ll never leave my heart. You own it Liv, you own all of me. Your beauty will follow me to the ends of the earth. You’re the other half of me, Liv. The angel of my soul.”
“ I wasn’t going to see Nate again, no matter how much love we had for each other.”
She starts working at NSC industries and runs into him, it turns out that he is the owner of the company. He invites her to eat to catch up and he tells her that he is still in love with her, that he never could forget her. And both begin again their relationship with the same passion as before.
“I love you, Liv. I always have and I always will. You’re the other half of me, the Angel of my soul. You are so beautiful, Angel. You take my breath away,”
“And you don’t know how beautiful you are Nate. You make my heart stop when I see you, my mouth goes dry when you look at me like I’m the only woman in the world, and I can’t breathe when you touch me. I’ll always love you Nate . . . always.”
But Olivia’s ex-husband, James, is not willing to let her be happy and he prefers to see her dead than with another man.
It is a story that has reached my ❤️, poor Olivia survives a hell of a marriage, always protecting the people she loves, and when ir seems she can finally be happy...
Love the sex scenes( fucking hot) and the love declarations of Nate, and his ability to forgive Olivia after discovering about Jay.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
December 4, 2017
I both hated and loved this book. “Why?” You ask...
Well for starters the two main characters are bone-fucking-retarded. I don’t think I’ve used that phrase since middle school but in this scenario I think it’s important that I dust that old relic off and sprinkle it throughout this review. Liv aka Angel has a former husband who’s completely nutso. Let me be clear- this guy literally bit chunks out of her while raping her type of crazy. He gets out of jail, shows every indication possible that he will harm her, her children AND Nate yet Liv insists on staying in her less-than-secure house, drive her old gallopy of a vehicle and in general put herself in harms way almost blatantly. Nate’s not blameless in this shit storm either... the author wants me to believe that Nate is a self made billionaire who is so smart he runs an international company yet doesn’t have the forethought to invest in a comprehensive security detail for his soul mate and her children?!? Come on “Daddy MoreBucks” crack open your wallet and buy yourself some peace of mind. Literally these two dips make such poor choices I wanted to stop reading. Why did I keep going even though I was thoroughly frustrated? The sex scenes of course!
Now the part of my review when I tuck my inner-shrew back into her cage and offer compliments to the story. This book reminds me of the Stanton series in his frequency and variations in the steamy scenes. All too frequently I encounter a romance novel that literally repeats the same sex scene throughout the book. What a snooze! This story however changes things up every time! Fun to read!
So- my book friends- if you have the inclination I’d tell you to read this book but prepare yourself for the characters making dumb decisions that will irk you.
Well for starters the two main characters are bone-fucking-retarded. I don’t think I’ve used that phrase since middle school but in this scenario I think it’s important that I dust that old relic off and sprinkle it throughout this review. Liv aka Angel has a former husband who’s completely nutso. Let me be clear- this guy literally bit chunks out of her while raping her type of crazy. He gets out of jail, shows every indication possible that he will harm her, her children AND Nate yet Liv insists on staying in her less-than-secure house, drive her old gallopy of a vehicle and in general put herself in harms way almost blatantly. Nate’s not blameless in this shit storm either... the author wants me to believe that Nate is a self made billionaire who is so smart he runs an international company yet doesn’t have the forethought to invest in a comprehensive security detail for his soul mate and her children?!? Come on “Daddy MoreBucks” crack open your wallet and buy yourself some peace of mind. Literally these two dips make such poor choices I wanted to stop reading. Why did I keep going even though I was thoroughly frustrated? The sex scenes of course!
Now the part of my review when I tuck my inner-shrew back into her cage and offer compliments to the story. This book reminds me of the Stanton series in his frequency and variations in the steamy scenes. All too frequently I encounter a romance novel that literally repeats the same sex scene throughout the book. What a snooze! This story however changes things up every time! Fun to read!
So- my book friends- if you have the inclination I’d tell you to read this book but prepare yourself for the characters making dumb decisions that will irk you.
October 23, 2023
I have often read reviews where it is commented that the characters didn't seem believable or their actions didn't match up, and I always wondered what that would look like because I never noticed it before.
I tend to read books on a surface level. If I wanted to delve into the character analysis I would be reading a book for school (trust me I read and analyze enough for school)
This book was the first time where I saw what these reviewers meant.
In the prologue we meet Olivia and Angel. They meet and fall in love in college. On the night Angel tells Olivia he is going to take a job far away, Olivia learns she is pregnant. However she doesn't tell Angel because he wouldn't be able to take that job if he's staying with her to raise a kid. So she has the son on her own and never tells him. Regardless, she manages to record every birthday and Christmas and has a mass of "memories" in the form of cards. toys, clothes, etc. put in a "Daddy Box" for some unknown future event where she can give to Angel as a way of saying "You may not have known but your son did and here is what you missed".
While Olivia is raising her son by Angel she meets and marries another man whom she has two kids by. Of course the perfect man turns out to be a literal psycho who beats and rapes her constantly and ends up putting her in the hospital after abducting her and holding her for torture for three days. However, he's in prison now, and she is ready to go to work.
Olivia gets the job at a large corporate office being the secretary of a man who actually tried to sexually assault her at the college party during the prologue (it was when she first met Angel).
Turns out our heroine has taken a job at the company her ex-love Angel owns, and discovers this in the most clichéd way. Dropped papers at the entrance when he walks in.
Now Angel has become a billionaire, is hot as sin and wanted by all the girls. However he's carrying a torch for the one woman on earth that he couldn't seem to find despite owning a private security firm. Yup. Our Olivia (who has a big secret hidden from him)
I am going to ignore the whole alpha-billionaire-hot-sex-on-a-stick-holding-a-torch for a woman who has way too much baggage and is pretty much average looking. However, I get love, and I get not seeing those things when you have been carrying a torch. I'll overlook it.
I'll ignore every plot hole and "oh Come ON!" part of the book that has anything to do with her son and Angel.
What cased me to DNF? This woman's idiot behavior when it becomes clear to her that her murderous ex husband is released from prison and is actively stalking her.
Instead of telling her new, wealthy, powerful owner of a security firm boyfriend that she is getting dozens of hang up calls a day, is being sent dead animals to her work, has obvious break ins to her home....she covers it up. She denies it's happening.
When Angel tells her she should stay with him until it's handled what does she do? She goes home to assert her independence. She does everything but run to her ex and say "Kill me".
I hate that. Tension and suspense because of a stupid woman who refuses to acknowledge or accept what is going on, and goes against everything that normal, rational, people would do in the name of "independence", pisses me off to no end. It's not like this has to happen. A writer can very easily deliver suspense and drama without making the hero and heroine act like idiots.
SO.....when the heroine goes home, and tries of rationalize the panties piled up on her bed in a way that looks like it has been rolled around ("Maybe I forgot to make the bed and piled panties on it in my sleep"). Oh, her murderous stalker ex was released and managed to slip his ankle monitor off...well, I am sure that he's not going to come get me....Angel finds out that she has numerous missed calls by an unidentified person, but she still hides the fact that it's a stalker ex-husband by saying it's only a friend. Her home has been broken into, but she thinks maybe she forgot to lock her door. She gets pissed when Angel comes over to change her locks, it's apparently an assault to her independence. She gets an actual dead animal sent to her at work and the only thing she worries about is Angel finding out about it. Why? I have no effing clue why this character is so damned determined to keep Angel from knowing exactly what is going on. If this were me? If I had a murderous, stalker, ex husband actively trying to get me...and I had a hot, rich, and capable boyfriend dying to be the man and help? I would LET HIM! I wouldn't pull the BS Independent Woman crap in a situation like this. However at every turn this is what our heroine does.
Bitch please.
That is why I DNF'ed. When someone is trying to kill you, you do not hide it from the one person who is truly able to help. The man who owns the private security firm, and has a mansion that you can stay in is the actual father of one of your kids and is totally in love with you. You do not lie about how many times the stalker ex calls, you do not try to cover the fact that he sent a dead animal to you at work You do not get a case of the "I need to be independent" and run home even after he says to stay because it's not safe. No....we have a case of "Bitch won't listen" and "TSTL".
On a side note....totally am going to be reading the other books by this author on my shelf. Maybe it was a one off.....
I tend to read books on a surface level. If I wanted to delve into the character analysis I would be reading a book for school (trust me I read and analyze enough for school)
This book was the first time where I saw what these reviewers meant.
In the prologue we meet Olivia and Angel. They meet and fall in love in college. On the night Angel tells Olivia he is going to take a job far away, Olivia learns she is pregnant. However she doesn't tell Angel because he wouldn't be able to take that job if he's staying with her to raise a kid. So she has the son on her own and never tells him. Regardless, she manages to record every birthday and Christmas and has a mass of "memories" in the form of cards. toys, clothes, etc. put in a "Daddy Box" for some unknown future event where she can give to Angel as a way of saying "You may not have known but your son did and here is what you missed".
While Olivia is raising her son by Angel she meets and marries another man whom she has two kids by. Of course the perfect man turns out to be a literal psycho who beats and rapes her constantly and ends up putting her in the hospital after abducting her and holding her for torture for three days. However, he's in prison now, and she is ready to go to work.
Olivia gets the job at a large corporate office being the secretary of a man who actually tried to sexually assault her at the college party during the prologue (it was when she first met Angel).
Turns out our heroine has taken a job at the company her ex-love Angel owns, and discovers this in the most clichéd way. Dropped papers at the entrance when he walks in.
Now Angel has become a billionaire, is hot as sin and wanted by all the girls. However he's carrying a torch for the one woman on earth that he couldn't seem to find despite owning a private security firm. Yup. Our Olivia (who has a big secret hidden from him)
I am going to ignore the whole alpha-billionaire-hot-sex-on-a-stick-holding-a-torch for a woman who has way too much baggage and is pretty much average looking. However, I get love, and I get not seeing those things when you have been carrying a torch. I'll overlook it.
I'll ignore every plot hole and "oh Come ON!" part of the book that has anything to do with her son and Angel.
What cased me to DNF? This woman's idiot behavior when it becomes clear to her that her murderous ex husband is released from prison and is actively stalking her.
Instead of telling her new, wealthy, powerful owner of a security firm boyfriend that she is getting dozens of hang up calls a day, is being sent dead animals to her work, has obvious break ins to her home....she covers it up. She denies it's happening.
When Angel tells her she should stay with him until it's handled what does she do? She goes home to assert her independence. She does everything but run to her ex and say "Kill me".
I hate that. Tension and suspense because of a stupid woman who refuses to acknowledge or accept what is going on, and goes against everything that normal, rational, people would do in the name of "independence", pisses me off to no end. It's not like this has to happen. A writer can very easily deliver suspense and drama without making the hero and heroine act like idiots.
SO.....when the heroine goes home, and tries of rationalize the panties piled up on her bed in a way that looks like it has been rolled around ("Maybe I forgot to make the bed and piled panties on it in my sleep"). Oh, her murderous stalker ex was released and managed to slip his ankle monitor off...well, I am sure that he's not going to come get me....Angel finds out that she has numerous missed calls by an unidentified person, but she still hides the fact that it's a stalker ex-husband by saying it's only a friend. Her home has been broken into, but she thinks maybe she forgot to lock her door. She gets pissed when Angel comes over to change her locks, it's apparently an assault to her independence. She gets an actual dead animal sent to her at work and the only thing she worries about is Angel finding out about it. Why? I have no effing clue why this character is so damned determined to keep Angel from knowing exactly what is going on. If this were me? If I had a murderous, stalker, ex husband actively trying to get me...and I had a hot, rich, and capable boyfriend dying to be the man and help? I would LET HIM! I wouldn't pull the BS Independent Woman crap in a situation like this. However at every turn this is what our heroine does.
Bitch please.
That is why I DNF'ed. When someone is trying to kill you, you do not hide it from the one person who is truly able to help. The man who owns the private security firm, and has a mansion that you can stay in is the actual father of one of your kids and is totally in love with you. You do not lie about how many times the stalker ex calls, you do not try to cover the fact that he sent a dead animal to you at work You do not get a case of the "I need to be independent" and run home even after he says to stay because it's not safe. No....we have a case of "Bitch won't listen" and "TSTL".
On a side note....totally am going to be reading the other books by this author on my shelf. Maybe it was a one off.....
February 18, 2019
DNF
This book was not what I expected. I really hoped to enjoy this book but the author's writing style was nothing like I expected. It jumped around and never really gave the reader a full story before moving ahead in time. What happened when the characters met for the first time? So, a boy walks up to a girl at a party and just starts making out before a word is said? RIght...at least make a story believable.
This book was not what I expected. I really hoped to enjoy this book but the author's writing style was nothing like I expected. It jumped around and never really gave the reader a full story before moving ahead in time. What happened when the characters met for the first time? So, a boy walks up to a girl at a party and just starts making out before a word is said? RIght...at least make a story believable.
July 8, 2021
A raunchy but violent read that had me scratching my head in a few places. Not sure James being released early would of gone unannounced to his victim. Equally sure when he punched her twice in the face she would not go to work two days later.
Who cleaned up the bathroom after her meltdown? Sure she busted the door of the shower but manages to shower in it!
Who cleaned up the bathroom after her meltdown? Sure she busted the door of the shower but manages to shower in it!
December 13, 2017
I started this series after reading Sidebottom's Caged series. The darkness in this story isn't as deep as that in the Caged series. This is a bit more of a normal love story but with some stalking thrown in for good measure. But a nice read overall.
April 20, 2020
Sorry,but I don't have much to say about this book:(
May 11, 2014
Well this was a book of contradictions. I was expecting a dark romance, what from the blurb and genres listed, but I would describe this more as a suspense-romance with some pretty traumatic themes.
The book starts with how the couple first meet at a frat party in college. It’s a standard meeting, the heroine (Olivia) sensing his gaze from across the room, the hero – Nate walks over to her, kisses her and fade to black. The next chapter fast forwards 3 years, on the last day of college. The H/h are still together and obviously madly in love. The day before they are due to pack up and leave college, Olivia discovers some ‘shocking’ news, but before she can tell Nate (hhhmmm, I wonder what the news could be…?) he drops a bombshell – that he has a new job hundreds of miles away in Scotland. Not wanting to ruin his career plans, she ‘selflessly’ decides to not reveal her news to him. Then we have the ’20 years later’ chapter. I’ll warn you now. Whilst I think it’s obvious what the ‘shocking news’ is, some might find it spoiler-ish, so be warned………
Yes, 20 years is a long time! During this next section of the story, we learn that Olivia has been divorced for 10 years and lives with her two children. It’s not clear at first whether one of these kids are Nate’s or with her divorced husband – James – who physically abused her during their marriage. After one last, violent episode, Olivia escaped and divorced his arse and he was gladly sent to prison.
Things start to look up for her when she lands a job as PA at NSC industries. However after working there for several months she dumps into Nate, who happens to be the namesake of the company she works for. They hit is off immediately, almost as if 20 years hadn’t passed and within days they are professing their love for each other again. It’s revealed that Nate tried to keep in touch with her after he moved to Scotland, but Olivia was having none of it.
This is where I started to get frustrated with both characters. It became clear to me that Olivia’s seemingly selfless decision was a major balls-up on her part. It just didn’t make sense. And Nate, if he really loved her he should have pursued her more back then AND demanded to know what happened when they finally reunite. But he didn’t. He just went along with it. If I was Nate, I would be majorly pissed. And that’s before I get to the big reveal. Turns out Olivia has a third child, a 19 year old son. Not only does she not tell Nate about this at any point during the 20 year separation (yet she makes a ‘Daddy’s box’ of memorabilia??? That doesn’t make sense either) but she withholds the info for a few weeks after they meet up again. Selfless? I don’t think so!
To top it all off, James gets released from prison and actively stalks Olivia. Again, something else that annoyed me a little. Sure I can believe the stalker-ish behaviour. The phone calls, texts, parcels and even the breaking into her house and hidden bedroom camera. But a car-bomb? What is this guy? Ex-SAS? This was overkill for me, although it added to the drama.
By the last 20% of the book I was drained from everything that was going on. Olivia with her mood-swings (yep she was going through a lot, but she took it out on Nate too often) and Nates incessant ‘I love you’s and ‘Baby’ or ‘You’re my Angel’s grated on my nerves a bit. I do love a damsel in distress-hero saves the day storyline, but this was just all-out-excessive-craziness!
Aside for the nonsensical parts to the story, there were some sweet and definitely hot scenes. Which is why im rating it 3.5 stars.
The book starts with how the couple first meet at a frat party in college. It’s a standard meeting, the heroine (Olivia) sensing his gaze from across the room, the hero – Nate walks over to her, kisses her and fade to black. The next chapter fast forwards 3 years, on the last day of college. The H/h are still together and obviously madly in love. The day before they are due to pack up and leave college, Olivia discovers some ‘shocking’ news, but before she can tell Nate (hhhmmm, I wonder what the news could be…?) he drops a bombshell – that he has a new job hundreds of miles away in Scotland. Not wanting to ruin his career plans, she ‘selflessly’ decides to not reveal her news to him. Then we have the ’20 years later’ chapter. I’ll warn you now. Whilst I think it’s obvious what the ‘shocking news’ is, some might find it spoiler-ish, so be warned………
Yes, 20 years is a long time! During this next section of the story, we learn that Olivia has been divorced for 10 years and lives with her two children. It’s not clear at first whether one of these kids are Nate’s or with her divorced husband – James – who physically abused her during their marriage. After one last, violent episode, Olivia escaped and divorced his arse and he was gladly sent to prison.
Things start to look up for her when she lands a job as PA at NSC industries. However after working there for several months she dumps into Nate, who happens to be the namesake of the company she works for. They hit is off immediately, almost as if 20 years hadn’t passed and within days they are professing their love for each other again. It’s revealed that Nate tried to keep in touch with her after he moved to Scotland, but Olivia was having none of it.
This is where I started to get frustrated with both characters. It became clear to me that Olivia’s seemingly selfless decision was a major balls-up on her part. It just didn’t make sense. And Nate, if he really loved her he should have pursued her more back then AND demanded to know what happened when they finally reunite. But he didn’t. He just went along with it. If I was Nate, I would be majorly pissed. And that’s before I get to the big reveal. Turns out Olivia has a third child, a 19 year old son. Not only does she not tell Nate about this at any point during the 20 year separation (yet she makes a ‘Daddy’s box’ of memorabilia??? That doesn’t make sense either) but she withholds the info for a few weeks after they meet up again. Selfless? I don’t think so!
To top it all off, James gets released from prison and actively stalks Olivia. Again, something else that annoyed me a little. Sure I can believe the stalker-ish behaviour. The phone calls, texts, parcels and even the breaking into her house and hidden bedroom camera. But a car-bomb? What is this guy? Ex-SAS? This was overkill for me, although it added to the drama.
By the last 20% of the book I was drained from everything that was going on. Olivia with her mood-swings (yep she was going through a lot, but she took it out on Nate too often) and Nates incessant ‘I love you’s and ‘Baby’ or ‘You’re my Angel’s grated on my nerves a bit. I do love a damsel in distress-hero saves the day storyline, but this was just all-out-excessive-craziness!
Aside for the nonsensical parts to the story, there were some sweet and definitely hot scenes. Which is why im rating it 3.5 stars.
July 19, 2014
Wow, I can't believe I never reviewed this before but this is where my obssesion with D H Sidebottom began, and this has been my third time reading Angel.
This amazing woman doesn't just put pen to paper so to speak, when she puts down her words, She creates a story in your mind, alpha males to love and awesome fiesty females that take you on a wild adventurous ride.
At the tender age of 18 Nate Carter fell head over heals in love, he found his other half, the Angel of his Soul. Life and circumstances got in the way and he lost everything he ever wanted until 20 years later aged 40, as if by chance the one and only Liv starts a new job at NSC Industries, and they do literally bump into each other, once again everything his ever wanted is right in front of him but, is she still his, can he grab the woman that holds his heart and soul and reclaim the love they once held.
Life hands these 2 lost souls a second chance at love, but will it all be sunshine and roses, hardly. The course of true love never runs smoothly and Liv has had a hell of a lot to deal with during their 20 years apart. Nate and Liv have more than the regular ups and downs to contend with and they have to go through some extreamely intense situations to deal with Liv's past before they can have the family they always wanted, the family they always should of had. Will the intense all consuming love they hold for each other be enough to fight and overcome the demons of the past.
This is an amazing story of love, loss struggle and hardship, with some really staeamy hot sex too. I'm astounded that this was actually her first book. I loved this story and could re-read over and over again, and still the emotions run like its the first time.
5 BIG FAT STARS *****
This amazing woman doesn't just put pen to paper so to speak, when she puts down her words, She creates a story in your mind, alpha males to love and awesome fiesty females that take you on a wild adventurous ride.
At the tender age of 18 Nate Carter fell head over heals in love, he found his other half, the Angel of his Soul. Life and circumstances got in the way and he lost everything he ever wanted until 20 years later aged 40, as if by chance the one and only Liv starts a new job at NSC Industries, and they do literally bump into each other, once again everything his ever wanted is right in front of him but, is she still his, can he grab the woman that holds his heart and soul and reclaim the love they once held.
Life hands these 2 lost souls a second chance at love, but will it all be sunshine and roses, hardly. The course of true love never runs smoothly and Liv has had a hell of a lot to deal with during their 20 years apart. Nate and Liv have more than the regular ups and downs to contend with and they have to go through some extreamely intense situations to deal with Liv's past before they can have the family they always wanted, the family they always should of had. Will the intense all consuming love they hold for each other be enough to fight and overcome the demons of the past.
This is an amazing story of love, loss struggle and hardship, with some really staeamy hot sex too. I'm astounded that this was actually her first book. I loved this story and could re-read over and over again, and still the emotions run like its the first time.
5 BIG FAT STARS *****
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