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Puffin Harbor #1
The Seductive Impostor
The first in a dazzling duo of romances featuring two sisters from the ruggedly beautiful Maine coast...and the men who sweep them away.
Rachel Foster wishes Sub Rosa -- the seaside mansion she helped her father build and the scene of a terrible tragedy -- would crumble into the sea. But Keenan Oakes, Sub Rosa's new owner, is moving in and stirring up the dark secrets of the cliff-perched manor....
Now, in the heat of a sizzling attraction, can Rachel clear her family's name while risking her heart on Keenan...and on a passionate love like nothing she's ever known?
Rachel Foster wishes Sub Rosa -- the seaside mansion she helped her father build and the scene of a terrible tragedy -- would crumble into the sea. But Keenan Oakes, Sub Rosa's new owner, is moving in and stirring up the dark secrets of the cliff-perched manor....
Now, in the heat of a sizzling attraction, can Rachel clear her family's name while risking her heart on Keenan...and on a passionate love like nothing she's ever known?
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
87 people are currently reading
630 people want to read
About the author
Janet Chapman
28 books1,114 followersJanuary 22, 1956 – October 28, 2017
Hey guys its Jessica. Sorry I’ve been MIA for so long. I apologize for the long overdue wait for Janet’s next book. You’ve all been very patient and loyal fans that she loves. She has been working on this book over the last year and a half while dealing with her battle with cancer. It saddens me to say that she peacefully lost this battle this past weekend while her family was by her side. I apologize if this feels sudden, she was a very private person even to her family. And she truly thought of all of you as her family. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Janet Chapman is the author of twenty-two contemporary and magical romance novels, all of which are set in her beautiful state of Maine. She lives in a cozy log home on a beautiful lake with her husband, surrounded by an eclectic assortment of wildlife that she finds both entertaining and inspiring. Probably best known for her Highlander Series (a saga of twelfth century warriors rebuilding their clans in modern-day Maine that now spans three generations), Janet also has two spin-off magical series (Midnight Bay & Spellbound Falls) and several contemporary family series set on the coast and in the mountains. With over three million books printed in six languages, her stories regularly appear on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller’s lists.
When she’s not writing (well, when she should to be writing but isn’t), Janet and her husband are traveling the state in their camper throughout all four seasons; hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and generally rubbing elbows with Mother Nature while always keeping an eye out for colorful new characters—human and beast—to put in her stories.
author's obituary
Hey guys its Jessica. Sorry I’ve been MIA for so long. I apologize for the long overdue wait for Janet’s next book. You’ve all been very patient and loyal fans that she loves. She has been working on this book over the last year and a half while dealing with her battle with cancer. It saddens me to say that she peacefully lost this battle this past weekend while her family was by her side. I apologize if this feels sudden, she was a very private person even to her family. And she truly thought of all of you as her family. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Janet Chapman is the author of twenty-two contemporary and magical romance novels, all of which are set in her beautiful state of Maine. She lives in a cozy log home on a beautiful lake with her husband, surrounded by an eclectic assortment of wildlife that she finds both entertaining and inspiring. Probably best known for her Highlander Series (a saga of twelfth century warriors rebuilding their clans in modern-day Maine that now spans three generations), Janet also has two spin-off magical series (Midnight Bay & Spellbound Falls) and several contemporary family series set on the coast and in the mountains. With over three million books printed in six languages, her stories regularly appear on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller’s lists.
When she’s not writing (well, when she should to be writing but isn’t), Janet and her husband are traveling the state in their camper throughout all four seasons; hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, and generally rubbing elbows with Mother Nature while always keeping an eye out for colorful new characters—human and beast—to put in her stories.
author's obituary
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
October 16, 2025
I love Janet Chapman’s writing! Her stories are wonderful. I have to say that this has been my favourite book of her’s so far!
Rachel is batting a tragedy that has kept her away from Sub Rosa, the mansion she lovingly designed with her father. Keenan is the new heir to said mansion. I loved the way they “met” and how Keenan handled her afterwards.
I loved Rachel. She is everything I love in a heroine. She was strong, funny and super quirky. I loved all of the men’s reaction to her and her boldness, rolling herself around sub rosa, in a wheelchair, not a bit afraid of these strange men who essentially kidnapped her.
One of my favourite scenes in the book centred around a Rachel having a lie come back to bite her., almost quite literally I couldn’t stop laughing at both her and the men’s reaction to two of them helpfully finding her “lost cat”. It was comedy genius.
Keenan was amazing too. I loved his comradery with his partners. I loved his relationship with his daughter. And I loved his take charge attitude when it came to Rachel. Once he had his sights set on her, that was it! They were so good together, despite all of the secrets and mystery surrounding them. It was the perfect combination or romance and mystery.
Sisters, Rachel and Willow’s scenes together were awesome. Their bond was evident in every scene. They get ridiculously drunk together on strawberry daiquiris one evening and put on quite a show for Keenan and his men, who are keeping an eye on them for protection.
Great read! Can’t wait to read Willow’s story. I'm just realizing I wrote "loved" a lot in this review. Guess I truly "loved" the story!!!!
Rachel is batting a tragedy that has kept her away from Sub Rosa, the mansion she lovingly designed with her father. Keenan is the new heir to said mansion. I loved the way they “met” and how Keenan handled her afterwards.
I loved Rachel. She is everything I love in a heroine. She was strong, funny and super quirky. I loved all of the men’s reaction to her and her boldness, rolling herself around sub rosa, in a wheelchair, not a bit afraid of these strange men who essentially kidnapped her.
One of my favourite scenes in the book centred around a Rachel having a lie come back to bite her., almost quite literally I couldn’t stop laughing at both her and the men’s reaction to two of them helpfully finding her “lost cat”. It was comedy genius.
“They were both grinning like old women, their expressions so eager to please it was painful to look at.
"We found your cat!" Matthew said, just as the jacket in his arms exploded. Fur and claws and fangs came flying into the room ahead of him, leaving bloody claw tracks on his neck. An enraged cat landed on all fours and ran under the bed.
Kee looked over to see Rachel wearing the most horrified, incredulous look he'd ever seen.”
Keenan was amazing too. I loved his comradery with his partners. I loved his relationship with his daughter. And I loved his take charge attitude when it came to Rachel. Once he had his sights set on her, that was it! They were so good together, despite all of the secrets and mystery surrounding them. It was the perfect combination or romance and mystery.
Sisters, Rachel and Willow’s scenes together were awesome. Their bond was evident in every scene. They get ridiculously drunk together on strawberry daiquiris one evening and put on quite a show for Keenan and his men, who are keeping an eye on them for protection.
“Willow hung her own head in her hands, covering her face and letting out a shuddering breath. "God, my head hurts," she croaked. "I'm never eating another strawberry.”
Great read! Can’t wait to read Willow’s story. I'm just realizing I wrote "loved" a lot in this review. Guess I truly "loved" the story!!!!
June 16, 2016
Loved this book. Rachel is a former architect who hasn't designed anything since she helped her father design and build Sub Rosa, and then her parents and the owner died in a three-way lovers' quarrel. Since then she has refused to step foot in that house, until an inheritance from her father sends her scrambling. It turns out that some gifts that he and the house's owner, Thadd, had given to her and her sister were actually valuable pieces of stolen goods. Determined to protect her family's name, Rachel decides to sneak into Sub Rosa and return all the items before the recently found heir moves in. What she doesn't know is that Keenan is already there, along with his five partners in their salvage business. Their meeting was funny, exciting, and steamy.
This book was full of Janet Chapman's trademark humor and quirky characters, as well as the suspense of finding stolen art and the real story behind it. Rachel is strong, funny and very smart. She is also protective of her younger sister, Willow, and is determined to keep any hint of scandal away from her. She gives in to Keenan's "request" that she stay at Sub Rosa while she heals from an injury and also helps him settle into the house. Rachel has her own reasons for staying in the house and watching her try to carry out her plans while dealing with Keenan was hysterical. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her win over Keenan's friends, and the scene when they found "her cat" was a riot.
Neither Keenan nor Rachel expected the immediate and overwhelming attraction that flared between them. Rachel has put all passion in her life on hold since the tragedy of her parents, and isn't happy that Keenan is bringing all those feelings back out. Keenan is completely bemused by the way she makes him feel, never having met anyone who can distract him so easily. I loved seeing the relationship develop between the two of them. Keenan is protective of those he cares for, and Rachel quickly became one of those. He is very confident in his role, and has no trouble telling Rachel exactly what to do. Rachel is equally determined and I loved seeing her stand up to him. This is something he isn't used to, and I loved its effect on him.
"What was it about her that had gotten under his skin so quickly and so completely? It wasn't just her wildly passionate nature, or even the sexy body that passion came packaged in. No, it was all of her - her courage and intelligence and spunk. It was her willingness to stand up to him, to be right in his face and smile while she did, and her loyalty to her sister that was so strong she was willing to put herself in an impossible situation. But mostly, he thought, it was her spunk."
I loved how Rachel saw past Keenan's outer caveman/demigod to the man underneath. She saw how much he loved his daughter and the lengths he'd go to for her. She felt the tenderness and caring from him, even when she knew she frustrated him with her actions and her secrets. He was the first man she'd ever felt she could truly be herself with. I loved their interactions, which were fun and romantic and frequently steamy. But both were still keeping some secrets and when one of those secrets came out, Rachel did not react well. Both Keenan and Rachel had a bit too much stubbornness and pride and it took a threat to his daughter to bring them back together. I loved how Rachel did it - it really was perfect for them.
I really enjoyed the suspense and mystery of the missing art objects. There was more going on with it than Rachel first suspected. As she uncovered more clues, she was determined to solve the problem without involving anyone else. But Keenan had different plans, and suspected that she knew more than she was telling him. I got a bit frustrated with her at times, with her reluctance to fully trust him, and loved seeing his protectiveness in spite of it. The final confrontation at the end was intense, with a couple of surprise revelations.
The secondary characters were all fantastic. I loved Keenan's five friends. The relationships among them were obviously long-standing and very close. They obviously loved and respected Keenan, but also had minds of their own. I loved the way that they all took to Rachel and saw just what effect she had on Keenan. I liked the way that they stood up for her. I also loved their relationship with Keenan's daughter, the "little tyrant". It was so sweet to see the way she had all those strong men wrapped around her little finger. As a character, Mikaela was a riot. Having spent all her life around adult men, she was not a typical little girl - except when she was trying to get her own way. She was a master at getting around them. I also loved Rachel's sister Willow. She is a strong character in her own right. The relationship between the sisters is very close, though Willow does occasionally get frustrated by Rachel's protectiveness. But she is there when needed. I loved the scene of the daiquiri party with the two of them, and the audience they didn't know they had. I also loved seeing Willow's attempt to save Rachel from the "assault" later that night - it had me laughing out loud as I read it. I'm looking forward to her story, especially considering her reaction to Duncan.
This book was full of Janet Chapman's trademark humor and quirky characters, as well as the suspense of finding stolen art and the real story behind it. Rachel is strong, funny and very smart. She is also protective of her younger sister, Willow, and is determined to keep any hint of scandal away from her. She gives in to Keenan's "request" that she stay at Sub Rosa while she heals from an injury and also helps him settle into the house. Rachel has her own reasons for staying in the house and watching her try to carry out her plans while dealing with Keenan was hysterical. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her win over Keenan's friends, and the scene when they found "her cat" was a riot.
Neither Keenan nor Rachel expected the immediate and overwhelming attraction that flared between them. Rachel has put all passion in her life on hold since the tragedy of her parents, and isn't happy that Keenan is bringing all those feelings back out. Keenan is completely bemused by the way she makes him feel, never having met anyone who can distract him so easily. I loved seeing the relationship develop between the two of them. Keenan is protective of those he cares for, and Rachel quickly became one of those. He is very confident in his role, and has no trouble telling Rachel exactly what to do. Rachel is equally determined and I loved seeing her stand up to him. This is something he isn't used to, and I loved its effect on him.
"What was it about her that had gotten under his skin so quickly and so completely? It wasn't just her wildly passionate nature, or even the sexy body that passion came packaged in. No, it was all of her - her courage and intelligence and spunk. It was her willingness to stand up to him, to be right in his face and smile while she did, and her loyalty to her sister that was so strong she was willing to put herself in an impossible situation. But mostly, he thought, it was her spunk."
I loved how Rachel saw past Keenan's outer caveman/demigod to the man underneath. She saw how much he loved his daughter and the lengths he'd go to for her. She felt the tenderness and caring from him, even when she knew she frustrated him with her actions and her secrets. He was the first man she'd ever felt she could truly be herself with. I loved their interactions, which were fun and romantic and frequently steamy. But both were still keeping some secrets and when one of those secrets came out, Rachel did not react well. Both Keenan and Rachel had a bit too much stubbornness and pride and it took a threat to his daughter to bring them back together. I loved how Rachel did it - it really was perfect for them.
I really enjoyed the suspense and mystery of the missing art objects. There was more going on with it than Rachel first suspected. As she uncovered more clues, she was determined to solve the problem without involving anyone else. But Keenan had different plans, and suspected that she knew more than she was telling him. I got a bit frustrated with her at times, with her reluctance to fully trust him, and loved seeing his protectiveness in spite of it. The final confrontation at the end was intense, with a couple of surprise revelations.
The secondary characters were all fantastic. I loved Keenan's five friends. The relationships among them were obviously long-standing and very close. They obviously loved and respected Keenan, but also had minds of their own. I loved the way that they all took to Rachel and saw just what effect she had on Keenan. I liked the way that they stood up for her. I also loved their relationship with Keenan's daughter, the "little tyrant". It was so sweet to see the way she had all those strong men wrapped around her little finger. As a character, Mikaela was a riot. Having spent all her life around adult men, she was not a typical little girl - except when she was trying to get her own way. She was a master at getting around them. I also loved Rachel's sister Willow. She is a strong character in her own right. The relationship between the sisters is very close, though Willow does occasionally get frustrated by Rachel's protectiveness. But she is there when needed. I loved the scene of the daiquiri party with the two of them, and the audience they didn't know they had. I also loved seeing Willow's attempt to save Rachel from the "assault" later that night - it had me laughing out loud as I read it. I'm looking forward to her story, especially considering her reaction to Duncan.
April 19, 2011
Believe it or not, I picked this book up at my dentist's office! He has a bookcase of used books to buy and the proceeds go to the American cancer Society's Relay for Life. Anyway, I figured it would be a quick, little, mindless, romance novel. Instead, I got a really good, suspenseful read. I'm thinking that Janet Chapman might be my new favorite author!
May 11, 2018
Loved this.
I’m trying to collect all of her work. I hope to read her work for years to come.
I’m trying to collect all of her work. I hope to read her work for years to come.
May 25, 2020
Another giant alpha-hole hero and another tiny spirited contrary heroine. Oy vey....
June 26, 2016
Really wish more books by this author were available on audio. : (
The two that are, don't really interest me.
Rachel and Keenan. This one was slow to get into. I didn't like Rachel for the first few chapters and dreaded reading almost 400 pages of her. I kept setting it aside to read something else, but I'm so glad I didn't give up!! 'Cause when Keenan shows up with his band of merry mercenaries in the 3rd chapter the book really takes off!
Rachel was a humourless unhappy woman who had put her life on hold after a violent tragedy several years prior, took the lives of her parents and their best friend Thad, the owner of Sub Rosa. Sub Rosa is the house Rachel designed with her father, but that is like calling a tiger a pussy cat. Sub Rosa fills the story like a 3rd MC. Like a 4th murder victim, that isn't really dead but hibernating. Everything revolves around Sub Rosa and the people who created her and those who desire her secrets.
Rachel's father left her with the key to those secrets but even the key needs a key and she must find it and then hide the secrets to save her sister's future. When Keenan, the new owner of Sub Rosa, shows up, and later his precocious daughter, Rachel never gets a moment to herself to solve the puzzle. Keenan wants answers too and he wants Rachel. But there's also a murderer who is willing to kill for the answers. For the treasure hidden in Sub Rosa.
When Keenan arrives, Rachel comes to life again like a live wire and I liked her character a lot. She's recovering from a bad fall and a bum leg, but doesnt let it slow her down. She's loyal to her sister and she's not afraid to go toe to toe with Keenan. She revels in their passion and they really burn up the pages together. Loved their witty dialogue and chuckled often while reading.
There's interesting side characters and crazy nail biting action (but not too much or overdone) and mystery. My only complaint is that Keenan's daughter who is supposed to be 5 talks more like an eight year old. But she was a fun character none the less.
The ending was perfect. I would have loved an epilogue to see a peak into their future, but to be honest, it wouldn't have fit with the book.
I feel like I read a Nancy Drew book that's X-rated ; )
The two that are, don't really interest me.
Rachel and Keenan. This one was slow to get into. I didn't like Rachel for the first few chapters and dreaded reading almost 400 pages of her. I kept setting it aside to read something else, but I'm so glad I didn't give up!! 'Cause when Keenan shows up with his band of merry mercenaries in the 3rd chapter the book really takes off!
Rachel was a humourless unhappy woman who had put her life on hold after a violent tragedy several years prior, took the lives of her parents and their best friend Thad, the owner of Sub Rosa. Sub Rosa is the house Rachel designed with her father, but that is like calling a tiger a pussy cat. Sub Rosa fills the story like a 3rd MC. Like a 4th murder victim, that isn't really dead but hibernating. Everything revolves around Sub Rosa and the people who created her and those who desire her secrets.
Rachel's father left her with the key to those secrets but even the key needs a key and she must find it and then hide the secrets to save her sister's future. When Keenan, the new owner of Sub Rosa, shows up, and later his precocious daughter, Rachel never gets a moment to herself to solve the puzzle. Keenan wants answers too and he wants Rachel. But there's also a murderer who is willing to kill for the answers. For the treasure hidden in Sub Rosa.
When Keenan arrives, Rachel comes to life again like a live wire and I liked her character a lot. She's recovering from a bad fall and a bum leg, but doesnt let it slow her down. She's loyal to her sister and she's not afraid to go toe to toe with Keenan. She revels in their passion and they really burn up the pages together. Loved their witty dialogue and chuckled often while reading.
There's interesting side characters and crazy nail biting action (but not too much or overdone) and mystery. My only complaint is that Keenan's daughter who is supposed to be 5 talks more like an eight year old. But she was a fun character none the less.
The ending was perfect. I would have loved an epilogue to see a peak into their future, but to be honest, it wouldn't have fit with the book.
I feel like I read a Nancy Drew book that's X-rated ; )
October 26, 2011
Ooooo! This was great! Compared to the last series (Sinclair Brothers - Boring) this one was over the top. Myse=tery, love etc.
Rachel is an architect & built an over the top house with her dad for a billionaire. She discovered them at his house 3 years prior all dead. Her dad had shot her mother and the neighbor then himself. She refused to go in the house again after that until she gets a box from her dads lawyer saying all of the special gifts they had received from their neighbor were stolen & worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. She decides to go to the house and return them. Where she's caught trying to leave by the sexy hot new owner, heir to the dead owner, Keegan Oakes. Phew! It progresses from there!
Definitely worth the read, and I also had a good laugh.
Rachel is an architect & built an over the top house with her dad for a billionaire. She discovered them at his house 3 years prior all dead. Her dad had shot her mother and the neighbor then himself. She refused to go in the house again after that until she gets a box from her dads lawyer saying all of the special gifts they had received from their neighbor were stolen & worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. She decides to go to the house and return them. Where she's caught trying to leave by the sexy hot new owner, heir to the dead owner, Keegan Oakes. Phew! It progresses from there!
Definitely worth the read, and I also had a good laugh.
September 4, 2016
Das Cover ist so schrecklich, aber das Buch sooo gut! Spannend, romantisch, lustig einfach perfekt!!!
September 20, 2020
I hate it when I get to the end of a great book. I just sit there amazed at the writer’s ability to tell her story so precise and in so detail that you can see exactly where the characters are. Rachel Foster was the daughter of an architect and worked as an architect with him but the work they did planning Sub Rosa was their best work. Rachel unfortunately found her father, mother and friend in the master bedroom at Sub Rosa murdered and it looked as if her father had killed her mother and their friend before shooting himself. She had lived with this vision for three years and did not want to ever go into this mansion again. The Estate finally located an heir, Keenan Oakes, and the home would once again be opened but she wanted no part of it. The story has so many twists and turns that it will keep you turning pages all night. Great book.
May 1, 2020
I will say I have read this book before and I can see myself reading it again in the future. I really enjoy the authors world building and her characters. It has the added bonus that she adds humor mixed through out the book. It makes me want to visit Maine and check out some of the stuff there, as you can picture the landscape. I like the interaction with the characters as it is not just one level as she makes her characters seem real with good and bad points. One I would recommend to others.
August 25, 2024
I really enjoyed this mystery/suspense story. Rachel and Keenan are so good together, but both are very stubborn and but heads all the time. Rachel is trying to keep her family name from being dragged through the mud again. Also to save her sister's reputation as an attorney. She will do anything she has to to accomplish this. Keenan isn't who he says he is. He expects Rachel to trust him, but when he isn't completely honest, how can she? Will they get past their problems to be able to be together. All the secondary characters are a fun addition.
October 15, 2021
Short and sweet I mostly enjoyed this book and especially liked the wolf and five year old child.
The actual plot was similar to those of other works by Chapman. In fact, all of her books follow the same basic pattern - so if you've read one, and are short on time, you can save yourself a fair bit of effort by knowing that all Chapman's works are basically the same story.
Of course if you like romance and are bored, reading one of these novels is not the worst way to spend an afternoon.
The actual plot was similar to those of other works by Chapman. In fact, all of her books follow the same basic pattern - so if you've read one, and are short on time, you can save yourself a fair bit of effort by knowing that all Chapman's works are basically the same story.
Of course if you like romance and are bored, reading one of these novels is not the worst way to spend an afternoon.
June 2, 2025
Janet Chapman has been such a constant in my life the past 20 years. Anytime I want to slip into a comfort book she’s the one I turn to all these years later. It’s so sad that she passed and can’t continue to write great books. This is one of my faves because of the intrigue and the back and forth between the main characters. I also love seeing the beginning of the story to her sister’s story in the sequel.
June 28, 2020
I've always enjoyed Ms Chapman's humour. Another great author gone before her time. There's so many characters she had created that was waiting for her to tell their tales. Too bad it was not meant to be. But at least she left us a legacy of great books we can reread again and again. You will be missed.
November 11, 2019
I just falling in love with this story line and am getting
All of the books that come after this one 😀 I had this book when it first came out and all of the rest of then 😀 then we moved and I lost all of
my books five box's of the most loved ones
All of the books that come after this one 😀 I had this book when it first came out and all of the rest of then 😀 then we moved and I lost all of
my books five box's of the most loved ones
May 8, 2017
4.5*
October 26, 2017
OMG! I adore this one. SO funny and exciting.
December 29, 2018
a 4 1/2!!
May 12, 2019
Great characters!! Wonderful story!
August 7, 2019
Had me hooked from the first chapter. couldn't put it down read it straight thru.
Janet Chapman is a new favorite of mine.
Janet Chapman is a new favorite of mine.
November 7, 2020
Puffin Harbor #1 - 2004
May 31, 2021
I LOVEEEE this book and the second one. I just wish we would have gotten books on the rest of the boys
February 15, 2022
Hidden Treasure & puffin
What fun. Flavors of Romancing the Stone and Indiana Jones. Great cast of characters and Mickey. Need to see if Mikela got her story.
What fun. Flavors of Romancing the Stone and Indiana Jones. Great cast of characters and Mickey. Need to see if Mikela got her story.
August 29, 2022
3.5. Kind of messy but some fun elements like the treasure hunt and the giant puffin. And probably the least annoying portrayal of Mainers I’ve ever read gives it an extra star.
May 12, 2024
Wonderful book
A wonderfully romantic story about mystery, danger, love and trust combined with fate. So glad I discovered Janet Chapman as an author!
A wonderfully romantic story about mystery, danger, love and trust combined with fate. So glad I discovered Janet Chapman as an author!
January 16, 2025
This book is a must read. There is deception, murder, betrayal, as well as deep love between sisters and a created family.
October 12, 2016
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12556447
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/12556447
February 23, 2017
Rachel is an architect who helped to design a complex mansion, Sub Rosa. She learns that her family had a secret that needs to stay hidden, but only safe place for the evidence, in order to keep her family's name out of it, is Sub Rosa itself. So Rachel decides to break in, desposit the evidence and be in the clear. Keenan Oakes has recently inherited the place and decides to move in on the very night that Rachel breaks into his house. This starts a very interesting relationship, where the chemistry explodes, the lies pile up on top of one another and protection from danger becomes the name of the game.
This story pretty much hit all my buttons for a perfect story. The characters were really engaging for one - Kee is delightfully broody and mysterious, but has a great sense of humor. Rachel is nearly absurd in how obvious her lies are (so she's not fooling Kee), but she's a good hearted person, also with a great sense of humor. Their chemistry is off the charts. It's definitely insta-lust turned insta-love, but it didn't really feel all that rushed, so I was fine with it. The mystery sub-plot was intriguing as well, but not the highlight of the story. It was woven in quite well, but the romance was my favorite. Also intersting is the inclusion of the house as a sort of character - Sub Rosa sounds like my dream house and it plays an important role in the development of the story. And then of course Kee's secret, when it comes out was unexpected - can't believe I didn't see it coming . I would have loved to see a slightly more drawn out ending, or perhaps an epilogue, but this was damn near perfect for me. I highly enjoyed this story and will definitely be rereading.
This story pretty much hit all my buttons for a perfect story. The characters were really engaging for one - Kee is delightfully broody and mysterious, but has a great sense of humor. Rachel is nearly absurd in how obvious her lies are (so she's not fooling Kee), but she's a good hearted person, also with a great sense of humor. Their chemistry is off the charts. It's definitely insta-lust turned insta-love, but it didn't really feel all that rushed, so I was fine with it. The mystery sub-plot was intriguing as well, but not the highlight of the story. It was woven in quite well, but the romance was my favorite. Also intersting is the inclusion of the house as a sort of character - Sub Rosa sounds like my dream house and it plays an important role in the development of the story. And then of course Kee's secret, when it comes out was unexpected - can't believe I didn't see it coming . I would have loved to see a slightly more drawn out ending, or perhaps an epilogue, but this was damn near perfect for me. I highly enjoyed this story and will definitely be rereading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2017
Auf den ersten Blick, wirkt das Cover etwas kitschig und erinnert mich in der Darstellung (außer der neumodischen Bekleidung) an die Cover von manch historischem Liebesroman.
In diesem Fall war es aber das Erste was mir aufgefallen ist und meine Neugierde weckte.
Der Klappentext hat mich dann bewogen das Buch, zu lesen und ich wurde nicht enttäuscht.
Drei Jahre ist es her seit sich in der Villa eine Tragödie abgespielt hat.
Rachel und ihre Schwester Willow haben nach wie vor mit deren Folgen zu kämpfen.
Der Leser erfährt relativ schnell was sich in dieser Villa abgespielt hat und es liest sich wie eine Geschichte aus dem wahren Leben. Mich hat diese Erzählung berührt und auch schockiert, man merkt das Rachel mit dem Ereignis am meisten zu kämpfen hat.
Nach und nach erfährt man warum Rachel diese Gegend nicht verlassen hat und wie sie mit der Villa verbunden ist. Hatte ich am Anfang noch den Kopf geschüttelt weil sie dort verblieben ist konnte ich sie mit der Zeit immer besser verstehen und es auch nachempfinden.
Rachel hat eine traurige und tragische Persönlichkeit aber sie hat sich eine Fassade aufgebaut.
Diese gerät immer mehr ins bröckeln als die Villa verkauft wird.
Kennan der mit seinem Gefolge in diese Villa einzieht ist ein charismatischer, gutaussehender und symphatischer Mann.
Eine verbotene Handlung von Rachel führt zur ersten Begegnung und so nimmt eine tragische und spannende Liebesgeschichte ihren Lauf.
Fazit:
Es ist ein fesselnd geschriebener Liebesroman mit sehr interessanten Figuren und Handlungen.
Die Figuren haben Ecken und Kanten und teilweise einen sehr ausgeprägten Charakter. Sie wirken lebendig und füllen diese Geschichte mit Leben.
Der lockere und unterhaltsame Schreibstil und die wunderbare Geschichte machen es einem leicht abzutauchen.
Die Autorin hat auf seitenlange Beschreibungen verzichtet und bleibt immer nah am Geschehen. Sie hat eine spannende und aufregende Atmosphäre geschaffen. Vor allem die Anziehungskraft zwischen Rachel und Keenan wurde sehr anregend und realistisch beschrieben.
Ein perfektes Buch für gemütliche Abende auf der Couch, dessen Ende überrascht und Lust auf mehr macht!
In diesem Fall war es aber das Erste was mir aufgefallen ist und meine Neugierde weckte.
Der Klappentext hat mich dann bewogen das Buch, zu lesen und ich wurde nicht enttäuscht.
Drei Jahre ist es her seit sich in der Villa eine Tragödie abgespielt hat.
Rachel und ihre Schwester Willow haben nach wie vor mit deren Folgen zu kämpfen.
Der Leser erfährt relativ schnell was sich in dieser Villa abgespielt hat und es liest sich wie eine Geschichte aus dem wahren Leben. Mich hat diese Erzählung berührt und auch schockiert, man merkt das Rachel mit dem Ereignis am meisten zu kämpfen hat.
Nach und nach erfährt man warum Rachel diese Gegend nicht verlassen hat und wie sie mit der Villa verbunden ist. Hatte ich am Anfang noch den Kopf geschüttelt weil sie dort verblieben ist konnte ich sie mit der Zeit immer besser verstehen und es auch nachempfinden.
Rachel hat eine traurige und tragische Persönlichkeit aber sie hat sich eine Fassade aufgebaut.
Diese gerät immer mehr ins bröckeln als die Villa verkauft wird.
Kennan der mit seinem Gefolge in diese Villa einzieht ist ein charismatischer, gutaussehender und symphatischer Mann.
Eine verbotene Handlung von Rachel führt zur ersten Begegnung und so nimmt eine tragische und spannende Liebesgeschichte ihren Lauf.
Fazit:
Es ist ein fesselnd geschriebener Liebesroman mit sehr interessanten Figuren und Handlungen.
Die Figuren haben Ecken und Kanten und teilweise einen sehr ausgeprägten Charakter. Sie wirken lebendig und füllen diese Geschichte mit Leben.
Der lockere und unterhaltsame Schreibstil und die wunderbare Geschichte machen es einem leicht abzutauchen.
Die Autorin hat auf seitenlange Beschreibungen verzichtet und bleibt immer nah am Geschehen. Sie hat eine spannende und aufregende Atmosphäre geschaffen. Vor allem die Anziehungskraft zwischen Rachel und Keenan wurde sehr anregend und realistisch beschrieben.
Ein perfektes Buch für gemütliche Abende auf der Couch, dessen Ende überrascht und Lust auf mehr macht!
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