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Always Cambridge #1
Always Cambridge
The Always Cambridge Series chronicles the life of Holly Cambridge through her tumultuous childhood and violent teen years and the consequences that stem from being the daughter of mob boss, Bill Cambridge.
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Holly Cambridge is just a typical kid, or so she thinks, until one day, she takes a good look around and realizes her friends don’t have bodyguards dogging their every step.
At the age of sixteen, Holly is assigned a new bodyguard, Randy Phillips. He is a tall, muscular, God-like force in the young, impressionable and lonely girl’s life. He is her friend, her confident, her conscience, and the older man she adores beyond reason.
Randy Phillips is fully aware of his young charge’s adolescent crush on him. Although he is flattered by the adulation, he maintains a safe distance and professional demeanour until Holly is wounded in a rival family blood feud, and the course of both their lives is changed forever.
~
Holly Cambridge is just a typical kid, or so she thinks, until one day, she takes a good look around and realizes her friends don’t have bodyguards dogging their every step.
At the age of sixteen, Holly is assigned a new bodyguard, Randy Phillips. He is a tall, muscular, God-like force in the young, impressionable and lonely girl’s life. He is her friend, her confident, her conscience, and the older man she adores beyond reason.
Randy Phillips is fully aware of his young charge’s adolescent crush on him. Although he is flattered by the adulation, he maintains a safe distance and professional demeanour until Holly is wounded in a rival family blood feud, and the course of both their lives is changed forever.
- GenresYoung Adult
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2013
5 people are currently reading
549 people want to read
About the author
H.K. Carlton
41 books119 followersH K Carlton is a multi-genre Canadian author of romance—From naughty to nice, historical to contemporary, time travel to space travel, and everything in between.
H K has over thirty titles in publication including Editor's Choice [historical romance] The Devil Take You, and Fan Favorites [romantic suspense, mafia romance saga] The Always Cambridge Series, and [forbidden love, erotic rom], Swap.
Variety is creativity’s playground—It’s where you’ll find me
H K has over thirty titles in publication including Editor's Choice [historical romance] The Devil Take You, and Fan Favorites [romantic suspense, mafia romance saga] The Always Cambridge Series, and [forbidden love, erotic rom], Swap.
Variety is creativity’s playground—It’s where you’ll find me
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 25, 2014
I have been looking forward to reading this series since I first heard about it releasing.
HK Carlton takes you on a gripping journey of discovery and growing up as you follow Holly, daughter of a mobster, from childhood into adulthood.
In this first book, you follow Holly from pre-teen to college student. You watch as she falls in love and learns about the world around her. You hurt with her as she suffers loss and realizes she will never be able to lead a normal life.
HK brings Holly, Randy, and all the other characters to life, leading to a page turning tale that leaves you anxious for the next book in the story.
HK Carlton takes you on a gripping journey of discovery and growing up as you follow Holly, daughter of a mobster, from childhood into adulthood.
In this first book, you follow Holly from pre-teen to college student. You watch as she falls in love and learns about the world around her. You hurt with her as she suffers loss and realizes she will never be able to lead a normal life.
HK brings Holly, Randy, and all the other characters to life, leading to a page turning tale that leaves you anxious for the next book in the story.
November 10, 2014
I absolutely loved this book, and am kicking myself for not finding the time to read it sooner. Now I'm off to buy the next one!
December 30, 2014
This book is one of the best that I've ever read! It keeps your attention from the very beginning until the end. The main female character is strong, brave and I like her so much. Well written and bravo for the author! Dual POV that I also liked very much. A MUST READ book and I guess the whole Series!
I am only sorry that not so many people from my surroundings have heard about this Series that deserve more to talk about it. It is about mafia, secret and forbidden love with dark elements in it, including hot explicit scenes (as I heard about in next installments). Well, for me it is like a great combination of the following books: Sempre, Devil's Eyes, Crow's Row, Maybe Baby Series and Kathleen Turner Series (all in one but different somehow). The style is unique and the books deserve to be read.Trust me!
I am only sorry that not so many people from my surroundings have heard about this Series that deserve more to talk about it. It is about mafia, secret and forbidden love with dark elements in it, including hot explicit scenes (as I heard about in next installments). Well, for me it is like a great combination of the following books: Sempre, Devil's Eyes, Crow's Row, Maybe Baby Series and Kathleen Turner Series (all in one but different somehow). The style is unique and the books deserve to be read.Trust me!
August 7, 2016
The story is pretty simple, mob princess 9yr old is infatuated with one her "suits" (bodyguard). She has no life cos her life is always in danger thus the lack of freedom and friends. Her only friends are her Suits.
Book 1 is pretty much a very long prologue setting up the background and feel for the future books.
Holly starts off as innocent as any 9yr olds could be. Gradually you see her grow into a teenager and guys start noticing her (only a few was mentioned tho). Feelings develop. Though overall not much really happens.
The relationship between Holly and Randy is sweet & innocent. Holly is head over heels for Randy, but does Randy feel the same? you need to read to find out.
I havent read the entire series yet but am sensing its gona be a good story built up slowly and at the end it'll be amazing. (fingers crossed X)
Book 1 is pretty much a very long prologue setting up the background and feel for the future books.
Holly starts off as innocent as any 9yr olds could be. Gradually you see her grow into a teenager and guys start noticing her (only a few was mentioned tho). Feelings develop. Though overall not much really happens.
The relationship between Holly and Randy is sweet & innocent. Holly is head over heels for Randy, but does Randy feel the same? you need to read to find out.
I havent read the entire series yet but am sensing its gona be a good story built up slowly and at the end it'll be amazing. (fingers crossed X)
January 20, 2015
Before becoming a Book Reviewer I’d never been a real on-going reader of books, but since becoming one and I’m beginning to enjoy reading every genre of books. Which is why I’m happy to have won the first three volumes [e-books] of the series these books are part of, as this is the first real adult mystery/suspense series I’ve begun to read. The following is my honest opinion for Volume 1 of this series, “Always Cambridge.”
In “Always Cambridge,” H K Carlton takes us, as if we’ve been watching the episodic storylines of “The Sopranos”, into the life of a little girl, Holly Cambridge as she grows from being a naïve child who has no realization of the type of family fate has chosen her to have been born into to realizing it all too well.
Holly lives an almost cloistered life and can’t understand, at her young age, why she can’t play like the rest of limited circle of friends, or why she has some “huge” grownup constantly watching her every move only a few feet away while no one else her age does. Growing up, she slowly begins to realize and understand the reality of her daily existence and the mob moss family she has had the luck or misfortune to have been born into.
When Holly turns that “sweet sixteen” and begins her long journey into womanhood, her family assigns a much younger and better looking man, Randy Phillips, to be her new bodyguard. With unfamiliar hormones coursing through her young body, Holly, the now extremely vulnerable young woman, looks at her new ever present companion as a friend and confident with an almost god-like attraction she can’t understand.
Randy, on the other hand, understands his young charge’s behavior towards him, and is thrilled to have Holly’s idolization. However, he knows what his limitations are and wisely maintains an appropriate distance from her.
The author’s writing is clear and vivid when it comes to the authentic dialogue and interaction within her family and with other mob families; which for me made an exciting, page turning experience.
When Holly gets injured during a bloody and deathly on-going rival family confrontation, the association she has had with Randy gets unexpectedly changed forever. You might be able to envision what’s going on here, but you’ll have to read this book to find out for sure; as well as what happens as she becomes a real woman.
At the present time, no matter how much I’d love to read the other two volumes I’ve received, I can’t. As a Book Reviewer, I’m not afforded that sort of luxury. I did however take a very brief look at the beginning of next volume, and as the author, herself, has promised, there’s a seamless transition between the two volumes. This seamless transition makes it seem as if the two volumes had originally been one, and got separated later by the author.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to come back to this series and read the next two volumes I’ve received. So, with no one holding a gun to my head, I’m giving this volume of the “Always Cambridge” series, 5 STARS.
Robin Leigh Morgan, a prize-winning Flash Fiction writer who is the author of "Micro Fiction - An Anthology," as well as the author of a MG/YA Paranormal romance novel entitled, “I Kissed a Ghost.”
In “Always Cambridge,” H K Carlton takes us, as if we’ve been watching the episodic storylines of “The Sopranos”, into the life of a little girl, Holly Cambridge as she grows from being a naïve child who has no realization of the type of family fate has chosen her to have been born into to realizing it all too well.
Holly lives an almost cloistered life and can’t understand, at her young age, why she can’t play like the rest of limited circle of friends, or why she has some “huge” grownup constantly watching her every move only a few feet away while no one else her age does. Growing up, she slowly begins to realize and understand the reality of her daily existence and the mob moss family she has had the luck or misfortune to have been born into.
When Holly turns that “sweet sixteen” and begins her long journey into womanhood, her family assigns a much younger and better looking man, Randy Phillips, to be her new bodyguard. With unfamiliar hormones coursing through her young body, Holly, the now extremely vulnerable young woman, looks at her new ever present companion as a friend and confident with an almost god-like attraction she can’t understand.
Randy, on the other hand, understands his young charge’s behavior towards him, and is thrilled to have Holly’s idolization. However, he knows what his limitations are and wisely maintains an appropriate distance from her.
The author’s writing is clear and vivid when it comes to the authentic dialogue and interaction within her family and with other mob families; which for me made an exciting, page turning experience.
When Holly gets injured during a bloody and deathly on-going rival family confrontation, the association she has had with Randy gets unexpectedly changed forever. You might be able to envision what’s going on here, but you’ll have to read this book to find out for sure; as well as what happens as she becomes a real woman.
At the present time, no matter how much I’d love to read the other two volumes I’ve received, I can’t. As a Book Reviewer, I’m not afforded that sort of luxury. I did however take a very brief look at the beginning of next volume, and as the author, herself, has promised, there’s a seamless transition between the two volumes. This seamless transition makes it seem as if the two volumes had originally been one, and got separated later by the author.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to come back to this series and read the next two volumes I’ve received. So, with no one holding a gun to my head, I’m giving this volume of the “Always Cambridge” series, 5 STARS.
Robin Leigh Morgan, a prize-winning Flash Fiction writer who is the author of "Micro Fiction - An Anthology," as well as the author of a MG/YA Paranormal romance novel entitled, “I Kissed a Ghost.”
October 23, 2018
Holly Cambridge at a young age knew she was different, and it wasn't bad enough that she was looked down upon by the people in her community and school but she is harassed by her sister April who blames her for killing her mother, since she died only weeks after having Holly; & Holly's Dad treats her like an inconveniences. Holly is shown love by paddy and a young man named Randy she meets when she is 9; and Randy later becomes not only her personal bodyguard but her confidant, best friend and secret crush. But events happen that rock her world and their relationship. Holly always had one secret/desire that was to leave the Cambridge compound and disappeared to live a normal life.....I recommend you put Always Cambridge on you TBR list so you can find out for yourself if Holly accomplishes her dream and how it effects Randy and the future.
July 19, 2014
Love this
I've read 2 of HK Carlton's historic novels and loved them. Today, I was browsing through her books and tried the first of the Cambridge series. I usually don't like getting stuck on a series; however, this plot is intriguing and well done. Getting ready to buy the next book.
I've read 2 of HK Carlton's historic novels and loved them. Today, I was browsing through her books and tried the first of the Cambridge series. I usually don't like getting stuck on a series; however, this plot is intriguing and well done. Getting ready to buy the next book.
August 10, 2014
This book was a great read!
July 23, 2014
Absolutely amazing series, with a strong female heroine! Love it!
Read
October 8, 2023I couldn't get enough of this book! The narrative flows effortlessly, and the author's descriptive writing brought the setting to life in my mind. The characters are multidimensional, and I found myself rooting for them every step of the way. This is a story that will stay with me for a long time.
December 21, 2017
Hot damn. This is good, I've enjoyed it that I need to check out the rest of the series now. I can't find this book anywhere at a library here so probs not gonna read the rest.
February 23, 2016
I absolutely loved this book! I fell so in love with the characters and was so enthralled I could barely stand it! Mystery, secrets, romance....it has everything you could ever want. Don't pass this series up, you will not regret giving it a chance...I promise you!!!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews