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Billionaire businessman, Cal Sellers, knows how to get what he wants. And what he wants is Lucy Monroe. The problem? He had her once and lost her with one careless, arrogant act. And now she’s standing in his office demanding her old job back. Cal has no intention of rehiring her as the co-host of his home shopping TV show, Pleasure at Home. He has an altogether different position in mind for her—as his wife.
If Lucy wasn’t so desperate she never would’ve stepped foot in Cal Sellers’s office, let alone the block his building stood on. Lucy’s a survivor who managed to break free of her ex’s terrible abuse, but now he’s back and more determined than ever. He wants their daughter, Poppy, and will stop at nothing to get his little girl back.
Lucy will do anything to protect her daughter, including marrying Cal Sellers. Against her better judgment, she agrees to Cal’s proposal and finds herself married to a very different man than the one who broke her heart two years ago. As Lucy’s ex grows bolder and more violent, Cal and Lucy find themselves fighting not only for Poppy, but for a forever love that could be the one thing that will save them all.
If Lucy wasn’t so desperate she never would’ve stepped foot in Cal Sellers’s office, let alone the block his building stood on. Lucy’s a survivor who managed to break free of her ex’s terrible abuse, but now he’s back and more determined than ever. He wants their daughter, Poppy, and will stop at nothing to get his little girl back.
Lucy will do anything to protect her daughter, including marrying Cal Sellers. Against her better judgment, she agrees to Cal’s proposal and finds herself married to a very different man than the one who broke her heart two years ago. As Lucy’s ex grows bolder and more violent, Cal and Lucy find themselves fighting not only for Poppy, but for a forever love that could be the one thing that will save them all.
300 pages, ebook
First published October 1, 2014
19 people are currently reading
631 people want to read
About the author
Beth Yarnall
34 books236 followersUSA Today bestselling author and Rita® finalist, Beth Yarnall, writes mysteries and romantic suspense. She lives in Arizona with her husband, two sons, their rescue dogs, and a grandkitten where she is hard at work on her next novel.
For more information about Beth and her novels please visit her website- www.bethyarnall.com
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****Books by Beth****
DANGEROUS LINES
Lost
Saved
Fake
Real
Urge
Rare
Betray
RECOVERED INNOCENCE
Vindicate
Atone
Reclaim
Recovered Innocence boxed set
AZALEA MARCH MYSTERIES
Killing It In Vegas
THE MISADVENTURES OF MAGGIE MAE
Wake Up, Maggie
You’re Mine, Maggie
Find Me, Maggie
The Misadventures of Maggie Mae boxed set
CORE
Far From Honest
****Beth's Books for Writers****
CRAFTING UNPUTDOWNABLE FICTION
Going Deep Into Deep Point of View
Making Description Work Hard For You
Some Like It Hot: Writing Sex and Romance
Crafting Unputdownable Fiction boxed set
****Books by Beth writing as Betty Paper****
CRAZY ON YOU
Captive
Tinsel
Piano Lessons
Crazy On You boxed set
For more information about Beth and her novels please visit her website- www.bethyarnall.com
Beth loves to hear from readers!
➤Sign up for Beth's newsletter- www.bethyarnall.com
➤Follow Beth on Facebook- www.facebook.com/BethYarnallAuthor
➤Join Beth's VIP Facebook group Babes with Books for exclusive sneak peeks at my upcoming books & other, members only, perks- www.facebook.com/groups/BabesWithBook...
****Books by Beth****
DANGEROUS LINES
Lost
Saved
Fake
Real
Urge
Rare
Betray
RECOVERED INNOCENCE
Vindicate
Atone
Reclaim
Recovered Innocence boxed set
AZALEA MARCH MYSTERIES
Killing It In Vegas
THE MISADVENTURES OF MAGGIE MAE
Wake Up, Maggie
You’re Mine, Maggie
Find Me, Maggie
The Misadventures of Maggie Mae boxed set
CORE
Far From Honest
****Beth's Books for Writers****
CRAFTING UNPUTDOWNABLE FICTION
Going Deep Into Deep Point of View
Making Description Work Hard For You
Some Like It Hot: Writing Sex and Romance
Crafting Unputdownable Fiction boxed set
****Books by Beth writing as Betty Paper****
CRAZY ON YOU
Captive
Tinsel
Piano Lessons
Crazy On You boxed set
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 25, 2015
I really enjoyed the last book. The H was so intense and there was no questioning his devotion to the h. The H in this book had cheated on the h and her next boyfriend was extremely abusive. He repeatedly rapes and beats the h. The h was kind of trailer park trashy. I found myself really annoyed by her. She wasn't very likable. The revelation that the H was aware of the h's secret all along was so disappointing. If you knew then why didn't you make sure the husband was a good guy? Why didn't you check on the h and the baby?
October 16, 2014
*4.5 stars*
What can I say, except I REALLY BLOODY ENJOYED THIS!!!! It sure wasn't easy reading what Lucy endured... but Cal was a DREAM!!! ALL that grovelling!!! WOW!!!!
I'm off to read the first book now; Rush, seeing as I missed out on that one!!!
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Beth Yarnall*
What can I say, except I REALLY BLOODY ENJOYED THIS!!!! It sure wasn't easy reading what Lucy endured... but Cal was a DREAM!!! ALL that grovelling!!! WOW!!!!
I'm off to read the first book now; Rush, seeing as I missed out on that one!!!
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Beth Yarnall*
April 15, 2021
Cliffhanger
September 27, 2015
3.5 stars - Good effort to redeem an arrogant player (Cal - H) after his girlfriend (Lucy - h) catches him fooling around with his secretary. Lucy does not take him back immediately .
I think Cal's hard edges were softened a little too much for me, but this is an entertaining read. 3 stars.
I think Cal's hard edges were softened a little too much for me, but this is an entertaining read. 3 stars.
November 12, 2014
I received a copy of this story through NetGalley from the publisher/author for an honest review (thank you!). For some reason, I had in my mind this would be a lighter dramatic story. Before writing this review, I re-read the synopsis and I think this was my misunderstanding as the description is very accurate and not misleading. So that's on me and the impression it left!
The book is the second in a series, but can easily be read as a standalone. It is told in alternating points of view and it tends to shift mid-chapter without a break. Or at least it did in this ARC and might be formatted differently in the final version.
Again, this book was a lot more serious and darker than I was expecting. Plus, it has it all in one book - polygamous, cowboy, secret baby/hidden pregnancy, billionaire, alpha male, affair with the boss, boss having an affair on heroine, fake fiancee/husband, special forces (manny), stalker ex-husband, a potential wife swapping situation, a bitchy reporter, a conniving secretary, and unfortunately a serious domestic abuse situation. No sheikh, though! Not only is Lucy a victim of domestic abuse, but we are told in bursts every extreme act her husband did or had done to her over their brief marriage of about a year (9 months which she's pregnant).
Since it's mentioned in the synopsis, I don't think any of this will be a spoiler. I was really surprised Cal knew all along Poppy was his daughter. From behind the scenes he did the right thing by setting her up financially, etc., but why did he not have a conversation sometime over the 17 months they were apart about it? He even attended their wedding. Particularly why not have that conversation once he found out the ex was threatening to take Poppy away from Lucy? Him establishing paternity would at least clear that up legally even if the ex was still a psycho and would kidnap her. The fact he said nothing after finding out about the abuse and only later asking if Poppy was ever hurt... argh!
Overall, the book was well-written and definitely provoked a reaction given everything thrown at them. I think for me I wasn't in the right reading mood for EVERYTHING thrown at them and the extreme/worst case scenario of each obstacle. It was a rough road, but they did get their HEA.
The book is the second in a series, but can easily be read as a standalone. It is told in alternating points of view and it tends to shift mid-chapter without a break. Or at least it did in this ARC and might be formatted differently in the final version.
Again, this book was a lot more serious and darker than I was expecting. Plus, it has it all in one book - polygamous, cowboy, secret baby/hidden pregnancy, billionaire, alpha male, affair with the boss, boss having an affair on heroine, fake fiancee/husband, special forces (manny), stalker ex-husband, a potential wife swapping situation, a bitchy reporter, a conniving secretary, and unfortunately a serious domestic abuse situation. No sheikh, though! Not only is Lucy a victim of domestic abuse, but we are told in bursts every extreme act her husband did or had done to her over their brief marriage of about a year (9 months which she's pregnant).
Since it's mentioned in the synopsis, I don't think any of this will be a spoiler. I was really surprised Cal knew all along Poppy was his daughter. From behind the scenes he did the right thing by setting her up financially, etc., but why did he not have a conversation sometime over the 17 months they were apart about it? He even attended their wedding. Particularly why not have that conversation once he found out the ex was threatening to take Poppy away from Lucy? Him establishing paternity would at least clear that up legally even if the ex was still a psycho and would kidnap her. The fact he said nothing after finding out about the abuse and only later asking if Poppy was ever hurt... argh!
Overall, the book was well-written and definitely provoked a reaction given everything thrown at them. I think for me I wasn't in the right reading mood for EVERYTHING thrown at them and the extreme/worst case scenario of each obstacle. It was a rough road, but they did get their HEA.
October 18, 2015
30mins into the story and I already HATE Nadine Lucy's mom. That chick needs to be dropkicked off a damn bridge.
back to story...
I actually really liked Cal And Lucy. I enjoyed watching them come together and build trust. I could see the situation in Cal's office coming a mile away. I wished Cal was a bit more alpha. He was described as an alpha shark in business but didn't see that at all. I knew Lucy had a shit load of baggage but WOW!! Lucy just refused to let her and Cal's past stay in the past. Her self doubt and self esteem issues kinda annoyed but whatever. She took all her baggage from her husband and made Cal suffer for it.
Overall I really enjoyed the story. I liked this one better than the first book in the series. I have a feeling I know who the 3rd book will be about but I can't imagine what drama they would have to deal with. At least this book had less personal drama than the first book so who knows the next book may take the drama down a notch or two.
The ending was kinda abrupt. I got the feeling that there was a HEA but I didn't get the words. I didn't get to see one day of what their "normal" was. An epilogue would have been nice to give us a snippet a few months or so down the line. Just something to give us that closure.
Story - 2.5
narrator - 3
BYE FELICIA!!
back to story...
I actually really liked Cal And Lucy. I enjoyed watching them come together and build trust. I could see the situation in Cal's office coming a mile away. I wished Cal was a bit more alpha. He was described as an alpha shark in business but didn't see that at all. I knew Lucy had a shit load of baggage but WOW!! Lucy just refused to let her and Cal's past stay in the past. Her self doubt and self esteem issues kinda annoyed but whatever. She took all her baggage from her husband and made Cal suffer for it.
Overall I really enjoyed the story. I liked this one better than the first book in the series. I have a feeling I know who the 3rd book will be about but I can't imagine what drama they would have to deal with. At least this book had less personal drama than the first book so who knows the next book may take the drama down a notch or two.
The ending was kinda abrupt. I got the feeling that there was a HEA but I didn't get the words. I didn't get to see one day of what their "normal" was. An epilogue would have been nice to give us a snippet a few months or so down the line. Just something to give us that closure.
Story - 2.5
narrator - 3
BYE FELICIA!!
February 17, 2017
**spoilers**
This is a much darker book than I was expecting. It deals with domestic abuse, rape, stalking, attempted murder and finally killing in self defense. So if you are going into this expecting a bit of fluff, don't. I would have rated this higher, but I could never connect with the MC's for some reason. Because of that, I'm sure that my review is something that you need to take with a grain of salt.
This is a much darker book than I was expecting. It deals with domestic abuse, rape, stalking, attempted murder and finally killing in self defense. So if you are going into this expecting a bit of fluff, don't. I would have rated this higher, but I could never connect with the MC's for some reason. Because of that, I'm sure that my review is something that you need to take with a grain of salt.
March 15, 2016
3.5 Stars. I loved the pacing of the book and enjoyed the characters, it just didn't WOW me. I would recommend it.
September 19, 2018
There was so much potential in this book. I loved the potential for groveling. I’m a sucker for it. I’ll start by saying I didn’t dislike it. In fact, I think the author has a wonderful voice for narrating between characters. The way it abruptly switches between character inner workings is a bit disorienting but also kind of fun to see varying thoughts and feelings on the same situation without having to go back and summarize the whole thing just to get to the gist of emotions.
What I did not like in the book is that things just got progressively worse without any warning in addition to some pretty big loopholes. Some examples are below. LOTS AND LOTS of spoilers:
- The reader is lead to believe that Poppy, a child, belongs to Lucy and her ex. And then abruptly, we’re told that Poppy is the child of the hero, Cal. Cal reveals he “guessed” she was his and did his research to “ensure her future” and yet when he first sees Poppy, he’s surprised by the color of her hair.
- We’re set to believe that Lucy’s ex is just a stupid bigamist. But then we’re told very suddenly that he’s not just a bigamist. He’s an abusive control freak. And then again, it gets progressively worse with Lucy revealing that her ex is a rapist who assaulted her with friends. AND THEN we’re hit (mid sex scene) with the possibility that both Lucy and Poppy may or may not have HIV. Something Lucy didn’t bother to reveal to Cal until he was already inside her. Not to worry though! We find out Lucy and Poppy are both cleared and deemed healthy...in the middle of Lucy giving Cal a blowjob.
- Speaking of her ex, he’s built up as this extremely devious and completely out of control. Yet every time he shows up, he spews the word “bitch” and gets his ass handed to him. By literally everyone. Even when he set a small fire at the dinner banquet, it’s not fear inducing. I half expected Lucy to punch him. Again. She indicated her fear of him faded the more they were apart but when he shows up after that, she’s terrified. It was inconsistent. Especially considering he was not a force at all be reckoned with despite the things he did to Lucy. Even his death was short and sweet. Less than five minutes terrorizing Lucy and then bang. He’s dead on the floor. Pathetic.
- We're given a little tease of bdsm when it implies that Lucy and Cal both like to role play and be tied up. But immediately after he finds out Lucy (and Poppy by proxy) may have been given a disease by her ex, he’s busting out the nipple clamps and they’re giggling together like he didn’t just learn a really big secret that they’ve had zero time to really discuss and process.
- Not to mention the sleazy business partner who couldn’t keep his damn hands to himself and his wife that Cal apparently knew were weirdos but didn’t warn Lucy about at all but hehe no biggie! They just made a few sex jokes and all was well.
- Lucy’s insecurity with Cal’s cheating past and constantly, I mean CONSTANTLY, bringing it up. Especially when she was jealous of a woman she’d watched be pushy and disrespectful of Cal’s personal space. Every time she brought it up, Cal had to give her the same speech about earning her trust back and boy did that get tiring. Not to mention, it’s never clearly defined what happened. Cal says he didn’t have sex with the former secretary Lucy found him with and even Lucy says she didn’t walk in on anything physical but then Cal admits he was about to cheat. But didn’t? I don’t know. It’s confusing as hell and I’d just prefer if it were clearer.
- Every time something traumatic or “scary” happened, Lucy and Cal seemed to think sex solved all their problems. It was frustrating going from intense conversations that indicated their flaws to innuendo and...well, quick bouts of sex without even having a handle on their issues. I expected it to build up into some kind of emotional backlash towards the ends but nope!
- Felicia, the forgettable secretary, somehow became not only a huge leak but she was apparently working with Lucy’s ex the entire time. I mean maybe if Felicia had more than three sentences before this was revealed, I would have bought it but I found it yet another “plot twist” that didn’t do much to serve the plot. Just another (unnecessary) thing to pile on top of the couple. Even Cal’s plan to entice and get Felicia to confess was another aspect of trauma to heap on with no real reason.
To introduce these situations or issues with zero build up and zero warning is extremely jarring and instead of feeling empathy for our heroine, I could only roll my eyes at how cheesy and over the top every situation was. Not to mention, Lucy cried all. the. time. She was going through a very stressful situation but I think she cried because the sky was blue. Because her husband, who admitted he was in love with her, was nice to her.
I’m not of the belief that strength can’t come from vulnerability or that heroines have to be mouthy and badass to be considered great. But goodness me. Lucy cried every ten to twenty pages. She sucked at Cal’s strength and attempts to make it up to her like a leech and punished him (emotionally and physically) for all the trauma inflicted on her. For being such a smart man, Cal didn’t think most things through before he did them. Ugh. It was hard to root for them. I managed to make it all the way through the crying but when Lucy started to actually hit Cal, I was ready to bail out. Thank god it ended soon after. Yep, you guessed it. By Cal and Lucy briefly discussing their issues and then having sex! Yay!
Honestly? I didn’t hate the story. The premise was nice. The hero was appealing (though I was much more interested in Lucas yet again). The elements there but the plot holes and the way things were handled just made me feel like I wasted two and a half hours of my life. Definitely not a reread for me at all but I will read more from this author. I’d love to give more of her stories another shot.
What I did not like in the book is that things just got progressively worse without any warning in addition to some pretty big loopholes. Some examples are below. LOTS AND LOTS of spoilers:
- The reader is lead to believe that Poppy, a child, belongs to Lucy and her ex. And then abruptly, we’re told that Poppy is the child of the hero, Cal. Cal reveals he “guessed” she was his and did his research to “ensure her future” and yet when he first sees Poppy, he’s surprised by the color of her hair.
- We’re set to believe that Lucy’s ex is just a stupid bigamist. But then we’re told very suddenly that he’s not just a bigamist. He’s an abusive control freak. And then again, it gets progressively worse with Lucy revealing that her ex is a rapist who assaulted her with friends. AND THEN we’re hit (mid sex scene) with the possibility that both Lucy and Poppy may or may not have HIV. Something Lucy didn’t bother to reveal to Cal until he was already inside her. Not to worry though! We find out Lucy and Poppy are both cleared and deemed healthy...in the middle of Lucy giving Cal a blowjob.
- Speaking of her ex, he’s built up as this extremely devious and completely out of control. Yet every time he shows up, he spews the word “bitch” and gets his ass handed to him. By literally everyone. Even when he set a small fire at the dinner banquet, it’s not fear inducing. I half expected Lucy to punch him. Again. She indicated her fear of him faded the more they were apart but when he shows up after that, she’s terrified. It was inconsistent. Especially considering he was not a force at all be reckoned with despite the things he did to Lucy. Even his death was short and sweet. Less than five minutes terrorizing Lucy and then bang. He’s dead on the floor. Pathetic.
- We're given a little tease of bdsm when it implies that Lucy and Cal both like to role play and be tied up. But immediately after he finds out Lucy (and Poppy by proxy) may have been given a disease by her ex, he’s busting out the nipple clamps and they’re giggling together like he didn’t just learn a really big secret that they’ve had zero time to really discuss and process.
- Not to mention the sleazy business partner who couldn’t keep his damn hands to himself and his wife that Cal apparently knew were weirdos but didn’t warn Lucy about at all but hehe no biggie! They just made a few sex jokes and all was well.
- Lucy’s insecurity with Cal’s cheating past and constantly, I mean CONSTANTLY, bringing it up. Especially when she was jealous of a woman she’d watched be pushy and disrespectful of Cal’s personal space. Every time she brought it up, Cal had to give her the same speech about earning her trust back and boy did that get tiring. Not to mention, it’s never clearly defined what happened. Cal says he didn’t have sex with the former secretary Lucy found him with and even Lucy says she didn’t walk in on anything physical but then Cal admits he was about to cheat. But didn’t? I don’t know. It’s confusing as hell and I’d just prefer if it were clearer.
- Every time something traumatic or “scary” happened, Lucy and Cal seemed to think sex solved all their problems. It was frustrating going from intense conversations that indicated their flaws to innuendo and...well, quick bouts of sex without even having a handle on their issues. I expected it to build up into some kind of emotional backlash towards the ends but nope!
- Felicia, the forgettable secretary, somehow became not only a huge leak but she was apparently working with Lucy’s ex the entire time. I mean maybe if Felicia had more than three sentences before this was revealed, I would have bought it but I found it yet another “plot twist” that didn’t do much to serve the plot. Just another (unnecessary) thing to pile on top of the couple. Even Cal’s plan to entice and get Felicia to confess was another aspect of trauma to heap on with no real reason.
To introduce these situations or issues with zero build up and zero warning is extremely jarring and instead of feeling empathy for our heroine, I could only roll my eyes at how cheesy and over the top every situation was. Not to mention, Lucy cried all. the. time. She was going through a very stressful situation but I think she cried because the sky was blue. Because her husband, who admitted he was in love with her, was nice to her.
I’m not of the belief that strength can’t come from vulnerability or that heroines have to be mouthy and badass to be considered great. But goodness me. Lucy cried every ten to twenty pages. She sucked at Cal’s strength and attempts to make it up to her like a leech and punished him (emotionally and physically) for all the trauma inflicted on her. For being such a smart man, Cal didn’t think most things through before he did them. Ugh. It was hard to root for them. I managed to make it all the way through the crying but when Lucy started to actually hit Cal, I was ready to bail out. Thank god it ended soon after. Yep, you guessed it. By Cal and Lucy briefly discussing their issues and then having sex! Yay!
Honestly? I didn’t hate the story. The premise was nice. The hero was appealing (though I was much more interested in Lucas yet again). The elements there but the plot holes and the way things were handled just made me feel like I wasted two and a half hours of my life. Definitely not a reread for me at all but I will read more from this author. I’d love to give more of her stories another shot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2023
I received a free copy from InstaFreebie via the author's newsletter; this is my honest review.
TRIGGER: Many details of marital violence throughout the book
-Extra violent romantic suspense with some mystery, tragedy, betrayal, surprise babies. There are more bedroom scenes (open doors) than an actual story and that got old really fast.
-This is Lucy and Cal's story but we see the other couple from the first book in here too, which was nice except that, even though they were friends with Cal, they took Lucy's side without any explanation from his part - he was convicted and lynched before he could say a word.
-Nadine is the worst mother EVER.
-Lucy is assuming so much I was getting irritated. He married her as some kind of community services? He loves you, you idiot. She disgust him? No, he's hurting for you; can you not open your f**king eyes?
-Lucy cries A LOT. Enough to put that note on chapter 11. Even Cal comments on it in chapter 23 "potent emotional brew that seemed to pour from her whether she was happy, sad, or mad".
-Some parts are quite unbelievable. Especially when Lucy asks "is he rally dead?". As a victim of marital violence (for real) she should not have believed anyone's word but checked the body herself.
-Other parts are quite predictable, especially the one in the office. What did you think?
-I think it's stupid to make yourself (and your babies) homeless, jobless and penniless because of your pride. Wake-up to the real world!
-Editing could use another pass. Wrong word, missing word, etc.
TRIGGER: Many details of marital violence throughout the book
-Extra violent romantic suspense with some mystery, tragedy, betrayal, surprise babies. There are more bedroom scenes (open doors) than an actual story and that got old really fast.
-This is Lucy and Cal's story but we see the other couple from the first book in here too, which was nice except that, even though they were friends with Cal, they took Lucy's side without any explanation from his part - he was convicted and lynched before he could say a word.
-Nadine is the worst mother EVER.
-Lucy is assuming so much I was getting irritated. He married her as some kind of community services? He loves you, you idiot. She disgust him? No, he's hurting for you; can you not open your f**king eyes?
-Lucy cries A LOT. Enough to put that note on chapter 11. Even Cal comments on it in chapter 23 "potent emotional brew that seemed to pour from her whether she was happy, sad, or mad".
-Some parts are quite unbelievable. Especially when Lucy asks "is he rally dead?". As a victim of marital violence (for real) she should not have believed anyone's word but checked the body herself.
-Other parts are quite predictable, especially the one in the office. What did you think?
-I think it's stupid to make yourself (and your babies) homeless, jobless and penniless because of your pride. Wake-up to the real world!
-Editing could use another pass. Wrong word, missing word, etc.
February 12, 2023
#2 (and last) in the Pleasure at Home romance series
This book is quite different from the first book in the series because it really has little to do with the Pleasure at Home products, only that Lucy used to work there and Cal owns the company. They were hot and heavy at one time, but when she caught him cheating, she left and married someone else. When she leaves her husband and hits rock bottom, she comes back to Cal and asks for her job back, but her offers her marriage instead, in a business deal. She agrees and they begin to rebuild their lives together because their attraction is still there. Of course, there are plenty of problems, misunderstandings (which frustrated me because she should have known better but reacted emotionally rather than with her head), yet plenty of love and happiness. I enjoyed reading about them. Cal is the strong, silent type, although he's pretty unassuming considering he's built a huge financial empire. Lucy is very bossy and demanding, but she justifies it by saying she has to protect her baby daughter and their future. Despite their annoyances, I liked their vulnerabilities and their willingness to try again and work to build a life together.
This book is quite different from the first book in the series because it really has little to do with the Pleasure at Home products, only that Lucy used to work there and Cal owns the company. They were hot and heavy at one time, but when she caught him cheating, she left and married someone else. When she leaves her husband and hits rock bottom, she comes back to Cal and asks for her job back, but her offers her marriage instead, in a business deal. She agrees and they begin to rebuild their lives together because their attraction is still there. Of course, there are plenty of problems, misunderstandings (which frustrated me because she should have known better but reacted emotionally rather than with her head), yet plenty of love and happiness. I enjoyed reading about them. Cal is the strong, silent type, although he's pretty unassuming considering he's built a huge financial empire. Lucy is very bossy and demanding, but she justifies it by saying she has to protect her baby daughter and their future. Despite their annoyances, I liked their vulnerabilities and their willingness to try again and work to build a life together.
November 25, 2014
Favorite Quote: “It would be laughable if it wasn’t so tragic.”
All the money in the world can’t buy billionaire Cal Sellers what he wants more than anything in the world…Lucy Monroe back in his life. Cal screwed up royally when he let Lucy walk out his life, but he won’t make that mistake again. When she shows up at his office to get her old job back, Cal makes a better offer.
Marriage.
Lucy Monroe was heartbroken when she left Cal. She then thought she had found happiness with a new man only to discover that buried under his charm was an abusive control freak. Lucy escaped her abusive marriage but now her ex is back and more than ever determined to get her and their daughter back. Lucy needs help and if that means marrying Cal, then so be it.
As Lucy’s ex husband’s attacks escalate, Cal not only have to fight to save Poppy and Lucy, he will also have to fight to prove his love for them.
Lush is the second installment in Beth Yarnall’s Pleasures At Home series. I enjoy second chance stories and Yarnall pens a story filled with love, loss, and forgiveness with some very nice and explicit love scenes. I do enjoy a hero and heroine who aren’t afraid to get down and dirty in the bedroom.
Easily read as a standalone, I never felt I was missing out on anything story or character wise by not reading book one. Steady pacing and personable characters dig deep into your heart and don’t let go. The second chance at love is a favorite trope of mine, especially when one of the characters realizes the mistakes they made and honestly try to repair the damage they caused. Yarnall uses dual POVs to give us a complete story with all the facts. The characters are all delightfully quirky and wonderfully flawed. The story is written in an enjoyable conversational style with bits of humor and angst that blend together to round out the experience.
“Oh, like a frat house bed and breakfast. Yes, that’s exactly the environment I want my daughter raised in while her mother prostitutes herself for a twenty percent salary bump.”
The book opens with our heroine, Lucy Monroe, coming to see the man she vowed never to have anything to do with again-her ex boyfriend. They broke up because of something he did; something that hurt her deeply and caused her to doubt their entire relationship and herself. When she left, she had every intention of never seeing him again but circumstances have forced her to seek him out. She wants him to rehire her as his co host of his popular sex toy tv program. The man she married on the rebound turned out to be an abusive bigamist and now he wants their daughter. Lucy has no money and nowhere left to go. Cal is her only hope to save her daughter, Poppy.
Emotionally satisfying and humorous to boot, we get a ringside seat as we watch Cal try to mend his relationship with Lucy. Cal’s regrets are genuine and he has matured in his separation from Lucy. The playboy of the past is gone. Cal made me laugh and cringe at times as he tries to worm his way back into Lucy’s good graces. He hurt her badly and accepts that he may never get her back into his life to stay.
“He was so sick and tired of being the asshole who’d broken her heart by being the careless, unthinking bastard he was.”
Lucy gives an honest portrayal of a woman who’s been given nothing but disappointment by those who promised to love and care her. A strong women who deserved better far better than what she got. Her life didn’t stop that day she left Cal but it did leave her in a lot of pain. She’s scared and confused by the emotions Cal still invokes in her but determined not to fall for him again. She also has a tiny secret that further impairs her ability to allow Cal back into her life fully.
He had earned his bad boy reputation honestly. She’d been hurt by him before. She couldn’t bear the thought of him hurting Poppy as well if she got too attached to him.
A strong main conflict and various subplots intertwine with an equally strong romance. Lucy and Cal circle one while trying to stay one step ahead of her ex husband. Though I enjoyed the characterization of the ex husband and the lengths he goes to get Lucy and Poppy back, I was dismayed by how often he was able to get to Lucy. Of course, this is eventually explained but with the constant security upgrades Cal institutes with each new attack, I couldn’t help but wonder just how skilled these experts he hired were. There are numerous transparent tropes that push the main conflict to resolution, some interesting and others irritating and questionable in their necessity. One such plot device is a swinger couple who Cal needs for his business. Overly obnoxious in their quest to get Lucy and Cal into bed with them, you instantly know this is a “test” the author uses to prove to Lucy that Cal can be trusted. I found it annoying and couldn’t understand why Cal didn’t just tell them that he and his wife weren’t interested.
The ending is predictable with the huge requisite misunderstanding that mimics the original reason Lucy left Cal. This time Cal fights to prove his innocence and Lucy learns to trust herself and Cal. Regardless of the predetermined path the book takes, the story is entertaining with it’s steamy chemistry, engaging characters, and the hints of danger and suspense that permeate it. I enjoyed watching Cal and Lucy find their way back to one another for good.
RATING: C+
All the money in the world can’t buy billionaire Cal Sellers what he wants more than anything in the world…Lucy Monroe back in his life. Cal screwed up royally when he let Lucy walk out his life, but he won’t make that mistake again. When she shows up at his office to get her old job back, Cal makes a better offer.
Marriage.
Lucy Monroe was heartbroken when she left Cal. She then thought she had found happiness with a new man only to discover that buried under his charm was an abusive control freak. Lucy escaped her abusive marriage but now her ex is back and more than ever determined to get her and their daughter back. Lucy needs help and if that means marrying Cal, then so be it.
As Lucy’s ex husband’s attacks escalate, Cal not only have to fight to save Poppy and Lucy, he will also have to fight to prove his love for them.
Lush is the second installment in Beth Yarnall’s Pleasures At Home series. I enjoy second chance stories and Yarnall pens a story filled with love, loss, and forgiveness with some very nice and explicit love scenes. I do enjoy a hero and heroine who aren’t afraid to get down and dirty in the bedroom.
Easily read as a standalone, I never felt I was missing out on anything story or character wise by not reading book one. Steady pacing and personable characters dig deep into your heart and don’t let go. The second chance at love is a favorite trope of mine, especially when one of the characters realizes the mistakes they made and honestly try to repair the damage they caused. Yarnall uses dual POVs to give us a complete story with all the facts. The characters are all delightfully quirky and wonderfully flawed. The story is written in an enjoyable conversational style with bits of humor and angst that blend together to round out the experience.
“Oh, like a frat house bed and breakfast. Yes, that’s exactly the environment I want my daughter raised in while her mother prostitutes herself for a twenty percent salary bump.”
The book opens with our heroine, Lucy Monroe, coming to see the man she vowed never to have anything to do with again-her ex boyfriend. They broke up because of something he did; something that hurt her deeply and caused her to doubt their entire relationship and herself. When she left, she had every intention of never seeing him again but circumstances have forced her to seek him out. She wants him to rehire her as his co host of his popular sex toy tv program. The man she married on the rebound turned out to be an abusive bigamist and now he wants their daughter. Lucy has no money and nowhere left to go. Cal is her only hope to save her daughter, Poppy.
Emotionally satisfying and humorous to boot, we get a ringside seat as we watch Cal try to mend his relationship with Lucy. Cal’s regrets are genuine and he has matured in his separation from Lucy. The playboy of the past is gone. Cal made me laugh and cringe at times as he tries to worm his way back into Lucy’s good graces. He hurt her badly and accepts that he may never get her back into his life to stay.
“He was so sick and tired of being the asshole who’d broken her heart by being the careless, unthinking bastard he was.”
Lucy gives an honest portrayal of a woman who’s been given nothing but disappointment by those who promised to love and care her. A strong women who deserved better far better than what she got. Her life didn’t stop that day she left Cal but it did leave her in a lot of pain. She’s scared and confused by the emotions Cal still invokes in her but determined not to fall for him again. She also has a tiny secret that further impairs her ability to allow Cal back into her life fully.
He had earned his bad boy reputation honestly. She’d been hurt by him before. She couldn’t bear the thought of him hurting Poppy as well if she got too attached to him.
A strong main conflict and various subplots intertwine with an equally strong romance. Lucy and Cal circle one while trying to stay one step ahead of her ex husband. Though I enjoyed the characterization of the ex husband and the lengths he goes to get Lucy and Poppy back, I was dismayed by how often he was able to get to Lucy. Of course, this is eventually explained but with the constant security upgrades Cal institutes with each new attack, I couldn’t help but wonder just how skilled these experts he hired were. There are numerous transparent tropes that push the main conflict to resolution, some interesting and others irritating and questionable in their necessity. One such plot device is a swinger couple who Cal needs for his business. Overly obnoxious in their quest to get Lucy and Cal into bed with them, you instantly know this is a “test” the author uses to prove to Lucy that Cal can be trusted. I found it annoying and couldn’t understand why Cal didn’t just tell them that he and his wife weren’t interested.
The ending is predictable with the huge requisite misunderstanding that mimics the original reason Lucy left Cal. This time Cal fights to prove his innocence and Lucy learns to trust herself and Cal. Regardless of the predetermined path the book takes, the story is entertaining with it’s steamy chemistry, engaging characters, and the hints of danger and suspense that permeate it. I enjoyed watching Cal and Lucy find their way back to one another for good.
RATING: C+
May 29, 2017
An enjoyable read
July 5, 2018
2,5 meh stars.
October 21, 2014
Title: Lush
Author: Beth Yarnall
Stars 4 out of 5
Review:
Lush is the story of second chances Billionaire Businessman Cal Seller who has everything he is ever wanted including endless women at his fingertips but only one woman who ever really stopped him dead in his tracks Lucy.
Lucy is trying to recover from her abusive relationship with her ex-husband when Cal offers her a job she can’t pass up to be his wife with options. Lucy will be able to protect her daughter while pretending to be Cal’s wife but can she protect her heart at the same time?
The book is very real when it comes to domestic abuse and the mental scars left behind. The reader will want hold Lucy as she struggles to deal with trust issues, physically issues and emotional scars left behind by her ex-husband. Cal struggles as well trying to figure out how to get the old Lucy back all the while loving her endlessly as well as her daughter Poppy. Cal does everything he can to protect Lucy but she still doubts his feeling for her to the point Cal doesn’t know what else to do but show her how much she means to him. You will struggle with the emotions she is going thought. You will feel the pain she feels and you will ask yourself what; would you do if you were Lucy.
The book has elements that were great and others that are predictable as a lifetime movie. Lucy struggles with trust only to find Cal in the arms of his secretary again. It was extremely predictable as was the ending but the message was loud and clear. The mystery on how and why her ex kept finding her was interesting twist and I enjoyed the small amount of mystery but I found his book to be mainly romance. Thankful the author focused on building a relationship balancing out the endless sex scenes giving the book a balance.
What I will take away from this book is women can become survives from domestic abusive if they choose too. If they take away the control they have allowed their ex to have in their heart and mind.
No everyone gets to do what Lucy did to her ex but women have the ability to take back what is theirs. I have many friend that have been abused and still allow their ex to have control he doesn’t deserve. This book is a work of fiction it still has some very real elements.
Advance Copy from Netgalley.
Sex Language
Author: Beth Yarnall
Stars 4 out of 5
Review:
Lush is the story of second chances Billionaire Businessman Cal Seller who has everything he is ever wanted including endless women at his fingertips but only one woman who ever really stopped him dead in his tracks Lucy.
Lucy is trying to recover from her abusive relationship with her ex-husband when Cal offers her a job she can’t pass up to be his wife with options. Lucy will be able to protect her daughter while pretending to be Cal’s wife but can she protect her heart at the same time?
The book is very real when it comes to domestic abuse and the mental scars left behind. The reader will want hold Lucy as she struggles to deal with trust issues, physically issues and emotional scars left behind by her ex-husband. Cal struggles as well trying to figure out how to get the old Lucy back all the while loving her endlessly as well as her daughter Poppy. Cal does everything he can to protect Lucy but she still doubts his feeling for her to the point Cal doesn’t know what else to do but show her how much she means to him. You will struggle with the emotions she is going thought. You will feel the pain she feels and you will ask yourself what; would you do if you were Lucy.
The book has elements that were great and others that are predictable as a lifetime movie. Lucy struggles with trust only to find Cal in the arms of his secretary again. It was extremely predictable as was the ending but the message was loud and clear. The mystery on how and why her ex kept finding her was interesting twist and I enjoyed the small amount of mystery but I found his book to be mainly romance. Thankful the author focused on building a relationship balancing out the endless sex scenes giving the book a balance.
What I will take away from this book is women can become survives from domestic abusive if they choose too. If they take away the control they have allowed their ex to have in their heart and mind.
No everyone gets to do what Lucy did to her ex but women have the ability to take back what is theirs. I have many friend that have been abused and still allow their ex to have control he doesn’t deserve. This book is a work of fiction it still has some very real elements.
Advance Copy from Netgalley.
Sex Language
October 23, 2014
Note: This ARC was provided by Patchwork Press Cooperative via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"Lush" is the second book in the "Pleasure at Home" series by Beth Yarnall. I'm glad that Cal Sellers and Lucy Monroe, both supporting characters from the first book, finally get their turn in the spotlight because that scene in the hospital from "Rush" piqued my interest. ^.^ And I definitely liked "Lush" much more than I did its predecessor, thanks to the well-paced story and characters that felt real and that shared a true love and affection for one another.
Cal and Lucy were once involved but when Lucy catches Cal in a compromising position, she walks out on him and their short-lived relationship. She gets married and has a daughter, Poppy, but finds out her marriage was a sham after suffering through her husband's abuse and learning he's a polygamist. She desperately needs a job to provide for herself and Poppy but Cal doesn't give her her old hosting job. Instead, he has a completely different offer for her--to become his wife.
Cal wants to prove to Lucy that he isn't the same guy he was 17 months ago. Lucy was traumatized by the abuse she went through and trusting Cal isn't all that simple because of it. She's also hiding a secret from him, one she isn't sure he'll respond to positively. I was glad that particular secret was settled quickly and in the manner it was. There wasn't all this overly prolonged drama involved, thank goodness! I did, however, appreciate that their relationship progressed in the manner that it did even though they did have history together and that the attraction was still very much there.
There's still a hint of suspense in this second book but not as much as the first book. "Lush" had a lot of romance and the chemistry between Cal and Lucy was palpable. There were a couple of supporting characters who I felt were included to provide conflict for the leads and while there was that bit of conflict, the extra characters came and went, making them feel not entirely necessary. Still, I quite enjoyed this book and would gladly recommend it, especially since it does well as a standalone. "Lush" gets four stars. ♥
"Lush" is the second book in the "Pleasure at Home" series by Beth Yarnall. I'm glad that Cal Sellers and Lucy Monroe, both supporting characters from the first book, finally get their turn in the spotlight because that scene in the hospital from "Rush" piqued my interest. ^.^ And I definitely liked "Lush" much more than I did its predecessor, thanks to the well-paced story and characters that felt real and that shared a true love and affection for one another.
Cal and Lucy were once involved but when Lucy catches Cal in a compromising position, she walks out on him and their short-lived relationship. She gets married and has a daughter, Poppy, but finds out her marriage was a sham after suffering through her husband's abuse and learning he's a polygamist. She desperately needs a job to provide for herself and Poppy but Cal doesn't give her her old hosting job. Instead, he has a completely different offer for her--to become his wife.
Cal wants to prove to Lucy that he isn't the same guy he was 17 months ago. Lucy was traumatized by the abuse she went through and trusting Cal isn't all that simple because of it. She's also hiding a secret from him, one she isn't sure he'll respond to positively. I was glad that particular secret was settled quickly and in the manner it was. There wasn't all this overly prolonged drama involved, thank goodness! I did, however, appreciate that their relationship progressed in the manner that it did even though they did have history together and that the attraction was still very much there.
There's still a hint of suspense in this second book but not as much as the first book. "Lush" had a lot of romance and the chemistry between Cal and Lucy was palpable. There were a couple of supporting characters who I felt were included to provide conflict for the leads and while there was that bit of conflict, the extra characters came and went, making them feel not entirely necessary. Still, I quite enjoyed this book and would gladly recommend it, especially since it does well as a standalone. "Lush" gets four stars. ♥
March 15, 2015
Lush is the second book in the Pleasure at Home series, and can easily be read as a standalone novel.
I can't even begin to express how much I loved this novel. It was the first book that I have read by Beth Yarnall, but I will be keeping an eye out for her books in the future.
Lush is an action pack book with so many twists and turns, you'll never know what to expect next. There are very few book that I can't get a sense for how it will all play out, this book however kept me guessing. While I don't want to spoil any of the crazy twists, be prepared to be surprised. The book is well written and flows naturally with multi-dimensional characters, great dialogue, mouth watering erotic scenes, and a fabulous storyline. Cal's character is bound to melt your heart and your panties; while Lucy's character will show you just how tough a woman can be.
Cal needs a wife and Lucy is desperate for a job to provide for her young daughter. A marriage between the two can settle all of their problems, right? The only downside is that both Cal and Lucy still harbor feelings for one another after their terrible breakup almost two years prior. When danger comes knocking at their door, Cal and Lucy must stick together or it can all come crashing down.
This book contains violence against women and might not be for everyone
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*
I can't even begin to express how much I loved this novel. It was the first book that I have read by Beth Yarnall, but I will be keeping an eye out for her books in the future.
Lush is an action pack book with so many twists and turns, you'll never know what to expect next. There are very few book that I can't get a sense for how it will all play out, this book however kept me guessing. While I don't want to spoil any of the crazy twists, be prepared to be surprised. The book is well written and flows naturally with multi-dimensional characters, great dialogue, mouth watering erotic scenes, and a fabulous storyline. Cal's character is bound to melt your heart and your panties; while Lucy's character will show you just how tough a woman can be.
Cal needs a wife and Lucy is desperate for a job to provide for her young daughter. A marriage between the two can settle all of their problems, right? The only downside is that both Cal and Lucy still harbor feelings for one another after their terrible breakup almost two years prior. When danger comes knocking at their door, Cal and Lucy must stick together or it can all come crashing down.
This book contains violence against women and might not be for everyone
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion*
October 26, 2014
**I received this book from Netgalley for my honest review***
This is a story about Cal Sellers and Lucy Monroe. Lucy used to be the co-host of Cal’s home shopping TV show, Pleasure at Home & they used to be involved several years ago but Lucy ended things when she caught Cal cheating. She walked out on him and on their short relationship. She ended up quickly getting involved with someone else, getting married, quickly having a baby and then endured emotional and physical abuse in that relationship. This marriage is a front that her husband used because he is a polygamist. Lucy ends up finding the strength to get a divorce and gets away.
Now Lucy needs a job and fast. She approaches Cal for help, hoping to get her old job back so she can support herself and her baby daughter but Cal refused- instead he has a bizarre job he wants Lucy to accept instead- he wants her to be his wife instead.
Cal wants to prove to Lucy that he isn't the same guy he was 17 months ago Lucy is so overwhelmed from the previous marriage and the abuse she suffered before, plus she doesn’t know if she can trust Cal again , especially after what happened when she caught him before. She's also hiding a secret from him, one she isn't sure he'll respond to very well.
This story has a lot of twists, turns, emotional upheavals, some suspense. I really enjoyed this story and really felt Cal and Lucy belonged together. Love the ending of this story. Fantastic!!
My rating: 5 stars *****
This is a story about Cal Sellers and Lucy Monroe. Lucy used to be the co-host of Cal’s home shopping TV show, Pleasure at Home & they used to be involved several years ago but Lucy ended things when she caught Cal cheating. She walked out on him and on their short relationship. She ended up quickly getting involved with someone else, getting married, quickly having a baby and then endured emotional and physical abuse in that relationship. This marriage is a front that her husband used because he is a polygamist. Lucy ends up finding the strength to get a divorce and gets away.
Now Lucy needs a job and fast. She approaches Cal for help, hoping to get her old job back so she can support herself and her baby daughter but Cal refused- instead he has a bizarre job he wants Lucy to accept instead- he wants her to be his wife instead.
Cal wants to prove to Lucy that he isn't the same guy he was 17 months ago Lucy is so overwhelmed from the previous marriage and the abuse she suffered before, plus she doesn’t know if she can trust Cal again , especially after what happened when she caught him before. She's also hiding a secret from him, one she isn't sure he'll respond to very well.
This story has a lot of twists, turns, emotional upheavals, some suspense. I really enjoyed this story and really felt Cal and Lucy belonged together. Love the ending of this story. Fantastic!!
My rating: 5 stars *****
October 29, 2014
Lucy is going to ask help from the one man she swore she would never lay eyes on again. Cal her billionaire ex boyfriend broke her heart when he cheated on her with his secretary. But her circumstance is bad, real bad.. She has a crazy ex husband trying to harm her and her beautiful baby girl Poppy, and because of that she will crawl back to Cal and ask him for the job she desperately needs.
Cal has a job for her, but its not one shes expecting.. role of wife! Cal needs a wife to fix his image. Not only that but he knows whats happening with Lucy, and he wants to protect her. Even if Lucy is totally unaware of how much Cal actually knows about her secrets.
This was a great read! The romance was great and the sex was steamy but I also loved the added element of suspense and risk due to the crazy ex.
Cal was a awesome character, I really enjoyed watching him woo his wife and claim her trust. He did a really nice job at trying to understand her needs and my goodness he was a hot fierce protector!
My heart cried for Lucy and all she had suffered, her body and self esteem was battered and I am so happy she found the true love she craved.
I read this story without reading book one! I'm sad I didn't realize this was one in a series.. However it didn't take away anything from the story. This was a great plot that was truly entertaining!
Cal has a job for her, but its not one shes expecting.. role of wife! Cal needs a wife to fix his image. Not only that but he knows whats happening with Lucy, and he wants to protect her. Even if Lucy is totally unaware of how much Cal actually knows about her secrets.
This was a great read! The romance was great and the sex was steamy but I also loved the added element of suspense and risk due to the crazy ex.
Cal was a awesome character, I really enjoyed watching him woo his wife and claim her trust. He did a really nice job at trying to understand her needs and my goodness he was a hot fierce protector!
My heart cried for Lucy and all she had suffered, her body and self esteem was battered and I am so happy she found the true love she craved.
I read this story without reading book one! I'm sad I didn't realize this was one in a series.. However it didn't take away anything from the story. This was a great plot that was truly entertaining!
October 15, 2014
Cal sometimes has to make things very clear for Lucy, "I wouldn't be paying you to sleep with me. I'd be paying you to be my wife. The sleeping-with-me part would be optional." Lucy that girl knows how to get a reaction out of her man, and in public places, "he did groan then. "Jesus God almighty darlin', are you trying to make me embarrass myself right here in front of our friends and family?" Sometimes Cal likes to go off their list of fantasies so he can see his wife get pleasure, "I don't care what number this is. I want to see your fave." He eased himself into her little by little, watching her the whole time, until he was fully seated. "Oh, God. I can't..." Personally Cal doesn't care when, where, or how he gets inside his wife as long as he's inside her, he's such a romantic man, "he gave her a gentle kiss. "Me too, darlin'. Me too. Any way I can be inside you works for me." Of course there are the times the boy just can't control his urges, "the closet, the floor, the bed. I don't care where." She kissed him, and that last sliver of fear dissolved as he slid his hands all the way up her skirt to grab her a**." With a little stalker in the mix this book was a fun read.
December 1, 2014
LUSH is written in talented author Beth Yarnall’s rollicking and fall-on-the-floor style, but it also has undertones of sincere struggles. Former lovers, Lucy Monroe and Cal Seller, never wanted to be without each other. Dialogue crackles between them as it did before, but now they are different people. Cal admits to his mistake. He’s missed her during their seventeen months apart and will do anything to get her back. With baby daughter Poppy, Lucy escapes from her abusive almost-husband. Her church wedding with Kevin was not binding since the star quarterback was still married. Cal tells Lucy he needs a wife in order to negotiate a business contract with a family-oriented company. She consents. The ring he chose for her personal taste, the wedding, and the hotel suite are perfect, but more than anything he just wants to let her know she’s safe with him. Little Poppy adores Cal. As they work their way back, they have not forgotten the fun they have together. Will anything get in the way of their “arranged marriage”?
November 9, 2014
Received copy from Netgalley for honest review
This is part of a series but can read as a stand alone novel. A second chance at love romance with drama. Cal and Lucy dated a couple if years ago. It ended when she caught him in a compromising situation with his secretary. She jumps into a rebound situation with a man named Kevin. Kevin is a sadistic abuser and she was lucky to get away from him. She goes to Cal to ask for her old job; but he has another offer that she can't refuse. He needs a wife to show that he is a family man. Lucy needs to provide for and protect her daughter. The marry "with options". Kevin continues to stalk Lucy throughout the book. The author was able to balance the drama and the romance. The domestic violence is not an easy subject. I liked the story and the writing.
This is part of a series but can read as a stand alone novel. A second chance at love romance with drama. Cal and Lucy dated a couple if years ago. It ended when she caught him in a compromising situation with his secretary. She jumps into a rebound situation with a man named Kevin. Kevin is a sadistic abuser and she was lucky to get away from him. She goes to Cal to ask for her old job; but he has another offer that she can't refuse. He needs a wife to show that he is a family man. Lucy needs to provide for and protect her daughter. The marry "with options". Kevin continues to stalk Lucy throughout the book. The author was able to balance the drama and the romance. The domestic violence is not an easy subject. I liked the story and the writing.
November 2, 2016
Wow! Pretty intense read! I was attracted to the book cos of the book's intro. Second chance love and Lucy need Cal's help in protecting her and her baby from her ex.
The characters are nicely developed. And it's like watching how a abused victim trying her best to stand on her feet again. And I'm kinda surprised there's isn't any mention of her mother after she deny Lucy's attempt to throw out her ex and stand side with her ex. TBH, I'm kinda pissed off with her mother. I thought she might be killed by Lucy's ex. LOL. I'm mean. Did I forget to mention that I love how Lucy cussed at Cal??? bastard…what else had she called him? Ah, yes. A lowlife, two-timing son of a bitch with a dick for brains.
I'm looking forward to this author's work.
The characters are nicely developed. And it's like watching how a abused victim trying her best to stand on her feet again. And I'm kinda surprised there's isn't any mention of her mother after she deny Lucy's attempt to throw out her ex and stand side with her ex. TBH, I'm kinda pissed off with her mother. I thought she might be killed by Lucy's ex. LOL. I'm mean. Did I forget to mention that I love how Lucy cussed at Cal??? bastard…what else had she called him? Ah, yes. A lowlife, two-timing son of a bitch with a dick for brains.
I'm looking forward to this author's work.
November 6, 2014
Based on the blurb, Lucy and Cal's story sounded interesting, but unfortunately (at least for me) the book didn't deliver. It's not bad, but not good neither. The book is the second one in a series, maybe I should have read the first one first to get a better feeling for the characters. The writing didn't engage me, the characters were okay, overall not my book.
November 6, 2014
An emotional story that will truly grab at your heart strings and cheering for Lucy to get the happy ending she deserves after putting up with her abusive ex. Cal does his best to insure Lucy that his feeling are genuine and even though there are bumps along the road you can move forward and find something better. Sexy and emotional, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. Loved it!
November 22, 2016
There is enough of this story to dislike...he's a cheat, he watches the girl he cheats on get married, knowing a secret and just goes on. Living his life while she lives in hell. Why did he never have the husband checked out to make sure they were safe with him? Yes author tries to show redeemable qualities but I didn't buy into them. It wasn't a bad read just not for me
November 30, 2020
4.5 Stars
Oh, I adore this series! I'm so glad I picked up the first one, and while this fantastic also, I think I have to say Lucas > Cal (though Cal is an adorable cowboy and I love him).
Funny and angsty and sexy and heartwarming. Loved it!
Reread: November 2015
Oh, I adore this series! I'm so glad I picked up the first one, and while this fantastic also, I think I have to say Lucas > Cal (though Cal is an adorable cowboy and I love him).
Funny and angsty and sexy and heartwarming. Loved it!
Reread: November 2015
February 11, 2015
Beth Yarnall is one gutsy romance writer. She goes where few are brave to go - emotional and sexual abuse and forgiveness. There was one major plot point that I saw coming but the other surprises kept me glued to the very last page!
October 16, 2015
Another winner from Beth Yarnall! I loved all the suspense and romance in this roller coaster story filled with great characters. It flowed nicely and held my interest.
November 20, 2016
Great reading ! !
The story had just the right number of people to keep track of ! ! Not a lot of extras .
The story had just the right number of people to keep track of ! ! Not a lot of extras .
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