Eve of Passion

The Wintersage Weddings #1

by A.C. Arthur

The Silk Sisters�longtime friends Janelle, Sandra and Vicki�have turned their business savvy into a top-tier event agency. And in the wealthy enclave of Wintersage, Massachusetts, there's an abundance of lavish parties, society drama and longing hearts to keep them busy. 

Premier event planner Janelle Howerton swore off dating after college. Now her father wants her to make nice with an influential donor to his congressional campaign. After all, it's just one date…. 

Billionaire Ballard Dubois wants to help Darren Howerton win the election. But he wants Darren's daughter more�and his desires seldom go unfulfilled. Suddenly "one date" quickly spirals into a hot relationship, and celebrity gossip sites crown them the new "it" couple. And when Ballard proposes all of a sudden, Janelle shocks herself by saying…yes! 

As the wedding date looms, Janelle and Ballard wonder: Is this marriage a mere political ploy? Or could this become a real, lifelong love?

Genres: Romance, African American Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 16, 2014

About the author

AC Arthur has worked as a paralegal in every field of law since high school, but her first love is and will always be writing romance. She’s written and won awards for her acclaimed Donovans and Shadow Shifters contemporary and paranormal romance series. Under her pen name, Lacey Baker, she created the quaint small town of Sweetland and wrote the novelization for the Original Hallmark Channel Movie, A Gingerbread Romance.

After years of hosting reader appreciation events, AC created the One Love Reunion, an event designed to bring readers and authors together to celebrate their love of books.

AC resides in Maryland with her family, where she’s currently working on her next book…or watching Criminal Minds.

Reviews

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't my first A.C. Arthur read. She's a favorite of mine and my sisters. I enjoyed the plot of this book. It's basically about two wealthy families merging through their children and how doing so will aid in the prosperity of them both. Janelle and Ballard are used as pawns for their families positioning. Janelle is asked by her father to get the endorsement of billionaire Ballard Dubois. Ballard just wants Janelle in his bed. Janelle has been hurt in a previous relationship and unfortunately continues to bare the scars.

I will admit the rush of sex and without romance did put me off, but Ballard does redeem himself on numerous occasions. The ending almost shocked me. Ms. Arthur tried to throw a wrench in the plans. The ending was a good one. The friendship between The Silk Sister's (Janell's two friends who run company with her) was a great addition. They had her back and was ready to take anyone down.

I was provided an eArc from the publisher via Netgalley

[Kelly Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anything by Ac will be good. It was so good to see Janell finally receive what she deserved. Ballard was awesome, such the hero

[Priscilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eve of Passion, written by AC Arthur, is the first installment of the Wintersage Wedding series. After a hurtful break up, Janelle Howerton vowed to avoid dating. So when her father asked her to talk to Ballard Dubois, head of Dubois Maritime Shipping, about backing his bid for a seat in the House of Representative, how could she refuse? But one date lead to one kiss and a mirage of feelings that Janelle was not prepared to have. Ballard, who is considered the ultimate playboy, knew that Janelle complimented his life- both logically and professionally. Yet, could they make this union work?

Arthur begins the Wintersage Wedding Series with questions that every couple should explore when entering into a relationship – is this for me? Am I ready? Am I in love? Love unconditionally? Janelle and Ballard knew what they had was special but getting there took a lot of soul searching and exposing unspoken truths. In true fashion, Arthur delivers a story of true romance. Fans will not be disappointed and will eagerly want to read the remaining books in the series.

An advance reading copy was provided by the author for review purposes only.

[Desiree Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eve Of Passion (Wintersage Weddings Book 3)

Janelle has been sent by her father to solicit the backing of Ballard DuBois and his family for his campaign. There's one problem, they start sleeping with each other before she does that. Janelle and Ballard both think they don't want to be in a relationship and that they can continue sleeping with each other and just remain casual friends. They can tell themselves that, but their hearts say and feel something different. Can they put business aside and find the love they so desperately want? Read: January 2016

[Charelle Shipman-Edmondson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was OKAY.... It started a little flat, and picked up on the plot towards the middle and at the end. I liked the characters alright, but they didn't have that "goosebumps" factor for me at first. Maybe homeboy's way of thinking threw me off, and the heroine's plight after her "almost" sexual assault was very touching. With the way the rest of the world is viewing this kinds of things now a-days, I think that it was a very nice storyline to include. The hero's family situation was definitely interesting to say the least, but I definitely wouldn't have been THAT intimidated by my grandfather and father like he was. I liked how they were towards each other at the end, and it took them too long to come to the "love" realization, I mean who does something like that 10-seconds before they say I-Do.....IDK, to each their own. I didn't NOT like it enough to not read about the rest of the "sisters", and plus they are also by other Authors. I usually am a great fan of A.C. Arthur, have read several of her books, BUT this one didn't make me want to keep and read again, or give me that warm and fuzzy feeling at the beginning of the book like some of her others usually do. I usually can devour these little paperbacks in 2-days tops, but this one took me a min, I wasn't hooked on trying to read to find out what happened next as I normally am.

[Zhana Cox]

I’m a bit pissed because Vikki’s story was written well and the story of how Vikki and Jordan came to be was realistic. Not to say this story wasn’t written well, it’s just the way in which Janelle and Ballard came together was…lackluster. It was very “well since we’re here might as well.”

I’m not sure what the limitations are for editors but if I was the editor I would have suggested instead of Ballard and Jenelle going through with the wedding, they could have taken a step back to continue on dating. Also, I would have requested some more details about Janelle’s journey toward assertion & career. She was tired of people always telling her what’s best for her life, and being a people pleaser but I honestly didn’t see her asserting herself if it didn’t pertain to Ballard. Janelle kind of just let Ballard take charge of something she’s suppose to do for herself.

In regard to her career, she was this amazing event planner but outside of homecoming there wasn’t much talk about her career. I understand this is her and Ballard’s story but maybe Vikki’s story set my expectation high.

[Bridgette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved It!

A.C. Arthur has another winner with this one! When Ballard Dubois first saw Janell Howerton at an event, he knew he wanted her in his bed. It didn’t go as he’d planned. Little did she know, he was the man that her father wanted her to meet with, so she could convince him and his family to endorse his political campaign. The more time they spent together, the closer they became. Her ex, Jack, tried to come back to stir up trouble for her. Ballard wasn’t having it. He gave Jack what he deserved! Jack was a piece of work. I’m just glad that it all worked out for them! Thank you A.C., for another outstanding read!! ❤️🔥

[Amaka Azie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet simple read

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book and as always Mrs. Arthur delivers. I can't wait to read Sandra's story

[Dafort · Rating 5 out of 5]

CONCEPT
The concept of this story was a party event planner honoring the request of her father and breaking her vow to not date and accepts a dinner date from a prominent businessman to gain his support in her father’s campaign.
STORY
The Silk Sisters are longtime friends that jointly own an event agency, in a Massachusetts. Premier event planner Janelle Howerton swore off dating in college. Her father, who is currently making a bid for a political office, asks Janelle to set a date with an influential donor to gain support for his campaign. It is just one date. Billionaire Ballard Dubois wants to help Darren Howerton win the election, but once he meets Janelle, he desires for something more than just a one date event. The couple embarks on a journey where they are being photographed and appearing in celebrity tabloids that crown them as the new “it couple. Ballard proposed and a surprised Janelle accepts. As they draw closer to the wedding, these two start to wonder if they are marrying to gain political support or were the feelings they experiencing that of true love.
CHARACTERS
Ms. Author did a great job in developing these characters. As this is the first installment in the Silk Sisters’ series, readers get a glimpse of Eve’s views regarding her father’s campaign and trying to win his approval and appease him since her mother’s death. We also see how Eve’s past relationships have shaped her view and made her swearing off dating and finding love. Ballard is a confident businessman and when he first meets Janelle at a masquerade ball, he is entranced. He pursues Janelle thinking the next logical step for them is marriage but as a business arrangement with benefits. His feelings run deep and it takes soul searching and certain events and actions to make him realize “still waters run deep” The attraction was apparent between Janelle and Ballard. Reading their journey was an eye opener and have readers cheering on Ballard’s chivalrous methods to protect Janelle at all cost.

DIALOGUE
The dialogue was engaging and stays in line with the flow of the story.
STRUCTURE
The structure of this of this story was in line as it is the first book in the series and the author does a good job introducing the characters and setting the stage for the next heroine to be struck by Cupid’s bow.
OVERALL
Eve of Passion is a quick read and explores a relationship initially built on a political move but progresses to a love worth finding. I truly enjoyed the story and look forward to reading the next two books in the series.

[Marie Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eve of Passion is book 1 in a 3-book series The Wintersage Weddings, each written by three different Harlequin Kimani authors. Book 1 is written by A.C. Arthur, a new author I've not read before, but I thought she did a pretty good job with this book overall.

Eve of Passion was a quick and easy read, which felt in the similar vein of most Harlequin Kimani romances I've read. It's a billionaire romance kind of story, though both the heroine (Janelle) and the hero (Ballard) are both pretty well off. Janelle owns her own business as an event planner, part of the Silk Sisters entity with her two other close friends. She's not big on romance after her last failed one, and had decided to move on with her life doing what she loves for her business. But her father who is a political figure, is hoping to get a little help with his campaign by rubbing elbows with the highly esteemed celebrity Ballard Dubois, so he persuades Janelle to talk to him. As you can imagine, that 'talk' ended up blossoming into a full-on relationship. The story focuses a lot on the relationship, though I felt the relationship itself was rushed a bit, almost insta-love. I understand the length constraints of the story, but I would've wanted to see a little more fleshing out and feeling a bit closer to the characters.

Things in the story happens very fast, and even toward the end when Ballard proposes to Janelle. And Janelle accepts. But then, the "rushness" seems to be justified when Ballard admits his forwardness and being unsure about the choices he made leading up to this situation.

Janelle was a likable character whom I could certainly connect to at times. I enjoyed reading per POV. Ballard, however was a little off for me. He was more of an average kind of guy, personality-wise. Kind of boorish at times. There didn't seem to be anything about him that made me feel like he would be "book boyfriend" material. Sometimes I didn't care about what happened to him.

The love scenes were hot and written well, but because I wasn't really feeling good vibes from Ballard, I felt the scenes didn't help me to further connect with the couple on a personal level in terms of their relationship.

Overall, the story was good, and the ending, though ends in an HEA, also leads you into book 2, which I will be reading next.

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Janelle is an event planner, occupied with weddings and town school dances. Then her father, who has handed over the reins of his family company to his son, asks her to go to Boston and drum up support for him to get a political nomination. How can she refuse?

At a black tie dinner Janelle meets a young man from a shipping firm family, who is attracted to her but is used to having girls fawn on him. He comes across as boorish, I'm afraid, and Janelle rightly doesn't want to get involved, keeping to a dinner appointment for strictly business reasons. She had a bad experience with a past boyfriend so doesn't date. A magazine snaps the two of them together and makes up a story that they are involved.

So far so good. I failed to see any reason why Janelle would then agree to a marriage proposal. People laugh off these kinds of stories all the time, and we know how busy her business life is; she would dismiss this matter and see this man only on her terms.

This is a multicultural story but I didn't get any cultural flavours or contrasts at all, as everyone is wealthy and industrious. I preferred the linked books about the 'Broward family' such as 'Loving Laney' for a modern multicultural flavour.

[Hsiau Wei · Rating 3 out of 5]

Janelle is at a crossroads. His father needs her help in his political campaign to talk to billionaire Ballard Dubois for his support. She is reluctant but does she have a choice? Janelle agreed to attend the dinner where not only she met the man that she intended to meet, she also with someone from her past. The meeting between Ballard and Janelle has blossom into attraction and soon, a relationship. However, there is someone who doesn’t want her to find the happiness that she found.

It is an intriguing love story between Ballard & Janelle. Though they have a rocky start, they eventually found their happily ever after in the end. I like the story plot with its engaging dialogue between the characters. Overall, it is a quick read for me ;)

[Jackie Vanderpool · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. The beginning was a little weird because it was hard to differentiate between the characters. I couldn't tell at times who was talking. Other than that the story line was great and I love stories where the men do everything they can to make sure their women are good. The ending was a bit rocky to me because when he started getting cold feet, it was like the reason he was having cold feet were a little thrown in there to me, just to finish the story. But overall good story, kept me interested.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a very intriguing love story between billionaire Ballard Dubois and one of the Silk Sisters, Janelle Howerton. What a rocky start to their first meeting, however that start is what put this relationship into motion when neither of them was looking for one. Both Janelle and Ballard had to deal with some skeletons in their closet before true love was amongst them. Awesome read and I can't wait for the next installment of Wintersage Weddings with Sandra being in the spotlight!

[Raquell Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read book 1 and 2 out of order and HAD to go back and purchase book 1 and happily book 3 as soon as it came out. This is a wonderful series about 3 best friends, sisterhood in every since of the word, love and happily ever after. You will not regret purchasing each story in the Wintersage Wedding series!

[Deena]

Loved it! Wintersage sounds like the cutest little town! Janelle and Ballard made a great couple. I'm glad the author got them together pretty quickly and didn't drag it out. I thought it was pretty funny (and current) that the paparazzi and the blogs were stalking their every move.

Can't wait to see what's in store for the other Silk Sisters!

[Shone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spoiled and pampered Janell Howerton will do any thing to help her father. Her stonewall is the handsome rich Darren. A meddling father, a grandfather who want take no for an answer, girlfriends who will take a bullet for you all make for an intriguing story. Love that A. C. went back to her romance roots.

[KiKi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Quick, fast read. I mostly loved that the conflict didn't break her heart. The hero realized his faults and fixed them before anything could happen. And they communicated with each other.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of two people with high ideals and expectations who realize that they need each other to complete their goals. A love story between Billionaire Ballard Dubois and Janelle Howerton, event planner.

[Shauntelle James]

This was an ingenious transcript by Kamani. I actually know alot abour this subject and was impressed by her version of the lesson. There were a few parts that weak in structure but in general it was very complete. I enjoyed her style and delivery of the plot. (thumbs up)!

[Harriette B.Tolliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy the cat and mice display of the book. How they both were not able to admitting they love each other. How there pass experiences blocked them and put walls up to see their true feeling. Her's with Jack and his withe his parents.

[Chandra Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome read!

It was a great read. Can't wait to read the next AC Arthur book. The characters were at their best. They were good together from the start. The story is well written and organized. I couldn't put it down. I love her books. Arthur is a wonderful writer.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great love story! The chemistry between Ballard and Janelle was explosive.

[Harlequin Books]

Miniseries: Wintersage Weddings

[Reshemah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great Start to the Wintersage Weddings series. Ac Arthur started off the series with a bang and I can not wait to read the next two books.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book one ... great read!

[Shelita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this 3,5 stars. The characters bugged me. I know they fell for each other but that wedding was a little quick.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a huge fan of Arthur's writing style, but I did enjoy the characters and story.

[Nerissa Golden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I've finished the series with the Silk Sisters. Liked this one.