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Jet-setters & Jeopardy #2
The Australian
This is an alternate cover edition for ASIN B00V89O7EC
Meet The Australian.
His name's Jace Knight. He's powerful. He's charming. And he's baffled by his new personal assistant Charlie Sykes. The American's absurdly literal, obliviously beautiful and his ideal match. The hitch: how do you seduce a woman whose definition of flirting comes straight out of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary?
Charlie Sykes takes everything at face value, and believes life would be a lot easier if everyone else did, too. The intelligent yet social awkward brainiac moved down under on a whim (maybe the first she's ever had) after dedicating much of her life to caring for her deadbeat mother. And while her new employer, Mr. Jace Knight, admittedly, makes her stomach somersault, he is not a suitable mate. One simply does not have coitus with one's boss.
However Jace didn't build up a hotel empire by giving up easily, and Charlie's already finding ways to justify giving in to temptation. As if that weren't stressful enough, Jace's alleged criminal past draws her into a dangerous game of international espionage that plays out in the hip streets of Sydney to the majestic Great Barrier Reef and the wild, desolate outback.
A terrible trap's being laid. But how will Charlie protect herself and prevent a devastating betrayal when she can't even sort out what her heart's telling her?
Meet The Australian.
His name's Jace Knight. He's powerful. He's charming. And he's baffled by his new personal assistant Charlie Sykes. The American's absurdly literal, obliviously beautiful and his ideal match. The hitch: how do you seduce a woman whose definition of flirting comes straight out of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary?
Charlie Sykes takes everything at face value, and believes life would be a lot easier if everyone else did, too. The intelligent yet social awkward brainiac moved down under on a whim (maybe the first she's ever had) after dedicating much of her life to caring for her deadbeat mother. And while her new employer, Mr. Jace Knight, admittedly, makes her stomach somersault, he is not a suitable mate. One simply does not have coitus with one's boss.
However Jace didn't build up a hotel empire by giving up easily, and Charlie's already finding ways to justify giving in to temptation. As if that weren't stressful enough, Jace's alleged criminal past draws her into a dangerous game of international espionage that plays out in the hip streets of Sydney to the majestic Great Barrier Reef and the wild, desolate outback.
A terrible trap's being laid. But how will Charlie protect herself and prevent a devastating betrayal when she can't even sort out what her heart's telling her?
286 pages, ebook
First published March 25, 2015
28 people are currently reading
522 people want to read
About the author
Lesley Young
4 books246 followersLesley Young writes compulsive stories with unforgettable heroines who experience thrilling life- and love-altering journeys.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
July 15, 2015
2.75-3 Stars
I have to admit I really struggled with my rating on this book. While there were parts of it I really liked, there were also quite a few parts that didn't really work for me. But this is a personal taste issue and not necessarily something that was wrong with the book, per say. I think most readers would really enjoy this book. Unfortunately I tend to be extremely picky when it comes to heroines and I also tend to nitpick. So if there's something that bothers me from the start it will only get worse for me as I continue, but I'll explain that further in the review.
After her mother dies, Charlie Sykes leaves her entire life behind and moves to Australia. Although she has a near perfect IQ, she struggles to find a job. But that all changes when she walks into the office of Jace Knight, a renowned playboy and international hotelier that's looking for an assistant. Although Jace is arrestingly gorgeous, it will have no effect on Charlie at all. After all, he's not exactly "Stick-It" material. But the more they work together the more the attraction between them begins to show too much for Charlie to ignore. Oh and there's also the small part of Jace possibly being a criminal that still continues to run in the underground network of mafia bosses and kingpins.
Charlie Sykes may be gorgeous and with a near perfect IQ but she's what I would call socially retarded. Honest to gawd, if ever there was a fictional female version of Sheldon Cooper out there, this girl is it. She actually uses the term "coitus" for fuck's sake. At times it was like listening to a robot attempting to understand human emotions. She's reasonable to a fault. I have never read about a heroine that has almost zero emotion to her and sounds everything out like a damn encyclopedia.
At first this was endearingly quirky to me and refreshingly different. But after a while it began to wear thin; especially when the romance factor began to develop.
Considering the entire book is in Charlie's POV, the sex scenes were almost like reading a biology book. I know they were supposed to be sexy, but having Charlie's version of it in my head kinda killed the buzz.
Then there was also the case of Jace's accent. There was quite a bit of Australian slang in this book that I had no idea what it meant. I actually found myself constantly messaging one of my Australian friends and asking her about them. Now here's the interesting part, even she didn't know half the time.
I loved the first half of the book, but then somewhere around the middle it began to lose me. I grew bored and then irritated with Charlie and her Charlie-isms. She was almost OTT reasonable. After a while she almost became a parody of herself. i just don't have any better way of describing it. Because of her almost robotic approach to everything and the romance, I never truly became invested in that part of the story. I just didn't feel it. The last part of the book was quicker paced and more entertaining, but unfortunately for me, it had already lost my interest by then.
I do think that this is just one of those heroines that you will either love and giggle at or one that will annoy you after a while. Unfortunately for me, I fell into the latter part of that. This is entirely a personal taste thing, so please keep that in mind. The writing was good and the story had great potential if only I didn't get irritated by the things that I did. But just because it didn't quite work for me, doesn't mean it won't for you. I can definitely say I'd gladly continue with the series as I did enjoy the author's writing. You just can't love them all, I guess.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews visit
He was the most astonishing, extraordinary human being. All his imperfections, his scars, his need to control, his lies, were somehow assembled in such a way, to me, that made imperfect sense. He was a logical disaster.
I have to admit I really struggled with my rating on this book. While there were parts of it I really liked, there were also quite a few parts that didn't really work for me. But this is a personal taste issue and not necessarily something that was wrong with the book, per say. I think most readers would really enjoy this book. Unfortunately I tend to be extremely picky when it comes to heroines and I also tend to nitpick. So if there's something that bothers me from the start it will only get worse for me as I continue, but I'll explain that further in the review.
After her mother dies, Charlie Sykes leaves her entire life behind and moves to Australia. Although she has a near perfect IQ, she struggles to find a job. But that all changes when she walks into the office of Jace Knight, a renowned playboy and international hotelier that's looking for an assistant. Although Jace is arrestingly gorgeous, it will have no effect on Charlie at all. After all, he's not exactly "Stick-It" material. But the more they work together the more the attraction between them begins to show too much for Charlie to ignore. Oh and there's also the small part of Jace possibly being a criminal that still continues to run in the underground network of mafia bosses and kingpins.
Charlie Sykes may be gorgeous and with a near perfect IQ but she's what I would call socially retarded. Honest to gawd, if ever there was a fictional female version of Sheldon Cooper out there, this girl is it. She actually uses the term "coitus" for fuck's sake. At times it was like listening to a robot attempting to understand human emotions. She's reasonable to a fault. I have never read about a heroine that has almost zero emotion to her and sounds everything out like a damn encyclopedia.
At first this was endearingly quirky to me and refreshingly different. But after a while it began to wear thin; especially when the romance factor began to develop.
Considering the entire book is in Charlie's POV, the sex scenes were almost like reading a biology book. I know they were supposed to be sexy, but having Charlie's version of it in my head kinda killed the buzz.
Then there was also the case of Jace's accent. There was quite a bit of Australian slang in this book that I had no idea what it meant. I actually found myself constantly messaging one of my Australian friends and asking her about them. Now here's the interesting part, even she didn't know half the time.
I loved the first half of the book, but then somewhere around the middle it began to lose me. I grew bored and then irritated with Charlie and her Charlie-isms. She was almost OTT reasonable. After a while she almost became a parody of herself. i just don't have any better way of describing it. Because of her almost robotic approach to everything and the romance, I never truly became invested in that part of the story. I just didn't feel it. The last part of the book was quicker paced and more entertaining, but unfortunately for me, it had already lost my interest by then.
I do think that this is just one of those heroines that you will either love and giggle at or one that will annoy you after a while. Unfortunately for me, I fell into the latter part of that. This is entirely a personal taste thing, so please keep that in mind. The writing was good and the story had great potential if only I didn't get irritated by the things that I did. But just because it didn't quite work for me, doesn't mean it won't for you. I can definitely say I'd gladly continue with the series as I did enjoy the author's writing. You just can't love them all, I guess.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews visit
March 1, 2016
Definitely not for me.
I rarely read books with stories set in Australia because as much as I like that place (beach and hot men), I can't really get into the lingo and culture.
The heroine also talks weirdly. Not in a robotic and logical way that characters with social issues usually does, but in a totally archaic way.
" I'm sorry to inform you I cannot accompany you as I do not know how to swim."
******
"Incorrect on all counts,"I informed him. "I have never had any of those. But I do not believe my sexual history, or lack of it, is pertinent to the job interview."
******
"I appreciate your candor," I heard myself say...
Really. Why on earth would a Yankee talk like a Victorian maiden?
There's also a matter of fact that the hero talks funny during and after sex. What's with the "hoowza" thing?Is that an Aussie lingo? I should probably ask my Aussie friends about it.
The ridiculous plot also makes me DNF this thing. I was confused as to what was happening. The first part is good because Charlie is still amusing, but the Secret Service thing came in and hell broke loose. There's this gangsta part, but there isn't.
The heroine is also indecisive and often contradicts herself a lot of times, I'm itching to slap her. I'm okay with not being able to choose immediately as long as the heroine do it in a reasonable way. There's nothing reasonable with this heroine.
Over all, not satisfactory. You can see the two star to prove it.
I rarely read books with stories set in Australia because as much as I like that place (beach and hot men), I can't really get into the lingo and culture.
The heroine also talks weirdly. Not in a robotic and logical way that characters with social issues usually does, but in a totally archaic way.
" I'm sorry to inform you I cannot accompany you as I do not know how to swim."
******
"Incorrect on all counts,"I informed him. "I have never had any of those. But I do not believe my sexual history, or lack of it, is pertinent to the job interview."
******
"I appreciate your candor," I heard myself say...
Really. Why on earth would a Yankee talk like a Victorian maiden?
There's also a matter of fact that the hero talks funny during and after sex. What's with the "hoowza" thing?Is that an Aussie lingo? I should probably ask my Aussie friends about it.
The ridiculous plot also makes me DNF this thing. I was confused as to what was happening. The first part is good because Charlie is still amusing, but the Secret Service thing came in and hell broke loose. There's this gangsta part, but there isn't.
The heroine is also indecisive and often contradicts herself a lot of times, I'm itching to slap her. I'm okay with not being able to choose immediately as long as the heroine do it in a reasonable way. There's nothing reasonable with this heroine.
Over all, not satisfactory. You can see the two star to prove it.
May 1, 2015
Charlie Sykes is what others would call an odd duck, to her it logically doesn't make sense as she has no feathers. Charlie takes everything literally, she analyzes and spends a lot of time in her head making a well thought out decision. When she is hired by hotelier Jace Knight, she is well aware of his reputation with his employees. As Charlie does with every aspect of her life, she lays it out why she is certain they would not work well together. For the first time in his life Jace is completely intrigued by a woman and the more he gets to know her the more bewitched he is.
However not everything is going as it seems, Charlie finds herself involved in a game of deception. Jace is asking for her trust, but Charlie is torn in several directions and is struggling to do what is right.
Holy moly this was an intense and very seductive read. You are pulled in by Charlie immediately, at first I was not certain I would like the story as it is very descriptive in the beginning with Charlie's thoughts but it works. She can make you feel awkward in her thoughts and has a few cringe worthy moments, but you love her as a character. Jace is a hard but fascinating character. High praise can't wait to read more from this author.
However not everything is going as it seems, Charlie finds herself involved in a game of deception. Jace is asking for her trust, but Charlie is torn in several directions and is struggling to do what is right.
Holy moly this was an intense and very seductive read. You are pulled in by Charlie immediately, at first I was not certain I would like the story as it is very descriptive in the beginning with Charlie's thoughts but it works. She can make you feel awkward in her thoughts and has a few cringe worthy moments, but you love her as a character. Jace is a hard but fascinating character. High praise can't wait to read more from this author.
freebie
May 9, 2015FREEBIE!!! YIPPY - http://amzn.to/1IrvlCn
May 14, 2015
I love it when I read a book and am totally surprised by what I discover in between the pages. I absolutely loved the first book in this series, which has totally unrelated characters and can be read on its own, so you know I was really excited to read this book. My excitement and eagerness was totally justified.
I devoured the book. That's the only explanation I have for how fast I read it. It was like the only speed I had for reading this book was supersonic. The story was that compelling and so where the characters. I absolutely loved Charlie. Charlie is someone one who is a straight shooter. The nuances of life and people totally escape her. She takes everything at face value until she sees otherwise or someone tells her of course. That's not to say she's oblivious, but she's just not hard wired the way the majority of the population is. I liked Jace too. He was a little hard to read, especially initially regarding his intentions towards Charlie. However he seemed to be on the straight and narrow and even when I learned more, my opinion of him didn't change much. I liked how protective he was of Charlie.
There is some violence in the book, but it wasn't too graphic. It enhanced the story as opposed to being gratuitous and superfluous. Of course it's a given with a book featuring organized crime. Speaking of violence, one thing I really didn't like was how Jace and Charlie had sex for the first time. I felt like it wasn't fitting with Jace because he knew Charlie was different and unique, but he treated her badly. While I know being extremely sexually frustrated can mess with your brain, it didn't seem like Jace would've acted the way he did, even being that worked up. One doesn't become the Boss when s/he can't keep control over all urges. Of course I didn't even know they were working their way to having sex. I liked how I was kept guessing about Charlie and Jace being romantically interested and involved. Their interactions never gave much away, even though they always left Charlie hot and bothered.
Lesley Young has done a fantastic job at giving readers a story with a new twist and that would be Charlie. I've mentioned previously Charlie is a straight shooter and so very literal. This is the first time I've read of a main female protagonist having anything like Asperger syndrome. Now it's not said directly she has this austism spectrum disorder, but I have medical knowledge and the signs she showed were definitely related to this disorder. That totally blew my mind in a good way. It made me love this book even more. I can't wait to see how I'm blown away by the next book in this series. It'll be sometime before it's available, but the waiting will be worth it!
I devoured the book. That's the only explanation I have for how fast I read it. It was like the only speed I had for reading this book was supersonic. The story was that compelling and so where the characters. I absolutely loved Charlie. Charlie is someone one who is a straight shooter. The nuances of life and people totally escape her. She takes everything at face value until she sees otherwise or someone tells her of course. That's not to say she's oblivious, but she's just not hard wired the way the majority of the population is. I liked Jace too. He was a little hard to read, especially initially regarding his intentions towards Charlie. However he seemed to be on the straight and narrow and even when I learned more, my opinion of him didn't change much. I liked how protective he was of Charlie.
There is some violence in the book, but it wasn't too graphic. It enhanced the story as opposed to being gratuitous and superfluous. Of course it's a given with a book featuring organized crime. Speaking of violence, one thing I really didn't like was how Jace and Charlie had sex for the first time. I felt like it wasn't fitting with Jace because he knew Charlie was different and unique, but he treated her badly. While I know being extremely sexually frustrated can mess with your brain, it didn't seem like Jace would've acted the way he did, even being that worked up. One doesn't become the Boss when s/he can't keep control over all urges. Of course I didn't even know they were working their way to having sex. I liked how I was kept guessing about Charlie and Jace being romantically interested and involved. Their interactions never gave much away, even though they always left Charlie hot and bothered.
Lesley Young has done a fantastic job at giving readers a story with a new twist and that would be Charlie. I've mentioned previously Charlie is a straight shooter and so very literal. This is the first time I've read of a main female protagonist having anything like Asperger syndrome. Now it's not said directly she has this austism spectrum disorder, but I have medical knowledge and the signs she showed were definitely related to this disorder. That totally blew my mind in a good way. It made me love this book even more. I can't wait to see how I'm blown away by the next book in this series. It'll be sometime before it's available, but the waiting will be worth it!
Want to read
March 1, 2015#Omigah! I want this sooo HARD!!
Charlie Sykes relies on her high IQ to navigate the bafflements of life including people’s incessant irrational behavior—just barely. When her mother passes, she moves to Sydney, Australia, where she intends to pursue the conventional rites of passage every young American girl deserves, namely, landing a fulfilling job, finding a home to call one’s own, and partnering with a caring life mate.
Mr. (Jace) Knight, international hotelier and reputed playboy, has never met anyone like the absurdly blunt, relentlessly literal, and obliviously sexy brunette who applies for his personal assistant position. It doesn’t take him long to realize how much he likes her quirky charms and her vulnerability.
The trouble is Jace isn’t the only one fixed on her. Seems his history—as the head of Australia’s leading criminal organization—may not be behind him. Charlie soon finds herself immersed in a world of international espionage—from the hip city of Sydney to the majesty of the Great Barrier Reef to the wild Aussie outback—while a dangerous trap’s being set. But how on earth can Charlie sort out a matter of betrayal, when she can’t even account for the strange way Mr. Knight makes her feel?
READER WARNING: This novel contains explicit sex.
Charlie Sykes relies on her high IQ to navigate the bafflements of life including people’s incessant irrational behavior—just barely. When her mother passes, she moves to Sydney, Australia, where she intends to pursue the conventional rites of passage every young American girl deserves, namely, landing a fulfilling job, finding a home to call one’s own, and partnering with a caring life mate.
Mr. (Jace) Knight, international hotelier and reputed playboy, has never met anyone like the absurdly blunt, relentlessly literal, and obliviously sexy brunette who applies for his personal assistant position. It doesn’t take him long to realize how much he likes her quirky charms and her vulnerability.
The trouble is Jace isn’t the only one fixed on her. Seems his history—as the head of Australia’s leading criminal organization—may not be behind him. Charlie soon finds herself immersed in a world of international espionage—from the hip city of Sydney to the majesty of the Great Barrier Reef to the wild Aussie outback—while a dangerous trap’s being set. But how on earth can Charlie sort out a matter of betrayal, when she can’t even account for the strange way Mr. Knight makes her feel?
READER WARNING: This novel contains explicit sex.
April 2, 2015
Engaging read. Stayed up late to finish. The first half good. The middle a bit dull. The ending good.
Hero is badass former mafia. Heroine is an analytical genious who flees to Australia after her mother dies.
The hero and heroine really connect. I enjoyed their differences...he a street smart Aussie and her a smart American who isn't good at emotions.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
Hero is badass former mafia. Heroine is an analytical genious who flees to Australia after her mother dies.
The hero and heroine really connect. I enjoyed their differences...he a street smart Aussie and her a smart American who isn't good at emotions.
I look forward to reading more from this author.
December 16, 2015
x stars.
This review also appears on Pretty Sassy Cool.
I liked The Australian a bit more than I liked The Frenchman .
Following the death of her drug addict mother, Charlie Sykes sells off their trailer and heads to the land down under to start fresh. She's practical to the point of driving people away and finds herself lonely. After a few weeks in Sydney, Charlie finally lands a job, working as a personal assistant to self-made billionaire Jace Knight. She's up front about her strict convictions for a non-fraternization policy when she takes the job.
It isn't long before those convictions are tested and Charlie finds herself falling into bed with--and falling for--her boss. Meanwhile, she finds out that he could be involved in some underhanded dealings and is asked to spy on him. But where will her loyalties lie when she's put to the test?
Though there were some annoying things about Charlie, I liked her a lot more than I liked Fleur. Her reason for being in Australia and the situation she found herself in was far more authentic. Her clinical way of looking at things got old, but she definitely grew as a character, and I was rooting for her.
Jace was intriguing from the very beginning. He was loyal, funny, and protective. And pretty hot.
I really liked that though their situation was not black and white, Jace saw what he had to do and did it. He was mysterious and downright chivalrous. I respected him, which is more than I can say for a lot of characters.
What didn't I like? First of all, I think the cover is hot. But it's not really representative of the story. Or maybe I just didn't get it. Also, the blog tour banner? Don't look at that--because this guy is not your typical cowboy. Also, though Charlie's antics made sense to me, she did get on my nerves.
I felt like for someone so black and white, she should have been able to do a better job than she did. She lacked emotion and felt stuffy, and I had a hard time connecting with her.
Jace made up for that, though.
I know the next book in the series is entitled The American, and I'm excited to read that one, too. I just wish all of these books would somehow tie together.
Like I said in my review of The Frenchman , I was disappointed that we didn't see any of the characters from that book here, but there are some similarities--mafia ties, a bit of mystery, and virgins. If you're looking for a mafia romance with international espionage, travel, and a hot Australian bloke, then definitely check out The Australian by Lesley Young.
--
For more reviews and bookish talk, visit our blog at Pretty Sassy Cool
This review also appears on Pretty Sassy Cool.
I liked The Australian a bit more than I liked The Frenchman .
Following the death of her drug addict mother, Charlie Sykes sells off their trailer and heads to the land down under to start fresh. She's practical to the point of driving people away and finds herself lonely. After a few weeks in Sydney, Charlie finally lands a job, working as a personal assistant to self-made billionaire Jace Knight. She's up front about her strict convictions for a non-fraternization policy when she takes the job.
"You'll find, Mr. Knoght, I am not most women."
After a moment, he murmured, "No I see that."
It isn't long before those convictions are tested and Charlie finds herself falling into bed with--and falling for--her boss. Meanwhile, she finds out that he could be involved in some underhanded dealings and is asked to spy on him. But where will her loyalties lie when she's put to the test?
Though there were some annoying things about Charlie, I liked her a lot more than I liked Fleur. Her reason for being in Australia and the situation she found herself in was far more authentic. Her clinical way of looking at things got old, but she definitely grew as a character, and I was rooting for her.
Jace was intriguing from the very beginning. He was loyal, funny, and protective. And pretty hot.
"Right, now just relax right, get used to me," he uttered hoarsely, curling over me, and between kisses on my neck, added, "Because I hope to be there a lot."
I really liked that though their situation was not black and white, Jace saw what he had to do and did it. He was mysterious and downright chivalrous. I respected him, which is more than I can say for a lot of characters.
What didn't I like? First of all, I think the cover is hot. But it's not really representative of the story. Or maybe I just didn't get it. Also, the blog tour banner? Don't look at that--because this guy is not your typical cowboy. Also, though Charlie's antics made sense to me, she did get on my nerves.
He had a good handle on his biological urges to mate.
I felt like for someone so black and white, she should have been able to do a better job than she did. She lacked emotion and felt stuffy, and I had a hard time connecting with her.
Jace made up for that, though.
"You've caught me, ay. I'm yours."
I know the next book in the series is entitled The American, and I'm excited to read that one, too. I just wish all of these books would somehow tie together.
Like I said in my review of The Frenchman , I was disappointed that we didn't see any of the characters from that book here, but there are some similarities--mafia ties, a bit of mystery, and virgins. If you're looking for a mafia romance with international espionage, travel, and a hot Australian bloke, then definitely check out The Australian by Lesley Young.
--
For more reviews and bookish talk, visit our blog at Pretty Sassy Cool
April 1, 2015
I think is not a secret that I am a huge fan of Lesley Young, I love her books, her writing and herself as she is an amazing person. I had the amazing privilege of reading The Frenchman a while ago and I was utterly thrilled with the new direction she took as an author. I thought she couldn´t surpass her previous books but I was wrong because she did it again. I was completely knock out when I started reading The Australian, I was hooked from the very beginning!
The Australian is a book full of secrets and mysteries where nothing is what is seems. I literally couldn´t put the book down! You will need a whole night to read it because I can assure you that you won´t be able to put it down. At first what caught my attention was the growing romance but I have to say in the end I needed to know what the secrets behind the plot were, I was biting my nails and reading as fast as I could to discover it. Lesley Young created such a twisted plot, in a very good way, that you won´t see it coming. This story consumed me since I started it, I finished it in one day.
I have always wanted to go to Australia, it has so many places to visit and is so far away from Spain that has that exotic appeal. Plus Australia is the home of some seriously hot male specimens aka the Hemsworth brothers. I mean Thor is from down there! It is utterly clear that Young has made an intense research about the country and its language. I have spent an amazing time reading a story that has also taught me useful words!
I loved how the author managed to create a multi-faceted story. It has romance, mystery, sexiness, struggle, suspense, danger, hope and happiness all woven together to create a tale that will grip your heart and mind in a delirious embrace. The Australian is an ardent, sexy and suspenseful page turner with unforgettable characters. Jace Knight *sight*, just the name is sexy, is a wealthy businessman with a shady past who is trying to get the future he always wanted. At least that´s what he thought till Charlie came into his life with her logic and all of his plans took a completely new direction. I really loved Charlie, I think she has become one of my favorite female characters of all times. She is just so special with all of her logic, I loved being in her mind and getting to know her. Her interactions with Jace were just hilarious, I loved every word in them. She was so socially awkward that I sometimes felt identified with her because life would be much easier if everybody really said things directly. Truth is a powerful weapon and I wasn´t totally convinced of it till I read The Australian. I really liked Jace, he was powerful without being utterly dominant and Charlie was just perfect for him, she was strong and brave and knew how to face him.
I loved that we kind of get to know more members of the Crime Royalty series, I still hope there will be a Spaniard in their gang (one can always hope, right?) If you hate those books were you already know from the very beginning how things are going to go, then The Australian in for you because you won´t see anything coming! It is full of twists, mysteries, secrets and of course scorching hot scenes. A wickedly absorbing must-read! Can´t wait to read The American!
The Australian is a book full of secrets and mysteries where nothing is what is seems. I literally couldn´t put the book down! You will need a whole night to read it because I can assure you that you won´t be able to put it down. At first what caught my attention was the growing romance but I have to say in the end I needed to know what the secrets behind the plot were, I was biting my nails and reading as fast as I could to discover it. Lesley Young created such a twisted plot, in a very good way, that you won´t see it coming. This story consumed me since I started it, I finished it in one day.
I have always wanted to go to Australia, it has so many places to visit and is so far away from Spain that has that exotic appeal. Plus Australia is the home of some seriously hot male specimens aka the Hemsworth brothers. I mean Thor is from down there! It is utterly clear that Young has made an intense research about the country and its language. I have spent an amazing time reading a story that has also taught me useful words!
I loved how the author managed to create a multi-faceted story. It has romance, mystery, sexiness, struggle, suspense, danger, hope and happiness all woven together to create a tale that will grip your heart and mind in a delirious embrace. The Australian is an ardent, sexy and suspenseful page turner with unforgettable characters. Jace Knight *sight*, just the name is sexy, is a wealthy businessman with a shady past who is trying to get the future he always wanted. At least that´s what he thought till Charlie came into his life with her logic and all of his plans took a completely new direction. I really loved Charlie, I think she has become one of my favorite female characters of all times. She is just so special with all of her logic, I loved being in her mind and getting to know her. Her interactions with Jace were just hilarious, I loved every word in them. She was so socially awkward that I sometimes felt identified with her because life would be much easier if everybody really said things directly. Truth is a powerful weapon and I wasn´t totally convinced of it till I read The Australian. I really liked Jace, he was powerful without being utterly dominant and Charlie was just perfect for him, she was strong and brave and knew how to face him.
I loved that we kind of get to know more members of the Crime Royalty series, I still hope there will be a Spaniard in their gang (one can always hope, right?) If you hate those books were you already know from the very beginning how things are going to go, then The Australian in for you because you won´t see anything coming! It is full of twists, mysteries, secrets and of course scorching hot scenes. A wickedly absorbing must-read! Can´t wait to read The American!
April 27, 2015
GENRE: Romance
THEME: Erotica, Contemporary
RECEIVED: Author
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
After reading The Frenchman I couldn’t wait to dig into the next installment. Lesley Young has a way of creating intense bad alpha males and making the readers fall for the guy. Yes, they are normally overbearing and secretive but they are sexy as hell and have a soft spot for sweet girls. This bad boy is even more intense than the first and in all the right ways.
The Australian follows quirky Charlie Sykes, a young woman who is looking to start over in Australia after the death of her mother. Socially awkward and truthful, Charlie stands out among the other interviewees for Jace Knight. He is charmed by how literal she is and knows she can be of great value to him. But Charlie isnt prepared for stepping into Jaces’ world, his past is known to have many criminal connection and it seems Charlie is now apart of it.
Charlie is cringe worthy awkward sometimes, but I found it hilarious how literal she was about every darn thing. She was a tough one to understand sometimes and I did get frustrated with her because she just didn’t understand a lot of normal conversations. But her literal sense made for some funny moments with Jace because he was shocked half the time with her comments. Charlie is super innocent, she grew up in a tough environment and her social life has never been great except for her one friend back in the states. I adored her devotion to not allowing to be given things as gifts and wanting to earn her way. She starts to mature more threw the story, learning from Jace, wanting to understand his way of thinking and learning about their connection. In the end she grew on me and her trust in Jaces’ innocents, even though she was being told he was the enemy, had me liking her more and more.
Jace has quite the reputation, being a criminal and ladies man makes it hard for him to trust people. When he meets the very unusual Charlie there is something about her that sparks something in him. He wants to trust her and can see she is running from something. He’s living a life with criminal connections but wants to put that in the past and move forward with his company. Unfortunately his past isn’t easy to get rid of and he has “allies” and the government who are after him. Charlie is innocent in all of this but he needs her for many reasons. I loved how sweet he was with her even in the craziest of situations. Charlie is put in a tough spot and he needs to see where her trust lies and hes hoping its with him.
Overall this was an intense rollercoaster of espionage and romance, I loved the steaminess of the couple but also the secrets that were all revealed slowly throughout. I wasn’t sure how it was all going to unfold and I hoped that Charlie would make the right decision in the end. The story was fast paced through and though, never a moment of dullness but all humor, smoking hot romance and surprising twist and turns. I cant wait to see what young comes up with next in this addicting series.
THEME: Erotica, Contemporary
RECEIVED: Author
BLOG: http://seeingnight.blogspot.com/
REVIEW:
After reading The Frenchman I couldn’t wait to dig into the next installment. Lesley Young has a way of creating intense bad alpha males and making the readers fall for the guy. Yes, they are normally overbearing and secretive but they are sexy as hell and have a soft spot for sweet girls. This bad boy is even more intense than the first and in all the right ways.
The Australian follows quirky Charlie Sykes, a young woman who is looking to start over in Australia after the death of her mother. Socially awkward and truthful, Charlie stands out among the other interviewees for Jace Knight. He is charmed by how literal she is and knows she can be of great value to him. But Charlie isnt prepared for stepping into Jaces’ world, his past is known to have many criminal connection and it seems Charlie is now apart of it.
Charlie is cringe worthy awkward sometimes, but I found it hilarious how literal she was about every darn thing. She was a tough one to understand sometimes and I did get frustrated with her because she just didn’t understand a lot of normal conversations. But her literal sense made for some funny moments with Jace because he was shocked half the time with her comments. Charlie is super innocent, she grew up in a tough environment and her social life has never been great except for her one friend back in the states. I adored her devotion to not allowing to be given things as gifts and wanting to earn her way. She starts to mature more threw the story, learning from Jace, wanting to understand his way of thinking and learning about their connection. In the end she grew on me and her trust in Jaces’ innocents, even though she was being told he was the enemy, had me liking her more and more.
Jace has quite the reputation, being a criminal and ladies man makes it hard for him to trust people. When he meets the very unusual Charlie there is something about her that sparks something in him. He wants to trust her and can see she is running from something. He’s living a life with criminal connections but wants to put that in the past and move forward with his company. Unfortunately his past isn’t easy to get rid of and he has “allies” and the government who are after him. Charlie is innocent in all of this but he needs her for many reasons. I loved how sweet he was with her even in the craziest of situations. Charlie is put in a tough spot and he needs to see where her trust lies and hes hoping its with him.
Overall this was an intense rollercoaster of espionage and romance, I loved the steaminess of the couple but also the secrets that were all revealed slowly throughout. I wasn’t sure how it was all going to unfold and I hoped that Charlie would make the right decision in the end. The story was fast paced through and though, never a moment of dullness but all humor, smoking hot romance and surprising twist and turns. I cant wait to see what young comes up with next in this addicting series.
May 2, 2015
5 stars / 3 flames
I don't give many 5-star reviews (only 5 out of 125 books to date this year). So you know when I do give a 5-star, I really enjoyed the book. And I really really enjoyed this book, mainly due to our quirky female lead character, Charlie Sykes. She is my favorite female character of the year so far.
Charlie suffers from Pervasive Development Disorder... which seems a bit like Asperger's to me. She has trouble with social clues and deciphering emotions. This makes Charlie a very literal, logical and straight-forward person. I loved the way her mind worked - and I think we would get along very well. I felt very protective of her throughout the whole book, so I was absolutely livid at these law enforcement officers who were putting her through the ringer. I wanted to throttle them! And since I work in the same field, that is saying something. Charlie was obviously not equipped to deal with the situations they were putting her in - and they knew it. She is such a different sort of lead character than we usually see in contemporary romance, it was refreshing to have someone so unique and endearing.
Jace Knight (great name) is our anti-hero, a rich bad boy trying to go straight and doing that the best way he knew how. You can tell that Jace has never met anyone like Charlie, and he is captivated by her from their first meeting. He was also very protective of her, and I loved him for that (even though he did trick her a couple times). I could not fault anything with their relationship - the pacing worked well with the story and Jace seemed to honestly care about Charlie.
The "villains" in the story are who we usually think of as good guys - intelligence agents and international law enforcement. Working in this field, I cringed at the actions these people were taking. I can only hope people in my agency would never conduct themselves in this fashion.
Overall, The Australian was a breath of fresh air. I recommend it to fans of contemporary romance who are in a reading slump, or are looking for something different than the standard, often annoying, new adult heroines pervading the genre at the moment.
See full review at http://bambi-unbridled.blogspot.com.
I don't give many 5-star reviews (only 5 out of 125 books to date this year). So you know when I do give a 5-star, I really enjoyed the book. And I really really enjoyed this book, mainly due to our quirky female lead character, Charlie Sykes. She is my favorite female character of the year so far.
Charlie suffers from Pervasive Development Disorder... which seems a bit like Asperger's to me. She has trouble with social clues and deciphering emotions. This makes Charlie a very literal, logical and straight-forward person. I loved the way her mind worked - and I think we would get along very well. I felt very protective of her throughout the whole book, so I was absolutely livid at these law enforcement officers who were putting her through the ringer. I wanted to throttle them! And since I work in the same field, that is saying something. Charlie was obviously not equipped to deal with the situations they were putting her in - and they knew it. She is such a different sort of lead character than we usually see in contemporary romance, it was refreshing to have someone so unique and endearing.
I do not believe it is appropriate or professional to engage in coitus with one's employer.
Arousal was not a mental disorder.
Jace Knight (great name) is our anti-hero, a rich bad boy trying to go straight and doing that the best way he knew how. You can tell that Jace has never met anyone like Charlie, and he is captivated by her from their first meeting. He was also very protective of her, and I loved him for that (even though he did trick her a couple times). I could not fault anything with their relationship - the pacing worked well with the story and Jace seemed to honestly care about Charlie.
The "villains" in the story are who we usually think of as good guys - intelligence agents and international law enforcement. Working in this field, I cringed at the actions these people were taking. I can only hope people in my agency would never conduct themselves in this fashion.
Overall, The Australian was a breath of fresh air. I recommend it to fans of contemporary romance who are in a reading slump, or are looking for something different than the standard, often annoying, new adult heroines pervading the genre at the moment.
See full review at http://bambi-unbridled.blogspot.com.
June 28, 2015
Check out more of my reviews on my blog http://gemmareadstoomuch.co.uk
4.5 Stars
The Australian is book #2 in the Crime Royalty series, I was lucky enough to be gifted a copy of this book to read for Gemma Reads Too Much.
I LOVED The Frenchman so I went straight onto The Australian with seriously high expectations.
Well The Australian is a completely different kettle of fish but it’s equally brilliant.
Charlie, god what to even say about Charlie??? Well she’s basically the female Sheldon Cooper!!! She’s socially awkward, a bit weird, sheltered and I adored her!!!
She’s blunt to the point of rude, but she’s so innocently sweet that I found her incredibly endearing. This book was like a journey of discovery for her, she grew as a person and allowed herself to explore her emotions and try to understand other people to a greater level.
Charlie is one of the most unusual female characters I’ve ever read in a romance novel. The way Lesley Young has written her is brilliant, her ‘voice’ is robotic and monotone like shes emotionless but in her own strange way she feels things very deeply. The writing in this book is flawless I felt like I understood Charlie’s confusion about people and relationships, I felt her struggle but also her intelligence and the complexity of these new emotions to her.
I really liked Jace, he never once made Charlie feel bad about her quirks, in fact I think he really liked them. Jace really was a tricky one; he’s super intelligent but so controlled he manages to keep everyone on the back foot.
This book is incredibly awkward, their relationship is so weird but it’s also incredibly beautiful. The way that Charlie and Jace interact is simplified to a point where they spell out their feelings for each other.
The sub plot of espionage, crime and violence runs underneath the surface of this story, and I was almost as drawn to who was spying on who and who was betraying who as I was to the love story.
This book in unconventional, weird and kind of perfect.
I loved that Charlie and Jace get a happy ending and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
The Australian gets 4.5 Stars from me.
4.5 Stars
The Australian is book #2 in the Crime Royalty series, I was lucky enough to be gifted a copy of this book to read for Gemma Reads Too Much.
I LOVED The Frenchman so I went straight onto The Australian with seriously high expectations.
Well The Australian is a completely different kettle of fish but it’s equally brilliant.
Charlie, god what to even say about Charlie??? Well she’s basically the female Sheldon Cooper!!! She’s socially awkward, a bit weird, sheltered and I adored her!!!
She’s blunt to the point of rude, but she’s so innocently sweet that I found her incredibly endearing. This book was like a journey of discovery for her, she grew as a person and allowed herself to explore her emotions and try to understand other people to a greater level.
Charlie is one of the most unusual female characters I’ve ever read in a romance novel. The way Lesley Young has written her is brilliant, her ‘voice’ is robotic and monotone like shes emotionless but in her own strange way she feels things very deeply. The writing in this book is flawless I felt like I understood Charlie’s confusion about people and relationships, I felt her struggle but also her intelligence and the complexity of these new emotions to her.
I really liked Jace, he never once made Charlie feel bad about her quirks, in fact I think he really liked them. Jace really was a tricky one; he’s super intelligent but so controlled he manages to keep everyone on the back foot.
This book is incredibly awkward, their relationship is so weird but it’s also incredibly beautiful. The way that Charlie and Jace interact is simplified to a point where they spell out their feelings for each other.
The sub plot of espionage, crime and violence runs underneath the surface of this story, and I was almost as drawn to who was spying on who and who was betraying who as I was to the love story.
This book in unconventional, weird and kind of perfect.
I loved that Charlie and Jace get a happy ending and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
The Australian gets 4.5 Stars from me.
June 24, 2015
Charlie Sykes needs to leave the past behind and Australia is just the place to start fresh. Now all she needs is to find a job and place to live. The only problem is that it's not so easy when you take everything literally, are brutally honest, and struggle with social interaction. Things finally start coming together for Charlie when she applies for a position at Jace Knight's company. Unfortunately for her, things begin to get complicated just as quickly as they came together.
Charlie is forced into spying on her new employer, an alleged crime boss, or face deportation. As her feelings for Jace grow, so does the risk to both her safety and her heart. Will Charlie be able to keep herself in Australia without betraying Jace? As she gets deeper involved will she find out more than she bargained for? Is Jace the man who can break through her walls?
Lesley Young has created interesting and unique characters. Charlie is naïve, socially awkward, yet brilliant. The way Young wrote this book allowed us to get a glimpse into Charlie's head. At first I had a hard time connecting with her but the more I read the more I was able to understand her character. I loved that she wasn't perfect, that she wanted so badly to understand those around her, and that she tried very hard to do so. She is quite an endearing character.
Jace is sexy, charismatic, powerful, and mysterious. I enjoyed the way he was with Charlie as well as the progression of their relationship.
Young created an intriguing storyline, weaving in a bit of mystery and suspense to an already solid romance. I was so engaged and invested in the story and characters, I needed to see what was going to happen next. This was a great follow up to The Frenchman and I'm curious to see what Lesley Young comes out with next!!
~Erin
Charlie is forced into spying on her new employer, an alleged crime boss, or face deportation. As her feelings for Jace grow, so does the risk to both her safety and her heart. Will Charlie be able to keep herself in Australia without betraying Jace? As she gets deeper involved will she find out more than she bargained for? Is Jace the man who can break through her walls?
Lesley Young has created interesting and unique characters. Charlie is naïve, socially awkward, yet brilliant. The way Young wrote this book allowed us to get a glimpse into Charlie's head. At first I had a hard time connecting with her but the more I read the more I was able to understand her character. I loved that she wasn't perfect, that she wanted so badly to understand those around her, and that she tried very hard to do so. She is quite an endearing character.
Jace is sexy, charismatic, powerful, and mysterious. I enjoyed the way he was with Charlie as well as the progression of their relationship.
Young created an intriguing storyline, weaving in a bit of mystery and suspense to an already solid romance. I was so engaged and invested in the story and characters, I needed to see what was going to happen next. This was a great follow up to The Frenchman and I'm curious to see what Lesley Young comes out with next!!
~Erin
March 30, 2015
I love me some bad boy romance, but crime romance? That is a new one for me, however like a trooper, i delved in and emersed myself in all things Jace Knight (such a tough job! ;) ). We meet Charlie as she has fled her home, and is just about to take her first interview, as an assitant to Jace Knight. Charlie is not entierly sure about the job, as she was never given much information and its not a field she has experience in.
Charlie is socially awkward, she says what she thinks and takes most things at face value. A trait which i didnt think would work in this context, but it did - something about it was refreshing. She was slightly naive, and i was all but set to dislike her, but then - i didnt. I loved her, she was sweet and trying her best to cope with emotions she had never expierenced.
Jace, is everything i love in a bad boy , brooding, sexy and all consuming. There is more to him, it feels like there is so many secrets kept from us. I was never sure if i could trust him, but that didnt mean i didn't swoon badly for him straight away.
This book was fast paced, packed with drama, crime and a whole bunch of other stuff, it took billionaire romance to that next level, it gave it more, it went darker than usual, and the characters were refreshingly different.
Charlie is socially awkward, she says what she thinks and takes most things at face value. A trait which i didnt think would work in this context, but it did - something about it was refreshing. She was slightly naive, and i was all but set to dislike her, but then - i didnt. I loved her, she was sweet and trying her best to cope with emotions she had never expierenced.
Jace, is everything i love in a bad boy , brooding, sexy and all consuming. There is more to him, it feels like there is so many secrets kept from us. I was never sure if i could trust him, but that didnt mean i didn't swoon badly for him straight away.
This book was fast paced, packed with drama, crime and a whole bunch of other stuff, it took billionaire romance to that next level, it gave it more, it went darker than usual, and the characters were refreshingly different.
April 22, 2015
Well, Ms. Young has done it again! After reading "The Frenchman" and thoroughly enjoying that, I was hoping "The Australian" would live up to my expectations. Well, it did and went beyond! Charlie, our heroine, is a bit dorky - says what she thinks and feels. She's a bit out of her element when she becomes Jace's assistant but, being a really smart woman, she takes on the challenge. Jace is a bit of a mystery, but even so, he could make any female melt! The story is told from Charlie's POV, so getting to know Jace is limited to what Charlie shares with the reads. That's one thing I would love - to hear the story from his POV. I can only imagine his thoughts about Charlie!! Ms. Young has done a fantastic job of writing a tale that has love and romance, mystery and crime, and still makes you smile. This series is one that I would highly recommend if you enjoy dark, sexy and brooding bad boys with sweet, innocent yet smart heroines. I know, for me, I cannot wait until Ms. Young takes us on another journey of intrigue and romance! (received copy for honest review)
March 30, 2015
5 Massive Stars
Quite possibly the best book I've read this year.. I could not put it down. There is so much mystery and unknown that is played up in the story. I need me some more Jace Knight... I loved him!!! Charlie too, but she was a bit frustrating at first at her lack of common sense, but as the story progressed, we really saw her develop and change.
Is Jace into illegal activities? Does he know about what is going on with Charlie? Oh the farther you get, the harder it is to put down!!!
Not to mention the naughty scenes are pretty good... and I have to say absolutely the best virginity losing scene I've read in a book so far.
And since it is about an Australian, I have to say it very well fits into the role. The language, the slang, the behaviors it is perfect!! Well done!
Can't wait for the next one!!
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Quite possibly the best book I've read this year.. I could not put it down. There is so much mystery and unknown that is played up in the story. I need me some more Jace Knight... I loved him!!! Charlie too, but she was a bit frustrating at first at her lack of common sense, but as the story progressed, we really saw her develop and change.
Is Jace into illegal activities? Does he know about what is going on with Charlie? Oh the farther you get, the harder it is to put down!!!
Not to mention the naughty scenes are pretty good... and I have to say absolutely the best virginity losing scene I've read in a book so far.
And since it is about an Australian, I have to say it very well fits into the role. The language, the slang, the behaviors it is perfect!! Well done!
Can't wait for the next one!!
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
May 6, 2015
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads
I really enjoyed the first in this series - The Frenchman - and this one is also a hit with me. They are standalone, but really they are both good reads, so do check out the first when you can.
It is very difficult to write convincingly from the viewpoint of someone who has emotional blind spots, but I think Ms Young did a very good job. I found I had to read much more slowly than I normally would, as the expected outcomes didn't happen, but I enjoyed it a lot. Throw in some espionage, some unexpected chemistry and the pleasures that come from having limitless funds, and the result is an engaging read.
I wonder where Ms Young will take us next, for more shady dealings, but hot, hot romance?
I really enjoyed the first in this series - The Frenchman - and this one is also a hit with me. They are standalone, but really they are both good reads, so do check out the first when you can.
It is very difficult to write convincingly from the viewpoint of someone who has emotional blind spots, but I think Ms Young did a very good job. I found I had to read much more slowly than I normally would, as the expected outcomes didn't happen, but I enjoyed it a lot. Throw in some espionage, some unexpected chemistry and the pleasures that come from having limitless funds, and the result is an engaging read.
I wonder where Ms Young will take us next, for more shady dealings, but hot, hot romance?
March 31, 2015
This story follows along the lines of the first book The Frenchman, only
it takes place in Australia.
There is plenty of action and intrigue along with the quirky way Charlie is written, which
gives an endearing quality to her. I found myself laughing at how she rationalizes situations.
Jace is just the ultimate alpha male without being overdone.
Combined with plenty of Aussie slang, the book really captures the spirit of Oz.
Overall Jace and Charlie are the perfect couple that compliment each other.
Don't miss this book or the series !
it takes place in Australia.
There is plenty of action and intrigue along with the quirky way Charlie is written, which
gives an endearing quality to her. I found myself laughing at how she rationalizes situations.
Jace is just the ultimate alpha male without being overdone.
Combined with plenty of Aussie slang, the book really captures the spirit of Oz.
Overall Jace and Charlie are the perfect couple that compliment each other.
Don't miss this book or the series !
July 13, 2015
I felt like cheering for Charlie. It seem the more you read the more she was attempting to come out of her shell. Okay story line was a bit far fetch but intriguing just the same. I truly believed until almost the end that the ASIS agent was a load of crap. His idea was a business card. That was nice twist. In the end i was happy I finished the entire read.
April 12, 2015
Loved the frenchman. This female lead was just not my type but I can't wait for the next one
March 31, 2015
I loved "The Australian"! I rarely give five stars- but the author just delivers such unique, strong stories within the genres I love. Yes- there are definitely romance-genre tropes, but she uses them cleverly, and often subtly turns them on their head.
Take our heroine Charlie, for example, she should be the prototypical romance heroine cliche, she's unbelievably gorgeous yet unaffected by her looks, she's naive, innocent and a virgin- yet a total sexpot and wild woman for the right guy. This should make you roll your eyes- it's 2015 after all, and she's in her early twenties! Yet the author makes Charlie into a totally believable and very sympathetic person. Charlie is a savant with a disorder when it comes to social skills. She's brilliant at languages and math, but struggles daily to simply understand the full meaning of others' facial expressions and the tones of their voice. Life would be much simpler for her if everyone would just say what they mean! She's also been trapped by her past for a long time- taking care of a drug addicted mother in their trailer park home. After the death of her mother, Charlie decides to take a leap and start living her life by moving to Australia.
She quickly meets the hero- Mr. Knight (Jace) a former crime-lord trying to turn fully legit. She interviews to become his secretary, (or an "offsider" as they say in Australia!) and he is clearly charmed by her contradictions and no-nonsense attitude. Having the romance told through Charlie's eyes was so unique! Even though Jace is a total alpha, and his tumultuous life would, in a sane world, dominate and take over any lesser heroine's story, Charlie is such a strong and surprising character that even Jace can't keep up at times! Jace is along for the ride with her. Charlie's POV takes some getting used to, but by the end you will absolutely love her, and won't want the story to be over!
Other highlights:
Great writing -- Young clearly has done her location research, and she seamlessly shows us a snapshot of Australia, from the ocean to the desert. Even better than her description of place- was her portrayal of Australian characters. They aren't just Americans with accents. Lol! The dialogue and accents were especially good!) The action was also amazing! There is an extra added layer of suspense to this book, which I found quite interesting, because we are truly experiencing everything through Charlie's eyes. Charlie has a totally unique perspective, and interprets things differently. So you're not quite sure if she's got the right idea or not. There were plenty of surprises by the end, as Charlie is pulled into Jace's struggle to escape his former ties to the criminal world.
I'd recommend this for people who enjoy authors like Kresley Cole or maybe Karina Bliss. I am also a huge fan of Lesley's other books. (She has one sci-fi which features a really strong, but flawed heroine and a dash of romance: "Sky's End" and then of course, "The Frenchman" which features another great crime royalty couple.) She is an awesome new author who has exceeded expectations with every book. Plus the books are so cheap on Amazon! It's a crime not to go for it and try them out. :)
Take our heroine Charlie, for example, she should be the prototypical romance heroine cliche, she's unbelievably gorgeous yet unaffected by her looks, she's naive, innocent and a virgin- yet a total sexpot and wild woman for the right guy. This should make you roll your eyes- it's 2015 after all, and she's in her early twenties! Yet the author makes Charlie into a totally believable and very sympathetic person. Charlie is a savant with a disorder when it comes to social skills. She's brilliant at languages and math, but struggles daily to simply understand the full meaning of others' facial expressions and the tones of their voice. Life would be much simpler for her if everyone would just say what they mean! She's also been trapped by her past for a long time- taking care of a drug addicted mother in their trailer park home. After the death of her mother, Charlie decides to take a leap and start living her life by moving to Australia.
She quickly meets the hero- Mr. Knight (Jace) a former crime-lord trying to turn fully legit. She interviews to become his secretary, (or an "offsider" as they say in Australia!) and he is clearly charmed by her contradictions and no-nonsense attitude. Having the romance told through Charlie's eyes was so unique! Even though Jace is a total alpha, and his tumultuous life would, in a sane world, dominate and take over any lesser heroine's story, Charlie is such a strong and surprising character that even Jace can't keep up at times! Jace is along for the ride with her. Charlie's POV takes some getting used to, but by the end you will absolutely love her, and won't want the story to be over!
Other highlights:
Great writing -- Young clearly has done her location research, and she seamlessly shows us a snapshot of Australia, from the ocean to the desert. Even better than her description of place- was her portrayal of Australian characters. They aren't just Americans with accents. Lol! The dialogue and accents were especially good!) The action was also amazing! There is an extra added layer of suspense to this book, which I found quite interesting, because we are truly experiencing everything through Charlie's eyes. Charlie has a totally unique perspective, and interprets things differently. So you're not quite sure if she's got the right idea or not. There were plenty of surprises by the end, as Charlie is pulled into Jace's struggle to escape his former ties to the criminal world.
I'd recommend this for people who enjoy authors like Kresley Cole or maybe Karina Bliss. I am also a huge fan of Lesley's other books. (She has one sci-fi which features a really strong, but flawed heroine and a dash of romance: "Sky's End" and then of course, "The Frenchman" which features another great crime royalty couple.) She is an awesome new author who has exceeded expectations with every book. Plus the books are so cheap on Amazon! It's a crime not to go for it and try them out. :)
April 6, 2015
Charlie Sykes is a beautiful young American who decides to start a new life in Australia after the death of her mother. The highly intelligent and overly literal 24 year old becomes the personal assistant to Jace Knight - a hotelier with a penchant for seducing women. But his playboy reputation is the least of Charlie's worries when she is informed that his business may not be as above board as it seems. So begins the struggle between doing what she must to maintain her safety in her new home - spying on her new boss and reporting anything suspicious - and her intensely growing attraction to Mr Knight.
My opinion of this book, in a word: excellent. It's one of the best chick-lit books I've read in a long time, both in terms of writing and plot. The writing was rather outstanding. Each character had a distinct voice and I was never confused by who was speaking or present. Something I noticed early on was a lack of contractions in the dialogue. Initially, this gnawed at me, as it made the conversations seem stiff and unnatural. Then I realised that only Charlie neglects contractions. With that realisation came a sense of just how well this book was written. Charlie - intelligent, literal Charlie, with limited social and conversational skills - would speak like that. Her dialogue seems unnatural because it would be. Its contrast with the ease of speech present in other characters serves to further remind the reader that Charlie's brain simply doesn't work like theirs.
In terms of plot, it started out fairly predictably: a young girl starts a new job with a gorgeous boss, starts to fall for him, and something comes along to mess it up. That something, however, caused twists and turns throughout the rest of the story. There's no real question of the book will end, but how it comes to that ending is shocking.
The characters in this book were written exceptionally well. Some made me laugh; some shocked me; some made me hate them. But the most impressive part was that they were all believable. I initially thought Charlie might irritate me. I typically find it difficult to like female protagonists and at the beginning I found her a bit too aware of the fact that she's typically the smartest person in the room. As the book progressed, however, I really grew to love her, and even found myself relating to her at many points. Instead of her intelligence seeming obnoxious, its resulting tendency of Charlie being very literal became rather endearing.
Jace was written in a way that blurred the line between trust and suspicion. I was never quite sure if I believed him or not. But I always desperately wanted to.
I felt that the relationship between Charlie and Jace developed in quite a natural way. It never felt rushed or forced, and the sex scenes were exquisitely written. They were sexy and steamy and rather detailed. But they did not feel obscene or too graphic.
All in all, this was just a genuinely good book. Lesley Young has outdone herself.
My opinion of this book, in a word: excellent. It's one of the best chick-lit books I've read in a long time, both in terms of writing and plot. The writing was rather outstanding. Each character had a distinct voice and I was never confused by who was speaking or present. Something I noticed early on was a lack of contractions in the dialogue. Initially, this gnawed at me, as it made the conversations seem stiff and unnatural. Then I realised that only Charlie neglects contractions. With that realisation came a sense of just how well this book was written. Charlie - intelligent, literal Charlie, with limited social and conversational skills - would speak like that. Her dialogue seems unnatural because it would be. Its contrast with the ease of speech present in other characters serves to further remind the reader that Charlie's brain simply doesn't work like theirs.
In terms of plot, it started out fairly predictably: a young girl starts a new job with a gorgeous boss, starts to fall for him, and something comes along to mess it up. That something, however, caused twists and turns throughout the rest of the story. There's no real question of the book will end, but how it comes to that ending is shocking.
The characters in this book were written exceptionally well. Some made me laugh; some shocked me; some made me hate them. But the most impressive part was that they were all believable. I initially thought Charlie might irritate me. I typically find it difficult to like female protagonists and at the beginning I found her a bit too aware of the fact that she's typically the smartest person in the room. As the book progressed, however, I really grew to love her, and even found myself relating to her at many points. Instead of her intelligence seeming obnoxious, its resulting tendency of Charlie being very literal became rather endearing.
Jace was written in a way that blurred the line between trust and suspicion. I was never quite sure if I believed him or not. But I always desperately wanted to.
I felt that the relationship between Charlie and Jace developed in quite a natural way. It never felt rushed or forced, and the sex scenes were exquisitely written. They were sexy and steamy and rather detailed. But they did not feel obscene or too graphic.
All in all, this was just a genuinely good book. Lesley Young has outdone herself.
April 21, 2015
The Australian was a book that surprised me and left me wanting more. It was written like a intense romantic spy movie, one of my favorite kinds of movies, and plunges the reader into a world where you never truly know what is happening as you go along. The Australian presents two very different characters- Charlie, the naive yet brilliant woman and Jace, the alpha hotelier with a past as grey as they come. You put these two characters together, coupled with Jace's past and present ventures, and it makes for quite an entertaining and adrenaline pumping story.
Let’s talk characters. Charlie is a very unusual heroine. She is very intelligent when it comes to certain areas but socially inept when it comes to human interactions. She struggles to understand the social cues and innuendos of the world around her, while attempting to find stability and purpose after her mother’s death. She is a strong woman yet completely vulnerable in what she does not understand. She is kind and honest to a fault. I loved her personality and how she both clashed and melded so well with Jace. Jace is the complete opposite of Charlie in practically every way. His history is shaded in grey, the epitome of a past that one would want to leave behind. He is a man full of honesty yet an enigma as to what his motives are. He is not only stunningly handsome; he is also cunning, always thinking ahead to what is coming. These two should not work but in this story, complete opposites most certainly do attract. Jace brings out the passion and emotion from deep within Charlie. Charlie brings out the good and hope in Jace. They click well and that makes this story great.
Espionage is always a fun theme and this book has it in spades. All throughout this story, as the reader, you are questioning who is good and the hidden motives of basically every character involved in the story. It is fascinating to see how Charlie is swept away in a world that she knows nothing about and then lengths both Charlie and Jace will go to protect the ones they love. This story has it’s slow and sensual moments, but there is a great deal of adrenaline pumping scenes that will leave you on the edge of your seat!
The Australian was a great book full of excitement, second chances, and intrigue. I am excited to see what more Lesley Young has in store for the Crime Royalty Romance series! If you are a fan of high adrenaline stories, hot romances, and when opposites attract then this book is right up your alley! Make sure to check it out.
Let’s talk characters. Charlie is a very unusual heroine. She is very intelligent when it comes to certain areas but socially inept when it comes to human interactions. She struggles to understand the social cues and innuendos of the world around her, while attempting to find stability and purpose after her mother’s death. She is a strong woman yet completely vulnerable in what she does not understand. She is kind and honest to a fault. I loved her personality and how she both clashed and melded so well with Jace. Jace is the complete opposite of Charlie in practically every way. His history is shaded in grey, the epitome of a past that one would want to leave behind. He is a man full of honesty yet an enigma as to what his motives are. He is not only stunningly handsome; he is also cunning, always thinking ahead to what is coming. These two should not work but in this story, complete opposites most certainly do attract. Jace brings out the passion and emotion from deep within Charlie. Charlie brings out the good and hope in Jace. They click well and that makes this story great.
Espionage is always a fun theme and this book has it in spades. All throughout this story, as the reader, you are questioning who is good and the hidden motives of basically every character involved in the story. It is fascinating to see how Charlie is swept away in a world that she knows nothing about and then lengths both Charlie and Jace will go to protect the ones they love. This story has it’s slow and sensual moments, but there is a great deal of adrenaline pumping scenes that will leave you on the edge of your seat!
The Australian was a great book full of excitement, second chances, and intrigue. I am excited to see what more Lesley Young has in store for the Crime Royalty Romance series! If you are a fan of high adrenaline stories, hot romances, and when opposites attract then this book is right up your alley! Make sure to check it out.
May 4, 2015
MY REVIEW! 3.5 STARS
This was my first book from Lesley Young so I wasn't sure what I was going into but excited too! Charlie Sykes is leaving her old life behind and is going to live a dream life over in Australia. If only if it was that easy. She is hoping to get a job to keep her going in Australia and that job just might be as Jace Knights personal assistant. Jace Knight's name is on everybody's lips. Everyone talks about him everyone seems to know him and everyone wants him in one way or another. Jace Knight wants Charlie Sykes but to say she is not like any other woman is an understatement. Charlie just knowing Jace Knight gets both of them caught in a big mess of danger and misconceptions.
Charlie is that character that you will love or hate. I really don't think there will be an in between. She hasn't got a filter, how she voiced things is exactly how she is thinking and for some it will be off putting. Because she speaks how she feels and is honest to a fault , she expects it from everyone around her and maybe that can leave her naive, it's also interesting as well as uncomfortable.
I wanted to so bad to love this. Charlie reminded me of Sheldon Cooper from the big bang theory, and while I love him and he is hilarious I think that's how Charlie should come across and maybe she does for many people. I found it a little uncomfortable, and some people love that, Charlie was an out of the box character, completely different to the norm. It just wasn't for me this time around. I couldn't connect with her, the way she spoke and the way she was, I can't pinpoint what it is about the way she spoke. Yes, it reminded me of historical romance, the way they speak but I enjoy historical romance so it wasn't that. It was more that she was void of any emotion at all. Even when she was by herself, in her own thoughts there was nothing for me to be able to connect to her and I think if we got Jace's POV that would have helped too. Jace was powerful and confident. He was the picture of a bad boy but there was so much to him that we get to unravel throughout the story until the very end. The story was good, these two were an unlikely match, complete opposites yet so attracted to one another and when they were together it was hot. There was also angst, not knowing who or what to trust and which way it was going to end. I wish I could have connected with Charlie- however I will be reading other books by Lesley Young because the story and the writing were very good.
May 18, 2015
This book was an interesting read. The main female character Charlie, is highly intelligent but it hinders her socially. She is extremely literal, she has trouble reading social ques, she is not good with emotions (hers or other peoples), and questions everything. The main male characters Jase is a wealthy business man. Jase is immediately intrigued by Charlie. She says what she is thinking and is blunt. She makes it clear that they will not be sleeping together. Jase has a past that he isn't always proud of but he is trying to get away from it and make a better future for himself. Charlie grew up always taking care of her druggie mother. Now that her mother has died she has decided to move to Australia from America and start over. She is interviewing to be Jase's personal assistant and that is how they meet. Charlie does research on Jase before going to the interview so she knows a little about him and his business. She is quickly pulled into things she has no idea about. Charlie is being told different things by different people she is trying to figure out who to believe. Meanwhile she is also being influenced by her feelings for Jase. Will she figure out who to trust? Can she trust her feeling for Jase not to mislead her?
I liked this book but I disliked how Charlie was constantly second guessing everything. She reminded me a lot of Spenser for the tv show Criminal Minds. She is so intelligent that she has almost no ability for social interaction. She does grow a lot in this book and by the end she finds herself much better off socially. She can finally read people and how they may be feeling and even understands why they may feel that way. Jase was involved in some shady stuff but her wants to get away from that life and make a new future for himself and Charlie. Jase was extremely good with Charlie and her set back socially. He never really pushed her to where she couldn't function but just enough so that she grew and learned. This book was funny at times and frustrating at others. I liked Charlie and disliked her at the same time cause of all the second guessing she did. Sometimes I could understand why and other times not so much. I haven't read the first book in this series but I have added it to my TBR list. Overall this book was a good read and entertaining. The writing was well done and the characters were engaging.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book but I disliked how Charlie was constantly second guessing everything. She reminded me a lot of Spenser for the tv show Criminal Minds. She is so intelligent that she has almost no ability for social interaction. She does grow a lot in this book and by the end she finds herself much better off socially. She can finally read people and how they may be feeling and even understands why they may feel that way. Jase was involved in some shady stuff but her wants to get away from that life and make a new future for himself and Charlie. Jase was extremely good with Charlie and her set back socially. He never really pushed her to where she couldn't function but just enough so that she grew and learned. This book was funny at times and frustrating at others. I liked Charlie and disliked her at the same time cause of all the second guessing she did. Sometimes I could understand why and other times not so much. I haven't read the first book in this series but I have added it to my TBR list. Overall this book was a good read and entertaining. The writing was well done and the characters were engaging.
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 28, 2015
Charlie is a young lady that has just dealt with her mother dying and has decided to pick up and move to Australia for a new start. She has no other family and just a best friend back in the states that she talks to, so moving to Australia is not a big deal for her. Charlie takes her cat with her and that is her most prized possession. Charlie finds a small place and finds a job without too many problems when she gets to Australia. Charlies new boss may be another issue all together for her because Jace stirs feelings within Charlie that she has never felt before. Charlie is a very bright young lady but been hidden away socially seems like. The way that she speaks to Jace and interacts with him will have you shaking your head and wondering where she has been.
Jace is a very wealthy man and has in his past been involved with some mafia/mobster type of business but is trying to turn his life around. When Jace hires Charlie, his life sort of takes a turn other than what he had planned. At first Charlie plays hard to get and Jace respects her wishes, but on the first business trip Charlie goes on with Jace, things change drastically. Charlie practically begs Jace to help her with her release (as she calls it) and Jace warns Charlie that as soon as they cross that bridge, there is no turning back for him. Jace had no idea that Charlie was a virgin but he should have know from some previous comments that Charlie had made. Lesley did a brilliant job writing this virgin scene.
The back and forth of Charlies emotions for Jace send you on a roller coaster ride and you just want to shake her and tell her to wake up!! I wanted Charlie to not run from Jace and to just accept what he was willing to give to her but I guess since she had been so sheltered, everything was pretty much new to her.
I love the way that Lesley wrote Charlies character and made her so likeable in her innocence. Jace was just an Alpha male that made you swoon over him because of his possessiveness of Charlie. Jace was right too, once they crossed that bridge, Charlie was all his. I really enjoy the writing style of Lesley and look forward to many more books from her!!
Jace is a very wealthy man and has in his past been involved with some mafia/mobster type of business but is trying to turn his life around. When Jace hires Charlie, his life sort of takes a turn other than what he had planned. At first Charlie plays hard to get and Jace respects her wishes, but on the first business trip Charlie goes on with Jace, things change drastically. Charlie practically begs Jace to help her with her release (as she calls it) and Jace warns Charlie that as soon as they cross that bridge, there is no turning back for him. Jace had no idea that Charlie was a virgin but he should have know from some previous comments that Charlie had made. Lesley did a brilliant job writing this virgin scene.
The back and forth of Charlies emotions for Jace send you on a roller coaster ride and you just want to shake her and tell her to wake up!! I wanted Charlie to not run from Jace and to just accept what he was willing to give to her but I guess since she had been so sheltered, everything was pretty much new to her.
I love the way that Lesley wrote Charlies character and made her so likeable in her innocence. Jace was just an Alpha male that made you swoon over him because of his possessiveness of Charlie. Jace was right too, once they crossed that bridge, Charlie was all his. I really enjoy the writing style of Lesley and look forward to many more books from her!!
May 1, 2015
Charlie Sykes needs to leave the past behind and Australia is just the place to start fresh. Now all she needs is to find a job and place to live. The only problem is that it's not so easy when you take everything literally, are brutally honest, and struggle with social interaction. Things finally start coming together for Charlie when she applies for a position at Jace Knight's company. Unfortunately for her, things begin to get complicated just as quickly as they came together.
Charlie is forced into spying on her new employer, an alleged crime boss, or face deportation. As her feelings for Jace grow, so does the risk to both her safety and her heart. Will Charlie be able to keep herself in Australia without betraying Jace? As she gets deeper involved will she find out more than she bargained for? Is Jace the man who can break through her walls?
Lesley Young has created interesting and unique characters. Charlie is naïve, socially awkward, yet brilliant. The way Young wrote this book allowed us to get a glimpse into Charlie's head. At first I had a hard time connecting with her but the more I read the more I was able to understand her character. I loved that she wasn't perfect, that she wanted so badly to understand those around her, and that she tried very hard to do so. She is quite an endearing character.
Jace is sexy, charismatic, powerful, and mysterious. I enjoyed the way he was with Charlie as well as the progression of their relationship.
Young created an intriguing storyline, weaving in a bit of mystery and suspense to an already solid romance. I was so engaged and invested in the story and characters, I needed to see what was going to happen next. This was a great follow up to The Frenchman and I'm curious to see what Lesley Young comes out with next!!
May 4, 2015
Interestingly, different kind of a story. The whole book is told in first person, from the heroine's point of view. Charlie is not your typical heroine, or even a person, with her inability to feel emotions, lie, hold her opinion of something, communicate, small talk, and so many other things, making her rather awkward socially. But Jace seems to be intrigued by her, understand her quirks, and accept them. He is likable, attractive, caring, and accepting man, who has had past in the criminal world, and still makes his own definition of right and wrong.
The story tells Charlie's move to Australia after her drug addict mother dies of overdose, the difficulties she faces in the new country and environment. Working for Jace Knight, they form a relationship, that turns into a sensual ride for Charlie, finding herself as a sexual being for the first time in her life. I admired the patience Jace had for her, as she stumbles through new experiences in life.
The criminal world Jace is, or isn't, involved in, steps in, creating dangerous situations, putting trust in the fragile relationship into a test, and making Charlie grow as a person, as things do get totally out of control, and several law enforcement agencies are involved.
Charlie is so unique, making the story interesting and different. At the same time, with Charlie's lack of ability to feel emotions, and the story told entirely from her point of view, it also lacks the intensity, that otherwise could have been part of the tale. Even the sexiest love scenes, that are detailed, didn't reach the emotional potential that could have been there.
I struggled a bit with the second half of the book, but overall, the story sets apart with its unique heroine and her way to look at the world, matched with super hot, kind, and caring, ex-crime boss hero, coming to the total score of
~ Three Spoons and a teaspoon on the side
The story tells Charlie's move to Australia after her drug addict mother dies of overdose, the difficulties she faces in the new country and environment. Working for Jace Knight, they form a relationship, that turns into a sensual ride for Charlie, finding herself as a sexual being for the first time in her life. I admired the patience Jace had for her, as she stumbles through new experiences in life.
The criminal world Jace is, or isn't, involved in, steps in, creating dangerous situations, putting trust in the fragile relationship into a test, and making Charlie grow as a person, as things do get totally out of control, and several law enforcement agencies are involved.
Charlie is so unique, making the story interesting and different. At the same time, with Charlie's lack of ability to feel emotions, and the story told entirely from her point of view, it also lacks the intensity, that otherwise could have been part of the tale. Even the sexiest love scenes, that are detailed, didn't reach the emotional potential that could have been there.
I struggled a bit with the second half of the book, but overall, the story sets apart with its unique heroine and her way to look at the world, matched with super hot, kind, and caring, ex-crime boss hero, coming to the total score of
~ Three Spoons and a teaspoon on the side
March 31, 2015
Have you ever decided one day to pack up everything and leave ? I know the thought as constantly crossed my mind but I have yet to do it. For Charlie Sykes though after her mother overdosed, she decided on a whim after watching Muriel's Wedding one more time to go across the ditch to Sydney, Australia. Reading this book , I gathered that Charlie was on the Asperger's Syndrome Spectrum as throughout the book she talks about the inability to recognise emotions and certain statements and she takes everything very literally. When a job as a PA arises for Knight Enterprises working for Jace Knight, she decides on a whim to go for the job and due to her honestly and bluntness - she gets the job. Though as the novel goes along, we see that Jace wants her as something more than his secretary. What will happen though when Charlie is accosted by Sullivan Blaise - one of Jace's security guys and it is discovered he is in fact an undercover agent with ASIS ( Australia's Secret Intelligence Service) who have been monitoring Jace and now the want Charlie to help them gather intel. As Charlie is thrust deeper into Jace's world and soon the pair start to develop romantic feelings, can she keep the truth hidden or will she blurt it out to him causing him to feel betrayed and left hurt by the whole thing ?
Find out in "The Australian" where one decision can lead to new opportunites and one choice can lead to a domino of actions and consequences in the game of life.
After enjoying this book, I am looking forward at reading Book #1 "The Frenchman"
Find out in "The Australian" where one decision can lead to new opportunites and one choice can lead to a domino of actions and consequences in the game of life.
After enjoying this book, I am looking forward at reading Book #1 "The Frenchman"
March 30, 2015
Another awesome read! Another HOT book!
If you enjoyed The Frenchman, you'll definitely enjoy The Australian! Lesley did it again with her lovely unexpected plot twist and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that she made the "good " guys bad and the "bad" guys even badder.....is that even a word? Anyway, Lesley has such a refreshing style to her stories it's so much fun to read and yes, the sex scenes are hot too although for some reason there didn't appear to be as many scenes in this book as there were in The Frenchman.
One reviewer wrote about Charlie's character being a slave or a doll....first of all, it's a story of fiction not a political campaign about women's rights. Second, if the individual understood the character, she is highly intelligent and takes things at its literal value. Jace understood that and communicated with her with that in mind. The story flowed brilliantly and for a character with a high IQ, Lesley did very well in maintaining her characters personality quirks. I give this book a 5 star because of its unique storyline, fast paced read, ease of which to "get into" the characters and fun if the sex scenes. Mahalo Lesley for taking the time and effort in writing this lovely book!
If you enjoyed The Frenchman, you'll definitely enjoy The Australian! Lesley did it again with her lovely unexpected plot twist and turns. I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that she made the "good " guys bad and the "bad" guys even badder.....is that even a word? Anyway, Lesley has such a refreshing style to her stories it's so much fun to read and yes, the sex scenes are hot too although for some reason there didn't appear to be as many scenes in this book as there were in The Frenchman.
One reviewer wrote about Charlie's character being a slave or a doll....first of all, it's a story of fiction not a political campaign about women's rights. Second, if the individual understood the character, she is highly intelligent and takes things at its literal value. Jace understood that and communicated with her with that in mind. The story flowed brilliantly and for a character with a high IQ, Lesley did very well in maintaining her characters personality quirks. I give this book a 5 star because of its unique storyline, fast paced read, ease of which to "get into" the characters and fun if the sex scenes. Mahalo Lesley for taking the time and effort in writing this lovely book!
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