Always

Sexy Suit Romance #1

by Carol Rose

She's got something to prove.... Hayley Haslett must try-out for the right to renovate nine historic houses by working with her biggest competitor--Cole Granger. The president of the preservation society insists they work together. Cole doesn't mind this. He and his men will do the real work and leave the interior decorating to Hayley. But Hayley's tired of men under-estimating her and Hayley's too much for Colt to resist. The only child of a very rich man, Hayley's been pampered and under-estimated all her life. She's eager to accept the challenge Cole represents. If only she didn't respond to him so quickly. He's hot and sexy and Hayley knows she's in big trouble

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Erotica, Adult, Chick Lit, Ebooks

156 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1998

About the author

Carol Rose is an award-winning author of contemporary romances. She has written twenty-six books, including Always and the Blue Collar Boys series. Her books have won numerous awards, including a final in the prestigious Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award.

Carol is an active member of the North Texas Romance Writers. A frequent speaker at writers’ groups and conferences, she has taught workshops on characterization and, creating and resolving conflict. She works full time as a therapist.

Her husband and she married when she was only nineteen and he was barely twenty-one, proving that early marriage can make it, but only if you’re really lucky and persistent. They went through college and grad school together. She not only loves him still, all these years later, she still likes him—which she says is sometimes harder. They have two funny, intelligent and highly accomplished daughters. Carol loves writing and hopes you enjoy reading her work.

www.carolrosebooks.com
www.twitter.com - carolrose@carolrosebooks
https://www.facebook.com/carol.rose.9...

Reviews

[Anne OK · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another disappointing Kindle freebie - hey 2 out of oodles and gobs isn't a bad record! And the cover gets an A+!! Once again, it's the story of the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks returning to his hometown years later a multi-millionaire. No, it's not his old girlfriend he finds waiting but someone he's never met before. Of course, there's secrets and unusual circumstances that bring them together but those aren't even interesting enough to salvage this one. Pretty much a vanilla storyline with equally as bland and plain characters. This one was a replay of so many others that just fell short of keeping my attention.

[Tia N. (bookindulgence) · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I'd paid for this book I would have given it a 1 star rating. But being that it was free on Amazon I'm cutting the book a break.

I picked this book up because I enjoyed Forgotten Father and wanted to read more from this author, unfortunately Always ended up being a disappointment.

Elinor was extremely annoying and I found the plot to be contrived. I don't understand what Cole loved so much about her. Elinor spends the entire book complaining about not liking Cole because he is rich. Rather than respecting someone (Cole) who came from poverty and was able to better their situation, Elinor bashes Cole's success as something dirty. Frankly, I was not buying Elinor's reason for disliking successful men. Cole was not a lazy alcoholic like her father or mean spirited like her granddad, so I don't know why she feels the need to belittle his accomplishments and financial success.

We don't see the couple spending time getting to know each other. Here's a rundown of the book.

Cole: I like you
Elinor: Ewww you're rich...get away from me with your rich cooties
Cole: I really like you
Elinor: I hate and distrust your rich ass
Cole: I like you
Elinor: Rich bastard

Next they have S E X and the foreplay consist of Cole fantasying about the method he'd use to strip Elinor of her clothing if she were a Plantation lady.

Let me explain. They're in Elinor's ancestral home which was a plantation with old masters and slaves buried in the back yard.

Lets get back on track...so Cole is talking about Elinor being a plantation lady while undressing her....because deflowering a plantation lady is very appealing to him?

After the S E X

Cole: I love you. Marry me.
Elinor: Not sure

Some bullshit happens

Elinor: I hate you Cole
Cole: Just let me explain
Elinor: Ok I love you
Cole: Yay


THE END

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't tell how frustrated I was getting with the lead female in this love story. Oh my was Elinor's hangup with the Millionaire's of this world starting to grind on me. Cole Whittier was a poor kid growing up in Bayville, northeastern Lousiana. Elinor's Grandfather was ill & as her only living relative she moved there 2 years ago to care for him.

Her father had left & she had not grown up there, didn't really know her grandfather very well, but still he was family so there she was. There was a history with Cole's father working for Elinor's grandfather & not all ofit was good. Cole was wanting to get a bit of revenge on the man who always looked down at him & his family.

Cole didn't know about Elinor being his grandaughter, then he met her. Cha ching, his plans started to take a different direction, he just knew that he wanted her & he set out to win her heart. But Elinor has hangups with people with money. Stems from hr father & grandfather & the fued that was between them, that she didn't truly understand.

She fought Cole all the way, until finally we think it's all going to come together. But something he should have told her gets revealed. She loses the plot over it & thinks that he was just using her, but that's also because of the perception from someone elses point of view. But eventually she sees that he really does love her & sucks up her pride & goes to him.

So the ending is terrific, but by god the ride to get there was very frustrating. Seeing it from the I don't like or trust or believe rich people point of view, was wearing a bit thin with me. Thank god, I was getting worried as the end of the book was so close, but we got there. Enjoyable read, quite different to other romances. Has some very hot sex scenes, but not too many so not over done. Some hot & heavy kissing & flirting which raises the heat as you read.

[M.M. Roethig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story sounded interesting and was recommended as a great read, so I gave it a try. I have to say I was a little disappointed. Not that the concept wasn't a good one, I just wish the characters were fleshed out a little more to give some depth to the story. I wanted to like Elinore and Cole, I just felt they developed in a way I couldn't follow. It would have been nice to understand a little more detail about how Cole developed his feelings before coming back to his home town as a millionaire. We get a glimpse but we don't fully understand the pain associated with his past. We also don't have a chance to experience the change in him, it just seems to happy overnight. Elinore as well, it would also have been nice to see a gradual change so we could follow and experience her inner turmoil rather than just be "told".

With that said, I did enjoy the concept of the book and I liked where the story went. It was a bit predictable, but that is okay because we don't always need that major plot twist to enjoy a good read. I think with a little more editing, this story could be a really fun, heartwarming story.

My last comment centers around the cover picture; it doesn't reflect very well what is inside. The story is about two people with different backgrounds trying to change their futures and coming together in a way neither one expected. The cover doesn't show enough of what the story is about, which is why it took a recommendation to get me to read it.

[Michelle(Chelle) aka Nightshade - Cake Whisperer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a freebie on B & N that caught my eye and I am so glad that I picked it up.

Elenore Prescott grew up away from her grandparents ancestral home in Louisiana because her spendthrift father got kicked out. After the death of both her parents she is left adrift and goes back to the small town of her birth. She is staying in a guest cottage on her grandfathers land and has been back for 2 years. She is an Accountant helping out the local businesses with their books and she is a council member.

Cole Whittier is the local boy that moved away and made it big. He is now returning to his hometown to open up a plastics factory and to buy up Oakleigh the plantation house that his father worked at as a handy man for years. First he has to convince the council members that the plant is a good idea for the town and his biggest opponent is, you guessed it Elenore.

The chemistry between El & Cole is apparent from the start and while I have read many books with more intense sex scenes, the sweet build up in this book is fantastic. The scene where he seduces her for their first time together is swoon worthy to a girl that grew up wishing she were Scarlett O'Hara in the antebellum South. I really loved this book. It is a quick read too.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. I really enjoyed this book. I felt the characters were great with a decent amount of backstory to keep me satisfied. This book was one of those romances where I felt it was truly romantic. That's something I typically find lacking in most romances, and I love that it was included here. That romanticism is ultimately what pulled me in and completely charmed me. It reminded me of those old Calgon commercials… this story certainly knows how to take me away, and for that, it has earned it's rightful place on my Keeper Shelf.

My only major fault with this story was the inclusion of the "love-at-first-sight" (literally) concept. I'm not a believer in it and feel that sets the tone for the "lover" to be a rather shallow and superficial person. Despite that though, Cole was certainly smoking hawt! So I was able to look past the insta-love he felt for Elinor.

I loved the humor during the smexy times plus there was a humorous undertone toward the end as well. Overall, this was a seductively charming novella that had me captivated from page one. I'm so happy that I've found another gem and I highly recommend it to those looking for a lighthearted contemporary romance.

[Bubbles Hunty Honest & Direct Opinions · Rating 2 out of 5]

Luckily this book was free

lots of time gaps that are never really said how long the gaps are or sometimes it'd be like "a couple weeks ago" and i was like where did those weeks go?

The whole book the mc is lying to her and manipulating her but he can't figure out why she doesn't trust him since she doesn't know he is the anonymous buyer trying to rip off her grandfathers house

They have a date day thing and dance in the night and then he won't sleep with her because he doesn't want her to regret it. 

Then some unknown time later at her grandpas funeral he is flirting with some other woman she is hanging on him he is bending down talking and smiling in her ear. After this he seduces the mc in her grandmas room on her grandmas bed. Like ten minutes after the funeral where he was just with some other chick. Not sure how it's supposed to be noble not sleeping with her After the one date but seducing her at her grandpas funeral is fine. 

The characters make no sense they think one thing and do the opposite then change again it just feel disjointed like the characters aren't consistent at all. They change each scene to just go with the flow of the scene it seems like. 

First time they have sex they use a condom. Second time five minutes later no condom... Maybe because he asked her to marry him during those five minutes no condom is ok? Yeah we know these characters very little they no each other even less and have had one date and sex one time and he asks her to marry her. It's just like wtf?

Oh then later it's all explained: "Today, as he'd held her in his arms while she slept, a daring idea had occurred to him. If he could get Elinor to marry him, now, immediately, it would be harder for her to leave him when the truth came out."

Yeah great reason for marrying a practical stranger. Then more thoughts from the manipulative bastard: "But he had to keep his head if he were to seduce her into marrying him tonight."

Try's to tempt her by saying it will be fun and he will never let her go. Then says come on El you can trust me. When his whole reason for it is he is lying and deceiving her. How is this romance? He doesn't even care if she likes him or that her grandpa just died nope just tells her what to do. Who wouldn't want their wedding night to be an elope the night after they buried their last living relative? To a man you didn't trust one minute but no seem to be just peachy. 

Then he lowballs her on the price. His real estate is a complete dick to her and reveals everything. Then douche mc embarrasses her in front of most of the town saying all this shit. Then he manhandles her when she asks him not to touch her and rips her top open exposing her breasts to everyone. That's ok because he then gives her his shirt and forces her to let him take her home. 

Then all is forgiven because yes he bought the house so she gets the low price for it but heirs leaving it in her name. So all is forgiven. Basically she got a bunch of money from him for doing nothing but sleeping with him. I did not feel any connection or feelings between these two. I kept hoping they wouldn't end up together. 

Whole book she talks about how he uses his money to buy people and bribe them. He already put her in charge of a trustee without telling or asking and she mentioned the bribe but now he bought her own house for her and it's so noble and romantic? Like wtf really?

"""I gave the house to you because I don't want you to ever doubt that you're the most important thing in my life." yeah I love you so much I screwed you over but I gave you your own house so everything is fine.  

Two stars since its free but I can't recommend this to anyone unless they want to read a train wreck 

[Amy H · Rating 2 out of 5]

i was very conflicted with this book. I wanted to love this book, but i think it clearly needs a lot of work.. I apologize in advance if i hurt anyone feelings.

i read this book because it was a Christmas pick for me challenge.. i am glad i got it off my to read list

I think that a lot of my issues with this book deals with characterization and the lack of character growth. Elinor was just too…angry throughout the entire book. She was mad about this, mad about that…yelling and screaming and flinging accusations left and right. With all of her explosions…I never once thought of her as feisty or as a spitfire – she was just plain annoying as hell and slightly unlikeable. I’d see her as more of a nag and really couldn’t understand why Cole liked her. I felt sad for him that he was dating her.

There was very little emotional or sexual tension between the hero and heroine. I saw Cole try and try with her…but all I saw from Elinor was anger and reverse snobbishness. In fact, by the end of the book I was so sick and freaking tired of her money issues that I wanted to shove some money down her throat so she could choke on it. Most people – especially Americans – respect riches that are the result of hard work. Cole came from nothing and did it all himself…but the reader is subjected to Elinor’s angry money issues time and time again.

While still carping on Elinor’s anger issues, lol, I wanted to say that her anger made it hard for me to believe the story. WHY would Cole want to marry her?? WHAT had she done beside be a bitch? I never saw any real growth in their relationship that would make me feel that leap was possible. I can’t even remember Elinor instigating affection between the two of them.

The only point that Elinor had in her favor was that Cole lied to her – by omission – about being the anonymous buyer of her grandfather’s house. And then he kept up that lie throughout the entire book…which – of course – clues the reader in to the final “big misunderstanding” that the couple will have (much too early).

And the ending. Wow. It just made me so angry. Wow, so angry.

[H.K. Savage · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book as a free read off Amazon. To start, I have to mention the cover is a bit misleading. I read every genre and have noticed certain trends - this one makes you think erotica but not so. If anything I would put this one up with the old Harlequin romances we all read as teens. Sweet with not much for graphic content. I wouldn't let a kid read it but it's not one I would call the therapist about should it happen to be laying around and the little one picked it up. Well, except for the cover which looks a bit like a Hollister ad. Not that I'm complaining.
The premise is intriguing if a little light: boy grows up a working man's son, leaves and comes back a self-made man, meets a girl, they fall in love but there is one little lie between them that threatens to tear them apart when it comes to light.
Again, this is a light and fast read. the plot isn't a deep one and the characters as well as their interaction is not overly deep. This wasn't a bad read but I do like to get a little more heart from my characters. Also, the reason the heroine wouldn't want to be with him was because she hated rich people. She was so stubborn about it, it got ridiculous.
If you're heading to the beach this one wouldn't be a bad one to drag along.

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

After losing her mother, Elinor goes to the home where her father grew up to try and connect with her only living relative, her grandfather. She's been here two years and still shares no bond with him. Then comes millionaire Cole Whittier wanting to build a plastic plant and make a home where he grew up. She has no trust for anyone who feels they have to do anything to have money and believes Cole is one of those people. The home is where his father worked and belongs to Elinor's grandfather. He puts in a private bid in hopes that they would sell to him. Meanwhile he meets Elinor and falls in love with her. Now at a loss whether to tell her it's him who put in the bid or withdraw he tries harder to convince her of his love. This is a very good novella, not too short where everything felt like it happened in 2 days, but I would have liked to see a little more of Cole and Elinor as there relationship grew. Yeah, I know then it wouldn't be a novella.

[Drita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both Cole and El hade to face their secrets...in the midst of it all they fall for each other. Will they find HAPPINESS in choosing everything they want in life, or is it true LOVE they were looking for!

How can i describe this in few words, "Don't judge the book by it's cover" Really covers do it for me...I would of picked a different cover for this book...but a BEAUTIFUL LOVE STORY, great plot and dialog a believable story that pulls you in and you can relate to the characters in one way or another...and the author did just that!!! Although I wish the author took her time and made this story longer, i wanted to know more about the characters in more detail, i felt she cut the scenes short...i shouldn't be complaining it was a free book, but i enjoyed it so much that i wanted more....i wish there was a sequel to it.

[Daniela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aside from the standard trope of exacting revenge on the old rich man who humiliated his deceased father, Cole grows up rich and successful and returns to town to get his revenge. he finds instead the old man's granddaughter, El, who inherits the mansion. He falls in love but now tries to hide his plans which have changed since he fell in love with her. Aside from the obvious train wreck this will turn out to be, I am drawn to the story because of the writing. Eloquent, beautiful prose. I am drawn to Cole as well. He starts off as suspicious but soon he is seen as a stand up caring guy. But you just know El wont buy it. I am drawn to El as well. I am trying to figure out why so is super suspicious of him and his money. It really ends up being a good story even with the eye-rolling trope.

[Nadine Bookaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cole grew up hating the Prescott family, now that he's a multi millionaire he is out to get back at the patriarch Daniel by buying the Prescott family plantation out from under him.
Elinor is the granddaughter of Daniel Prescott, but she didn't grow up on the family plantation because her grandfather threw her parents out before she was born because her father felt he could spend his father's money and no work for anything. But she was living there the past two years to try to get to know her dying grandfather before he past away.
It was very interesting to see how both Cole and Elinor let their upbringing influence their adult lives. I enjoyed this book quite a bit and I especially loved the peach festival scene.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars I think people were a little harsh on their review of this book. I think the book was cute. Was it a little far fetched.....yes, but cute. Cole is from a hard worked poor family and Elinor is from a wealthy family with a big house. Elinor has to decide what to do with the family property. She has an unknown buyer that wants it. Cole has returned to his home town after making millions and wants to build a factory. He has to get Elinor's vote and sets out to do it. Little did he the feelings he will quickly form for Eli.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read 36% and I cannot take any more! Ugggg not my cuppa at all. Not wasting any more time on this. It was just sort of boring and there was a lot of jumping around. You know when you are reading and you say to yourself, "huh how did the story get here?". No flow.

I could see promise in the first chapter, but I lost focus quickly after that. The concept of the story is good and might have made a better historical...

[Jen Mcnamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually read this book last summer before I joined Goodreads, but I happened to stumble upon it again in my recommendations.

This was a great read. Despite some health issues it was a happy go lucky kind of read. I enjoyed the characters and even the issues they often had to deal with.
The male lead was confident and sexy but completely besotted with the female lead. His inner-mono was downright adorable to read.

[Tanya Mayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good story about love in a small town. Cole returns to his hometown a millionaire wanting to open up a new factory and also to buy the ,antebellum home of the man his father worked for. But Cole meets the man's granddaughter after spending time with her he begins to fall in love with Elinor this complicates his revenge. In the end love conquers all Cole gets everything he wanted.

[Christina Montminy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book for anyone looking for a feel good read. Elinor has moved back to her home town to try to get to know her ailing grandfather. Cole has come back to get revenge on the old man by anonymously buying his plantation from him. When Cole meete Elinor he falls hard but both their pasts start to get in their way. This was a comfortable feel good book & I will be looking for more by Carol Rose. Definite recommend.

[Brandi Porter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admittedly, I bought this book b/c of the cover. I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it was. I did think that Elinor was a little over the top with her opinion of wealth, although I kind of understood. But I just don’t know how she couldn’t trust Cole? He was such a good guy from the very get go. But I always love a happily ever after. I also wish there was an epilogue.

[Chrisabel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a cute and east read. I liked it.

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was just ok ... Cute, quick read.

Don't let the cover fool you, this is not a hot read, more of a PG 13 old school Harlequin

Oh and the title makes no sense... Lol

Free on kindle 12/8/12

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute Story

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

hardly worth the effort but it fits the bill for what it purports to be - a sexy romance.
local blue collar boy becomes a billionaire and comes back to his home town - planning to get "show up" on the old bigwig that used to treat his father like dirt by bringing in a new factory which will make him the biggest wig.... Also plans to buy the bigwig's plantation since he has of course fallen on hard times. but then finds out said bigwig has a granddaughter that he didnt know about and he falls in love - despite her not really wanting anything to do with him. typical boddice ripping ensues and she succumbs to his seduction only to find out that he was the anonymous buyer of her family home..... they have a public blow out and he makes a big gesture which wins her over

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet romance with a strong heroine who must overcome her past in order to live and love in the present. She wants a loving family but her only living relative--an aging, sickly grandfather--resists all her attempts at a relationship. When she meets Cole, she fights her attraction, believing him to be the same money-loving person her father was. But Cole is nothing if not determined and he is determined to make Elinor love him.

[Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to love it! I really like the romance aspect! It’s not lacking in genuine romantic aspects!
But some other parts were just not doing it for me!
The dunking booth was fun though!
I do feel it went from “problem to be solved, conflict to boom it just ended!! That bothered me most!
Overall it had been on my to read list for a long time and now it’s done!

[Susan Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow gentle romance.

Winning her heart by stealth. ..... .... ..... ........ ...... .... ... .... .. .. .. .. .. .... ..

[Angelica Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

J was amazed line by line and I wanted but no needed more. I have to look for the next boor

[Ginger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes it's nice to read a predictable romance.

[Johnnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely worth a read for a romance book. Written nicely. Great characters. Really brought the scenery to life.

[Abdul Karim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was this even what it claims to be? I only get dirty words thrown out in prose that smells