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Lone Star Sisters #1
Wer Zuerst Kommt, Küsst Zuerst
Lexi Titan kann die Schlagzeilen schon förmlich vor sich sehen: Reiche Tochter heiratet noch reicheren Geschäftsmann, um ihr Unternehmen zu retten. Aber sie weiß, dass sie keine andere Wahl hat. Cruz Rodrigues braucht sie, um in der High Society von Texas akzeptiert zu werden und sie braucht ihn, um ihre Wellnessfarm nicht zu verlieren. Also willigt Lexi ein, für sechs Monate seine Frau zu werden. Dass sie damit den Zorn ihres einflussreichen Vaters auf sich zieht, ist noch das kleinste Problem. Denn je näher der Tag rückt, an dem ihre Ehe enden soll, desto weniger ist Lexi bereit, Cruz wieder gehen zu lassen.
364 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2009
670 people are currently reading
3228 people want to read
About the author
Susan Mallery
862 books15.4k followers#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming and humorous novels about the relationships that define women's lives—family, friendship, romance. She's best known for putting nuanced characters into emotionally complex, real-life situations with twists that surprise readers to laughter. Because Susan is passionate about animal welfare, pets play a big role in her books. Beloved by millions of readers worldwide, her books have been translated into 28 languages.
Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.
Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.
Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.
Critics have dubbed Mallery "the new queen of romantic fiction." (Walmart) Booklist says, "Romance novels don't get much better than Mallery's expert blend of emotional nuance, humor, and superb storytelling," and RT Book Reviews puts her "in a class by herself!" It's no wonder that her books have spent more than 200 weeks on the USA Today bestsellers list.
Although Susan majored in Accounting, she never worked as an accountant because she was published straight out of college with two books the same month. Sixteen prolific years and seventy-four books later, she hit the New York Times bestsellers list for the first time with Accidentally Yours in 2008. She made many appearances in the Top 10 before (finally) hitting #1 in 2015 with Thrill Me, the twentieth book in her most popular series, the Fool's Gold romances, and the fourth of five books released that year.
Susan lives in Washington state with her husband, two ragdoll cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Her heart for animals has led Susan to become an active supporter of the Seattle Humane Society. Visit Susan online at www.SusanMallery.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 294 reviews
April 26, 2009
I don't know if it was because I was in a mood for a good, hot contemporary or Susan Mallery's way with a word, but I absolutely loved everything about "Under Her Skin", the first book in her new series. I laughed, I cried, I fretted--and even though the plot has been done before--rich girl trying to win her daddy's love and approval, bad-boy afraid to love--I didn't care! I fell for it like a ton of bricks! I was so engrossed with this fast-paced story and just totally caught up with the characters, that I didn't want the book to end.
Lexi Titan is a rich girl who's always been looking for her cold, remote father's love and approval. Her billionaire father is so rich that the town is named after his family. Her father sets up a sort of competition among his three daughters to see whos's the most adept businesswoman of the bunch, and therefore who will inherit his vast business empire (shades of the TV series 'Dallas'). Spa owner Lexi would love to inherit his business holdings, middle sister and homebody Skye would like the family homestead, and daredevil youngest sister Izzy claims not to care about any of it. Businesswoman Lexi is tired of being in her father's shadow, and she strikes out on her own, building a successful Day Spa from the ground up. At one point she accepted a 2 million dollar loan from an anonymous private investor so she could expand her growing business. Now the loan has been unexpectedly called in and she has only three weeks to repay it, or she will lose her business. She can't go to her father or sisters for the money because that will take her out of the running to be her father's heir. Now where can she get her hands on 2 million dollars in a short time?
Enter Cruz Rodriguez. What a man (*sigh*). Sexy, successful, and the man Lexi gave her virginity to 10 years ago, and who then had a panic stricken look on his face the morning after. The one man she's never been able to get out of her head, or her heart. Cruz has come a long way from the poor boy from the barrio who got his start at success by racing cars for pink slips. Now he's made his fortune at anything related to cars--dealerships, auto parts, car racing. He has everything money can buy, except for the one thing he really wants--acceptance into Texas blueblood society. When he accidently overhears a conversation between Lexi--who he's never forgotten about--and her banker about her need for 2 million dollars quick, he's intrigued. After a sexy negotiation, he agrees to give Lexi 2 million dollars if she would pose as his fiancee for 6 months and introduce him to her contacts in Texas society. The deal also includes her willing participation in his bed. Hmmn. Not a hardship for Lexi, if she's truthful to herself. There's always been something about Cruz that made any man who came after him hard to live up to. But will Lexi be able to go through with the deal without falling for him and giving her heart?
I loved the character of Lexi--she was strong, funny, and smart-- never whiny, and with a heart of gold. And I loved Cruz too, although at times he did some things that were not easy to love, but certainly understandable, considering his past. And I loved Lexi and Cruz together--their chemistry was out-of-this-world hot! And even though on the surface Cruz seemed very similar to her father--successful, remote, afraid to love or give his heart--you could tell underneath that tough veneer was a kind heart. He was just hellbent on not showing it, due to an upbringing with an abusive father. Cruz equated showing love with weakness, and Lexi certainly had her work cut out for her. Cruz even had a teenage daughter that he treated similarly to the way Lexi's father treated her, and that was hard to read about. I really felt bad for young Kendra, and so did Lexi, who saw herself and her own relationship with her father in Kendra. At times I thought Lexi was just banging her head against a brick wall in her quest to get her father's love and respect--after 60-some years the guy was just never going to change. But Cruz was a different story--he had it in him to love--but he was scared. He just needed a little nudge, and thankfully Lexi tried to do that. But what if she pushed too far? Would Cruz ever be able to be the kind of man Lexi craved--able to give his heart freely and let her love him too?
I also loved reading about Lexi's relationship with her best friend, sheriff's deputy Dana, and her relationships with her two sisters. Their dialogue and conversations were realistic and often very funny. Any time they got together the pages came alive, and the book was a breeze to read. The characterizations were so detailed, you felt you knew them each personally. I can't wait for them to get their own stories.
So without giving away any spoilers, there was also a subplot that I'm sure will carry on throughout the series, about a person who is trying to bring the whole Titan family down. It was left unresolved, but I'm sure Cruz will have some say so in what looks to be a big showdown coming in the future.
If I had to add one minor complaint about the book, it's that the ending was rather abrupt, with no epilogue. Although I loved the conclusion where Cruz finally came to his senses and declared his feelings for Lexi (which had me in tears), the book just sort of ended there. I wanted more! I wanted to see what would happen next between Lexi and Cruz. A few things were left hanging (spoiler), and I'm hoping to read about them in the next book, Lip Service, coming in June.
Not since the 'Virgin River' series by Robyn Carr have I been eagerly anticipating the publication of the next book of a series. Susan Mallery's always been an author I enjoy, and if you're in the mood for a hot contemporary with characters you'll fall in love with, I urge you to give this one a try. I know I can't wait for "Lip Service". 5 stars.
Lexi Titan is a rich girl who's always been looking for her cold, remote father's love and approval. Her billionaire father is so rich that the town is named after his family. Her father sets up a sort of competition among his three daughters to see whos's the most adept businesswoman of the bunch, and therefore who will inherit his vast business empire (shades of the TV series 'Dallas'). Spa owner Lexi would love to inherit his business holdings, middle sister and homebody Skye would like the family homestead, and daredevil youngest sister Izzy claims not to care about any of it. Businesswoman Lexi is tired of being in her father's shadow, and she strikes out on her own, building a successful Day Spa from the ground up. At one point she accepted a 2 million dollar loan from an anonymous private investor so she could expand her growing business. Now the loan has been unexpectedly called in and she has only three weeks to repay it, or she will lose her business. She can't go to her father or sisters for the money because that will take her out of the running to be her father's heir. Now where can she get her hands on 2 million dollars in a short time?
Enter Cruz Rodriguez. What a man (*sigh*). Sexy, successful, and the man Lexi gave her virginity to 10 years ago, and who then had a panic stricken look on his face the morning after. The one man she's never been able to get out of her head, or her heart. Cruz has come a long way from the poor boy from the barrio who got his start at success by racing cars for pink slips. Now he's made his fortune at anything related to cars--dealerships, auto parts, car racing. He has everything money can buy, except for the one thing he really wants--acceptance into Texas blueblood society. When he accidently overhears a conversation between Lexi--who he's never forgotten about--and her banker about her need for 2 million dollars quick, he's intrigued. After a sexy negotiation, he agrees to give Lexi 2 million dollars if she would pose as his fiancee for 6 months and introduce him to her contacts in Texas society. The deal also includes her willing participation in his bed. Hmmn. Not a hardship for Lexi, if she's truthful to herself. There's always been something about Cruz that made any man who came after him hard to live up to. But will Lexi be able to go through with the deal without falling for him and giving her heart?
I loved the character of Lexi--she was strong, funny, and smart-- never whiny, and with a heart of gold. And I loved Cruz too, although at times he did some things that were not easy to love, but certainly understandable, considering his past. And I loved Lexi and Cruz together--their chemistry was out-of-this-world hot! And even though on the surface Cruz seemed very similar to her father--successful, remote, afraid to love or give his heart--you could tell underneath that tough veneer was a kind heart. He was just hellbent on not showing it, due to an upbringing with an abusive father. Cruz equated showing love with weakness, and Lexi certainly had her work cut out for her. Cruz even had a teenage daughter that he treated similarly to the way Lexi's father treated her, and that was hard to read about. I really felt bad for young Kendra, and so did Lexi, who saw herself and her own relationship with her father in Kendra. At times I thought Lexi was just banging her head against a brick wall in her quest to get her father's love and respect--after 60-some years the guy was just never going to change. But Cruz was a different story--he had it in him to love--but he was scared. He just needed a little nudge, and thankfully Lexi tried to do that. But what if she pushed too far? Would Cruz ever be able to be the kind of man Lexi craved--able to give his heart freely and let her love him too?
I also loved reading about Lexi's relationship with her best friend, sheriff's deputy Dana, and her relationships with her two sisters. Their dialogue and conversations were realistic and often very funny. Any time they got together the pages came alive, and the book was a breeze to read. The characterizations were so detailed, you felt you knew them each personally. I can't wait for them to get their own stories.
So without giving away any spoilers, there was also a subplot that I'm sure will carry on throughout the series, about a person who is trying to bring the whole Titan family down. It was left unresolved, but I'm sure Cruz will have some say so in what looks to be a big showdown coming in the future.
If I had to add one minor complaint about the book, it's that the ending was rather abrupt, with no epilogue. Although I loved the conclusion where Cruz finally came to his senses and declared his feelings for Lexi (which had me in tears), the book just sort of ended there. I wanted more! I wanted to see what would happen next between Lexi and Cruz. A few things were left hanging (spoiler), and I'm hoping to read about them in the next book, Lip Service, coming in June.
Not since the 'Virgin River' series by Robyn Carr have I been eagerly anticipating the publication of the next book of a series. Susan Mallery's always been an author I enjoy, and if you're in the mood for a hot contemporary with characters you'll fall in love with, I urge you to give this one a try. I know I can't wait for "Lip Service". 5 stars.
January 6, 2011
I am borrowing this review format from PhotoJim, he reviewed a historical romance novel he read this way, and for some reason I kept thinking of his review when I was reading this book. Anyway, here's my synopsis of this book:
Lexi: "Damn, I shouldn't have borrowed 2 million dollars from that anonymous dude, now he wants his money. What's a greedy girl to do? Can't ask my Daddy Warbucks, 'cuz then he would think I’m stupid and cut me out of the will. Can't ask my sister, oh we're tight but it might turn her into a back stabbing bitch because we are in competition for Daddy’s net worth. Oh woe is me!"
Cruz: "Hey, I couldn't help but overhear your dilemma. Here, take my 2 million and in return I'm going to put a big rock on your finger and we're going to pretend we're engaged and you are going to introduce me to elite society because even though I have more money than God it's not buying me what I want, well, yeah, except you."
Lexi: "Really? Awesome. I'll do it!"
Crux: "BTW, You'll have to have lots of sex with me too."
Lexi: "Well, damn. Hmmm, that's okay we had sex 10 years ago so it’s not like I’m a slut because I was a virgin then."
Cruz: "Now that we're engaged let's go to swanky parties so I can find an elite high society bitch to use and marry, one with a following and social upbringing, gee, kind of like you but not you. Remember, we're having sex but no love. Oh yeah, your half brother is the one that lent you that 2 mil; he wants to take you down."
Lexi: "Well, golly. I'll have to get with my sisters I love, but who may stab me in the back at any given moment, to figure out what to do. Let's have sex now because you have a hot bod."
Cruz: "Lots of sex, but remember I can never love anyone, oh yeah, except maybe that cat you brought home without asking me."
Lexi: "I named the cat after your company because when you dump me I always want to be reminded of you."
Cruz: "Cool!"
Lexi: "Hey! You didn't tell me you had a teenage daughter!"
Cruz: "Oh, her? I forgot about her. She occasionally comes here to sleep, eat and get ignored. I throw money at her mother to keep them away."
Lexi: "I know you can't love, but you need to love your daughter. I shall go horseback riding with her and she will fall in love with me, see how easy it is?"
Cruz: "I cannot love anyone. Let me treat you like crap, oh yeah, more sex please."
Lexi: "Okay, sure! I have no self esteem."
Cruz: "Hmmm, why am I looking for a brainless society princess for my arm when I already bought one for 2 million dollars? Damn, I'm stupid! I'll ask her to stay with me permanently at the next social gathering."
Lexi: "Wow, lookie there, I peed on 50 sticks and they all told me I was pregnant. However will I tell Cruz? He’s gonna be pissed but secretly I’m hoping he’ll love me.”
Cruz: “After this dance I want to tell you something, go to the bathroom so I can be seen kissing my ex-girlfriend slut when you come out okay?”
Lexi: “How dare you kiss your ex-girlfriend slut even though I know it means nothing!”
Cruz: “It was nothing.”
Lexi: “Great, now I have to go to my dad. Dad? Can I borrow $2 mil? See, your son that we knew nothing about is trying to take us all down. I unknowingly borrowed 2 mil from him and he called the note, so then I borrowed 2 mil from Cruz, but now he’s kissing his ex, so now I want 2 mil from you. Oh wait, I really want your love and acceptance, but first I need the 2 mil.”
Dad: “You’re stupid, here’s the 2 mil.”
Lexi’s Sister: “Why didn’t you come to me? I would have given you the $2 mil! I’m hurt!”
Lexi: “I thought you would stab me in the back.”
Lexi’s Sister: “I would never! I still love you even though you said that.”
Lexi: “I love you too, sis! Oh let’s hug! Even though I’m stupid and would never have gotten pregnant with Cruz’s baby had I come to you in the first place.”
Cruz: “I can’t love, I can’t love, I can NEVER love. Nope, never, not me. I want Lexi to live with me forever though because she’s exactly what I’m looking for, society-wise that is. I just want someone to use, what woman wouldn’t want that?”
Lexi: “I’m pregnant and I love you.”
Cruz: “Didn’t you hear me? I can never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever love anyone! I just want to use you!”
Lexi: “You mean you don’t love me? Oh no! Why didn’t you say so? I’m so hurt.”
Lexi’s Sisters and Friend: “Don’t worry, he’ll be back because you guys had hot mind blowing sex so that means he loves you.”
Cruz: “Wow, well, what do you know? A week without hot mind blowing sex made me realize how much I love Lexi, I better go tell her.”
Lexi: “I’m glowing and more beautiful then I ever was. What do you want?”
Cruz: “I love you with my whole being, you are everything to me, you complete me. Oh yeah, and I miss the cat. I have done this about face because there are only a few pages left in the book so we have to wrap this up. ”
Lexi: “Oh, Cruz!”
Cruz: “Let’s have hot mind blowing sex to show everyone how much in love we are.”
Lexi: “Okay and let’s not say anything more about evil half brother until the next book.”
HEA.
Lexi: "Damn, I shouldn't have borrowed 2 million dollars from that anonymous dude, now he wants his money. What's a greedy girl to do? Can't ask my Daddy Warbucks, 'cuz then he would think I’m stupid and cut me out of the will. Can't ask my sister, oh we're tight but it might turn her into a back stabbing bitch because we are in competition for Daddy’s net worth. Oh woe is me!"
Cruz: "Hey, I couldn't help but overhear your dilemma. Here, take my 2 million and in return I'm going to put a big rock on your finger and we're going to pretend we're engaged and you are going to introduce me to elite society because even though I have more money than God it's not buying me what I want, well, yeah, except you."
Lexi: "Really? Awesome. I'll do it!"
Crux: "BTW, You'll have to have lots of sex with me too."
Lexi: "Well, damn. Hmmm, that's okay we had sex 10 years ago so it’s not like I’m a slut because I was a virgin then."
Cruz: "Now that we're engaged let's go to swanky parties so I can find an elite high society bitch to use and marry, one with a following and social upbringing, gee, kind of like you but not you. Remember, we're having sex but no love. Oh yeah, your half brother is the one that lent you that 2 mil; he wants to take you down."
Lexi: "Well, golly. I'll have to get with my sisters I love, but who may stab me in the back at any given moment, to figure out what to do. Let's have sex now because you have a hot bod."
Cruz: "Lots of sex, but remember I can never love anyone, oh yeah, except maybe that cat you brought home without asking me."
Lexi: "I named the cat after your company because when you dump me I always want to be reminded of you."
Cruz: "Cool!"
Lexi: "Hey! You didn't tell me you had a teenage daughter!"
Cruz: "Oh, her? I forgot about her. She occasionally comes here to sleep, eat and get ignored. I throw money at her mother to keep them away."
Lexi: "I know you can't love, but you need to love your daughter. I shall go horseback riding with her and she will fall in love with me, see how easy it is?"
Cruz: "I cannot love anyone. Let me treat you like crap, oh yeah, more sex please."
Lexi: "Okay, sure! I have no self esteem."
Cruz: "Hmmm, why am I looking for a brainless society princess for my arm when I already bought one for 2 million dollars? Damn, I'm stupid! I'll ask her to stay with me permanently at the next social gathering."
Lexi: "Wow, lookie there, I peed on 50 sticks and they all told me I was pregnant. However will I tell Cruz? He’s gonna be pissed but secretly I’m hoping he’ll love me.”
Cruz: “After this dance I want to tell you something, go to the bathroom so I can be seen kissing my ex-girlfriend slut when you come out okay?”
Lexi: “How dare you kiss your ex-girlfriend slut even though I know it means nothing!”
Cruz: “It was nothing.”
Lexi: “Great, now I have to go to my dad. Dad? Can I borrow $2 mil? See, your son that we knew nothing about is trying to take us all down. I unknowingly borrowed 2 mil from him and he called the note, so then I borrowed 2 mil from Cruz, but now he’s kissing his ex, so now I want 2 mil from you. Oh wait, I really want your love and acceptance, but first I need the 2 mil.”
Dad: “You’re stupid, here’s the 2 mil.”
Lexi’s Sister: “Why didn’t you come to me? I would have given you the $2 mil! I’m hurt!”
Lexi: “I thought you would stab me in the back.”
Lexi’s Sister: “I would never! I still love you even though you said that.”
Lexi: “I love you too, sis! Oh let’s hug! Even though I’m stupid and would never have gotten pregnant with Cruz’s baby had I come to you in the first place.”
Cruz: “I can’t love, I can’t love, I can NEVER love. Nope, never, not me. I want Lexi to live with me forever though because she’s exactly what I’m looking for, society-wise that is. I just want someone to use, what woman wouldn’t want that?”
Lexi: “I’m pregnant and I love you.”
Cruz: “Didn’t you hear me? I can never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever love anyone! I just want to use you!”
Lexi: “You mean you don’t love me? Oh no! Why didn’t you say so? I’m so hurt.”
Lexi’s Sisters and Friend: “Don’t worry, he’ll be back because you guys had hot mind blowing sex so that means he loves you.”
Cruz: “Wow, well, what do you know? A week without hot mind blowing sex made me realize how much I love Lexi, I better go tell her.”
Lexi: “I’m glowing and more beautiful then I ever was. What do you want?”
Cruz: “I love you with my whole being, you are everything to me, you complete me. Oh yeah, and I miss the cat. I have done this about face because there are only a few pages left in the book so we have to wrap this up. ”
Lexi: “Oh, Cruz!”
Cruz: “Let’s have hot mind blowing sex to show everyone how much in love we are.”
Lexi: “Okay and let’s not say anything more about evil half brother until the next book.”
HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 6, 2010
Recap:
Lexi Titan is a day spa owner who comes from a very wealthy family. The thing is, that money isn't her own since her bastard daddy cut her off. The loan she accepted to expand her business is called in & she has three weeks to come up with 2 million dollars or she's screwed. Enter Cruz Rodriguez. He offers Lexi the money if she will pretend to be his fiancee for 6 months & introduce him to her equally wealthy & priviledged friends. And so this suck ass rollercoaster begins...
My thoughts:
I'm not a fan of contemporary romances. I like them slightly more than romantic suspense novels but they are far from my favorite genre. This is partly because I find it easier to suspend belief in a book involving supernatural creatures. But when it comes to real life, I have a low tolerance for bullshit.
On to the story. I needed a "U" book for a challenge which is why I ventured into Mallery-land. I'd heard from a few friends that this book was really good & it'd make me cry...& it did. In agony. Under Her Skin was a neverending cycle of suckitude from beginning to end. Cruz was a bastard through & through yet I'm supposed to see him as handsome & misunderstood? I can get with that depending on how bad the asshole-ness in him is. Well Cruz hit the asshole ceiling & the fucker kept going.
This is how the book goes: Cruz accepts Lexi's virginity years ago then rejects her. Lexi claims to move on yet still holds a torch for boy wonder. Cruz pops back into Lexi's life, planning on seducing her & using her. Lexi jumps on it because he is soooo cute. Cruz demands that Lexi moves into his house & has sex with him as a condition of him giving her 2 mil. Lexi resists selling herself like a corner store trick for two seconds & then caves in because again, he's so damn sexy. Cruz proceeds to treat Lexi like shit throughout the book & she keeps coming back for more. She's likes a freaking dog begging for scraps. Cruz kicks Lexi. Lexi is sad. Cruz compliments Lexi. Lexi jumps up & down in joy because that must mean he loves her, right? Dumbass.
As you can tell, I had alot of issues with Cruz. But my biggest issue is with Lexi. I expect a guy who connives to get a woman into his bed & house within the first few chapters to be a dick. But Lexi was supposed to come off a strong, when she really came off as a damn doormat. Every time she fell into Cruz's arms after he treated her like shit, I thought to myself "WTF is wrong with you, woman? Do you really have such low self-esteem that you'll take anything you can?" I couldn't respect her as a person & more importantly, as a woman for allowing that crap to happen & thinking it was okay because "they have history" & "he's so wounded inside" & "he's so damn sexy." When Cruz walked out on Lexi after finding out she was carrying his baby-because the dumbass went off of birth control for a few days in an effort to keep him out of her bed-& this stupid heifer still wanted to be with him, I was done. You two deserve each other & babe, that's not a compliment so you can put your damn panties back on.
On a bright note, this book was very easy to read. It was pure fluff & angst with a bs villain plotline thrown in for spice. I didn't need to think at all to read this book. It was less cerebral than watching Yo Gabba Gabba. Not to mention, I got my "U" book out of the way. Yay me!
Lexi Titan is a day spa owner who comes from a very wealthy family. The thing is, that money isn't her own since her bastard daddy cut her off. The loan she accepted to expand her business is called in & she has three weeks to come up with 2 million dollars or she's screwed. Enter Cruz Rodriguez. He offers Lexi the money if she will pretend to be his fiancee for 6 months & introduce him to her equally wealthy & priviledged friends. And so this suck ass rollercoaster begins...
My thoughts:
I'm not a fan of contemporary romances. I like them slightly more than romantic suspense novels but they are far from my favorite genre. This is partly because I find it easier to suspend belief in a book involving supernatural creatures. But when it comes to real life, I have a low tolerance for bullshit.
On to the story. I needed a "U" book for a challenge which is why I ventured into Mallery-land. I'd heard from a few friends that this book was really good & it'd make me cry...& it did. In agony. Under Her Skin was a neverending cycle of suckitude from beginning to end. Cruz was a bastard through & through yet I'm supposed to see him as handsome & misunderstood? I can get with that depending on how bad the asshole-ness in him is. Well Cruz hit the asshole ceiling & the fucker kept going.
This is how the book goes: Cruz accepts Lexi's virginity years ago then rejects her. Lexi claims to move on yet still holds a torch for boy wonder. Cruz pops back into Lexi's life, planning on seducing her & using her. Lexi jumps on it because he is soooo cute. Cruz demands that Lexi moves into his house & has sex with him as a condition of him giving her 2 mil. Lexi resists selling herself like a corner store trick for two seconds & then caves in because again, he's so damn sexy. Cruz proceeds to treat Lexi like shit throughout the book & she keeps coming back for more. She's likes a freaking dog begging for scraps. Cruz kicks Lexi. Lexi is sad. Cruz compliments Lexi. Lexi jumps up & down in joy because that must mean he loves her, right? Dumbass.
As you can tell, I had alot of issues with Cruz. But my biggest issue is with Lexi. I expect a guy who connives to get a woman into his bed & house within the first few chapters to be a dick. But Lexi was supposed to come off a strong, when she really came off as a damn doormat. Every time she fell into Cruz's arms after he treated her like shit, I thought to myself "WTF is wrong with you, woman? Do you really have such low self-esteem that you'll take anything you can?" I couldn't respect her as a person & more importantly, as a woman for allowing that crap to happen & thinking it was okay because "they have history" & "he's so wounded inside" & "he's so damn sexy." When Cruz walked out on Lexi after finding out she was carrying his baby-because the dumbass went off of birth control for a few days in an effort to keep him out of her bed-& this stupid heifer still wanted to be with him, I was done. You two deserve each other & babe, that's not a compliment so you can put your damn panties back on.
On a bright note, this book was very easy to read. It was pure fluff & angst with a bs villain plotline thrown in for spice. I didn't need to think at all to read this book. It was less cerebral than watching Yo Gabba Gabba. Not to mention, I got my "U" book out of the way. Yay me!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2020
Şu an sevinçten kuduruyorum kendime çok güzel bir seri buldum. Kız kardeşlerin hikayesi ve savaşılacak bir soyadı mı? BEN VARIM!
İlk kitap en büyük kardeş Lexi'nin hikayesi ve benim köpeği olduğum anlaşmalı bir nişanlılık (anlaşmalı olan her şeye bayılırım hghghgh) söz konusuydu eğlenerek okudum ve hemen diğer kitaba uçuyorum bakalım daha neler yaşayacağız.
İlk kitap en büyük kardeş Lexi'nin hikayesi ve benim köpeği olduğum anlaşmalı bir nişanlılık (anlaşmalı olan her şeye bayılırım hghghgh) söz konusuydu eğlenerek okudum ve hemen diğer kitaba uçuyorum bakalım daha neler yaşayacağız.
November 3, 2014
This is a standard Susan Mallery book, which would typically make it a 3 or a 3.5 for me.
That said, I was so ridiculously turned off by the premise that there's no way I could give it anything higher than a 2 star rating.
Basically, this: HI! I'm Lexi and I come from an obscenely wealthy family but my daddy doesn't love me so I left to start my own company and earn his love. Only, I took on a really risky investor without knowing who he is and now he wants his 2 million dollars back. I can't ask daddy for it because then he won't love me for sure! And I can't ask my sister because then she'll tell daddy so she can have allllll his love and I'd have none.
:(
OH! Wait! There's that guy I gave my virginity to 10 years ago the night I met him! He says if I sleep with him for 6 months and pretend we're engaged I can HAVE 2 million dollars. It won't even be a loan!
Wait? What? Prostitution? No. No. I know him. And he won't tell daddy.
And now I love him. AND look! Because I was stupid enough to go off my birth control (oh, did I not mention that till the end of the book? Oops! Sorry!)for a little while, I'm preggers! But, he's just like daddy and doesn't love me either... I guess it's just me and baby.
Oh wait. Now he loves me! The end.
I'd already read the other books in this series - skip this one and move on.
That said, I was so ridiculously turned off by the premise that there's no way I could give it anything higher than a 2 star rating.
Basically, this: HI! I'm Lexi and I come from an obscenely wealthy family but my daddy doesn't love me so I left to start my own company and earn his love. Only, I took on a really risky investor without knowing who he is and now he wants his 2 million dollars back. I can't ask daddy for it because then he won't love me for sure! And I can't ask my sister because then she'll tell daddy so she can have allllll his love and I'd have none.
:(
OH! Wait! There's that guy I gave my virginity to 10 years ago the night I met him! He says if I sleep with him for 6 months and pretend we're engaged I can HAVE 2 million dollars. It won't even be a loan!
Wait? What? Prostitution? No. No. I know him. And he won't tell daddy.
And now I love him. AND look! Because I was stupid enough to go off my birth control (oh, did I not mention that till the end of the book? Oops! Sorry!)for a little while, I'm preggers! But, he's just like daddy and doesn't love me either... I guess it's just me and baby.
Oh wait. Now he loves me! The end.
I'd already read the other books in this series - skip this one and move on.
September 28, 2010
2 ½ stars. Much of it was ok, but nothing new or surprising. Some of the events were too convenient or contrived.
STORY BRIEF:
Jed Titan is wealthy with three grown daughters, Lexi, Skye and Izzy. He divorced one wife, and the other died. He told his daughters that only one of them will inherit everything, depending on which daughter is the most successful on her own. Lexi opened a day spa. She borrowed $2 million from an anonymous source through her banker. The source calls the loan demanding she pay it off in 21 days. She doesn’t want to ask Jed for help. Cruz conveniently overhears her dilemma and offers to give her $2 million if she will pretend to be his fiancé for six months. She agrees. This means she must sleep with him and introduce him to the right people, including politicians and potential wives. Cruz wants to marry “a woman with good bloodlines and family connections who would allow his children to have a much easier beginning than he did.” He grew up poor and started making money by racing for pink slips. He owns businesses in the car industry, is into racing, and is extremely wealthy. Ten years earlier, Lexi was attracted to Cruz and spent a night with him. She liked him a lot, but when he saw that he took her virginity, he was scared. When she saw the look on his face, she said something cruel to protect her pride. He left and they never had any further contact until now. She finds herself still drawn to him but doesn’t tell him.
A second story involves someone wanting to hurt the Titan family. This generates bad publicity for Jed, Skye, and Lexi about illegal activities and a lawsuit. None of this is true, but false statements are being made.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This is a romance novel, but it didn’t pull me in emotionally. There is nothing new, surprising, or exciting. Dialogue is unremarkable. Some of the conflicts were too convenient or contrived. More than once Lexi goes against her feelings and lies which creates false conflict. Cruz wants a connection with her so he attends a charity event. He just happens to overhear her banker discussing her financial problem which solves his problem – a little too convenient. Cruz is not likeable. He is arrogant, insensitive, and cruel to Lexi. I had trouble with the ending. Cruz conveniently changes his views of love and commitment – just in time for a happy ending. I didn’t buy it. In my opinion, changing his views needed more time, events, and emotional development.
I was unhappy that the second story about someone trying to hurt the Titan family was not finished. There are unanswered questions. I assume this story will continue into the sequels, which I do not plan to read.
DATA:
Story length: 320 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 7. Setting: current day Texas and Louisiana. Copyright: 2009. Genre: contemporary romance.
STORY BRIEF:
Jed Titan is wealthy with three grown daughters, Lexi, Skye and Izzy. He divorced one wife, and the other died. He told his daughters that only one of them will inherit everything, depending on which daughter is the most successful on her own. Lexi opened a day spa. She borrowed $2 million from an anonymous source through her banker. The source calls the loan demanding she pay it off in 21 days. She doesn’t want to ask Jed for help. Cruz conveniently overhears her dilemma and offers to give her $2 million if she will pretend to be his fiancé for six months. She agrees. This means she must sleep with him and introduce him to the right people, including politicians and potential wives. Cruz wants to marry “a woman with good bloodlines and family connections who would allow his children to have a much easier beginning than he did.” He grew up poor and started making money by racing for pink slips. He owns businesses in the car industry, is into racing, and is extremely wealthy. Ten years earlier, Lexi was attracted to Cruz and spent a night with him. She liked him a lot, but when he saw that he took her virginity, he was scared. When she saw the look on his face, she said something cruel to protect her pride. He left and they never had any further contact until now. She finds herself still drawn to him but doesn’t tell him.
A second story involves someone wanting to hurt the Titan family. This generates bad publicity for Jed, Skye, and Lexi about illegal activities and a lawsuit. None of this is true, but false statements are being made.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This is a romance novel, but it didn’t pull me in emotionally. There is nothing new, surprising, or exciting. Dialogue is unremarkable. Some of the conflicts were too convenient or contrived. More than once Lexi goes against her feelings and lies which creates false conflict. Cruz wants a connection with her so he attends a charity event. He just happens to overhear her banker discussing her financial problem which solves his problem – a little too convenient. Cruz is not likeable. He is arrogant, insensitive, and cruel to Lexi. I had trouble with the ending. Cruz conveniently changes his views of love and commitment – just in time for a happy ending. I didn’t buy it. In my opinion, changing his views needed more time, events, and emotional development.
I was unhappy that the second story about someone trying to hurt the Titan family was not finished. There are unanswered questions. I assume this story will continue into the sequels, which I do not plan to read.
DATA:
Story length: 320 pages. Swearing language: strong. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 2. Total number of sex scene pages: 7. Setting: current day Texas and Louisiana. Copyright: 2009. Genre: contemporary romance.
May 30, 2009
Susan Mallery begins another trilogy with "Under Her Skin". This series is about three sisters who find love while fighting off a malicious unknown person who appears to be trying to destroy their family. Although born of two different mothers, the Titan girls couldn't be closer and they have no intention of going down without a fight!
Lexi has always yearned for her father's approval. He's a cut-throat entrepreneur and businessman who built his inheritance into a kind of mini-kingdom. Lexi's mother left her father and left Lexi behind and she's struggled with her insecurities ever since. Now, determined to make her father notice her, she struck out and opened a spa...a very luxurious spa after an anonymous backer loaned her two million dollars. Unfortunately, that backer has called his note...immediately. If Lexi can't come up with the two mil, she'll not only lose her spa, she'll lose her chance of gaining her father's respect. What to do?
Cruz's business brain is busy scheming once he overhears Lexi talking about her problem to a friend. Cruz is a successful self-made man and has plenty of money...but not the connections necessary to break into the rarefied inner circle that Lexi has grown up in. So he proposes a deal, he'll pay her to be engaged, live with him, and sleep with him for six months--just long enough to get that 'in' he so desires. Then, they'll part as friends. No problems, eh?
It takes a talented author to make such a sordid deal into something more and Mallery has done just that. Although I had trouble warming up to Cruz at first, understanding his background and motivations made all the difference. The secondary story of the unidentified enemy is rolled out smoothly and has a semi-conclusion--it was enough to get a sense of closure for this first book in the series while still leaving enough questions to make me run out and pick up book two, "Lip Service", as soon as it hit the shelves!
Susan Mallery combines romance, a little mystery, a lot of heat, and scenes of 'girl power' into a very readable story. Of course, that doesn't surprise me since she manages to do that for me all too often. "Under Her Skin" will play with your emotions, but not enough to cause crying jags...is that a good description?
Lexi has always yearned for her father's approval. He's a cut-throat entrepreneur and businessman who built his inheritance into a kind of mini-kingdom. Lexi's mother left her father and left Lexi behind and she's struggled with her insecurities ever since. Now, determined to make her father notice her, she struck out and opened a spa...a very luxurious spa after an anonymous backer loaned her two million dollars. Unfortunately, that backer has called his note...immediately. If Lexi can't come up with the two mil, she'll not only lose her spa, she'll lose her chance of gaining her father's respect. What to do?
Cruz's business brain is busy scheming once he overhears Lexi talking about her problem to a friend. Cruz is a successful self-made man and has plenty of money...but not the connections necessary to break into the rarefied inner circle that Lexi has grown up in. So he proposes a deal, he'll pay her to be engaged, live with him, and sleep with him for six months--just long enough to get that 'in' he so desires. Then, they'll part as friends. No problems, eh?
It takes a talented author to make such a sordid deal into something more and Mallery has done just that. Although I had trouble warming up to Cruz at first, understanding his background and motivations made all the difference. The secondary story of the unidentified enemy is rolled out smoothly and has a semi-conclusion--it was enough to get a sense of closure for this first book in the series while still leaving enough questions to make me run out and pick up book two, "Lip Service", as soon as it hit the shelves!
Susan Mallery combines romance, a little mystery, a lot of heat, and scenes of 'girl power' into a very readable story. Of course, that doesn't surprise me since she manages to do that for me all too often. "Under Her Skin" will play with your emotions, but not enough to cause crying jags...is that a good description?
June 27, 2013
This book had some good points, but I just really have a hard time with straight up romance lately.
Here is my brief summation of the book.
Lexi: "I am a rich girl trying to make it on my own with some serious Daddy issues. My bank just told me I need to come up with 2 million dollars in three weeks or I lose my whole business. What ever shall I do?!?!"
Cruz: "Hey Lexi. I know I took your virginity and your car and then ran off, but you look mighty fine and I just HAPPENED to overhear you need 2 million dollars. I need your old money status, so how about I pay you 2 million dollars to marry me for one year? Win win, right?"
Lexi:" What?!?! I am offended. I will take your money but only for a 6 month engagement."
Cruz:" Ok - but I get to sleep with you."
Lexi: "Well, I guess it's better than admitting to my wealthy father that I am a failure. Ok."
Lexi moves in with Cruz.
Lexi avoids having sex with Cruz by screwing with her birth control to get her period early.
(Yeah. I saw were THAT was heading too.)
Lexi gets a kitten.
Lexi's friend and sisters all comment that she is glowing. (wait for it!)
Lexi meets Cruz's 15 year old daughter that he never mentioned. (doh!)
Lexi and Cruz and Lexi's half sisters work together to thwart an evil do-er that turns out to be their bastard half brother. (weak)
Lexi (SHOCK!) discovers she is pregnant. (Boom - There it is!)
Cruz kisses an old girlfriend and Lexi runs out on the deal, going to daddy for the money to pay him off.
Cruz goes back to Lexi and tells her they can get married, but love is stupid. Forget about ♥.
Lexi tells him to piss off
Cruz realizes (ta da!) that he DOES love Lexi and that love does not strip a man of his penis and place it in a purse that his wife takes with her to the mall.
Lexi and Cruz get back together (in a stupid car race thing that, well, is stupid.) and Lexi utters some line about "...loving Cruz was the best part of her."
And they all lived happily ever after.
And I kind of threw up in my mouth.
Here is my brief summation of the book.
Lexi: "I am a rich girl trying to make it on my own with some serious Daddy issues. My bank just told me I need to come up with 2 million dollars in three weeks or I lose my whole business. What ever shall I do?!?!"
Cruz: "Hey Lexi. I know I took your virginity and your car and then ran off, but you look mighty fine and I just HAPPENED to overhear you need 2 million dollars. I need your old money status, so how about I pay you 2 million dollars to marry me for one year? Win win, right?"
Lexi:" What?!?! I am offended. I will take your money but only for a 6 month engagement."
Cruz:" Ok - but I get to sleep with you."
Lexi: "Well, I guess it's better than admitting to my wealthy father that I am a failure. Ok."
Lexi moves in with Cruz.
Lexi avoids having sex with Cruz by screwing with her birth control to get her period early.
(Yeah. I saw were THAT was heading too.)
Lexi gets a kitten.
Lexi's friend and sisters all comment that she is glowing. (wait for it!)
Lexi meets Cruz's 15 year old daughter that he never mentioned. (doh!)
Lexi and Cruz and Lexi's half sisters work together to thwart an evil do-er that turns out to be their bastard half brother. (weak)
Lexi (SHOCK!) discovers she is pregnant. (Boom - There it is!)
Cruz kisses an old girlfriend and Lexi runs out on the deal, going to daddy for the money to pay him off.
Cruz goes back to Lexi and tells her they can get married, but love is stupid. Forget about ♥.
Lexi tells him to piss off
Cruz realizes (ta da!) that he DOES love Lexi and that love does not strip a man of his penis and place it in a purse that his wife takes with her to the mall.
Lexi and Cruz get back together (in a stupid car race thing that, well, is stupid.) and Lexi utters some line about "...loving Cruz was the best part of her."
And they all lived happily ever after.
And I kind of threw up in my mouth.
November 17, 2009
Rating: 3.5 / 5
There are a lot of great reviews and ratings for this book. Yet while I liked it, I thought it was good but on a more average level. It took me a little while to get into the story and though I liked it for the most part, I wouldn't say there was anything exceptional about it.
Summary:
In Titanville, Texas, the Titan family is the most prosperous, most influential, most esteemed family around. Sisters, Lexi, Skye and Izzy have always been close, but now their ice-hearted father has pitted them against each other over who will inherit his empire when he dies. Lexi has always wanted the family business, but in order to prove her worth, she leaves and starts her own business, a luxury spa. But now that business is in danger. She took a $2million loan from a private, unknown source that has now been called in. She has to pay it back or lose everything.
Then Cruz Rodriquez, an old flame, reenters her life and poses a deal: she acts as his fiance for six months, gives him entre into her societal world, and he'll hand over $2million. Lexi knows she should say no...being around Cruz again won't be easy, but she accepts nonetheless. And her worries were right. She can't resist Cruz and feelings she thought locked away return. But can she prove to Cruz that their relationship is worth pursuing? Can he get past he emotional scars to let her in? And beyond that, she, and her sisters, will have to face a dire threat against their family.
Review:
This is one of those random books that I can't really think of much to say. Probably because the book was good-to-average for me. Nothing stood out as really good or really bad. It was just kind of a basic contemporary romance.
The romance, for me, was rather predictable. The bad boy and the good girl years ago had a fling...the good girl wanted more but the bad boy was too emotionally shut down to stick around. Years pass and a situation puts them back together in a situation where their passion reignites. The good girl can't fight her feelings and falls in love and wants forever, but the bad-boy-made-good still a steel lock on his heart, but the good girl eventually wears him down and they live happily ever after.
It's a pretty basic storyline and in this book, there wasn't anything unique to set it apart from any other that has used that hook. At least it came off that way too me. I didn't exactly feeling like I was reading something I'd read before, verbatim, but it was a common romantic vibe. It didn't have that special unique zing to draw me in. Which is not to say it bored me, exactly. I just wanted more.
And the family dynamic had a similar feel...the kids of a remote, rich father want his love and approval and try to do anything to get it. That part of the story did bore me a little. I just wanted to tell Lexi (and the others) to forget about dear old dad and move on with their lives.
The whole thing with Garth is kinda interesting. It's part of the running arc for the entire series and I'm curious to know how it will all play out. I know that Garth will be the hero in the 4th and last book...which seems really odd because so far, he appears to be a total freakin' jerk. I'm not sure how he can be redeemed. But we'll see.
So yeah...this was an okay book for me. Leaning more to good. I would have liked it to be more unique and have a little more kick. But I liked it enough that I moved right on to the second book in the series, Lip Service.
There are a lot of great reviews and ratings for this book. Yet while I liked it, I thought it was good but on a more average level. It took me a little while to get into the story and though I liked it for the most part, I wouldn't say there was anything exceptional about it.
Summary:
In Titanville, Texas, the Titan family is the most prosperous, most influential, most esteemed family around. Sisters, Lexi, Skye and Izzy have always been close, but now their ice-hearted father has pitted them against each other over who will inherit his empire when he dies. Lexi has always wanted the family business, but in order to prove her worth, she leaves and starts her own business, a luxury spa. But now that business is in danger. She took a $2million loan from a private, unknown source that has now been called in. She has to pay it back or lose everything.
Then Cruz Rodriquez, an old flame, reenters her life and poses a deal: she acts as his fiance for six months, gives him entre into her societal world, and he'll hand over $2million. Lexi knows she should say no...being around Cruz again won't be easy, but she accepts nonetheless. And her worries were right. She can't resist Cruz and feelings she thought locked away return. But can she prove to Cruz that their relationship is worth pursuing? Can he get past he emotional scars to let her in? And beyond that, she, and her sisters, will have to face a dire threat against their family.
Review:
This is one of those random books that I can't really think of much to say. Probably because the book was good-to-average for me. Nothing stood out as really good or really bad. It was just kind of a basic contemporary romance.
The romance, for me, was rather predictable. The bad boy and the good girl years ago had a fling...the good girl wanted more but the bad boy was too emotionally shut down to stick around. Years pass and a situation puts them back together in a situation where their passion reignites. The good girl can't fight her feelings and falls in love and wants forever, but the bad-boy-made-good still a steel lock on his heart, but the good girl eventually wears him down and they live happily ever after.
It's a pretty basic storyline and in this book, there wasn't anything unique to set it apart from any other that has used that hook. At least it came off that way too me. I didn't exactly feeling like I was reading something I'd read before, verbatim, but it was a common romantic vibe. It didn't have that special unique zing to draw me in. Which is not to say it bored me, exactly. I just wanted more.
And the family dynamic had a similar feel...the kids of a remote, rich father want his love and approval and try to do anything to get it. That part of the story did bore me a little. I just wanted to tell Lexi (and the others) to forget about dear old dad and move on with their lives.
The whole thing with Garth is kinda interesting. It's part of the running arc for the entire series and I'm curious to know how it will all play out. I know that Garth will be the hero in the 4th and last book...which seems really odd because so far, he appears to be a total freakin' jerk. I'm not sure how he can be redeemed. But we'll see.
So yeah...this was an okay book for me. Leaning more to good. I would have liked it to be more unique and have a little more kick. But I liked it enough that I moved right on to the second book in the series, Lip Service.
May 5, 2017
Lexi Titan is the daughter of the wealthy Jed Titan who left the family business in order to start her own spa. After a large amount of money is recalled by her anonymous investor, she wonders how she will pay. Enter Cruz Rodriquez. He's a man of self-made wealth, a man who has made himself more important than the kid from the barrio who raced for pinks in order to get money. He is also the man she had a one-night stand with years before, the man she has never seemed to get over. He offers to give her the money. Conditionally, of course. Lexi must pretend to be engaged to Cuz for six months and introduce him to her high society friends, and she must sleep with him in order to make their relationship look realistic. A deal is struck. Little do they know, Lexi and Cruz actually enjoy being together. While they are on the road to happiness, many things get in the way: the revelation that Cruz has a child, a madman out to ruin Lexi and her family, Cruz's fear of turning into his abusive father. Eventually, Lexi feels that enough is enough and her love for Cruz is not strong enough for the both of them, so she leaves. Lexi tells Cruz that she's pregnant when he comes to see her and he leaves her. After some well-meaning advice, Cruz finally goes to Lexi, tells her he loves her, and they live happily ever after. Well, until the next tragedy strikes Lexi's family.
I absolutely love Lexi. She's determined, passionate, intelligent, sarcastic, sweet. I loved how good she was with Cruz's daughter, Kendra, and I liked when they started talking and hanging out. I knew she was going to end up being pregnant. I just knew it. I love how passionate she was about her business. It broke my heart when she realized she loved Cruz but he still couldn't acknowledge that he loved her.
Cruz was...wow. I adore him. He was sexy, strong, sarcastic, stubborn, funny. I appreciated his fear of love and being like his father; although it was evident that he would never be like his abusive father, it's hard for a person to shake that kind of fear. It broke my heart when he was mean to Lexi when he was talking to her about Kendra, and he brought me to tears when he left after Lexi told him she loved him and that she was pregnant. I wanted to slap both him and Sabrina after she kissed him, even though it didn't mean anything to him. Like Lexi, I love how passionate he was about his business. I loved the ending where Cruz challenged Lexi to a race and lets her win then tells her he loves her. I loved his mother and when Manny told him he was an idiot to let Lexi go.
At first, Kendra irritated me, even though I knew that she was hiding her pain over Cruz's neglect behind her sarcastic attitude. I ended up liking her, though, and I love that she ended up loving Lexi and telling Cruz to get her back.
I loved Dana, Skye, and Izzy, and I loved the way the four of them stuck together and helped each other out.
Jed Titan is a bastard.
What the hell is up with Garth, huh? What is the main reason behind his personal vendetta? Why not just take his anger, pain, hatred out on Jed?
I absolutely love Lexi. She's determined, passionate, intelligent, sarcastic, sweet. I loved how good she was with Cruz's daughter, Kendra, and I liked when they started talking and hanging out. I knew she was going to end up being pregnant. I just knew it. I love how passionate she was about her business. It broke my heart when she realized she loved Cruz but he still couldn't acknowledge that he loved her.
Cruz was...wow. I adore him. He was sexy, strong, sarcastic, stubborn, funny. I appreciated his fear of love and being like his father; although it was evident that he would never be like his abusive father, it's hard for a person to shake that kind of fear. It broke my heart when he was mean to Lexi when he was talking to her about Kendra, and he brought me to tears when he left after Lexi told him she loved him and that she was pregnant. I wanted to slap both him and Sabrina after she kissed him, even though it didn't mean anything to him. Like Lexi, I love how passionate he was about his business. I loved the ending where Cruz challenged Lexi to a race and lets her win then tells her he loves her. I loved his mother and when Manny told him he was an idiot to let Lexi go.
At first, Kendra irritated me, even though I knew that she was hiding her pain over Cruz's neglect behind her sarcastic attitude. I ended up liking her, though, and I love that she ended up loving Lexi and telling Cruz to get her back.
I loved Dana, Skye, and Izzy, and I loved the way the four of them stuck together and helped each other out.
Jed Titan is a bastard.
What the hell is up with Garth, huh? What is the main reason behind his personal vendetta? Why not just take his anger, pain, hatred out on Jed?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2009
I bought this book while trying to find other books by Susan Mallery. I think I liked this one more than the others I found that day.
Lexi Titan is a woman brought up in a wealthy and priviledged world, but although she has everything material, she wants the love and attention of her Father. When he tries to pit the three Titan sisters against each other Lexi goes out on her own in buisness to prove to her father that she can handle the international corporation that he owns. She gets a loan to expand her buisness from an unknown investor, but when he calls the loan she has to come up with two million dollars in just 21 days. She doesn't know where to turn until she runs into someone that she had a little fling with ten years ago.
Cruz Rodriguez is a man on the move up the wealth ladder. He has spent most of his life as an under priviledged boy from the wrong part of town. Lexi and Cruz met and spent a night together and she never really left his thoughts after that. Now he needs to meet the wealthy part of society to make his life transformation complete. Cruz makes a proposition to Lexi that they will have a fake engagement for six months but will end it all after that if she will introduce him to the big shot world that he longs to become a part of. In return he will give her the two million that she needs.
When Lexi and Cruz spend time together, living together, learning about each other, they find that they really like each other. But a wrench is thrown into the works when to many things start to go wrong with people in her family. Someone seems to be setting the family up for a fall. Cruz and Lexi try to figure out what is happening and who is behind all of these things. In the mean time they are becoming closer and closer, but Cruz is fighting it. He isn't sure that he is ready for the whole package. Wife and family. But he might just have to be when Lexi finds out that she is pregnant.
Lexi and Cruz are some of my favorite characters by Mallery. They are fun, but they are both trying to find something to fill their lives and unbeknownst to them it is each other. The only thing that I didn't care for in this story is that the mystery of the man sabotaging her family. The story will continue in the next book in the series, but I didn't even realize that the story wasn't resolved until an hour or so after finishing the book. I give this one 5 stars because of the relationship between Lexi and Cruz.
Lexi Titan is a woman brought up in a wealthy and priviledged world, but although she has everything material, she wants the love and attention of her Father. When he tries to pit the three Titan sisters against each other Lexi goes out on her own in buisness to prove to her father that she can handle the international corporation that he owns. She gets a loan to expand her buisness from an unknown investor, but when he calls the loan she has to come up with two million dollars in just 21 days. She doesn't know where to turn until she runs into someone that she had a little fling with ten years ago.
Cruz Rodriguez is a man on the move up the wealth ladder. He has spent most of his life as an under priviledged boy from the wrong part of town. Lexi and Cruz met and spent a night together and she never really left his thoughts after that. Now he needs to meet the wealthy part of society to make his life transformation complete. Cruz makes a proposition to Lexi that they will have a fake engagement for six months but will end it all after that if she will introduce him to the big shot world that he longs to become a part of. In return he will give her the two million that she needs.
When Lexi and Cruz spend time together, living together, learning about each other, they find that they really like each other. But a wrench is thrown into the works when to many things start to go wrong with people in her family. Someone seems to be setting the family up for a fall. Cruz and Lexi try to figure out what is happening and who is behind all of these things. In the mean time they are becoming closer and closer, but Cruz is fighting it. He isn't sure that he is ready for the whole package. Wife and family. But he might just have to be when Lexi finds out that she is pregnant.
Lexi and Cruz are some of my favorite characters by Mallery. They are fun, but they are both trying to find something to fill their lives and unbeknownst to them it is each other. The only thing that I didn't care for in this story is that the mystery of the man sabotaging her family. The story will continue in the next book in the series, but I didn't even realize that the story wasn't resolved until an hour or so after finishing the book. I give this one 5 stars because of the relationship between Lexi and Cruz.
November 9, 2020
Erkek karakteri sevemedim malesef .
November 5, 2010
3.5 stars because I really did like the story and characters.
In Susan Mallery's Lone Star Sisters series, we get to know the Titan sisters. This is the first book and it tells Lexi's story. Lexi Titan grew up with an incredibly rich and powerful father, owner of Titan World and in a town named Titanville after her great-great-great grandfather. Her father taught her all she knows about business and she desperately wants to take over for him. But even more than that, she wants her father to love her.
After having a loan that was supposed to be a sure thing called, Lexi is desperate to save her business, a day spa. Cruz Rodriguez sees an opportunity like none other and steps in with an offer to hand over the 2 million dollars she needs...in exchange for faking an engagement so he can get a step up & get to know the who's who of Society. Lexi accepts because not only does she need the money, but ever since she lost her virginity to Cruz 10 years ago & walked away from him in humiliation, she hasn't ever been able to keep him off her mind & his kisses set her on fire like no one else.
Even though it seemed like Cruz had an agenda for popping back into Lexi's life, I don't know that I ever figured it out. I loved how drawn they were to each other though, and the way they both were successful business owners impressed me.
I don't like Jed. He's an asshole and he doesn't deserve his daughters. I felt so bad that he couldn't be a real human being with them and that they were left with a huge hole where a father's love should have been, especially considering none of them really had a mother to speak of.
Garth is Jed's bastard son who is bent on Jed's destruction (which I support). When he was 14, he asked Jed for money for a life saving surgery for his mother who had a brain tumor - Jed threw him out on the street. So now it's payback time. However, he doesn't care about the collateral damage of hurting his sisters who have nothing to do with Jed and I don't like that. But surprisingly enough, I do like Garth. You can tell that there is something there.
As much as I liked the story and characters, the writing was a bit stop & go which distracted me. For some reason, it just didn't feel like it flowed very well. But it certainly wasn't enough to keep me from the next book!
In Susan Mallery's Lone Star Sisters series, we get to know the Titan sisters. This is the first book and it tells Lexi's story. Lexi Titan grew up with an incredibly rich and powerful father, owner of Titan World and in a town named Titanville after her great-great-great grandfather. Her father taught her all she knows about business and she desperately wants to take over for him. But even more than that, she wants her father to love her.
After having a loan that was supposed to be a sure thing called, Lexi is desperate to save her business, a day spa. Cruz Rodriguez sees an opportunity like none other and steps in with an offer to hand over the 2 million dollars she needs...in exchange for faking an engagement so he can get a step up & get to know the who's who of Society. Lexi accepts because not only does she need the money, but ever since she lost her virginity to Cruz 10 years ago & walked away from him in humiliation, she hasn't ever been able to keep him off her mind & his kisses set her on fire like no one else.
Even though it seemed like Cruz had an agenda for popping back into Lexi's life, I don't know that I ever figured it out. I loved how drawn they were to each other though, and the way they both were successful business owners impressed me.
I don't like Jed. He's an asshole and he doesn't deserve his daughters. I felt so bad that he couldn't be a real human being with them and that they were left with a huge hole where a father's love should have been, especially considering none of them really had a mother to speak of.
Garth is Jed's bastard son who is bent on Jed's destruction (which I support). When he was 14, he asked Jed for money for a life saving surgery for his mother who had a brain tumor - Jed threw him out on the street. So now it's payback time. However, he doesn't care about the collateral damage of hurting his sisters who have nothing to do with Jed and I don't like that. But surprisingly enough, I do like Garth. You can tell that there is something there.
As much as I liked the story and characters, the writing was a bit stop & go which distracted me. For some reason, it just didn't feel like it flowed very well. But it certainly wasn't enough to keep me from the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2013
"Ricchezza e privilegi. Ma quella non era la vita reale. La vita era incasinata, piena di imprevisti ed eccitante. Non contava il lignaggio, solo il cuore. La vita era dare e accettare, condividere e aiutare."
Primo impatto con questa autrice e sono abbastanza soddisfatta. L'eredità nel cuore apre la serie dedicata alle sorelle Titan Lexi, Skye e Izzy cresciute tra ricchezza e privilegi ma in cerca solo dell'amore del padre, un uomo estremamente manipolatore. Proprio mentre Lexi sta affrontando una difficile situazione economica, arriva in suo soccorso Cruz, il suo prima amore (e amante). Allora era un ragazzo affascinante ma povero, che partecipava alle corse di auto clandestine per mettere da parte i soldi. Ora Cruz è diventato ricco proprio con le auto da corsa ed è disposto a tirare fuori dai guai Lexy in cambio dei suoi agganci sociali (e di un finto fidanzamento). Chiaramente tra i due riesploderà la passione e poi l'amore, ma per Cruz che è cresciuto con un padre violento e ha sempre visto l'amore come una debolezza fatale, non sarà facile venire a patti con i suoi sentimenti (e riallacciare i rapporti con una figlia adolescente di cui si è sempre lavato le mani XD). A fare da sfondo ci sono le altre sorelle, la raffinata Skye (priva di spina dorsale) e l'irriverente Izzy (sicuramente quella con più carattere) oltre all'amica poliziotta Dana, leale e decisa. Cruz è il classico play boy dal passato difficile che a volte vorresti prendere a pezze, ma sa anche commuoverti con la sua gentilezza mentre Lexy ci viene presentata come una donna che si è voluta distaccare dalla fortuna paterna per creare qualcosa di suo, ma in verità ogni sua azione è volta a vincere l'eredità e con essa l'affetto del padre Jed che le fa ballare tutte e tre come burattini, come fossero ancora bambine XD Anche se alla fine Lexy finalmente si distaccherà da questo rapporto morboso non vedo altrettanto bene Skye, la più debole caratterialmente tra le sorelle e anche la più succube del padre. Spero di ricredermi nel prossimo ;)
Primo impatto con questa autrice e sono abbastanza soddisfatta. L'eredità nel cuore apre la serie dedicata alle sorelle Titan Lexi, Skye e Izzy cresciute tra ricchezza e privilegi ma in cerca solo dell'amore del padre, un uomo estremamente manipolatore. Proprio mentre Lexi sta affrontando una difficile situazione economica, arriva in suo soccorso Cruz, il suo prima amore (e amante). Allora era un ragazzo affascinante ma povero, che partecipava alle corse di auto clandestine per mettere da parte i soldi. Ora Cruz è diventato ricco proprio con le auto da corsa ed è disposto a tirare fuori dai guai Lexy in cambio dei suoi agganci sociali (e di un finto fidanzamento). Chiaramente tra i due riesploderà la passione e poi l'amore, ma per Cruz che è cresciuto con un padre violento e ha sempre visto l'amore come una debolezza fatale, non sarà facile venire a patti con i suoi sentimenti (e riallacciare i rapporti con una figlia adolescente di cui si è sempre lavato le mani XD). A fare da sfondo ci sono le altre sorelle, la raffinata Skye (priva di spina dorsale) e l'irriverente Izzy (sicuramente quella con più carattere) oltre all'amica poliziotta Dana, leale e decisa. Cruz è il classico play boy dal passato difficile che a volte vorresti prendere a pezze, ma sa anche commuoverti con la sua gentilezza mentre Lexy ci viene presentata come una donna che si è voluta distaccare dalla fortuna paterna per creare qualcosa di suo, ma in verità ogni sua azione è volta a vincere l'eredità e con essa l'affetto del padre Jed che le fa ballare tutte e tre come burattini, come fossero ancora bambine XD Anche se alla fine Lexy finalmente si distaccherà da questo rapporto morboso non vedo altrettanto bene Skye, la più debole caratterialmente tra le sorelle e anche la più succube del padre. Spero di ricredermi nel prossimo ;)
January 24, 2012
I remembering wondering, when this series came out, why it wasn’t getting the media buzz of Mallory’s previous “Sweet” series. (And later, the “Fools Gold” series.) Perhaps it’s because it doesn’t have a cute hook, like a family bakery or an all-female small town: in fact, the premise is rather off-putting. Texas tycoon Jed Titan has promised his entire inheritance to whichever of his three daughters is the most successful, pitting them against each other; meanwhile, a stranger with a grudge is trying to bring the whole family down. It’s kind of “Dallas” (with shades of “The Big Valley,”) and extremely predictable -- I knew basically how the plots of the other three books were going to go before I even looked at their descriptions. But of course that doesn’t mean the stories aren’t effective, or the books enjoyable. (ETA: After starting the second book, I have to retract what I said -- there's a definite curveball thrown in that one.)
Lexi, the eldest Titan daughter, desperately wants to succeed and win the Titan inheritance -- less for money than because she also hopes to win her hardhearted father’s love. But her day-spa business is threatened when an enormous loan is unexpectedly called in. When her long ago first lover Cruz turns up, now very successful and wanting an entree into upper-class society, she enters into a bargain with him: she’ll pose as Cruz’s fiance and he’ll pay off the loan -- and find out why it was called in the first place.
I started out without much respect for Lexi, who made an extremely foolish decision; Cruz was hard to like as well, often seeming cruel and insensitive. As the story progresses, both characters improve, especially Cruz, who starts to see his mistakes and learn from them. They never really “popped” for me as a couple, but the smoothly written story was pleasant to read and the tension has been successfully built for the rest of the series.
Lexi, the eldest Titan daughter, desperately wants to succeed and win the Titan inheritance -- less for money than because she also hopes to win her hardhearted father’s love. But her day-spa business is threatened when an enormous loan is unexpectedly called in. When her long ago first lover Cruz turns up, now very successful and wanting an entree into upper-class society, she enters into a bargain with him: she’ll pose as Cruz’s fiance and he’ll pay off the loan -- and find out why it was called in the first place.
I started out without much respect for Lexi, who made an extremely foolish decision; Cruz was hard to like as well, often seeming cruel and insensitive. As the story progresses, both characters improve, especially Cruz, who starts to see his mistakes and learn from them. They never really “popped” for me as a couple, but the smoothly written story was pleasant to read and the tension has been successfully built for the rest of the series.
May 14, 2019
Fake relationship turns real in this story starring Lexi, day spa owner and daughter of one of the wealthiest, most influential people in town, and Cruz, a man much like her father who is not a member of the high class Texas society.
Lexi, who took a loan from a private investor to start her business, is in a bind since she must repay the whole sum in a month. She can't go to her sisters or father for help, since they're competing for the family business, so she ends up accepting an unconventional offer by a surprising source.
Cruz, whom , needs someone to ease his way into the snobby high class society, and is willing to pay her loan for her if she'd do that for him by pretending to be his fiance for six months.
Cruz has issues and sees love as a weakness and keeps everyone at arm's length, including . That doesn't deter Lexi from falling for him and hoping he'll change his mind.
Eventually .
There's the issue of someone who wants to bring the whole family down, , but he'll probably be dealt with in the remaining two books of the series.
Next comes Lip Service and "homebody" Skye's story.
Lexi, who took a loan from a private investor to start her business, is in a bind since she must repay the whole sum in a month. She can't go to her sisters or father for help, since they're competing for the family business, so she ends up accepting an unconventional offer by a surprising source.
Cruz, whom , needs someone to ease his way into the snobby high class society, and is willing to pay her loan for her if she'd do that for him by pretending to be his fiance for six months.
Cruz has issues and sees love as a weakness and keeps everyone at arm's length, including . That doesn't deter Lexi from falling for him and hoping he'll change his mind.
Eventually .
There's the issue of someone who wants to bring the whole family down, , but he'll probably be dealt with in the remaining two books of the series.
Next comes Lip Service and "homebody" Skye's story.
March 27, 2011
"Under Her Skin" by Susan Mallery is the first in her Lone Star Sisters series. There are 3 sisters and 1 very good friend and they will all get their own book. This first book is about the oldest sister, Lexi Titan. She is the daughter of Jed Titan and she has had a very affluent upbringing, but has always felt unloved. Her mother left when she was a toddler and her father either doesn't know how, or doesn't care enough to show any love. She builds her own business, a successful day spa, but in trying to prove herself to her father, she makes a dangerous business mistake. On the advice of her banker, she borrows 2 million dollars from an anonymous investor (anonymous to her, the banker has worked with him before with good results, hence the recommendation). The catch is that the loan is callable with only 21 days notice. She is assured this probably won't happen, but it does. In steps the story's hero, Cruz Rodriquez, her first love who loans her the money with the agreement that she will become engaged to him for 6 months. Why? He has money and success, but he grew up in the Bario and people in the upper echelon of society don't take him seriously and he wants in, or thinks he does. He wants Lexi to give him entry into this society. After 6 months, they agree to go their separate ways. You know what they say about best laid plans. I would give this 4.5 stars. I like the writing style and I like the sisters and Cruz is a wonderful, strong hero with just enough vulnerability and flaws to be interesting. Well worth reading.
January 1, 2016
well 3.5 stars.
The story is not bad, it's like a helongated version of a Harlequin story. Lexi is the first of three sisters, they had a strange father, always ready to put his daughters against one other :(
In order to gain her father respect and love, Lexi decided to fly on her own and opened a spa. Some time after the opening she received a financial help from an anonymous person. Now she has 2 weeks to get back with 2 millions. The father discarded, she goes to an old lover, Cruz and he tells her she can have the money but she has to be her fiancèe for 6 months, introducing him in the high-society and sleeping in his bed (!).
She accepts (!!) and voilat, they live together. Cruz helps Lexi and they discover that the man trying to ruin Lexi's family is a son, a man her father never recognized. He is ready to destroy the family. Lexi's father and a sister of her get some troubles from this man but Lexi's father is mentally disturbed, because it seems he's proud of what his "son" is doing :(
Ok, obviously she gets pregnant (Harlequin, we know) and in the end she decides to leave Cruz, asking her father for the money (and so losing his respect forever).
But Cruz wins her back and so we have our HEA :)
The story is not bad, it's like a helongated version of a Harlequin story. Lexi is the first of three sisters, they had a strange father, always ready to put his daughters against one other :(
In order to gain her father respect and love, Lexi decided to fly on her own and opened a spa. Some time after the opening she received a financial help from an anonymous person. Now she has 2 weeks to get back with 2 millions. The father discarded, she goes to an old lover, Cruz and he tells her she can have the money but she has to be her fiancèe for 6 months, introducing him in the high-society and sleeping in his bed (!).
She accepts (!!) and voilat, they live together. Cruz helps Lexi and they discover that the man trying to ruin Lexi's family is a son, a man her father never recognized. He is ready to destroy the family. Lexi's father and a sister of her get some troubles from this man but Lexi's father is mentally disturbed, because it seems he's proud of what his "son" is doing :(
Ok, obviously she gets pregnant (Harlequin, we know) and in the end she decides to leave Cruz, asking her father for the money (and so losing his respect forever).
But Cruz wins her back and so we have our HEA :)
July 15, 2015
Das Setting in Texas fand ich toll! Das ganze hat mich deswegen ziemlich an die Serie Dallas erinnert (ihr wisst schon: der große Firmenchef, der keine Gefühle zulässt, dann noch seine Töchter, die gern mehr wären als nur sein Kind und natürlich viele Intrigen). Der Roman war aus der dritten Person geschrieben - ich hätte mich wahrscheinlich besser in Lexi und Cruz hineinversetzten können, wenn man öfter ihre Gedanken mitverfolgen hätte können. Trotzdem aber ein sehr flüssiger Schreibstil & eine spannende Geschichte :)
April 1, 2011
I absolutely adored this book! Lexi and Cruz were so good together and the bond between sisters was so real. It read just like a real family would interact with each other. The HEA? Awesome.
Off to find the rest of this series!
Off to find the rest of this series!
June 14, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this emotionally charged romance from beginning to end. Lexie turned so strong and determined, just loved her. The narrator added a great deal to the story. Happy reading/listening!
January 15, 2025
Mükemmel bir serinin ilk kitabı. Lexi ve Cruz, mükemmeldi. Serinin hepsi elimde var. Mutlaka okuyacağım. Okuması kolay. Yoğun geçen şu günlerde ilaç gibi geldi. Günümüz dönem romance sevenlere tavsiye ederim
July 23, 2023
Older book,but you couldn’t tell…I loved it & ready to read the second one 💕
December 22, 2013
Daebak! Kaga berasa bacanya tau2 jam 5 pagi hehehehehe
Lexie, anak pertama dr Jed Tiran orang kaya lama di daerah Texas yg memiliki segalanya, semua orang mengira die punya segalanya, bahagia dan yah gimana si... kehidupan yg hanya bisa diliat di layar kaca. Tapi, sayangnya Lexie bahkan harus berjuang untuk mendapatkan pengakuan dari ayahnya sendiri (Jed emang mengerikan). Bahkan ayahnya membuat die dan 2 sodaranya (heroine buku 2/3) saling bersaing satu sama lain. Jed si bilangnya siapa yg bs membuktikan dirinya sbg "winner" bakalan dapet segalanya, dr kerajaan bisnisnya ampe pengakuan dan kasih sayang dr babenya (ajib bgt babe kek gt). Makanya pas Lexie tiba2 di kasih tau kl die musti ngebalikin duit dr investor misterius yg minjemin die dana buat buka usaha spa (die musti membuktikan dirinya bisa sukses kan) die kaga mkn minta duit ke bpknya / saudaranya kr otomatis die bakalan dianggep kalah.
Cruz, sekarang kaya raya, punya kerajaan bisnisnya sendiri, tapi bukan berarti die bisa diterima di man asaja, die ttp dipandang sebelah mata, bahkan di acuhkan oleh orang2 kaya yg memang ude kaya dr lahir (kl di HR si sebutannya ton hehehe). Die ttp dipandang sbg anak miskin dr pinggiran, makanya Cruz membutuhkan tiket berupa istri dr golongan itu untuk membukakan pintu bagi die. Nah, pas lg di pesta amal die denger pembicaraan Lexie ama bankir nya ttg Lexie yg butuh duit. Cruz, nawarin kesepakatan ama lexie die mo kasih duit yg lexie butuhin dgn syarat lexie jadi istrinya 1th, dan musti ngenalin die ke semua orang penting, tp perjanjiannya jg termasuk lexie bobo ama die (halah alesan kekekekek)
10 th yg lalu, pas Cruz masih jadi pembalap (bkn si, apa ya sebutannya, pokoknya pemalap liar yg make taruhan siapa yg menang dpt mobile yg kalah) lexie dgn teledornya kalah dr Cruz dan mobilnya pun melayang, tp bkn itu aja si.. saat itu lexie jg bobo bareng Cruz dan pas paginya Cruz ngerasa dijebak kr itu pertama kalinya bagi lexie, dan lexie seorang Tiran kan, die py harga diri yg amat tinggi, jd die bilang ke Cruz, tenang aja orang kek "kami" tdk akan berkencan dgn orang sepertimu, dan abis itu mereka dendam2an hmpfh (emang ye, gw jg kl terpojok dan untuk melindungi diri berubah jd jutek se jutek2nya hmpfh)
Yah gitu, pas mereka ketemu lagi dan pedar2 itu masih ada (hayyah), lexie jg butuh tu duit dan ga mau terlihat kalah d mata keluarganya, die nego ama Cruz, 6 bulan tungangan, die akan membukakan semua pintu bagi Cruz. Dan apa jadinya ketika Lexie sadar kl die jatcin ama Cruz, tapi Cruz
dan Jed ini serupa? Apa die mau ambil resiko itu?
Trus siapa investor misterius lexie? Trus tiba2 keluarganya banyak sekali mendapatkan ancaman, siapa yg ingin menjatuhkan keluarga Tiran? Ga berasa bgt bacanya pokoknya hehehehehee
Lanjut buku 2, adek tirinya Lexie, mereka b3 ini aslinya deket banget... tp emang babenya nyebelin!!!!!
Lexie, anak pertama dr Jed Tiran orang kaya lama di daerah Texas yg memiliki segalanya, semua orang mengira die punya segalanya, bahagia dan yah gimana si... kehidupan yg hanya bisa diliat di layar kaca. Tapi, sayangnya Lexie bahkan harus berjuang untuk mendapatkan pengakuan dari ayahnya sendiri (Jed emang mengerikan). Bahkan ayahnya membuat die dan 2 sodaranya (heroine buku 2/3) saling bersaing satu sama lain. Jed si bilangnya siapa yg bs membuktikan dirinya sbg "winner" bakalan dapet segalanya, dr kerajaan bisnisnya ampe pengakuan dan kasih sayang dr babenya (ajib bgt babe kek gt). Makanya pas Lexie tiba2 di kasih tau kl die musti ngebalikin duit dr investor misterius yg minjemin die dana buat buka usaha spa (die musti membuktikan dirinya bisa sukses kan) die kaga mkn minta duit ke bpknya / saudaranya kr otomatis die bakalan dianggep kalah.
Cruz, sekarang kaya raya, punya kerajaan bisnisnya sendiri, tapi bukan berarti die bisa diterima di man asaja, die ttp dipandang sebelah mata, bahkan di acuhkan oleh orang2 kaya yg memang ude kaya dr lahir (kl di HR si sebutannya ton hehehe). Die ttp dipandang sbg anak miskin dr pinggiran, makanya Cruz membutuhkan tiket berupa istri dr golongan itu untuk membukakan pintu bagi die. Nah, pas lg di pesta amal die denger pembicaraan Lexie ama bankir nya ttg Lexie yg butuh duit. Cruz, nawarin kesepakatan ama lexie die mo kasih duit yg lexie butuhin dgn syarat lexie jadi istrinya 1th, dan musti ngenalin die ke semua orang penting, tp perjanjiannya jg termasuk lexie bobo ama die (halah alesan kekekekek)
10 th yg lalu, pas Cruz masih jadi pembalap (bkn si, apa ya sebutannya, pokoknya pemalap liar yg make taruhan siapa yg menang dpt mobile yg kalah) lexie dgn teledornya kalah dr Cruz dan mobilnya pun melayang, tp bkn itu aja si.. saat itu lexie jg bobo bareng Cruz dan pas paginya Cruz ngerasa dijebak kr itu pertama kalinya bagi lexie, dan lexie seorang Tiran kan, die py harga diri yg amat tinggi, jd die bilang ke Cruz, tenang aja orang kek "kami" tdk akan berkencan dgn orang sepertimu, dan abis itu mereka dendam2an hmpfh (emang ye, gw jg kl terpojok dan untuk melindungi diri berubah jd jutek se jutek2nya hmpfh)
Yah gitu, pas mereka ketemu lagi dan pedar2 itu masih ada (hayyah), lexie jg butuh tu duit dan ga mau terlihat kalah d mata keluarganya, die nego ama Cruz, 6 bulan tungangan, die akan membukakan semua pintu bagi Cruz. Dan apa jadinya ketika Lexie sadar kl die jatcin ama Cruz, tapi Cruz
dan Jed ini serupa? Apa die mau ambil resiko itu?
Trus siapa investor misterius lexie? Trus tiba2 keluarganya banyak sekali mendapatkan ancaman, siapa yg ingin menjatuhkan keluarga Tiran? Ga berasa bgt bacanya pokoknya hehehehehee
Lanjut buku 2, adek tirinya Lexie, mereka b3 ini aslinya deket banget... tp emang babenya nyebelin!!!!!
April 26, 2016
Thanks to my BBI bro, Apin, yang menghadiahkan buku ini padaku. Senangnyaaaaa~
Bercerita mengenai seorang anak yang mencari pengakuan dari sang ayah, Lexi Titan membuktikan bahwa dirinya berhak atas kerajaan Titan dengan membangun salon spa miliknya. Sayangnya, sang investor menarik uang yang ditanamkan dan Lexi harus mengembalikan uang sebesar 2 juta dollar dalam waktu 21 hari. Dan meminta uang kepada ayahnya adalah hal yang tidak mungkin Lexi lakukan.
Cruz Rodriguez tanpa sengaja mendengar hal ini ketika Lexi berbicara dengan bankirnya. Cruz membutuhkan akses kelas atas karena walaupun Cruz adalah orang kaya, dia hanya dipandang sebelah atas oleh kaum elite tersebut karena ia tidak memiliki 'darah biru'. Melalui Lexi lah ia berharap dapat melebarkan koneksinya ke kalangan atas.
Perjanjian 6 bulan bertunangan, satu rumah, satu ranjang, dan tentunya Lexi miliknya seutuhnya, uang 2 juta dollar dan akses ke kalangan atas menjadi kesepakatan mereka.
Under Her Skin menurutku ceritanya sederhana, semacam cinta lama bersemi kembali, dengan segala kontrak-kontraknya. Cheesy, right? Menurut aku ini udah formula dalam cerita Harlequin sih. Nothing new, tapi entah mengapa Susan Mallery bisa membuat ceritanya menjadi menarik. Ada misteri juga dibalik cerita ini ;)
I love the ending, Cruz-nya so sweet banget lah. Dibalik sikap yang dia tunjukkan kepada orang lain, di dalamnya sebenarnya dia baik banget.
Overall, seandainya saja terjemahannya lebih baik, aku pasti suka dan menikmati ceritanya. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought, though I like the characters and plot.
Complete review: Harlequin Romance
Bercerita mengenai seorang anak yang mencari pengakuan dari sang ayah, Lexi Titan membuktikan bahwa dirinya berhak atas kerajaan Titan dengan membangun salon spa miliknya. Sayangnya, sang investor menarik uang yang ditanamkan dan Lexi harus mengembalikan uang sebesar 2 juta dollar dalam waktu 21 hari. Dan meminta uang kepada ayahnya adalah hal yang tidak mungkin Lexi lakukan.
Cruz Rodriguez tanpa sengaja mendengar hal ini ketika Lexi berbicara dengan bankirnya. Cruz membutuhkan akses kelas atas karena walaupun Cruz adalah orang kaya, dia hanya dipandang sebelah atas oleh kaum elite tersebut karena ia tidak memiliki 'darah biru'. Melalui Lexi lah ia berharap dapat melebarkan koneksinya ke kalangan atas.
Perjanjian 6 bulan bertunangan, satu rumah, satu ranjang, dan tentunya Lexi miliknya seutuhnya, uang 2 juta dollar dan akses ke kalangan atas menjadi kesepakatan mereka.
Under Her Skin menurutku ceritanya sederhana, semacam cinta lama bersemi kembali, dengan segala kontrak-kontraknya. Cheesy, right? Menurut aku ini udah formula dalam cerita Harlequin sih. Nothing new, tapi entah mengapa Susan Mallery bisa membuat ceritanya menjadi menarik. Ada misteri juga dibalik cerita ini ;)
I love the ending, Cruz-nya so sweet banget lah. Dibalik sikap yang dia tunjukkan kepada orang lain, di dalamnya sebenarnya dia baik banget.
Overall, seandainya saja terjemahannya lebih baik, aku pasti suka dan menikmati ceritanya. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought, though I like the characters and plot.
Complete review: Harlequin Romance
August 12, 2013
This was one of those books where the truth was obvious to everyone but the main characters.
***Few Details***
UNDER HER SKIN had a twinge of irritation with it because the characters wouldn’t see what was right in front of their faces.
The Titan sisters long for their father’s love, but Jed Titan is not a man who allows himself to love. He’s pitted the sisters against each other in an all-out war in order for only one of them to inherit his fortune.
As the oldest, Lexi seemed to have the most longing to please her father. She quit working at Titan and started her own spa business to show herself business savvy to Jed.
Now though, her secret loan lender is demanding the loan back in full with only three weeks to come up with the money. Going to her father or sisters are out of the question, for it would surely take her out of the running for the business.
Which is how Cruz Rodriguez comes into the picture and saves the day. Growing up poor with an abusive father, Cruz was willing to do anything to change his fate. Now always going about things legally, now Cruz is full of wealth, but lacks acceptance.
Ten years ago, Cruz was Lexi’s first and now Cruz wants her to get him into her world. Giving her the money to pay her loan back, Lexi is to give him a six month engagement and introduce him to the right people.
Nothing is as it seems and the past shapes everything. Lexi and Cruz must learn to carve their own paths and put the past and expectations to rest.
I enjoyed the Titan sisters and look forward to Skye finally getting her happily ever after of her choice.
***Few Details***
UNDER HER SKIN had a twinge of irritation with it because the characters wouldn’t see what was right in front of their faces.
The Titan sisters long for their father’s love, but Jed Titan is not a man who allows himself to love. He’s pitted the sisters against each other in an all-out war in order for only one of them to inherit his fortune.
As the oldest, Lexi seemed to have the most longing to please her father. She quit working at Titan and started her own spa business to show herself business savvy to Jed.
Now though, her secret loan lender is demanding the loan back in full with only three weeks to come up with the money. Going to her father or sisters are out of the question, for it would surely take her out of the running for the business.
Which is how Cruz Rodriguez comes into the picture and saves the day. Growing up poor with an abusive father, Cruz was willing to do anything to change his fate. Now always going about things legally, now Cruz is full of wealth, but lacks acceptance.
Ten years ago, Cruz was Lexi’s first and now Cruz wants her to get him into her world. Giving her the money to pay her loan back, Lexi is to give him a six month engagement and introduce him to the right people.
Nothing is as it seems and the past shapes everything. Lexi and Cruz must learn to carve their own paths and put the past and expectations to rest.
I enjoyed the Titan sisters and look forward to Skye finally getting her happily ever after of her choice.
August 27, 2009
I dunno what happened since I usually like reading Susan Mallery's books but they aren't entertain me that much. But this one was sooo different since I enjoyed it from page 1. It was funny, had a lot of romance, wit, drama and some kind of mystery. Which I can't wait to find out more about. Book 2 is sooo waiting for me. :)
This is book 1 of Mallery's "Lone Star Sisters" series and I can't wait to read the other ones since I fell in love with all the characters from the beginning. Every one is unique and I wanna find out more what will happen to them. Especially what is behind Izzy and her story (book 3).
But this was about Lexi, the oldest sister. I really liked her. Especially her interactions with her 2 sisters or her friend Dana, which, let's be honest, was awesome. I want a book about Dana. She rocked and I loved her sarcasm. *giggles*
And Cruz was just...hmmm. I so could imagine him, although I didn't quite get why he had such an issue but well...the two lovebirds can't be together at the beginning already, I get that. ;)
Still, I loved how their relationship changed, how Cruz started to get involved with Kendra (ick-factor-alert LOL). And the ending was really sweet with the car race. Awww.
So yes, I can't wait to read the other 2 books. I highly rec this book if you look for a nice book with love, romance and drama. You won't be disappointed! :)
This is book 1 of Mallery's "Lone Star Sisters" series and I can't wait to read the other ones since I fell in love with all the characters from the beginning. Every one is unique and I wanna find out more what will happen to them. Especially what is behind Izzy and her story (book 3).
But this was about Lexi, the oldest sister. I really liked her. Especially her interactions with her 2 sisters or her friend Dana, which, let's be honest, was awesome. I want a book about Dana. She rocked and I loved her sarcasm. *giggles*
And Cruz was just...hmmm. I so could imagine him, although I didn't quite get why he had such an issue but well...the two lovebirds can't be together at the beginning already, I get that. ;)
Still, I loved how their relationship changed, how Cruz started to get involved with Kendra (ick-factor-alert LOL). And the ending was really sweet with the car race. Awww.
So yes, I can't wait to read the other 2 books. I highly rec this book if you look for a nice book with love, romance and drama. You won't be disappointed! :)
October 3, 2012
Lexi Titan babası Jed in onlara şart koştuğu koşullarda kendi işin kurar ve bunun için riskli kararlar almak zorunda kalır ..bunlardan biri yatırımcısının belli olmadığı birinden 2 milyon dolar alması ve gençlik aşkı Cruz un ona sahte nişanlık teklif etmesidir...Cruz yıllar geçtikçe güçlenmiş , senginleşmiş ve şimdide sosyeteye ve daha önemlisi onu önemsiz gören bu tabakaya adım atmak istemektedir , bunun içinde Lexi den 6 aylık bir süre için sahte nişanlısı olmasını ve bu amacı için ona yardım etmesini ister ..Şartlları belli olan bu oyunda durum her ikisi içinde oldukça zorludur ve zamanla beklenmedik olaylarla çiftimiz birbirine gittikçe yakınlaşır ..Seden Gürel in çevirisi ile katkıda bulunduğu bu hikayeyi ben severek okudum..Orta ölçekli bir hikaye olmasına rağmen keyifli ve eğlendiriciydi..Okumayı düşünen arkadaşlarımız varsa tavsiye ederim .kitapta yer alan diğer iki kızkardeş Skye ve Izzy nin hikayelerini de merak ediyorum ...ama açıkçası çıkarmı bilemiyorum :( Velev ki çıktı okumayı düşünürüm. :))) Ülkemizde isteklerimizi söylemek baskı anlamına geldiği için ancak umut etmekle kalıyorum :)))))
May 21, 2012
Susan Mallery tarzını seviyorum bu kitapta çok güzeldi. Hem güldüren hem hüzünlendiren okurken sıkmayan bir kitap. babalarının sevgisini kazanmak isteyen 3 kız kardeş var babaları biraz zalim rekabeti seven başarısızlığa tahammulü olmana biri ve mirasını tek bir kişiye bırakacağını söylüyor. Kızımızda Spa sahibi ama zamanında borç almış borç geri çağırılınca paraya ihtiyacı oluyor ama babasına gidemiyor haliyle Daha sonra adamımız Cruz ortaya çıkıyor ondada para var ama kızın çevresince kabul görmek istiyor ve bir anlaşma yapıyorlar. Bir süre nişanlı kalmak süretiyle parayı vermeği teklif ediyor böylece olaylar gelişiyor.
Cruz ve Lexinin geçmiştende bir kapanmamış hesapları mevcut çözülmesi gereken sorunlar var yani
En küçük kız kardeşim tavırlarını biraz abartı bulup hoşlanmasamda diğer kardeşleride okumak için bekliyorum
Cruz ve Lexinin geçmiştende bir kapanmamış hesapları mevcut çözülmesi gereken sorunlar var yani
En küçük kız kardeşim tavırlarını biraz abartı bulup hoşlanmasamda diğer kardeşleride okumak için bekliyorum
October 13, 2018
I really liked the story in Under Her Skin by Susan Mallery. However, I cannot say the same thing for the narrator, Julie Francis. She was very monotone and it was very hard to distinguish between the characters. Her verbal characterization for the main character Cruz Rodriguez came across very feminine. Although I love listening to audiobooks, this is one series that I will look for in print at my local library.
Go Cards! L1C4!!
Go Cards! L1C4!!
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