Second Time's the Charm / Her Secret Billionaire (Harlequin Desire)
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
Author:
Genres: Literature & Fiction, Romance
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
SECOND TIME'S THE CHARM
Good conclusion to the series. Charm is the last of the Westmoreland Outlaw siblings and the only girl. She is wealthy, beautiful, and more than a little spoiled by her father. The story opens as Charm is in Cancun for a friend's wedding. There she spots a face from her past that brings back many good and bad memories. She and Dylan had met ten years earlier and fallen in love. But Charm was sixteen to Dylan's eighteen, and her father disapproved. Despite Bart's order to stop seeing each other, Charm and Dylan continued to see each other secretly for the next two years. Then they had a traumatic/dramatic breakup and haven't seen each other since then.
After his breakup with Charm, Dylan became an internationally acclaimed jazz musician. It's been a good life, but he's been wary of trusting his heart to another woman. He's shocked to see Charm and surprised she still stirs his feelings. Though he doesn't intend to restart their relationship, he'd like the chance to clear the air and find closure.
Charm reminded me too much of her father at this point. A ruthless businessman and dictatorial father, he's only recently started to change his ways. When Dylan comes to Charm and suggests they go out, she's ready to accept - and plots her revenge for their breakup. Charm stubbornly sticks to her plans even when her friends try to talk her out of it. Her old feelings for him come back to life as she and Dylan spend time together. I liked their time together and seeing their connection deepen and grow. I loved Dylan and seeing how he embraced his renewed love for Charm. Charm continued to rub me the wrong way as her conscience and feelings for Dylan warred with that need for revenge. I wanted to shake her when she carried out her plan and ached for Dylan and his feelings of betrayal.
I had little sympathy for Charm and her misery over leaving Dylan. She brought it entirely on herself with her actions. Dylan wouldn't let her get away without an explanation this time, and he quickly showed up to confront her. The sparks flew as their hurt and anger over their past breakup boiled over, with both shocked to discover the truth behind what happened. I never could figure out how they hadn't realized the truth at the time. But this time, the damage is done by Charm, who couldn't let go of the past, and threw away what could have been a great future.
I loved Charm's confrontation with her father and her realization of how badly she'd behaved. Bart surprised me with his reaction and what he did afterward. Both Dylan and Charm must find a way to overcome the hurt and bitterness of the past if they want to have a future together. Dylan won my heart with his big moment at the end. It was sweet and romantic. I would have liked to see more repentance on Charm's part - I thought she got off relatively easily.
HER SECRET BILLIONAIRE
Good book. This is the second in the series, but there was enough backstory given that I didn't feel lost. Egypt received an unexpected inheritance a year earlier and used that money to jump-start her dream of owning her own restaurant. Flame has been open for several months and is doing well. Relationships are on the back burner after a breakup caused Egypt to distrust all men and doubt her judgment. One night a man comes into the restaurant that changes everything.
Garrett is his family business's CEO and has a ruthless reputation. As the book opens, he's arguing with his father over a piece of property left to him by his grandfather. Garrett has fond memories of the farm and his time with his grandfather. His father wants him to sell it, and Garrett refuses. Frustrated with his dad, Garrett decides to visit the farm and review the books, hoping to revitalize it. On the way, he stops by a new restaurant recommended by a friend.
I loved the first meeting between Egypt and Garrett. The sparks between them are immediately apparent, but Egypt turns down Garrett's first request for a date. Not to be deterred, Garrett sticks around until closing and asks again, and Egypt gives in. But as Garrett leaves the restaurant, he is attacked and spends two months in a coma in the hospital. Egypt is undeniably drawn to him and visits every day. She's there when he wakes up, only to discover that he can only remember her!
I ached for Garrett and the confusion he felt. A vague memory of a farm and the muscle memory of a phone number puts him in touch with the foreman of the property. This is where things go a little off the rails. Kent tells Garrett he's an orphan, raised by his grandfather, and that the farm is in trouble. He goes there when he leaves the hospital, but something feels wrong. However, he puts his mind toward saving the farm, giving him something productive to do while waiting for his memory to return.
Meanwhile, Garrett doesn't back off of his fascination with Egypt. She is initially wary of getting involved with him, but he slowly wins her over. I enjoyed watching them spend time together. Garrett is very supportive of Egypt, and his attention goes a long way toward repairing the belief in herself that her previous boyfriend had damaged. Egypt is just as supportive of Garrett as he rebuilds the farm and his life. Some terrific scenes of them together show how right they are for each other.
But as Garrett experiences a few flashes of memory, he suspects his previous self was not a nice person. I could feel the tension mount as more things started coming together for him. Unfortunately, Garrett makes a boneheaded decision that comes back to bite him when it runs up against Egypt's trust issues. Both Garrett and Egypt must decide what is important before either can open their hearts to the future they want. I liked Egypt's big moment at the end and her emotional reunion with Garrett. I also loved the "new" Garrett and seeing him stand up to his father. The epilogue was terrific. Garrett was a sweetly romantic, and his surprise for Egypt was fabulous.
I enjoyed meeting the women that make up the Six Gems. I need to go back and read the first book, as Wynter's story sounds intriguing. The epilogue contained a lead-in to the next book, and I look forward to reading it.
There was a certain amount of suspension of disbelief needed when reading this book. For a man of his prominence, and his family's resources, how did Garrett go for two-plus months without someone figuring out who he was?
Good conclusion to the series. Charm is the last of the Westmoreland Outlaw siblings and the only girl. She is wealthy, beautiful, and more than a little spoiled by her father. The story opens as Charm is in Cancun for a friend's wedding. There she spots a face from her past that brings back many good and bad memories. She and Dylan had met ten years earlier and fallen in love. But Charm was sixteen to Dylan's eighteen, and her father disapproved. Despite Bart's order to stop seeing each other, Charm and Dylan continued to see each other secretly for the next two years. Then they had a traumatic/dramatic breakup and haven't seen each other since then.
After his breakup with Charm, Dylan became an internationally acclaimed jazz musician. It's been a good life, but he's been wary of trusting his heart to another woman. He's shocked to see Charm and surprised she still stirs his feelings. Though he doesn't intend to restart their relationship, he'd like the chance to clear the air and find closure.
Charm reminded me too much of her father at this point. A ruthless businessman and dictatorial father, he's only recently started to change his ways. When Dylan comes to Charm and suggests they go out, she's ready to accept - and plots her revenge for their breakup. Charm stubbornly sticks to her plans even when her friends try to talk her out of it. Her old feelings for him come back to life as she and Dylan spend time together. I liked their time together and seeing their connection deepen and grow. I loved Dylan and seeing how he embraced his renewed love for Charm. Charm continued to rub me the wrong way as her conscience and feelings for Dylan warred with that need for revenge. I wanted to shake her when she carried out her plan and ached for Dylan and his feelings of betrayal.
I had little sympathy for Charm and her misery over leaving Dylan. She brought it entirely on herself with her actions. Dylan wouldn't let her get away without an explanation this time, and he quickly showed up to confront her. The sparks flew as their hurt and anger over their past breakup boiled over, with both shocked to discover the truth behind what happened. I never could figure out how they hadn't realized the truth at the time. But this time, the damage is done by Charm, who couldn't let go of the past, and threw away what could have been a great future.
I loved Charm's confrontation with her father and her realization of how badly she'd behaved. Bart surprised me with his reaction and what he did afterward. Both Dylan and Charm must find a way to overcome the hurt and bitterness of the past if they want to have a future together. Dylan won my heart with his big moment at the end. It was sweet and romantic. I would have liked to see more repentance on Charm's part - I thought she got off relatively easily.
HER SECRET BILLIONAIRE
Good book. This is the second in the series, but there was enough backstory given that I didn't feel lost. Egypt received an unexpected inheritance a year earlier and used that money to jump-start her dream of owning her own restaurant. Flame has been open for several months and is doing well. Relationships are on the back burner after a breakup caused Egypt to distrust all men and doubt her judgment. One night a man comes into the restaurant that changes everything.
Garrett is his family business's CEO and has a ruthless reputation. As the book opens, he's arguing with his father over a piece of property left to him by his grandfather. Garrett has fond memories of the farm and his time with his grandfather. His father wants him to sell it, and Garrett refuses. Frustrated with his dad, Garrett decides to visit the farm and review the books, hoping to revitalize it. On the way, he stops by a new restaurant recommended by a friend.
I loved the first meeting between Egypt and Garrett. The sparks between them are immediately apparent, but Egypt turns down Garrett's first request for a date. Not to be deterred, Garrett sticks around until closing and asks again, and Egypt gives in. But as Garrett leaves the restaurant, he is attacked and spends two months in a coma in the hospital. Egypt is undeniably drawn to him and visits every day. She's there when he wakes up, only to discover that he can only remember her!
I ached for Garrett and the confusion he felt. A vague memory of a farm and the muscle memory of a phone number puts him in touch with the foreman of the property. This is where things go a little off the rails. Kent tells Garrett he's an orphan, raised by his grandfather, and that the farm is in trouble. He goes there when he leaves the hospital, but something feels wrong. However, he puts his mind toward saving the farm, giving him something productive to do while waiting for his memory to return.
Meanwhile, Garrett doesn't back off of his fascination with Egypt. She is initially wary of getting involved with him, but he slowly wins her over. I enjoyed watching them spend time together. Garrett is very supportive of Egypt, and his attention goes a long way toward repairing the belief in herself that her previous boyfriend had damaged. Egypt is just as supportive of Garrett as he rebuilds the farm and his life. Some terrific scenes of them together show how right they are for each other.
But as Garrett experiences a few flashes of memory, he suspects his previous self was not a nice person. I could feel the tension mount as more things started coming together for him. Unfortunately, Garrett makes a boneheaded decision that comes back to bite him when it runs up against Egypt's trust issues. Both Garrett and Egypt must decide what is important before either can open their hearts to the future they want. I liked Egypt's big moment at the end and her emotional reunion with Garrett. I also loved the "new" Garrett and seeing him stand up to his father. The epilogue was terrific. Garrett was a sweetly romantic, and his surprise for Egypt was fabulous.
I enjoyed meeting the women that make up the Six Gems. I need to go back and read the first book, as Wynter's story sounds intriguing. The epilogue contained a lead-in to the next book, and I look forward to reading it.
There was a certain amount of suspension of disbelief needed when reading this book. For a man of his prominence, and his family's resources, how did Garrett go for two-plus months without someone figuring out who he was?
