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Review: The Affair: No Reservations (The Affair Week 6) by Beth Kery

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Title: The Affair:  No Reservations
Author: Beth Kery
Publisher/Year: Penguin Group 10/28/14
Length: 69
Series: The Affair #6

Overview

Overwhelmed with worry for the safety of her heart, Emma tells Montand what few women have: No. But as he reminds her, she promised him she’d be his for five weeks, and promised herself she’d never again run away from a challenge. Especially one so irresistible. Now, on the glamorous playground of the Cote d’Azur Emma and Montand indulge in the all-or-nothing pleasures of the rich and famous—from the Cannes roulette wheels, to the most decadent restaurants to the dark challenges and raptures of the bedroom, they’re set on a dizzying, dangerous course…and there’s no turning back.

But when Montand is suddenly faced with his past and his vulnerability, he realizes that the woman he’s come to worship will not be a part of his future.

My Thoughts

I don’t know about anyone else but i feel like the summary or overview that’s published doesn’t necessarily jive with what we get in these installments, but to be honest, i don’t usually read them so it’s not a big deal.  Any how- where we are now in the story is that Vanni is off to the south of France for his race and Emma has agreed to go with him.  Vanni of course does what he does best and helps clear the path with her boss so that when she calls to get the weeks off there’s no issue, and it’s during that call that Emma learns that Vanni’s gone ahead and taken over and well – that doesn’t bode well.  What was meant to be a really nice and relaxing trip is now a solo journey for Vanni.

Several days go by that Emma is moping around at home and surprisingly it’s her sister Amanada who manages to find a way to bring her out of her funk and that’s something that i think we all wanted to happen, yet didn’t know if it would.  Amidst all this help that amanda provides, we learn that Vanni knows that the only way to get Emma to come to him is to go through Amanda, which is the way that it works out.

So we find ourselves in France – just before the race and it’s a happy reunion for this couple.  While Emma’s there, she sees the other side of racing – the nature of the race-car drivers and learns that Cristina left her a rather sizable inheritance – even after just working for her for just a few weeks.  It’s always nice to see stability written into a story sicne we know that there’s more than a limited thing going on here, and maybe with what Cristina’s done, there will be hope for these two.

I think that one of the biggest under-currents of this story is that both have agreed to a limited time together, yet we see that both have developed more serious feelings for one another.  I think that it’s just a matter of time that they will realize that it’s long-term, i think though that something dramatic is going to happen at the race which will either make it easier to come together or will temporarily rip them apart.  We keep hearing about how Vanni feels that he’s cursed and that he’s unlucky – and that Emma is the counter-point to this and is very lucky – but i guess my concern and anxiety now is who is going to get hurt in the race?  will it be Vanni (will he have to end up driving for some reason), will it be Niki, will we see Emma have to use her medical training to save a life?

All these questions which make for a great build up to the finale and i believe that there are just 2 more installments that i’ve got in my library to carry me through, so i’ll know in just a matter of a day or 2.  enjoy!

Review: The Affair Week 5 (Let me Spoil You) by Beth Kerry

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Title: The Affair:  Let me Spoil You
Author: Beth Kery
Publisher/Year: Penguin Group 10/14/14
Length: 83
Series: The Affair #5

Overview

Emma’s increasingly intense affair with Montand is illuminated when she discovers some revealing and unsettling secrets about his past—about his hell-bent youth, about the tragic fate of his first wife, and about how cursed his seemingly blessed life really is. It leads Emma to wonder …what kind of man is she falling so dangerously in love with? He’s dominating her world with luxuries she’s never dreamed of and introducing her to decadent sensual pleasures, but he’ll soon walk away. When does it go beyond an exquisite sexual control of her body, into a manipulation of her fragile emotions?

Emma is an addiction Montand can’t resist, and he’s learning there’s no rest for his dark soul when they’re apart. At all costs, he must convince her to join him for wicked weeks of jeus sauvages on the French Riviera. She’s promised him that she’s his, afterall, and Montand expects nothing short of total possession of her for their rapidly fading time together.

My Thoughts

I’m sad to say that i think that from here to the end of the series – i’m going to hold off on reading until they are all out.  while i think that this story has the potential to be great – i’m just not getting enough each week.

Where we left off in week 4, Emma and Vanni are growing closer and are going to see how they can make their temporary arrangement work.  Vanni has to fly to France to deal with preparations for his race and Emma is left to her own devices back home.  She gets back to her daily routine and tries to fill her time with smaller tasks.

It’s only when she runs into a friend from nursing school and the girls father that things get more interesting.  The father is/was a cop and has some familiarity with Montand from when he was younger as well as knowing his father.  Because of this insight, Emma learns more about him, and even begins to wonder if there’s more to what’s going on in her life than what seems to be obvious.   Really meaning that he leans of Vanni’s first wife and about his rough past.

While there’s not much meat here, we get a lot of passion when they reunite – which is classic Beth Kery.  I think that’s something that holds these novellas together – that you know you’re going to get heat and passion and great chemistry.  Just maybe not enough since it’s just a few chapters.

The trip to France is looming and we see Vanni and his intentions to spoil Emma – in the hopes that maybe it’ll keep her with him after their time is up and i guess that’s what we’ll see more of as the story continues.  I wonder when another shoe is going to drop though – they keep dwelling on this genetic disease that Emma supposedly had when she was younger and doesn’t have now.  Personally, i’m waiting for a twist of a lost twin or something, but that’s just me – hoping for some soap opera like twist.   Regardless – Enjoy!

Review: The Affair – The Forbidden Fruit (The Affair #4) by Beth Kery

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Title: The Affair:  The Forbidden Fruit
Author: Beth Kery
Publisher/Year: Penguin Group 10/7/14
Length: 73
Series: The Affair #4

Overview

Five weeks total. That was the limit Emma placed on the affair. No more, no less. And right now it was opening her up to decadent pleasures she never imagined possible. The effect on Montand was equally liberating. Emma was bringing him back into the world of the living, and her buoyant spirit, freshness and lust for life made him ravenously hungry for more.

His darkness was being drawn to her light, and for both of them, the experience was electrifying. But for Emma it was something even more. Lost in the world of Montand’s exquisitely sensual challenges Emma’s beginning to feel something dangerously close to love. And now she fears that five weeks with Montand could leave her deliriously vulnerable, and in far too deep to ever survive.

My Thoughts

Just as an FYI – i’m not sure that the synopsis above is accurate for what we read here in this 4th installment, but i’ll try to be fair about it.  where we left off in the last installment is that Emma had given Vanni a time limit to their relationship in the hopes of keeping herself from getting her heart broken and for Vanni not to get bored.  So that’s where we are again.  We get to see how these 2 are going to make a go at things with all the stuff that’s in the middle.

We get a lot of great passion with these two, now that Emma’s letting him in, and they’ve even gotten to the point where it’s almost impossible to lie to the other.  Meaning of course that Vanni will learn the truth about Emma’s breakup with Colin, and it’s quite entertaining to see what comes of it when that happens.

To be honest, there’s not much ‘substance’ to these chapters since we’re not at a point in the story where anything is uber pivotal, however, it’s sweet and helps to continue the story.  (if you’re able to read it with either week 3 or i’m guessing week 5, then maybe hold off).  Anyhow, the biggest thing that happens is that Vanni asks Emma to trust that he’s going to be monogamous while he’s in France for his race, and at the same time asks her to trust that they can take the barriers from between them.

Where we’re left is really a ‘secure’ place in things – there’s nothing really complicated right now – we know that they are going to enjoy their time together – but what i was saying before about how the synopsis was a bit misleading, i don’t know that it’s overt that she’s falling for him that hard, so don’t get your hopes up at least in these chapters that you’ll get proclamations or anything like that.  The good thing though is that i know that our lovely author Ms. Kery won’t let us down, so next week should surely bring us not just another dose of passion and heat, but also of complications that we may not yet be expecting.  Enjoy!

Review: The Affair – Take a Chance (The Affair Week 3) by Beth Kery

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Title: The Affair:  Take a Chance
Author: Beth Kery
Publisher/Year: Penguin Group 9/30/14
Length: 69
Series: The Affair #3

Overview

What was it about a man as damaged as Montand that made Emma say yes when she should have fled and never looked back? His intense sexual preferences intrigued her more than she’d been willing to admit. But now that she’s been privy to his secrets—including a long-ago family tragedy, and the true identity of a woman who lurks in the shadows of his mansion—Emma fears she’ll be just one more submissive conquest in Montand’s troubled life. And then abandoned like so many who came before.

She needs to be strong and protect her heart, but her desires won’t let her resist. So, if their affair is to continue it’ll be on her conditions: it will not continue indefinitely, only she can end it, and when it’s over, they’ll part and never speak again of the things they dared to do behind the locked doors of the Breakers.

My Thoughts

The Story Continues.  Where we left off in book 2 was a sad place – seeing the expected passing of Cristina, yet that leaves things so unsettled with Emma and Montand, especially because she’s finally made the connection between Montand and ‘Vanni’ the man that she saw when she hid in the armoire.  And if you recall, what she saw, she wasn’t necessarily in agreement to.

So what we have in this 3rd installment is Emma coming to terms with what she’s learned of him and deciding if it’s something that she can deal with and wants.  all the while the rest of her life continues to change – getting reassigned new patients now that she doesn’t have this one, and dealing with her sister.

The bulk of this installment focuses on the dynamic between Vanni (which frustratingly is the only way that he’s referred to in this book 3) and Emma.  We see that he’s trying to reel her back in and Emma’s on the fence about what she’s ok with.  In her mind she’s against the idea of BDSM yet her body disagrees.  So it’s really just the battle within herself that she’s dealing with.

As a sub-story, we get to learn more about what Cristina’s request for forgiveness meant – and why Montand is how he is.  It’s nice to see that there’s a bit more detail around his past and it’ll be nice to see if Emma’s able to help him with that.

The other bit of the story is the slight continuation of things with Amanda – Emma’s sister.  While she know that she doesn’t really care that Amanda is ‘with’ Colin now, she’s not sure if she’s able to trust her against so easily, but there’s maybe 3 pages devoted to that story line.  I guess we’ll pick it up again at some point since i know our author will have to bring back that complexity at some point.

Given the nature of these short novellas, the only real scening and passion that we get is towards the end, just a snippet.  I think that it would be more impactful in the final culmination of the book – if we have all 7-8 installments together – but at least we weren’t left wanting.  What Montand introduces Emma to is definitely steamy and outside of her comfort zone and it’s those moments that really reel me in and make me want to continue the journey with them.

I can’t wait to see what happens next since Emma’s given Montand and ultimatum of sorts (an expiration date on their ‘relationship) and we know that’s really not going to fly….for either of them.  Enjoy – and onto next week i suppose!

Review: The Affair: Soon (The Affair Week 2) by Beth Kery

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Title: The Affair:  Soon
Author: Beth Kery
Publisher/Year: Penguin Group 9/22/14
Length: 73
Series: The Affair #2

Overview

The Affair continues from New York Times bestselling author Beth Kery as a man’s secret leaves an innocent woman exposed, vulnerable, and desperate…

The Affair Week Two

Emma is unlike anyone he’s ever known, fresh and surprising, sweet yet intensely sensual. He knew he shouldn’t touch Emma but he’s a Montand, after all. Strong sexual appetites and selfishness run in his blood—no matter how much he’d wish otherwise…for Emma’s sake.

Emma can’t help but feel somewhat compromised by the impulsive sexual tryst she shared with her billionaire employer but Emma has to admit…she wanted it. Besides, working in Montand’s sprawling mansion as a hospice nurse to Montand’s stepmother, Emma anticipated a few surprises. Still, she never expected what came next: an exquisite gift, an apology and a proposition—a sexual affair that promises to fulfill every fantasy Emma ever had. And a few she never dared imagine.

But a deathbed revelation from Montand’s stepmother is about to shatter every illusion Emma had about her position at the Breakers, her future with Montand, and her own innocence.

My Thoughts

Coming out of the first few chapters, there was a lot going on for Emma – her boyfriend and sister hooked up, she’s discovered an attraction with Michael who’s the dark and standoffish step-son who’s paying for the care of her patient – Cristina who’s on her death bed.  Ok – all caught up.

So in this second installment, the questions that we’re left to ponder are what will come of the sister/boyfriend hook up – and what will that mean for Emma.  From what we saw in Emma’s reaction – while she feels betrayed, she doesn’t really care.  Add on her sparks with Michael, and well – you know that it’s going to be great.

So we see in these next chapters the dynamic growing between Michael and Emma.  We know that he thinks he’s wrong and bad for her, yet Emma really wants to see what the feelings mean.  Typical to the genre – we see that they get a hint and taste of their passion, and then someone flees  this time it’s Michael.  He puts some distance between them and leaves Emma off balance.  I think that we’ll begin to see something real happen here, but for now we just get a lot of chemistry that’s really hot and intense.

The other bit to the story is Cristina – she seems to have a soft spot for Emma and I’d love to know more about that.  I don’t know that we’ll get the chance though given how sick she is.  I also wonder about the connection and relationship with her and her stepson.  we know that they clearly don’t get along or even like each other, but i’m sure there’s a story there and it’ll be interesting to see how and when the details come out.

So, i guess it’s a wait until next Tuesday to see what comes next in week 3, and i for one have been sucked into these characters.  I’m not sure about anyone else, but i’m not quite decided on what i think about Amanda and Colin and i can’t wait to see what our author comes up for those two.  Enjoy!

Review: You’ve Tantalized Me (The Affair #1) by Beth Kery

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Title: The Affair:  You’ve Tantalized Me
Author: Beth Kery
Publisher/Year: Penguin Group 9/16/14
Length: 79
Series: The Affair #1

Overview

A young woman’s quiet life is upended when she meets the man of her forbidden dreams in the startling new novel from New York Times bestselling author Beth Kery. The Affair begins…

The Affair Week One

Innocent yet unconventional hospice nurse Emma Shore has secured a new position at The Breakers, the sprawling mansion of enigmatic and dangerously handsome racecar billionaire Michael Montand. Hired as caretaker for Montand’s stepmother, Emma expects few complications. But one night, lost in the mansion’s maze of corridors, she comes upon a woman and a man she can’t identify engaged in a raw, naked interlude of sexual subjugation. Silently, from the shadows, Emma watches—shocked, appalled, and unnervingly aroused.

But Emma wonders… if this mysterious stranger is not Montand, then who is it? And what other surprises are in store for her? Night after sleepless night, she’s considering the possibilities. And for the first time in her life, she’s not going to run away from them.

My Thoughts

Oh how i love the storeis that we get from Ms. Beth Kery and this first installment to the new series is setting things up in an interesting way.  We start off in meeting Emma who’s the leading lady here – she’s working as a hospice nurse for a wealthy family that has it’s own complexities which she’s slowly learning about.  This is a family that’s known for their car manufacturing, and with the stepson being the man in charge – at least of overseeing his step mother’s care (which is why Emma is there), we know that things will get interesting.

No one knows much about Mr Montrand – except that he keeps to himself, he tends to be very cold and distant and the only time that they ever hear of him having company are his ‘guests’.  This intrigues Emma, who we learn is one of those strong leading ladies who doesn’t like to just conform and follow rules.  She likes to think that she knows whats best and follows that path.

This is where she gets herself into trouble  just at the onset of things.  She decides that it’s more important to keep Cristina (her patient) happy than Mr. Martrand – so she opens the curtains in the room, which quickly prompts a call from the man of the house to close them.  She’s now on his radar – which isn’t necessarily a good thing as far as everyone who works there thinks.

Form there, we see the spark of Emma’s independence come out more – when she takes it upon herself to find another laundry room in the house to wash the linens when the one in her wing is broken.  It’s on this trip around the house that she stumbles upon a really racy scene between 2 unknowns – a man and a woman that she’s not sure of their identities yet she’s finding herself incredibly turned on.   It’s scenes like this in which our author really excels – giving you just a tease of things and leading you down the heated path that hints at what may come.

If that weren’t enough, she is called into Mr Matrands office and that’s when the story takes it’s more complex turn, joining these 2 face to face and setting the wheels in motion for what can in store for them. I honestly can’t wait!

In addition to all that, we see that Emma’s ‘non work’ life is a bit on the rocky path.  She’s been with her boyfriend Colin for 2 years now and it’s safe but she’s not sure if it’s too ‘blah’ for her.  It’s when something puts a crimp in things that shre’s really forced to open her eyes on what’s best for her.  I’m not at all surprised about the turn of events, but i think that we’ll have to wait and see how it pans out in the story since this can’t be the last that we hear about it.

so…now the wait is on for next Tuesday when we get to see what happens in book2.  i feel like i’m watching a TV show that i can’t get enough of when we have these weekly installments.  enjoy!