Annie West (1)

Undone by His Touch
4 Stars

Following the death of his brother and his own loss of sight, Declan Carstairs vows vengeance against the woman he blames for the accident. Little does he know that Chloe Daniels, his housekeeper and the woman he cannot keep his hands off, is that very same woman. Will Chloe and Declan's love be able to overcome the revelation of the truth?

OMG! The hero in this book is a complete jerk. Nevertheless, he somehow manages to redeem himself.

Declan and Chloe have an intense connection and it is fun watching her strength and determination overcome his cold and harsh facade. That said, she could have shown more of that backbone when he begins behaving like an asshat.

Declan's actions throughout most of the book are borderline abusive, but his behavior is understandable, if not acceptable, given the circumstances, and he gives excellent grovel at the end.

West also manages to avoid the annoying pitfalls of the keeping secrets trope by circumventing the issue altogether - Chloe has no idea that she has a secret. She believes Declan is better off not learning of his brother's actions..

Overall, an engaging read and I will be reading more by this author… (mais)

After reading many, many books by author Annie West I know to expect a wonderfully satisfying story; I should also know to start reading early, since once I turn that first page I know I won’t put the book down until the very last page of the story, which in this case asks: “Were you enchanted by The Housekeeper and the Brooding Billionaire?” My answer to that is a resounding YES! Totally, completely, absolutely enchanted.

Alessio, Conte Dal Lago, is reclusive, somber, brooding. Also sad and lonely and shattered by grief and guilt and regrets. Recluse isn’t an option, it’s a necessity. He failed the people so very important to him so very spectacularly that he won’t trust himself to care again and fail again. So he runs his billion-dollar empire and cares for the people depending on him, but always behind a wall, at a distance.

Until he sees a mystery woman on his private beach and is somehow disturbed. That woman is Charlotte, the temporary housekeeper he hasn’t yet met. She’ll be there three months or so and then will leave, so her presence should barely cause a wrinkle in his life. Especially since he only has two rules for his housekeeper: make an excellent espresso and leave me alone. Well, turns out that for Charlotte the espresso is a cinch, but leaving him alone? Why is that so hard for her to do? She only wanted this job to put on her resume. Experience and a recommendation at this level will give her the boost she needs to start her own company. But that disturbing little tickle he felt when he saw her? Well, she feels it, too. And that won’t work for either of them. Or will it?

Alessio is enough to drive Charlotte crazy: handsome, brooding, hurting, loving, tender. So unintentionally endearing he should come with a health warning. When he grins he is simply irresistible. And Charlotte makes him grin. And want to hold her and take care of her, and . . . wait, these are the things he’s sworn never to do again.

Alessio has secrets too painful to share. Charlotte has a past too hurtful to reveal. But at the bottom of it all, whatever the secrets and pasts and he’s a billionaire and she’s a housekeeper and none of this fits their well-laid plans, they are simply a woman and a man caught up in an utterly natural attraction. An enchanting, beautiful attraction that we get to see unfold right before our eyes. This is what makes every Annie West book a perfect pleasure: her characters may behave badly but they are good and true and loyal and faithful. And that will make you smile and sigh with happiness each and every time.

Thanks to the author for providing an advance copy of The Housekeeper and the Brooding Billionaire for my reading (swooning) pleasure and honest opinion. I am voluntarily leaving this review; all opinions are my own. I recommend you read this, as well as everything else Annie West has written and writes in the future.… (mais)

A man wrongly sent to prison, a woman heartbroken by what she sees as a betrayal, a baby on the way. These are serious topics. But here’s the thing about author Annie West’s books: there are always serious topics, but they are handled gently with sensitivity and taste. These stories are intense, scorching, steamy, searing – adult - but they are never tawdry or tasteless. What could be glaring, in your face and crude is subtle, whispery and sneaks up on you. I have read a lot of Annie West’s books, and I do mean a lot. You’ve got to love those handsome, powerful billionaires - and my personal weakness, those sheikhs, well, they take my breath away.

While reading Reunited by the Greek’s Baby it suddenly hit me what it is about West’s books that is so special and why I love each and every one more than the last and why once I’ve started that first paragraph I just can’t put the book down. It’s the familiar comfort I immediately feel. I sigh and relax and snuggle down with a book I know will completely, totally, absolutely satisfy me. Those billionaires and sheikhs and where they live and work and play are larger than life. But their feelings just feel authentic. The people we just read and dream about become in West’s capable hands real people like us, who hope and dream and hurt and feel sadness. Who love. And we can relate.

Isla is alone and hurting, but she does alone very well, thank you. She’s been alone most of her life, felt rejected and unwanted. What she thought she had with Theo? That hurts even more because she was so certain it was real. How could she have been fooled like that? When that dream came crashing down and she was once again rejected she retreated way, way, way back into her shell. But Isla is never pitiful or pathetic; she is a very strong women who has learned how to take care of herself, and there is no doubt she will take care of her baby. Without any help, thank you, because she can do alone very well, remember?

Theo ended his affair with Isla for her safety when he was wrongfully imprisoned. It was the right thing to do, nothing more and nothing less, not like he had any long-term plans. And taking care of the baby he learns is coming is also the right thing to do. No strings on Isla but no room for argument, either. He’s that baby’s father and beyond his duty, he is determined to be the type of father he never had, to make sure his child always feel safe and loved and wanted. Isla just needs to realize that’s best.

But they’re not in love. Nope. Whatever started never got a chance to grow and it’s over. The important thing is just raising the baby. Yeah, right. We know long before they realize or acknowledge it how they feel. But why rush it? Going on the journey with them, watching their “Aha” or “Oh, no” moments, is so sweet. He thinks, she thinks, he doesn’t want to trap her, she doesn’t want his pity or guilt. So they stumble along in their misguided beliefs. Of course it’s not all sighs and swoons and sexy chills. There is real danger from those who didn’t want Theo to be free. Those who may harm him, Isla and their unborn child. It’s an exciting story.

I could quote examples from the book that show their growing awareness of their love, but that would involve quoting the entire book. The simpler thing is for you to run out right now and grab a copy of this beautiful story. When Theo called Isla Glykia mou I shivered. When he said, “S’agapo, Isla,” I put my hand on my heart. And when she said, “Agape mou,” to him my smile got wider and wider. (Look it up, you will swoon, sigh and smile, too.) Theo decided it was a fact, he was the luckiest man in the world. And when we have an Annie West book in our hands we are the luckiest readers.

Thanks to author Annie West for providing an advance copy of Reunited by the Greek’s Baby. I am voluntarily leaving this honest review; all opinions are my own. Read this and all of Annie West’s books. You won’t be sorry.… (mais)