(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).
(This review may contain spoilers).
Although I haven’t read the previous two books in this trilogy, I did find this one really easy to follow. It was really good to be able to learn more about Charlotte’s past as Brady did… and although there were some sudden changes in the character’s perspectives, for the most part, it wasn’t confusing to suddenly end up in the other’s head.
I did think that the development of the romance was sweet, even though I felt a lot of the book was spent with Charlotte and Brady being told by their friends to get their acts together. And there was one part in particular when I felt Colum’s priorities were really skewed.
I would have liked to see a bit more of Charlotte’s interactions with her friends… and I would have also liked to see something of Brady interacting with his team members. Since he was insistent on the fact he trusted his team not to be a leak, it would have been good to see that trust borne out.
I thought that Charlotte’s ideas for articles were really good and I also thought it was good to see her motivations behind doing those. I think it would have been good to see more of her interactions with Dennis, as by the time he cropped up again towards the end of the book, I’d more or less forgotten who he was.
I did think the romance moved a little too quickly, considering the hang-ups both of the main characters had. I did like the fact they had something in common in regards to the classic novels and it was good to see that there was a lot of conflict in their relationship.
I did feel a lot of sympathy towards Helen and although the book was slow-moving with the action to begin with, by the end, I felt it picked up a lot more and I was avidly reading to see what would happen next.
In the future, it would be good to read the other books in this trilogy and also other books by this author… but it would be good to see more of the other characters and their relationships.
In All My Dreams:
http://amzn.to/1QvVCPV
He held onto the door frame over his head and leaned into her room. The mass of him made the room feel smaller, cozy and warm. “I think you look beautiful no matter what you’re wearing.”
She nervously toed the floor, an uneasiness she’d never felt around men making speech a struggle. He’d called her passionate before, and talented―oh, and let’s not forget stubborn, but never beautiful. “You, um, sleep?”
“No, not really. You?”
She shrugged. “Some.”
He inched further into the room, near the bed where she stood. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you.” His words caught her attention and her breath.
“What’s that?”
“What’re you going to do when this is over?” Brady leaned against the footboard, bending to match her eye level.
“With what?” She grabbed the bed post near him to keep herself balanced, telling herself it was her sleepiness making her dizzy, nothing more.
“Are you going to stay in Riverbend? Because, you know D.C. has a lot of opportunities. I have a contact in one of the major news stations there. I hope you don’t mind, but I shared your photo and told her some of your accomplishments. She thinks you’d make a great reporter.”
“Really? I don’t know. I like writing, but I’m not sure I’d be good in front of a camera.”
“Are you kidding? The camera will love you. Who wouldn’t?” He cleared his throat and scrubbed his stubbled jaw then leaned sideways into her personal space. “What do you think? If you moved there, I could show you around or something.”
Was he inviting her to move up there with him? “I don’t know. I mean, I like Riverbend a lot. Even if I had to give up my online magazine, I still make enough on my fashion website. I could remain here on that salary easily. Not to mention there’s the university so close.” A part of her ached at the thought of leaving Anna, Kate, and Cynthia, the first women she’d met who she felt she could call friends.
“Oh.” He looked at his bare feet like a dejected puppy.
She scooted closer to him, wickedly close. “Of course, I can write and run an online business from anywhere. I always keep an open mind to possibilities. Nothing will come your way if you don’t.” Maybe it was about time she started opening up to the world. Maybe even to people.
He took her hand and guided her in front of him. Her breath caught in her throat at his touch, at their proximity in the small bedroom. “I think you’d like D.C. It’s not Riverbend, but it’s got its advantages. I’d love to work here if I could, but unfortunately, that isn’t possible.”
Charlotte shifted between feet, edging closer to him, enticed by the smell his day-old cologne. It was woodsy and daring, yet subtle. “I guess there’s good and bad to a city having a zero-percent crime rate.”
He slid his fingers between hers and tugged her a step closer, until they were nose to nose. Shorter than him by nearly a foot, she’d never been able to look so closely at his face. The strength of his jaw, his fearless dark eyes, the stubble that made her want to touch his cheek to see if it felt as sexy as it looked. “After getting to know you, I’m surprised you’re happy in such a small town. I’d think D.C. would be a better fit. You seem so…adventurous, strong, and independent.” He moved his head slightly to the right, his nose grazing hers.
Charlotte sucked in a breath and knew he’d heard it, too. “I have a confession to make,” she whispered.
Brady squeezed her hand as if to reassure her he could be trusted. “What’s that?”
She lowered her head so her nose touched his neck then skimmed up until she reached his ear. “I wouldn’t mind trying something new.”
His breath came in short, rapid bursts and she knew she affected him. Their game was turning dangerous, the kind you couldn’t walk away from easily. His arm lowered to her waist and he pulled her to him, his lips grazing her skin from her cheek to her ear. “I think I’m ready for something new myself.” He kissed her earlobe, sending a shiver through her. “But I’m not talking about a job anymore.”
Charlotte’s pulse thundered so hard she feared he could feel it on her neck. “Neither am I.”
Ink of Blood 