The F-Word - Sandra Marton



So let me first start by saying that I really did enjoy this one. The writing was fantastic. It was fun and flowy and moved along at a nice pace. Both characters were likable (for the most part). I loved how the author wrote MATT and his POV. It had a sweet flirty overall mood to it.

So why the 3.5 Stars then? As much as I enjoyed Matt's POV, it is the ONLY POV we get through the entirety of the book. There were SO many times this left me frustrated because I wished we had gotten Bailey's POV. I wanted to know how SHE was feeling. What her thoughts were. In my opinion, this story could have been a 5 star read for me had we gotten even a TINY glimpse into what Bailey was thinking or feeling.



My other issue is really twofold. One, I did not like the thoughts Matt had about Bailey at the beginning of this book. He called her frumpy, and flat chested. He, and I quote "Don't see her as a woman" AND "She's not any kind of distraction for me. How could she be? She's not tall or stacked; she's petite and, well, let's just say she's not at all sexy" AND "She's definitely not my type of woman" Uhh OK, wow, I am already feeling the love. Which brings me to the second thing that I had an issue with. The ending was VERY rushed. One minute Matt is thinking "it was just sex" and the next he is saying "I've loved you for YEARS" Now hold the f@ck on. These two have known (worked together for over six years). Now go ahead and refer back to the above quotes, and let me add that this guy knew NOTHING about Bailey AT ALL. Other than she was a VERY good PA. He NEVER not ONCE in ALL those years asked her anything personal. NOTHING...and now I am supposed to believe he LOVED her for years?? Ya, NO...

Like I said earlier, this had the potential of being a 5 Star read for me. AND even with the issues above, I still found it an enjoyable way to spend a couple hours. So 3.5 Stars from yours truly.

This book gave me a headache.

 

The H was a domineering judgmental jackass who constantly overstepped himself, then got pissy at the h when she accused him of trying to seduce her.

 

The h was a hotheaded shrew.

 

The backstory on her is that her grandma died and she found herself unable to get a job with just a diploma in her native Vermont, so she went to NY to look for work. Not sure why there would be more opportunities - at least, that didn't involve a street corner. Also not sure why she didn't try to go to college since the financial situation should have gotten her grants/scholarships/etc. She got spotted by a modeling agent, so became a model.

 

So he spots her at a fashion show in Milan. She reminds him of an old girlfriend. He essentially buys out her contract, forcing her to accept his job offer of companion to his elderly grandmother. She assumes initially that he's trying to buy her services of another sort (what woman wouldn't, really?).

 

I didn't feel chemistry so much as irritation. She felt relief that he went away on a business trip even though she figured he was visiting other women. Then... his grandmother attempts I think to play matchmaker, he almost got lucky but said something that reminded her of his initial opinion of her, pissing her off and inspiring her to toss him out of her room. A day or so later, grandmama insisted she attend some business function he was putting on, he made an ass of himself, and she later visited him in his rooms to throw a tantrum (errr....) Naturally this leads to the only sex scene (which I skimmed because frankly I just wanted the mess to be OVER). The next day, he makes some proposal that comes across as him setting her up as mistress. She throws more tantrum. He agrees to let her leave.

 

God knows how many weeks later, she's back in Rome, apprenticing with a designer and gets pressed into service as a model (what else?) And...he sees her. He shoves her into his car, drags her off, and...proposes to her, confessing his undying love?! What the everloving hell?!

Ring Of Deception by Sandra Marton is a good read.  Ms Marton has penned a well written book.  Luke and Abby's story is loaded with great characters, suspense, humor and drama.  I enjoyed Ring Of Deception and look forward to reading more from Sandra Marton in the future.  Ring Of Deception is part of the Forrester Square Series, but can be read as a standalone.  This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

 

I purchased a copy of this book at a library sale.

This kind of romance always makes me ache and even though I know there will be a happily ever after again and love that has been tested is sweeter. 

 

This list goes out all loving partnerships that bend and cradle. 

 

Marriages in Trouble Historical Romances

 

1. Not Quite a Husband by Sherry Thomas 

2. An Affair Before Christmas by Eloisa James

3. The Marriage Bed  by Laura Lee Guhrke

4. The Book of Scandal by Julia London 

5. Trial by Desire by Courtney Milan 

6. Lord and Lady Spy by Shana Galen

7. Seducing the Duchess by Ashley March 

8. The Slightest Provocation by Pam Rosenthal

9. Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage by Jennifer Ashley 

10. Colorado Dawn by Kaki Warner 

 

Marriages in Trouble Contemporary Romances

 

1. Turning Up the Heat and Snow-Kissed by Laura Florand

2. Suburban Renewal by Pamela Morsi 

3. A Summer in Sonoma by Robyn Carr

4. Reason to Believe by Kathleen Eagle 

5. Love in a Small Town by Curtiss Ann Matlock 

6. Forget Me Not by Marliss Melton 

7. Always in My Heart by Catherine Anderson 

8. Home Front: A Novel by Kristin Hannah 

9. On Target by Catherine Mann

10. One Fine Day by Theresa Weir 

 

Marriages in Trouble Category Romances

 

1. The Santangeli Marriage by Sara Craven 

2. The Fourth Child by C. J. Carmichael 

3. Stranded With Her Ex by Jill Sorenson 

4. A Marriage Worth Fighting For by Lilian Darcy

5. A Perfect Marriage by Laurey Bright 

6. Once a Ferrara Wife... by Sarah Morgan 

7. Mr. and Mrs. Wrong by Fay Robinson

8. Becca's Baby by Tara Taylor Quinn

9. The Second Mrs Adams by Sandra Marton 

10. The Greek's Christmas Baby by Lucy Monroe 

11. Making It Last by Ruthie Knox (forgot this one is a Loveswept--an utterly wonderful read)

 

These list are especially for some very fine women on Twitter who just love these kinds of romances. @JenniferRNN @mharvey816 @PennyRomance @SOSchmieg @LauraFlorand (threw a few amnesia ones in there for your pleasure)

 

If you want to vote for the Marriage in Trouble Romance, go to the Goodreads list: Trouble: Marriage on the Rocks Romance. 

Emily: Sex & Sensibility by Sandra Marton: If you have read my my reviews about the Wilde brothers you know how much I loved them and wanted to know what happened to the sisters? Well, Sandra Marton made my wishes come true when she went ahead and wrote their stories. Yes, I know they are with a different publisher, but that doesn’t take anything away from how awesome these books are as well. Don’t worry though, if you have not read the Wilde brothers books before you can go back later and won’t feel left out of this story as if you are missing something in the story line.

Here we begin with Emily, if you remember her, she was supposedly working for a museum in New York. Well now we get to know what has been going on in her life and what she has been hiding from her brothers. Read More...