SERIES REVIEW: HOLLAND SPRINGS SERIES (0.5-2) by MARQUITA VALENTINE

Series: Holland Springs #0.5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Marquita Valentine
Publication Date: 8/29/12
Format: ebook
Pages: 30
Source: Author
Rating: 4 stars

At only twenty-one, Christian Romanov is heir to a massive mineral and oil conglomerate, but he's chosen to pursue a different career much to the chagrin of his uptight family. He's Hollywood's latest British Import and newest bad boy. It's a role he relishes at every turn, being a playboy comes naturally...until he meets the mysterious Amber at a masked ball.

Recent college graduate, Zoe Ambrose, decides to finally make her move on the sexy actor, only she's afraid he won't be attracted to her girl-next-door looks. So, with the help of a friend, she transforms into her version of Cinderella and sets out to seduce Christian.

Only things don't go as planned...

A masquerade, a hidden identity, a life-altering night, and heartbreak.

Seduction of the Billionaire was a sexy and intriguing prequel. I don't know Zoe or Christian, at all. But now, I'm very curious and I want to know them.

I'm anxious to really get started on the Holland Springs series!


Favorite Quote:

  He wished he could arrest this moment: a gentle breeze, the moonlight shining down, and Amber in his arms.
  "Are you here by yourself?"
  Always, he wanted to say. He was always by himself, making his own way through life.






Series: Holland Springs #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Marquita Valentine
Publication Date: 2/2/13
Format: ebook
Pages: 213
Source: Author
Rating: 4 stars

He's her best friend's older brother

Twenty-four year old Troublemaker Extraordinaire, Melanie Ann Smith, isn't asking for much out of life: a house without wheels, to travel further than her home state and her best friend's older brother, Carter Ambrose. Only three things stand in her way: juggling all of her odd jobs, keeping her daddy from gambling away all of their money and getting Carter to see her as a woman.

She is the one woman who's off-limits...

NASCAR racer, Carter Ambrose, has finally decided to take his doctor's advice and find a new occupation before another wreck on the track kills him. Only his doctor hadn't counted on his little sister's best friend, Melanie Ann Smith, crashing his weeks of solitude with her short skirts and platform heels. And that's not the least of his problems. His mother has decided that she wants grandchildren and the only woman that's good enough for the job-his ex-fiance.

Soon Melanie and Carter agree to a temporary relationship. One with benefits that is mutually satisfying in every way, or so each believes. And just when they are ready admit their feelings, family secrets are exposed, threatening Melanie and Carter's fragile relationship.

Will Carter risk it all for love, or will Melanie be left holding the trophy for second place?

After reading Seduction of the Billionaire, I was anxious to get more of the Holland Springs series. I was a little disappointed that Drive Me Crazy was not about Zoe, but her brother Carter and best friend Melanie. My disappointed quickly went away because I adored this story with the small town setting and beloved "little sister's best friend" trope.

Melanie and Carter were both likeable and interesting characters. Carter is a member of the golden Ambrose family, and has recently retired as a NASCAR driver to start a custom car business. Melanie is from the wrong side of town, and has been in love with Carter for years. When Melanie begins working for Carter, he quickly begins to see her as a woman and not a little girl. His ex-girlfriend, overbearing mom, her gambling, ladies man of a dad, and inferiority issues all come into play in the love affair of Melanie and Carter. But he's not about to go down without a fight.

Drive Me Crazy was a quick, light and fun read. I'm really enjoying the Holland Springs series, and am excited to read more!


Favorite Quotes:

 
  "Now that's a sweet sight." All at once, he pivoted and her back hit the brick wall of the restaurant. He sealed his mouth over hers and cupped her breasts. For long, sweet moments, there was nothing but his mouth on hers. Nothing but tasting and pleasure. Nothing but Carter.


  She kissed his throat and jaw, her sweet breath fanning over his sensitive skin. He let her legs slide to the floor, then claimed her mouth in a long kiss. Something hot and sweet washed over him as the tips of her fingers touched his face.
   He leaned back to get a good look at her. At her flushed face and tousled curls. At the emotion shining clearly in her dark eyes.
  Yeah, he was done. Forget done. He was worthless. No good for anyone but her. 


  "If I had Melanie's heart, I'd treat it like the treasure it is."
  "Now that was poetic." Turning to face his sister, he was surprised to see tears in her eyes. "Quick. Write it down before you forget it. She needs to hear that from you."
  He tapped his head. "Don't need to." But it wasn't in his brain. The words were written on his heart, signed and ready to be delivered to Melanie.
 



Series: Holland Springs #1.5
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Marquita Valentine
Publication Date: 3/13/13
Format: ebook
Pages: 50
Source: Author
Rating: 4 stars

Even Bad Girls deserve a Happily Ever After

Finn was supposed to be the rebound guy, the one that got April Billingsworth over her breakup with her fiancé. Only one night turned into two, two nights turned into a week, then months of pure happiness. Now this former bad girl's ready to settle down and go the distance with the man she loves, until the secret Finn's been keeping from her comes to light.

There was only one rule, Private Investigator, Finn Kennedy lived by: Do not, under any circumstances, get involved with a client. That is, until he met his latest assignment, April Billingsworth, the current governor's daughter and Charlotte's most notorious bad girl. Not only has he broken his rule, but April has discovered his secret-he's been keeping tabs on her and reporting back to her father.

Devastated by the truth, April leaves Finn and tries to go on with her life, without the lying bastard. But Finn has other plans, he's determined to win April back. And this time, nothing's going to stand in his way. 

WOW. After reading Drive Me Crazy, if I'd been told that not only would I tolerate reading April's story, but enjoy it, I would have rolled my eyes.  April Billingsworth was awful in book one. She was a manipulative, snobby lying liar face, and I did not like her one bit.

"Even Bad Girls Deserve a Happily Ever After" is the tagline for Driving to You, and you know what, that is too true. Everyone needs a happy ever after, if the work to deserve it. Valentine did a great job of taking a hated character and showing another, more sympathetic side to April. April may never be the sweetheart of the series, but now I get her. And I actually liked her.

It probably doesn't hurt that April's love is a charming, sexy Irishman by the name Finn Kennedy. Finn and April's affair begins under a bit of deceit which tears them apart. In the meantime, we learn why April went to Holland Springs (in Drive Me Crazy) to win (or buy) back Carter Ambrose's affection, why she lied, and why she left so quietly. I was so pleasantly surprised by the answers, and loved how the two stories fit together to make a really cool story.

Of course, Driving to You is about April and Finn, and the lengths this delicious man went to in order to win back April's love and trust was just heart-melting. This novella is a great addition to the Holland Springs series.


Favorite Quotes:

  "Are you trying to say that you're in love with me?"
  "No!"
  She jerked back as if he'd slapped her. "Oh."
  He held up his hand. "What I mean is that I'm not sure. I could be. Maybe? I know I like you and the sex..." He let out a whistle and gave her a wicked grin.
  "I'm exceptional at sex," she said with a confident smile. And flexible. Oh, and willing to try things."


  Finn made a face at his friend. "Shut it."
  "This girl's got you all tied up, and not in a Fifty Shades kinda way either." Hunter popped a handful of peanuts in his mouth. "I say it's time for you to move on."
  "While I say it's time for you to read How to Hold On to Your Mancards."
  "Please, Tiffany is all about some romance and I'm the beneficiary of it." Hunter grinned, his white teeth flashing against his dark skin. "In fact, I bought her an e-reader for Christmas so she didn't have to wait--"
  "Oh, Jesus." Finn scrubbed his face with his hand. "You don't actually read those with her, do you?"
  "Real men read romance, Finn"
 



Series: Holland Springs #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Marquita Valentine
Publication Date: 7/9/12
Format: ebook
Pages: 264
Source: Author
Rating: 4 stars

Born into wealth and power, Christian Romanov is Hollywood’s favorite bad boy with a golden touch…until the day his agent receives pictures of the movie star celebrating his birthday in a not-so-legal way. Now he’s been ordered to find a small-town girl to be seen with in order to improve his partying image. He agrees, but for an entirely different reason-to protect the reputation of an organization that helps get teens off the street and back into the school. Not only is he the anonymous donor that's been solely supporting the organization since its inception, he's slated to be their newest spokesman.

Zoe Ambrose is a hopeless romantic masquerading as a realist. But she’s also a successful novelist, trying to fit herself into a staid life when what she craves is the adventure she found one night in the arms of a playboy who never knew her name. When her successful crime series is optioned by a major studio, she travels to Las Vegas to find that the prince of her fantasies and single night of pleasure is the main contender for the male lead. But for four years Zoe has been publicly eviscerating the man who left her stranded that night—he’s the villain in her series! Now the movie star doesn't recognize her, and Zoe is determined to protect her heart this time.

When Christian braves the small town of Holland Springs and Zoe’s overprotective family to win the girl of his dreams, he finds that his Hollywood skills might not cut it—and learns a shocking truth he never imagined. Can he can tempt her again and finally give her the epic love story she has refused to write for herself?

When I started the Holland Springs series, I was hoping to find stories that were fun and sexy, heartfelt and sweet. A series that gives me the same feelings as Bella Andre's Sullivans series. And guess what, I've found it.

We first meet Christian Romanov and Zoe Ambrose in the series prequel Seduction of the Billionaire. And I do strongly recommend reading that (free) prequel because it gives you the reasons why Zoe is wary of Christian, and why he can't seem to forget his mystery woman from long ago.

Twice Tempted is the perfect name for this installment. Christian has twice tempted the cautious and sweet Zoe. And twice Christian himself has been tempted to forgo his ways by a sweet and tempting in her own right woman.

Twice Tempted was a very charming and sexy second chance love story. And now that I've gotten deeper into the characters and their stories, I am becoming addicted.

OH! Holland Springs is a town with a mysterious legend, one promising love and forever. When you finally get to visit the springs, it is MAGICAL.

Favorite Quotes:

 
  "When you love someone, it shouldn't matter what they do. Serial killers and people who make chocolate-covered raisins excluded."
  "We really need to work on your sense of humor."

 
  There would never be another moment like this, so perfect and right. He would never have another woman look at him like Zoe was right now--like he'd hung the moon and stars for her. She didn't see him as Ian Romanov, the actor. She knew him, down to his most guarded secrets, as Christian Romanov, the man.


  "Where were you last night?" Christian asked, ignoring the smirk on his cousin's face as they walked out of the bedroom.
  "I was otherwise occupied."
  "You mean you were shagging some woman blind, and then got pissed."
  "You say tomato and I say...We say it the exact same way."

 

Purchase the Holland Springs Series

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** Seduction of the Billionaire is FREE **

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Must be 18+ years of age; open Intl.

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About the author

New York Times Bestselling Author, Marquita Valentine, writes sexy heroes that make you swoon and sassy heroines that make you laugh. She’s the author of the bestselling contemporary romance series, Holland Springs, and the new adult romance series, Boys of the South.

 Marquita met her husband aka Hot Builder at Sonic when they were in high school. She suggests this location to all of her single friends in search of a good man—and if that doesn't work, they can console themselves with cheesy tater tots. She lives in North Carolina in a very, very small town with Hot Builder and their two children. 

 

 

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