Tag Archives: Marissa Clarke

Accidentally Perfect by Marissa Clarke – a Review

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Accidentally Perfect by Marissa Clarke – a Review

 

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Description:
Workaholic Lillian Mahoney has given everything to her job. The hugely popular lifestyle show she helped create monopolizes her time, energy, creativity, and anything remotely resembling a life. But all it takes is the show’s womanizing, egomaniac star throwing a massive hissy on live TV to utterly implode Lillian’s career in a New York minute.

Now Lillian’s hiding out in the gorgeous and completely unknown seaside village of Blink, Maine. Out of gas. A stolen wallet. A broken heel. And worse, she’s somehow managed to completely piss off the town’s resident hunk, Caleb Wright. She’ll show that hot, grumpy single father exactly what she’s made of.

But Blink isn’t quite what Lillian expects—and neither is Caleb…or his feisty teen daughter she can’t help but love. And while her entire life and career are in shreds, Lillian might just discover what happens when she gives her bad first impression a second chance…

 

Review:

Accidentally Perfect begins with Lillian Mahoney and her team doing a national “good morning” show on the east coast.  The face of company Lillian has created is an ego driven jerk, but he fits the bill.  As the face of the company is preparing a recipe on live t.v., he makes a mistake and then once the cameras stop rolling, blames Lillian for “sabotaging” him.  He throws a tantrum that is filmed by lots of fans and Lillian finds herself odd man out.  After discussing the tantrum with her sister (who is her right hand person), it’s decided that Lillian just needs to lay low for a few days and let things blow over.  Her sister had purchased a cottage in Maine so that’s where Lillian heads……at night……not knowing exactly what awaits her.

Several hours later, Lillian finds herself out of gas and out of money due to her wallet being stolen.  When she starts to walk to a restaurant that she sees in the distance, someone stops to offer her a ride, but she refuses, which doesn’t sit well with the person offering to help.  He pulls away and Lillian continues walking with a broken heel and then in the rain.

Once Lillian enters the restaurant, she feels all eyes on her so she sits in a corner with her back to everyone while she tries to figure out what to do.  What she doesn’t expect is for complete strangers to come to her rescue and ask for nothing in return.  She also doesn’t expect it to make the person who offered her a ride to act as if he’s mad at her.  

Caleb Wright is a lifelong resident of Blink, Maine and is immediately suspicious of Lillian.  It doesn’t help her case when, unknown to her, one of the people whom she offers to help is very wealthy.  Caleb decides that Lillian is running a scam and trying to take advantage.  Of course, Lillian is wealthy in her own right, and her running a scam couldn’t be further from the truth.  

Caleb takes it upon himself to watch Lillian and make sure she doesn’t take advantage of anyone he cares about.  Lillian keeps trying to figure out what she did to make Caleb dislike her.  Neither expected what follows them getting to know each other.

Accidentally Perfect is a nicely story with great and relatable characters.  Lillian and Caleb have amazing chemistry from the first moment they meet, even though they both deny it.  The secondary characters are well written and add so much to the story.  This is a story where you can hear the laughter, the water lapping on the boats and the seagulls squawking.  Most of all, you feel connected to the characters from the very beginning.  I can’t wait for the next installment!  Well done, Marissa Clarke!!  Very, very well done!

Reviewed by Vickie

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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Three Day Fiancee by Marissa Clarke – a Review

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Three Day Fiancee by Marissa Clarke – a Review

 

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Description:
Helicopter pilot Taylor Blankenship’s time schedule is maxed out. Between his job, his one-hundred and fifty pound slobbering mess of a dog, and his matchmaking grandmother, he has no time for anyone or anything-especially a woman. If only there were a way to get Grams to back down.

The job of New York City dog walker suits Caitlin Ramos perfectly while she preps for her CPA exam—steady, scheduled, and requiring very little human interaction; a huge seller since she’s still on the mend from a toxic relationship. Men suck. Especially her bossy hot client with the Saint Bernard that thinks it’s a lap dog. No way will she go for his plan to pretend they’re engaged to get his grandmother off his case. Down, boy.

Offered a bargain she can’t refuse, Caitlin finds herself playing the part of fiancée to Taylor. Fortunately, it’s only for three days. All she has to do is fake a relationship with Mr. Bossy Pants in front of his entire family, survive a fierce game of truth or dare with an unscrupulous pair of octogenarians, endure a one-on-one round of Twister with Taylor, and not lose her heart to a guy who turns out to be a lot more than she’d bargained for.

 

 

 

Review:

“I need you to pretend to be my fiancee.” When she scowled, he spoke faster. “Just for Gram’s party.” The scowl was softened by a questioning arch of her eyebrow. “She’s been at me forever to find a girl and settle down and this will get her off my back. And it’ll make her happy,” he added. “She could use a little happiness.”
 
 Seems simple enough, right? Not when all cylinders of attraction are firing and you’re shutting down your desires – the ones that want exactly what you’re not supposed to have! :D. Three Day Fiancee by Marissa Clarke is a sweet love story that blooms from innocent deceit to promises of forever.

Caitlin and Taylor have never had the pleasure — he’s an “on demand” helicopter pilot who only uses Caitlin’s dog walker services to keep his best friend entertained while he’s off. When Caitlin and Taylor collide, and it’s a sexy tumble!, his idea takes root and he convinces Caitlin to aid in his abetting. It’s three days of harmless duplicity, fake it till you make it stuff, but neither expected something momentous to overtake their plan. Something special that is worthy of exploration, preconceived limits aside.

Life has a way of thwarting progress for a myriad of reasons. Caitlin and Taylor are undeniably in like with each other, but their futures are at odds. Throw in respective romantic backstories, a few pertinent reveals, and our couple is baffled as to why they ever considered deviating from the original arrangement.

 I enjoy Marissa Clarke very much — she is a solid storyteller of HEA. Three Day Fiancee takes the kindness of strangers to the next level!

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

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Chance of a Lifetime by Marissa Clarke – a Review

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Chance of a Lifetime by Marissa Clarke – a Review

 

 

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Description:
Sometimes the biggest risk is playing it safe.

Gen Richards is tired of living down to her family’s expectation of the helpless blind girl. Resurrecting her high-school bucket list that begins with “kiss a total stranger” seems just the thing until she finds herself in a panty-melting lip lock with her big brother’s best friend.

Chance Anderson thrives on adrenaline, but Genny’s the one risk he’s not willing to take. His recklessness a decade ago landed her in the hospital and ejected him from her life. He’s bad for her and everyone knows it—especially her big brother.

Chance reluctantly helps Gen complete her bucket list in order to keep her out of trouble. Running through a freezing fountain, playing spin the bottle while fending off a mad horde of stinging insects, and skinny dipping with homicidal attack swans don’t hold a candle to the real danger: falling for the one person he can never have.

 

 

Review:

Today had brought home just how misdirected her entire life had been to date.

When Genevieve takes stock of her life and decides to live it, exhilarated and carefree, she tackles her bucket list. Who could have ever imagined #1, kissing a stranger, would involve the object of her obsession aka her big brother’s best friend aka the a-hole who humiliated her at the age of 15?! Thankfully, Marissa Clarke is at the helm of Chance of a Lifetime, and she gives us a thoroughly romantic story of two people who finally got honest.

Misunderstandings. Too often they muck up a perfectly reasonable explanation. When Chance (the a-hole heartbreaker) allows the problem to go unresolved for 10 long years, let’s say Gen is in no mood to listen. Let’s also assume her hurt feelings have festered into rage. Gen is bitter. Gen can’t speak to Chance without snapping. Like a coin, however, there are always two sides and Ms. Clarke gives Chance a chance to make it right.

-and he was going to pay the price…again. All because he couldn’t stay away. He’d never been able to stay away. She was like a drug. He needed more. He always had. He was addicted, but had been able to control it and hide it… Until last night when she’d kissed him. He’d fallen off the wagon.

Truth is, Chance has been smitten with Gen for years, but has kept it a secret to honor the “bro code”. Problem is Gen was unaware. What happened to being honest about your feelings or, at the very least, keeping it a secret from big brother?! Chance is too honorable for that. Plus, that incident of epic proportions from 10 years ago was supposed to keep Chance away permanently, so his declaration wasn’t of the utmost importance. Until the fated kiss, however. A kiss so charged, is either willing to take a dive? (Incidentally, skinny-dipping is also on her list!)

It wasn’t easy to like Gen. The chip on her shoulder was beyond off-putting. Her defensive posture, full of barbs and low blows, was intended to drive away Chance. Out of loyalty, however, he agreed to assist her and Chance is unwilling to walk away without finally revealing his heart.   Gen isn’t immune to Chance and when she accepts he’s as vulnerable, the teenaged attraction evolves into something curious, something fierce and hungry. Throwing caution to the wind would be something akin to a freefall (skydiving…who doesn’t have it on their list?!)

I did not expect such an outpouring of emotion! Chance stopped taking chances and put himself out there for all, especially Gen, to believe. His words, his professions of love, swept me away. I genuinely hugged my Kindle! Marissa Clarke created a swoon-worthy man. Not only will he satisfy all your needs (in abundance), he will offer his whole heart. Ms. Clarke addresses love gone wrong, but she also endowed Gen with courage to face her own personal dilemma; “dirty laundry” you’re not supposed to talk about in mixed company. It was life-affirming and empowering.    

What more can I say but tell you that second chances make for a splendid forever?

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

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Love Me To Death by Marissa Clarke – a Review

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Love Me To Death by Marissa Clarke – a Review

 

Love Me To DeathAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / The Book Depository / BAM

Description:
Medical research scientist Elena Arcos has always lived her life under the radar. When she is shot in a convenience store robbery, she finds herself rocketed into supernatural insanity courtesy of a sexy immortal law enforcer. He’s convinced she’s some kind of freaky half-vampire thing and that her deceased dad was the real deal: a blood sucking monster. Yeah, right. As a Slayer, an elite law enforcer descended from Azrael himself, Nikolai Itzov’s orders from the Underveil General are clear: Kill Elena Arcos or die. The only thing holding him back from that directive is the overwhelming urge to protect her. Too bad she’s also the offspring of his father’s murderer. Kissing Elena, let alone being with her body and soul, can never happen. Nikolai and Elena find themselves in a life and death battle to stop a plot designed to lift the Underveil and enslave humans. With her analytical mind and his centuries of training, they might be able to foil the plot with their lives, and maybe even with their hearts intact. But in order to succeed, he must help her become the very thing he hates the most: an Undead.

Review:

When Nikolai has his target, his vampire enemy in his hands on the brink of death (though he didn’t have the pleasure of causing her demise)…why on earth couldn’t he finish her…why would he suddenly freeze? Let’s follow the supernatural trail Marissa Clarke sets up in Love Me to Death, because where Nikolai leads…I willingly follow…

End of story. She wasn’t dead. Death had saved her instead.

A formidable slayer, Nikolai is “a terrifying being created to patrol the Underveil and execute immortals who broke the laws”. There should be no hesitation on his part. Except, there was a genuine vulnerability; a genuine innocence/ignorance about Elena’s nature that belied his Uncle Fyodor’s instructions to kill her on site.

When he had stood over her in the convenience store, ready to end her life, something had happened – something more frightening than death itself: He had felt the pull of her soul. A distinct tugging at his own, calling him to join with her.

I loved Nikolai and Elena immediately! His fierce exterior was intimidating, but endearing when he screwed up, pissed off Elena or made her cry. Elena…she’s a paranormal enigma. For 26 years, “she’d just gone along with the ebb and flow of life”; a hematologist who suffers from hypoglycemia. Is she going to freak when she realizes the cure is never going to be sugar! Ha…I love it!

The chemistry was scorching and written seductively. I loved everything about this book! Secondary characters were fascinating and I’m crossing my fingers Stefan, the droll Time Folder, gets his own book. Charming, powerful, and intriguing, but a “biological eunuch”? Say it ain’t so! Aleksi, the other slayer, is made of steel and is loyal to a fault (what she’s enduring at the fortress with Fyodor *shudders*). Ricardo, the vampire leader of the resistance faction was swoon-worthy and compelling. Then there’s Vlad, the epic vampire prisoner in the dungeon…Seriously, I have hopes for several spinoffs! The world building is amazing!

Truths will be revealed and people will be held accountable. Discoveries will be accepted, a prophecy of a legend will be fulfilled, and a fated love will be embraced. I was swept up in the sensual relationship of our H/H, but equally gripped by the events and subplots warring within such a dynamic community.

In short, this book was UNPUTDOWNABLE!  It’s a word I saw in a review somewhere, but I couldn’t resist borrowing it.

Reviewed by Carmen

Copy provided by Publisher

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