Lisa Marie Perry

I was given an advanced copy of this book by Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept on Netgalley. I have a confession to make. When I went browsing on netgalley I picked this book because the cover and the disruption was so well done I COULD NOT RESIST! Lisa Marie Perry you are a goddess. This is truly sinful! This is gripping energetic and awesome. It reads like a soap opera that you can not look away from. Chelsea is a broken beautiful woman who you can’t help but love for her spunky smart ass personality! Dante and Chelsea have a very complicated history but as the chapters progress you see that they have the best love hate relationship.the issues they share are brought on by lies some brought on by self infliction. They don't trust each other but you can tell just how much each affect the other. How much they love each other even if they want to deny themselves. Dante is a creative soul and the sex between them OMG explosive. Ladies and Gents this is 5 sinful stars Bonnie and Clyde Ride Or Die.… (más)

The first installment in Lisa Marie Perry's Guilty Pleasures series, Meant to Be Mine is a second chance at love romance between former friends who have not seen one another for fourteen years.

Sophia Mercer has not been back to Eaves, MA since she and father left years earlier after a scandal. Following her beloved great aunt's death, Sophia returns for the funeral but after the service, she is more than ready to return to the anonymity of New York. However, Sophia decides to move back to the small town after inheriting her aunt’s specialty store and apartment. Running into her old friend Burke Wolf stirs up long forgotten feelings but will their complicated pasts prevent them acting on their scorching hot attraction?

A sickly child with a life threatening heart condition, Sophia has been fairly healthy since receiving a much needed heart transplant. She has a successful career but after returning from her aunt's funeral, her life does not seem to quite fit her any more. Realizing she would rather be in Eaves, she moves back home although she knows she will have to make peace with some of the ghosts of her past. Sophia is a smart and savvy business woman who has an uphill battle ahead of her as she makes some pretty gutsy changes to her aunt's business. One of the improvements she would like to make involves spending time with Burke, but their interactions are rather acrimonious due to their somewhat convoluted history with one another.

Several years ago, Burke finally managed to kick his drug addiction and he continues to work hard to maintain his sobriety. Running into Sophia brings back painful childhood memories he has tried very hard to forget. Despite their unlikely friendship, they were once thick as thieves and Sophia saved him more than once during his turbulent teen years. While he and Sophia supported on another during very tough times, he kept much of his life a secret from her and he still keeps a tight lid on the reasons for his substance abuse problems. Despite his unhappy history, Burke cannot quite leave Eaves for good although his career keeps him away from town for long stretches of time.

Burke and Sophia's relationship seems to be following the same frustrating pattern as when they were teenagers. They get along on a superficial level but the peace between them is tenuous which leads to an irritating pattern of them getting along, fighting and making up then turn around and repeat the cycle time and again. Neither of them has dealt with the lingering issues from their respective childhoods and they both have a tendency to shut down or run away instead of discussing their problems. Burke and Sophia spend so much time apart that it is difficult to connect with them as a couple and while there is plenty of passion between them, something always stops them before they consummate their desire.

While the plot is interesting, it does not seem to have much focus. There are multiple story arcs involving numerous secondary characters so the storyline often feels chaotic and disjointed. Every character seems to be keeping secrets and while this helps keep readers invested in the unfolding story, it is also irritating since there is little context for their actions or decisions. With so much going on with Burke and Sophia, the plot feels a little overly complicated and busy because there is plenty of drama going on with the secondary cast of characters as well.

Despite a few flaws, Meant to Be Mine is a nice introduction to the Guilty Pleasures series. Sophia is a strong female lead and her medical condition adds another layer to the storyline. Burke is a well-rounded hero and his struggle with recovery is realistically portrayed. The conflict between them is believable although it takes a little too long for begin working through their emotional baggage. Lisa Marie Perry's tantalizing glimpses of the secondary characters will leave readers anxiously awaiting the next installment in the series.… (más)

ARC Review: Sin For Me (The Devil's Music) by Lisa Marie Perry

Like a rhythmic vibration that starts way down deep, Ms. Perry grabs the mike and takes center stage with Sin For Me. From the trail of broken hearts to the internal scheming and the combustible fireworks Chelsea and Dante throw at each other, the drama is real. The temptation is temperamental and the romance is as seductive as the catchy tunes The Devil's Music produces. What's a little romance without a bit of mystery thrown in to stir the flames? Sin For Me is intensely sensual and highly emotional. I'll be holding my breath waiting to see what happens next.
… (más)

Sofia Mercer has a broken heart. From an early age a heart condition has ruled her life. Determined to not be defined by her past health issues or the failures in her personal life, she leaves the past behind and starts fresh in a new place. Or so she believes. When the death of her aunt forces her return, she must confront all the drama, painful memories and recapture the heart she left behind. From the outside looking in, it's easy to make assumptions but until the facts are all laid out, misconceptions will always create pain. Meant to Be Mine is passionate, insightful and captivating. To heal one has to be open to facing all aspects of themselves and that is not always a pretty portrait.… (más)