We are huge fans of E.L Montes and her debut book Disastrous will always be special to us as it was instrumental in building our friendship and without that friendship there would be no blog.
So this weekend we thought we'd share with you again our reviews of E.L's books and for those of you who haven't read them yet we are giving you the chance to win them.
Today we will feature Disastrous & Cautious, tomorrow we will feature Perfectly Damaged.
Disastrous (Disastrous 1)
Book Description:
After struggling with the loss of yet another person so dear to her heart, Mia Sullivan channeled her frustration and loneliness into focusing on her future career. At the top of her class at Harvard Law, she was nervous and excited when given the opportunity to work as a summer extern at one of the top firms in Boston. Her new boss was the young, extraordinarily handsome, and successful Marcus DeLuca. As she falls for his charms, she discovers he is keeping something from her.Marcus DeLuca was living two separate lives: one that involved his successful career and the other that could potentially ruin his entire reputation. His secret could jeopardize not only his life but everyone he loves. There was no room in his life for a serious romantic relationship, but after meeting Mia, he makes room. He cannot resist her. She is innocent, humble, and pure--the total opposite of him. She distracts him from all of his deep dark secrets. He knows once Mia finds out the things he has done and who he truly is, she will never want to look at him again. Deep down he knows he must stay away, but he can't.
Mia and Marcus are heading down a path of love, lies, heartbreak, and betrayal. Can their love conquer all, or will the web of deceit be too much to overcome?
Find it on Goodreads here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16041169-disastrous
Our Review:
Review by Willow 4 Stars (Written 26.10.2012)
The story is about young, extraordinarily handsome and successful Marcus DeLuca, who has a secret and Harvard law student Mia Sullivan, who ends up working for him. I was expecting this story to be a certain way and I was pleasantly surprised it wasn't.
First the story grabs you in with a prologue. Mia is arguing with someone and is running away from them in the middle of the night. She has blood on her, but you don't know why. Chapter one then starts with events prior to this. The author did a great job of reeling you in here, because as you are reading the book you keep thinking of that prologue, you need to know more about that event so you keep reading. Once you meet Marcus and slowly start to know things about his secret you start to form scenarios of what he's done and where the blood has come from to cause that prologue, but when it finally comes its probably not what you were thinking!
Marcus is a very likable character, he has his flaws, but he really does care about Mia. Mia is feisty and can stand up for herself. She really annoyed me during one part of the book though, because she should have told Marcus something straight away, he had a right to know the instant it happened.
The story has some heart breaking moments and some angst. I really enjoyed the book and didn't want to put it down.
The ending leaves you wanting more with Mia and Marcus and the epilogue leaving you knowing the second book, which I think might be called cautious, will be more involved with Marcus' secret and is likely to put both Mia and Marcus in danger. I was definitely left needing to read the second book.
There is a bonus chapter at the end of Marcus' POV when meeting Mia for the first time and it was a nice touch.
Here are my Goodreads status updates whilst reading!
The story is about young, extraordinarily handsome and successful Marcus DeLuca, who has a secret and Harvard law student Mia Sullivan, who ends up working for him. I was expecting this story to be a certain way and I was pleasantly surprised it wasn't.
First the story grabs you in with a prologue. Mia is arguing with someone and is running away from them in the middle of the night. She has blood on her, but you don't know why. Chapter one then starts with events prior to this. The author did a great job of reeling you in here, because as you are reading the book you keep thinking of that prologue, you need to know more about that event so you keep reading. Once you meet Marcus and slowly start to know things about his secret you start to form scenarios of what he's done and where the blood has come from to cause that prologue, but when it finally comes its probably not what you were thinking!
Marcus is a very likable character, he has his flaws, but he really does care about Mia. Mia is feisty and can stand up for herself. She really annoyed me during one part of the book though, because she should have told Marcus something straight away, he had a right to know the instant it happened.
The story has some heart breaking moments and some angst. I really enjoyed the book and didn't want to put it down.
The ending leaves you wanting more with Mia and Marcus and the epilogue leaving you knowing the second book, which I think might be called cautious, will be more involved with Marcus' secret and is likely to put both Mia and Marcus in danger. I was definitely left needing to read the second book.
There is a bonus chapter at the end of Marcus' POV when meeting Mia for the first time and it was a nice touch.
Here are my Goodreads status updates whilst reading!
| 26/2012 | 85.0% | "So not fair, I forgot my husband got some comedy tickets for tonight, so now out. Trying to read on my kindle app on phone, but he's not having it!!! Can't finish it for another 5 hours!!! I need to finish this!!" | ||
| 10/26/2012 | 83.0% | "this is so unfair - I have to stop reading to drive home from work (yes I have been reading at work I couldnt stop!)" | ||
| 10/26/2012 | 81.0% | "OMG the heartbreak." | ||
| 10/26/2012 | 72.0% | "Ok so when the main character thinks "nothing can go wrong" you gotta know something is coming! uh oh" | ||
| 10/26/2012 | 71.0% | "I cant put this book down." | ||
| 10/26/2012 | 62.0% | "uh oh... this doesn't look good." | ||
| 10/26/2012 | 39.0% | "Marcus - what are you doing???" | ||
| 10/26/2012 | 25.0% | "why do I have to work today? I just want to read!" |
Cautious (Disastrous 2)
Book Description:
Cautiously, they continue to struggle for what they desire more than anything, each other.
Though, that comes with a price … one that involves more HEARTBREAK and deception.
Can they survive another disastrous path?
Is their love strong enough to defeat all the obstacles, all of the BETRAYAL?
Not all broken relationships are repairable, but Marcus and Mia try their hardest to fight for themselves and for each other.
Find it on Goodreads here: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16131601-cautious
Our Review:
Reviewed by Dawn, Donna & Willow ~ 5 Stars (written 21.05.13)
We've been patiently waiting for Cautious and were so excited when author EL Montes offered us an ARC to review for the blog. We've decided to do this review a little bit different that we usually do. We are going to share with you the messages we sent each other whilst we were reading the book so you can see what we were going through, and then we'll share our conversation after we'd all finished!
Willow: Have you guys read the prologue? OMG!!
Donna: The Prologue is badddddddddddd :-(
Willow: I know WTH? I love that E's done it again, though this prologue is more shocking!!
Donna: Will probably finish today, but I'm scared!
Willow: I'm scared too!
Dawn: OMG who was that in the prologue!!! This better be a HEA!!
Donna: I'm now at 60% and bricking it!
Dawn: Oh no!
Donna: Only because I feel something bad is going to happen!!
Willow: I'm only at 25% but E can't do this to us can she???
Dawn: I hope not. In the prologue was that Marcus or Mia?
Donna: Or not them at all?
Willow: I assumed Marcus was narrating, but it's not clear.
Dawn: I thought it was Mia narrating?!
Donna: I thought Mia too
Willow: Im going back to re-read!
Donna: Ooooo 70% think this is where it hits the fan! Need to take a breather.
Donna: OMG 86%...........
Dawn: Stop it I'm only 4%!! lol
Willow: No no no Donna!!
Donna: I'm on the Epilogue now and only answered a few emails today I'm sooo bad - it was just too good to put down.
Willow: I'm so Jealous right now Donna!!
Donna: Finished!
Dawn: Are you happy or sad?
Donna: There were some sad bits and some happy bits lol
Dawn: I think in the prologue it was Mia speaking, he calls her Babe, she calls him Baby.
Donna: Not saying
Dawn: Gaaaaaaah!!!
Dawn: I need to know about that prologue - we'll ask E in her interview whether she writes the prologue first or the book first and adds the prologue
Willow: Once again the prologue is genius!
Dawn: I'm dying to know what "the" secret is! And they are sure to find out the other one knew about it and they really wont be happy!!
Dawn: 57% and Gaaaaah! The way she's writing it is keeping the secret from us! I just want to know!!
Willow: lol I felt like that, it's coming I promise! :-)
Willow: Wait until you get to around 83%, there's a line there that killed me! let me know when you get there!
Dawn: Gaaaaaah! I thought he was going to tell Jimmie on the phone, not skirt around it!
Willow: It is genius how she keeps you guessing though don't you think?
Dawn: I got to that line! "My deepest regret that night...." right?
Donna: Awwww sob sob sob!
Willow: Yep that's the line that broke my heart!
Dawn: I'm Scared.
Dawn: OMG they're going to walk in on it aren't they?
Donna: Have you got Kleenex? I cried lots
Dawn: Willow you've a heart of stone did you cry?
Willow: I know WTH? I love that E's done it again, though this prologue is more shocking!!
Donna: Will probably finish today, but I'm scared!
Willow: I'm scared too!
Dawn: OMG who was that in the prologue!!! This better be a HEA!!
Donna: I'm now at 60% and bricking it!
Dawn: Oh no!
Donna: Only because I feel something bad is going to happen!!
Willow: I'm only at 25% but E can't do this to us can she???
Dawn: I hope not. In the prologue was that Marcus or Mia?
Donna: Or not them at all?
Willow: I assumed Marcus was narrating, but it's not clear.
Dawn: I thought it was Mia narrating?!
Donna: I thought Mia too
Willow: Im going back to re-read!
Donna: Ooooo 70% think this is where it hits the fan! Need to take a breather.
Donna: OMG 86%...........
Dawn: Stop it I'm only 4%!! lol
Willow: No no no Donna!!
Donna: I'm on the Epilogue now and only answered a few emails today I'm sooo bad - it was just too good to put down.
Willow: I'm so Jealous right now Donna!!
Donna: Finished!
Dawn: Are you happy or sad?
Donna: There were some sad bits and some happy bits lol
Dawn: I think in the prologue it was Mia speaking, he calls her Babe, she calls him Baby.
Donna: Not saying
Dawn: Gaaaaaaah!!!
Dawn: I need to know about that prologue - we'll ask E in her interview whether she writes the prologue first or the book first and adds the prologue
Willow: Once again the prologue is genius!
Dawn: I'm dying to know what "the" secret is! And they are sure to find out the other one knew about it and they really wont be happy!!
Dawn: 57% and Gaaaaah! The way she's writing it is keeping the secret from us! I just want to know!!
Willow: lol I felt like that, it's coming I promise! :-)
Willow: Wait until you get to around 83%, there's a line there that killed me! let me know when you get there!
Dawn: Gaaaaaah! I thought he was going to tell Jimmie on the phone, not skirt around it!
Willow: It is genius how she keeps you guessing though don't you think?
Dawn: I got to that line! "My deepest regret that night...." right?
Donna: Awwww sob sob sob!
Willow: Yep that's the line that broke my heart!
Dawn: I'm Scared.
Dawn: OMG they're going to walk in on it aren't they?
Donna: Have you got Kleenex? I cried lots
Dawn: Willow you've a heart of stone did you cry?
Willow: As you say I'm a cold hearted bitch, I didn't cry but I was extremely upset. I think the non crying was just shock more than anything. I just couldn't believe it!
And here's the discussion we had after:
Willow: The thing I loved about this book and Disastrous is although you have the story Marcus and Mia's relationship, there is just so much other stuff going on that grips you.
Dawn: I know I love all the side characters. Jeremy is funny. And Elle is so cute.It's good we get to see Mia building relationships with her family too in this one. And I felt for Marcus more in this one. He really doesn't want that life but he's trapped in it with very little options to get out. But he tries his hardest because he loves Mia and want a better life for them than his mum and dad had.
And here's the discussion we had after:
Willow: The thing I loved about this book and Disastrous is although you have the story Marcus and Mia's relationship, there is just so much other stuff going on that grips you.
Dawn: I know I love all the side characters. Jeremy is funny. And Elle is so cute.It's good we get to see Mia building relationships with her family too in this one. And I felt for Marcus more in this one. He really doesn't want that life but he's trapped in it with very little options to get out. But he tries his hardest because he loves Mia and want a better life for them than his mum and dad had.
Donna: I felt that Marcus matured a lot in this book although I did feel that his reaction to "the secret" was not like him..he has led the family for so long I just felt that he would have reacted a bit differently. I did really feel for him though...I cried at his turmoil
Willow: I agree Donna, Marcus did seem much more mature in this book, but I get what you are saying about his reaction. The relationships with the other DeLucas was lovely to see - I am excited that EL has decided to do a book on Jimmies story. As you know I'm a sucker for alternative points of view in a story and I loved that Cautious does this, you get to feel both characters highs and lows.
Dawn: Jimmies story will be good. He's a great character and has had some tough times and I think Ellie is going to give him some more!! Ha ha Hope he finds love too though. Yeah the alternate POV is good. It means there's no gaps in the story and you're not left wondering what the other on is thinking or feeling. I felt Mia had grown a pair in this book too. She was much more willing to try for their relationship despite what Marcus did in his "other" life. She still didn't like it but was more willing to give it a go I thought.
Willow: So Dawn after Donna was warning you about Kleenex, did you cry?
Dawn: Of course!!! U know I cry at anything!! Lol
Dawn: Of course!!! U know I cry at anything!! Lol
Donna: I went through a box of tissues and had red eye for ages...again I cried at the epilogue as well. I am wondering what will happen after the event with a certain character...I cannot see it being let go especially as there was no "punishment". Marcus did something that was so right yet so wrong but understand why he did it. I am just worried about the future repercussions.
Willow: Perhaps this is what we'll see in Jimmie's story?
Our Rating and Final thoughts:
Willow: Definitely 5 stars without a doubt. I couldn't put it down, I loved it. It's a great story and if you haven't read them you must! I <3 EL and will read anything she puts out there.
Dawn: 5 stars from me too. It's so much more than just a romance book. And we need more of them like this. I'll be waiting in line for her next one out.
Donna: 5 stars! One word: Amazeballs.
Donna: 5 stars! One word: Amazeballs.
Giveaway:
One winner will win a kindle copy of both Disastrous & Cautious.
Thank You for the giveaway, hoping I am the lucky one LOL
ReplyDeletepuddinp1e@msn.com