Author Guest Post
My Favorite Book
Oh my goodness. I love this question and fear it at the same time. Love it because there are a few books that have stayed with me my entire life. Fear it because, if the other books learn there is a tier system they might revolt. And there are way more of them than there are of me. So, I won't name one specific book. I'll name three and hope that keeps the legions of books on my shelf off my case!
My first choice is going to be an early reader book. Because, really, if you're not turned on to reading at an early age it's hard to develop a love of books. Luckily I found Beverly Cleary early and Ramona would not let me stop reading. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 was my first, best book love. Beverly Cleary caught exactly my love of being 8 (although I read it when I was 7 and felt oh-so-grown-up) – I wanted to be the fearless girl that Ramona was instead of the quiet girl who was a little bit afraid of the big, noisy bus that squeaked its way through our neighborhood every morning.
Then, I hit middle school and I found Judy Blume. I'd had a good time with Fudge and his crowd, but I never really 'got' Judy Blume until I read Deenie. Oh, the angst that filled that book. I was perfectly ordinary, slightly chubby girl. I didn't wear a brace and no one thought I should be a model…but I so got Deenie. I loved reading that book, watching Deenie coming to terms with scoliosis. And it helped me get a better grip on who I wanted to be.
And then, one summer when I was interminably bored with small town life, I went digging through my grandmothers bookshelf looking for something to do. I stumbled on a stash of romances and one by Emilie Loring stood out. It was old, the pages yellowed and a few so dog-eared that the dog-ears had fallen off and the spine was broken. I took this to mean it was a really, really good book. So I took it home and stayed up all night reading it. I was hooked. It was called In Times Like These and I dream of someday finding a copy again… That was one of the first grown-up romances I'd read and I was absolutely hooked!
About The Author
And she's never looked back. Now she writes articles for magazines and such by day and writes romance novels with spice by night. And any toddler-free, five minute break she has. She lives on Lake Erie with her husband and 4 year old daughter. Happily ever after.
AUTHOR WEBSITE
GOODREADS
Kristina Knight's The Saint's Devilish Deal Virtual Book Tour Page On Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours
Book Review
Publisher: Crimson Romance
Publication Date: October 1, 2012
Format: eBook - 145 pages / Kindle - 328 KB
ISBN: 1440552355
ASIN: B0096D6WFE
Genre: Contemporary Romance
BUY THE BOOK: The Saint's Devilish Deal
AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
iTUNES
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours.
Book Description:
Esmerelda Quinn has been looking for a place to belong since her parents were killed in a car crash when she was young. The closest thing to home has always been Aunt Constance's villa in Puerto Vallarta, so after a string of hotelier jobs, she's coming home to run the villa.
Santiago Cruz has called the villa home for as long as he can remember. In between surfing events, Constance has always had a room for him. Color him surprised when Constance leaves him with a joint interest in the villa - along with her niece Esmerelda.
Esme isn't thrilled to share ownership of the villa with the the youngest Cruz brother - especially as the Cruz family has been after the villa for years. But Santiago has grown up while she's been away and soon she finds herself falling for the rich boy down the hall - all over again.
Book Excerpt:
Esme ran her index finger along the neckline of her silk blouse, praying for a little relief
from the oppressive heat Santiago brought into the room with him. Glancing up she saw the fan
was, indeed, still moving. The air itself seemed to hold still for him.
“. . .and so Constance wants you to run the villa, with Esmerelda, for the next six months. Three with you in charge, three with Esme running things.” Velazquez’s tone said Esme running anything would end in disaster. “At the end of that time, a decision will be made as to the future of Casa. Although, I have to say, based on the bank balances and outstanding loans, I don’t see much hope for it.” Velazquez tapped the file closed and clasped his hands together on the desk blotter.
“I will not vacate my property to leave him—” she jerked her thumb toward the pseudosurfer currently slouched on the lawyer’s Spanish leather sofa “—in charge for five minutes, much less the three months mentioned in that letter.”
Since being summoned to Puerto Vallarta, Esme’s world had turned topsy-turvy. A villa employee had met her at the airport gate, delivering a single-page note from Aunt Constance, telling Esme that Santiago would help her run the villa until Con’s return from a private medical facility. Esme had barely known Constance was sick and now she was gone before Esme could even set down her suitcase.
Esme spared another glace toward the sofa. Was Santiago paler than when he’d walked in? Couldn’t be. No, his casual posture in the corner of the sofa belied any of the surprise that was currently making it hard for her to breathe. The Patek Phillipe watch on his wrist, costing more than her entire ensemble, might be the only vestige of the businessman she remembered— but that man still existed. He wasn’t surprised and she shouldn’t be. Aunt Constance always liked a little healthy competition, she reminded herself.
But a vacation resort needed stability to grow, not one manger one week and another the next.
“Señorita Quinn, I know this comes as a shock, but Constance was very clear before she left for her extended rest.” The lawyer’s voice brought Esme abruptly back to the present. His glance skipped from her face to Santiago’s and back again as he clenched his jaw.
Great, she’d annoyed the only man who could reverse this ridiculous situation.
“As long as we’re both on the property, though, we meet Constance’s demands, correct? So how about keeping him on in an advisory capacity, while I run things?”
“Constance was clear. She wants you and Santiago to run the villa. As I’ve said, for three months you will be in control, for three months Santiago will run things. If either of you leave, I’m to auction the property.”
“We all know the highest bidder at any auction will be Eduardo Cruz. Why would I work with one Cruz while another is already waiting to take my property?” Crossing her arms over her chest, Esme sat back. Santiago shifted and she cut her eyes to the sofa, focusing on her nemesis.
“Look, you may have conned Aunt Constance with your surfer boy routine, but I don’t buy it.You don’t want to run a hotel. You don’t even want to be here, so why don’t you go buy a coffee downstairs while the adults talk?”
The lawyer gasped but Santiago only grinned. Just like him not to get an insult when aimed directly at him. Or his feet, since she found it hard to look directly into those deep brown eyes without wanting to drown in them. God, she thought she was past the point of being charmed by The Saint.
“I see the kitten has sharpened her claws,” he drawled. Each syllable rolled off his tongue like honey. Despite the heat of the day, Esme shivered.
“. . .and so Constance wants you to run the villa, with Esmerelda, for the next six months. Three with you in charge, three with Esme running things.” Velazquez’s tone said Esme running anything would end in disaster. “At the end of that time, a decision will be made as to the future of Casa. Although, I have to say, based on the bank balances and outstanding loans, I don’t see much hope for it.” Velazquez tapped the file closed and clasped his hands together on the desk blotter.
“I will not vacate my property to leave him—” she jerked her thumb toward the pseudosurfer currently slouched on the lawyer’s Spanish leather sofa “—in charge for five minutes, much less the three months mentioned in that letter.”
Since being summoned to Puerto Vallarta, Esme’s world had turned topsy-turvy. A villa employee had met her at the airport gate, delivering a single-page note from Aunt Constance, telling Esme that Santiago would help her run the villa until Con’s return from a private medical facility. Esme had barely known Constance was sick and now she was gone before Esme could even set down her suitcase.
Esme spared another glace toward the sofa. Was Santiago paler than when he’d walked in? Couldn’t be. No, his casual posture in the corner of the sofa belied any of the surprise that was currently making it hard for her to breathe. The Patek Phillipe watch on his wrist, costing more than her entire ensemble, might be the only vestige of the businessman she remembered— but that man still existed. He wasn’t surprised and she shouldn’t be. Aunt Constance always liked a little healthy competition, she reminded herself.
But a vacation resort needed stability to grow, not one manger one week and another the next.
“Señorita Quinn, I know this comes as a shock, but Constance was very clear before she left for her extended rest.” The lawyer’s voice brought Esme abruptly back to the present. His glance skipped from her face to Santiago’s and back again as he clenched his jaw.
Great, she’d annoyed the only man who could reverse this ridiculous situation.
“As long as we’re both on the property, though, we meet Constance’s demands, correct? So how about keeping him on in an advisory capacity, while I run things?”
“Constance was clear. She wants you and Santiago to run the villa. As I’ve said, for three months you will be in control, for three months Santiago will run things. If either of you leave, I’m to auction the property.”
“We all know the highest bidder at any auction will be Eduardo Cruz. Why would I work with one Cruz while another is already waiting to take my property?” Crossing her arms over her chest, Esme sat back. Santiago shifted and she cut her eyes to the sofa, focusing on her nemesis.
“Look, you may have conned Aunt Constance with your surfer boy routine, but I don’t buy it.You don’t want to run a hotel. You don’t even want to be here, so why don’t you go buy a coffee downstairs while the adults talk?”
The lawyer gasped but Santiago only grinned. Just like him not to get an insult when aimed directly at him. Or his feet, since she found it hard to look directly into those deep brown eyes without wanting to drown in them. God, she thought she was past the point of being charmed by The Saint.
“I see the kitten has sharpened her claws,” he drawled. Each syllable rolled off his tongue like honey. Despite the heat of the day, Esme shivered.
My Book Review:
Can the reunion of two former lovers save a cherished villa in Puerto Vallarta?
Esmerelda Quinn and Santiago "Saint" Cruz grew up as childhood friends in picturesque Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Four years ago, their friendship turned into something more in a Napa, California vineyard, when Esme fell under Saint's charming spell, only to be left brokenhearted when Saint suddenly disappeared.
When Esme is summoned back to her childhood home, Casa Constance, a vacation villa resort in Puerto Vallarta, she finds out that she will be running the villa with Saint for the next six months while her Aunt Constance is at a medical facility. Each will have a three month stint as the manager of the villa, and at the end of the six months, a decision will be made as to the future of the villa: either Esme or Saint will take ownership; or it could be put up for auction. Esme is not at all thrilled about sharing the running of the villa with Saint, and as they vie for control of the property, Esme is determined not to let her childhood home be taken away from her by Saint or his family, who owns investment and resort properties.
When their past and present collide, tension and attraction sizzles between Esme and Saint ... can they work together to save the villa? Or will Saint's charms once again break Esme's heart?
The Saint's Devilish Deal is a story of romance, reunion, forgiveness, and second chances. Author Kristina Knight weaves a passionate tale written in the third person narrative about two former friends/lovers, who are brought back together under the guise of saving a cherished villa, while embarking on a journey of reunion and second chances. The reader is caught up in Esmerelda and Santiago's past history and present rocky relationship that is full of pent up tension and undeniable sizzling attraction. While their reunion forces them to work together, a battle of wills ensues along with a rehashing of past memories, issues and attraction. Add family drama and misunderstandings in the mix and you have a one heck of an entertaining story.
Set in the picturesque Mexican Riviera locale of Puerto Vallarta, what could be more romantic than a location that has a beautiful villa and beach setting?
I really enjoyed the sassy banter and sizzling chemistry between Esme and Santiago, the simmering tension and sparks of attraction that they have for each other leaps off the pages. While Esme tries to deny her repressed attraction for Saint, his straight forward attraction for Esme is downright sexy! The connection between Esme and Saint is undeniable, and it provides a sensuous romantic story that will keep the reader turning the pages.
The Saint's Devilish Deal is a love story that provides romance fans a pleasant mixture of sizzle, passion and drama that will leave you wanting more.
RATING: 4 STARS ****
