Review of '16 Marsden Place' by Rachel Brimble

16 Marsden Place

by Rachel Brimble

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

There isn't a situation that can't be fixed by a coat of chocolate body paint or a liberal smear of Champagne Lick, right? Wrong!

Ever since her father was murdered by a gang of youths, Sienna Lloyd has named herself Potterford’s protector—her sexy lingerie shop is a place where the town’s women can visit and feel safe. But when that shop is in danger of closing, Sienna needs a solution that will keep her in Potterford, where she can always look out for her mother, friends, and clients.

The answer? Move the shop to her home at 16 Marsden Place. The problem? Her new neighbor, the delicious but seriously uptight Jack Beaton. Oh, and his four-year-old twin girls.

Jack has just moved to the tiny town of Potterford in a bid to start over. To build a new life that keeps his children safe from their violent and sex-crazed mother. So when he discovers his neighbor intends to open a sex shop right next door, Jack will do anything to ensure it doesn’t happen…including fighting every ounce of his attraction to the shop’s owner and his innate need to trust again.

Read an excerpt:

BANG, BANG, BANG!

The sound of a fist against glass hurled her back onto her ass. “Holy crap!”

The trowel flew from Sienna’s hand up into the air, narrowly missing her left ear on its descent. Her blood pumped wildly as her heart beat an out-of-control tattoo. She looked to the patio doors. Two of the most angelic—yet mischievous—faces she’d ever seen stared back at her.

Surely those two hadn’t the strength to bang on the doors that hard? She frantically scanned the back of the house. Bedroom windows: empty. Kitchen window: empty. Then the back door opened. Scrambling to her feet, Sienna brushed the mud from her knees.

“Oh, Lord. Here goes.” She plastered on a smile as embarrassment burned her cheeks.

When the man, presumably the kids’ father, emerged into the sunlight, her smile disintegrated, and her mouth dropped wide open. Come to Mama.

He strode out onto the decking. His shoulders were broad, his face handsome in a rugged, careless kind of way. His hair was thick and dark, with bits flopping onto his forehead. She clamped her mouth shut to lock in a tongue that wanted to loll onto the grass.

“Can I help you?” He walked down the steps toward her.

His voice was deep, husky, and very, very male. Sienna shivered and drew in a shaky breath. Talk, woman, talk. “Um, hi.” She smiled. “Funny story. I was just…”

“Pinching some of my flowers?”

She laughed, the sound far too high-pitched. “I wasn’t pinching your flowers. I was checking the soil. I’ve been...um…you know, watering them while the place has been empty.”

She bent over to retrieve the trowel. Anything to escape the unrelenting intensity of his gorgeous blue eyes. Lingering for a moment, she cranked her brain into overdrive thinking of something remotely feasible and effective to get her out of there in the minimum amount of time. But her brain remained so unresponsive, she considered the fact she might be dead.

**My thoughts**

Reading this book was a great way to kick off my summer reading in my lawn chair in my backyard. It's a romantic comedy with loveable characters, and a storyline that keeps the pages turning. I read it in one afternoon.

Sienna is a strong and independent woman, who is still deeply mourning the loss of her father. I was able to relate to that part of her character. The comedy lies in that she owns a sex shop. It's nothing trashy. In fact, she is well-respected by both the men and the women in her small town, for the self-confidence and pleasure she is able to instill in them. She is smart and sexy and everyone loves her. 

Jack is also smart and sexy. What makes him even more appealing is his undying devotion to his twin daughters. Give me a man, any day, who will do whatever it takes to protect his children. His athletic physique and prowess on the porch swing are an added bonus. Yes, I want to smack him upside the head as he goes on and on about things like Sienna's shop, and can't seem to get out of his own head. But he is easily forgiven.

Together, the two of them have an amazing chemistry, but their road to happily ever after can't be an easy one. They are at odds over Sienna's shop. Jack has that evil ex-wife. But those adorable twins, whom I just want to scoop up and love on, are a strong part of the glue that holds them together.

Romances like this one are often quite predictable in how they are going to end. Reading how they get to that point, though, is quite enjoyable. I will have to check out more of Ms. Brimble's romances!

~~Buy it on Amazon~~

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Rachel lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. In 2012, she sold two books to Harlequin Superromance. She also writes Victorian romance for Kensington--her debut was released in April 2013.

16 Marsden Place with Omnific Publishing is her first romantic comedy since 2010.

She has just signed a further three-book contract with Harlequin Superromance.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family and beloved black Lab, Max. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England…although she hopes a dream visit to Canada might just change her mind!

She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!

Links:

Website: http://rachelbrimble.com/

Blog: http://rachelbrimble.blogspot.co.uk/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelBrimble

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Brimble/181873201887441?fref=ts

 

Rachel will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Follow the tour for more chances to win!