August 26, 2011

ALL THE RIGHT NOTES…

Gillian Forrester spent most of her life running from who and what she came from. Until Miles came along. From the moment she held the tiny newborn her older sister didn't want, Gillian stopped running and began to build a life for herself and her adopted son. Now, thirteen years later, as Gillian's sister lay dying, she reveals the father's identity and makes Gillian promise to find him.

Adrian Brown is the epitome of the successful rock star. He's seen and done it all, with few regrets. It takes a lot to shock him but the bombshell that he has a thirteen-year-old son rocks his world. And Adrian is even more surprised when the buttoned-up, elegant woman who's raising Miles snags his erotic and romantic attention.

The last thing Gillian expected was to find herself getting hot and heavy with a person like Adrian. But as much as she wants to open up and give herself fully to this amazing man, she's afraid the secrets of her past and Adrian's problems with trusting people may keep them apart for good. If love isn't enough can they find the trust they need?


Title: NEVER ENOUGH
Author: Lauren Dane
Series: Brown Siblings, book 4
Genre: Erotic Romance, Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Berkley Heat
Year of release: 2011, September 6
Format: Trade Size Paperback
Source: Received an e-ARC from author for review

First line:
It felt so fucking good up there.

Memorable Scenes:
- Rennie and Adrian's talk in the 2nd chapter > here we go...sniffling already and I was only at the beginning.
- Adrian and Gillian's first meeting > fireworks fly and not only sexual ones...
- the sex scenes > OMG, the sex scenes... *thud*
- Gillian's talk with Jules when she confides in her about sleeping with Adrian > Jules cracked me up with the lady parts synonyms
- the couples date at the tavern > that whole scene/chapter was awesome! It was the culminating and most crucial scene of the book


Adrian Brown is and isn’t your typical rock star. He’s a little jaded, charismatic, laid-back and he really likes to take care of the people he loves. He’s also grown a wary and tired of people with their ulterior motives and wanting things from him that have nothing to do with his musical talent, he's had it with them.

Before I go on with the rest of this review I have a confession to make:
Honestly? Since starting this series Adrian has never been a character I was drawn to or who'd caught my fancy. It was one if those "not clicking with the secondary character who'll have his own story further down the road" things. I've had it before in other series too. So I went into NEVER ENOUGH without the highly set expectations, the only thing I knew was that Lauren Dane would give me another good and enjoyable addition to this series.

But then I started reading and from the first moment Adrian's character grabbed me! His passion for music and his longing to have what his siblings have found: a family of his own, love, a soulmate...his character touched me in a way I really didn’t expect and I’m still amazed by how much I liked him! When Browns love, they love hard, fully and strong and Adrian is no exception. He completely drew me in from the start and this was even before he met Gillian and Miles and their story really kicked off.

Then there was Gillian. She’s going straight to my favorite heroines list.
Gillian Forrester is a piano teacher and graphic designer. She moved from England to the US when she was a child and her British roots were very subtly imbedded into her characterization. She’s bold, direct, candid and unapologetic. She doesn't want to rely on anyone and needs to know she can support herself and those dependent on her.

Gillian is in control of who she is and what she wants in life. She’s determined and headstrong yet despite her take-charge personality, she also has her moments of insecurity and doubts. I really loved Gillian and though Erin was my favorite Brown Sibling series heroine to-date and I still adore her larger than life personality, it's Gillian who has taken over that spot with her fierceness in how she loves unconditionally and fights hard for her independence.

Music is important to both Adrian and Gillian, it plays a big role in their lives and in soothing their anxieties/worries. Through this aspect of their characters Dane's love for music shines through on every page of this book.

Sparks fly between Gillian and Adrian from the very start. Verbally and sexually and they match each other every step of the way. They have this constant battle of wills going on because they're both stubborn, Adrian is used to getting his way without being questioned and Gillian is not about to let anyone else run her life or interfere with it. However, they talk it out, things aren't left unresolved between them because they aren't afraid to go head to head and battle it out or find a compromise. I also absolutely loved how both of them are vocal and love dishing out the dirty in the bedroom. In most romances I read it’s the men who do the dirty talking in the bedroom so I found it utterly refreshing and awesome that Gillian is a dirty talker too! Thank you, Lauren Dane!

Next to Adrian and Gillian who were the absolute stars of this book, we have a cast of wonderful secondary characters who were the filling and foundation to the romance and the plot of NEVER ENOUGH. Not only did we have a nice look into the extended Brown family, we also got Gillian’s group of friends added to the mix. This group of friends is as fascinating and entertaining as the Browns are. I look forward to reading their stories. I heard from Lauren Dane that her new series with Berkley Heat revolves around these friends. I could not be happier!

I think I have mentioned this in earlier reviews of the Brown Sibling books, but I love how Lauren Dane writes family dynamics and kids into this series. The kids were awesome. Starting with Rennie, that girl won my heart from the moment she set foot in COMING UNDONE via Alexander, Erin’s cute baby boy to Miles, quiet, quirky Miles who also immediately took his place on my awesome kids in romance list.

Almost halfway through I was enjoying NEVER ENOUGH to the fullest but also had that "when's the other shoe gonna drop"-feeling. From the moment Adrian visited Miles for the first time it was all smooth and perfect for Gillian, Adrian and Miles. And though there were some discussions and battles of will I wondered if there would be some kind of (external) conflict somewhere down the line. Well my wish was granted big time towards the end and I liked how it didn't take over everything but it did give that perfect additional tension to the whole story arc.

With NEVER ENOUGH Lauren Dane has written a very emotional addition to the Brown Sibling series! At first I wasn't sure yet if it would be as heart wrenching as LAID BARE was but it definitely was, only Dane left that for the last few chapters. I read the last 20 pages through teary eyes, reveling in the emotions brought to the surface. There was one little thing I missed, that would have made this the perfect read and that was an epilogue.

Adrian and Gillian left an indelible impression on me with their story. A story that I clicked with in so many levels it was scary. I'm lost for words to adequately describe why I loved this book so much. All I can say is it had everything I love in a sexy contemporary romance and then some!

NEVER ENOUGH is love, romance, passion and sex in its purest, rawest form and poured into Lauren Dane's wonderfully unapologetic writing style it stirred my emotions and senses in every way possible. When I finished I was emotionally drained yet utterly satisfied, my eyes were red-rimmed and I was left with a mad crush on these two amazing characters and the author who created them and their story.

Wednesday I did a Quotes-Post (as part of Lauren Dane’s NEVER ENOUGH Blog-Tour). In this post Lauren shares her favorite quotes from the book and so do I. You can find it HERE. The ones I didn’t use in that post I’m sharing them with you in this review. I marked a lot of quotes and I’m happy to have this other chance to add a few more for your enjoyment.

Favorite Quotes:

She opened up and her loveliness hit him square in the gut. Soft and feminine with all that hair and those big brown eyes peeking out from the fringe of French roast–toned bangs.
She smelled good too. Sweet and spicy.
He sent her a charming smile. “Hi. I—”
She slammed the door in his face before he could finish his sentence.
He stood there, struck stupid in love with Gillian Forrester. Though he wouldn’t know it for a while yet. (p.60)

“Just being here with you has made me totally fuzzy headed.” And hard everywhere else. “And”—he set his glass down before scooting closer—“perhaps I prefer you less than clearheaded. Because . . .” He hesitated, his lips so very close to hers. “I think I’d love it if we could take this inside and I could divest you of your clothing and perhaps set out to make you unravel a few times.” (p.81)

“And here I thought I’d have to use my showerhead after you left tonight. This is much better,” she murmured, staring at him like the visual buffet table he was.
“Never use a showerhead instead of me. Unless I’m there to watch.” He sighed, happily eating her up with his gaze. (p.87)

He was so delightfully filthy she wanted to throw her head back and laugh with the joy of it. (p.88)

He was already close. His emotions raw, his feelings so very near the surface. Having been teased by her scent and her manner all evening long, and driven nearly senseless by her mouth on his c#ck, her taste on his mouth, he was holding on by his metaphorical fingertips. (p.91)

She liked it hard and rough and with a side of dirty talk. (p.97)

He turned her to goo when he used that rough and dirty voice. (p. 109)

She did that thing that made him crazy about her. One brow slid up as if it could not believe his audacity. Which only made him more audacious just to poke at her and bring out her English.
“You know how hot that makes me,” he said, stepping close and catching her face in his hands to hold her still enough for a kiss.
“Everything makes you hot, Adrian. You’re a menace with a penis.” (p.153)

“I missed your taste,” he said into her mouth. Little nips and licks, sweet, quick kisses and slow, dragging kisses until she was light-headed with it.
And then he pulled her hair, arching her neck to his mouth, and proceeded to devastate her that way. (p. 159)

He’d liked a lot of women. Maybe even could have loved a few. And none of them had been what this one was.
He leaned closer, brushing his lips over hers with aching tenderness. The soft sigh she gave him in response undid him to his foundations. (p. 173)

“You’re not alone. I wake up when you’re not with me. I can’t sleep as well alone now. There’s a Gillian-shaped spot in my bed. And in my life. I want you in it. I want you with me. I want our family. [...]" (p. 254)


4 comments:

Leontine said...

Awesome review, Pearl. It really relays how much you loved this story!!

Leagh said...

Awesome review. Now I am gonna have to add this to the never ending TBR list...damn you pearl, lol.

leaghchristensen at yahoo dot com

Aurian said...

Wow, another great review about this book! I really have to start reading this author I guess.

Julie said...

Can't wait. Wonderful wonderful review! :)

Nice to meet you!

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Pearl
Netherlands
39, married to my real life romance hero, addicted to TV shows, reading romance novels and Twitter. I'm a chronic (e)book hoarder and my absolute favorite genres within romance fiction are contemporary romance and romantic suspense, but I don't shy away from historical, paranormal or erotic romance either. Even the occasional (urban) fantasy romance, futuristic and sci fi romance may make it to my Mount TBR. This is my corner of the world wide web where I let you know what books I'm hoarding, reading and reviewing.
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On My TBR Shelf

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  • Snapped - Laura Griffin
  • Darkness at Dawn - Elizabeth Jennings
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  • Crazy for Love - Victoria Dahl
  • Kink - Saskia Walker/Sasha White
  • So Sensitive - Anne Rainey
  • Dark Taste of Rapture - Gena Showalter
  • The Darkest Secret - Gena Showalter
  • Vampire in Atlantis - Alyssa Day
  • Vampire Dragon - Annette Blair
  • Captive Spirit - Anna Windsor
  • Chosen by Blood - Virna DePaul
  • Rebel - Zoe Archer
  • Stranger - Zoe Archer
  • A Taste of Desire - Beverley Kendall
  • Mistress by Midnight - Maggie Robinson
  • To Desire a Devil - Elizabeth Hoyt
  • To Tame a Dangerous Lord - Nicole Jordan

Digital TBR Next

  • Driven - Jayne Rylon (reread)
  • Shifting Gears - Jayne Rylon
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  • Tempt Me - Shiloh Walker
  • Jazz Baby - Lorelie Brown
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  • Just Like That - Erin Nicholas
  • Sweet Inspiration - Penny Watson
  • Breathe - Donna Alward
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  • Scent of Persuason - Nikki Duncan

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