Friday, March 25, 2016

review || CLAIMED BY LOVE { blog tour } by Melissa Foster


23123770
World Literary Press | March 23, 2016 | Contemporary Romance
Love in Bloom: The Ryders, book 2
★★★★1/2

SOURCE: TASTY BOOK TOURS


Family law attorney Gabriella Liakos has one true love, Elpitha Island, where she grew up and hopes someday to return. But Elpitha is in financial ruins, and Gabriella will do anything to keep it from falling into the wrong hands.

Duke Ryder is a savvy real estate investor set on making Elpitha into an exclusive resort. Unlike other investors, he's not scared of purchasing a property where one family has roots so deep they practically reach the ocean floor...until he meets his beautiful, stubborn, and enticing tour host―the daughter of the owner of most of the island.

Gabriella sets out to dissuade Duke from purchasing Elpitha, but Duke has other ideas. He wants Gabriella and the island. Duke's powerful seduction draws Gabriella in, but can a savvy investor who's used to glamour and glitz, and a woman interested in preserving the culture she adores find a happily ever after together?

{ about melissa foster } .

Melissa Foster is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling and award-winning author. She writes contemporary romance, new adult, contemporary women’s fiction, suspense, and historical fiction with emotionally compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the World Literary CafĂ© and Fostering Success. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.

Melissa hosts an Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family.

Visit Melissa on social media. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.

{ review } .

For you Ryder fans, here's another brother to fall for.

For you Love in Bloom fans, here's another story to fall for.

And for you Melissa Foster fans, here's another moment to truly enjoy the author Melissa Foster is.

This time, it's Duke Ryder's turn to fall. The eldest of his siblings, he's had flings but has never found a reason to not put work first. He's passionate about his chosen career and would be fine just wearing that hat. But when the investment group he's a part of (with other Bloom friends, of course) wants to buy Elpitha, a south-meets-Greek island, he sets out to find a way to convince the elder to sell. He's not expecting Gabriella.

After high school, Gabriella's grandfather urged her to get off the island, to find a life that was big and bright and so completely her. While she did do just that, and practices family law in New York, her heart will always belong to the quiet little island her family has always called home. Her grandfather has her come home, though, to play tour guide for the person looking to make an investment property out of the island, and when she hears his plans, she wants to cry.

I found Gabriella's character to be rather 'normal' -- but in a good way. When so many books have a super super strong heroine, or even a broken heroine, you start to expect that. Gabriella is middle of the road. She's loyal to her family, she's career driven, she had friends... She's just a normal woman. And I appreciated that.

Duke... Oh, Duke...

I liked him, but the more I read, the more I liked, the more I sat back and forced myself to think and realize: this man has no flaws. He falls for Gabriella quickly. He falls for her family quickly. He listens, he absorbs, he produces, he's trustworthy, he's loyal, he has your back and your back and his brother's back. He's just an all-around good guy. And like Gabriella, I didn't mind it so much. Having read other Ryder's, you know that it's a product of his family, and I found that the characterization was actually pretty on par for what I would assume the eldest of that family would be like. I would have liked to see mistakes from him, though, but... He was a good guy, and he fought for Gabriella's trust. He knew he had to earn it and he wasn't setting out to make a fool of her.

This was another enjoyable Foster title. My Ryder heart still goes to Blue but... I think Jake may give him a run for his money when he comes along. I have to say... If he ends up with who I think he'll end up with? Gosh, I just can't wait...

for other reviews & tour goodies,

{ giveaway } .

2 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for featuring CLAIMED BY LOVE today!

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  2. It sounds like you have a soft spot for the Ryders ;-)
    I'm so happy you've continued to read the series! Thank you for your wonderful review! XOXO

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