Exquisite

Exquisite, Book 1

By: Ella Frank

Narrated by: Mackenzie Cartwright

Length: 12 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

Tormented by self-imposed guilt, Dr. Lena O'Donnell has spent the last nine years in survival mode. Struggling through days that seem to blend together and battling her way through each horrifying night, she's determined that this is what she deserves.... Mason Langley's life is going exactly the way he planned it, until her. A confirmed bachelor and the successful owner of the hottest restaurant to hit Chicago, he never expected to be blindsided by an angry woman in a pair of scrubs. No matter how hard he tries, he can't seem to shake the doctor, and he finds himself liking the way she makes him feel.

Almost overnight Lena finds her world turned upside down by Mason and the sexual desire they discover together. Slowly she lowers her guard and invites him inside. But when tragedy strikes she begins to believe that sometimes it's better to be alone and safe than to love and lose....

©2012 Jennifer Accardo (P)2014 Tantor

Not light and fluffy, very life like!

Sometimes you listen to a story and you say....wow, this could really happen, this is one of those stories. No one fell in love in a moment, no one had it easy....if anything these people had to fight the world and each other for this relationship, and isn't that how love actually is?

Dr. Leena O'Donnel has lived through the death of her sister 9 years ago. The problem is she's not actually living. Sure she gets dressed, goes to work, sort of eats....but really she is just getting through the day so her nightmares can keep her up at night. Don't let people in and they can't leave you is her motto.

Leena's perfectly mundane world is rocked one day when she receives flowers at work from her parents, they do this often, still trying after 9 years to bring their other daughter some peace. The man delivering the flowers is georgeous...and irritating and pushy and called her a freaking princess for crying out loud, so why can't she stop thinking about his eyes?

Mason tries to be a good person, sure he has dated a few women but he's never cruel and tries to be a gentlemen to the fairer sex when at all possible....but with Dr. Leena all bets are off! He can't figure out if he wants to slug her or kiss her, gesh the NERVE of that woman! He was doing a favor for his mother by delivering some flowers while on the way to his REAL job, owner and head chef of a trendy Chicago restraunt, when poof crazy lady with attitude comes up to get the flowers. She's psychotic, good thing she's in the hospital already....so why can't he stop thinking about her?!?!?

This story is full of humor, friendship, love and the bonds that tie us together as human beings. I will be getting book 2 because this writer understands that 30 something's don't act like high schoolers, we may not be bright sometimes with our hearts, but we aren't kids.

Great narration, good voice switches and emotions.

Just absolutely awesome.

I really appreciate this series so far . I thank you so much. Loved it much,much, much.Keep on writing these exciting books!!!!

Love, but with reservation

I have to say I really, really enjoyed MOST of this book...until the end drama. It just pushed it too far to have us believe that he would end things between them over THAT...and then for him not to be the one to do the making up was just stupid. She was the one asking for him to FORGIVE HER??? No. It was just unbelievable and took away from my positive feelings for both of them. The book was awesome until then, but the way that all came together leaves me with a bad feeling about the book and I hate that because I do loved their relationship until then.

A PASSIONATE & EMOTIONAL ROMANTIC TRAGEDY

Gorgeous Playboy, Chef and Restaurant owner Mason clashes with the sharp tongued and uptight Doctor Lena from the start and there's plenty of mutual dislike at their first meeting.... however, there is also a faint attraction too as neither one can get the other out of their minds. Fate has them meeting again and Mason suddenly becomes very intrigued as he sees glimpses of what's really underneath Lena's stiff unapproachable attitude and he becomes eager to find out more.

Lena has hardened her heart because of the death of her little sister 9 yrs previously and is determined not to let anyone in because she is sure that that way lies hurt, anguish and pain. But Mason is so patient, kind, thoughtful and sexy (which is always a winning combination for any hero) and slowly he breaks down all Lena's mental barriers leaving room for trust, companionship, sizzling chemistry and love to grow. With witty snappy dialogue, flirting and dirty talk resulting in some nice sensual hot love scenes.

But, as we all know, something's bound to go wrong and when it does Mason's anguish, heartache and pain turns to raw anger as Lena had a difficult 'Doctor type' decision to make and either way someone was going to get hurt but, as tragedy struck, it ended up that everyone got hurt. This was also filled with lots of likeable secondary characters.

Worth a credit? This starts out as a Contemporary, humorous, very passionate and sexy romance but, as Ella Frank's impressive and highly descriptive writing skills brought into the storyline, overcoming the grieving process, vulnerabilities, a heartbreaking death and trust/loyalty/forgiveness issues, it ends up being a case of just grabbing, holding on and fighting for what you truly want. The character growth of both the loveable H/H was awesome to witness as they both struggle to recapture their heartbreaking lost love through unplanned and unpredictable circumstances.... which is life. Then, when the last words have been spoken, you're left having listened to a love story that was so touching, so moving and so exquisite and, of course, so truly truly creditworthy.

Exquisite

I loved it! It made me feel all kinds of emotions! it was an awesome heart-wrenching love story with a great happy ending! I truly enjoyed it!

Love!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Best book I've read (listened to) since the crossfire series.
Wonderfully written, narrator is amazing, great story line.

Slow

It's well written and narroratated but there just hasn't been anything to keep my attention several hours in.

Fell Flat

This story had potential, but it just feel flat. It had a good beginning, middle and end, but it just lacked something in the telling. There was plenty of romance and sex, but it just lacked the sizzle and excitement to make it a 4 or 5.

I think I'm going to have to stop reading NOW

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The way Lena gravels! Its embarrassing the woman lets this asshole treat her like a doormat. She really didn't do anything wrong and he acts like she killed his mother! I understand Mason is hurt and all but really can't his sister or friend slap him a few times so he wakes up realizes that he's the one who is a horrible person.
I can't take it much longer, if this Mason dude doesn't stop acting like an ass I am going to have to stop reading.

Solid love story with a hint of realism

What made the experience of listening to Exquisite the most enjoyable?

The depth to Masons and Lena's characters. They both had enough going on individually to support spinoff stories but when they came together it was something you wanted to hear more about. Mason wasn't a wuss and didn't act in a predictable manner which was nice.

What other book might you compare Exquisite to and why?

The twisted series because it comes from both the male and female lead characters point of view. It would've been great to have a guy narrate the guys part but it was still pretty good.

Have you listened to any of Mackenzie Cartwright’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No but she was good. Liked her adaptation of the characters.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No extreme reactions but I loved Mason. He made the story worth it.