The Look of Love

San Francisco Sullivans, Book 1

By: Bella Andre

Narrated by: Eva Kaminsky

Length: 6 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

With The Look of Love, best-selling author Bella Andre introduces you to a fun and emotional contemporary romance series about the Sullivan family. Because when a Sullivan bad boy falls...he falls hard. And it's forever.

Chloe Peterson is having a bad night. A really bad night. The large bruise on her cheek can attest to that. And when her car skids off the side of a wet country road straight into a ditch, she's convinced even the gorgeous guy who rescues her in the middle of the rain storm must be too good to be true. Or is he?

As a successful photographer who frequently travels around the world, Chase Sullivan has his pick of beautiful women, and whenever he's home in San Francisco, one of his seven siblings is usually up for causing a little fun trouble. Chase thinks his life is great just as it is - until the night he finds Chloe and her totaled car on the side of the road in Napa Valley. Not only has he never met anyone so lovely, both inside and out, but he quickly realizes she has much bigger problems than her damaged car. Soon, he is willing to move mountains to love-and protect-her, but will she let him?

Chloe vows never to make the mistake of trusting a man again. Only, with every loving look Chase gives her - and every sinfully sweet caress - as the attraction between them sparks and sizzles, she can't help but wonder if she's met the only exception. And although Chase didn't realize his life was going to change forever in an instant, amazingly, he isn't the least bit interested in fighting that change. Instead, he's gearing up for a different fight altogether - for Chloe's heart.

(NOTE: Explicit language, very steamy sex scenes...and lots of emotion!)

©2011-2012 Oak Press, LLC (P)2012 Oak Press, LLC

Critic reviews

" The Look of Love is an emotionally compelling, thoroughly sexy, lovely read. I can't wait for more Sullivan brothers!" (Carly Phillips, New York Times Best-selling Author)

" The Look of Love is the perfect combination of sexy heat and tender heart. This character driven romance has brains, brawn and the perfect bad boy to launch a whole family's worth of fun." (Barbara Freethy, number one New York Times Best-selling Author)

"Pure sensual fun! I couldn't read fast enough. I loved everything about Chase and Chloe's story. I'm hooked on the Sullivans!" (Marie Force, Best-selling Author)

Great find! Romantic, Sweet with serious Heat!

I just get so excited when I find a new author. Bella Andre is a wonderful new find. I am so hooked on this series now. It's Hot, Hot, Hot. Not to mention Chase is so sweet and caring. He has 5 other brothers and two sisters. I can't wait to meet all of them. (Smile) I see more books in the future. Did I say I have down loaded book two already. This had everything I like in a good romance novel. A good story line, great characters, sexual tension with some Heat and to top it off a great narrator.

Great start to a new series

The narrator really made this book come to life. I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to getting to know the rest of the Sullivans.

Blah!

Ok I read the reviews of this book and thought it sounded good. I did not hate the book but something just did not click. What young person has a passion for quilting??? I don't even know people in their 40's that have this type of passion. Then all of a sudden she is great at working with wardrobes. I don't know it just did not flow for me. The whole ex-husband coming after her was just sort of dropped and then boom he appears at the end. Not surprising but not really connecting the story. Also the immediate spark between the two is a little over the top. I like romance but for me this was a bit too mushy. The whole story took place in 4 days and it just did not work for me. I did like the narrator so that was a good point. I just think that the book needed more content and that there was potential for it to be better. Maybe the other books in the series will have a stronger plot. If you are looking for a love story that is very typicall then this is one for you.

I want Chase to protect meeee!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Look of Love to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version so I can't give an opinion, but Eva did just such a great job of narrating that I think it adds to the great story.

What did you like best about this story?

As in other Bella Andre novels I like that you get to see what "she" is thinking and feeling and also what "he" is thinking and feeling. It's a wonderful love story full of understanding, patience and empathy.

Which scene was your favorite?

When Chase finally gets to give Dean what he deserves especially as Chase has been incredibly controlling himself up until that moment.

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

It did make me laugh a couple of times and it didn't make me cry but it did make me happy.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the more relaxed language compared to "Take Me", although the other had my emotions going wilder because of the male reader's narration. I must say that Eva Kaminsky's narration is excellent especially when she is doing the voices. Completely uninhibited and spot on. I love to hear a male narrator for the male parts, but Eva did a great job on the whole. It really is a lovely love story and I have already purchased the second one.

If men like Chase exist, send him over lol

Honestly, after reading some reviews, I fully expected something incredibly cheesy -which it did start off as, initially. Damsel in distress saved by night in shining Armor and all that...
Even so, i soon began to love the growing attraction between the characters and I have to admit, although it was dangerously quick, only spanning a few days -not even a week, even some people in real life in other cultures know just as quick as they did.
Chase truly was a gentleman throughout, despite all the conflicts he felt. I do wonder if this would play out well in reality, but still, it would be nice if everyone experienced a Chase at least once in their lives, haha.

I absolutely cannot wait to find out the rest of the Sullivan's stories! I've grown attached already.
Also, compared to other stories the narrator had voiced, she sounded rather nasally this time. perhaps she was ill. nonetheless, I look forward to her other recordings!

Typical

Any additional comments?

Damsel in distress, hot guy helps her, she's been abused doesn't mind having a fling with this guy because he's "different". Best sex either one of the them have ever had, I've never felt this way before, yada, yada, yada.

This book reminds me more of a contemporary romance story written 10 years ago. There isn't anything original about this book but it is written well.

I wouldn't pay full price, I bought it as a deal of the day. If you're up for a lighthearted typical read with no surprises or realism, then this is the book for you.

Story is a bit weak.

The book is OK, but not great. The story seemed present just to link together the sex scenes. I'd like to see Chloe as a much stronger person who rescues herself and changes her own life. Hard to believe the whole thing happens in a week. Narrator did a great job.

Napa Valley love story

Setting: Napa Valley, California, contemporary
Genre: Steamy romance
Narration:: Eva Kaminsky did a good job with differentiating characters, especially Chase's sexy drawl.
Okay, then. It was a dark and rainy night... Chase meets Chloe as she is walking along the side of the road, away from her wrecked car. He talks her into letting him take her somewhere, and she asks him to take her to a cheap hotel. Instead, he takes her to the guest house at his brother's winery. He is a photographer and plans to do a fashion shoot at the winery for the next few days. Chloe is wary of staying there because, as Chase had already figured out, she is the victim of domestic violence.
I had a hard time with the plot, because I cannot believe in the "love at first sight" trope. I just cannot fall into the story. I can see a casual hook-up happening this fast, but within 2 days, perhaps less, Chase is thinking long-term commitment. I know it happens, because my parents married after a couple of dates, but it was not a happy marriage. I just can't stop thinking that these people need to get to know one another better. Chase and Chloe's main characteristics were defined, but it's usually the little things that cascade into marital hell, and having this at the back of my mind prevented me from enjoying the story to the fullest.
There aren't too many sex scenes, but they were pretty steamy. Definitely on the erotic side. There is one scene of relatively graphic violence, but it is not sexual in nature.
Worth the credit if you can forget about the timeline and you like a little steam with your love.
Now, I'm off to re-listen to the second in The Sullivans series.

Lovely Distraction

I have enjoyed Bella Andre's books before, so picking this one up seemed like a no-brainer.

I enjoyed the story even though it was the standard romance cliche: (SPOILERS AHEAD)

Rich boy meets desperate girl running from abusive ex. Desperate girl falls for savior boy, but repeats OVER and OVER and OVER that she is not ready for a relationship. Of course the abusive ex reappears. Yadda yadda yadda RB and DG live happily ever after.

I felt that a BUNCH of chapters could have been deleted and there would have been the same story. What I will never understand how an author or producer will decide to have just one female narrator when the story is told in both the female and male protagonists points of view. My suspension of disbelief is not that great where I can identify an "alpha" male having a very feminine voice.

Lucky for me, I have the Romance Audible Package, which means I can continue listening to the series to find out what's up with the Sullivan siblings. Hopefully they will be more interesting. The 3rd book is about a fireman, so I'm definitely looking forward to that one.

Short & Sweet!

Great start to sweet & fun series! This was a good "fluffy" kind of read, with a lot of steam too! The characters were very likable. The Narrator was ok, not my favorite but good enough to make me finish this in one sitting. Worth the credit if you like a sweet romance.