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)

A disappointment

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

I like lots of different kinds of romance, but I prefer original plots and characters with some personality. I can usually even listen through when the writing has clear flaws. But this was possibly the least enjoyable book I've tried in years; it had little storyline and poor dialogue. The sex was steamy though, if that's all you are looking for in a romance novel.

What could Bella Andre have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Fewer cliches, more realistic characters and dialogue.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

It sounded like melodramatic cliche after melodramatic cliche. Perhaps nothing could have saved it, but the narrator seemed to overplay much of the dialogue.

Any additional comments?

I read another in this series and really liked it; that was my first Bella Andre. Perhaps the series gets better after third initial book. But for me, this particular book wasn't worth a credit and I don't know if I'll waste another one on this author.

Characters completely unbelievable

Any additional comments?

I can forgive a lot in a book. I know I"m reading a fantasy about love, not a documentary. But the character's reactions and emotions in this book were so completely unbelievable I just couldn't get through it. Absolutely everything about the hero's behavior screamed serial killer, and she's attracted to him? His reactions to her were equally over the top and unrealistic. I gave up after about half an hour or so. It was just too awful to go on.

No complaints with Eva Kaminsky's performance. She did the best she could with the material she was given. the flaw here was completely with the story line.

Blech!

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

If the story had been even marginally believable, I would have at least put this down as entertaining. I had enjoyed the book when I read it, but having to listen to the hero say "Lovely" over and over again, made me want to lose my lunch.

What was most disappointing about Bella Andre’s story?

The treacly sweetness of the love story.

What about Eva Kaminsky’s performance did you like?

She was the only highlight of this book. She has a great voice for the female dialogue and she emotes nicely. When she reads the male parts though, she deepens her voice and it makes her affect flat. That aside, EK's reading was the one thing that kept me going until the end.

What character would you cut from The Look of Love?

Sadly, Chase and Chloe, the hero and heroine!

Any additional comments?

I had liked the first four books in this series when I read them, which is usually at night before falling asleep. However, listening to the Look of Love in broad daylight when I'm in the school pick-up line was like getting doused with cold water. Totally unbelievable and over-the-top with tender feelings and lust. It was just icky!!!Thankfully, I only spent $1.99 for it. Even with that, I'm seriously contemplating returning Book 2 which was also $1.99.

AWFUL

Literally ZERO character development before the intimacy started. One intimate scene after another, none truly making any sense. Felt like a horny teenager wrote this who had nothing on their minds but sex. Just bad!

Completely stupid

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

It may be for someone who wants totally fantasy with no basis in reality

What didn’t you like about Eva Kaminsky’s performance?

She was fine. The dumb book overshadowed her performance

Any additional comments?

This book was ridiculous and annoying

I did not like this book

What disappointed you about The Look of Love?

The story was typical and was not interesting. I found myself skipping-forwarding becasue I was so bored. Inintally I had high hopes for the story but for 17 chapters out of 22 the depth of the characters was the same and the story was the same. There as no story except the relationship of the two main characters. It would have been nice for Chole to focus and get her life together, deal with her ex, and then her and Chase could have an unrealistic passionate relationship.

What was most disappointing about Bella Andre’s story?

It was boring and typical.

Which character – as performed by Eva Kaminsky – was your favorite?

The performance was fine.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Look of Love?

I would cut scene 2-17

Any additional comments?

The characters must have depth and the story must be interesting and complex. If it is just about boy meets girl and they live happily ever after....this is boring.

Never Again

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

A plot that wasn't so predictable. 75% of the story the main characters were haviing sex here there and everywhere.

What was most disappointing about Bella Andre’s story?

The sex scenes just got boring and nauseous.

Would you be willing to try another one of Eva Kaminsky’s performances?

No - too breathy.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The descriptions of the Sullivan family.

Makes me want to give up on romance stories

I had to come back and read the reviews here, as I thought I might have been mistaken. I had bought the audiobook based on good reviews.

But I found it exceedingly hard to plod through this. Less than an hour in, I'm ready to give up. It is so slow. And banal. And clichéd.

I know it is a romance novel, but one gets bored with everyone being extremely handsome/beautiful and perfect. And they talk (and behave) like self-conscious teenagers on heat.

I'm about ready to give up on this erotic romance genre. A few other books also went the same way - abandoned after painfully plodding on.. Somehow they are so trite, and/or so gratuitously graphic like a biology class gone wrong, or so ridiculous that one can hardly suspend belief long enough to feel sexy or romanced!

Ah well, I still have hope that there is a good one out there. If you know of one, please tell me!

Bella Andre is NO Nora Roberts

The whole book is sex. There is very little story. The narration was fine but there just was not enough story.

Terrible

What disappointed you about The Look of Love?

this book was written in my opinion without real thought to battered women or sensitive men. I listened to two chapters which was about 45 minutes to find I just couldn't put myself thought it anymore.

What was most disappointing about Bella Andre’s story?

Her characters changed within half an hour of meeting each other. They were just horny without any substance. She started the book with the female character being beaten and jumpy and skittish to within half an hour of meeting the male character of satisfying herself in his hot tub with him watching!! And he started off as a sensitive man noticing her bruises and decides he has to take it slowly and get her trust to within half an hour of bursting in on her and invading her privacy. This would not happen in the real world and is just ridiculous.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Eva Kaminsky?

Yes, she read the book well.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

nope,

Any additional comments?

I would never listen or read to another of this authors. Its a real let down.