Reckless in Love

The Maverick Billionaires, Book 2

By: Bella Andre, Jennifer Skully

Narrated by: Eva Kaminsky

Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

Meet the Maverick Billionaires - sexy, self-made men from the wrong side of town who survived hell together and now have everything they ever wanted. But when each Maverick falls head-over-heels for an incredible woman he never saw coming, he will soon find that true love is the only thing he ever really needed. An exciting and emotional contemporary romance series from New York Times and USA Today best-selling authors Bella Andre and Jennifer Skully!

Sebastian Montgomery rose from nothing to become one of the most powerful media moguls in the world. Yet beneath the seemingly perfect facade of his life, the past still haunts him. Because when he lost his parents in his teens, he also lost his faith in love. When he discovers Charlie Ballard and her incredible metal sculptures, he is awed, inspired - and he can't help feeling things he swore never to let himself feel again. Soon, Sebastian wants not only Charlie's art, he wants her as a woman, too. More than he's ever wanted anything in his life. And what a Maverick wants, he always gets.

For Charlie, Sebastian offers the commission of a lifetime. Creating a magnificent sculpture for his new headquarters is a dream come true, but falling for the spellbinding billionaire isn't part of the plan...until his luscious kisses entice her into total recklessness. He fascinates and captivates her, and as Charlie learns more about the dark depths of Sebastian's past, all she wants is to heal him with her love. But can a man who has grown up thinking love is toxic ever believe that true love is real?

©2015 Maverick Oak Press (P)2015 Maverick Oak Press

A NICELY PACED CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Charlie is an unknown Sculptress making weird and wonderful pieces of garden art out of scrap metal and metallic rubbish and she's also a part-time Welding Teacher too. She has a disabled Mom living in a Care Home so, when the sexy gorgeous and charming Sebastian turns up at her Studio to commission her and makes her an offer she can't refuse, she thinks how much this will change her Mom's life..... but the handsome Billionaire is going to rock her world too.

Charlie is very independent, caring and loving and, as soon as she sets eyes on Sebastian, she's drawn to him but past relationships are making her tread very carefully. Sebastian is generous, thoughtful, supportive and kind but he has emotional demons haunting him from his childhood so, even though Charlie has mezmerized him from the start, he wants to take their relationship slowly because he feels Charlie could be 'the one'. This starts a beautiful relationship where he simply can't stay away from Charlie and becomes entwined in everything to do with her life - and Charlie's just as attracted, just as captivated and just as willing to please and support Sebastian.

A really nicely paced love story where the H and H are both struck with Cupid's arrow from their very first meeting but they actually take time to get to know one another before jumping into bed (not very graphic sex scenes) and there's a maturity about all their thoughts and interactions. But Sebastian's constantly tortured by his memories and this makes him question whether they are right for each other or whether they're relationship will become toxic. He is also keeping something back from Charlie but, in both cases, they discuss the problem like two adults and eventually reap the rewards of a HEA ending. Dual POV's, the narration was good and the rest of the Maverick Billionaires make an appearance too.

Worth a credit? If you're in the mood for an easy going light Contemporary romance with just a couple of little blips along the way then you really can't go wrong with this very enjoyable and creditworthy listen.

I wish these two had actually TALKED

AudioBook Review:
Stars: Overall 4 Narration 3 Story 3.75

The Maverick Billionaires are a group of five friends that bonded over rough childhoods and have seen one another through near everything. This book is Sebastian’s story – the uptight yet sexy man with control issues that are deep rooted in his childhood, and a surprising lack of self-confidence that makes him work harder in his quest to succeed. Catching sight of a sculpture that spoke to him at the end of the first book, he is determined to commission work from the artist for a featured piece in his new building. A man of contradictions, he’s a media mogul who rarely will willingly share his own story openly.

Charlie Ballard makes beauty from discards: her sculptures are constructed with reclaimed bits and bobs. Watching her mother Francine deal with debilitating pain affects her life and her mood, but the grin and bear it is strong in this one. Despite her talent, she’s always felt that “those who matter” will never accept her, and that eats at her confidence. She is easy to like – cheerful, open, good natured and funny – with a real honesty in her presentation and personality.

Oh how I wish these two had actually TALKED to one another more, instead of use their red-hot attraction to speak for their deepest feelings. Mired in his own questions and insecurities, Sebastian was all too willing to take Charlie’s “I’m okay” as truth, when connecting the dots would have shown him she was anything but. Oh, their attraction was red-hot, and their moments were spectacular, but a bit more demonstrated understanding would have made me believe more in their potential.

Eva Kaminsky is the narrator for this book, and like the first, workmanlike is the best descriptive I have for her performance. It isn’t often that I feel an audiobook needs two narrators, but this book fairly screamed for the interplay and emotional component that would be present with a male voice in the mix. Not a bad performance by any means, it was solid and I always knew who was portrayed, but I wanted a bit more emotional inflection and variation. I couldn’t stop listening, however, hoping to see these two find a connection that felt as real emotionally as it did physically.

I received an audiobook copy of the title from Audible Customer Relations for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Moves too slowly

I couldn't finish it. The story seemed to ramble and I still just couldn't finish it. I liked the characters, although the descriptions of the hero's obsessive need to stare at the heroine just dragged, as did the continuous descriptions of his bigger than life lifestyle. I get it, he's rich. I though we grew out of the pretty woman storyline years ago. Not her profession - the rich boy saves poor girl thing....

Enjoyable

The story of Sebastian and Charlie was excruciatingly long and took place entirely too much in their heads. Sebastian, was not a manwhore before meeting Charlie. I'm tired of romance heroes who have screwed their way through half the female population. I also liked that Sebastian is 100% loyal to Charlie. Similarly, Charlie is only interested in Sebastian. Unfortunately, this book feels like it has almost no plot. What little conflict there is occurs because the heroine, Charlie, keeps making assumptions about Sebastian. I felt no connection to either main character. I wish there has been more about the other Mavericks just to add some interest to the story. I would love to say I'll stick around long enough to see Evan finally dump that witch he is married to, but I think I'm done with this series.

DNF

Im in chapter 1 and the hero is walking through the heroine’s lawn and he is already halfway in love just by looking at all the scraps lying around - cos the scraps are her material for her art. Ummm, no.

Their meet cute is not cute at all. It’s blah. Thank God I have Audible Escape cos I am escaping from this.

The title is an out right lie

The word “reckless” is the polar opposite description of the characters. This book should be titled “Overly Cautious in Love”. Through their inner dialogue, the author explains over and over again why they need to be super cautious with each other. This was the most torturous, boring book I have listen to in a long time. I had to force myself to pay attention and even then my mind drifted off many times. I’ve been listening to it for what feels like many hours and it’s torture. I don’t think I will be able to finish it. I have used it to fall asleep the past couple nights and it’s worked like a charm. Better than any sleeping pill out there.

Painful

I had to quit this book after 5 chapters. It was painful. Both characters are so into each other and so very different.

Same story

I wasnt overly thrilled with this audible. The narrator is good but there needs to be different people for the different characters. I cant stand the Male voice. it makes me cringe. I would've probably liked the book more if I had actually read it. I dont think I'll continue the series.

Fun story

Poor kid makes good and attempts to push his girlfriend into the spotlight with her sculpture made from junkyard finds. She is shy and feels overwhelmed. This challenges their relationship.

Strong, Independent

What do you do when two Strong creative personalities connect besides fireworks, they also butt heads a lot and try not to loose themselves in the other. This was a great second book for the series, such a creative a artistic side of two people that find each other and are willing to work to suceed

fair

good basic story but too many repeats of lovemsking .Very good examination of human emotions and uncertanties