Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Book Review-Crystal Cove

Crystal Cove
Friday Harbor (4)
Lisa Kleypas
St. Martins Griffin
Hardcover
Published February 2013
316 Pages
Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 978-1-250-03207-2
Author's Website
Synopsis
ONE WOMAN WHO HAS BEEN CURSED NEVER TO FIND LOVE . . .

ONE MAN WITHOUT A SOUL WHO WANTS HER MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF . . .

THEY MEET IN A SMALL ISLAND TOWN IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, WHERE MAGIC IS IN THE AIR AND FATE IS A FORCE TOO POWERFUL TO DEFY. . . .



In New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas's Crystal Cove, Justine Hoffman has made a comfortable life for herself on the island of Friday Harbor. She is the proprietor of a successful boutique hotel, and she has the safe, predictable life she has always wanted. Growing up with her flighty, nomadic mother, Marigold, has instilled in her a deep longing for stability. But in spite of everything Justine has achieved, there is still something missing. Love. And after years of waiting and dreaming, she is willing to do whatever it takes to change her destiny.

What Justine soon discovers is that someone cast a spell on her when she was born, with the result that she will never find her soul mate. Determined to change her fate, Justine finds a way to break the enchantment, never dreaming of the dangerous complications that will follow.

And when Justine meets the mysterious Jason Black, she accidentally unleashes a storm of desire and danger that threaten everything she holds dear . . . because Jason has secrets of his own, and he wants more from her than fate will ever allow.
My Review
Summary 
Justine has known that she is forever cursed to never have love in her life. Of late she has been aching for it, especially seeing her best friend Zoe falling in love. She wants a special connection with someone. Justine is a witch, and has the means to work at getting the curse broke, what she doesn't expect is to have are the consequences. Then she meets Jason, and everything gets off course in her plans. Jason has made a successful life, has more money than any man ever should. With all the money and power at his disposal. When he comes to Friday Harbor, he stays in the inn that Justine owns. Justine is instantly attracted to Jason, like bee's to honey, he is sexy and more handsome than any man needs to be, but what draws her most to him is his caressing gaze that makes her feel like molten heat. Jason has known for quite some time that he is a man without a soul, and has searched and searched for a way to live as long as he can, and that way may be in Justine. Jason is keeping a secret from her, but there is a stronger connection between Justine and Jason that surpasses any hidden agenda, and strikes straight to the heart, but will their love be strong enough to save them both from fate?

My Thoughts 
I saw Crystal Cove on the shelf at my local library...and I almost went into shock since this one just came out a couple months ago. And usually with such a popular author, it would take 3-4 months before I would be able to get my hands on this. Normally I would have wanted to read Dream Lake first, but I take books when they are available, so I was hoping I wouldn't be too lost when I started to read this. As a fan of Lisa Kleypas there hasn't been a book of hers that I haven't liked. There were quite a few things that I liked about this book, a few things that I didn't like. But overall I totally learned to love this story. Jason, is definitely ALPHA WOW Male LOL, he is deliciously yummy, but needs to be in control of every situation. Although the way he is with Justine was almost priceless. He is the type where everyone jumps to attention whenever he is around, but Justine doesn't. She stands on her own, and doesn't give in to his every demand =which I really liked about her. Justine has been raised a witch, but doesn't practice in fully, until she discovers her curse. Justine craves a real relationship and being able to find someone to love. After she meets Jason, his life is so different from hers, but she feels a connection to him, where she feels able to laugh and play and the ability to open her heart to someone for the first time in her life. The story line was full of everything that makes for a strong story. I found it to have a beautiful magical tone. Now for a couple of things that I didn't like so much. One is the powerful tone of magic that is shown through this story, the sense of Jason not having a soul--it was a bit disturbing at times. I felt like it just wasn't Kleypas style in ANY way. The past books in the series, had a lighter tone to magic, but I felt like this book, it was a major element to the story. Which sometimes works, but there was almost something off kilter about it. Second is that there was a certain bed scene that had a bit of bdsm element to it, which was very unexpected and I didn't really like it. I am not a fan of bdsm at all, and I really didn't like it in this story. I felt like it was a bit too much for the story and for the author's style. I know as time progresses, authors style of writing sometimes changes and all, but It just felt like it almost unbalanced the tone of their relationship a bit. Maybe it was just me, but I just felt like it wasn't fully necessary. However despite a couple of things I didn't really like, I felt like this story really called out to me in a powerful way. It was very different than the rest of Kleypas' books. Crystal Cove showed all the romance talent that Lisa Kleypas has the ability of portraying through her stories. Powerfully written, heart breaking characters, sensual love scenes, and a riveting tale with a paranormal element to a contemporary story that has a magical ring to it. A STAR of a read!!!

First Line 
It was a safe bet, Justine Hoffman thought glumly, that after ninety nine failed love spells, the hundredth wasn't going to work any better than the rest.  

Favorite Quote 
"All I want is to spend a little time with you," he said gently. "No games. We can talk about anything you want. Or not talk at all. Just you and me in a quiet place with a bottle of wine and maybe some candlelight." Reading the uncertainty in her gaze, he added huskily, "Don't say no. Because this has never happened to me before."
"What hasn't happened?"
Jason smiled into her puzzled face, a since and unexpectedly charming smile. "I can't put it into words yet. But it may be as close as I'll ever get to having a soul."

My Grade 
4 Blossoms

Heat Rating 
Steamy

Other Books In Series 
Christmas Eve At Friday Harbor
Rainshadow Road
Dream Lake
Lightening Bay

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