A Perfect Groom

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Wonderful!!!
Review: I bought this yesterday and finished it in one sitting! I think this is my favorite Samantha James novel yet. It is a character driven story in which the two main characters, Arabella and Justin, grapple with their inner demons, both in their own ways afraid to open themselves up to love.

Justin is just the type of tormented hero I love. He overcomes his fears, the damage inflicted upon him my his abusive father and neglectful mother and allows Arabella to heal him. He trys to be the rogue, but his inner sense of honor shines through in the end, when he would do anything for the woman he loves.

Arabella is a wonderful heroine. A strong female lead, she wants to take care of herself. Her lesson is that a truly strong woman will be strong enough to let her guard down and let the right man in.

I loved reading the evolution of these characters: They grow not only as a couple, but as individuals. The love scenes are steamy and the banter between the two had me laughing out loud. I highly recommend A Perfect Groom to anyone who loves strong characters, witty banter, and a story to remember. Buy this for yourselves and for any other romance fans you know--they'll appreciate it this Christmas! A wonderful, wonderful read.


Rating:
Summary: A beautiful romantic story!
Review: I just picked this book quite by accident one evening and could not move until I had finished it many hours later. Yes, it was just that good. I love totured heroes that have for whatever reasons felt not worthy of a good woman and Justin Sterling is just the perfect rouge. What a reputation he has and totally not the right match for the Unatainable Arabella. Many years earlier they had met and it had not been a positive moment for either of them - so when they meet in later years the sparks immediately start to fly. Well you know what they say when there are sparks there is fire and boy things soon heat up between them and just never seem to quit - my kind of book!! With great love Arabella is able to get to the root of Justin's demons - he is down deep such a sensitive wonderful man - and it always seems to me to marry a former rogue for the bedroom forever life!!

Rating:
Summary: A Near Perfect Read!
Review: I'm so glad that Ms. James is back writing and her second in her new series is wonderful. We were briefly introduced to our stunning hero Justin in the first book " A Perfect Bride" and this handsome rake now has his very own story.

Justin has been carrying around a horrible secret. The relationship that he had with his father has left deep and lasting scars. He feels that he must be everything his father has accused him of and has set out to live his life as a hard-hearted rake. That is until he is induced into a wage that has him wooing his childhood nemisis Arabella. The hoyden from his past has turned into a stunning beauty and she just may hold the key to his future.

Arabella is everything most men in society shy away from. She is rather tall, has flaming red hair, and has a tendency to speak her mind. She also only plans on marrying for love. So when she comes face-to-face with the one man she has sworn to find nasty and faithless, kissing her senseless...she must rethink her stand on the topic of Justin. He has touched her heart and he is truly the only man that has the power to break her heart as well. Does he have what it takes to be the "perfect groom" and love her for herself and be true to her?

This was a wonderful read that explores the issue of mental child abuse and how it affects the adult that has suffered. Justin is a wounded hero, who at the same time tries to flaunt societies rules, secretly wants to be worthy of the one woman he finds himself falling for. Arabella is a true heroine in the fact that although she does act like a twit is still able to allow herself to feel for the wounded Justin. These two are meant for each other and although this is not a new storyline, Ms. James does an excellent job of making it fresh. Ms. James is true to her characters and she has woven the resulting childhood issue very well into the man that Justin becomes. Despite his best effort he has a heart and this is truly a story about him finding it.

I highly recommend Ms. James latest effort and eagerly look forward to the next in the series!

Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com

Rating:
Summary: Tastefully Sensual and Sweetly Satisfying
Review: In the second installment of the Sterling Family trilogy, Justin Sterling is touted as the `handsomest man in England' but underneath the handsome visage he bears deeply ingrained scars from a less than perfect childhood. For years he has carried a deep secret guilt that has directed his wild and notorious reputation as a love`um and leave`um unfeeling rake. When challenged by an acquaintance with a similar reputation in a private wager to be the first to bed the season's latest debutante stunner labeled "The Unattainable" he decides to at least learn who and what the talk was all about.

Discovering that the unattainable miss, was his childhood nemesis Arabella was indeed a shock especially as Arabella's opinion of him as an adult hadn't altered much - other than to probably despise him more so for the wicked rumors that followed his adult footsteps. The fact that she had blossomed from a red-headed harridan brat into a goddess surely disconcerted him and he was totally enjoying the challenge of matching her rapier sharp wit with his own double entendres. When goaded enough he left her complete dazzled with a burning hot kiss....and romances being what they are, Arabella began to look at Justin in a whole new light as he, shaken himself, decided that perhaps it was time to turn over a new leaf!

*** I really liked this story even though it was a relatively light plot, there being no big mystery, villain or such. For me it was just an emotional, sometimes tearful, progression of two people who fell in love, yet naturally had such a hard time admitting to it (Ah, the stuff romances are made of!) Eventually, Arabella, with the help of Justin's brother Sebastian, came to understand the demons that drove him and was finally able to convince Justin that he was `worthy' of being loved. With an impeccable writing style I truly enjoyed, and a tasteful sensual prose, I found this to be a sweetly satisfying read that most are sure to enjoy, and I truly am looking forward to the last Sterling sibling, Juliana's, story.

--- Marilyn, for www.historicalromancewriters.com ---


Rating:
Summary: And a perfect couple
Review: Justin & Arabella are simply perfect. Justin captured my heart right away--his horrible, horrible father!! Poor boy. Such a marvelous man, who despises his looks because of...well, I won't spoil it.

And Arabella is the exact opposite of what is considered beautiful, yet she has such strength of character.

Their road to love is widing and dotted with potholes, but what a ride it provides. Sizzling passion, laughter and wit, raw emotion....A Perfect Groom touches all the right chords. This is one of my favorites.

Rating:
Summary: fine Regency romance
Review: Justin knows he is just as wicked as his mother, who deserted him, his siblings, and their abusive father. When Justin was seventeen; his father said no decent woman would want him. Justin taunts him when suddenly his dad chokes and dies.

In 1817 young lords foolishly bet on who can bed the "Unattainable" who has rejected three proposals. His best friend Gideon wages 6000 pounds that Justin will fail to bed the Unattainable within a month. Justin recognizes the Unattainable as Arabella Templeton, a very tall lady who when he was eighteen and she was ten punched him in the nose; he still remembers thinking as he fled that one more shot like that one would have knocked him out. He goes up to her, but she is cold towards him. However, before he leaves he takes her hand as if he will kiss it, but instead bites it.

At a ball, Arabella rejects her fourth proposal; a teasing Justin realizes that she makes him feel alive especially when she warns him that she is much bigger now than when she beat him up so he better beware. As they fall in love, Justin believes he is undeserving of her leaving it up to Arabella to prove otherwise though he acts like the unattainable.

Regency romance readers will appreciate the delightful lead couple and enjoy the return of the stars of Perfect Bride. Arabella is a wonderful strong protagonist who needs her inner strength to help her beloved battle his childhood demons. Although Justin can become wearisome with his belief that he deserves nothing, fans will root for Arabella to persuade him otherwise.

Harriet Klausner


Rating:
Summary: Too Obvious. ** Grade: B- ** A Low 4 Stars.
Review: Samantha James introduced Justin Sterling in A PERFECT BRIDE; now the author takes us forth into his naughty world. Justin Sterling is called "The Handsomest Man in all of England." He is smooth, a dangerous rogue, why Justin Sterling is the devil himself. He is also a hurtin' little puppy who lives each day consumed with ugly childhood memories.

Arabella Templeton is a beauty. This gorgeous woman has the height of a model, the body of a Greek goddess, and sports hair comparable to Nicole Kidman's crimson locks. Arabella is also THE popular hit of the London season. Yet, this beautiful desirable creature has no self-assurance and sadly views herself as the season's homely clodhopper -- w h a t e v e r.

Dubbed "The Unattainable" Arabella Templeton and her virtue become the focus of a cruel wager. Playboy supreme, Justin Sterling enters into a challenge set forth by another cad. Justin will take the beautiful Arabella to the heights of pleasure in . . . say a month? True-blue romance fans just KNOW the outcome. The beautiful couple will fall victim to each other and their road to `happily-ever-after' will be . . . well . . . b u m p y.

Samantha James has a nice writing style and there were moments of gentle fun. And I wanted to enjoy A PERFECT GROOM, but the story felt mechanical and too familiar. I never felt the sparkle, the passion, the sensitivity of a good romance book? So if you are looking for a better Samantha James' book, EVERY WISH FULFILLED is the ticket. Grade: B-

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.