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lifeinthebooklane's review
5.0
My word this is one gripping read by Chelle Bliss. It's different in style than Men of Inked and ALFA PI and showcases what an amazing talent this author has.
She has crafted two powerful and dominant characters who stole my breathe away as well as my heart. Antonio is driven but knows that a life outside work is important. Lauren has made work her life in order to honour her father. Whilst the two share a chemistry so got it can give you sunburn, it is this difference in outlook that leads to problems.
There is a suspense subplot that ends in one shocking cliffhanger and leaves me with NO idea of how the story will progress. I'm also looking forward to seeing how the author resolves the conflict between the hero and heroine.
Chelle Bliss has taken her writing to a while other level with this book and I can't wait to read Merger and find out how the story ends.
She has crafted two powerful and dominant characters who stole my breathe away as well as my heart. Antonio is driven but knows that a life outside work is important. Lauren has made work her life in order to honour her father. Whilst the two share a chemistry so got it can give you sunburn, it is this difference in outlook that leads to problems.
There is a suspense subplot that ends in one shocking cliffhanger and leaves me with NO idea of how the story will progress. I'm also looking forward to seeing how the author resolves the conflict between the hero and heroine.
Chelle Bliss has taken her writing to a while other level with this book and I can't wait to read Merger and find out how the story ends.
ameserole's review against another edition
3.0
This was okay. The smut was good but the narrators were a bit annoying to my ears.
Acquisition was definitely a book that I listened to for a specific challenge. Of course, my buddy wanted to read the next book, but since I have no soul - I said no. After this book ended on a dreaded cliffhanger, I just didn't care.
The drama was eh.. but Trent was just extra. I always thought he was psychotic.. but he really showed it towards the end. I also have no idea how he even had a job at this point. Everyone already had the gut feeling that he was extra creepy. Plus the guy was a little handsy at times. You'd think he would've been reported to HR or something. Yet he never got fired.
Overall, Lauren was dumb af when it comes to guys/employees.
Acquisition was definitely a book that I listened to for a specific challenge. Of course, my buddy wanted to read the next book, but since I have no soul - I said no. After this book ended on a dreaded cliffhanger, I just didn't care.
The drama was eh.. but Trent was just extra. I always thought he was psychotic.. but he really showed it towards the end. I also have no idea how he even had a job at this point. Everyone already had the gut feeling that he was extra creepy. Plus the guy was a little handsy at times. You'd think he would've been reported to HR or something. Yet he never got fired.
Overall, Lauren was dumb af when it comes to guys/employees.
anasatticbookblog's review against another edition
4.0
Acquisition and Merger (The Takeover Duet 1 & 2) by Chelle Bliss
Narrated by Brian Pellino & Natasha Soudek
Adult Contemporary. Must Be Read Together.
The Takeover Duet by Chelle Bliss was very different from the typical billionaire CEO type book, and I enjoyed how unique it was. I first read the little prequel, Takeover (FREE), and loved it and got the rest on audio. I think I would have enjoyed the duet more if I continued to read it rather than listen.
Lauren Bradley is CEO of the #2 aerospace company. They are about to make an announcement of a discovery that will change the industry completely and catapult them to the top, when they learn there was some sneaky overnight business dealings, and Cozza, the #1 company, led by the elusive Antonio Forte was poised to do a hostile takeover.
Lauren’s had a rough day and knows she has to face the board the next day to convince them to hang on to their shares, so she goes out for a drink to blow off some steam. When she meets the hottest guy ever, she gives the sexy Italian a fake name and job. She just wanted to be a regular woman for the night, not a top CEO. “Elizabeth” and “Lou” had one super hot night together. Imagine her surprise when “Lou” turned out to be the one and only, you guessed it, Antonio Forte. The man who is ruining her career and life.
“You can’t stop what you’ve started. We’re at war, Mr. Forte. No matter how well you kiss, I’ll never forget the simple fact that you’re trying to destroy my company and, by default, me. We are nothing. We will never be more than enemies."
Antonio won’t let that stop him. He gets what he wants.
"I want it all. I want her. I want Interstellar. I want everything. I’m the type of man who’s used to getting it too."
Every moment is laced with sexual tension even though they are supposed to hate each other, but they can’t resist long.
"The kiss. The touch. The smell. The sounds. The taste. Everything in this moment is about Antonio and me, with a dash of Elizabeth and Lou."
There is a lot of back and forth in the first installment, and it ends on a big cliffy, so you must read Merger for the full story.
Merger is a little less about the business and suspense side of things (after the initial issue is solved), and more about the relationship and his wonderful, big Italian family. I loved this part!
“I’d give up my world to be with you, Lauren.”
While I loved Lauren when I read her in the prequel, I had trouble connecting with her in Acquisition and Merger, and I think it was the narration that held me back. I found Natasha to be very aggressive in her reading, punctuating the last word of each sentence in an angry sort of way that sort of turned me off to the character. When she acted out Antonio’s parts, she totally sounded like she was doing a Dracula impression. While I loved that I totally bought the man’s part, forgetting that a woman was narrating it, when Brian would speak with his accent it would make me realize how silly she sounded sounding like Dracula.
While I can usually separate the story from the narration enough to rate separately, in this case I just couldn’t. I just never fell for Lauren enough to make me LOVE the books as much as I think I would have if I read them. Me loving the prequel just backs this theory up. The story had everything I love in a book; some business, intrigue, suspense, good side characters, banter, sexy times, and great family. But to fully fall for a book, I need to love the heroine, and the narration held me back from that love.
Likes:
- •The two-part story worked very well in this case. It needed the cliffy (easy to say when I had the second one ready to go!).
- •Great combination of suspense, intrigue, romance and sexy times.
- •The details of the aerospace industry and other business moments.
- •I loved the whole big Italian family.
- •The second book resolved the conflict quickly enough to shift the focus on the couple the rest of the story.
- •Her best friend.
Dislikes:
- •Some parts were very predictable.
- •Antonio wasn’t quite alpha enough for me.
- •The female narrator.
The Narration:
I mentioned this above, but I found Natasha very aggressive and almost angry sounding as she read the female parts. I think this is how she felt a strong woman would speak. Her portrayal of Antonio sounded like Dracula instead of Italian. While I would have loved her doing this for a vampire book, it didn’t quite work for this, especially when you would hear Brian Pallino do the Italian accent. He was sexy and perfect for the part and I loved his narration.
The Down & Dirty:
I really enjoyed the story, I adore a powerful woman and the enemies to lovers trope. I love a business setting and I really like suspense and intrigue. This duet had everything I love. I think if I read instead of listened to the story, I would have been blown away and loved it much more, but sadly, the narration kind of turned me off to the female lead which affected how I felt about the books overall. I highly recommend the duet, but would suggest you read rather than listen.
Rating: 4 stars, 3.75 heat, 3.5 Narration (2.5 for her, 5 for him)
*Audible books are $1.99 upgrades*
Purchase Acquisition by Chelle Bliss
Purchase Merger by Chelle Bliss
angelpayne's review against another edition
5.0
You guys, this book. THIS BOOK!! Where do I start? Seriously?
Let me say, first of all, that I really loved all of Chelle Bliss's Men of Inked books. The Gallos are near and freakin' dear to my heart. But holy eff, make way for the Fortes--and the books that I sincerely hope shall be written about them after this stunning introduction. Good freaking lord, that Antonio Forte...he's every inch a dark, gorgeous, incredible Italian lover--including that key element of setting his sights on our heroine, and simply deciding he's going to use every damn trick in his oh-so-freaking-sexy arsenal to win her over. Honest to eff, this man and his persistence...Good Holy GAWWWD...
And have I mentioned that he owns an island, too? An ISLAND! Let your imagination run with THAT, kids...
But believe it or not, the best part of this story is NOT Antonio--because we all know that any incredible hero is only as good as the heroine with which he is paired. Enter our beautiful Lauren, who is driven by emotion but not ruled by it; who is smart but not smart-alecky; who possesses juuust enough of an edge to give Antonio a damn fine run for his money. She's not even swayed by his freaking island. She simply wants his heart...but is afraid to take it, even when he offers it. Her conflict is real, and rooted in real concerns that ANY woman who's been in business (at ANY level) can definitely relate to in these crazy times.
The result is a gorgeous, sweeping, incredible, BEAUTIFUL romance that'll have you one-clicking for Book 2 as fast as you can!! And believe me, you'll be thanking me for the recommendation when you do!
Brava! WHAT an amazing job!
Let me say, first of all, that I really loved all of Chelle Bliss's Men of Inked books. The Gallos are near and freakin' dear to my heart. But holy eff, make way for the Fortes--and the books that I sincerely hope shall be written about them after this stunning introduction. Good freaking lord, that Antonio Forte...he's every inch a dark, gorgeous, incredible Italian lover--including that key element of setting his sights on our heroine, and simply deciding he's going to use every damn trick in his oh-so-freaking-sexy arsenal to win her over. Honest to eff, this man and his persistence...Good Holy GAWWWD...
And have I mentioned that he owns an island, too? An ISLAND! Let your imagination run with THAT, kids...
But believe it or not, the best part of this story is NOT Antonio--because we all know that any incredible hero is only as good as the heroine with which he is paired. Enter our beautiful Lauren, who is driven by emotion but not ruled by it; who is smart but not smart-alecky; who possesses juuust enough of an edge to give Antonio a damn fine run for his money. She's not even swayed by his freaking island. She simply wants his heart...but is afraid to take it, even when he offers it. Her conflict is real, and rooted in real concerns that ANY woman who's been in business (at ANY level) can definitely relate to in these crazy times.
The result is a gorgeous, sweeping, incredible, BEAUTIFUL romance that'll have you one-clicking for Book 2 as fast as you can!! And believe me, you'll be thanking me for the recommendation when you do!
Brava! WHAT an amazing job!
dmconnolly1's review against another edition
5.0
Love, love, loved this book! I can’t wait for Merger!!!
__livesbtweenpgs__'s review against another edition
5.0
Review to also be posted on Book Loving Fairy Blog
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Star Rating: 5 stars
Yes Chelle! Yes!
I love Chelle's writing style, when I seen this one I had to have it especially after devouring her Gallo Series.
Lauren, my hero. Leading in a world that is lead by men and she takes no bullshit until she has to from an unexpected person.
Antonio, you devil. So much domination, so much hell yes!
The sparks between these two are flying until they realize who the other is then it gets hotter!
By the way...cliffhangers suck, I wanted to know what happened at the end but NOPE!
Book 2 needs to come out very very soon!
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Star Rating: 5 stars
Yes Chelle! Yes!
I love Chelle's writing style, when I seen this one I had to have it especially after devouring her Gallo Series.
Lauren, my hero. Leading in a world that is lead by men and she takes no bullshit until she has to from an unexpected person.
Antonio, you devil. So much domination, so much hell yes!
The sparks between these two are flying until they realize who the other is then it gets hotter!
By the way...cliffhangers suck, I wanted to know what happened at the end but NOPE!
Book 2 needs to come out very very soon!
dorothy0426's review against another edition
5.0
Oh my what a awesome read!!!! I was hooked from page 1. The chemistry between Antonio and Lauren is crazy hot. The cliffhanger at the end has me wanting for more ASAP, can't wait to see how it finishes!!!!
racheltwotimes's review against another edition
5.0
YASSSS <-- my reaction to the backstory for Lauren- the main female lead in the book.
I am a fan of stories with a strong female lead, and Lauren is that.
Lauren is the CEO of Interstellar. A company that Antonio wants. But after one night- Antonio wants Lauren too.
I enjoyed how uncompromising Lauren was as the female lead, she was believable as a woman who had worked hard to run a company that is worth millions- maybe billions? She has a great backstory that lays the foundation for all her hard work and commitment to her career.
This is a Cliffy- which one doesn't expect from Chelle but the second book is right around the corner!! I cant wait to see what happens
I am a fan of stories with a strong female lead, and Lauren is that.
Lauren is the CEO of Interstellar. A company that Antonio wants. But after one night- Antonio wants Lauren too.
I enjoyed how uncompromising Lauren was as the female lead, she was believable as a woman who had worked hard to run a company that is worth millions- maybe billions? She has a great backstory that lays the foundation for all her hard work and commitment to her career.
This is a Cliffy- which one doesn't expect from Chelle but the second book is right around the corner!! I cant wait to see what happens