Flawless (The Christies, #1)

Jun 15, 2012 Kat at Book Thingo marked it as blog-review

Shelves: romance-historical

Reviewed by Wandergurl at Book Thingo. Click here to read the full review.

I love adventure romances in your not so average settings! It’s not often that you get a romance in colonial South Africa—in a diamond mine, no less—and for that alone I bought this book. (It didn’t disappoint.

Vivienne and Miles's romance is intertwined with their growing diamond mine and the fledgling industry. The story sounds well researched and the bits of history and facts are quite interesting. I also liked the way L...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Jo (Mixed Book Bag) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, romance

Historical Romance

Flawless caught my attention when I read that it was set in South Africa in the late 1800’s right after the Boar Wars. This is an unusual setting for a historical romance. South Africa during this time was a lot like the old west with diamonds fever instead of gold fever fueling the danger.

Characters: Vivienne is a very strong female character. She has a secret that she is protecting. That secret has been a part of what molded her and added to her strengths. Miles Durham has s...more

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May 28, 2012 Regina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow, this writer is on a winning streak! Flawless had the advantage of an original setting: Cape Town late 1800s after the first Boer war. The Christies patriarch recently died and had issued his four children a challenge: they each must turn around one of his failing investments (and receive a substantial amount of money as their reward) or forfeit any inheritance. Viv and Miles's marriage is on the skids, but they decide to make another go at it for the sake of the inheritance. Through great s...more

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Oct 17, 2011 Barbara rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: dnf

Carrie Lofty is a good writer. Alas, this time she was writing about people I just didn't like! I got 225 pages into this book and found that I didn't care what happened to them. I put the book down, read two other books, and when I picked up Flawless again--nada. No enthusiasm for continuing.
The book started as what I would call a New Style 'Old Skool' romance. There's no "forced seduction" (aka rape)--hooray! But that may be because the Vivienne and Miles are already married, though currently...more

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Sep 30, 2011 Jacque Stengel rated it 4 of 5 stars

This love story is set in South Africa, not a likely place for a reunion of a barely married separated couple! I am a sucker for a great historical and when a book comes along with a totally new place in history for a romance I get excited. Not only was the diamond field in South Africa volatile with the dangers associated with digging for diamonds, the tension that was created by Vivienne and Miles was volatile in it's own way...and a whole lot of heat.
I loved the way that Ms. Lofty created a...more

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Sep 30, 2011 Gaby rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: exotic-locale, historical-romance

Flawless opens soon after the death of millionaire entrepreneur Sir William Christie. He leaves behind four children, including the adopted and illegitimate Lady Vivienne Bancroft. Viviene is devastated at her father's death and all the unresolved issues haunt her. But during the reading of the will, Sir William is his unconventional and unpredictable self. Each of four children are given a business and a challenge: they must make the business profitable within a year or their inheritance will b...more

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Sep 29, 2011 Eggletina rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The short review: Too much mental lusting, not enough story or character development. Overall rating: 2.5 stars

The long review:

Vivienne and Miles are an estranged couple. He did something during their marriage which was the straw that broke the camel’s back and Viv left him. We are given a few details about their marriage. Viv needed (or wanted) to marry well. Her father, a successful American businessman, groomed her for the purpose of marrying up into titled British society. She’s adopted and...more The short review: Too much mental lusting, not enough story or character development. Overall rating: 2.5 stars

The long review:

Vivienne and Miles are an estranged couple. He did something during their marriage which was the straw that broke the camel’s back and Viv left him. We are given a few details about their marriage. Viv needed (or wanted) to marry well. Her father, a successful American businessman, groomed her for the purpose of marrying up into titled British society. She’s adopted and holds a secret about her parentage that she’s afraid will ruin her marriage. We don’t know much about that first meeting between Miles and Viv, or what beyond appearance and the desire to marry well attracted them to each other. We do know they have always found each other attractive. Their constant mental lusting leaves us in no doubt about that. We have some indication that the marriage started out hopeful, but quickly went sour. Viv was disillusioned, particularly with Miles’s behavior as the bored aristocrat who is primarily concerned with his own hedonism – gambling, drinking and smoking away his life as idle aristocrats with no sense of responsibility are wont to do. He was not reliable nor trustworthy by her own standards of conduct. Their biggest hurdle to overcome is trust.

At the opening of the story, Viv’s father has died and his four children have gathered in New York to hear the reading of his will. Miles shows up (how he heard about the father’s death and managed to show up in time for the reading of the will from clear across the ocean is never explained). We find out each child inherits one of his father’s businesses to turn around (apparently, he had his hands in a lot of pies). If they don’t want the challenge or can’t turn their inherited business around within a prescribed period of time, they will only inherit $500 dollars. If they are successful, they get one million dollars. How the father managed to have four businesses on the brink to hand to his children but still have capacity to grant each child one million dollars for successful turnaround is one of those plot devices that requires suspension of belief (or did on my part).

Though Viv wants no part of Miles, he decides he’s going to South Africa to partner with her and help her secure her inheritance, a diamond brokerage. His motive is as much about personal revenge as it is about proving something to himself and lusting after this wife who, we’re told, left him after they apparently had sex so good it scared him into acting unforgivably (a convenient excuse as every wastrel knows). I found it difficult to believe that someone as profligate as Miles was described in the beginning could so easily turn away from such addictions as drinking, gambling and smoking. We don’t witness enough of his struggle. Too much focus on feelings of need, want, and lust between the couple undermined the character development and my ability to believe in them. We don’t learn enough about what Miles was like before he met Viv or during the marriage to appreciate the change he is attempting. We know Viv was groomed to score an aristocratic husband because she wants a secure life, but we don’t know why Miles was selected. What specifically was it about him, besides a title, a suave way and his good looks? Those qualities hardly imply depth of character, let alone security.

I picked this up because I enjoyed Lofty’s Seduction books. I was excited about the setting, South Africa, and the potential for the story to explore the diamond trade and set the characters up for adventures. What I got was mostly mental lusting between Miles and Viv with the setting and plot taking a back seat to the point of feeling very much like a token effort. What could have been a great story becomes mere window dressing for what is mostly game-playing and lust between the main couple. Lofty is capable of lovely passages and beautiful prose (although this time around it read like she was trying to write like Meredith Duran or Courtney Milan), but too much can leave it feeling trying too hard, such as when Miles at one point realizes his feelings for Viv are so strong, he’d do anything for her, he’d peel off his own skin for her. I must admit, I require traumatic events to justify that kind of emotional self-indulgence. Eventually, after three quarters of the novel concentrates on what feels like one long session of mental lusting, the novel finally turns its attention to a little drama with a villain to overcome and some much needed confessions. I expected more. I wanted more. I didn’t really get it.

One nitpicky note about the eBook edition: typos need to be cleaned up, such as the frequent occurrence of Miles’ss.
(less)

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Sep 26, 2011 Krystal rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc

http://livetoread-krystal.blogspot.co...

This novel is perfect for female readers who don't enjoy weak female characters in romance novels. Vivienne is definitely a dominant, somewhat pushy woman. She is also the main character of this novel and the main draw to reading this book. In this book she even attempts to fun a profitable diamond business.

Earlier in the book, she runs away from Viscount Bancroft, to whom she was engaged. Much to her surprise, he shows up at her doorstep later on and won...more

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Sep 26, 2011 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, south-africa

FLAWLESS by Carrie Lofty is a exciting historical romance set in 1880 New York City and 1881 South Africa. It is the first in a new series " The Christies". It is written with depth,details,romance,diamonds,passion,secrets, desires,second chances,family,sensuality,and love. The characters are enchanting,full of life,engaging, and will capture your heart. "The Christies" series is about four grown children (Vivienne,Alexander,twins Gareth and Gwyneth) whose father died and in order to claim their...more

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Sep 26, 2011 SOS Aloha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Marilyn Monroe sang that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” In this Victorian historical romance, diamonds are Lady Vivienne Bancroft’s means to independence from her estranged husband, Lord Miles Bancroft. Born a bastard to a Parisian dancer, Vivienne she was adopted by her natural father and his third wife when her mother died. Since then, she sought to live a flawless life, first as an appreciative “adoptive” daughter then as a dutiful aristocrat’s wife. Vivienne remained above reproach as...more Marilyn Monroe sang that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” In this Victorian historical romance, diamonds are Lady Vivienne Bancroft’s means to independence from her estranged husband, Lord Miles Bancroft. Born a bastard to a Parisian dancer, Vivienne she was adopted by her natural father and his third wife when her mother died. Since then, she sought to live a flawless life, first as an appreciative “adoptive” daughter then as a dutiful aristocrat’s wife. Vivienne remained above reproach as her husband drank, gambled, and womanized his way through Victorian society. She finally left him to live quietly in New York. When Vivienne’s father dies, he leaves a challenge to all his adult children to earn a million dollar bonus. Vivienne’s challenge takes her to the diamond mines of South Africa. She encounters colonial prejudice, raiding bandits, and her own husband claiming that he can be an asset. Miles not only wants to win a portion of the bonus but make Vivienne regret she left their marriage bed.

Lofty delivers a near flawless story that kept me turning the pages. I was hot, dusty, and concerned – like the characters – as they traveled to and integrated into the mining town of Kimberley. I found myself hanging onto Lofty’s words as she slowly unraveled the emotional layers of her complex characters. Vivienne and Miles clearly have their reasons for acting as they did before and after the challenge posed by Sir William’s will. Soon they discover their own inner strength and the inner strength of their spouse. I initially did not consider diamond mines as a romantic setting yet Lofty delivers a passionate relationship between these two lost souls. I appreciated Lofty’s integration of the social issues connected to diamond mining and Colonial Africa. I highly recommend this book to any romance reader seeking an unusual historical setting and/or emotionally complex characters.

I received an ARC from Pocket Books for this review.

I spotlight this book as a giveaway on my blog:

http://sosaloha.blogspot.com/2011/09/...

Comments open through Saturday, October 1, for the giveaway.(less)

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Aug 13, 2011 Fedora rated it 5 of 5 stars

So much to recommend this book to me so far--an estranged couple thrown together to meet a challenge; the sparring and sizzling tension that results; a dissolute rake with the motivation to reform (the promise of redemption is a favorite theme for me); the idea of revenge that may prove to be ultimately irresistible to both parties; a wild and fascinating setting; a chance for both the hero and heroine to prove their mettle... I am enjoying this very much so far. (about halfway now...)

Now that I...more

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Oct 20, 2011 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: good-romance, books-i-own, for-review

I absolutely love historical romances and it has been wayyyyyy too long since I've read one. So I really enjoyed being able to escape into Flawless. I loved the time period and historical setting, how Vivian and Miles went to South Africa to work in the diamond business. I read on the back cover that Carrie Lofty received her Masters degree in History and I was really able to appreciate how she not only created a good romance, but also a story with such a rich historical context. So now that I'v...more

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Sep 26, 2011 Cheryl rated it 5 of 5 stars

Vivienne, Alexander, Gareth and Gwyneth’s father has passed away. It is now time for the reading of the will. Vivienne does not know what the will has in it as she was adopted. Luckily for Vivienne, her father loved her like his own and left her something. Actually their father left them all something, only there is a catch. Each of the siblings has to work for their fortune at different businesses. The businesses are failing and the siblings must make them successful within two years. If the si...more

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Oct 08, 2011 Alexia Chantel rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars!

This book is flawless in more ways than just the title.

Vivienne is the picture of propriety and has fought to stay that way despite being married to an alcoholic gambler. She left him before and intends to do so again if she can earn her inheritance. Viv didn’t count on having such a soft spot for her man, and now has to decide if he is worth the leap of faith.

Miles is nearly everything Viv thinks him to be, or he used to be. As a bored aristocrat nothing could fire his blood like his...more

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Oct 13, 2011 Samantha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Summary from Goodreads:

"Lady Vivienne Bancroft fled England for New York, hoping to shed the confines of her arranged marriage to unrepentant rogue Miles Durham, Viscount Bancroft—though she never forgot the fiery desire he unleashed with his slightest touch. And when the gambling man arrives on her doorstep for a little sensual revenge for her desertion, he is met with Vivienne’s dilemma: She must earn her father’s inheritance by profitably running a diamond business worth millions in colonial...more Summary from Goodreads:

"Lady Vivienne Bancroft fled England for New York, hoping to shed the confines of her arranged marriage to unrepentant rogue Miles Durham, Viscount Bancroft—though she never forgot the fiery desire he unleashed with his slightest touch. And when the gambling man arrives on her doorstep for a little sensual revenge for her desertion, he is met with Vivienne’s dilemma: She must earn her father’s inheritance by profitably running a diamond business worth millions in colonial South Africa. Swept together in an exotic undertaking filled with heated passion and hungry temptation, will Vivienne and Miles discover that the marriage vows they once made are the greatest snare—or the most treasured reward?"

My Thoughts:

I feel like I've read my fair share of romances this year and this is one of my favorites ones yet! What made Flawless stand out for me was the instant chemistry and attraction between the two main characters. I found myself wondering about their past relationship and wanting to see if they could find their happy ending. I loved that neither of them were who they thought they were, which left them to really discover each other throughout the novel. This enjoyment of the characters was enhanced by the setting of the story. It isn't every day that you read a romance novel set in Africa's diamond mines but this one was. I loved the unique setting and found that it really added to the story. The details that the author included helped to make me feel like I was really there while I was reading. There was a slight aspect of mystery and suspense to this book that helped keep my interest as well. But the main focus was the romance between Miles and Vivienne, and I couldn't get enough of it!

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I read another review of this book that said that the author uses lots of different settings in her stories and now I cannot wait to read more by her! This is a romance that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend!

Bottom Line: A lovely romance and one that made me an instant fan of this author!

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book as part of Gallery and Pocket Books Romance Blog Tour Group. I'm a bit late with my post though so sorry!(less)

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Nov 03, 2011 Nikki Brandyberry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Vivienne has been running from her estranged husband for over a year. He is a drunk, has a gambling problem, appears to love prostitutes and he just generally embarrasses her. She can’t be held liable in the failure of her arranged marriage, she tried, she really did. She even thought she was falling in love with Viscount Miles Bancroft. Until one night he left her alone, panting after their sexual encounter under the stairs at a gala event. She fled to America to care for her ailing father, a b...more Vivienne has been running from her estranged husband for over a year. He is a drunk, has a gambling problem, appears to love prostitutes and he just generally embarrasses her. She can’t be held liable in the failure of her arranged marriage, she tried, she really did. She even thought she was falling in love with Viscount Miles Bancroft. Until one night he left her alone, panting after their sexual encounter under the stairs at a gala event. She fled to America to care for her ailing father, a business tycoon with interests all over the globe. Upon his death Vivienne learns that in order to receive her inheritance she has to take over a failing business and make it thrive. Knowing her inheritance could buy the pricey divorce she needs from Miles, she readily accepts.

Miles wants revenge. Revenge on his wife for leaving him and fleeing to America. She made him appear a fool and that cannot be tolerated. Knowing she needs his help if her business venture in South Africa is going to thrive he heads that way, with intentions to make her scream his name once more. Working closely allows Miles to begin to know the woman he married. Slowly she is cracking his hardened exterior. Vivienne is feeling the sparks as well, but with the lust comes fear. Fear that her secret ancestry may finally come to light. Something she has vowed never to allow Miles to know.

I will readily admit I was skeptical when I picked this one up. In fact I wasn’t going to read it. I’m short on time this month and though the back blurb drew me in, this being a historical (which I don’t read often) made it a harder sell to me. Then I picked it up on a whim and read the first couple of pages….and was hooked. I fell completely in love with Lofty’s ability to paint a scene straight out of history and make me care, make me believe and give me a story with depth and vision. I finished all 384 pages in one afternoon and that is a feat for me!

Vivi is a complete handful and I loved how she straddled the polite English woman role with that of a outspoken, tough woman. She felt like the real deal. Often in a historical romance I get seriously annoyed with the heroine. They are way to polite, way to soft spoken and just generally annoying. Fainting over everything. Being prim and proper. I don’t like it. Hence my aversion to a lot of historical romance. Vivi felt real. She talked and acted like I would suspect a woman of that time to be. Yes she still incorporated those qualities but she was more. She was direct when she needed to be and told Miles exactly what she thought when approached.

While I found Vivi to be real, I found Miles to be rugged and misunderstood. Ok, he was misunderstood because he was horrible at talking about his feelings. He spent the first half of the book alternating between being vindictive and just downright cold at times. He was as manipulative as he was sexy. Underneath the facade though, he did care for Vivi…a lot. Constantly at war with himself over wanting to take his revenge and his need for a wanton Vivi.

These two set the pages on fire with their push and pull throughout the book. I wanted them to break down their personal walls to find some happiness. Vivi had huge trust issues and so never wanted Miles to know that she was not adopted into the Christie family as he believed. Thinking he would abandon her if he knew she was a illegitimate child and daughter of a whore.

I loved the concept of the diamond mine and thought the back drop of South Africa made for lush scenery. Not knowing much about that area myself afforded me the ability to not think, to go with the picture Carrie had painted for me. What a picture Carrie painted….complete and well rounded I didn’t have to imagine much of anything.

Flawless has a bit over everything, historical reference, erotic imagery and a story line that will suck you in and make you want to live it yourself. For just a moment in time, you too will want to be mining for diamonds in the 1800′s, working the terrain and living a life free from the constraints of this day and age. I am eagerly awaiting book two, Starlight, in July of 2012. Where we will get to read Alex Christie’s story.

I give Flawless by Carrie Lofty 4 stars!(less)

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Jan 15, 2013 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Flawless tells the story of Viv Christie, the adopted daughter of William Christie. William dies & in his will, his children must complete tasks with regard to his businesses in order to inherit his fortune; if they fail, they get nothing. This is the first in a planned 4-book series. Viv's task is to turn around William's South African diamond mining company, which had been losing money. It takes place in the 1890's, when this country was still a barren frontier with only glimpses of civili...more

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Oct 19, 2011 Michele rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-book, first-reads, historical-romance

This book had so much potential, but it just didn't deliver. I was excited to win Flawless in a goodreads.com First Reads giveaway and I was looking forward to reading about the South African diamond trade in the late 1800's with a romance thrown in. In my mind, I was never "taken" there. A few paragraphs of the crush of humanity at the docks, a few paragraphs about the expanse of land and sky at the Karoo, and a few more that tried (and failed) to describe the diamond mine, and the small mining...more

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Oct 15, 2011 Jess the Romanceaholic rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-read, historical, galleygrab, victorian, estranged-lovers-or-marriage, family-issues, last-will-and-testament, part-of-a-series

This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.

Expected Release Date: September 27, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Imprint: Pocket Books
Author’s Website: http://carrielofty.com/
My Source for This Book: Simon & Schuster's GalleyGrab
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 1, The Christies
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy

Lady Vivienne Bancroft is the bastard daughter of a French can-can dancer and a powerful tycoon. Growing up in squalor o...more

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Oct 25, 2011 Amanda Ryan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Redonk Nutshell: Jaded spouses reunite to revive a recently inherited crumbling diamond dynasty

I fell in love with this cover. Ain't it purty? Then I fell for the premise - a regency romance set in...wait for it...SOUTH AFRICA? Score. What I got was a gritty and at times uncomfortable not-so-fluffy romance story between a husband and wife that reluctantly come together for somewhat nefarious reasons. Though of course, things don't go quite the way they plan. I very much enjoyed this book. It had...more Redonk Nutshell: Jaded spouses reunite to revive a recently inherited crumbling diamond dynasty

I fell in love with this cover. Ain't it purty? Then I fell for the premise - a regency romance set in...wait for it...SOUTH AFRICA? Score. What I got was a gritty and at times uncomfortable not-so-fluffy romance story between a husband and wife that reluctantly come together for somewhat nefarious reasons. Though of course, things don't go quite the way they plan. I very much enjoyed this book. It had a realistic emotional toil for me that rang true.

The characters are as flawed as the stones they pull from the ground. Miles Durham, our hero, is, to be blunt, an overindulgent nihilistic ass. His wife of an arranged marriage, Vivienne, left him a year prior, and Miles takes it upon himself to get her back so he can rebuild their relationship. And then leave her. You know how it goes - a typical revenge scheme, eh? Vivienne, on the other hand, has grown up in the year of her separation from her husband. She's resolved not to fall prey to his baited retorts and actions, and she's committed to finding herself stability at just about any cost. When Vivienne's father bequeaths her the task of rescuing his struggling diamond firm in South Africa, she accepts the challenge. She's stunned when upon arriving she's faced with her estranged husband. Miles has taken it upon himself to get a head start on Viv's family legacy and his own personal goals. They come to something of an agreement. After all, they both benefit if Vivienne can make her father's firm successful. What neither of them count on is genuinely falling in love with one another.

Miles and Viv's story isn't pretty. They both have some pretty serious emotional baggage to sort through. Miles's behavior and treatment is a constant haunt to Vivienne, which gives her some pretty serious trust issues. But then again, Miles really is an ass. Or at least was. It's a joy to watch Miles find a purpose to his life, and with it a reason to stick with his resolution to avoid gambling and drinking.

I very much enjoyed these two's story. The setting of South Africa is a breath of breath of fresh air in a regency romance, though it isn't necessarily pretty. In fact, it's at times downright brutal. I personally appreciated it.

If you're considering checking out regency romance and are looking for something with more substance than fluff, I'd recommend Flawless by Carrie Lofty.

Flawless by Carrie Lofty, 416 pgs, 9/27/11

Rating: B-

Romance: 3/5 Raunch: 3/5(less)

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Nov 18, 2011 CoffeeTimeRomance andMore rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Flawless is a good book. The passion and chemistry between Miles and Vivienne is very potent from the get go. I like how they have a history that is torrid, explosive, and hit a disastrous obstacle as it gives this plot some great scenarios. However, I did find that some of the issues that they had in their marriage were not really explained until near the end of the book and it left me slightly lost at times since it is mentioned throughout all of the pages. When it comes to writing historical...more

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Oct 22, 2011 Aislynn (Stitch Read Cook) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-s-to-review, blog-book-tour, hard-copy-from-publisher, historical-romance, read-in-2011

What would you do with a fortune on the line? Would you team up with the husband you ran away from to win? Would you risk your heart being broken again to prove that you can do the job? That's exactly what our main character Vivienne had to do to earn her inheritance from her now deceased father Sir William.

This was an intriguing start to a new series. It would appear that each sibling will be give their own book - and we'll learn whether they earn their share of the money from their father. Viv...more

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Jul 24, 2011 Christy B (Readin' and Dreamin') marked it as abandoned

Shelves: arcs-and-galleys

So, I loved Song of Seduction and Portrait of Seduction, both by this author, so I decided to give this one a go, even thought the premise didn't interest me.

Should have gone with my gut. I got over 100 pages into it and still didn't really care about the characters or where the story went from there.

I love romance novels, but I'm starting to develop a short leash with them. I refuse to slog through another bad one. I didn't care for the 'hero' in this one particularly because all he seemed conc...more

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Nov 13, 2011 k reads rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: goodreads-first-reads-giveaway, read-2011, reviewed

I received this book through the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.

Carrie Lofty is a solid romance writer and I’m not sure why there isn’t more buzz about her books. She writes three-dimensional, flawed characters with sexy heroes and strong-minded heroines. The road to true love is not easy in Lofty’s books but the journey is always believable emotionally
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In Flawless, Lofty introduces us to Lady Vivienne Bancroft and her husband, Miles Durham, aka Viscount Bancroft. Due to Miles’ profligate ways,...more I received this book through the Goodreads First Reads Giveaway.

Carrie Lofty is a solid romance writer and I’m not sure why there isn’t more buzz about her books. She writes three-dimensional, flawed characters with sexy heroes and strong-minded heroines. The road to true love is not easy in Lofty’s books but the journey is always believable emotionally
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In Flawless, Lofty introduces us to Lady Vivienne Bancroft and her husband, Miles Durham, aka Viscount Bancroft. Due to Miles’ profligate ways, the couple are estranged, with Vivienne living at her father’s house in New York while Miles remains in London. But with the death of her father, Vivienne learns that in order to claim her inheritance, she must turn a failing diamond business into a profitable one. If she succeeds, she will inherit a million dollars – no small change, especially in the late 1800s. So off she goes to colonial South Africa only to find her husband waiting for her. Miles, it seems, has turned over a new leaf and wants nothing more than to make a go of it – with both the business and their marriage. Together, the two will need to overcome much in order to reach their happy ending. (Oh, you know they do. It is a romance, after all.)

I thought Vivienne and Miles were a well matched couple. They had great chemistry in the sack but no trust outside of the bedroom. Which makes sense since their marriage was initially a business arrangement; Vivienne was an heiress and Miles needed money. They barely knew each other when they got married and in the short time they lived under the same roof, they didn’t learn a whole lot about each other beyond the surface, partly due to Miles being a drunken party boy and partly because Vivienne had wrapped herself in a shroud of respectability in order to hide a secret past.

To be honest, Vivienne had no reason to trust Miles. When not sexing her up, he spent most of his time making a spectacle of himself so her feelings were completely understandable. However, once in South Africa, Max became a new man, finding purpose and meaning in his life. Reading about these two as they made the emotional journey towards trust and true partnership was both sexy and appealing.

I also enjoyed the setting. I don’t believe I have ever read a historical romance set in South Africa before; it was a nice change of pace from London and the same old same old. At the same time, it was hard for me to let go of the little I know about that time period in regards to indigenous Africans and the diamond trade. While I am not interested in reading about racist heroes or heroines, it was hard for me to suspend my disbelief when it came to the attitudes of Vivienne and Miles toward the African people. (Plus Vivienne was yet another heroine who is best friend with her maid.) And while her desire to help the poor people of the town was within character, her friendship with those classes was not. Vivienne had spent most of her life trying to hide from her own early childhood, so I found it hard to believe that she would be at ease with being friends with such folk. She had too much to hide.

If you can ignore those things then I think you’ll enjoy this tale. I couldn’t ignore it and still managed to enjoy the book… so that should tell you something. Lofty is a strong storyteller and there is always something fresh and enjoyable about her novels.(less)

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Feb 03, 2013 Narcissi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, second-chance, cool-calm-composed-heroin, bittersweet, keeper

THIS IS A GREAT BOOK! Why won't more people read it? Even after days of reading this, my mind keeps on replaying the scenes from this book. this is a work of art by a very underappreciated author. I've never heard of Carrie Lofty before but i'm really glad that somehow, i've found this book. Very few authors can make me feel for the H/h like Ms. Lofty did, among them are Sherry Thomas, Laura Kinsale and Courtney Milan.

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Sep 06, 2012 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult, historical-romance, read-2012, romance

Review posted at Books to Brighten your Mood

Flawless is the first book I read written by Carrie Lofty. Granted, I was acquainted with the author before while co-writing with Ann Aguirre under the pen name Ellen Connor, so yes, I knew she was a great author, but after reading Flawless, well, I have to admit that historical romance is truly her strongest element.

Lofty's writing style is natural and straight to the point and her fresh perspective of the genre made Flawless all the more enjoyable. I...more
Review posted at Books to Brighten your Mood

Flawless is the first book I read written by Carrie Lofty. Granted, I was acquainted with the author before while co-writing with Ann Aguirre under the pen name Ellen Connor, so yes, I knew she was a great author, but after reading Flawless, well, I have to admit that historical romance is truly her strongest element.

Lofty's writing style is natural and straight to the point and her fresh perspective of the genre made Flawless all the more enjoyable. I mean we are talking about a historical romance book set in Cape Town, what more could I ask for something new and fresh? Granted, there are other books with similar exotic settings out there, but it's the first one for me, so I just have to say it: I was completely mesmerised by the descriptions and the way Lofty presented her story.

Instead of dealing with formal etiquette and restrictions as many other books of the genre usually do, Lofty took as to a journey far way from everything common, where people live differently and everyone has a chance to become something better or worse. She took her readers on a journey to a town where so much wealth is gathered and hope but depravity as well. That's the place where the author chose to bring her main couple together in hopes of saving their lives and maybe their marriage.

As I said, my favorite part of Flawless was easily the setting and the writing style. Carrie Lofty is just that an amazing author. The other part I truly enjoyed was that Flawless, wasn't your typical HR novel for yet another reason. Here we have some adventure woven in the plot as well and the protagonists fight for their lives and not only in a physical but also in a mental way. I don't really want to say much about the way the story unfolds, because that would spoil things, but trust me when I say that everything about Flawless screams unique and amazing!

The only complain I have here, is that for some reason, I wasn't swept off my feet with the romantic plot, not that it was bad or uninteresting, I just felt that it could have been a little better. But that's a matter of preference, so that's maybe me :)

All in all, Flawless was a fresh and interesting start to a series I will most certainly continue reading!(less)

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Jun 24, 2012 Lisa Jo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, keepers, physical-collection

Lofty, known for her powerful and passionate historical romances, does not disappoint with her latest release, Flawless. With exotic settings, fabulous characters and plenty of spicy romance, this novel is another winner that Lofty fans should not miss!

Sir William Christie’s death has left his children a fortune…they just have to earn it. At the reading of his will, Lady Vivienne Bancroft faces her shocking situation. She must travel to colonial South Africa to run Christie’s diamond business fo...more Lofty, known for her powerful and passionate historical romances, does not disappoint with her latest release, Flawless. With exotic settings, fabulous characters and plenty of spicy romance, this novel is another winner that Lofty fans should not miss!

Sir William Christie’s death has left his children a fortune…they just have to earn it. At the reading of his will, Lady Vivienne Bancroft faces her shocking situation. She must travel to colonial South Africa to run Christie’s diamond business for a certain length of time before she is to inherit her fortune. Vivienne is up to the task, just so long as her worthless yet handsome husband stays out of her way. Of course Miles, Viscount Bancroft, would never make things that easy for Vivienne. Instead, he meets her in South Africa ready to earn his portion of the fortune. Upon first glance Vivienne realizes this is not the same over indulgent drinking and gambling husband she ran away from. Miles has given up drinking, gambling and cigar smoking not only to work with Vivienne but to seduce her as well. He wants to make her crave the passion that they once share together so when he leaves her she can feel the same agony she inflicted upon him when she ran away. Yet his plan hits a snag because Miles does the last thing he ever wanted to do…fall in love with his wife.

The premise of Flawless was truly entertaining. I adored how Vivienne was basically meeting her own husband for the first time since he had changed so drastically. On the other hand, Miles’ goal was to rid himself of his infatuation for his wife considering the circumstances in which she left him. Both characters are severely misguided by their feelings and what ensues because of this is a very fascinating and humorous plot. But you can’t blame Vivienne for being enthralled by her husband. He was truly a changed man and one that readers will love to read about. These were vices that didn’t necessarily make him a bad human being, but the certainly made him a terrible husband. To see him overcome these obsessions for Vivienne was no only dramatic, but terribly romantic.

Flawless does have great characters from the leads to the secondary cast. The one thing that became a problem for me was how long the battle between Miles and Vivienne was drawn out. It felt sometimes like the story was traveling in circles. This complaint has some pros and cons though! The drama and build up of tension led to a more gratifying conclusion when these two finally came together in a blaze of passion. In a way, it made it all worth it! While reading it though, it does become frustrating. With Vivienne and Miles, you come to adore and despise the cat and mouse game they play. Sometimes it is painful to read about an other times it is entertaining. Therein lies the true beauty of Lofty’s characters. They grab hold of your emotions and never let go.

‘The Christies’ series really starts off on a high note with Flawless and will leave you anticipating the next installment. With her previous novels and now with Flawless, I have discovered there is something magical in what Carrie Lofty writes. Her novels take you through a large range of emotions yet leaves you completely satisfied by the end. Her characters are so endearing, that as you read, you can find yourself laughing, near tears, sighing and finally smiling. Flawless continues this standar. With beautiful and descriptive prose, entertaining story lines and characters you can treasure forever, this novel is a definite keeper.(less)

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May 02, 2013 Minna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-and-a-half-stars, action-adventure, bittersweet, chemistry, good-dialogue, good-main-characters, good-world-building, historical-romance, nonstandard-plot, original, realistic-for-a-romance, travel, non-england-historical-romance

Flawless, by Carrie Lofty, is pretty darn good. Great, even.

The premise is not terribly new: William Christie, millionaire tycoon, dies. His fortune is willed back to his businesses, with one exception: his four children are put in charge of various struggling companies in their father’s business empire, and then have 2 years to bring their respective company into the black. If they succeed, they will be the primary shareholder of the business, and get a million dollar bonus. If they don’t, they...more Flawless, by Carrie Lofty, is pretty darn good. Great, even.

The premise is not terribly new: William Christie, millionaire tycoon, dies. His fortune is willed back to his businesses, with one exception: his four children are put in charge of various struggling companies in their father’s business empire, and then have 2 years to bring their respective company into the black. If they succeed, they will be the primary shareholder of the business, and get a million dollar bonus. If they don’t, they get nothing. (It was unclear to me why the bonuses were given in dollars, as I was under the impression that the father was Scots and lived in England; wouldn’t it be in pounds? But I digress.)

Vivienne Christie is placed in charge of the Christie diamond brokerage in Kimberley, Cape Colony (South Africa). At the reading of her father’s will, she is confronted with another disturbing incident: the return of her wastrel husband, Miles (that’s two romances in a row with heroes named “Miles”!), Viscount Bancroft, whom she had left a year before after he embarrassed her once too often. He is determined to reunite with his wayward wife and exact a measure of revenge on her for leaving him. Overwhelmed, Vivienne escapes him again, and doesn’t see him until months later when she arrives in Cape Town.

Miles has put his time to good use: having arrived earlier than his estranged wife, he has established a household in Kimberley, made some connections, and begun to learn the rudiments of the diamond trade. Vivienne notes that the Miles that greets her in Cape Town is not the Miles she remembers, but is suspicious of his having truly changed.

Flawless is a slow burn of a book: it has more to do with the growth of Miles and Vivienne’s trust and relationship together, and the growth of their business, than it does with their lust. Don’t mistake me, there is plenty of lust, but for two-thirds of the book it goes largely unquenched. I enjoyed seeing a damaged relationship heal slowly; it was very realistic considering their history together. I also enjoyed the growth of Miles and Vivienne’s characters into the people they always wanted to be, rather the roles they were forced to play in London society. The setting was also fantastic. The diamond mines of South Africa just after the Boer war constitute a setting that I don’t think I have ever come across in a historical romance novel, which was a very nice change. Ms. Lofty holds a Master’s degree in history, and it shows.

The only detractor for me was the ‘villain’, who was fine except for the fact that his “personal investigator” discovers facts about Vivienne that he attempts to blackmail them with. All well and good, but I couldn’t imagine that Miles’ family would not have also discovered this information prior to their marriage. That, and the fact that the many unsavory persons in Kimberley never really got any comeuppance. I know it’s unrealistic to see “villains” (or even rude people) punished, but it does rankle when it doesn’t happen.

I was undecided between four and five stars on Flawless – frankly, I’d give a 4 ½ – but I think I’m just being unfair to it as I think it’s suffering from being read simultaneously with Like No Other Lover, which was absolutely amazing. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes historical romance, especially if they’re tired of the same-old, same-old setting, and if they’re tired of cookie-cutter heroes and heroines falling in cookie-cutter love.
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Jan 07, 2012 Shandy Jo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, romance, review-2011

I haven't read a historical romance is a long time. Flawless has reminded me of what I've been missing. Ms Lofty has weaved a tale of love rekindled in of all places Africa in Victorian times.
Vivienne has not only been running from her husband for a year, she been running from her past. She's pulled herself up from the gutters, adopted by her father under a ruse. She has always known what she was and has been trying to outlive it. She's worked twice as hard as any socialite, but has a quick mind...more

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Dec 18, 2011 Abby rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

Carrie Lofty never fails to disappoint in making big choices and tackling people and places previously unseen in romance novels. FLAWLESS takes place mostly in late1 800s South Africa amidst a diamond mind, the brokerage houses and the society that had sprung up around the industry. Lofty does a good job of showing the history, political and racial tensions of the time, as well as foreshadowing the issues to come in modern times, without it feeling heavy handed or taking away from the larger sto...more

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Flawless (The Christies #1)

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