The Most Expensive Night of Her Life

by Amy Andrews

Her million-pound question!

Supermodel Ava Kelly is more used to luxury yachts than London canal boats. But she desperately needs a refuge from the paparazzi and delectable Blake Walker's boat will provide the perfect bolt-hole. This brooding ex-soldier is bound to rescue her, right…?

Wrong. Pampered princess Ava is the last person Blake wants in his personal space—she's far too tempting! But with a million-pound charity donation hanging in the balance Blake can't say no. Now that Ava's close enough to touch, keeping his hands off her is pretty difficult, too! Maybe money isn't the only thing at stake this Christmas….

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Harlequin, Fiction, Harlequin Presents

224 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Amy is an award-winning, USA Today best-selling Aussie author who has written eighty-five contemporary romances in both the traditional and digital markets.

Her books bring all the feels from sass, quirk and laughter to emotional grit and panty-melting heat.

She loves good books and great booze although she'll take mediocre booze if there's nothing else. For many, many years she was a registered nurse which means she knows things. Anatomical things. And she’s not afraid to use them!

She recently took a sea change and lives by the ocean with her husband of 33 years.

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Reviews

[Honeyeater]

This was good! Amy Andrews is a fun author and I should read her back catalogue. In this one a supermodel gets it on with her builder.

If you liked the movie Notting Hill, you might like this as it covers a similar theme of a famous woman taking refuge from the press (and others) with a guy who is just a lovely, normal guy.

This guy though is a returned soldier who has to live with a massive injury, survivor guilt and probably PTSD so there is some real depth there.

[Desere]

When we look at supermodels we don't see the imperfections, no we see how perfect the hair looks and the perfect shape of legs and lips, it's an endless list.

And of course we then take a look at the men in their lives and we can all immediately tell that they are with those perfect absolutely gorgeous men because of the way they look, most female readers will agree " I wish I looked like her so I can get a guy that looks like that " are the words that echo through your mind over and over.

So seeing them with any man less than perfect would be a bit of a shock, but think how fabulous it would be to get behind that love story! As is the case in the new read from Amy Andrews.

When I started reading the opening lines I immediately fell hook, line and sinker for Blake, as yes I have a soft spot for all war hero's but he was also so much more than just a hero.

From the opening lines I immediately knew he is not only mentally and psychically a little messed up but I could tell that the author had a real man hidden somewhere amongst the dreaded "I am bad news" attitude, and I would never have placed him in the arms of a supermodel.

Yet this is exactly where the author lets Blake be, in the arms of the gorgeous always appearance perfect Ava! To both of them this is all to do with charity and a little out of the lime light time but when the sexual heat bubbles to a furious explosion it comes down to more of a 'let's forget the charity and feast on each other" situation. However, the press strikes and the consequences leaves their relationship hanging by a very delicate thread.

The character of Blake was totally incredibly written by the author, she really dug deep and gave me the insight into his turmoiled mind from all the war related incidents he endured. It happens many times that a war hero related read does not give me everything I wanted as to his frame of mind, his nightmares, the heartache and feelings of "I was a hero now am just a zero", however in this case I felt the author gave me everything I needed and managed to do so in only 224 pages. I have read some books similar to this one and with over 300 pages I could still not take away everything I wanted, so brilliant work Amy!

The character of Ava was what I expected, a keep the press happy but hide the real woman inside heroine, but the unique part was that she was able to look past Blake's injuries and see the real man he use to be , and bring him back out from the darkness. As I mentioned before you do not expect to see the perfect looking woman with a imperfect looking man. This touch of brilliance from the author made me truly appreciate the character of Ava and reminded me that the the real life press needs to bring more focus on woman such as Ava and the courage it takes to love a broken man.

The backdrop settings and dialogue was pure Amy Andrews perfection. It had heat, drama, a sense of new found wonder and excitement! I am taking away a message of when falling in love it is never about the person being the perfection the world expects you to end up with, as the saying goes , ' we cannot prevent who we fall for', and the author crafted this message within these pages to perfection.

I highly recommend this read for all fans of romance with a message that even the rich and very beautiful can be brought to their knees by a non-perfect love, all you need is each other.

5/5 star review
" Within her arms the once broken man will be healed"

**Copy provided by the author in exchange for a honest review

[Paula Legate]

This book touched my heart. It was about a model, and a war hero. It touched on subjects of what phantom pains can be like when you are missing a leg, survivors guilt, and the road that some soldiers face when they get out of the military. The romance between Ava, and Blake was sweet, with real emotions. I am so glad I finally read this book. It is a winner, and will go on my favorite's list.

[Samantha Millicent]

Great premise. Loved the originality of this story. What pulled it down for me was that the heroine had obviously had loads of intimate relationships for the hell of it so didn't think twice about wanting and having the hero and walking away...initially. Also all the freakin this and that which was in the dialogue made the speech styles too similar and the heroine sound common. Writing style I enjoyed apart from this. I have heard writers criticize 'head hopping' - jumping back and forward between readers points of view. Andrews does this but it works for me - I think it gets me inside both character's heads. Bottom line - based on the great, original plot line and easy reading, heroic qualities of this hero and sassiness of the heroine I will read more by this author.

[Nas Dean]

I loved this story! Ava was high sprited and Blake being an amputee, I didn't expect fireworks, buy boy was I surprised!

All readers are recommended to read this fantastic story!

[Gaufre]

Lovely story. It was a little slow at the beginning but really grew on me. I liked that the heroin was successful and confident.

[Gail]

I was a little slow getting around to this one because both the author and the line-- the Harlequin Kiss line-- are new to me. I've read one Kiss before and liked it, but haven't read enough of them that I can know generally if I like the line. This one leans me toward that liking. The hero is a wounded veteran with a prosthetic leg. The heroine is a diva model living with paparazzi and craziness. He's the builder half of a design and renovation business who has been working on the heroine's house. Then something shocking happens just after the house is finished and the story gets rolling.
(This is the one with the canal boat.)

The story is well written (except for the setting thing-- until the mention of the holiday route this ignernt Texan couldn't have guessed whether it was in England or Australia, except for looking at the cover copy. I didn't have a clue. Yes, they mentioned the British Army, but Brits and Aussies mix it up in the field.). The angst is lovely, utterly believable and two-sided. The heroine has issues of her own. The love scenes are well done and not egregious, but fit into the story perfectly. I just really, really liked this book.

It's not a slam-bang whapdoodle of a book, (though obviously I like those too) it's just a good solid story that leaves you feeling good when you reach the end.

[Daniela]

Another surprisingly emotionally complex story inset in the strict tight parameters of a series romance. At first glance of this book, the story is about a haughty, self absorbed supermodel and a gruff man who lost a limb as a soldier came home to become a carpenter. But there is oh so much more to this story. I thought I would hate Ava but that is just a facade she shows the public. Blake carries so much more guilt over being the survivor when so many did not, so many still fight.

My favorite part is the seduction and how he keeps sayingbno to her. I love the role reversal! SHE says "come on baby, you know you wanna" and HE says "I'm not ready"! Love it!

There was a bit of rush to tie it up but overall a great read! And I get a kick out of trying to figure out the occassional reference or vernacular that I dont understand not being an Assie or from England. ;)

Amy Andrews is quickly becoming an author I will watch for closely. If she does so well with the short series romance I cant wait to see what she does with a full novel when that happens.

[Shirley Buchanan]

All of us have run across a diva in our lives who appear haughty, self absorbed and totally lacking in emotions for their fellow man. Usually more down to earth people have suffered their presence, dealt with their idiosyncrasies and moved on. Only once in a while an event will happen when these people are around each other and we will see below the public surface of each one and catch a glimpse of the people are underneath. They may be the same all the way through or surprise you with warm compassionate people behind the facade. Ava and Blake were two such people.

At 27, Ava Kelly was at the top of her modeling career. Her gorgeous much photographed face and a body that hordes of fans envied were featured in ads, magazines and on billboards, but the climb to the top had been a long journey. Abandoned and betrayed by her mother at seventeen, she gave no one her trust as she fought to gain her status. And the best part along the way, every man wanted her. That is, except for the one she secretly craved… Blake. He didn't seem to need her or desire her, rebuffing her every overtures to get close. As he remodeled her home, she had imagined hot sexual fantasies with him on every new surface. She really didn't understand why he didn't reciprocate her feelings. No, he outright ignored her. Had she lost her touch? Or did he really not have any attraction to her at all?

A retired military hero, Blake Walker carried a sea of guilt and grief on his shoulders. Disappearing into the depths of depression, his brother was the driving force to rescue him and bring him into a partnership in their design business. Clawing his way back from those dismal feelings of guilt over losing his comrades in war, including his sister's husband, and the grief of losing physical parts of himself, he didn't suffer fools gladly, either during the war or now. Although he was polite, composed, courteous, respectful and unflappable these days, only by biting his tongue could he manage to get through this job with the prima donna, Ava. Following an incident at her house, now he has a new problem. She needs a place to lay low while the police find the perpetrator and believes his house boat is ideal...and since his sister now needs a million pounds for her charity and Ava is willing to pay it to stay there, the deal is struck. Supermodel + Houseboat + Construction worker = a situation he must have lost the rest of his mind to consider, but a million pounds for one night????

Could he survive her charms in such close quarters?

Could she break down the stoic reserve he had locked himself in?

Could they find love or would the public tear them apart?

I would recommend this book to any romance readers who wants to see both sides of the fence as the characters travel a road of self discovery and the deeper discovery of each other. Dynamic sexual interest, intriguing situations, and a tempting story. Excellent book with a well developed plot and well written characters. I certainly enjoyed this book.

A copy was provided by the author for an honest review.

5/5 stars Their love was worth more than all the gold in Fort Knox

[Megan]

I really enjoyed this! I’ve read some of Amy’s novels before and she’s really excelled in this one!

Blake is an ex-soldier, and has worked hard to try and get his life together after his days at war. Together with his brother they have a building company for high-end clients, such as Ava Kelly. Supermodel Ava is more used to luxury yachts than canal boats. But when shots are fired and Blake saves her life, Ava realises she desperately needs refuge, and Blake’s canal boat is the perfect place to hide out. Blake isn’t very happy about this, Ava is the last person Blake wants in the boat, but when Ava promises one million pounds to Blake’s sister’s charity in exchange, Blake can’t say no. With Ava in close proximity, Blake is find it hard to keep his hands off of her…

The characters were brilliantly written, I genuinely cannot fault a single thing about these characters. They were so lifelike and raw and real and I loved that they each had their own background story, which I found to be really interesting.

Blake…WOW…what a character! Ladies – he’s an ex-soldier and a brooding one at that….all-together now…SWOON!!!! But he is SO MUCH more than that too – I particularly enjoyed getting to know him throughout the book and my heart ached at his background story, and all the pain and heartache that he had been through. I loved that as readers we were given such a look into his life, his thoughts, his feelings, and what has made him the person he is today. Amy Andrews I LOVE you for writing such a different and complex character into your novel and for making him so strong and lifelike, and for leaving me completely in love with him.

I also liked that Ava wasn’t all she seemed, and that there was a lot more to her underneath the supermodel persona that she displays. I liked that as a reader we were able to explores a lot of emotion from the characters and really delve into their backgrounds.

I wasn’t initially sure how Ava and Blake would react together, but let me say you are all in for a treat with them! I loved how they are from two entirely different worlds but they went together SO well! I enjoyed their clashes, their initial thoughts of each other, and then there was their flirting and the tension between them was terrific! Their scenes together are sizzling and very passionate!

You need to buy this book – The Most Expensive Night Of Her Life is romantic, with characters you will love, and very sexy moments! Amy Andrews has written a FANTASTIC novel and I’m already looking forward to re-reading it again!

[Callixta]

Amy Andrews fait partie des auteures Harlequin qu’on attend à tout moment voir s’envoler vers d’autres cieux, des récits plus longs et plus travaillés. Mais ce qu’elle aprvient à faire avec ses petits formats est déjà très bon ; Elle échappe d’ailleurs à tous les stéréotypes du genre et vous oubliez rapidement qu’elle écrit dans la collection Azur ou Blanche.

Ce livre fait partie d’une collection de Mills&Boon, le Harlequin britannique qui se veut plus contemporaine et sexy et le livre tient totalement parole. Pourtant le synopsis pourrait en rappeler bien d’autres : l’héroïne, Amy Kelly est mannequin et sa notoriété fait qu’elle a besoin d’un garde du corps. Il n’y a pas de danger immédiat cependant et celui a passé trois mois avec elle, Blake Walker s’apprête à prendre des vacances bien méritées après trois mois éprouvants pour lui. Mais une attaque surprise contre la maison de la jeune femme va tout remettre en cause.

Le couple classique de la très jolie mannequin et du garde du corps est revisité ici. C’est à cela qu’on mesure que le roman a été écrit en 2013 et non il y a quinze ans ; Ava est une mannequin préparant sa retraite. Elle est à la tête d’une ligne de parfum et g§re littéralement son image. Nous sommes loin de la dinde anorexique. Quant au garde du corps c’est un ancien militaire grièvement blessé au combat et qui a été amputé. Ava ne le sait même pas. L’attirance au départ est même plutôt ténue. Blake trouve Ava capricieuse et fatigante ( elle peut vraiment l’être) et Ava le trouve grognon et peu ouvert ( elle n’a pas tort !). L’attaque contre Ava va les obliger à partager plus de temps ensemble et le roman prend vraiment son tempo alors.

L’histoire fonctionne alors à merveille avec une sorte de croisière inattendue sur les canaux britanniques dans le bateau qui sert de maison à Blake. C’est original et l’histoire qui va le sunir est simple, évidente pour des protagonistes actuels. Blake traine ses traumatismes, Ava gère ses relations difficiles avec sa mère. Ils ont leurs lots de problèmes et vont gérer leur attirance avec simplicité . C’est totalement évident, naturel et passionnant car ces personnages sont proches de nous et de nos réactions.

Le livre est également sexy bien-sûr. C’est vraiment une histoire délicieuse, émouvante aussi, qui n’e fait jamais trop. Amy Andrews est uen valeur sûre et vous pouvez la plupart du temps prendre ses livres sans vous poser de question. Cette Australienne a prouvé maintes fois qu’elle savait écrire ces petites romances modernes et sexy en diable que nous aimons aujourd’hui.

[Sincere]

Ava kelly is supermodel.Blake walker is carpenter?.
They shouldn't met but Ava wants her house decorated..so..

This novel starts at the last day Blake works for Ava
He's suppose to have vacation after this,long vacation,after spending three month put up with haughty-supermodel,Ava kelly. absolutely he supposed to have that vacation alone but that incident happens and Ava invites herself to his boat ,in to his personal space and that ruin all his peaceful vacation. Worse than that the chemistry between them is hard to resist...


4 stars

this two main character is super-cute :)
As supermodel Ava isn't used to any kind of ignorant but not with Blake.And that made her interest in him. Blake is ex-soldier . He has so many scarred inside that made him not open up to anyone.

I must emphasize that I absolutely love Ava, she's cute :), outside she seems to be haughty and self-absorb but inside she's very kind and caring.

when I read about 10% . while I know that Ava must be super-hot
I'm just curious that Blake is handsome or not .

and look likes he is (from the way that Ava describes him)

Blake Walker was a good looking man. Not in the cut, ripped, metrosexual way she was used to. More in a rugged, capable, tool-belt-wearing kind of way. The fact that Blake Walker either didn’t know it or didn’t care about it only added to his allure.

This couple makes interesting relationship , while Ava attract to Blake and tries to tempt him, he absolutely avoid Ava.

I love single-minded Ava ,anyway :)


She knew, in the way that women did, that he found her attractive. And it hadn’t been in the way he checked her out, rather in the way he’d avoided checking her out. Which was just as telling.

This is nice story to read
not too much angst or drama. Just sweet and nice romantic love story.
:)

[Cheryl M-M]

Fame and money come with a price attached.
The price is losing your privacy and the ability to walk around freely without a care in the world. If you’re famous every step you take is bound to end up in the press. A simple friendly gesture between two people can become the illicit affair of two lovebirds tomorrow.
The paparazzi just want to sell a story to make a quick buck, so they aren't that interested in the truth, facts or whether or not they destroy someone with their printed rumours.
The main female lead in this story suffers from her hyped–up media reputation as a difficult rich It girl, someone who gets who she wants or what she wants when she wants it. Everyone assumes that the media representation is true and that includes Blake, the man fitting her kitchen.
Blake comes with his own baggage and hang-ups, which don’t become apparent until Ava starts to get under his skin. She doesn't fit the image he has acquired of her via the media and he simply doesn't trust the different signals he is getting. His mind says no and his body says ‘right here, right now.’ These finicky internal battles can be a little tricky when your own body and gut are trying to outsmart your brain.
Who is the real Ava? Is she a poor little rich girl looking for love and affection? Or is she just a rich girl used to playing every trick in the book to get what she wants?
The answers to those questions become a secondary problem when the press get wind of a secret and start to hunt their targets like sharks drawn to chum in open waters. Then Blake has to decide whether it is mind over instinct where Ava is concerned.
I received a copy of this book courtesy of Harlequin UK and Mills&Boon.

[Ali Williams]

I’m the Chick Lit and Erotica reporter (read obsessive) for a feminist webzine, and so I‘m always really interested in how women are portrayed in romance novels (Modern Tempted heroines always being of the driven, sassy and awesome type). But it’s always good when someone challenges the archetypical male hero stereotype.

Amy Andrews does just this in The Most Expensive Night of Her Life. Her very alpha male hero (ex-army - *swoon*; rugged - *swoon*) is also an amputee. But more astonishing than her embracing of an alpha male hero who is different than what today’s society demands of the alpha male, is the fact that it’s not a big deal. Blake is who he is, and Andrews spends more time dealing with the emotional consequences of his injury than the injury itself...

http://exploitsofachicklitaficionado....

[Karen]

Review Posted on HarlequinJunkie.com

Blake Walker knows how to do a lot of things. He’s great at keeping a schedule, he’s a perfectionist when it comes to woodworking, and he has a bit of experience with flying bullets. Ava Kelly, supermodel and diva wasn’t something he’d planned to deal with when his renovation job was over. Read More

[June]

She's a well known model, he's a wounded warrior.

Blake has returned from the war to start a renovation company with his brother. One of his jobs is for a model whom he has no trouble ignoring until the night his job is over. Then circumstances and his need to protect bring them in close contact for a while, during which Ava is able to change his mind about her.

Full of sexual encounters, which brought my rating down, but story wise it was pretty good.

[Sharlene]

Ava, a top fashion model & Blake, a carpenter & ex-soldier have a temporary seclusion away from the paparazzi on his boat, as he is hiding her from a shooter. Needless to say, they get very close, but her reality sets back in when the shooter is caught. These 2 go back & forth, with Blake mostly fighting the love. This is a satisfying read with a great HEA!

[Harlequin Books]

"This emotional tribute to war veterans is quickly paced with the right balance of tender moments and passionate sparks between the heroine with trust issues and the hero wracked with guilt." RT Book Reviews, rated 4 1/2 stars

[Deborah D.]

A pretty interesting blend of characters and emotional baggage. I wish this had been written for the longer format novels...a lot of potential in this story.

Human vulnerabilities and adaptability and the importance of family support are strong themes.

[Saly]

Rating 3.5 stars

Enjoyed reading about a book in which the heroine was a bit spoiled and open to a fling while the hero was more reticent.

[Kelly Steel]

I loved the glamorous heroine- a model slumming it without throwing tantrums and then she starts the seduction of the hero!

Loved the story!

[Jeanie]

Interesting mix of characters

End seemed a bit rushed but sweet, entertaining story. Interesting mix of characters and glimpse into wounded warrior and high fashion. Loved the boat.

[M N]

The h's sexual manipulations were horrible, no means no both ways if the roles were reversed this would have been deemed problematic. She's just horrible and not redeemable in my eyes her personality is just crappy.

[Debbie]

The model and the Ex Soldier what more can we ask for. Forced proximity hes an injured soldier.

She's everyone's Darling living a glamorous life. Or is she.

Can these two work it out or will their lives tear them apart ?

Read this book to find out.

[Vanessa]

Love the interaction of the model n her former soldier now carpenter

[Lucy (why do I bother to read chicklit)]

Ava Kelly is beautiful AND famous. Blake Walker is beautiful, anonymous and an ex-soldier. No, he was not hired to protect her, but he works in design with his brother and his latest client is the supermodel in question.

She is beautiful but extremely high maintenance, spoiled and borderline rude. Yet, he is attracted to her somehow. This is the only part of the plot that I didn't really like, despite the efforts of the author to defend Ava's way, it is still not clear why she had to act the way she did in the beginning of the book.

Putting that aside, the twist is actually quite nice. There's been an attempt against her life and feeling safe in Blake's company she decides the best way to lay low is to spend some time with her anonymous employee. And there you have it.

The love story develops nicely with a few surprises on the way and an ending that could have been more exciting, despite being still romantic.

I liked it.

[Megan]

This was pretty sweet and I actually loved their chemistry and how well they clicked.

I don't know if I like Ava that much her character does a very sharp U-turn in her attitude and I'm not sure I really saw how she could be sweet behind closed doors when 3 minutes before she was being a snooty stuck up rich girl, it was just too quick. I think this book would have benefited from being longer and the author having a better length of book to explore her character and make it a bit more realistic for her to be one way in public and another in private.

[Heather]

Hahaha, this was not nearly as trashy as the title sounds. What an unfortunate title!

The story is actually quite charming and follows the famous person/everyday person-dealing-with-the-fame trope. Ava is a world-famous model who must hide out for a while after a gunman shoots at her in her home. She takes refuge with a retired soldier on his boat in the London Paddington canal. The title comes from her saying she'll donate $1M to his sister's charity if he'll let her stay with him.

Themes: forced proximity, hate to love, injured ex-soldier, London canals, model/fame

[Macy]

Sweet premise, but...Blake is a good guy who only wants to help his sister and those around him while dealing with his own issues both physical and mental. Ava is awful and used her looks and money to manipulate all around her to get her way with no thought to the mess she leaves in her wake. I could not at all connect with her and her disregard to any and all in not just her world, but he world/ Love this author, but this book just annoyed me. I listened to the audiobook and the narration was okay.

[Maqluba]

The change from the hero from being annoyed by her to wanting to sleep with her, and the change of the heroine from being a spoiled brat to being a normal person happened way too quickly. I didn't understand these characters at all, I just went along for the ride..