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Wide Awake: Awaken to Pleasure/Awaken the Senses/Craving Beauty
Awaken To Pleasure
Painful experience screamed that Taylor Reid should run far and fast from Jackson Santorini. But keeping custody of her brother meant becoming her former boss's bride. And giving Jackson a baby.
Despite his powerful size and presence, Jackson had been hurt before. Yet he'd protected her at a personal cost, respecting her virginal apprehension. Suddenly, for Jackson's sake, Taylor wanted to replace pain with pleasure. Only, she'd never imagined what sensations — and secrets — she would awaken...
Awaken The Senses
Charlotte Ashton had never belonged anywhere — until she met worldly Alexandre Dupree. The winemaker was consulting at her family's vineyard, and soon shy Charlotte had fallen completely under his spell. He seemed to know all her secret desires, all her dreams — as if he'd been put on earth just for her pleasure.
Alexandre seduced Charlotte in all the ways she had fantasised about. He'd read her secret journal and discovered the real Charlotte — the sensual lover, the generous woman, the vulnerable virgin. Was his crime so unforgivable when all he'd wanted was her love? Yet now to maintain her trust, he would have to continue to lie...
Craving Beauty
Marc was dangerous to her in the way that only a strong, sexy male could be to a woman. Even knowing that, Hira had agreed to marry him. Her mother had worried that he was scarred, but the lines on his face did nothing to lessen his raw masculine appeal. If anything, they gave him an even more dangerous male air, enticing the feminine core of her to thoughts that shocked her.
What did a man's face matter anyway? She had no use for handsome men. But for a man with a heart? For such a man, she might risk everything...
Painful experience screamed that Taylor Reid should run far and fast from Jackson Santorini. But keeping custody of her brother meant becoming her former boss's bride. And giving Jackson a baby.
Despite his powerful size and presence, Jackson had been hurt before. Yet he'd protected her at a personal cost, respecting her virginal apprehension. Suddenly, for Jackson's sake, Taylor wanted to replace pain with pleasure. Only, she'd never imagined what sensations — and secrets — she would awaken...
Awaken The Senses
Charlotte Ashton had never belonged anywhere — until she met worldly Alexandre Dupree. The winemaker was consulting at her family's vineyard, and soon shy Charlotte had fallen completely under his spell. He seemed to know all her secret desires, all her dreams — as if he'd been put on earth just for her pleasure.
Alexandre seduced Charlotte in all the ways she had fantasised about. He'd read her secret journal and discovered the real Charlotte — the sensual lover, the generous woman, the vulnerable virgin. Was his crime so unforgivable when all he'd wanted was her love? Yet now to maintain her trust, he would have to continue to lie...
Craving Beauty
Marc was dangerous to her in the way that only a strong, sexy male could be to a woman. Even knowing that, Hira had agreed to marry him. Her mother had worried that he was scarred, but the lines on his face did nothing to lessen his raw masculine appeal. If anything, they gave him an even more dangerous male air, enticing the feminine core of her to thoughts that shocked her.
What did a man's face matter anyway? She had no use for handsome men. But for a man with a heart? For such a man, she might risk everything...
Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2014
8 people are currently reading
498 people want to read
About the author
Nalini Singh
243 books26.6k followersI've been writing as long as I can remember and all of my stories always held a thread of romance (even when I was writing about a prince who could shoot lasers out of his eyes). I love creating unique characters, love giving them happy endings and I even love the voices in my head. There's no other job I would rather be doing. In September 2002, when I got the call that Silhouette Desire wanted to buy my first book, Desert Warrior, it was a dream come true. I hope to continue living the dream until I keel over of old age on my keyboard.
I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).
So far, I've worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer's mill.
I was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand. I also spent three years living and working in Japan, during which time I took the chance to travel around Asia. I’m back in New Zealand now, but I’m always plotting new trips. If you’d like to see some of my travel snapshots, have a look at the Travel Diary page (updated every month).
So far, I've worked as a lawyer, a librarian, a candy factory general hand, a bank temp and an English teacher and not necessarily in that order. Some might call that inconsistency but I call it grist for the writer's mill.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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August 20, 2014I love Nalini!
May 18, 2014
Wide awake: Taylor Reid would do anything for her little brother, especially when it concerns her step-father who wants sole custody of the little guy. Even if it means marrying her former boss.
Jackson Santorini has noticed taylor for a very long time but his own marriage has stopped him from acting. Now free he peruses her without restraint, even striking up a deal with her; marry him and all her problems with her step-father will disappear.
Both aren't without their painful pasts and find strength in each other facing difficulties that arise. Jackson was so gentle with taylor who was afraid of intimacy even though he wanted to claim her as his woman and taylor wanted to protect a man who she saw that had been hurt so deeply before.
This was a really sweet book about 2 hurt souls healing and helping each other and finding happiness in a place where they thought they could never feel it.
Awaken to pleasure: Charlotte Ashton is a woman who would rather attend her flowers then deal with men being painfully shy yet the sexy french man who is currently staying at her families estate
Alexandre Dupree has come to the Ashton estate to help oversee the new wine business, to give some helpful tips being a well known wine connoisseur and businessman. There he meets the very shy but beautiful Charlotte. he is immediately smitten and goes after her, a man who always gets what he wants but is stopped short by her guarded nature. A man who doesn't give up easily he finds her diary and reads her darkest secrets and desires. Wanting any upper hand he can get to woe the small beauty he uses it as a guide and she comes to him. But unknown to him his own feelings grow to where he enjoys his time with her and will do anything to be with her.
But she reveals something about her pasts and they go off to discover more secrets hidden in the past and a death in the family makes things more complicated.
The ending is a major cliffhanger t and i feel like it needs a 2nd story because i want to know what happens and i would like to read more about the french man discovering he has more of an animal side to him and the girl who is finding herself with the man she loves.
Craving Beauty: Hira Dazirah is from a rich family from a desert island called Zulheil and has been arranged to marry a man doing business with her father as a business deal. A woman suppressed she finds a way out, but was intrigued by this man the first time she met him, wishing for him to see past her physical beauty, the beauty that everyone else's sees to see the woman she is. To see Hira.
Marc Pierre Bordeaux is a self made man with physical and emotional scars. Seeing the beautiful woman at his new business partners home he immediately wants her as his. He agrees to marry her yet the moment they are wed problems arise from both parties all because of misconceptions and misunderstandings.
But slowly they start to learn about each other and through their desire they grow together and realize one isn't complete with out the other (a reoccurring theme in all three)
Overall i really liked all three stories, the strong protective male and their strong and capable female. Nalini Singh always writes amazing characters and if you a fan of any of her works you will like all three of these.
Jackson Santorini has noticed taylor for a very long time but his own marriage has stopped him from acting. Now free he peruses her without restraint, even striking up a deal with her; marry him and all her problems with her step-father will disappear.
Both aren't without their painful pasts and find strength in each other facing difficulties that arise. Jackson was so gentle with taylor who was afraid of intimacy even though he wanted to claim her as his woman and taylor wanted to protect a man who she saw that had been hurt so deeply before.
This was a really sweet book about 2 hurt souls healing and helping each other and finding happiness in a place where they thought they could never feel it.
Awaken to pleasure: Charlotte Ashton is a woman who would rather attend her flowers then deal with men being painfully shy yet the sexy french man who is currently staying at her families estate
Alexandre Dupree has come to the Ashton estate to help oversee the new wine business, to give some helpful tips being a well known wine connoisseur and businessman. There he meets the very shy but beautiful Charlotte. he is immediately smitten and goes after her, a man who always gets what he wants but is stopped short by her guarded nature. A man who doesn't give up easily he finds her diary and reads her darkest secrets and desires. Wanting any upper hand he can get to woe the small beauty he uses it as a guide and she comes to him. But unknown to him his own feelings grow to where he enjoys his time with her and will do anything to be with her.
But she reveals something about her pasts and they go off to discover more secrets hidden in the past and a death in the family makes things more complicated.
The ending is a major cliffhanger t and i feel like it needs a 2nd story because i want to know what happens and i would like to read more about the french man discovering he has more of an animal side to him and the girl who is finding herself with the man she loves.
Craving Beauty: Hira Dazirah is from a rich family from a desert island called Zulheil and has been arranged to marry a man doing business with her father as a business deal. A woman suppressed she finds a way out, but was intrigued by this man the first time she met him, wishing for him to see past her physical beauty, the beauty that everyone else's sees to see the woman she is. To see Hira.
Marc Pierre Bordeaux is a self made man with physical and emotional scars. Seeing the beautiful woman at his new business partners home he immediately wants her as his. He agrees to marry her yet the moment they are wed problems arise from both parties all because of misconceptions and misunderstandings.
But slowly they start to learn about each other and through their desire they grow together and realize one isn't complete with out the other (a reoccurring theme in all three)
Overall i really liked all three stories, the strong protective male and their strong and capable female. Nalini Singh always writes amazing characters and if you a fan of any of her works you will like all three of these.
February 25, 2024
Three short stories..
Absolutely fabulous!
A sister finds out her old boss wanted more when she has issues with her half brother’s father, but she gets more then she expected…
A florist and green keeper at a winery meets a French winery expert who has been asked to give this winery some advice to increase their market share..
A protected daughter was married to a business partner of her father.. but she had already decided he was hers!
Absolutely fabulous!
A sister finds out her old boss wanted more when she has issues with her half brother’s father, but she gets more then she expected…
A florist and green keeper at a winery meets a French winery expert who has been asked to give this winery some advice to increase their market share..
A protected daughter was married to a business partner of her father.. but she had already decided he was hers!
April 8, 2014
I know these are early books by Nalini Singh, but there is no doubt, whatever the genre, she is a master of words and her characters live and grow and their lives matter.
I enjoyed these books and as I wait for the next of the Psy Changeling series to arrive, they helped.
I enjoyed these books and as I wait for the next of the Psy Changeling series to arrive, they helped.
October 31, 2022
Re-read Oct 2022
Book 1 - Awaken to pleasure
3.5 stars ⭐️
Book 2 - Awaken the senses
3 stars ⭐️
Wouldn’t re-read this one.
The romance was okay, characters okay too.
There were quite a few loose ends at the end of the book too.
Book 3 - Craving Beauty
4 stars ⭐️
Book 1 - Awaken to pleasure
3.5 stars ⭐️
Book 2 - Awaken the senses
3 stars ⭐️
Wouldn’t re-read this one.
The romance was okay, characters okay too.
There were quite a few loose ends at the end of the book too.
Book 3 - Craving Beauty
4 stars ⭐️
February 25, 2016
Hot and sexy short stories. Would have liked more to the plot of each one and I felt the writing was a little 'young'. I am an avid fan of Nalini but this book didn't keep me enthralled.
Read
April 26, 2025read paperback edition isbn 9781488756795
August 22, 2016
Not terribly engaging and repetitive
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews