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Мики Дюран винаги е бягала от светлините на прожекторите. Като незаконна дъщеря на звезда от френското кино и руски милиардер, тя жадува за нормален живот. И почти го постига. Има нормална работа и перфектен мъж до себе си. Какво повече би могла да иска една жена?...
Но неочаквана трагедия преобръща живота ѝ и тя трябва да замени слънчевия Лос Анджелис с космополитния Санкт Петербург. Съдбата на меджународния бизнес на баща ѝ е в нейните ръце, когато тя се сблъсква с фатално изкушение: самонадеяният Жером Мишел дьо Вилие. Горещото привличане помежду им бързо избуява във всепоглъщащ огън.
Мики е особено предпазлива и знае, че ще е рисковано да се влюби във френския плейбой. Но за първи път в живота си, тя е готова да рискува и да се остави в ръцете на съдбата.
Но неочаквана трагедия преобръща живота ѝ и тя трябва да замени слънчевия Лос Анджелис с космополитния Санкт Петербург. Съдбата на меджународния бизнес на баща ѝ е в нейните ръце, когато тя се сблъсква с фатално изкушение: самонадеяният Жером Мишел дьо Вилие. Горещото привличане помежду им бързо избуява във всепоглъщащ огън.
Мики е особено предпазлива и знае, че ще е рисковано да се влюби във френския плейбой. Но за първи път в живота си, тя е готова да рискува и да се остави в ръцете на съдбата.
334 pages, Paperback
First published December 2, 2014
34 people are currently reading
766 people want to read
About the author
Megan Mulry
14 books206 followersMegan Mulry writes sexy, stylish, romantic fiction. Her first book, A Royal Pain, was an NPR Best Book of 2012 and USA Today bestseller. Before discovering her passion for romance novels, she worked in publishing and finance in New York and London. She now lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
January 17, 2021
(Realistic rating: I will begrudgingly give this a 1.5 stars, because of all the side characters whose hinted-at backstories were MILES more interesting than what was actually going on on the page. But very, VERY begrudgingly.)
Oh boy, why the fuck did I think giving Megan Mulry another chance was a good idea?? Why??? This book is -- and I do not say this lightly -- worse than the other two. Not quite by orders of magnitude, but it's not even close. It's utterly pointless, unsympathetic, terrible drivel. Just garbage all around. I am not exaggerating in any way; this book SUUUUCKS.
First and foremost: these characters are fucking carboard cutouts of people. Miki barely has any personality and Rome has none at all -- IS he a shallow playboy or is he secretly deep and sensitive?? The story can't decide, so I have no idea either, which means I have no investment in him! There are also roughly a million side characters, all of whose lives are roughly a million times more interesting than Miki's (and whose love stories sure seem a lot more engaging than Miki's!!). There's nowhere near enough space to adequately develop any of the interactions hinted at on the page.
Second: how the fuck am I meant to have any investment at all in this relationship?? They are together for ONE GODDAMN DAY and then spend barely any time together on page after that!! Just brief conversations and stolen moments and next to no actual... connection? Learning things about one another? Sharing aspects of themselves and discovering their compatibility?? (Also, MIKI SLEEPS WITH HIM WHILE PLANNING ON MOVING IN WITH HER BOYFRIEND, THEN GETS INTENSELY SELF-RIGHTEOUS ABOUT HIM, LIKE, TALKING TO HER WHILE ENGAGED. LIKE.... ??? ???? ?????? GOD WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING.) I have literally no idea what draws them to each other or why they would work well together past the physical attraction, and Miki is so fucking boring that even that seems unrealistic for International Playboy Jerome.
Third: what even fucking happened in this book, other than a WHOLE LOT of self-indulgent Rich People Nonsense?? Miki leaves one comfortable privileged life and embraces another (and we honestly see absolutely nothing that qualifies her for either of them, apart from obvious nepotism), and then she just gallivants around Europe spending tons of money and wafting around the lavish homes of her equally rich friends?? It's not even, like, FUN wish fulfillment, it's just completely blatant Indulgence Porn and it's absolutely absurd. There are almost no interesting threads of relationship or plot involved in any part of this, and it makes an already flat story fucking one-dimensional.
Uh, anyway, have I been scathing and dismissive enough?? tl;dr -- book bad, don't read. I am officially giving up on Megan Mulry forever. NEVER AGAIN.
Oh boy, why the fuck did I think giving Megan Mulry another chance was a good idea?? Why??? This book is -- and I do not say this lightly -- worse than the other two. Not quite by orders of magnitude, but it's not even close. It's utterly pointless, unsympathetic, terrible drivel. Just garbage all around. I am not exaggerating in any way; this book SUUUUCKS.
First and foremost: these characters are fucking carboard cutouts of people. Miki barely has any personality and Rome has none at all -- IS he a shallow playboy or is he secretly deep and sensitive?? The story can't decide, so I have no idea either, which means I have no investment in him! There are also roughly a million side characters, all of whose lives are roughly a million times more interesting than Miki's (and whose love stories sure seem a lot more engaging than Miki's!!). There's nowhere near enough space to adequately develop any of the interactions hinted at on the page.
Second: how the fuck am I meant to have any investment at all in this relationship?? They are together for ONE GODDAMN DAY and then spend barely any time together on page after that!! Just brief conversations and stolen moments and next to no actual... connection? Learning things about one another? Sharing aspects of themselves and discovering their compatibility?? (Also, MIKI SLEEPS WITH HIM WHILE PLANNING ON MOVING IN WITH HER BOYFRIEND, THEN GETS INTENSELY SELF-RIGHTEOUS ABOUT HIM, LIKE, TALKING TO HER WHILE ENGAGED. LIKE.... ??? ???? ?????? GOD WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING.) I have literally no idea what draws them to each other or why they would work well together past the physical attraction, and Miki is so fucking boring that even that seems unrealistic for International Playboy Jerome.
Third: what even fucking happened in this book, other than a WHOLE LOT of self-indulgent Rich People Nonsense?? Miki leaves one comfortable privileged life and embraces another (and we honestly see absolutely nothing that qualifies her for either of them, apart from obvious nepotism), and then she just gallivants around Europe spending tons of money and wafting around the lavish homes of her equally rich friends?? It's not even, like, FUN wish fulfillment, it's just completely blatant Indulgence Porn and it's absolutely absurd. There are almost no interesting threads of relationship or plot involved in any part of this, and it makes an already flat story fucking one-dimensional.
Uh, anyway, have I been scathing and dismissive enough?? tl;dr -- book bad, don't read. I am officially giving up on Megan Mulry forever. NEVER AGAIN.
December 1, 2014
I love the old Harlequin Presents romances I pick up at thrift shops and used bookstores, mainly out in the hinterlands of Virginia: their heroine-centric perspectives, island and glamorous European settings, strong heroes who read like real people. But they are often just the slightest bit dissatisfying. Some endings seem rushed. The hero falls heads over heels in love and declares himself on practically the last page. Sometimes the heroine will leave her job or her family for a guy she's known for three weeks. And while I love the sexual tension in them, I have often wished for a bit more physicality than just a couple of kisses. So when I read Roulette by Megan Mulry, I was pleasantly surprised to find all the things I love about my old HPs, but made current and with the heat turned up.
Miki Durand has a very balanced, normal life at the beginning of the story. She has a stable job at which she excels, a steady boyfriend who wants them to move in together, an affordable, reasonable home in a nice neighborhood, friends who love her and two parents. Miki's parents are not especially stable, having never married and both lived lives on two different sorts of edges, prompting Miki to take the safe route in all her choices. Miki's father is a Russian businessman and her mother a French actress. At the opening of the novel, Miki's father is eager for her to take over the family business, but he dies shortly after her arrival for vacation in Russia, precipitating a series of events that have the potential to change Miki's life forever.
Rome de Villiers is a French businessman. His first two scenes in the book are utter perfection, first in a confrontational phone call with Miki about business dealings he'd had with her father and then again when they finally meet in person. The book is written in first person, present tense from Miki's perspective. This convention annoys me when it isn't done well, but here it is and it's essential to the story. Not having Rome's thoughts makes him even more delectable and even more desirable than your typical brilliant, sexy, billionaire playboy with a French accent. The mystery of not knowing what he's thinking really works in his favor, which it doesn't always in old HPs. And we get where he's coming from when it counts: namely, in his feelings for and actions toward Miki.
At no point does this story take a turn for the predictable. The romance genre conventions Roulette employs all get resolved in subtly unpredictable ways. There's a Russian mobster to be suspicious of for much of the novel who doesn't turn out to be who he seems. There's an "evil other woman" who isn't evil or, really, an "other woman". The heroine being the one goaded into taking over the reins of the family business instead of the hero was also a fresh take. Even Miki's wild, confident, brazen mother isn't exactly who we think she is. The typical scripts don't apply here and it's wonderful to watch all the characters, even secondary ones who probably won't be getting a book, develop from archetypes into people.
I thought Roulette was terrific, but there are a couple points I'll address because they'll hit some readers' hot buttons. For one thing, the hero and heroine spend a great deal of time apart. While sometimes this will cause my attention to wander, being inside Miki's head and preoccupied with business problems kept me engaged. The context of work at a grand, international scale is something Mulry has done well previously and it's a strength again in Roulette. In addition, there is cheating; it's not spouses, but it may still be a deal-breaker for some readers. It was a bold choice on Mulry's part and it works in the context of the book, highlighting not just the immediate attraction between Miki and Rome, but everything Miki has missed and lost by adhering strictly to the safest of societal conventions when she's capable of so much more.
It's that final point that I think made this Mulry's strongest work to date. Even in a world where women have many more choices and opportunities than they did in the old 1970s Harlequins, many of us still feel like we've settled: given up careers for children and home or taken less money in exchange for flexibility. For highly educated women built to excel and trained to succeed at the highest levels, some social conditioning still operates: be strong, but be polite; work hard, but take care of your family; be a leader, but be restrained. Miki has a good life at the beginning of the book, but by the end, not only does she have her dream guy, she's affected her own life transformation from good to great. And we can't help but cheer her on.
For a recipe inspired by Roulette, visit Cooking Up Romance: http://www.cooking-up-romance.com/201...
Miki Durand has a very balanced, normal life at the beginning of the story. She has a stable job at which she excels, a steady boyfriend who wants them to move in together, an affordable, reasonable home in a nice neighborhood, friends who love her and two parents. Miki's parents are not especially stable, having never married and both lived lives on two different sorts of edges, prompting Miki to take the safe route in all her choices. Miki's father is a Russian businessman and her mother a French actress. At the opening of the novel, Miki's father is eager for her to take over the family business, but he dies shortly after her arrival for vacation in Russia, precipitating a series of events that have the potential to change Miki's life forever.
Rome de Villiers is a French businessman. His first two scenes in the book are utter perfection, first in a confrontational phone call with Miki about business dealings he'd had with her father and then again when they finally meet in person. The book is written in first person, present tense from Miki's perspective. This convention annoys me when it isn't done well, but here it is and it's essential to the story. Not having Rome's thoughts makes him even more delectable and even more desirable than your typical brilliant, sexy, billionaire playboy with a French accent. The mystery of not knowing what he's thinking really works in his favor, which it doesn't always in old HPs. And we get where he's coming from when it counts: namely, in his feelings for and actions toward Miki.
At no point does this story take a turn for the predictable. The romance genre conventions Roulette employs all get resolved in subtly unpredictable ways. There's a Russian mobster to be suspicious of for much of the novel who doesn't turn out to be who he seems. There's an "evil other woman" who isn't evil or, really, an "other woman". The heroine being the one goaded into taking over the reins of the family business instead of the hero was also a fresh take. Even Miki's wild, confident, brazen mother isn't exactly who we think she is. The typical scripts don't apply here and it's wonderful to watch all the characters, even secondary ones who probably won't be getting a book, develop from archetypes into people.
I thought Roulette was terrific, but there are a couple points I'll address because they'll hit some readers' hot buttons. For one thing, the hero and heroine spend a great deal of time apart. While sometimes this will cause my attention to wander, being inside Miki's head and preoccupied with business problems kept me engaged. The context of work at a grand, international scale is something Mulry has done well previously and it's a strength again in Roulette. In addition, there is cheating; it's not spouses, but it may still be a deal-breaker for some readers. It was a bold choice on Mulry's part and it works in the context of the book, highlighting not just the immediate attraction between Miki and Rome, but everything Miki has missed and lost by adhering strictly to the safest of societal conventions when she's capable of so much more.
It's that final point that I think made this Mulry's strongest work to date. Even in a world where women have many more choices and opportunities than they did in the old 1970s Harlequins, many of us still feel like we've settled: given up careers for children and home or taken less money in exchange for flexibility. For highly educated women built to excel and trained to succeed at the highest levels, some social conditioning still operates: be strong, but be polite; work hard, but take care of your family; be a leader, but be restrained. Miki has a good life at the beginning of the book, but by the end, not only does she have her dream guy, she's affected her own life transformation from good to great. And we can't help but cheer her on.
For a recipe inspired by Roulette, visit Cooking Up Romance: http://www.cooking-up-romance.com/201...
March 31, 2015
This fun, sexy, globetrotting romance is the story of Miki and Rome. When Miki inherits her mostly absent Russian father's paper company in his home city of St. Petersburg, it puts a kink in her life plan of tenure track teaching at her American university, with hopes of a stable marriage and the statistically appropriate 2.4 kids enroute. Meeting the enigmatic French playboy Rome, a man who is interested in doing business with her company (and her) further throws her life into disarray. With her future on the line, will she throw caution to the winds and let Rome show her what she's been missing?
In thinking of what to write for this review several words popped into mind - panache, flair, wit, intelligence. These all describe this fascinating and delightful story. The settings are luxurious - from stately ancestral Russia to glamorous French locales and Venice in all its glory. It's no wonder Miki's American boyfriends have paled in the face of European style. The characters are a mix of flamboyant, charming, and precocious types, secondary players making the story richer for their diversity. Miki herself is a wonderfully nuanced woman, with an inner strength just waiting to be unleashed as she finds her passion in her father's business and in Rome's arms. Rome too is an engaging character, charming, seductive and all too aware of his effect on the opposite sex. The sexual tension between them leads to sweet and intense love scenes. Convincing Miki that he's falling for her is a daunting task when she is faced with the evidence of his playboy ways. But as they cross the continent and meet in unexpected places, the ties between them only become stronger.
From beginning to end I was hooked on this story, eagerly awaiting the next chapter, captivated by the romance of the story and idyllic locales, and thoroughly entertained. 5 stars!
In thinking of what to write for this review several words popped into mind - panache, flair, wit, intelligence. These all describe this fascinating and delightful story. The settings are luxurious - from stately ancestral Russia to glamorous French locales and Venice in all its glory. It's no wonder Miki's American boyfriends have paled in the face of European style. The characters are a mix of flamboyant, charming, and precocious types, secondary players making the story richer for their diversity. Miki herself is a wonderfully nuanced woman, with an inner strength just waiting to be unleashed as she finds her passion in her father's business and in Rome's arms. Rome too is an engaging character, charming, seductive and all too aware of his effect on the opposite sex. The sexual tension between them leads to sweet and intense love scenes. Convincing Miki that he's falling for her is a daunting task when she is faced with the evidence of his playboy ways. But as they cross the continent and meet in unexpected places, the ties between them only become stronger.
From beginning to end I was hooked on this story, eagerly awaiting the next chapter, captivated by the romance of the story and idyllic locales, and thoroughly entertained. 5 stars!
Did not finish
February 7, 2017Wow, this book has a lot of great reviews. Hm.
I will admit, my bar is high this year. There are a lot of great books I've never read, and my time is precious. And my bar is (admittedly) higher for romance than for some other genres, because my expectations are high and I am very familiar with the genre.
So I have to say--I don't get the strong reviews. Mary Sue meets Gary Stu. Forty-five seconds of conflict and then she realizes what she really needs in her life is a French billionaire named Rome.
Except maybe not really! There are 200 pages left after the grrrrrrreat sex...
I'll admit...I have a hard spot for heroines who are sooooooo smart and sooooo beautiful and on tenure track at I don't even remember, some CA university at age 30. And effortlessly skinny and business savants! But so insecure! Bad with people! (So beautiful, so smart, smells delicious to sparkly vampires, but trips a lot...)
Maybe that was the problem...the heroine read like a NA/YA heroine in maturity, but was supposed to be tenure track at Stanford (or whatever...obviously not something she had actually worked for, since she discards it so blithely, so why should I care?). I can engage with NA/YA--and trust me, I remember the angst of adolescence and early adulthood--but it is irritating in 30-year-old heroines.
Final word: I resent the hour lost that I spent on this book's first 20%.
I will admit, my bar is high this year. There are a lot of great books I've never read, and my time is precious. And my bar is (admittedly) higher for romance than for some other genres, because my expectations are high and I am very familiar with the genre.
So I have to say--I don't get the strong reviews. Mary Sue meets Gary Stu. Forty-five seconds of conflict and then she realizes what she really needs in her life is a French billionaire named Rome.
Except maybe not really! There are 200 pages left after the grrrrrrreat sex...
I'll admit...I have a hard spot for heroines who are sooooooo smart and sooooo beautiful and on tenure track at I don't even remember, some CA university at age 30. And effortlessly skinny and business savants! But so insecure! Bad with people! (So beautiful, so smart, smells delicious to sparkly vampires, but trips a lot...)
Maybe that was the problem...the heroine read like a NA/YA heroine in maturity, but was supposed to be tenure track at Stanford (or whatever...obviously not something she had actually worked for, since she discards it so blithely, so why should I care?). I can engage with NA/YA--and trust me, I remember the angst of adolescence and early adulthood--but it is irritating in 30-year-old heroines.
Final word: I resent the hour lost that I spent on this book's first 20%.
February 13, 2015
Generally really like Megan Mulry (especially Unruly Royals) ... But really HATED this one. The choppy , first-person narration was difficult and amateurish. It didn't provide any real depth to the scenes or characters. For as yummy as I wanted to envision Rome, I couldn't get a full picture of him or his character or what he was experiencing. And, for being a hero, his presence was only in three scenes. This book had all the chracters and plot devices (Russian mafia, corporate takeovers, sizzling billionaire lifestyles) to make this a great read but it fell flat FAST. And you'd think this book would involve some casinos or high risk ventures or Russian roulette even ... Nope. Nada.
December 10, 2014
I rarely rate an audiobook as perfect but then I rarely enjoy one as much as I did Roulette. This book sparkles with wit and and a delightful sense of joie de vivre. Serious and super responsible American executive is gobsmacked by billionaire French industrialist. There's enough angst to make finding their HEA worthwhile, but for the most part Roulette is just plain fun.
I've never experienced narrator Neva Navarre but she nails it in voicing Mulry's characters. Bravo!
I've never experienced narrator Neva Navarre but she nails it in voicing Mulry's characters. Bravo!
March 10, 2015
This book is light on the romance. It delves more into Miki's life/situations including lots of her business deals. Didn’t care for the business part of the book but did like the alluring European settings. The places sounded beautiful. Wish I was there!
November 19, 2017
Posted on What I'm Reading
I did not even complete this book. I got up to Chapter 7, and basically clapped my hands and said I'm done. I would have liked to said that it wasn't bad, but then again, I didn't even finished. I had a problem with Miki. I can tolerate a lot, but she was supposed to be a 30 year about to get 10 year at the university she was working. Yet, she read more like an early 20 year old finished with college trying to figure out what to do next. Yeah, not cutting it. I probably would have cut it a little longer had she not cheated on her boyfriend who just asked her to move in. Seriously, she had to talk herself into saying yes. Miki should said no and broke it off. Yet here she is in Russia, and a hot French playboy and she decides to say, "What happens in Russia stays in Russia." Cheating is never the answer. I couldn't hang anymore after that, so I stopped.
Since this was an audiobook, I was listening to Neva Navarre who wasn't bad, but I didn't like Roulette. I think she would do a pretty good job with younger heroines, I might give the Neva a try on another story.
Since I'm in the minority on disliking Roulette, it didn't work for me. Others loved this story, but I'm wasn't a fan of Miki to beginning with. Sleeping with another guy, because he was hot and a one time thing. Yeah, I'm all for getting out a relationship before sleeping with some else. This is where I stand on this story.
I did not even complete this book. I got up to Chapter 7, and basically clapped my hands and said I'm done. I would have liked to said that it wasn't bad, but then again, I didn't even finished. I had a problem with Miki. I can tolerate a lot, but she was supposed to be a 30 year about to get 10 year at the university she was working. Yet, she read more like an early 20 year old finished with college trying to figure out what to do next. Yeah, not cutting it. I probably would have cut it a little longer had she not cheated on her boyfriend who just asked her to move in. Seriously, she had to talk herself into saying yes. Miki should said no and broke it off. Yet here she is in Russia, and a hot French playboy and she decides to say, "What happens in Russia stays in Russia." Cheating is never the answer. I couldn't hang anymore after that, so I stopped.
Since this was an audiobook, I was listening to Neva Navarre who wasn't bad, but I didn't like Roulette. I think she would do a pretty good job with younger heroines, I might give the Neva a try on another story.
Since I'm in the minority on disliking Roulette, it didn't work for me. Others loved this story, but I'm wasn't a fan of Miki to beginning with. Sleeping with another guy, because he was hot and a one time thing. Yeah, I'm all for getting out a relationship before sleeping with some else. This is where I stand on this story.
December 3, 2014
Miki Durand is happy with her life, or so she thinks. After all she's up for tenure and her long term boyfriend might propose, bringing her one step closer to the settled life she wants. like her turbulent childhood and wild parents. However there are little seeds of discontent and when things don't go as planned, Miki has a chance to change things.
I really liked Miki. She's made a good life for herself and accepted the things she can't change. I love that she's intelligent even if she's trying too hard to fit into what she thinks she wants. While I liked the fact she and Jérôme aka Rome had amazing chemistry, I didn't like the fact she was in a committed relationship when they first became intimate. Nor did I like it when Rome was intimate with Miki when for all purposes he was engaged. Otherwise, I really liked Rome too. He's intelligent, driven, hard working, and generous to those he cares for.
The story is fast paced and there were moments when I was emotional. There were moments that made me smile and some that made me laugh. There were moments when I was angry too. I really enjoyed seeing Miki find what really made her happy. I loved getting to see so much of Europe. I do hope Megan will write more about some of the characters I met, because I would love to read more about them!
I really liked Miki. She's made a good life for herself and accepted the things she can't change. I love that she's intelligent even if she's trying too hard to fit into what she thinks she wants. While I liked the fact she and Jérôme aka Rome had amazing chemistry, I didn't like the fact she was in a committed relationship when they first became intimate. Nor did I like it when Rome was intimate with Miki when for all purposes he was engaged. Otherwise, I really liked Rome too. He's intelligent, driven, hard working, and generous to those he cares for.
The story is fast paced and there were moments when I was emotional. There were moments that made me smile and some that made me laugh. There were moments when I was angry too. I really enjoyed seeing Miki find what really made her happy. I loved getting to see so much of Europe. I do hope Megan will write more about some of the characters I met, because I would love to read more about them!
October 21, 2014
Oh, oh, my excitement over Miki's character knows absolutely no bounds. She is exactly what we need more of in terms of heroines - she's strong, independent and self-assured. She knows she's got it good, and that she doesn't need any guy to make her life complete. The fact that she desperately wants Rome does nothing to take away from her stunning independence. I honestly wanted to stand up and clap when she tells Landon to go take a hike over his "full package" comment. For the first time since Hunger Games and Harry Potter, the girl stole the scene entirely from the love interest/guy, and it was glorious.
I also loved how she just sort of went around making friends with everyone, even - and maybe especially so - if they initially seemed quite scary; even Pavel.
As for Rome, I don't know. I mean, he was dreamy all right, and damn him and his smooth, sexy French accent to hell. But the way he reacted to some things I think maybe deserved an explanation. Which is really why it's a 4.5/5: I felt some point could have been explored in a little more detail; and, even though the ending was slightly predictable, it worked - it really, really worked.
Definitely give this a read, if you're sick and tired of all the Christmas-themed books!
Roulette is out December 2nd.
I also loved how she just sort of went around making friends with everyone, even - and maybe especially so - if they initially seemed quite scary; even Pavel.
As for Rome, I don't know. I mean, he was dreamy all right, and damn him and his smooth, sexy French accent to hell. But the way he reacted to some things I think maybe deserved an explanation. Which is really why it's a 4.5/5: I felt some point could have been explored in a little more detail; and, even though the ending was slightly predictable, it worked - it really, really worked.
Definitely give this a read, if you're sick and tired of all the Christmas-themed books!
Roulette is out December 2nd.
March 8, 2015
I didn't know what to expect with this book. I had read & loved Megan's Unruly Royals series, but this cover was a little different. It ended up being one of those books that gave me a book hangover - I didn't want to start a new book right away! I wasn't sure if it would have a happy ending or which guy it would be with. There was an immediate connection between the characters, both intellectually and sexually, but it ended up being a one night stand. The story was told by Miki, the heroine, in the first person, and she was so hung up on Rome that she couldn't continue a 2 year relationship (no loss for her in that area!) and she couldn't forget Rome. The few scenes in which he comes back in the picture, you can feel his longing as well. There are a lot of excellent side characters, Miki's mother & uncle and Rome's cousins. Overall, a very satisfying romance, with a great epilogue,too! Additionally, the descriptions of the various locations in Europe make you want to go there!
December 7, 2014
I absolutely adored this book. Megan writes fantastic characters, people you'd actually want to know and be friends with in real life. Despite the glamourous lives they lead, I felt a real connection to both Miki and Rome. But Megan also creates the best supporting cast of characters. Vivian especially won my heart. These supporting characters are never just background. They're rich, and fully developed personalities that leave you wanting to know more about them.
And let's be honest, it would be hard to find someone to make you swoon harder than Rome. The relationship between Miki and Rome is everything I love about romance novels. While there are many times the story could have dipped into cliched tropes, it never does. It was fresh and exciting at every turn.
And let's be honest, it would be hard to find someone to make you swoon harder than Rome. The relationship between Miki and Rome is everything I love about romance novels. While there are many times the story could have dipped into cliched tropes, it never does. It was fresh and exciting at every turn.
April 17, 2015
Roulette is like life: unpredictable, slow and atmospheric at times, plunging us into a warm restaurant in Saint Petersburg or the quiet night of a villa in Provence. At other times, the pace picks up and everything collides: life stories, business, pleasure, gossip, love ...
I loved following Miki and Rome's journey, and give Roulette 5 stars!
I loved following Miki and Rome's journey, and give Roulette 5 stars!
September 28, 2014
Such a sweeping, dreamy, glamorous book! I loved the romance of this - of St. Petersburg, Paris and Provence, of the perfect wines and al fresco meals, the exclusive art, and the romantic, steamy sex. Megan has created a book boyfriend to die for and a lovely story to immerse in.
November 28, 2014
Riveting, Sexy, Romantic Page Turning Read! I Loved It!
May 30, 2022
Miki Duran is a college professor whose father sadly died and left her a paper empire. She has to now uproot her life from sunny California and rethink all of her decisions while moving to cold Russia.
There she meets a business partner of her father, the alluring frenchman Rome, whose charming persona sweeps her off her feet.
What was supposed to be just a few days of simple fun soon turns into a passionate affair that ends up in a happy ever after.
This is my first Megan Murly book and probably would have been the last had I not bought more along this one :D
I sort of liked the story but the writing and the plot scenes were just not it.
The first thing I want to say is that I bought this book thinking it was a romance novel and it was at the end but the rest of the book was just a mess :D The two characters met, and slept with each other for two days which I guess was enough time to fall in love, and then for the rest 70 % of the book we have Miki running around living her life in Europe and Rome.... just not there.
There was no character development or real drama either, just some sex and a lot of shopping and meaningless conversations in between.
I will say I think the book has potential and could definitely been better, it wasn't the worst though either but so I give it 3 stars.
There she meets a business partner of her father, the alluring frenchman Rome, whose charming persona sweeps her off her feet.
What was supposed to be just a few days of simple fun soon turns into a passionate affair that ends up in a happy ever after.
This is my first Megan Murly book and probably would have been the last had I not bought more along this one :D
I sort of liked the story but the writing and the plot scenes were just not it.
The first thing I want to say is that I bought this book thinking it was a romance novel and it was at the end but the rest of the book was just a mess :D The two characters met, and slept with each other for two days which I guess was enough time to fall in love, and then for the rest 70 % of the book we have Miki running around living her life in Europe and Rome.... just not there.
There was no character development or real drama either, just some sex and a lot of shopping and meaningless conversations in between.
I will say I think the book has potential and could definitely been better, it wasn't the worst though either but so I give it 3 stars.
November 16, 2021
Много ми хареса тази книга.
На пръв поглед обикновен съвременен роман, но с по-интересна и по-необикновена история.
Блясък, ум, интересни персонажи, увлекателен сюжет.
Мики Дюран има съвсем обикновен, балансиран и уравновесен живот.
Тя е доктор по статистика, обичаща да кара сърф в Калифорния, сгодена за обещаващ млад хирург. С разчертано време и също толнова разчертан живот.
Тя е умно момиче, на път да получи постоянно място в университета.
Сериозна, красива, уверена. Заземена. С предначертан живот, ясни цели и мечти.
Дъщеря на известна и ексцентрична холивудска актриса-Мики е всичко друго, но не и бляскава.
Тя винаги действа по план.
Но животът й се обръща на опаки, когато среща френския бизнесмен и любимец на таблоидите Ром дьо Вилие.
Събира ги Санк Петербург. И една империя която Мики трябва да покори след смъртта на баща си-виден руски бизнесмен.
И всичко се преобръща.
Точно като руска рулетка. Като бърз, непредвидим риск. Като среща която не си очаквал, но която променя животът ти. С едно щракване на пръстите или с едно горещо кафе, донесено от красив непознат в офиса.
Романът е свеж, не е захаросан. Не е предвидим, и точно това ми допадна.
Историята е готина. Героите са интригуващи. Ром е на пръв поглед обичайния арогантен и уверен богаташ, чийто лъскав имидж далеч не е всичко, което този мъж представлява.
Той непредсказуем, първичен, но добряк,чувствителен,елегантен,загадъчен, лоялен и разбира се умопомрачително красив.
Страничните сюжетни линии и второстопенните герои също са интересни.
Чела бях само един роман на Мегън Мърли преди това и си спомням, че едва го дочетох.
Този обаче страшно много ми хареса. Препоръчвам! Има много противоречиви оценки тук, аз съм давам висока(която много, ама много рядко давам). За мен напълно заслужена.
Хубава история, разтоварваща и по-необикновена.
"Руска рулетка" - няма по-подходящо заглавие.
На пръв поглед обикновен съвременен роман, но с по-интересна и по-необикновена история.
Блясък, ум, интересни персонажи, увлекателен сюжет.
Мики Дюран има съвсем обикновен, балансиран и уравновесен живот.
Тя е доктор по статистика, обичаща да кара сърф в Калифорния, сгодена за обещаващ млад хирург. С разчертано време и също толнова разчертан живот.
Тя е умно момиче, на път да получи постоянно място в университета.
Сериозна, красива, уверена. Заземена. С предначертан живот, ясни цели и мечти.
Дъщеря на известна и ексцентрична холивудска актриса-Мики е всичко друго, но не и бляскава.
Тя винаги действа по план.
Но животът й се обръща на опаки, когато среща френския бизнесмен и любимец на таблоидите Ром дьо Вилие.
Събира ги Санк Петербург. И една империя която Мики трябва да покори след смъртта на баща си-виден руски бизнесмен.
И всичко се преобръща.
Точно като руска рулетка. Като бърз, непредвидим риск. Като среща която не си очаквал, но която променя животът ти. С едно щракване на пръстите или с едно горещо кафе, донесено от красив непознат в офиса.
Романът е свеж, не е захаросан. Не е предвидим, и точно това ми допадна.
Историята е готина. Героите са интригуващи. Ром е на пръв поглед обичайния арогантен и уверен богаташ, чийто лъскав имидж далеч не е всичко, което този мъж представлява.
Той непредсказуем, първичен, но добряк,чувствителен,елегантен,загадъчен, лоялен и разбира се умопомрачително красив.
Страничните сюжетни линии и второстопенните герои също са интересни.
Чела бях само един роман на Мегън Мърли преди това и си спомням, че едва го дочетох.
Този обаче страшно много ми хареса. Препоръчвам! Има много противоречиви оценки тук, аз съм давам висока(която много, ама много рядко давам). За мен напълно заслужена.
Хубава история, разтоварваща и по-необикновена.
"Руска рулетка" - няма по-подходящо заглавие.
July 9, 2017
It took me a bit to get into the writing style of the author but once I did I really liked it. It's a complicated story with a lot of characters- but I never felt lost. We get to watch the heroine reinvent herself several times. And the hero was great.
February 21, 2018
This book flip-flopped between a one and a three. I didn't like the main character's relationship with her love interest and the unapologetic infidelity was unnerving. But... I liked the European setting and certain chapters sucked me in.
January 12, 2020
One of my fave authors who has AMAZING writing called this "smartly written" and idk what she was smoking. It had that really sparse, telling-not-showing style of writing that's so emotionless, and I knew this was gonna be a dnf from the way the major event at the beginning was handled.
February 20, 2017
I love it.
December 31, 2017
Actual Rating: 2.5 Stars
May 15, 2020
Red
Information: The Red System wants to take advantage of the fact that the third column of the roulette table has eight red numbers and only four black fields. So you can cover a whole 26 numbers with a bet on black and a bet on the third column and thus two more than if you bet on the first column and black, for example. The Red System also works as a Black System with a bet on the middle column and red. You can try out the black and red system at the top online casinos at https://www.topcasinoonline.net/
Expert rating: The Red Strategy puts you in a favorable starting position to make a small profit with many game runs. You only lose your stake here with 11 numbers, with 8 numbers you neither lose nor win, and with 18 numbers you win. Even with this roulette strategy, the house edge of the game remains, which means that in the long run you will also make small losses with this strategy if you do not catch a winning streak. Using the Red System on a La Partage Roulette, where freeze bets are frozen when the zero drops further increases your chances of winning.
Quick guide:
Select a European Roulette table and place 1/3 of your round budget on the third column and 2/3 on the color black.
For example, if you play with 15 euros, you bet 5 euros on the column and 10 on the color.
Hidden Dozen
Information: The strategy of hidden dozen is one of many roulette systems that was developed by an online roulette player who offers the trick and related software for purchase on the Internet. Since the software offered only makes your work easier, you can also use the system at no cost. The inventor of the strategy makes the assumption that the roulette ball in a casino has no memory, but the automatic roulette online games controlled by the random generator do. If 27 different numbers are dropped, there are a dozen numbers left over to focus your game on, because according to the developer of Hidden Dozen, these will now fall preferentially.
Expert rating: Even if the basic assumption is correct that the ball in online roulette has a memory due to the random number generator, it rather refers to hundreds or thousands of game runs and not to the approximately 30 to 40 games that take place in one pass the hidden dozen strategy. So you should stay away from this game system, just like most other online roulette strategies that are offered for sale on the Internet.
Quick guide:
Choose a roulette game with a small house edge and the ability to spin without wagering
Write down a list with the numbers from 0 to 36
First play without real money and cross out every winning number on your list
If the list contains only 12 numbers, place a unit on each of these numbers
One of your 12 numbers must now become the winning number in the following three games so that you can end the game round with a win (first or second try) or at least without a loss (third try).
Find your roulette strategy - the systems in the quick check
A quick look at the table below should be enough to estimate whether the roulette strategy you have chosen is advantageous or rather disadvantageous. If the conclusion is positive, you have no disadvantage by using the strategy and you can use the respective roulette system without great concerns. If you want to choose a variant with a positive conclusion, but are not sure which game system to choose, you should consult the assessment of our experts in the categories "Risk" and "Possible return". You can use this to determine which system is best for you based on the relation of the risk to the possible profit. You should generally stay away from strategies with a negative conclusion.
Information: The Red System wants to take advantage of the fact that the third column of the roulette table has eight red numbers and only four black fields. So you can cover a whole 26 numbers with a bet on black and a bet on the third column and thus two more than if you bet on the first column and black, for example. The Red System also works as a Black System with a bet on the middle column and red. You can try out the black and red system at the top online casinos at https://www.topcasinoonline.net/
Expert rating: The Red Strategy puts you in a favorable starting position to make a small profit with many game runs. You only lose your stake here with 11 numbers, with 8 numbers you neither lose nor win, and with 18 numbers you win. Even with this roulette strategy, the house edge of the game remains, which means that in the long run you will also make small losses with this strategy if you do not catch a winning streak. Using the Red System on a La Partage Roulette, where freeze bets are frozen when the zero drops further increases your chances of winning.
Quick guide:
Select a European Roulette table and place 1/3 of your round budget on the third column and 2/3 on the color black.
For example, if you play with 15 euros, you bet 5 euros on the column and 10 on the color.
Hidden Dozen
Information: The strategy of hidden dozen is one of many roulette systems that was developed by an online roulette player who offers the trick and related software for purchase on the Internet. Since the software offered only makes your work easier, you can also use the system at no cost. The inventor of the strategy makes the assumption that the roulette ball in a casino has no memory, but the automatic roulette online games controlled by the random generator do. If 27 different numbers are dropped, there are a dozen numbers left over to focus your game on, because according to the developer of Hidden Dozen, these will now fall preferentially.
Expert rating: Even if the basic assumption is correct that the ball in online roulette has a memory due to the random number generator, it rather refers to hundreds or thousands of game runs and not to the approximately 30 to 40 games that take place in one pass the hidden dozen strategy. So you should stay away from this game system, just like most other online roulette strategies that are offered for sale on the Internet.
Quick guide:
Choose a roulette game with a small house edge and the ability to spin without wagering
Write down a list with the numbers from 0 to 36
First play without real money and cross out every winning number on your list
If the list contains only 12 numbers, place a unit on each of these numbers
One of your 12 numbers must now become the winning number in the following three games so that you can end the game round with a win (first or second try) or at least without a loss (third try).
Find your roulette strategy - the systems in the quick check
A quick look at the table below should be enough to estimate whether the roulette strategy you have chosen is advantageous or rather disadvantageous. If the conclusion is positive, you have no disadvantage by using the strategy and you can use the respective roulette system without great concerns. If you want to choose a variant with a positive conclusion, but are not sure which game system to choose, you should consult the assessment of our experts in the categories "Risk" and "Possible return". You can use this to determine which system is best for you based on the relation of the risk to the possible profit. You should generally stay away from strategies with a negative conclusion.
December 24, 2014
Originally posted on Smitten by Books Blog
To start I want to say that this is the first time, in a long time, that I’ve read an adult romance in first person POV, from a heroine’s point of view no less, and loved every minute of it.
Mulry gave perfect life to the character of Mikhaila, Miki— as she’s called by close friends, and made her seem remote, yet so easy to connect with. This review won’t rehash back cover blurb. No, let’s talk all the other things. Miki is like the girl-next-door-meets-genius-brainiac-meets-famous-people-love-child. Note: I understand that’s an incredibly long, hyphenated description, but it’s accurate. I love this woman’s head. From her descriptions to her dialogue I could see myself being her best friend and being there to commiserate.
Then there’s Rome—Jerome Michel de Villiers is the man every woman wants. By every woman I mean, me. Here’s a brief description (prepare to objectify):
He’s got an accent, loads of money, priceless wine (son of a Rothschild), and an Italian villa. Oh, sorry that’s all the things he has, but I should discuss the man himself. He’s infuriating and a brilliant businessman who helps show Miki what’s she’s been missing her whole life. Bottom line:
For more description on the book it’s a cross between women’s fiction and romance. There’s an equal amount of both. Our heroine discovering what she really wants out of life, and some of that includes the above-mentioned amazing, male specimen. This story is also empowering. About a woman being challenged by her past and her present to discover her future— at times women, of any age, find themselves at a crossroads, coming to terms with who they are, who they want to be, and who they can be. This book explores the possibilities for a particular character, but doesn’t lose sight of the romance evolving from those changes.
As for setting, Mulry is a master of description transforming the page into real locations. I was transported to St. Petersburg, California, Paris, and Italy with ease and written magic. Artwork, furniture, clothes, and food jumped from the pages and into my mind. I longed to be there, to experience the richness of environments depicted. I’ll be experimenting with several new food combinations thanks to this story. Pacing is that of a women’s fiction novel, not fast but not slow. A nice meander that gets you where you need to be right when you’re supposed to be there. The ending may seem abrupt, but after further reflection it was perfect for this heroine and her hero.
Overall, this is a new type of contemporary romance. Something fresh, unexpected, and downright sinful in some ways. The best way to sum this up is similar to my book completion tweet: book-gasm.
For readers who enjoy Harlequin Presents, spunky heroines, and the borderline famous.
Reviewed by Landra
Heat Level: Hot
To start I want to say that this is the first time, in a long time, that I’ve read an adult romance in first person POV, from a heroine’s point of view no less, and loved every minute of it.
Mulry gave perfect life to the character of Mikhaila, Miki— as she’s called by close friends, and made her seem remote, yet so easy to connect with. This review won’t rehash back cover blurb. No, let’s talk all the other things. Miki is like the girl-next-door-meets-genius-brainiac-meets-famous-people-love-child. Note: I understand that’s an incredibly long, hyphenated description, but it’s accurate. I love this woman’s head. From her descriptions to her dialogue I could see myself being her best friend and being there to commiserate.
Then there’s Rome—Jerome Michel de Villiers is the man every woman wants. By every woman I mean, me. Here’s a brief description (prepare to objectify):
His clothes look like they were created to hug his body. His white collared shirt is neatly pressed and open at the neck. The skin there looks really… good… My eyes skim lower. He probably hires someone to wear his blue jeans until they achieve that ideally worn-in look. Do the faded creases have to make him look so good?
He’s got an accent, loads of money, priceless wine (son of a Rothschild), and an Italian villa. Oh, sorry that’s all the things he has, but I should discuss the man himself. He’s infuriating and a brilliant businessman who helps show Miki what’s she’s been missing her whole life. Bottom line:
This guy. He is the gold standard of stranger seduction.
For more description on the book it’s a cross between women’s fiction and romance. There’s an equal amount of both. Our heroine discovering what she really wants out of life, and some of that includes the above-mentioned amazing, male specimen. This story is also empowering. About a woman being challenged by her past and her present to discover her future— at times women, of any age, find themselves at a crossroads, coming to terms with who they are, who they want to be, and who they can be. This book explores the possibilities for a particular character, but doesn’t lose sight of the romance evolving from those changes.
As for setting, Mulry is a master of description transforming the page into real locations. I was transported to St. Petersburg, California, Paris, and Italy with ease and written magic. Artwork, furniture, clothes, and food jumped from the pages and into my mind. I longed to be there, to experience the richness of environments depicted. I’ll be experimenting with several new food combinations thanks to this story. Pacing is that of a women’s fiction novel, not fast but not slow. A nice meander that gets you where you need to be right when you’re supposed to be there. The ending may seem abrupt, but after further reflection it was perfect for this heroine and her hero.
Overall, this is a new type of contemporary romance. Something fresh, unexpected, and downright sinful in some ways. The best way to sum this up is similar to my book completion tweet: book-gasm.
For readers who enjoy Harlequin Presents, spunky heroines, and the borderline famous.
Reviewed by Landra
Heat Level: Hot
December 27, 2014
*Review originally posted on Smitten by Books*
To start I want to say that this is the first time, in a long time, that I’ve read an adult romance in first person POV, from a heroine’s point of view no less, and loved every minute of it.
Mulry gave perfect life to the character of Mikhaila, Miki— as she’s called by close friends, and made her seem remote, yet so easy to connect with. This review won’t rehash back cover blurb. No, let’s talk all the other things. Miki is like the girl-next-door-meets-genius-brainiac-meets-famous-people-love-child. Note: I understand that’s an incredibly long, hyphenated description, but it’s accurate. I love this woman’s head. From her descriptions to her dialogue I could see myself being her best friend and being there to commiserate.
Then there’s Rome—Jerome Michel de Villiers is the man every woman wants. By every woman I mean, me. Here’s a brief description (prepare to objectify):
His clothes look like they were created to hug his body. His white collared shirt is neatly pressed and open at the neck. The skin there looks really… good… My eyes skim lower. He probably hires someone to wear his blue jeans until they achieve that ideally worn-in look. Do the faded creases have to make him look so good?
He’s got an accent, loads of money, priceless wine (son of a Rothschild), and an Italian villa. Oh, sorry that’s all the things he has, but I should discuss the man himself. He’s infuriating and a brilliant businessman who helps show Miki what’s she’s been missing her whole life. Bottom line:
This guy. He is the gold standard of stranger seduction.
For more description on the book it’s a cross between women’s fiction and romance. There’s an equal amount of both. Our heroine discovering what she really wants out of life, and some of that includes the above-mentioned amazing, male specimen. This story is also empowering. About a woman being challenged by her past and her present to discover her future— at times women, of any age, find themselves at a crossroads, coming to terms with who they are, who they want to be, and who they can be. This book explores the possibilities for a particular character, but doesn’t lose sight of the romance evolving from those changes.
As for setting, Mulry is a master of description transforming the page into real locations. I was transported to St. Petersburg, California, Paris, and Italy with ease and written magic. Artwork, furniture, clothes, and food jumped from the pages and into my mind. I longed to be there, to experience the richness of environments depicted. I’ll be experimenting with several new food combinations thanks to this story. Pacing is that of a women’s fiction novel, not fast but not slow. A nice meander that gets you where you need to be right when you’re supposed to be there. The ending may seem abrupt, but after further reflection it was perfect for this heroine and her hero.
Overall, this is a new type of contemporary romance. Something fresh, unexpected, and downright sinful in some ways. The best way to sum this up is similar to my book completion tweet: book-gasm.
For readers who enjoy Harlequin Presents, spunky heroines, and the borderline famous.
To start I want to say that this is the first time, in a long time, that I’ve read an adult romance in first person POV, from a heroine’s point of view no less, and loved every minute of it.
Mulry gave perfect life to the character of Mikhaila, Miki— as she’s called by close friends, and made her seem remote, yet so easy to connect with. This review won’t rehash back cover blurb. No, let’s talk all the other things. Miki is like the girl-next-door-meets-genius-brainiac-meets-famous-people-love-child. Note: I understand that’s an incredibly long, hyphenated description, but it’s accurate. I love this woman’s head. From her descriptions to her dialogue I could see myself being her best friend and being there to commiserate.
Then there’s Rome—Jerome Michel de Villiers is the man every woman wants. By every woman I mean, me. Here’s a brief description (prepare to objectify):
His clothes look like they were created to hug his body. His white collared shirt is neatly pressed and open at the neck. The skin there looks really… good… My eyes skim lower. He probably hires someone to wear his blue jeans until they achieve that ideally worn-in look. Do the faded creases have to make him look so good?
He’s got an accent, loads of money, priceless wine (son of a Rothschild), and an Italian villa. Oh, sorry that’s all the things he has, but I should discuss the man himself. He’s infuriating and a brilliant businessman who helps show Miki what’s she’s been missing her whole life. Bottom line:
This guy. He is the gold standard of stranger seduction.
For more description on the book it’s a cross between women’s fiction and romance. There’s an equal amount of both. Our heroine discovering what she really wants out of life, and some of that includes the above-mentioned amazing, male specimen. This story is also empowering. About a woman being challenged by her past and her present to discover her future— at times women, of any age, find themselves at a crossroads, coming to terms with who they are, who they want to be, and who they can be. This book explores the possibilities for a particular character, but doesn’t lose sight of the romance evolving from those changes.
As for setting, Mulry is a master of description transforming the page into real locations. I was transported to St. Petersburg, California, Paris, and Italy with ease and written magic. Artwork, furniture, clothes, and food jumped from the pages and into my mind. I longed to be there, to experience the richness of environments depicted. I’ll be experimenting with several new food combinations thanks to this story. Pacing is that of a women’s fiction novel, not fast but not slow. A nice meander that gets you where you need to be right when you’re supposed to be there. The ending may seem abrupt, but after further reflection it was perfect for this heroine and her hero.
Overall, this is a new type of contemporary romance. Something fresh, unexpected, and downright sinful in some ways. The best way to sum this up is similar to my book completion tweet: book-gasm.
For readers who enjoy Harlequin Presents, spunky heroines, and the borderline famous.
October 27, 2014
*I will try to avoid spoilers.
Roulette by Megan Mulry
Miki Durand is a half Russian half French woman who is a professor at USC. She has everything a mature adult woman could want: a cardiologist boyfriend, a great job, a house, friends, and parents.
Miki is determined to have a stable and reliable future. Her plan does not include taking over her fathers company, Voyanovski's Industries.
She and her boyfriend Landon enjoy a farewell dinner before Miki leaves to go to Russia for two weeks, to see her father. Over dinner the two agree to move in together upon her return.
When she arrives in St. Petersburg, her uncle Alexei informs her that her father is in the hospital with pneumonia. She is taken to the hospital to see her father. Her visit with him is brief as he soon falls to sleep.
When Alexei and Miki return to the hospital they are shocked to learn her father has passed suddenly in his sleep.
Even though her and her father were never close like a father and daughter should be but they were linked in other ways.
Miki's father was all business with very little pleasure which left almost no emotional connection. Her mother on the other hand was the exact opposite, care free and adventurous.
Miki uses the two weeks to help out temporarily However, when possible investor
Jérôme Michel de Villiers comes into her life he takes her breath away and sweeps her off her feet.
Jérôme Michel de Villiers is a french playboy business man who enjoys the finer things in life.
Is it possible for Miki to let go and be happy? Will Jérôme ever be a one woman man?
Sometimes you have to lose everything you thought you wanted to figure out who you were meant to be.
I REALLY enjoyed this book! I must admit this book took me awhile to get pulled into it but once the story took off I zoomed through it!
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Roulette by Megan Mulry
Miki Durand is a half Russian half French woman who is a professor at USC. She has everything a mature adult woman could want: a cardiologist boyfriend, a great job, a house, friends, and parents.
Miki is determined to have a stable and reliable future. Her plan does not include taking over her fathers company, Voyanovski's Industries.
She and her boyfriend Landon enjoy a farewell dinner before Miki leaves to go to Russia for two weeks, to see her father. Over dinner the two agree to move in together upon her return.
When she arrives in St. Petersburg, her uncle Alexei informs her that her father is in the hospital with pneumonia. She is taken to the hospital to see her father. Her visit with him is brief as he soon falls to sleep.
When Alexei and Miki return to the hospital they are shocked to learn her father has passed suddenly in his sleep.
Even though her and her father were never close like a father and daughter should be but they were linked in other ways.
Miki's father was all business with very little pleasure which left almost no emotional connection. Her mother on the other hand was the exact opposite, care free and adventurous.
Miki uses the two weeks to help out temporarily However, when possible investor
Jérôme Michel de Villiers comes into her life he takes her breath away and sweeps her off her feet.
Jérôme Michel de Villiers is a french playboy business man who enjoys the finer things in life.
Is it possible for Miki to let go and be happy? Will Jérôme ever be a one woman man?
Sometimes you have to lose everything you thought you wanted to figure out who you were meant to be.
I REALLY enjoyed this book! I must admit this book took me awhile to get pulled into it but once the story took off I zoomed through it!
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December 29, 2014
I used to plow through the Harlequin Presents line of several years ago: the library used to have a solid selection, and I could run through 3 or 4 in a weekend. The heroine-centric stories with exotic settings and a hero that is head over heels, but can’t quite make the commitment is a familiar trope for readers of romance. Yet all is not as it seems, first impressions and memories are often skewed behind layers that serve the plot or the characters, to good or bad ends.
Miki is a bit of a ‘tow the line’ good girl early on in the story: her parents rather tumultuous relationship has stuck with her, and kept her making few choices that are risky, or that remind her of her own childhood. Miki’s voice is strong, her first person narration serves her well, and allows us an interesting, if not always correct, view of the other characters.
Rome is a French businessman, used to dealing with Miki’s father, who has recently died. His introduction is rather touchy, and when they finally meet there are some sparks and his intentions are rather well masked until further on.
Sadly, Mulry lost me more than a bit with infidelities and distance: yes the characters were working well with a distance relationship, but I cannot ever find myself recovering from cheating, characters are damaged for me, and I step away and become a more passive reader, not allowing myself to invest in the story. To the author’s credit, the remainder of the story did move forward with several unexpected events, and not all of the characters were as assumed or expected from initial impressions.
If the whole infidelity issue had not been raised, I easily could have invested more emotion into this story and found it quite enjoyable.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Miki is a bit of a ‘tow the line’ good girl early on in the story: her parents rather tumultuous relationship has stuck with her, and kept her making few choices that are risky, or that remind her of her own childhood. Miki’s voice is strong, her first person narration serves her well, and allows us an interesting, if not always correct, view of the other characters.
Rome is a French businessman, used to dealing with Miki’s father, who has recently died. His introduction is rather touchy, and when they finally meet there are some sparks and his intentions are rather well masked until further on.
Sadly, Mulry lost me more than a bit with infidelities and distance: yes the characters were working well with a distance relationship, but I cannot ever find myself recovering from cheating, characters are damaged for me, and I step away and become a more passive reader, not allowing myself to invest in the story. To the author’s credit, the remainder of the story did move forward with several unexpected events, and not all of the characters were as assumed or expected from initial impressions.
If the whole infidelity issue had not been raised, I easily could have invested more emotion into this story and found it quite enjoyable.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
December 19, 2014
A fun, light, but intelligent romance, with (as reviewer Elisabeth Lane notes) the feel of a modernized Harlequin Presents. The child of a whirlwind romance between a Russian businessman and a French actress, Mikhaila Voyanovski Durand has chosen the safe course for most of her life: a job as a professor of statistics rather than working for her father's company; a stable if somewhat intractable cardiologist boyfriend; a penchant for the small rather than the big waves while surfing. But when her father unexpectedly passes away and Miki inherits his company, she finds herself on the cusp of taking more risks than she could ever imagine. The biggest is a fling with French businessman/international playboy Jérome Michel de Villiers ("your run-of-the-mill smoking-hot media mogul. Risk on a stick" [Kindle Loc 281]), who, after a few telephone negotiations with Miki, jets to Russia to bring her some coffee). But Miki's all about risk reduction, and so the two end up parting after a hot weekend together.
The story is told entirely from Miki's POV, so we don't get much insight into Rome as a character. But the fantasy of having such a hot, rich, FRENCH guy fall for you, especially when you're a smart, capable, and hard-bargaining budding mogul yourself, is one that's quite pleasant to indulge in, especially when told by the more than capable Mulry. Sizzling sexual tension, lots of humor, and characters who start out as the embodiment of unpleasant stereotypes (the Russian mobster; the Hollywood harlot; the evil other woman) but who become more nuanced as the story unwinds all make for a champagne-cocktail of a read.
The story is told entirely from Miki's POV, so we don't get much insight into Rome as a character. But the fantasy of having such a hot, rich, FRENCH guy fall for you, especially when you're a smart, capable, and hard-bargaining budding mogul yourself, is one that's quite pleasant to indulge in, especially when told by the more than capable Mulry. Sizzling sexual tension, lots of humor, and characters who start out as the embodiment of unpleasant stereotypes (the Russian mobster; the Hollywood harlot; the evil other woman) but who become more nuanced as the story unwinds all make for a champagne-cocktail of a read.
February 17, 2017
Review Coming Soon!!!
December 5, 2014
There are some great reviews of Roulette out there--I'm enjoying reading everyone's different take this story.
I really really enjoyed Miki's story. As always, a Mulry heroine is someone who the reader believes will carve out a happy, productive life with or without a marvelous hero. But isn't it great to have both? Roulette is really Miki's story, her transformation from professor/significant other/sportswoman/art lover to a high-flying CEO (after she inherits her father's company...and decides to embrace it), and her fledgling relationship with Rome, a larger-than-life French entrepreneur, and a life abroad and so much more.
I'm crazy about the whole cast of characters but Miki fills the screen. What she and Rome do on the phone before they even meet in person is infused with passion and potential and possibilities...
"Rome."
"Miki."
And just like that, my heart is off at a very steady gallop. There is no longer talk of corporate finance or management structures. There is the raw scrape of a man's voice--two syllables--strumming every chord in my body.
Disclosure: I'm friends with the author and watched Roulette come to life. And still I couldn't wait for it to drop on my Kindle on pub day and I sat down and read it again. Re-reading is my way of deepening my relationship with a book that I love.
I really really enjoyed Miki's story. As always, a Mulry heroine is someone who the reader believes will carve out a happy, productive life with or without a marvelous hero. But isn't it great to have both? Roulette is really Miki's story, her transformation from professor/significant other/sportswoman/art lover to a high-flying CEO (after she inherits her father's company...and decides to embrace it), and her fledgling relationship with Rome, a larger-than-life French entrepreneur, and a life abroad and so much more.
I'm crazy about the whole cast of characters but Miki fills the screen. What she and Rome do on the phone before they even meet in person is infused with passion and potential and possibilities...
"Rome."
"Miki."
And just like that, my heart is off at a very steady gallop. There is no longer talk of corporate finance or management structures. There is the raw scrape of a man's voice--two syllables--strumming every chord in my body.
Disclosure: I'm friends with the author and watched Roulette come to life. And still I couldn't wait for it to drop on my Kindle on pub day and I sat down and read it again. Re-reading is my way of deepening my relationship with a book that I love.
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