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EVEN THE MOST TIGHTLY LOCKED HEART HAS A KEY.
 
After learning of her husband’s affair, Jordan Radcliffe is crushed, but she knows she must stay strong for her three young children. So she moves back to Rosewood, the idyllic horse farm where she grew up. Wishing only to recover and reassess her life, Jordan feels an undeniable attraction to architect Owen Gage—and does her best to ignore it. Her heart is too fragile to love again.

Yet when Owen, who himself is wary of any romantic involvement, offers her a job she badly needs, Jordan has no choice but to accept, even though it means she’ll be working alongside him every day. And that closeness could intensify the connection between them—a desire as unnerving as it is powerful.

432 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 26, 2010

24 people are currently reading
366 people want to read

About the author

Laura Moore

32 books268 followers
I was born in New York City and grew up there and in Western Massachusetts. I began writing while pursuing my master's degree. My first novel, Ride a Dark Horse, filled most of a spiral bound notebook. I soon realized I far preferred writing love stories to term papers!

I now live in Rhode Island with my husband, two children, and our black lab. Our cat Zevon keeps us all in line.

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5 stars
228 (37%)
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239 (39%)
3 stars
110 (18%)
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15 (2%)
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9 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
Profile Image for Nadine in NY Jones.
3,154 reviews275 followers
June 10, 2018
Sadly, this book kind of sucked. It was horridly weighed down by TOO MUCH DETAIL. Here is a random passage from the middle of the book:

Andy had jumped both Mistral and Indigo the day before, so Jordan's job was to give them a good workout on the flat. Jordan groomed Mistral, a bay Thoroughbred gelding who possessed both the conformation and easy, willing attitude to make a fine hunter prospect.
After tacking Mistral, she led him down to the outdoor ring. Walking into the center of the ring, she slipped the reins over his neck, checked her girth, lowered her stirrups, and then, sticking the toe of her field boot into the stirrup, swung herself up into the saddle.


What does that have to do with the plot? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I mean, I know, a little bit of detail really adds flavor to a story, allows you to really feel like you are there. But it's CONSTANT in this book. And MEANINGLESS. Which horse she rides, and when, and who tacks the horse up, and what fabric her boyfriend's pants are, and exactly how she prepares the potatoes for dinner, and the exact shade of white she chooses to paint the bedroom, ad nauseum. HELLO? EDITORS??

Furthermore, the good guys in this story are unbelievably good, and the bad guys are just 100% bad. I hate that.

Plot in a nutshell: Jordan's husband cheats on her, they divorce, she moves back home to the family horse farm and decides to start her own decorating business, she meets handsome architect Owen Gage, and eventually they fuck like bunnies. HEA, the end.
Profile Image for Tasha.
246 reviews42 followers
January 31, 2011
Jordan has divorced her cheating husband and moved back home to Rosewood. She is trying to put her life back together by starting her own interior design business. This is how she meets architect Owen Gage. His firm lands an interior design account Jordan was hoping to get to establish her business.

Owen and Jordan both feel the immediate sparks between them upon meeting. But Jordan is weary of all men and Owen doesn't want all the complications that come with being involved with a single mother. With every overture he makes toward her, she lashes back with rudeness and anger. Most of that anger and rudeness is because she doesn't like the fact that he makes all her girlie parts sit up and take notice in ways her husband never did.

I liked the interaction between Owen and the rest of Jordan's family, especially with Jade. Margot and Jade took an instant like to Owen as well did her three children. Although at times Jordan's children made Owen uncomfortable, he did eventually kind of warm toward them. I think that whole situation was handled nicely because if Owen automatically took to her children, it would have felt rather fake.

Jade made a major growth from Remember Me, but she did suffer a brief setback when learning some shocking news. I so look forward to Jade's story, Trouble Me. I really want to see who she'll be paired up with, Robocop or Brian.

Overall, Believe in Me was a great addition to the trilogy. Laura writes her ranch scenes and interior design scenes with such vivid detail that it's like your living it instead of just reading it.
Profile Image for PepperP0t .
5,108 reviews86 followers
February 18, 2017
Oldest Radcliffe sister, Jordan's life is still in flux. For the last year, while forging adult relationships with her sisters, Jordan's been re-acquainted with living at the family farm, Rosewood, mothering 3 children under 5years old and healing from a painful divorce. Now she's itching to do something on her own, something for herself so Jordan's putting her interior design degree to work by starting a business.

Too bad her first professional foray was over a horribly mean meal with a bitter adult mean girl intent on betraying Jordan from the outset as she also invited noted and new to the area architect Owen Gage, who annoyed her just by breathing. Not only is Owen attracted to Jordan, he believes in her talent and hires her to decorate the estate he bought next door.

Owen's pedophobia against Jordan's determination to avoid romantic entanglements was a good and rarely used trope to put them in awkward situations as the relationship unfolds. Jordan uncovers the undercurrents from the lunch and gets a taste of sweet revenge when the mean woman's boiling pot of trouble overflows on her own feet.

While this outing had the same things going for it as its predecessor, soft romance, comfortable family and sweet heartfelt moments, this reader resisted mainly because of Jordan. The efforts to make her fit in felt forced and suspect, she needed a cape and tights to be more unbelievable. However the conflicts and romance were believable. Also, thankfully the secret of the journal came to a head
Rating:3.75stars
Profile Image for Dorothy Callahan.
Author 19 books14 followers
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February 27, 2021
After divorcing her adulterous husband, Jordan doesn't think she'll ever love again. Putting her three young children first is all that matters. But when she's ready to start her own business, she's given a great opportunity from handsome architect Owen Gage. Taking this too-good-to-pass-up job from him puts her heart in dangerous proximity to the one man who tempts her to reach for love again. But commitment-phobic Owen has no interest in a divorcee of three. Or does he?

Get swept away in masterful storytelling, filled with horses, heartbreak, and heroes.
413 reviews3 followers
January 15, 2019
This is a very long book, have a few days and pots of tea nearby. It also is excruciating
in its details about horses. You have a stupid woman who can't give up on a cheating husband, ugh. Then she has a baby that is described as lurching around like a mini-Godzilla, ick. Those are my concerns, the things I liked were the hero, give me a hunky architect any day. His transformation from confirmed bachelor to family man is fun, if not terribly believable.
Profile Image for Tara Atlantis.
20 reviews
August 14, 2023
A very pleasant summer read, but you have to read all three books in order to have a nicely connected story.
But I really like the story about the eldest sister and it fits nicely into the previous book.
135 reviews
November 18, 2019
Started but never finished. Could find nothing to relate to the lead character who is a divorcée with kids.
Profile Image for Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews.
5,476 reviews177 followers
March 22, 2011
When I was given the opportunity to read the second book in Laura Moore’s Rosewood series, Believe In Me, I jumped at the opportunity. The first book, Remember Me, took me on a heartfelt journey I couldn’t forget, propelling the book to the top of my favorite novels list. In this installment, we are given Jordan Radcliffe’s story. In Remember Me, we learned Jordan’s husband had strayed from their marriage. In this book we learn that not only did he cheat, but he also continued to do so after they sought help to save their relationship.

Much like Remember Me, Believe In Me has a beginning that leaves little doubt that you are about to take an emotional rollercoaster ride. Jordan is devastated when she learns her husband has been unfaithful. Even more harmful is an event that is witnessed by her entire family. Left with no other choice, she takes her children to Rosewood to heal following her divorce. It’s not an easy transition. She has to stand on her own two feet while caring for her children, come to terms with her ex-husband’s new marriage to the woman he had an affair with, and face the trust issues she has developed due to her experience.

Help arrives in the form of the handsome architect Owen Gage, a gorgeous and successful man who is interviewing for a designing job that Jordan wants. When Owen offers Jordan a job, she has no choice but to accept. Unfortunately, her attraction to the man is undeniable. When he proposes a no strings attached affair, she’s not sure if the offer is one she should refuse. After all, she’s been alone for a while now. Embracing her sexual identity just might a step in the right direction. After Owen and Jordan fall into bed together, they never expect that their mutual passions could lead to something they never expected. Can a scorned woman find faith in a man who tempts her to give love another chance? Can a lifelong bachelor become not only a husband but a father figure to Jordan’s children? The answers aren’t entirely what you might expect, which makes Believe In Me as memorable a book as its predecessor.

Laura Moore has a writing style that I love. Her characters are memorable, flawed, and easy to relate to. I enjoyed revisiting the hero, heroine, and family from the previous novel. Rosewood has become more than an imaginary farm; it has become a very real place in my mind. The backdrop is as enthralling as the stories, making returning all the sweeter. I highly recommend this series to diehard romance fans, as there is plenty of emotion, tension, and obstacles for the hero and heroine to overcome in order to truly embrace each other.

A definite must read, don’t miss Believe In Me.

Originally posted at http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...
Profile Image for Nath.
1,400 reviews18 followers
November 27, 2012
4.5/5 (B+)


I picked up Believe in Me because I was in the mood for a good contemporary romance and a lot of my blogger friends have suggested that I give Ms Moore a try in the past year. I'm glad I listened to them, since I ended up enjoying Believe in Me a lot :)

Frankly, there was nothing new about the story told in Believe in Me, but the reason I enjoyed it so much was the beautiful execution: likable characters, sweet romance and solid writing. I mean, what more can I ask for? :) I really liked that Ms Moore took her time developing and setting up every aspect of the story. Some will find that it made for a slow pacing and it was to a certain extent. At the same time, it allowed me to really get a feel for Jordan's life - her routine and her struggles - and it contributed to make the whole story more realistic and normal. I also greatly appreciated that the H/H did not fall into lust and into bed too quickly, which is becoming one of my biggest pet peeves ^_^; It was just nice to read a slow romance, to see the relationship unfolds.

As I mentioned above, I liked that Ms Moore kept the story grounded. She didn't over-romanticize or dramatize the story. For example, Jordan's three children weren't overly cute or mature for their age. And Owen's discomfort with the children didn't miraculously disappear after one encounter. In fact, his wariness of Olivia was the source of a few chuckles LOL. And I have to say, I loved the way Jordan handled her situation with her ex-husband. I liked how level-headed and reasonable she was... and I found it sad that her ex-husband lied and hurt her instead of being honest to the person he vowed to love.

All in all, as I said, Believe in Me was an enjoyable book. Aside from the romance and the story involving the H/H, the book focused on the Radcliffe sisters. I have to say I enjoyed their interactions, their bond. The trilogy's storyline was also well woven into, it didn't steal the spotlight and didn't bore me. And I think Ms Moore addressed the situation with Jordan's teenage sister, Jade, realistically. Oh and if you're a fan of horses, you definitively want to read this trilogy :) In the end, when it came to Believe in Me, it was all about balance and Ms Moore did an excellent job. I only have two minor complaints about the book: 1) at times, Owen felt a bit boyish in my opinion, although it did fit with his bachelor status... but when you think he's paired up with Jordan, a mother of three, it just didn't feel right. Then again, he probably brought forth another side of Jordan, so it does work... just not for me. 2) I thought the ending was a bit abrupt. Given the rest of the book was so well developed, it feels like Believe in Me could have used the same development or an epilogue.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Divina.
336 reviews
October 26, 2012

Surprisingly a great read! The second book in the series is about Jordan Radcliffe and Owen Gage. The story takes place months after the first book, Remember Me. Jordan, elder sister of Margot is trying to start her life again after her nine year marriage ends in divorce. She has three young children to raise so she moves back to her childhood home in Warburg, VA. with her sisters and new brother-in-law. Their family home of Rosewood was on a brink of financial ruins after her father and step-mother died in a plane crash. But with the help of her sister Margot's modeling career, the house and family business was saved. She and her children have settled into their new home with the help of her family. Jordan was determined to pull her share to build their home and business by dusting off her Interior Design degree and start a business of her own.

Owen Gage is a well known architect who just finished remodeling a guest cottage of one of the "elite" members of Warburg. He had been invited to lunch and was introduced to Jordan Radcliffe. Unbeknownst to him, Jordan was there for an "interview" for the position to decorate the new remodeled cottage. Jordan's ideas for the cottage was admired by both owner and architect. Unfortunately for Jordan, she was never really being interviewed for the job, the owner had Owen's company in mind to work on decorating the cottage.

The story continues on the premise of a misunderstanding. In return for the off handedness of cottage owner, Owen hires Jordan to decorate the home he just bought, the neighboring property next to Rosewood. There was an attraction between Owen and Jordan since they first met. Jordan was a newly divorced single mom of three children. To Owen, that should have been a huge red flag warning him to keep away, but instead of listening to the warning signs, he pursues Jordan. In his mind it was going to be a "friends with benefits" until the project he's working on is completed. Neither one of them was prepared to fall in love.

Yes, similar stories have been done with the same premise. Yes, the author tends to overly give too many details about horses, taking care of horses, etc. But the author did a great job of pulling this reader into Jordan and Owen's road to romance. There were external elements that may have caused the story to drag in some places, but they balanced the story. An enjoyable read with great characters and wonderful romance.

Profile Image for J.A. Saare.
Author 23 books744 followers
January 22, 2011
Although I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first, Remember Me, I still stayed up late into the night to finish it which means it deserves the five star rating. If you've never read Remember Me, it's not necessary to follow Believe in Me. However, I feel it greatly adds to the richness of the story, as you get to revisit characters and there is a substantial build up to the third book coming soon in the series, Trouble Me.

In this installment, we meet the heartbroken sister Jordan Radcliffe. He world has been turned upside down thanks to a cheating husband who has continued an affair not only during her pregnancy with their child, but also after she is born. Determined to soldier on, Jordan returns to Rosewood with her children to stay with her sister Margot (the complex super model from the first book), her husband Travis (the swoonworthy hero from the first book), and her sister Jade (the angsty teen from the first novel). Trying to rebuild her life, she's taken off guard by the very sexy, extremely intelligent designer Owen Gage. Not only is he the competition for a job, he also manages to set of sparks where she wants to remain numb and dead.

As with Remember Me, Believe in Me is a very character driven story that focuses on the complexities of people and their relationships with others. Throughout the book you wonder how Jordan will find love again when she detests men, just as you wonder how it will work with Owen as he makes it clear he intends to remain single and uninvolved. Theirs is not an easy affair. Rather it becomes a very slippery slope, as their hearts begin to decide where love will take them.

The only word of caution I'd give in regard to these books is that it does take place on a horse farm. There are multiple scenes describing the daily lives of Jordan and her family, and if you're not interested in that kind of thing it might drag a bit for you. As a girl who loved visiting her aunt's farm, I enjoy that kind of thing very much, although I know it may not be to everyone's tastes.
Profile Image for Amanda.
170 reviews
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November 22, 2011
So I havent read all of Beleive in Me but onyl the excerpt at the end of Remember Me, just reading that small prtion has me in insomnia wanting to know how the story will unfold I cant BELEIVE IT the "Rat Bastard"!!! did it again actually REPHRASE: Was still doing it what kind of man does that?! cheats on his pregnant wife then ditches/lies/ and decieves her into beleiving hes changing his ways because he 'llloooooovees her?! ahhhh im outraged. ThE TOAD deserves a castration. Ahh and thatss not all that has my feathers ruffling from reading a review I learned the turd friggn marries the ho he slept around with, thats so unfair! Why does the toad bastard get a happy ending ahh If I was Jordan I'd send a copy of that to his office and F'up his image REVENGE! Actually nvm because I would never have taken him back I'd be disgusted to be around him to even be touched or in any near proximity, i would make me sick. Its UNFORGIVABLE. I knew he was a shifty turd with thw way he acted wit Margot back in book one during the prologue and then I knew when it was a trilogy that he was gonna be a triffling turd. ahhh im sooooo, there are no words to describe this tumult of feelings I hae brewing in the pit of my stomache >=o
Profile Image for Tamera.
474 reviews1 follower
February 17, 2016
Wow, my first time reading this author and I really enjoyed it! Of course, it is part of a series so I missed some of the action. However, i though the author seamlessly brought me into the story. I didn't feel like I was in left field regarding the plot or the characters. In fact, I admit to tearing up several times during this wonderfully told story. The first chapter grabbed me and had me teary eyed - when Jordan overheard her husband's unfiltered and unknown conversation over the speaker phone in front of her family... well, my heart broke. I truly felt for all of the characters in this story. The author did an amazing smooth job of relaying Jordan's pain, Owen's own family history and personal doubts, and finding a way to work everything out to an emensly satisfying conclusion. I FELT Owen and Jordan fall in love, and I loved the fact that it was told from both characters' viewpoints. I especially appreciated Owen's unfamiliarity with children. It was a refreshing view, since it is one view I can definately relate to and frequently smiled over! Not everyone is a natural with children, take note authors! I am eager to read about Jade's story. This is an author to watch.
Profile Image for Mareli.
1,034 reviews32 followers
May 21, 2012
5 stars yes!!!!
I already knew that I would love this story about the first of Radcliffe sister. The one betrayed by her husband and left with 3 little children.

The story was good. Jordan came back home when she discovered her husband kept his relationship with a collegue, even after he promised the story was over. He's a bad husband but not a bad father and part of the book is about his tries to get his children's love back.

But mostly it's about Jordan and how she discovered to be a person and a woman again. She got into intern design and after a bad start she landed with a wonderful job with her neighbor, a famous architect with a non-commitment streak ;)

He's afraid of her, afraid of her children and so he fought with himself against his attraction to her. But she's goooood!

A very nice story! Recommended!

P.S. Sunday was a very long rainy day.... so I read and then I read again and again... ;)
Profile Image for Michael.
Author 3 books62 followers
February 18, 2012
I read the first book in the series a while back and forgot I had this on my Nook still unread. I think recently I've overloaded my brain on smut, kinky smut, slashy smut...I guess it is possible to fry your brain on smut.

I'm 100 pages into this 350 page ebook and so far it's very enjoyable. There are moments where the "filler" seems to drag on, but fortunately not so much that I give up on the story.

It's fun reading Owen and Jordan dancing around their mutual attraction. She's been burned by a bastard of a cheating husband and he's "allergic" to children - she has 3. I'm looking forward to seeing him become comfortable around her children and Jordan learn to trust again.

Overall right now I'd have to say it's just a good, clean, romantic read when you need a break from "smut with no purpose" stories.
Profile Image for Amy Denim.
Author 5 books67 followers
March 4, 2012
Laura Moore's writing is extraordinary. In a 400+ page contemporary romance, not once did I remember I was just reading a book. The characters, plot, tension, setting and romance had me hooked.
I think a lot of women will be able to relate to the heroine and everyone will fall in love with the hero.
The kids are have some great lines. My one complaint is how well behaved they are throughout the entire story. I think with the upheaval in their lives they'd act out just a little.
I can not wait to see what happens with Jade, the teenaged half sister.
The author does a bit of head hopping, but does it so masterfully I can't actually complain.

This is the first book I've read by Laura Moore, and I'll tell you now it won't be my last. It's the second in a series and to be sure I'll be picking up the first and third.
Profile Image for Anna.
463 reviews26 followers
October 17, 2012
I read Remember Me, the first in this series, for a contest last year and adored it. So I was very excited when I received the package for the same contest this year and this one was in it. I was not let down. Now, it may be because I'm a horse lover, but I enjoy these trips to Rosewood, where the horses are as important as the people. I was thrilled to get to hear Jordan's love story, after meeting her and her cheating (now ex-)husband in the first book. I loved that the author depicted carefully everything Jordan had to overcome after being betrayed. I also liked that Owen was not some easy to get along with dope who just waited while she worked through her stuff, desperately in love with her. If you're looking for a realistic contemporary romance that's also a family story, this one's for you.
Profile Image for Debby (Alwaysbooking).
710 reviews
March 14, 2015
I thoroughly enjoy this series and seeing these women come into their own. There has been alot of negative comments about how much detail this author gives. I for one am for the detail, one of the main reasons I picked this series was it involved horses. The fact that she gives such detail to everything that goes into the horses and it's right is amazing. Also the reason she gives detail into how Jordan is working with the horse is because working with horses like exercising is a good time to calm yourself and come out better at the end. Working with horses is good therapy for the soul and poor Jordan's soul badly needs this therapy. I also enjoyed Owen's character he was trying so hard not to fall for the cuteness that is Jordan's children but you could tell his was falling from first drooling hug...
Profile Image for Scherry Siganporia.
37 reviews14 followers
August 1, 2011
Readers! The second book of the Rosewood Trilogy and it is as beautiful as the first one...The family of Rosewood, the barn, the horses, the farm lands, the romance and passion is all ignited all over again...a treat to read this novel as it is written so beautifully. I loved the hero in this book. His personality is so related to the everyday man..his fears and insecurities are well brought about. Yet his love cannot be contained..I love the distinction which is made between love and passion in this book....read on readers! this is a class book for sure. Cant wait to get my hands on the third book...third generation of Rosewood family! :)) happy reading all you beautiful readers out there...smiles, sc :)

Profile Image for Diah Didi.
689 reviews142 followers
December 24, 2012
At first, I thought I wouldn't like it, especially knowing what Jordan had just been through. But it turned I really really like it. Not as much as I liked the first book, but I enjoyed reading this.
Owen was quiet cute and I liked parts when he met things that were so unpredictable. I even put notes on things I liked from this book. I loved Jordan for being tough and calm. Not to mention the whole family members of Rosewood. I loved them all.
Couldn't wait to read the next book about Jade!

More review to come. That is, if I'm not lazy enough to form more words.
I was a bit sleepy when I typed this. :D
Profile Image for Naima.
54 reviews8 followers
January 18, 2011
I liked the book a lot and would have given it five stars except that there was a bit too much description of horse caretaking/ competing for me and at one point the thirty-something H admires how sexy the h's underage, high school sister is. He does follow this observation by noting that she's way too young for him but I still found the act of his observing her sexual attraction to be jarring. It felt too much as though the author was trying too hard to set things up for the sister's book.
1,146 reviews5 followers
January 4, 2020
This was a really good book. Jordan Radcliffe returns home to her family after learning her husband has been having an affair with a co-worker. Owen Gage is an architect/remodeler of older historical homes and is doing a remodel down the road from Jordans home. Throw in some cute kids and a younger sister with issues and you have a really good story. The writing is really good as well. I'll be checking out other books by Laura Moore.
Profile Image for Ann Lorz.
1,707 reviews22 followers
January 26, 2011
This is only the second book I've read by Laura Moore. The first being "Remember Me" the first book in the Rosewood trilogy. I found "Believe Me" to be a great story. I liked that you fell into story like you never left it from the first book. Now all I have to do is wait for the third book to find out how happiness comes to all the sisters of Rosewood.
Profile Image for Marilyn Brant.
Author 35 books405 followers
February 4, 2011
What a wonderful second book in a fabulous trilogy! I loved this story. The characters that inhabit Rosewood have become beloved friends. I've enjoyed returning to them as I recently reread book one (Remember Me) and I'm so looking forward to book three next year (Trouble Me). A very compelling and deeply romantic series!
Profile Image for Jackie.
Author 8 books159 followers
May 1, 2012
"Confronting a woman like Nonie was so different with Owen acting as her stalwart champion" (287) -- one sentence that captures the construction of gender and the ideology of love in Moore's work. I'm sure it's one that appeals to a lot of women, but it feels terribly old-fashioned to me -- hence the rating for a book that in most other respects would garner a 4 from me.
Profile Image for Lori.
378 reviews
February 27, 2011
4.5 stars. Loved it! The only thing keeping it from 5 star was the overload of instruction on horses, and horse show. But I really couldn't mark it off further than that because it was all such an integral part of the story.
Profile Image for Angie.
85 reviews1 follower
February 17, 2011
Great 2nd installment of the Rosewood Trilogy. I loved Jordan & Owen and Jordan's kids were so fun to read about. Especially Owen's reactions and thoughts about Olivia, the youngest. Too funny :) I can't wait to read Jade's story and the conclusion to the series.
Author 6 books82 followers
February 5, 2012
I absolutely loved this book. Even when the pacing turned a bit slow at times when we learning about the heroine's role with the horses, I still enjoyed it. So glad to have found a new author to love!
Profile Image for Rochelle.
1,283 reviews15 followers
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January 2, 2014
I didn't finish this. I think if you get 30% through the book, are bored to tears by all of the neverending detail about interior decorating and horse breeding, and still don't like the main characters, you should quit while you're ahead!
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