Vanessa Lang lands her dream job at an investment firm, Stone Corp. When her kleptomaniac mother is caught shoplifting, Vanessa is forced to accept a deal with the detective–collect evidence of insider trading at her new job. Investigating Sebastian Stone comes with benefits. The drop-dead-gorgeous CEO introduces her to steamy encounters in public places, and in the midst of it all, she gathers … gathers information about his business. She soon has a difficult choice to make…save her mother or protect the man she loves.
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The entire time I was reading this story I was happy. Happy because another new-to-me author exceeded by expectations. Happy because even though this story is short; it is not lacking. Could there be more development in areas? Sure, but the story is not lacking. Let me repeat lol not lacking. I loved Vanessa and Sebastian both from the moment they hit the page. Their story was captivating and hot!
Well done!
I enjoyed this book! I loved this author’s writing style and her character development was flawless. A great storyline paired with amazing characters made this an entertaining read. This was a new to me author and I look forward to reading more from her.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed reading this book very much, the story was a sweet, fun quick read that had amazing main and side characters.
The main characters are Vanessa and Sebastian and their first meeting happened in a very -oh-so hot funny way.
Unfortunately for Vanessa her mom it’s a Kleptomaniac that gets her in to trouble and because Vanessa is a selfless caring daughter she agrees to go under cover to find evidences on her new job at Stone Corp. without even knowing that Mr. tall, dark and handsome CEO Sebastian it’s her new boss.
Their chemistry it’s so good, they complement each other very well, their banter and funny puns are laugh-out-loud hilarious and their sexy scenes and out in the open “affection” it’s melt your panties HOT!
So overall this was a good story that captivated my attention from page one and I definitely recommend reading if you are looking for a fun, quick, steamy read with a HEA.
This is the first book in the Invested in You series, and the story of Sebastien, and Vanessa. When Vanessa’s mother get pinched for shoplifting, Vanessa is forced into helping the police gather evidence, against her new boss. Sebastien, and Vanessa have a quick, but immediate connection, and later find out Vanessa is his new hire. This was a entertaining read, the characters are well written, and have great chemistry, and their story kept me engaged. This was steamy, passionate, emotional, intense, dramatic, and funny.
Love the characters and the interactions between them. Sebastian and Vanessa are hot together. Liked all the twist and turns.
Have you ever wondered what Anastasia Stelle from 50 Shades would look like if she was a little bit a spy? Snooping and such? Well, meet Vanessa.
Vanessa made me laugh and facepalm multiple times throughout the book with some of the situations she’d get herself into. She and Sebastian have quite a bit of chemistry. The type that makes you fan yourself as you turn the page. It is amazing.
The mystery and suspense will have you flipping pages quicker to find out who done it but when you find out be prepared.
Overall, amazing read.
Etched In Stone is an story that delves into the question of what lengths would you go to protect someone you love. Vanessa has her dream job but on the eve of starting she has to make the decision to put her dreams on the line in order to protect her mother. Of course she chooses to protect her mother but when she meets CEO Sebastian Stone there is an immediate connection with him. Should she get closer to catch him in a crime or because she is so drawn to him? Vanessa is at a crossroads on what to do. How can she choose between keeping her mother out of real criminal trouble or finding evidence against Sebastian for committing insider trading that could put him in prison instead? Does she risk her mother’s’ freedom to protect Sebastian, a man she has grown to love?
The morale question that Vanessa has to undergo is quite a position to be in but within that story is a really sweet and extremely steamy love story. I found this book to be thought provoking as well as entertaining. It’s a story about trusting yourself and others and about forgiveness. And while the love story was definitely more of an insta-love I enjoyed it for its ease and steaminess (lots of steamy public sex scenes). It’s a quick read that will keep you entertained the entire time. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I would definitely recommend this book.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
The story is written well and flows nicely. It captured my attention and made me want to know what came next. There are also plenty of naughty moments that will definitely hold your attention.
Sebastian, himself, is one heck of a dirty talker and I could love him on this alone. I loved the corny banter between them. It was cute and so them.
With that being said however, I found the relationship between Vanessa and Sebastian rushed. The fall into love for them is not gradual, it’s insta-love. This for me, is not my favorite. The relationship between them advances too quickly, more so since there doesn’t seem to be an exact time frame. The feelings and emotions of betrayal and solidarity toward each other seemed forced because of this in my opinion.
I also didn’t feel Vanessa’s angst. With her mother’s klepto tendencies and the fact the she is also infiltrating Sebastian’s business as a spy, I thought I would feel some dread or emotion but sadly didn’t. It’s written there in black and white but for me, there was no feels behind it.
Overall, I loved the characters and the story line but wish I felt the connection and the emotions between and for the characters that a read like this normally evokes.
I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Vanessa Lang
Sebastian Stone
Sebastian and Vanessa accidentally meet when they bup into one another in the dressing room while she was graduation dress shopping. From that moment she has a hard time forgetting him.
Sebastian is the CEO of Stone Corp and ever since bumping into the most gorgeous woman in the dressing room, she has been an all consuming thought.
The days after the bumping into Sebastian end up being the one she has been waiting weeks for, she was offered the position she has been waiting for weeks to hear back from. But also, one she has never though t she would have, she is given an ultimatum to keep her mom safe.
The story of Sebastian and Vanessa Quick ad steamy relationship is one I enjoyed. I loved how all things entwined and the “shut the front door” moments had me wowing. I loved the cute puns that were thrown in and how the two of them just clicked so amazing. If you enjoy office romance, CEO sexiness, a little mystery, and a bit of steam, you should give Etched in Stone a try.
~~~ He studied her, his gaze asking a question. Maybe this is what it was like to live in the moment. She gave the slightest nod, and he leaned down until their lips touched. ~~~
Etched in Stone by Liv Arnold was a thoroughly enjoyable read. It was full of drama and angst and passion.
Sebastian and Vanessa had instant chemistry. It jumped straight into their relationship, and I enjoyed the surprises that pounced suddenly in their relationship. Their chemistry was passionate and fiery and i adored them as a couple.
The drama was five stars! A lot happened in the book. It was never boring.
And the steam did not disappoint!
Etched in Stone was a thrilling, steamy and dramatic read. It was a wonderful read, and I cannot wait to see more from the couple!
It’s been just her and her mom since Vanessa’s dad died and unfortunately, her mom’s become a kleptomaniac since then. She rarely got caught, but when she did for the fourth time, Vanessa’s mom was going to be charged. To save her from jail, Vanessa makes a deal with Officer Herouvim: collect evidence of insider trading at her new job. Things get complicated when she meets and falls for the CEO, Sebastian Stone and soon she has to choose between protecting him and saving her mom…
The plot is a little cliché , but the Liv Arnold’s writing skills makes this an enjoyable read. Vanessa is a strong character who knew where to draw the line, and Sebastian is sweet and unpredictable. They have such great chemistry together. If you’re looking for a funny, steamy, dramatic, swoon-worthy read, give this one a try!
Etched in Stone is a contemporary workplace romance written in third person narrative. It’s a standalone that ends with a HEA. No cliffhanger, no cheating.
I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Fresh out of grad school, Vanessa Lang has been hired for her dream job as an analyst at Stone Corp. Unfortunately, her kleptomaniac mother is caught shoplifting soon after and the investigating detectives strikes a deal with Vanessa in exchange for her mother’s freedom: find evidence of insider trading within the corporation. But as she grows closer to the attractive CEO, Sebastian Stone, things become more complicated and soon Vanessa has to choose between her mother and the man she’s come to love.
I enjoyed this story, but I wanted to shake Vanessa at times. She brought a lot of her problems on herself by withholding the truth and failing to trust Sebastian, especially after how much he proved himself. This made it a bit hard for me to really connect with Vanessa, but Sebastian was great and luckily Vanessa recognized this too and fixed her mistakes eventually. The timelines had me a bit confused as to how much time had actually passed and law enforcement gets a bit of an unnecessarily bad rap here, but the villain was sleazy and awful in the most delightful way. The premise was a bit unbelievable, but that far-fetched element made this feel a bit whimsical and helped me get into the book and remember it was still fiction; this is sometimes difficult for me when it comes to contemporary and probably why I don’t read it much. I enjoyed Sebastian as a hero and liked him and Vanessa as a couple, though I would’ve liked to see more of a resolution between them and his dad at the end. This was a premise I haven’t read before and I appreciated its ambitious originality. All in all, this was a solid debut effort from a promising new author and I’ll be keeping up with her next releases.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Etched in Stoneis the ideal read for a quiet night in! It had just enough humor, drama, and steam. The story opens with our heroine, Vanessa Lang, having just found out that she landed her dream job after graduating college and now has to use this job to get her mother out of a more than sticky situation. Just before landing both the job and spy duty, she runs into the hero, Sebastian Stone. Their chemistry sparks there and grows throughout the novel.
I found the heroine to be very likable strong, sweet, and witty. The hero is mysterious, sexy and a perfect fit for Vanessa!
The story flowed well and the relationship between the two main characters never felt forced. Those were the two main points that pushed this to a 4 star read for me! I only wish we had more insight into Sebastian. Maybe his POV for a couple chapters. That might just be my own personal preference when it comes to books. I like to get into both the hero & heroine’s head.
Keeping it spoiler free as it’s a new release. Give it a shot, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
I enjoyed reading this and getting to see Vanessa and Sebastian’s relationship grow along with the suspense and the secrets Vanessa held. I actually wanted more. There were some things I feel weren’t explained much but I guess it could be said that it was left to the reader’s imagination. But it left me with questions. I can’t say too much as to not give out spoilers but you will enjoy this. The chemistry was amazing and the characters were intriguing.
This is the first book I have read from this author so I really didn’t know what to expect going in and while I didn’t love the book, I did feel like it has the makings of a great one. I really enjoyed both main characters, Sebastian and Vanessa. I really liked their connection and how there wasn’t a whole lot of “battle” when it came to their feelings for each other. However, I felt the book was lacking in details. It’s not really one thing in particular that I can point to. I just felt like the book moved at lightening speed in some parts where I wished it would slow down and in others I felt like it dragged a little and wanted it to speed up. I will definitely read this author again. As I said I liked the book, I just didn’t love it, but I do think this author has the makings of being really good.
Review by Tabitha
Though short this book is a great read. Vanessa is blackmailed by a detective to go undercover and investigate stoneCorp. Vanessa was expecting Sebastian. She has to keep her mom out of jail even as shes falling in love with Sebastian. The connection between the two main characters is perfect and Liv writes beautifully.
I recieved an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
A faster paced read. It has a little bit of everything, that keeps you on your toes and has you wanting more. The chemistry and instant connection between Vanessa and Sebastian sizzles and scorches from beginning to end. The banter they share had me chuckling throughout.
A very enjoyable read overall. I’m so glad I took a chance on a new author because she did not disappoint. I’m looking forward to more in the future. You’ll love it, just like I did!
This was a fun and fast read! It definitely reminded me a little bit of 50 Shades of Grey but with a Law & Order style twist. Vanessa just kept getting into the most unfortunate situations, some laughable, some not. Sebastian is everything you want in a powerhouse CEO. He was fabulously unapologetic in his desires, especially the sexual ones. His scenes with Vanessa are H-O-T. I liked the suspense and mystery element to this story. Is Sebastian a bad guy or not? You really don’t know the answer until the end. Some key elements to the story seemed a little far fetched and I would have liked more details for some of the characters, hence my 3 star review. Overall though it was an enjoyable and easy read! One last little note, the title says “Invested in You Book 1”, however this book doesn’t end in a cliffhanger, so that part is a little unclear. Book 2 could be a continuation of Vanessa and Sebastian’s story, or it could focus on a different couple completely, I’m really not sure.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Liv Arnold is a new to me author and let me tell you I love her story telling. Etched in Stone was a sexy read with lots of humor. I enjoyed the characters so much especially Sebastian. Swoon worthy. The story was original and I haven’t read anything like this in awhile. It’s a story about being stuck in a hard place and trying to get yourself out of it. Things happen unexpectedly and doing everything possible to keep yourself afloat. This was an enjoyable and fun read. The blurb sucked me in and I don’t regret one moment. If you’re looking for an easy read that will give you goosebumps, laughter and sweetness this one for you.
A debut novel, Etched in Stone, was a quick and fun read. At 159 pages long, the story moves quickly but steadily. The meet cute made me both cringe and giggle. I loved the puns and one-liners. Vanessa and Sebastian were likable and relatable, as were most of the characters. The relationship was evenly paced, sweet, and held just the right amount of steam for the length of the book. The secondary characters were fleshed out well enough to add depth to the story and allow for the “showing” of Vanessa’s personality/morals/ethics. As a reader, I want to witness these traits instead being told about them and this is where the book excelled. I was “shown” instead of “told”. As with any book under 200 pages, there were times I wish a few more pages were devoted to the fine details. In this one, it was the “how” of the suspense plot. I had to suspend my disbelief a little more than I would have liked. I also would have liked a little more backstory on Sebastian’s relationship with his parents (especially his father). Still, given the length, I think the author did a great shop of giving readers a fleshed out story that is sure to please. I look forward to reading this author’s next book.