Yes, I admit it. I chained myself to his pole.A STEAMY ROMANTIC COMEDY FREE ON KINDLE UNLIMITEDI’m talking about the ancient oak tree his firm was going to chop down. Get your mind out of the gutter.That’s how I met Sam Chalmer, the gorgeous only son of tycoon Carrington Chalmer. His company had plans to fell this beautiful old tree on behalf of a silent partner, and I wasn’t about to let it … fell this beautiful old tree on behalf of a silent partner, and I wasn’t about to let it happen without a fight.
Even though it was tempting to just give in. I was thoroughly enjoying the idea of being at Sam’s mercy while he figured out just what to do with me—until the area started to flood and I realized I had lost the key to unlock myself.
This may have started as an environmental statement, but it’s clear we’re both in over our heads…
Sam
There I was, avoiding my father’s typical patriarchal machinations and minding my own business, when I found out that Juniper Berry, an aptly-named daughter of genuine hippies, had chained herself to a tree my company was going to cut down.
I had plenty of ideas how to turn Juni’s playful taunting to my advantage, seeing as she was literally chained to a tree in front of me, her body on full display. None of them involved nearly drowning or a boat rescue.
Now things are even more complicated: I’m falling for a literal tree-hugger when I’m supposed to be heiress hunting and managing a big business deal—and it’s all because I made a promise to save that damn oak tree.
I’m never underestimating foliage again.
more
Who doesn’t love curling up on the sofa on a rainy weekend in indulging in some romantic comedies? I have to admit that romantic comedies are a guilty pleasure of mine. I read all Bridget Jones books in a single sitting and I did exactly the same with ‘Flooded’, the first book in the ‘Beautiful But Strange’ series by J. J. Sorel.
A steamy, yet rather hilarious love affair begins when a strong-minded, hippy chick, Juniper Berry (yes that is her real name) chains herself to a tree that was set to be cut down. That is how she meets Sam, the son of the business tycoon, tree-murderer. These are two people that are so not suited to one another, but they begin o fall for one another anyway, which is certainly complicated as they have such different motives and priorities in life. How will Sam and Juniper change one another, and is their romance doomed to failure?
The book was well-written, funny, and full of heart. I really enjoyed it and a cliff-hanger ending means that I absolutely need to get my hands on the next in the series.
This book was a quick read at that! I simply enjoyed this easy and fast-paced piece of erotica from author JJ Sorel. I have read other books from her and I can rightfully say that I have enjoyed them all! Her technique is not so complicated, she just has storylines that involve just a minor number of characters like for this one, it was just two: the male hunk, Sam and his love interest, the very firm but sexy virgin Juni. They had met when Sam, who was following his dad’s company’s orders, went to demolish an oak at a piece of land that the company is planning on developing for their own projects. But Juni, who is a strong environmentalist and tree-lover, has tied herself to the tree to prevent Sam from tearing it down. And that’s where their little sexual relationship blossomed from. I can’t really think of other things to say because this book is short and a quick read, but all I will say for now is that it entertained me indeed. Haha.
I usually shrug off romances like this and go for those by Danielle Steel, Nicholas Sparks and the likes but JJ Sorel I can’t walk away from. I read another book of hers before this one and it was erotic and that got me to become a fan of hers. It was a mystery and she wrote it so well. Her characters are hot and bothered and very thrilling to the senses. I hope as you read my musings about it here to get it for yourself and see what I’m talking about. Juni and Sam are a very unique type of couple in that Sam is a woman-hungry, oversexed type of hunk while there’s Juni who is a virgin who has never been with a man. I kind of classified her under the “nerd” or “geek” category. I think from what I get from her description and the cover photo that despite her innocence and her tree-hugging beliefs she does have the looks of a sexual vixen and a blonde beauty at that.
For those of you who are looking for a quick read this upcoming weekend, look no further than this one here. I finished it in four days because I like to take my time with a book but considering its short length and uncomplicated plot, this should take one full day to complete. Anyway, from me to you, get familiarized with JJ Sorel because she’s my newest favorite romance author out there. And not just romance but erotic at that!
Author J.J. Sorel has found success in writing romance novels with her popular THORNHILL TRILOGY (ENTRANCE, ENLIGHTEN, and ENFOLD) and followed that with three other steamy suspense romance books. FLOODED is Book 1 of her series BEAUTIFUL BUT STRANGE. She knows her Chick Lit genre and audience well.
Sorel introduces her main character Juniper Berry as the novel opens- ‘I looked up at the devil in a suit, a good-looking one at that. But hell, he wasn’t going to chop down my oak tree, charming smile or not. Boasting wildflowers, butterflies, and bird life that always made a drab day exceptional, that land, which resembled a green oasis, had been in my family for decades. Originally owned by my great-grandmother, it had been the setting to my magic spells when at the immature age of thirteen I’d gone all Harry Potter and started making spells, imagining that the wise old oak that I’d named Oscar had magical powers. Swapping my magic wand for lipstick, I’d had my first kiss under that tree. I’d also shed tears there after Owen Mitchell broke my heart by confessing that it was my brother he wanted to hook up with….’
This spunky lady is the beauty of the story, and as the author outlines, ‘As a departure from my darker, suspenseful romances, I felt like amusing myself by creating a quirky love story where the main characters come from very different upbringings. The underlying theme is that sexual chemistry doesn’t judge. When smoldering attraction takes a grip of their senses it doesn’t matter that she was reared by hippies, while Sam comes from a privileged background. Sam’s billionaire father has other ideas for his only son, which involves marrying a rich heiress, not a hippie, despite that heiress having a few surprises up her Versace sleeve. A menagerie of pets at Juni’s parent’s farm add to a madcap environment, especially a potty-mouthed parrot, and there’s the misuse of a dinosaur bone that makes a very unexpected reappearance. Underneath all of these layers of madness and parental expectations, are a pair of lovers, who really should hate each other, but can’t take their hands off each other, and their views on life are more in synch than either would have predicted. In many ways, it’s insta-love for Sam, while for Juni it’s more complicated. She’s carrying a secret which cannot stay a secret for long.’
Steamy romance, naughty language and a well-tuned sense of humor make this little novel fly. Toss in a flood (a nod to climate control issues!) and other twists and turns and the result is an evening’s outing with light romance.
Can a chance mishap, change the course of Sam and Juni’s life?
This is my 2nd book by the author and I loved this story of instant attraction despite the severe tension between Sam and Juni. Juni chains herself to save Oscar, the tree from being taking down by Sam, until a dam breaks causing Sam to rescue Juni from the raising waters. What follows is a night of intense passion, leaving Juni to wonder if she will ever hear from Sam again. Sam makes a deal with his father to save Oscar for Juni, but can’t connect with Juni after his cell was stolen. A month later, Sam finds Juni at the market, and they continue to spend time with each other and their families. But when Juni discovers Sam’s lie by omission and Sam discovers Juni’s, will there be a happily ever after for them? You have to read to find out and will be chuckling at Sam’s encounters with Juni’s family & farm members.
Don’t judge the book (billionaire) by it’s cover
Flooded, Book 1 of the Beautiful But Strange Series by JJ Sorel is an endearing romantic comedy. This first book is fast paced with wonderful characters that engage in some great flirty banter. Sam and Juni are not how they appear on the surface or upon their first introduction, much to the delight of the reader.
I really like the plot of this book as it is not completely transparent. There’s a lot of different ways this one can go and I am hooked, excited to see what Book 2 will bring. As Flooded ends on a positive note, it’s also a bit of a cliff hanger so I am totally invested in these characters to see what will happen next. My fingers are crossed for Oscar too!
I read an ARC of this book from Hidden Gems and voluntarily share my review.
Wonderful story, engaging characters
I loved the way this started out, a bit of enemies-to-lovers tension that quickly gives way to an intense rescue scene. Juni is a tough, determined young woman with a quirky and supportive family, while Sam’s father is more focused on the business and less on his family. Sam strives to do better, and I enjoyed his devotion and willingness to find a solution to the problem.
Sam and Juni’s relationship is fraught with miscommunication and insecurities yet balanced with an intense connection and undeniable chemistry. As the first in a trilogy this book doesn’t tie up all the story threads, but it does give us a HFN rather than a cliffhanger. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.