Artfully Yours

<br />? FREE on Amazon today (2/3/2018)! ?<br /><br />Blurb:<br />Elle Finley is looking for more. Tired of chaotic ER shifts and a home life that revolves around Netflix, pizza, and sleep, when her injured sister needs her help back home Elle jumps at the chance to shake things up. She's not prepared for the sexy stranger next door who seems intent on sweeping her off her feet and then doing other--more exciting--stuff to her.<br /><br />Metal sculptor Alex Zacharov can't believe his luck when the girl he fell in love with eighteen years ago walks right back into his arms. Although he recognizes her in a heartbeat, she has no idea who he is, or what she means to him. Alex is more comfortable with a welding torch and hot metal than with dating and romance. He's focused, intense, and used to getting what he wants...and he wants Elle. Even if he has to learn how to date her first.

I am really into arty types of characters, so when I saw this book I decided to give it a chance.<br /><br />My main problem with the writing style. Throughout the book I got so confused! I couldn’t even keep up with who said what.<br /><br />I liked the storyline, and characters but that wasn’t enough to save this story for me.<br /><br />

3.5 stars. Very enjoyable. I found myself laughing out loud a few times and enjoyed both of the quirky main characters.

It was a 5* story but it ends in a cliffhanger is now it got dropped. I loved it had me laughing throughout the entire story until the drop off. I want more! Don't expect any hot and bothered scenes, it's a clean romance with some heavy petting and not from Gargoyle the wolf/husky/what-have-ya dog with his drolly soaked squeaky bear, he is funny and loveable. <br /><br />Alex Zacharov was 18 senior, new in school when he first saw Elle Finley, 16. She was his light in his darkness and he made is move. Years later he's back and living in his old place and became a metal artist take had years sculpting is art from his first and only true kiss and muse and now he's in a slump. Needing to find a way to see his muse love. <br />Elle Finley has had a rough childhood, a laughing stock in her sophomore year and possibly until she graduated. Her love life is non existent each man start out hot and ends dull. New change is coming when her baby sister, oh the drama, Jenny, needs Elle back due to an accident and she leaves A LOT of truths out until Elle is back in her hometown and finding out first hand the war she comes back to. Neither one knows she's back until a run in for Chunky Monkey and Elle sees a sexy man and Alex sees his passion awakening. Can Elle deal with what Alex sculpt's and can Alex handle what Elle has feared....<br /><br />ARC was voluntarily exchanged for a honest review.

3 &amp; 1/2 stars rounded up.<br />I enjoyed this story, it held my interest to the end, even though the main characters (Elle &amp; Alex) seemed to base a relationship off of lust not love. I did like most of the characters including the supporting characters. It was clicking along great with a good flow, &amp; then abruptly ended. The ending was totally rushed! The ending also left unanswered questions, like what was in the article, did he have a show, did the relationship work out, etc? (the ending was the reason for 3 &amp; 1/2 stars cause it left me frustrated) An epilogue might have helped that ending out, with something in the future, maybe at the art show showing they are still together &amp; madly in love or something. I would also have loved to know what Alex said to her at the restaurant- in Russian- that had the women so sexually charged up! LOL Like most women, a good accent or words spoken in another language, sigh, I could listen to an Irish or Scottish accent all day! This book was set up well for a series, I see Gabe has his book out now, &amp; I'm sure the sister will have a book too.

Cute but too short-Like nanosecond short. The writing is good, the pace is hectic, and the dog is genius comedic relief. I nearly put the novella down when Elle literally runs into Alex at the grocery store. That cliche is so old and trite, it’s like a crusty piece of bread. It may look good but it tastes like cardboard and cuts your throat as you attempt to swallow it. The author saves the day though by turning the cliche into an illustration of Alex’s weirdness and awkwardness. <br /><br />Love Gargoyle. Literally would have read the book just for the snippets about the dog. While the incredibly short length of the books makes the declarations of love not quite credible, the characters are great- real and multi-dimensional, and I was looking forward to more of them in a full length novel! Sadly, I didn’t know it was a novella before I read it, but it does a fantastic job of illustrating the beginning of a relationship and doesn’t succumb to the RN cliche of having a wedding or baby as the HEA.

Elle Finley gets called by her sister to come back home and help her out in taking care of her daughter. Back home she runs into Alex Zacharov, a sexy artist who knew Elle long back from High school when she became his muse without her knowing. He lost her then, but now that she's back he won't let her go.<br />So, the only problem i had with the book is how it started really slow, i mean i was through 40% and the main characters only got to meet once, it frustrated me. But other than that i really loved both characters especially Alex, all that silent brooding hot Artist who growls whenever there is another guy close to the h, who wouldn't love that ? <br />Overall it was a sexy, fun read. I kept smiling like a goof through it all and even laughed out loud more than a couple of times.

<strong>Disappointed ending...</strong><br /><br /><br />Was enjoying this easy read book, the characters, the way it was written, yes predictable but then it just stopped. It ended. Story over. WTF....?<br /><br />If I actually had the physical book in my hand I would have turned the last page back and forward wondering where the rest of the story had gone to. Was that it...? The story is finished?? <br /><br />It felt like the author was writing a very small word count, had reached it and then it was like, the end. It had the potential to be an OK kind of read but then it just finished. Really....? Can you tell I feel ripped off and disappointed??

<strong>This book is so much fun!</strong><br /><br />Absolutely adorable, funny, romantic and sweet! It's a quick read, lots of fun, compact entertainment. Elle is a quirky, linear thinking nurse and Alex is a masterful artist passionate about his set and Elle. <br />I'm impressed with Isabel North's ability to write about the spicy, sexy stuff, without being overly explicit. This is a book you can read in the waiting room of your OB/GYN. It's entertaining enough that you don't notice the wait but not so steamy you start blushing when your name is called to see the doctor. Excellent!

I have mixed feelings about this book. I really liked it and was all set to love it until the end. It ends way too abruptly. Just stops. It needs at least a couple more chapters to feel like a finished book instead of like you lost half the book when it downloaded. And the huge lusty build up that leads to nothing, not even an emotional recap, left the story feeling emotionally flat. I liked the story and it is well written but needs to be fleshed out a little more to make it a really enjoyable read.