Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Raine Miller's Rare and Precious Things. My stop includes all the pertinent details about the book, an excerpt, a trailer, my review, and a giveaway.
This tour is presented by The Book Avenue.
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Rare and Precious Things by Raine Miller
The Blackstone Affair #4
Release Date: February 28, 2014
Source: I received an eARC, as part of the blog tour, in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Synopsis
The fourth part in the New York Times bestselling series, The
Blackstone Affair: A bright beginning for two damaged souls
fighting for their hard-won love, and the promise of a new hope to secure their happily ever after.
Fresh from an idyllic honeymoon along the Italian coast, the Blackstones prepare for the birth of their precious baby and the challenges of settling into a new home. But things get complicated when specters from the past reappear to threaten the very foundation of their relationship. Ethan and Brynne will have to fight harder than ever for each other. Rare and Precious Things is the story of two people who both need the other in order to be complete, but learn just how "rare" their brand of love is when they have to risk everything in order to hold onto it.
“BELLA, you look magnificent, the glow in your cheeks, everything, is utter perfection.” Marco, kissed me on both cheeks as was custom, then held me at arm’s length for a thorough perusal. “Lovely dress. I can see that marriage and motherhood is agreeing with you, darling.”
I felt Ethan’s hand at my back soften and relax at Marco’s friendly, but appropriate greeting. Maybe he’d get over his paranoia that Marco was trying to bag me every time he photographed me. Ethan just didn’t understand that Marco wasn’t like that at all. He was a professional photographer doing a job with me, and nothing
more. Well, nothing more than a working, platonic friendship. He’d always been kind to me, and I liked working with Marco Carvaletti very much. I hoped Ethan could see it here tonight as we all interacted.
“It is, Marco, and I don’t think I could be any happier.” I leaned into Ethan, nudging him to speak up. “Mr. Carvaletti, thank you for the invitation. We’ve been looking forward to this all day.” Ethan lied smoothly, offering his hand, playing the social gentleman to perfection, which he was well skilled at. I guess he did it out of love for me. I knew he didn’t want to be here anymore than he wanted me modeling. I mouthed a thank you only visible to him. He kissed me on the cheek and whispered in my ear, “Don’t forget about Simba, baby.” Then he wandered off to get drinks for us.
Marco took me on a tour of his elegantly restored 17th century villa as I marveled at all of the art. He had a whole room set up as a gallery of his photographs. There were a couple of me in there. One where I sat in a formal chair with one knee up, strategically placed, my expression far away and pensive. The other pose was a side view recreation of a vintage Ziegfeld Follies girl with a feather boa and some satin pumps. It was one of the first portraits I posed for and I really thought it was nicely choreographed.
“It is a beautiful piece, bella. I knew when we did that series you had the gift.” Marco stood behind me admiring the image he had
created with me as the subject.
“I was so nervous posing, but you made me laugh when you told me to imagine Iggy Pop in a dress.” I shrugged. “That broke the ice and I was fine after that.”
“That one works for me every time, bella.”
“Well, Iggy Pop in a dress is funny, so good job, Marco.” We laughed together and made our way back to the main gathering.
Where was Ethan with my drink? I scanned the room for sight of him, but didn’t see his tall form standing out among the crowd anywhere. And I needed water.
“He is talking to Carolina and Rogelio, my friends,” Marco said, correctly reading my quest to find Ethan. “I believe they have discovered they are acquainted already.”
Really? Ethan knew people at this party? I suppose it wasn’t as bad
as he’d predicted it would be after all. Couldn’t wait to bust him about his whining to come here.
“Oh, well that’s great. I look forward to meeting them. But first, I need to get some water. I’m really thirsty after spending a long time swimming in the ocean today. Must be all the salt.”
“Come with me, bella, I will take care of you.”
Rare and Precious Things continues the love story of Brynne and Ethan. I was once again able to indulge in the decadence that is Raine Miller's writing. I was immersed in the strong emotions between Brynne and Ethan and delighted in how they each continued to grow.
In Rare and Precious Things, Brynne and Ethan are married and beginning their life together while preparing for the arrival of Baby Blackstone. If I thought seeing Ethan with Brynne before made me swoon, witnessing him with a pregnant Brynne and then with Baby Blackstone made me completely melt! Watching as Ethan ensures Brynne eats, and keeps track of how the baby is growing...it was so sweet!
Fate is a interesting thing and was definitely at work for Brynne and Ethan. We get a glimpse of how fate seems to have been involved in their relationship from the start. There's even a strange twist that has them interestingly linked with the couple who previously lived in Stonewell, the country 'cottage' that serves as their second home.
Rare and Precious Things was so utterly satisfying - not only in seeing Brynne and Ethan with a little less turmoil in their relationship, but mostly I love that we got to see Ethan work through his past in a real way, although it was mostly off-page. Both Brynne and Ethan suffered traumas in their pasts that left them broken in a way. We've seen Brynne as she's worked her way through it. Things happen in this book allowing her to heal more thoroughly. But I was thrilled at Ethan's desire to work through his PTSD for his sake, Brynne's and their child's. This was fulfilling for me in that they healing made their relationship that much stronger. They do have a rare connection and they do each complete the other.
Ms. Miller said Rare and Precious Things may not be the end for Brynne and Ethan, but for now it is. I certainly wouldn't mind getting more from these two, but I'm pleased with how things ended. And, of course, I have the spin-off novels to read. :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Raine Miller has been reading romance novels since she picked up that first Barbara Cartland book at the tender age of thirteen. And it's a safe bet she'll never stop, because now she writes them too! Granted Raine's stories are edgy enough to turn Ms. Cartland in her grave, but to her way of thinking, a hot, sexy hero never goes out of fashion. A part-time teacher and writer of sexy romance stories every other chance she gets pretty much fills her days. She has a handsome prince of a husband, and two brilliant sons to pull her back into the real world if the writing takes her too far away. Her sons know she likes to write stories, but gratefully have never asked to read any, thank God! Raine loves to hear from readers and to chat about the characters in her books.
**Other Books in the Series**
CHERRY GIRL (BOOK 3.5)
Blackstone Affair spin-off, yet can be a standalone
Love in Transit by Jana Aston, Ainsley Booth, Kitty French, BJ Harvey, Raine Miller, Liv Morris
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