Love Under Construction Series by Deanndra Hall Reviewed by Melonie
The Groundbreaking (Love Under Construction 0.5) by Deanndra Hall
Nine lives. Nine stories. One last, best hope. But will they find it in time? The introductory volume to the Love Under Construction Series, this quick read introduces you to the major characters in the series. The books within the series are not stand-alone, and reading this one will help the reader understand them better. All other books in this series are full-length novels.
Meet the Walters family of Louisville, Kentucky, and their extended family and friends. This introductory volume introduces the reader to the major characters in the series and gives some insight into what makes them who they are in a series of vignettes from their pasts. From Tony, the owner of the family construction business who's still dealing with his mentally-unstable ex-wife, to Steve, his attorney who also owns a security firm (and a BDSM club too) while he holds everyone at arms-length, to a widow, Nikki, who thinks her life is pretty well over, there's plenty of drama, fun, and white-hot, sex-filled romance to keep readers entertained for hours. There's Kelly, working in the insurance industry while no one knows her past; Jose, a former cage fighter-turned-personal security specialist; and Molly, a woman spurned in the worst of ways. Laura's clothes cover a painful secret that could get her killed, and Peyton, the wholesome boy next door, struggles with an injury from his service in Kandahar. And don't forget Vic, Tony's cousin and the manager of the construction company's Lexington office, who's six feet and eight inches of the hottest Italian the United States was lucky enough to find on their shores. This introductory work introduces readers to the major characters in the series and is a quick read; the four volumes to follow are full-length novels. None of the volumes are stand-alone and are written to be read in order to get the most enjoyment from them. Use The Groundbreaking as your portal - jump in and find out who lives, who dies, and who finds the love of their life. It's a rollicking good time, between the sheets and out!
Review
I waited to write my review for this until after I read Laying a Foundation. For me this is not really a prequel but is a great book that you can read to get to know a little more about the characters in the series. I think it would depend on the person and how good they remember things on whether or not I would recommend this be read before or after Laying a Foundation. For me I was glad I read it before Laying a Foundation. If I had not read it first I would have been somewhat confused by some of the characters. I am glad the author decided to write this because while some of these characters are just background characters in Laying a foundation I think it is important that the reader knows a little bit about them!
Reviewed by Melonie
Laying a Foundation (Love Under Construction #1) by Deanndra Hall
Tony is a successful businessman whose personal life has been almost unbearable thanks to his crazy ex-wife. Nikki lost her husband and children in a tragic accident and barely has a life. It looks like there's a "happily ever after" on the horizon - until an ecoterrorism group with a personal bone to pick threatens everything.
Tony Walters operates a successful construction company in Louisville, Kentucky; he's anything but successful in his personal life, thanks to a mean-spirited, mentally ill ex-wife. Nikki Wilkes has lived for five years with almost no life, thanks to a drunken driver's mistake that took her husband and children from her. It seems the universe has aligned to make sure they meet, and their shy and sweet attempts to build a relationship blossom just as an ecoterrorism group begins to threaten the construction business. But as time goes by, it becomes clear that the threat is directed personally at Tony, and as the group's efforts escalate, it looks like answered prayers for a special someone in their lives might morph into not having a prayer for a "happily ever after." Through it all, family and friends stand by them and add to the madness, mayhem, and hilarity, while the bedroom smokes with enough scorching, crazy, adventurous sex to set everything on fire.
The main characters are all over the age of thirty-five, and most are well over forty. A fun, mature, erotic romp with enough suspense and danger to leave you breathless. Not a stand-alone; the four novels are designed to be read in order for greatest enjoyment. It'll make you say, "I didn't see that coming!" more than once and leave you smiling!
WARNING: This book contains BDSM themes and criminal violence. Not suitable for readers under 18 years of age. Reader discretion is advised.
Review
This book left me speechless! When I started this book I was not sure what to expect since the lead characters are so much older than me and knowing that Deanndra's stories are never short of steamy scenes I was almost scared that it would be like reading about my parents. However that was not the case. There was plenty of steamy scenes that were pretty awesome but I was so into the characters that age did not really factor in for me. This book caught my interest from the very first page and I could not put it down or quit turning pages. I fell in love with not only the lead characters but several of the secondary characters also.
Nikki and Tony have both had their fair share of tragedy in their lives and both have pretty much given up on love. When these two meet things become explosive quickly and the chemistry is intense. The ride that their relationship will take you on is one heck of a rollercoaster and will throw many curve balls your way keeping you on the edge of your seat as these two fight too keep their relationship going. There is someone out to hurt Tony and his company, Nikki had to try and gain the acceptance of Tony's huge family including his mother and kids. There is crazy exes also! This book has it all humor, sadness, love, happiness, mystery, tragedy. I loved this book and can not wait to read more. I highly recommend this book to anyone over the age of 18.
Reviewed by Melonie
Tearing Down Walls (Love Under Construction #2) by Deanndra Hall
You're a successful businessman. A molten-blooded Italian hunk. And the newest, hottest, most in-demand service Dom/top in a 500-mile radius, with dozens of women falling at your feet. So, which woman? How do you choose?
That's easy - you pick the one who can't stand you.
And that's exactly what Vic has done. He's tried desperately to get the wrong woman out of his heart, and it looks like he may have succeeded. And just when he thinks everything in his life is falling into place, Cupid plays a nasty joke on him and he falls for the one woman who doesn't want to be anywhere near him, Somehow it isn't already bad enough that he has a secret keeping him from having a loving, long-term relationship; to make matters worse, if he wants to have a chance with the ice princess, he has to keep her alive long enough to tear down the walls she's built around herself.
Laura is as prickly as they get, but there's a reason. Her clothes hide a secret that she's sure would make any man run, and that secret is about to get her killed. The trauma she endured during her service to her country left her unable to feel any emotion or trust anyone, and the idea of ever letting a man touch her is out the window. When she returned home from Bosnia, her family shunned her and her harsh personality, so she's dealt with her demons alone and on her own for too long. But Laura didn't expect to meet a man who would promise to keep her safe and would die to keep that promise. That makes him a man worth trusting. And when her past wants to kill her to keep her quiet, can she open up to him before it's too late?
The second full-length novel in the Love Under Construction series, Tearing Down Walls is a fun, erotic, romantic, and suspenseful romp that takes you back into the world of the Walters family of Louisville, Kentucky. It features many characters over the age of 40 and contains too many steamy, hedonistic sex scenes to be suitable for anyone under 18 years of age. Step into the Walters' world and have some fun!
Review
Deanndra Hall does it again! Once again I was unable to put this book down. Even during the first book I was interested in Vic and this book just made me fall in love with him. Granted there were times that I wanted to slap him too! This book has everything that I have come to expect from Deanndra. There is mystery, tragedy, love, happiness, humor, and of course we can not forget the steamy scenes too! Every time I thought I knew what was going to happen in this book it took a completely different turn.
Vic is an amazing male lead and has so many layers that I did not see coming. There were times I wanted to slap him and also times where I wanted to pull him right out of the book and hide him from all the things that have happened to him.
Laura is the same way. She has suffered so much and to watch her grow and find herself is worth reading the story all on its own.
Then of course you have all the other characters that you have come to know in this series like Steve( not sure I really like him), Tony and Nikki , and the rest of the family too. The whole crazy bunch! I would highly recommend this book to anyone over the age of 18!
Reviewed by Melonie
Renovating A Heart (Love Under Construction #3) by Deanndra Hall
Steve McCoy survived a harrowing youth and a horrible tragedy and still made it as a successful attorney and businessman. And he’s managed to keep his broken, battered heart under wraps by working with short-term submissives at his popular BDSM club, Eden’s Gate.
Until Kelly Markham came along. Kelly’s history was as bad or worse than Steve’s. She lost the only man she ever loved, a faithful, loving Dom, but she never lost hope. When she’s invited to visit Eden’s Gate, she feels like she’s finally found a home. Better yet, she finds a man who’ll help her reintegrate into the community, even if his help is only offered for one month.
Unfortunately, Kelly discovers that being Steve’s submissive is not easy. Matter of fact, when she accidentally trips a trigger from Steve’s history, being his submissive could actually be dangerous, even deadly. Steve’s determined to keep her at a distance and never show her his heart, but can he hold out when he realizes his best shot at a happily ever after might not survive?
Review
No surprise Deanndra Hall does it again! This book just like the rest sucked me in from the very beginning and I could not stop reading until it was over. This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster. There were times where I wanted to throw it and reach through and slap the characters. There were also parts where I cried and wanted to protect the characters too. and then by the end I was left saying what the heck just happened and left wanting more!
Steve and Kelly's story was crazy and wild. Incredible steamy scenes and a heck of an emotional ride. When this book first started I hated Steve, but throughout the book I fell in love with him. While reading this book you get an in depth look at him and it broke my heart. The connection that I feel towards these characters is crazy, but that is what makes a great book! I highly recommend to anyone over 18!
Reviewed by Melonie
Planning An Addition (Love Under Construction #4) by Deanndra Hall
There are moments in every life when we make a choice that defines who we really are. Peyton Stokes is about to step into that moment.
Peyton Stokes is pretty sure no woman will ever want him. When he strapped that prosthesis on his lower left leg, he took on the belief that he was off the market for a meaningful relationship forever. That self-imposed label of "cripple" has followed him and dogged him. On a whim, he decides to ask Molly Walters - mature, smart, and beautiful - to go out with him, only to be shocked when she asks him out first. One chance is all he needs to prove to her that he can get the job done, and he wants to take that chance.
Problem is, his best friend, José Flores, unknowingly decides that Molly looks like a pretty good prospect too. Even though she's having fun with Peyton, Molly can't help but be drawn to the dark hair, dark eyed ex-cage fighter turned security specialist. The fact that he's almost two decades younger than her doesn't hurt her self-esteem either. While Peyton soothes everything in Molly's soul, José's brand of balls-to-the-wall, red-hot fun turns up the heat to scorching every time he touches her. She knows she eventually has to tell them about each other and make some kind decision, and Molly makes one.
She wants them both.
That revelation brings about a turn of events no one could've anticipated. When things fall apart, Molly tries to pick up the pieces, but that's hard when someone you love has disappeared. It'll take everyone who loves him to find him, with or without the help of the one man he loves the most. And that one man has to decide: Are his labels worth losing not one, but two people he loves? He's got to decide quickly. Otherwise, it may be too late - eternally.
Revisit the world of the Walters family in this concluding novel of the Love Under Construction series. You'll find out who lives, who dies, and who expands their world - and their family. And in Renovating a Heart, Book 3, we were left with the question of Nikki Walters' health. That question lives large in Planning an Addition as Tony Walters is left to face the looming prospect that he may have to live out the rest of his life without the only woman who ever really loved him. He's not entirely sure he can do that, but all hope has been exhausted and time is running out. Someone in the family holds the key, but Tony will have to be willing to let her step in. And that will take a giant leap of the faith he's pretty sure he's exhausted.
Funny how everything changes when it's a matter of life or death.
NOTE: This book contains graphic sexual content unsuitable for those under the age of 18. Reader discretion is advised.
Review
Deanndra Hall has done it again!!!! This is an amazing conclusion to her Love Under Construction Series! I don't even know where to start...... This book takes you on one of the highest emotional rollercoasters I have read in 2014! I went from laughing to crying and then thought I might need Sham-wow panties from the steam coming from the book. This book does a great job at wrapping up all the characters from the series, but also gives you a deeper look into some characters that you may not know much about! Tony and Nikki are still the same amazing couple as you have come to know and love. The things that test them in this book are things that so many people can relate to, and it will have you wanting to cuss, scream, and cry!
Peyton, Jose, and Molly are characters that you get a more in depth look into. I loved getting to know them even if I wanted to slap all 3 of them at one point or another!
Peyton absolutely stole my heart! Vic has always been my favorite in this series but Peyton gave him a good run! He is the perfect man! Super sweet and loving. When he falls he goes all in and has no problems showing it.
Jose took a little time for me to fall in love with, but he ended up breaking my heart with his story. There were times that I wanted to just pull him out of the book and hug him and tell him everything was going to be okay!
What do you say about Molly? I will start off with I have not liked Molly since the beginning of the series and the most of this book I wanted to slap her around. As I got to really know her and understand her I would have to say she grew on me a little bit. Now I can see where she is coming from.
You also get to see all your other favorite characters such as Vic, Laura, Steve, Kelly,Clayton, Brittany, Annabeth, Katie, and many more! The whole gang is here!
Im not sure how Deanndra does it but she will suck you into her books and won't let go. She is absolutely amazing at what she does and is in my top 5 favorite authors of all time!
This whole series is a must read in my opinion but especially this book. Even though the year is not over I will say this is my # 1 book of 2014!
Reviewed by Melonie
Overall this series is a must read 5 stars across the board!
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