Erin Reviews: Love's Acquisition by Stella Gardner

Love's Acquisition by Stella Gardner-Adult Contemporary Romance

Kindle format given by author for review

When venture capitalist Rock Washington walked into Ella Michaels’ office, the last thing he expected was to be caught in her web. The beautiful business woman in the expensive Chanel suit was articulate and professional, yet there was something about her; something vulnerable in her eyes that haunted him and made him want nothing more than to love and protect her. 

After the deaths of her beloved father and brother and the demise of an abusive marriage, Ella Michaels was devoted to preserving her father’s legacy by making Michael’s Trading Group the premier investment bank it once was. Devastated by the state of the economy and ruthless competitors, the company floundered, so when she received Rock Washington’s generous offer, she couldn't help but be intrigued. 

Rock Washington was handsome, brilliant, and intimidating. His tailored suits and confident demeanor exhibited humble opulence. Regardless of how hard she tried to fight it, she was drawn to him and knew that no matter what else was at stake, she belonged by his side.

Erin's Take:

I was looking forward to this story, I mean who doesn't love a romance where the dashing hero wins over the broken-hearted heroine? I really liked Rock as the cocky rich bachelor, swooping in and turning Ella's world around. Despite his ruthlessness in the business world, he had a sweet side that was easy for her to fall in love with. I felt for Ella because she really struggled with her painful past, though her fear of being near a man was a bit overdone at times. Rock was more than patient and had a heart of gold when it came to proving his trustworthiness to Ella, and I was relieved when she finally let down the walls that she had built up to protect herself. Unfortunately, I wasn't as emotionally connected to these characters as much as I'd like to have been. I've come across this from time to time with romance novels, but the dialogue was very formal and lacked the personality that makes the reader feel like the characters are 'real' people. With the plot for this story not being something that's entirely new and different, I think the characters really needed to sell it, and they were just okay for me.

Overall, I enjoyed Ella and Rock's story and I'm pleased with how things wrapped up; I think this would appeal to romance fans looking for a lighter read.