Swoony C. J. Duggan

See my review for book one Paradise City

Paradise Road
Paradise Book Two
Written by C. J. Duggan
New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
306 Pages
Published November 22nd 2015
Thank you to Hachette Australia
★★☆
The Road to Paradise is never easy
After a year on the coast, Lexie Atkinson can't settle back into country life. She’s missing the glitzy, gritty nightlife of the big city and the group of misfit friends she’d loved to hate. She knows to move forward she has to go back, back to face the guy who stole her heart.

But when Lexie arrives in Paradise City to work out if her future includes bad boy surfer, Luke Ballantine, he is nowhere to be found.

With no home, no money and no Luke, Lexie gets a job slinging drinks at the wild Wipe Out Bar. Soon her heartache is eased when broody bar owner, Dean Saville, starts taking an interest and stirs more than just her drinks. But nothing is ever as it seems in Paradise City and when Luke barrels back into town, Lexie has a choice to make. But who will end up with the broken heart. Luke, Dean... Or Lexie?
Lexie Atkinson is back in her sleepy home town of Red Hill for the summer, grieving for the relationship what could have been. With the bright lights of Paradise City in her sights, Lexie plans to return to the city. I adored Paradise City. A small town, home schooled Lexie Atkinson was a breath of fresh air as she navigated her new life in the city. In Paradise Road, unfortunately Lexie now is under the illusion that with her aunt and uncle unable to offer her accommodation, she'll be able to find work, complete her education and become independent. The one condition that will allow her to stay.

Conveniently, the Wipe Out Bar is looking for employees and with a small room available for lodgings, Lexie is now reluctantly employed by Dean Saville. Lexie is determined and begins to assert her dominance, believing she has the authority to transform the bar into a family friendly atmosphere. Her vision was innovative but ultimately, she is a young woman who knows nothing about small business management and infringed on her employment boundaries. While Lexie is coming to terms with her relationship falling apart, Luke is consistently in her thoughts even while beginning to pursue Dean as a romantic interest.

I found the romance between Lexie and Dean improbable unfortunately due to Lexie's demeanor, interchanging one brother for another. The pleasant, country charm is replaced by a determined and arrogant young woman, naive and frustrating. Although wonderfully written, Lexie was incredibly unpleasant and hindered my enjoyment of the duology finale.



Paris Lights
Heart Of The City Book One
Written by C. J. Duggan
Adult, Contemporary, Romance
251 Pages
Published November 2016
Thank you to Hachette Australia
Add to Goodreads
★★★★
Twenty five year old Claire Shorten had looked forward to spending a romantic weekend in Paris for as long as she could remember, and now it was here, three blissful days of strolling through cobbled streets arm in arm with her beloved, eating copious amounts of baked goods and soaking up the culture through each and every pore of her body. Well, at least, that was how she'd pictured it.

Even after her boyfriend dumps her rather unceremoniously in the most romantic place on earth, Claire is determined not to give up on her dream altogether, with or without a boyfriend. She finds herself a job in the kitchen of a small hotel. Michelin starred it most certainly is not, but somehow Claire makes a place for herself amidst the dirty dishes and the foreign misfits who run the place.

When the restaurant attracts the attention of the enigmatic, if not slightly terrifying, tycoon Louis Delarue and Claire manages to survive his high powered business luncheon from hell, she knows that she can survive anything, surely. But all bets are off when Louis makes a game changing decision, he's coming back for a second course...
Delicacies, Parisian art galleries and boutique hotels but for Claire Shorten, Paris is an experience. Compromising her itinerary to placate Liam, Claire is astonished when her partner declares they should see other people. Claire is devastated and upon returning to the Hotel Trocadero will determine whether to return to London and the apartment she shares with Liam or Melbourne. Stricken and collapsing in the hotel foyer, the hotel personnel places Claire in a new suite at the Trocadero where the twenty five tear old Australian continues to despair. The once grand Hotel Trocadero is a commotion of anxiety and elation as they've been chosen to partake in Renovation or Detonation. Impressing the merciless Louis Delarue is paramount to the Hotel Trocadero's application and with a background in event organising, Claire will guide and motivate hotel personnel as compensation for her accommodation.

Louis Delarue is infuriating and arrogant as he is handsome, wielding wealth and influence as his weapon. Confident, capable and determined, Claire will not become a casualty to anguish, she is tenacious and will reclaim Paris and she most definitely will not succumb to the charm and sex appeal of Louis Delarue.

My Thoughts

Claire is a passive, passionate girl who departed her home town of Melbourne for London to ensure her partner Liam achieved his aspirations. As their relationship evolved, Claire relinquished her sense of identity and Liam isn't manipulative or abusive, despite the circumstances surrounding their relationship seperation. On their final day sightseeing, Liam returns to London as a bachelor while Claire remains in Paris, grieving from the loss of her disproportional relationship.

Single. In Paris. Hello Pierre.


Rather than embrace the singleton lifestyle, Claire finds herself fantasising about Louis, sexy, domineering and sexy. Yes, I mentioned sexy twice. Rather than the typical male protagonist, Louis is mature, greying temples and although described as lean, Louis is an intellect. Passionate and ambitious. Claire offered very little resistance against Louis and his charismatic innuendo and I felt slightly disappointed by the relationship between Claire and Louis as it felt purely sexual.

Sexual tension y'all.

Paris Lights is mischievous, enticing and one young woman who is determined to embrace life. A brisk, pleasant read for an afternoon on the couch. 

14 comments

  1. I was so excited when I saw you’d reviewed some C.J.Duggan and as I clicked on the link I was thinking “It’s been too long since I read some Duggan, gotta get into some soon”. So I’m shattered you didn’t enjoy Paradise Road. The first book was so wonderful and I was ready looking forward to reading the squeal. I’ll still get around to trying it, but even in the first book I found the interrelation between Lexie and Dean farfetched. I loved Luke!! Luke all the way.

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    1. I loved Paradise City too Sarah but Paradise Road didn't work for me unfortunately. Paris Lights was a great little read though, my only complaint that I wish it was longer.

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  2. Okay, hard pass on the first one because of the siblings swap situation. That's uh no for me. Paris Lights is more up to my speed because: billionaires - hello! Adding that one to my pile. Thanks for the recc, hun!

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    1. It's a nice little read Joy. I don't read many adult romances but really enjoyed it and hello, billionaires and Paris. Winning combination.

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  3. Um, no to Lexie. That whole thing sounds annoying (even without your review) but the second book sounds good.

    For What It's Worth

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    1. Paris Lights is a wonderful, quick and light read but unfortunately I was so disappointed with Lexie in Paradise Road. It felt as though she couldn't have one brother so she settled for another.

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  4. Sorry to hear you didn't really love the first one, but Paris Lights seems nice! I do love books set in Paris - or any other country apart from the U.S. :)

    -Lauren

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    1. Same same Lauren, that's why I tend to prefer books set in Australia as well. I always love exploring fictional Paris and Paris Lights is a lovely little read.

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  5. I love Paris! I like the sound of Paris Lights, Your great review makes me want to read it!

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    1. It's a great read Cindy, a wonderful romance to read on a Sunday afternoon on the couch.

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  6. Ew, did I read that properly? Lexie swapped relationships with brothers?! Wtf...it's one thing to fall for a friend's ex...but to go between brothers?! That's a bit icky for me. Like, how screwed up will family Christmases be? :/

    I've seen these CJ Duggan books around. And while they've peaked my interest at times, I've never felt in the mood to pick a copy up. I love the Melbourne to Paris setting though. Perhap one day, I'll feel inclined to be swept away by a swoony romance ;)

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    1. She did Joy. She did. Totally awkward. It honestly felt as though she couldn't get what she needed from one brother so she simply shifted that affection to the brother who was left behind. Such a shame because I love C. J. Duggan and her previous books. Paris Lights was a surprise for me actually. I don't read too many adult romances but really enjoyed it.

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  7. I would totally give Paris Lights a shot... sometimes, mischievous (I love how you described it like that) is just what you need!

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    1. It's one of those reads for a lazy Sunday, especially with winter coming.

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