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Neil & Elaina #1
Cherry Girl
A Blackstone Affair novel. Spin-off, yet can be read standalone. Book 1.
Elaina Morrison has loved Neil McManus her whole life. She doesn’t remember a time when she didn’t love him. Through heartbreaking tragedy and years of separation, her love holds true…until life stomps all over her heart, shattering her perfect dream, teaching her how hard it is to let go.
Real life doesn’t have anything on romantic dreams though, as these two have learned repeatedly. It sucks big time, leaving painful scars in its wake.
But Neil isn’t giving up. He’s endured years of longing and sacrifice to wait for her. Always a soldier, he knows his way around a battlefield, and winning Elaina is no different. So that’s precisely what Neil is going to do. He'll go in fighting, and make Elaina see what he already knows.
That she will forever be his Cherry Girl…
Elaina Morrison has loved Neil McManus her whole life. She doesn’t remember a time when she didn’t love him. Through heartbreaking tragedy and years of separation, her love holds true…until life stomps all over her heart, shattering her perfect dream, teaching her how hard it is to let go.
Real life doesn’t have anything on romantic dreams though, as these two have learned repeatedly. It sucks big time, leaving painful scars in its wake.
But Neil isn’t giving up. He’s endured years of longing and sacrifice to wait for her. Always a soldier, he knows his way around a battlefield, and winning Elaina is no different. So that’s precisely what Neil is going to do. He'll go in fighting, and make Elaina see what he already knows.
That she will forever be his Cherry Girl…
300 pages, ebook
First published November 27, 2013
About the author
Raine Miller
78 books9,510 followersRaine 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 former teacher, she's now writing sexy romance stories full time. She has a handsome prince of a husband, two brilliant sons, and two bouncy Italian Greyhounds 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. You can contact her at raine_miller@ymail.com or visit www.RaineMiller.com to sign up for updates and her newsletter with links to upcoming books. Join us on Facebook at the Raine Miller Romance Readers group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/raine...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 585 reviews
December 18, 2013
Holy smokes! 5 lifetime love stars! Let me start by saying that I had the highest expectations going into this one. I have come to expect a lot from my girl Raine, and she has NEVER disappointed. This beautiful love story is no exception.
Hello, Neil, welcome to a top spot on my all time favorite BBF shelf. Yes, you can stand right next to Ethan, I love you THAT much:)
This is the kind of love story that stays with you, and I really couldn't recommend it more. The writing is stellar, the love scenes sexy and emotional. It has the perfect balance of drama, heart-wrenching romance, and just the sweetest love story.
Thank you, Raine Miller, for bringing these beautiful, memorable characters into my life. I quite simply love them all.
Hello, Neil, welcome to a top spot on my all time favorite BBF shelf. Yes, you can stand right next to Ethan, I love you THAT much:)
This is the kind of love story that stays with you, and I really couldn't recommend it more. The writing is stellar, the love scenes sexy and emotional. It has the perfect balance of drama, heart-wrenching romance, and just the sweetest love story.
Thank you, Raine Miller, for bringing these beautiful, memorable characters into my life. I quite simply love them all.
Want to read
October 29, 2013 OMG!!! LOOOOK!!!! It's a Blackstone Affair spin-off novella coming this November!!!
Elaina Morrison has loved Neil McManus her whole life. She doesn’t remember a time when she didn’t love him. Through heartbreaking tragedy and years of separation, her love holds true…until life stomps all over her heart, shattering her perfect dream, teaching her how hard it is to let go.
Real life doesn’t have anything on romantic dreams though, as these two have learned repeatedly. It sucks big time, leaving painful scars in its wake.
But Neil isn’t giving up. He’s endured years of longing and sacrifice to wait for her. Always a soldier, he knows his way around a battlefield, and winning Elaina is no different. So that’s precisely what Neil is going to do. He'll go in fighting, and make Elaina see what he already knows.
That she will forever be his Cherry Girl…
Elaina Morrison has loved Neil McManus her whole life. She doesn’t remember a time when she didn’t love him. Through heartbreaking tragedy and years of separation, her love holds true…until life stomps all over her heart, shattering her perfect dream, teaching her how hard it is to let go.
Real life doesn’t have anything on romantic dreams though, as these two have learned repeatedly. It sucks big time, leaving painful scars in its wake.
But Neil isn’t giving up. He’s endured years of longing and sacrifice to wait for her. Always a soldier, he knows his way around a battlefield, and winning Elaina is no different. So that’s precisely what Neil is going to do. He'll go in fighting, and make Elaina see what he already knows.
That she will forever be his Cherry Girl…
July 24, 2014
4.5 second chance at love stars.
We met Neil & Elaina in the Blackstone Affair. I had to reach back into my memory for a few seconds to remember Elaina's character but remembered Neil fondly as Ethan's right hand man.
This is their story of a second chance at love.
Elaina was just ten years old when she met the seventeen year old Neil. She fell in love with him that day across the dinner table. Neil's family life is not an ideal one, allowing him to be brought into the welcoming arms of the Morrison family. Elaina spends her youth longing for the boy that she thinks will always see her as only her brother, Ian's, little sister.
But while on leave from the military Neil returns to find an eighteen year old Elaina and he's not going to wait one more moment to claim her heart. The weeks they get before he is deployed for his last stretch of service are spent wrapped in each other's arms. But before he leaves a bomb is dropped that causes his Cherry Girl to run. What once was just ten months of separation while deployed turns into six years of longing.
When Elaina takes a job for Blackstone she had no idea that her past was going to come crashing down on her. Now with Neil part of her every day life, the truth as to what tore them apart if finally going to come out. And with that truth comes the reality that these two never stopped loving each other.
This story contained two of my favorite themes in a romance. Second chance love and falling in love with your older brother's best friend. Raine Miller did a beautiful job giving us the history between these two characters. I did pop a bit for the reappearance of Ethan in a few scenes, but I am glad that he remained as background noise, letting the focus remain solely on these two.
Although Neil was not quite as alpha as I would have expected, I found it so endearing to see the vulnerability that came with losing the woman he loved. His entire life was about losing something he loved and being rejected in the aftermath. His only family was found while in the walls of the Morrison home and with his brothers in the midst of war.
Elaina's initial reaction and reason for running left me a little pissed off though. I had chalked it up to being just eighteen and immature and was surprised to find that even six years later she still held true to her reasons. I had partially hoped that even when the truth came out that she would have realized that nothing (even what she originally thought to be the truth) could have kept them apart.
This was a great addition to TBA series and I can't wait to see what Raine Miller has in store for us with Rare and Precious Things.
We met Neil & Elaina in the Blackstone Affair. I had to reach back into my memory for a few seconds to remember Elaina's character but remembered Neil fondly as Ethan's right hand man.
This is their story of a second chance at love.
Elaina was just ten years old when she met the seventeen year old Neil. She fell in love with him that day across the dinner table. Neil's family life is not an ideal one, allowing him to be brought into the welcoming arms of the Morrison family. Elaina spends her youth longing for the boy that she thinks will always see her as only her brother, Ian's, little sister.
But while on leave from the military Neil returns to find an eighteen year old Elaina and he's not going to wait one more moment to claim her heart. The weeks they get before he is deployed for his last stretch of service are spent wrapped in each other's arms. But before he leaves a bomb is dropped that causes his Cherry Girl to run. What once was just ten months of separation while deployed turns into six years of longing.
When Elaina takes a job for Blackstone she had no idea that her past was going to come crashing down on her. Now with Neil part of her every day life, the truth as to what tore them apart if finally going to come out. And with that truth comes the reality that these two never stopped loving each other.
This story contained two of my favorite themes in a romance. Second chance love and falling in love with your older brother's best friend. Raine Miller did a beautiful job giving us the history between these two characters. I did pop a bit for the reappearance of Ethan in a few scenes, but I am glad that he remained as background noise, letting the focus remain solely on these two.
Although Neil was not quite as alpha as I would have expected, I found it so endearing to see the vulnerability that came with losing the woman he loved. His entire life was about losing something he loved and being rejected in the aftermath. His only family was found while in the walls of the Morrison home and with his brothers in the midst of war.
Elaina's initial reaction and reason for running left me a little pissed off though. I had chalked it up to being just eighteen and immature and was surprised to find that even six years later she still held true to her reasons. I had partially hoped that even when the truth came out that she would have realized that nothing (even what she originally thought to be the truth) could have kept them apart.
This was a great addition to TBA series and I can't wait to see what Raine Miller has in store for us with Rare and Precious Things.
December 12, 2013
This is the story of Neil (Ethan Blackstone's colleague/friend) and how he and Elaina came to be. This book was awful, and I abandoned it at 31%. No, I didn't finish it, but I paid for it, and I'm entitled to my review, whether it's finished or not.
The reasons I abandoned it:
1. Neil was such a girl. His thoughts were so girly and so far removed from the British Army captain who had done several tours of Afghanistan that I would have expected. One such thought was when they were just about to have sex: "She'd given me the most beautiful gift". Bleugh! NO MAN in the whole world thinks this before they have sex! A woman, maybe. And the one and only sex scene I did read was lacklustre, at best.
2. This book is set in London, with English characters, yet some Americanisms leaked through. Such as ending sentences with "I guess", and setting up the coffeemaker for the next morning.
3. I was surprised by the amount of punctuation errors within this book - at least one every few pages. Not acceptable for a New York Times Bestselling author.
4. 'Cherry coloured hair'??? Really??? Does this natural hair colour really exist? I hunted high and low for a picture that looked somewhat natural, but to little avail. And then at 31% when Neil went down on Elaina's 'quim' (what century is that from?!), and discovered a strip of cherry coloured hair, that was it - abandon ship!!!
I really didn't enjoy Eyes Wide Open, and thought I'd take a chance that this might redeem the series for me, but unfortunately not.
The reasons I abandoned it:
1. Neil was such a girl. His thoughts were so girly and so far removed from the British Army captain who had done several tours of Afghanistan that I would have expected. One such thought was when they were just about to have sex: "She'd given me the most beautiful gift". Bleugh! NO MAN in the whole world thinks this before they have sex! A woman, maybe. And the one and only sex scene I did read was lacklustre, at best.
2. This book is set in London, with English characters, yet some Americanisms leaked through. Such as ending sentences with "I guess", and setting up the coffeemaker for the next morning.
3. I was surprised by the amount of punctuation errors within this book - at least one every few pages. Not acceptable for a New York Times Bestselling author.
4. 'Cherry coloured hair'??? Really??? Does this natural hair colour really exist? I hunted high and low for a picture that looked somewhat natural, but to little avail. And then at 31% when Neil went down on Elaina's 'quim' (what century is that from?!), and discovered a strip of cherry coloured hair, that was it - abandon ship!!!
I really didn't enjoy Eyes Wide Open, and thought I'd take a chance that this might redeem the series for me, but unfortunately not.
November 3, 2014
“I opened my eyes and traced over every part of his features, as beautiful now as he’d always been when he was just a boy at seventeen and winked at me over table.”
My thoughts: Is it weird that I enjoyed this short novel almost more than I liked the previous books in the Blackstone Affair Series?
For me, Ethan and Brynne’s chemistry always relied on lust and sex. Yes, both have their own tragic back stories but all I read from NAKED to EYES WIDE OPEN was sex, sex, and more sex!
I liked CHERRY GIRL merely because there was more of an actual story line in it and the characters have already built a strong friendship before they jumped into a romantic relationship with one another. It wasn’t just sexual desire and attraction solely driving them throughout the entire plot.
So, the story: The title, CHERRY GIRL, stems from Elaina’s cherry hair color. Thus, she is nicknamed “Cherry Girl” by Neil.
Neil and Elaina meet after her brother, Ian, brings Neil home to dinner one night. Elaina, at the time, was 10 and Neil was 17. Elaina instantly is smitten with him and carries on an ongoing crush on Neil until they finally though caution to the wind and indulge on their desires when she turns 18.
Neil and Elaina’s relationship is no walk in the park as his military obligations threaten throw a wrench in their budding romance. AND, a very jealous ex lays a bomb on the two that ultimately leads to their disastrous break up.
6 years later...
The two are brought together when Elaina gets a job at Blackstone Security Ltd and *go figure* Neil happens to work there as well!
Will these two reconcile and make amends of old feelings and hurts? Or will their past grudges keep tear them even further apart?
One thing’s for certain: Neil is not going to let his Cherry Girl ever get away from him again. He is going to make her his once and for all.
How will it all pan out?
My verdict: A must read if you LOVED the rest of the Blackstone Affair series!! Like I said in the beginning of my review, I actually liked this novella a lot more than the first three books but maybe that’s just me.
I have always wondered about this couple as we always saw glimpses of them throughout Brynne and Ethan’s story but getting a play by play of how they came to be from the start was SO.WORTH.IT!!!
I applaud you Raine Miller!! You made my night!! I can’t wait for the last installment of the Blackstone Affair Series and for the start of Gabby (Brynne’s mysterious bestie) and Ivan’s (Ethan’s playboy cousin) stories in the Rothvale Legacy!! Omigah, I can't wait!!
“I love you, Elaina Morrison, and you’ll always be my Cherry Girl. Always."
December 2, 2013
I'm upset and disappointed, and even though I rarely write reviews, this time I need to vent, so here it goes.
Major spoilers! You've been warned.
This is just the perfect way to screw up a potentially great book for me. The writing was good, the characters were good, I loved their chemistry and all... but the storyline.. God! so much drama based purely on silly misunderstandings and childish attitudes and adults overreacting and acting like stupid teenagers. And the worst of all is that after all that drama, If you're going to twist the story with foolish drama, at least make it so that it can be untwisted in a believable, realistic way. I just don't get it. Absolutely ridiculous.
Major spoilers! You've been warned.
This is just the perfect way to screw up a potentially great book for me. The writing was good, the characters were good, I loved their chemistry and all... but the storyline.. God! so much drama based purely on silly misunderstandings and childish attitudes and adults overreacting and acting like stupid teenagers. And the worst of all is that after all that drama, If you're going to twist the story with foolish drama, at least make it so that it can be untwisted in a believable, realistic way. I just don't get it. Absolutely ridiculous.
July 29, 2016
Whew. This was awesome.
I want more books from this cast of characters. I want Miller to keep writing this series so I can grow old with them too!!!
I want more books from this cast of characters. I want Miller to keep writing this series so I can grow old with them too!!!
November 25, 2014
4 dreamy second-chance stars
If you’ve read the Blackstone Affair books, then you will already know about Neil and Elaina. Neil is the best friend of Ethan Blackstone, and his relationship with Elaina is touched on in that series. Here, we get the full story, and I absolutely loved it! It’s a beautiful second-chance romance with lots of feels, a bit of angst, and a whole lot of swoon and steamy time.
Neil and Elaina met when he was 17 and she was 10 and her older brother brought him home for dinner. She was captivated by him on the spot and he very quickly became a part of her family, calling her “Cherry Girl” and always being there to look out for her. Years later and Neil is a solder serving overseas and Elaina’s world has been turned upside down by tragedy and she has descended into a wild life. Her love for Neil still burns bright, but it’s not until she is 18 and he is home from deployment in Afghanistan, when he swoops in to save her once again and tells her that he feels the same.
Neil and Elaina’s relationship is an absolute swoon fest! They are so completely in love, and the close relationship that they have shared over the years becomes something incredibly special as they embark on a blissfully romantic and steamy love affair, both acknowledging that they have found ‘the one’.
But they are torn apart just as Neil is set to return to the war, and their devastation sends them in different directions which keep them separate for long years. The moment when they see each other again is absolutely sensational and it is becomes instantly clear that all of the feelings they had for each other are still there, and the rollercoaster of emotions is beautifully expressed.
There’s a lot that they have to sort through, and I loved Neil’s determination as he sets about reclaiming his girl, while still allowing her time to sort through what she’s feeling. But neither of them can deny that their attraction is hotter than ever and once they give into it, just like before, their love and passion for each other is both swoony and blisteringly hot.
I love second-chance romance books. I’m always intrigued to see how a couple in love can be torn apart, and how they overcome their past to come back together. In this case, the separation is so freaking frustrating! It could have been so easily overcome, and I was so pissed at Elaina, then at Neil. The whole thing could have been avoided if they just talked to each other! But Raine Miller has done a fantastic job with their reunion. Once they see each other again and the truth about the past is finally revealed, the guilt and devastation that they both feel is heartbreaking. They acknowledge how easily and stupidly they let go of each other, and they both totally own it, but they put it behind them in order to build a future together, and it was exactly what I wanted to see.
The story is told in dual POV, letting us experience all of the feels right alongside Neil and Elaina, and I fell in complete and total love with Neil! Such a strong, alpha-type guy, but so vulnerable, gentle when he needs to be and beautifully in love *dreamy sigh*. Their story is an emotional ride, and angsty at times, but it’s beautifully told with lots of sexy time, lots of heart, and a beautifully happy ending.
This little book really surprised me. I wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did but I was very quickly sucked in - I actually connected more with Neil and Elaina’s story than I did with Ethan and Brynne’s. While technically it does form part of the Blackstone series, it could easily be read as a standalone, and I’m looking forward to their continuation of their story in My Captain.
Loved it – 4 stars.
If you’ve read the Blackstone Affair books, then you will already know about Neil and Elaina. Neil is the best friend of Ethan Blackstone, and his relationship with Elaina is touched on in that series. Here, we get the full story, and I absolutely loved it! It’s a beautiful second-chance romance with lots of feels, a bit of angst, and a whole lot of swoon and steamy time.
“I love you, Elaina Morrison, and you’ll always be my Cherry Girl. Always. Nothing will change it for me.” He leaned forward and kissed me sweetly, whispering, “Believe me.”
Neil and Elaina met when he was 17 and she was 10 and her older brother brought him home for dinner. She was captivated by him on the spot and he very quickly became a part of her family, calling her “Cherry Girl” and always being there to look out for her. Years later and Neil is a solder serving overseas and Elaina’s world has been turned upside down by tragedy and she has descended into a wild life. Her love for Neil still burns bright, but it’s not until she is 18 and he is home from deployment in Afghanistan, when he swoops in to save her once again and tells her that he feels the same.
“You’ve been waiting…”
“I have.” He leaned in toward my lips but didn’t touch them. “Waiting and waiting forever. For you. Waiting for you to grow up. Waiting for you to see me as something more than just a friend of Ian’s. Waiting for the right time to tell you how I feel about you.” He whispered so close, I could feel the brush of breath from his beautiful words. “Just a very long time of waiting, Elaina.”
… “I don’t want to wait anymore.” His eyes melded into me and held on. “Please don’t make me wait for you any longer,” he pleaded. “I can’t do it, Cherry. I just can’t.”
Neil and Elaina’s relationship is an absolute swoon fest! They are so completely in love, and the close relationship that they have shared over the years becomes something incredibly special as they embark on a blissfully romantic and steamy love affair, both acknowledging that they have found ‘the one’.
It was good. We were so good.
“Is this all right?” I asked her.
She nodded back. “Love me.”
“I do. I will. Always.”
But they are torn apart just as Neil is set to return to the war, and their devastation sends them in different directions which keep them separate for long years. The moment when they see each other again is absolutely sensational and it is becomes instantly clear that all of the feelings they had for each other are still there, and the rollercoaster of emotions is beautifully expressed.
There’s a lot that they have to sort through, and I loved Neil’s determination as he sets about reclaiming his girl, while still allowing her time to sort through what she’s feeling. But neither of them can deny that their attraction is hotter than ever and once they give into it, just like before, their love and passion for each other is both swoony and blisteringly hot.
“I want this, Cherry … I want this mouth screaming my name when I’m inside you and you’re about to come. I want you in my bed so we can fuck all night long…over and over until you’re a slave to it – just as you used to be.”
I love second-chance romance books. I’m always intrigued to see how a couple in love can be torn apart, and how they overcome their past to come back together. In this case, the separation is so freaking frustrating! It could have been so easily overcome, and I was so pissed at Elaina, then at Neil. The whole thing could have been avoided if they just talked to each other! But Raine Miller has done a fantastic job with their reunion. Once they see each other again and the truth about the past is finally revealed, the guilt and devastation that they both feel is heartbreaking. They acknowledge how easily and stupidly they let go of each other, and they both totally own it, but they put it behind them in order to build a future together, and it was exactly what I wanted to see.
“You don’t have to worry anymore, babe. I know I hurt you badly, and I own up to what I did to you by leaving like that.” I put my hand on his face. “But I’ll always come back to you. I love you and I can’t live without you. There is nothing that will ever keep me from my man again. I’ll always come back to you. Promise.”
The story is told in dual POV, letting us experience all of the feels right alongside Neil and Elaina, and I fell in complete and total love with Neil! Such a strong, alpha-type guy, but so vulnerable, gentle when he needs to be and beautifully in love *dreamy sigh*. Their story is an emotional ride, and angsty at times, but it’s beautifully told with lots of sexy time, lots of heart, and a beautifully happy ending.
This little book really surprised me. I wasn’t expecting to love it as much as I did but I was very quickly sucked in - I actually connected more with Neil and Elaina’s story than I did with Ethan and Brynne’s. While technically it does form part of the Blackstone series, it could easily be read as a standalone, and I’m looking forward to their continuation of their story in My Captain.
Loved it – 4 stars.
January 10, 2015
Cherry Girl narra la historia de Elaina y Neil, dos personajes secundarios de la saga El Affaire Blackstone, ademas de ser el primer libro de su spin off.
Llevaba mucho tiempo esperando poder leer este libro, siempre que leia algun libro de la saga Blackstone, que narra la historia de Ethan y Brynne, me preguntaba si la autora escribiria la historia de amor de Neil y Elaina, me causaba mucha curiosidad saber como llegaron a estar juntos.
Tenia muchas expectativas al comenzar la lectura pero al terminar me di cuenta de que mis expectativas fueron superadas con creces!
La historia de estos dos maravillosos personajes me llego al alma : hermosa, dulce y llena de lecciones de vida muy valiosas.
A pesar de que el libro no es nada corto ( 300 paginas ) se me paso muy rapido, no se si porque la trama avanza de forma muy fluida o si fue porque me gusto tanto que no queria llegar al final y tener que despedirme de dos protagonistas tan maravillosos como lo fueron Neil Y Elaina.
Espero poder leer el siguiente libro pronto.
Totalmente recomendado!
4.5 Estrellas!!!
January 14, 2015
5 SUBLIME STARS
“Neil was beautiful to me when I laid my child’s eyes upon him for the first time. Purely and simply beautiful.”
When I finished this book I was speechless for words. The emotions, nostalgia, and the journey Neil and Elaina endured touched my soul. This is Raine Miller at her best. Just when I thought she couldn’t get any better she writes this book that filled me with so much love and emotion. I just love their story. I felt as if I was there with them living every single moment, the good ones and the bad ones.
Elaina has been in love with Neil since forever. In fact she doesn’t remember not loving him.
The book also has lots of humor and we get to see Ethan as a secondary character before he met Brynne.
The steamy scenes Raine Miller style with lots of steam and love, always emotional, intimacy at its best.
I highly recommend this book and even if you haven’t read the other Blackstone Affair books, this book can be read as a standalone.
“Neil was beautiful to me when I laid my child’s eyes upon him for the first time. Purely and simply beautiful.”
When I finished this book I was speechless for words. The emotions, nostalgia, and the journey Neil and Elaina endured touched my soul. This is Raine Miller at her best. Just when I thought she couldn’t get any better she writes this book that filled me with so much love and emotion. I just love their story. I felt as if I was there with them living every single moment, the good ones and the bad ones.
Elaina has been in love with Neil since forever. In fact she doesn’t remember not loving him.
The book also has lots of humor and we get to see Ethan as a secondary character before he met Brynne.
The steamy scenes Raine Miller style with lots of steam and love, always emotional, intimacy at its best.
I highly recommend this book and even if you haven’t read the other Blackstone Affair books, this book can be read as a standalone.
January 12, 2014
Oh Neil! Im so happy I met you and all your "Captain" ways! Elaina your awesome and continued to keep her head high. Always be "Cherry"
Such a sweet read about two people that clearly belong together! True love at such a young age.
Oh and Ethan never get enough of you! I love that you made an appearance!
January 11, 2014
I LOVED IT. Absolute perfection!!! Neil -sigh- I love him so much!!!!! <3
Review to come!
XXXXX
Eeekkkkkkkk!!!! A spin off novella from my all time favourite series by the fantabulous Raine Miller by November!!! That equals BOOK HEAVEN!!!
Can't wait!! I WANT I WANT I WANT!!!! LOL.
Review to come!
XXXXX
Eeekkkkkkkk!!!! A spin off novella from my all time favourite series by the fantabulous Raine Miller by November!!! That equals BOOK HEAVEN!!!
Can't wait!! I WANT I WANT I WANT!!!! LOL.
January 13, 2014
“Don’t you ever change, Cherry Girl. Stay just how you are right now. You’re utterly perfect.”
Some romances take us on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, some challenge every preconception of a functional relationship we might have ever had, and then there are some fairy tale love stories that feed the romantics in us, show us how it could be, should be, would be if our minds weren’t always chasing that elusive cathartic experience to make our own realities appear rosier. Raine Miller is known for her romantic streak, for the almost dreamlike element of the timeless love stories that she weaves for us, where when two people fall in love, they fall forever, they fight for each other, they become each other’s truths, and they never ever let go of one another. This book was like a page from a favourite daydream I might have had as a little girl and even days after finishing it, I am still in a daze of emotions every time I think of a certain gentleman soldier and his beloved Cherry Girl.
“I’ve loved you since I can remember. There was never a time when I didn’t.”
Elaina fell in love with her brother’s best friend when she was just an awkward little girl, desperate to grab the attention of the first boy she ever liked. Seven years her senior and always acting like a protective older brother, Neil was the embodiment of a knight in shining armour for young Elaina, forever looking out for her and his every attentive gesture feeding the childhood crush she secretly nursed towards him. When the boy she loved left to join the Army, Elaina’s life changed in every way after that. A family tragedy ripped her innocence before its time, making her the type of troubled teenager whose every rebellious act concealed the deep grief she was incapable of dealing with. And then one summer Neil came home on leave from the Army and he saw Elaina for the very first time in his life as the woman she had become, rather than the child he always protected from harm.
“Waiting and waiting forever. For you. Waiting for you to grow up. Waiting for you to see me as something more than just a friend of Ian’s. Waiting for the right time to tell you how I feel about you… I don’t want to wait anymore… Please don’t make me wait for you any longer.”
A lifetime of secret affections quickly turns into a whirlwind romance, Elaina and Neil’s bond finally changing into the kind of passionate love they were always destined to share. Their love is gentle but all-consuming, their hearts having learnt a long time ago how to adore one another. And then it all slips away from them and the young lovers find themselves once more navigating through life without each other, longing for what they have lost, but not daring to hope to find it all again. Five long years pass and when they suddenly walk into each other’s lives again, time and distance have only made that longing even deeper.
A story of second chances at love when the blinding power of misunderstandings and pride has kept two people apart for far too long. There is something so comforting and inspiring about a love that never dies, and Ms Raine has given us another reason to believe in it. The perfect marriage of angst and sweet romance, this story has made my heart sing and race all at the same time. Every element of the storyline is laced with purpose, nothing is coincidental and everything is done just right. I devoured the pages, the hungry romantic in me greedy for more and more as the story progressed, and I was given all I could have hoped for. A perfect spin-off story to a beloved series, this “grand torte” of romance should be on everyone’s menu.
“… you don’t get to choose who you fall in love with. They chose you. For me that person was a beautiful girl with cherry-coloured hair and dark blue eyes, and she alone held the sole key to my heart.”
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December 20, 2014
3.5 Cor Bimey Guvnor stars
This is a sweet, second chance love story between two childhood friends, Neil and Elaina, who get together, split up then find one another again. The story begins when Elaina is 10 and Neil 14 and follows their story over fifteen years as he joins the army, fights in Afghanistan and returns to work with Ethan at Blackstone security while she goes a little wild then works
abroad as an aupair before returning to work at Blackstone.
I loved them as a couple and the smut was sizzling hot, but there wasn't very much story in this outside of them and I kind of missed that outside tension. I loved the Neil Elaina described at the start, the protective, slightly dark and mysterious character, but once the first person narrative came from him, much of that mystery was stripped away and at some points he seemed a bit wet. I wanted to see more of the hard mystery man and less of the lovestruck sap.
This story is set in the UK and I have to say had a Dick Van Dyke feel to it at times with the quaint not quite right British colloquialisms (I spat my tea when someone said 'stone the crows') and phrases like 'downtown London' (it's always 'City Centre' over here) but it made me smile.
That said, it flowed well and was a sweet and hot story that I enjoyed for a couple of hours, so no complaints really.
This is a sweet, second chance love story between two childhood friends, Neil and Elaina, who get together, split up then find one another again. The story begins when Elaina is 10 and Neil 14 and follows their story over fifteen years as he joins the army, fights in Afghanistan and returns to work with Ethan at Blackstone security while she goes a little wild then works
abroad as an aupair before returning to work at Blackstone.
I loved them as a couple and the smut was sizzling hot, but there wasn't very much story in this outside of them and I kind of missed that outside tension. I loved the Neil Elaina described at the start, the protective, slightly dark and mysterious character, but once the first person narrative came from him, much of that mystery was stripped away and at some points he seemed a bit wet. I wanted to see more of the hard mystery man and less of the lovestruck sap.
This story is set in the UK and I have to say had a Dick Van Dyke feel to it at times with the quaint not quite right British colloquialisms (I spat my tea when someone said 'stone the crows') and phrases like 'downtown London' (it's always 'City Centre' over here) but it made me smile.
That said, it flowed well and was a sweet and hot story that I enjoyed for a couple of hours, so no complaints really.
July 22, 2018
Ya en la saga principal, van dejando pistas que tras la pareja formada entre Neil y Elaina, habia una larga, bonita y emotiva historia de amor, Y asi es.
Una historia sencilla, de grandes malentendidos, segundas oportunidades y un profundo sentimiento afectivo.
Me ha gustado como los protagonistas se conocen desde niños y como ya de adultos se enlazan los tiempos para encajar con la historia principal Blackstone.
Una historia sencilla, de grandes malentendidos, segundas oportunidades y un profundo sentimiento afectivo.
Me ha gustado como los protagonistas se conocen desde niños y como ya de adultos se enlazan los tiempos para encajar con la historia principal Blackstone.
February 16, 2015
La portada es hermosa *-*
La disfruté de principio a fin.
La disfruté de principio a fin.
January 2, 2015
Bonito y romántico spin-off con uno de los secundarios del Affaire Blackstone.
April 16, 2017
Cherry Girl is a spin-off of The Blackstone Affair Series by Raine Miller. That series, especially the first one, Naked" target="_blank">Naked, is one of my favorite series. Cherry Girl features Neil and Elaina, characters that were in the Blackstone Affair Series, but quite honestly, I remembered very little about them beyond their names and that they worked for Ethan Blackstone. Cherry Girl takes place in England and the characters are British (though they seemed a bit more Americanized, I guess because they are written by an American.) The book can absolutely stand alone, but ties in to the Blackstone Affair Series nicely as a prequel.
Neil didn't have much of a family, and at 17, he was basically taken in by his best friend, Ian's, family. Ian's little sister Elaina is seven years younger, she had a major crush on Neil since she was ten. Basically, nobody would ever live up to her dreams of Neil. Even when she was a young teen as he shipped out on a tour of Afghanistan.
"Be really careful over there, Neil. I want you to come back."
He had feelings for her as well, but she was too young.
"Don't you ever change, Cherry Girl. Stay how you are right now. You're utterly perfect"
As tragedy struck her life, Elaina acted out and had been a rebellious teen who was into boys, booze and drugs while he was away.
When Neil came home on leave and Elaina is 18 though, things really changed for them, and there was no going back.
"Please don't make me wait for you any longer," he pleaded. I can't do it, Cherry. I just can't."
Neil is kind of a wimp, despite being a soldier. When they finally make love, here is what Neil thinks (really? do guys think like that?)
"She'd given me the most beautiful gift"
Then here, I got close to throwing in the towel:
"I held on to my Cherry Girl. I held her up against me heart, in that little rowboat on the idyllic lake, at the splendid English Estate that felt like something out of a Dickens novel, and knew pretty much what complete happiness felt like for the first time in my adult life."
He was just a little too schmaltzy romantic to me.
The couple was perfect. There was no doubt of their love or their future, until POOF! It was all gone because of one bitchy move. Elaina was a total idiot!
Cut to 6 years later and they are both working at Blackstone Securities. This is when the book picked up and I really began to enjoy it. Neil manned up a little, and I enjoyed them as a more mature and somewhat jaded couple. While I thought they got over their years apart way too quickly, I still enjoyed the second half.
Likes:
•Neil is a Jimi Hendrix fan and the lyrics are used in the book!
•The cover is gorgeous.
•The glimpses at Ethan ...sigh...
•The fact that Elaina wasn't a sweet innocent virgin.
•Great sex. Raine is good at that (except I hate the British terms 'spunk' and 'quim' but I'm used to it now from her).
•The tragedy that struck Elaina...I mean, I didn't like it, at all...but I like the unique way it was brought into the story, especially the fact that it was a British person.
•Switching points of view was clear and easy.
Dislikes:
•Neil was a PUSSY! Ugh! He was a girl, and an overly dramatic, cheesy romantic one too.
•Seriously Elaina? you've loved him your whole life and you go and do THAT?
•And you- you fucking wuss Neil...seriously? You let that shit fly???
•Elaina's family. WTF? Make her see the truth despite what she says.
•Neil - spying from the bushes? Really??? You are a complete pussy.
•The formatting was like triple spaced in my copy gifted from Raine via Amazon and I couldn't change it.
Rating: 3.75 stars 4 heat
I love Raine Miller as both a person and an author. I still love the Blackstone Affair series, but I find her male POV's a little too desperate and over-the-top in needy love. I love the guys through the women's eyes, but when we are in their head, they seem like overly in-love pansies. (But really horny ones, that part is good.) Cherry Girl just had too much wimpiness on Neil's part, and too much stupidity and misunderstandings wasting too many years of their lives. If you love someone so much, you FIGHT for them!
Purchase Cherry Girl by Raine Miller
Cherry Girl" target="_blank">Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | BN.com
See the Blackstone Affair Series order (One of my favorites!) by Raine Miller
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December 12, 2013
I'm such a sucker for a second chance at love romance!!
I truly believe they were soul mates but due to ones selfishness and the others stubbornness we get this tale of second chances..
Neil
Elaina ~ Cherry Girl
I will continue to read anything Raine Miller writes!!!
I truly believe they were soul mates but due to ones selfishness and the others stubbornness we get this tale of second chances..
Neil
Elaina ~ Cherry Girl
I will continue to read anything Raine Miller writes!!!
December 3, 2013
I just love story lines like this. Girl falls in love with brother's best friend.
Beautiful read. We go through Elaina and Neil''s relationship from when they first met, to when they got together, separated for a few years, then finally reunited.
It also goes through the hardship that military couples go through. We usually get the aftermath of military men. that is scarred and closed up. Well in this book I read about having to say goodbye to your loved one when they're leaving for their mission in the army. It's such a heartbreaking thing, and I give mad props to those who have to go through that.
Must be really hard to have to say goodbye and pray every night that they come home safe and alive.
well Military is not a genre in this book, because it doesn't really center around him being in the army.
and even if the cover is photoshopped I believe that tattoo is kick-ass
Beautiful read. We go through Elaina and Neil''s relationship from when they first met, to when they got together, separated for a few years, then finally reunited.
It also goes through the hardship that military couples go through. We usually get the aftermath of military men. that is scarred and closed up. Well in this book I read about having to say goodbye to your loved one when they're leaving for their mission in the army. It's such a heartbreaking thing, and I give mad props to those who have to go through that.
Must be really hard to have to say goodbye and pray every night that they come home safe and alive.
well Military is not a genre in this book, because it doesn't really center around him being in the army.
and even if the cover is photoshopped I believe that tattoo is kick-ass
March 25, 2016
This. Book. Why did I wait so long to read it? Neil McManus has moved into my top 10 fave book boyfriends. Loved this story. Gave me all the feels !
December 6, 2013
Cherry Girl is another beautiful story from Raine Miller. This lady is a rock star in my opinion in that I have loved every book she's written. This is a standalone book that introduces us to Neil McManus and Elaina Morrison, two characters that we are introduced to in Raine's Blackstone series. If you've read the Blackstone series, we briefly meet Neil there as Ethan's right hand man working at Blackstone Security. In Cherry Girl, we get the full Neil, in all his beautiful glory.
Neil and Elaina first meet when a seventeen year old Neil comes to ten year old Elaina's house as a guest of her brother Ian. Elaina's family adopts Neil as a member of their family since Neil has no real home to speak of. Elaina falls in love with Neil when he winks at her across the table and so starts the love story. Neil joins the military after school and becomes SF special forces. When he is home on leave he visits with her family but primarily spends time with his girlfriend Cora who Elaina hates with a passion. All the while Neil stays in contact with Elaina but treats her like a sister. Tragedy strikes Elaina's family and her whole life changes.
When Elaina is 18 Neil comes home on leave and the dynamic between him and Elaina shifts. Their feelings for each other are finally expressed and their love story finally starts. But outside forces seek to tear them apart and Neil and Elaina are pulled apart for 5 long years. Fate decides to step in and bring these two back together and their road back to each other is just beautiful.
"I opened my eyes and traced over every part of his features, as beautiful now as he'd always been when he was a boy of seventeen and winked at me over the dinner table." "On the night Ian brought you to us, I fell in love with you and knew I'd just met the boy I would marry someday. For me, it has only ever been....you." Elaina, speaking to Neil.
This book spans a period of 15 years and as usual, Raine pulls you directly into the story and you feel you are right there with Neil and Elaina, feeling every emotion they feel. I laughed with these two, I cried, ALOT! with them. I cursed at the circumstances that kept them apart and I screamed at my tablet when I wanted to shake one or the other of them for being stubborn or blind and for not communicating with each other. But pain and hurt makes people do things that make it worse before it gets better.
The love that Neil and Elaina have for each other is truly a beautiful thing. I wanted to crawl in the book and be Elaina and experience Neil's love and sexual expertise. Raine doesn't disappoint with the hot steamy sex. And I will just that I will never look at a picture window the same way again!!
One thing I love about all of Raine's books is the web she weaves with references from her other books. In Cherry Girl we get some references to Halborough Hall, which is from her book The Undoing of a Libertine and we also learn more about in Eyes Wide Open. We get a little bit of Ethan Blackstone, who is the main character in her Blackstone series and quite a hottie in his own right.
If you've read any of Raine's other books then you know you will love this book also. It is beautiful and heartbreaking, but also heartwarming as well. It has everything I look for in a good love story.
Neil and Elaina first meet when a seventeen year old Neil comes to ten year old Elaina's house as a guest of her brother Ian. Elaina's family adopts Neil as a member of their family since Neil has no real home to speak of. Elaina falls in love with Neil when he winks at her across the table and so starts the love story. Neil joins the military after school and becomes SF special forces. When he is home on leave he visits with her family but primarily spends time with his girlfriend Cora who Elaina hates with a passion. All the while Neil stays in contact with Elaina but treats her like a sister. Tragedy strikes Elaina's family and her whole life changes.
When Elaina is 18 Neil comes home on leave and the dynamic between him and Elaina shifts. Their feelings for each other are finally expressed and their love story finally starts. But outside forces seek to tear them apart and Neil and Elaina are pulled apart for 5 long years. Fate decides to step in and bring these two back together and their road back to each other is just beautiful.
"I opened my eyes and traced over every part of his features, as beautiful now as he'd always been when he was a boy of seventeen and winked at me over the dinner table." "On the night Ian brought you to us, I fell in love with you and knew I'd just met the boy I would marry someday. For me, it has only ever been....you." Elaina, speaking to Neil.
This book spans a period of 15 years and as usual, Raine pulls you directly into the story and you feel you are right there with Neil and Elaina, feeling every emotion they feel. I laughed with these two, I cried, ALOT! with them. I cursed at the circumstances that kept them apart and I screamed at my tablet when I wanted to shake one or the other of them for being stubborn or blind and for not communicating with each other. But pain and hurt makes people do things that make it worse before it gets better.
The love that Neil and Elaina have for each other is truly a beautiful thing. I wanted to crawl in the book and be Elaina and experience Neil's love and sexual expertise. Raine doesn't disappoint with the hot steamy sex. And I will just that I will never look at a picture window the same way again!!
One thing I love about all of Raine's books is the web she weaves with references from her other books. In Cherry Girl we get some references to Halborough Hall, which is from her book The Undoing of a Libertine and we also learn more about in Eyes Wide Open. We get a little bit of Ethan Blackstone, who is the main character in her Blackstone series and quite a hottie in his own right.
If you've read any of Raine's other books then you know you will love this book also. It is beautiful and heartbreaking, but also heartwarming as well. It has everything I look for in a good love story.
December 2, 2013
3.5 frustrating stars. After being introduced to Neil and Elaina in Naked I was looking forward to getting their story.
Elaina has been in love with Neil since she was 10 years old. Being 7 years older than Elaina, Neil always treated her like a little sister. Years later their paths cross. Elaina is 18 and Neil finally feels it's time to confess his feelings to her. Their love for each other was all consuming and very passionate. As they plan their future together, trouble comes knocking at Neil's door.
Since I'm not sure this next section is spoiler-ish I'm going to hide it just in case: :)
As frustrated as I was with Elaina for the majority of their story, the extremely romantic ending brought a huge smile to my face.
Mini Rant Over.
Elaina has been in love with Neil since she was 10 years old. Being 7 years older than Elaina, Neil always treated her like a little sister. Years later their paths cross. Elaina is 18 and Neil finally feels it's time to confess his feelings to her. Their love for each other was all consuming and very passionate. As they plan their future together, trouble comes knocking at Neil's door.
Since I'm not sure this next section is spoiler-ish I'm going to hide it just in case: :)
As frustrated as I was with Elaina for the majority of their story, the extremely romantic ending brought a huge smile to my face.
Mini Rant Over.
April 13, 2015
RESEÑA y CRÍTICA completa en el blog... http://adictabooks.blogspot.com.es/20...
Esta es la nueva novela de la autora, donde continua de forma paralela a la serie ya publicada anteriormente llamada <>. Con esta nueva novela nos encontramos con una historia totalmente diferente a la que nos mostro en su anterior serie, ya que es una novela romántica, juvenil, pasional, dramática pero sobre todo, se puede ver como en ella ha madurado la pluma de la escritora por cómo ha desarrollado esta historia de amor de un par de jóvenes hasta su madurez como personas adultas.
Me ha sorprendido gratamente la gran cantidad de momentos emotivos, colocados estratégicamente en el desarrollo de la historia de amor de Elaina & Neil. Me encanta el toque de ternura que se descubre en la novela con respecto al título de la novela y como con esa portada tan bien inspirada en los protagonistas.
Además en la historia de este par de tortolitos, conocemos como comenzó la empresa de Ethan, la historia del hermano y la madre de Elaina. El porqué Neil esta tan implicado en su familia y que pasa tras el reencuentro después de tanto tiempo entre Neil & Elaina, y nada más y nada menos que tienen que trabajar juntos.
Esta es la nueva novela de la autora, donde continua de forma paralela a la serie ya publicada anteriormente llamada <>. Con esta nueva novela nos encontramos con una historia totalmente diferente a la que nos mostro en su anterior serie, ya que es una novela romántica, juvenil, pasional, dramática pero sobre todo, se puede ver como en ella ha madurado la pluma de la escritora por cómo ha desarrollado esta historia de amor de un par de jóvenes hasta su madurez como personas adultas.
Me ha sorprendido gratamente la gran cantidad de momentos emotivos, colocados estratégicamente en el desarrollo de la historia de amor de Elaina & Neil. Me encanta el toque de ternura que se descubre en la novela con respecto al título de la novela y como con esa portada tan bien inspirada en los protagonistas.
Además en la historia de este par de tortolitos, conocemos como comenzó la empresa de Ethan, la historia del hermano y la madre de Elaina. El porqué Neil esta tan implicado en su familia y que pasa tras el reencuentro después de tanto tiempo entre Neil & Elaina, y nada más y nada menos que tienen que trabajar juntos.
March 19, 2014
Cherry Girl is the story of Neil McManus, Ethan Blackstone's business partner and right hand man. He's known Elaina since she was a kid and she was smitten with him immediately. Little did she know those feelings were reciprocated and Neil was just biding his time until she was old enough (Not in a creepy way though). Just before 9/11 Neil joined the Royal Air Force and one time when he came home on leave he and Elaina finally admitted their feelings and thus began their short lived love affair.
This is the moment I became pretty angry with Elaina. Neil did nothing wrong, she should have talked it over with him. But she was only eighteen so I got over it. Fast forward five years and Elaina finds herself as the new receptionist at BSI working alongside Neil to both of their surprise.
Will they have a second chance at love? Will they both take responsibility for their mistakes all of those years ago?
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. It was an easy read. It makes me want to reread The Blackstone Affair series to pay more attention to Neil's part. Well done!
This is the moment I became pretty angry with Elaina. Neil did nothing wrong, she should have talked it over with him. But she was only eighteen so I got over it. Fast forward five years and Elaina finds herself as the new receptionist at BSI working alongside Neil to both of their surprise.
Will they have a second chance at love? Will they both take responsibility for their mistakes all of those years ago?
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this book. It was an easy read. It makes me want to reread The Blackstone Affair series to pay more attention to Neil's part. Well done!
September 20, 2016
I cried like I never cried. this book was blow-minding,amazing and fantastic. I fell in love with Elaina & Neil. such a beautiful couple. Best book ever, Raine thank you, I owe it all to you and you fantastic imagination. Forever cherry lover. <3
December 8, 2013
Review to come shortly
June 8, 2014
I so much loved this story.... For me it was a lot better than Ethan and Brynne... I loved Neil and Elaina from the first page till the last....
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March 14, 2015Η ΥΠΕΡΜΕΤΡΗ ΧΡΗΣΗ ΡΟΜΑΝΤΙΚΩΝ ΚΛΙΣΕ ΣΕ ΑΥΤΟ ΤΟ ΒΙΒΛΙΟ ΜΟΥ ΣΚΟΤΩΣΕ ΤΟΝ ΡΟΜΑΝΤΙΣΜΟ . ΔΕΝ ΜΠΟΡΕΣΑ ΝΑ ΤΟ ΤΕΛΕΙΩΣΩ ΓΙΑΤΙ ΠΙΣΤΕΥΩ ΟΤΙ ΜΕΤΑ ΑΠΟ ΑΥΤΟ ΘΑ ΔΙΑΒΑΖΑ ΜΟΝΟ ΠΟΛΕΜΙΚΑ ΒΙΒΛΙΑ ΓΙΑ ΝΑ ΣΥΝΕΛΘΩ
May 12, 2020
Cute story but I was dead bored throughout this .
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