Review – Come A Little Bit Closer (The Sullivans #7) by Bella Andre

Description:
Movie star Smith Sullivan can’t afford any distractions. He’s staking his entire reputation on his new film…but he can’t stop thinking about Valentina Landon and the fire he sees smoldering just beneath the surface.
Valentina isn’t averse to sensual pleasure, or even to the idea of finding true love, but as a Hollywood business manager she’s watched too many smart women fall for actors…only to be torn apart when the fairytale comes to its inevitable end.
But when intense weeks together on set turn their heated attraction into red-hot flames of passion, Smith knows he has to find a way to convince Valentina to let him get a little bit closer. Close enough to completely steal her heart…the way she’s stolen his from the start.

 

 

Well, Bella Andre did it again. Her quick witted, exquisite writing brought another of the Sullivan’s to life making you fall in love, cry and hope for an HEA for Smith.

I absolutely loved all six books that have been written. Of course, who couldn’t fall in love with any one of the Sullivan men? But Smith, dear lord … what a romantic, what a wonderful human being. How can you not fall in love with him?

Smith Sullivan is an actor and working on the biggest production of his career. He’s actor, producer and screen-writer on “Gravity” a story about what love is really supposed to be like – unconditional and unable to control – just like gravity pulling two people to each other. His co-star, Tatiana Landon, is wonderful. Perfect for the part and unbelievably talented. But, it’s not her that he’s interested in. It’s her sister and business manager, Valentina.

Valentina is wary of all actors. She’s vowed never to become involved with one and to never let her sister become infatuated either. She’s had enough of actor’s being paraded in her life. Since her father’s death, her mom dated nothing but actors and she knew they couldn’t be trusted. If and when she’s ready, she wants a man that is going to be truthful, trust-worthy and loving. So, she can’t understand her explosive attraction to Smith Sullivan – he’s an actor – one of the best in the business – she can’t trust him to be telling her the truth; she can’t trust him to not be acting when he’s with her; she can’t trust him to be faithful; she can’t trust him to not just throw her aside and her being one of his movie-making flings; but, most of all, she doesn’t want the spotlight and everything that comes with being an actor’s love interest.

This book was so full of love and romance that your heart could do nothing but become fuller. Your heart breaks for Smith as he is pushed away by Valentina and then comes back together when she finally say’s yes – but only for one night. Smith is so persistent throughout the book. I don’t know if I know of anyone who would just keep trying and trying to win the love of a woman. He did everything in his power to get her to love him. And, what a romantic! He would leave notes, flowers and pictures that he knew would mean something to her, on her desk; he would make sure that she had breakfast waiting in her trailer, made sure that she had everything she needed, as he took care of all the problems on the set; helped her sister Tatiana through her first love scene; and, took care of the Sullivan crew – always being there for them whenever they needed him, especially his Sophie. He knows that “Gravity” is the biggest movie of his life and that he can’t do anything to mess it up but, he also knows that Valentina is the love of his life and won’t do anything that will push her away.

Finally, everything comes to a head when he has to do a “love” scene with Tatiana. It’s a closed set but Valentina will be there to support her sister. He try’s to convince her that it is “just acting” but she doesn’t want to hear it – no one knows that they are seeing each other – she can’t say a word without everyone finding out – how is she going to make it through this scene when all she wants to do is hear Smith say those words to her, feel his hands on her body and his kisses on her lips. She finally admits her feelings to Tatiana who laughs at her and told her that she could see it in the way they look at each other and convinces her that it’s time to come clean with everyone. It’s time to pay the piper, and pay they do – with the one thing that has her frightened beyond belief – her biggest fear – the Paparazzi!

And, all the Sullivan’s are back. Sophie has the twins (oh, I so cried during this part of the book); Gabe and Megan are finally married; Marcus and Nicola are planning their wedding. Mary is still being the stall-worth matriarch of the family and Lori is feeling sorry for herself, but why? I guess we will find out in the Spring of 2013 when the much anticipated 8th book of the series is released. “Always on my Mind”, Lori (Naughty) Sullivan’s story.

As I said before, I have adored all of the books in the Sullivan Series, but Bella Andre outdid herself with “Come a Little Bit Closer”. I fell head-over-heals in love with Smith. I mean, all the other Sullivan’s were hot and romantic and sexy as hell, but nothing could compare with the way she wrote Smith’s story. I felt like I was on Alcatraz with him and Valentina, I felt the love he had for her, I felt him pouring himself into everything he did for her. When they finally admitted their feelings to each other, I felt like Smith was saying “I love you” to me. It was that realistic. Her writing was crisp, sexy and hot. She brought the word “love” to a new level and “romance” to unbelievable heights.