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Barbara Strickland
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Unexpected Obsession: Unexpected Love - Book 1 Kindle Edition

by Barbara Strickland (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 out of 5 stars 24 ratings
Love or Obsession? Or both?
The boy she knew has become a domineering man with an obsessive need for order. Nico meets every attempt at peace with anger and resentment and eyes that watch her with something she is afraid to identify. An alpha male in every sense of the word Nico both fascinates and frightens her. The Mediterranean sun heats her skin; Nico heats her blood.

A past tragedy tore two families apart
“Family is everything.” With those words a constant mantra in her head, Lia travels from Sydney to Sicily determined to heal a rift. The promise she made to her dying father drives her to succeed in the face of an embittered older woman’s hatred.

-Lia is everything Nico has never wanted. He has the perfect job, the perfect life, and the perfect woman who caters to his every whim. Yet from the moment Lia arrives she becomes his obsession. Something about her undermines all his beliefs. --When Destiny steps in with its own agenda, passion will overrule propriety and common sense and decisions and events will change lives.
-With touchy family dynamics and a childhood hero refusing to come to the rescue, Lia needs to rethink her next move. Has she has taken on more than she can handle?

Will something new emerge from the ashes of the past?
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  1. Book 1 of 2
    Unexpected Love
  2. Print length
    359 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    November 5, 2016
  6. File size
    937 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Both characters are strong, so they fit perfectly together as a couple. The romance is steamy yet sweet. Strickland pulls off what some writers don't. She writes a steamy love scene, but all the emotions and love her characters feel are also present. She combines both aspects perfectly."

"At first, I was worried that this would be another dominant male, submissive female story. It wasn't. Angelia is a woman who knows when to bend and when to stand her ground. She is as stubborn and emotionally damaged as Nico, but unlike him, she understands the power of love."

"There's a lot of tension in the book, generated from the numerous opportunities for vast misunderstandings to develop. There were many occasions where I thought the relationship would turn destructive and explode apart - but Lia's integrity, empathy and insights steered them past those rocks time and again."

"A dramatic start set the scene. I was hooked by the second chapter. Loved the journey of jumping between Australia and Italy adding to the intrigue."

"Unexpected Obsession is more than a standard romance. It's women's fiction at its best. It's the story of a man crippled by his inability to give up personal control to the vagaries of life and love and the woman who shows him the way."

"Here we indeed see the depth of Nico's flaws and the strength of Lia's personality. These two create a storm filled with electricity and power that everyone around them feels. This final date takes us to Sydney before returning us to Italy. Aspects tugged at my heartstrings and kept me wondering if a happily ever after was possible."

From the Author

I have an Italian heritage and live in Australia.  Growing up in a multi-cultural country has meant exposure to great people, great food and wonderful traditions.  It made me want to travel so i did. I then decided it might be fun to combine these experiences into a book, or better still a series.  I hope you enjoy Book 1,Unexpected Obsession, and then hopefully follow the series.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01N01HTTF
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Stories behind the Mask
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 5, 2016
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 3rd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 937 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 359 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 2 ‏ : ‎ Unexpected Love
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 out of 5 stars 24 ratings

About the author

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Barbara Strickland

Barbara Strickland

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ABOUT Barbara:

Barbara Strickland is currently living in Townsville in Australia's tropical north. The change from Sydney has allowed the quieter time to concentrate on writing, a lifetime dream. Having a love for travel has inspired a romance series. Combine language, food and culture and you have stories everywhere and that’s exactly what Barbara decided to do. Gather those ingredients and turn them into a series with one small extra addition - some very steamy romance for all ages in her Unexpected Love Series.

She would definitely love to travel again at some stage but is currently happy working on her blog and reading when she can. Japanese poetry is a passion, and she has been published in a number of journals, as well as in her own poetry books.

At some stage she hopes to take up ballroom dancing again and learn a few more languages. Oh, getting a dog and cat when her home allows it, is definitely on the agenda.

RELEASED:

Unexpected Obsession (Unexpected Love - Book 1)

Emotions in Eruption

Emotions in Evolution

Emotions in Existence

The Emotions Anthology

COMING 2023

Unexpected Passion (Unexpected Love - Book 2)

Unexpected Celebrations - a novella (Unexpected Love - Book 3)

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
24 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this romance book to be a satisfying read with depth and well-rounded characters. The writing quality receives positive feedback, with one customer specifically praising the well-written sex scenes.

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8 customers mention "Romance"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book, describing it as an original adult story filled with passion and drama, with one customer noting the major sexual tension.

"This was great fun, I enjoyed it immensely. Filled with passion and Italian family drama. Dio mio! XD I really loved Lia. She's a firecracker...." Read more

"...The romantic tension, conflicts and twists were utterly plausible and natural, yet unexpected...." Read more

"...All said and done. this was a lovely tale and I look forward to more from this author." Read more

"...Deep characters, a passionate love, steamy sex, and lots of good, intricate plot. Lia and Nico are two tormented characters with a shared past...." Read more

6 customers mention "Enjoyment"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very enjoyable and satisfying to read, with one customer particularly appreciating the lively family interactions.

"This was great fun, I enjoyed it immensely. Filled with passion and Italian family drama. Dio mio! XD I really loved Lia. She's a firecracker...." Read more

"...All the characters felt well rounded, real, and drew me in and made me happy to spend time with them. A very enjoyable and satisfying read...." Read more

"...of book I love: Deep characters, a passionate love, steamy sex, and lots of good, intricate plot...." Read more

"I enjoyed this book very much. The character development was excellent and the story line did not disappoint...." Read more

5 customers mention "Character development"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the depth of the characters in the book.

"...All the characters felt well rounded, real, and drew me in and made me happy to spend time with them. A very enjoyable and satisfying read...." Read more

"...The writing was beautiful, the characters believable, and the plot cohesive...." Read more

"Barbara Strickland has written the kind of book I love: Deep characters, a passionate love, steamy sex, and lots of good, intricate plot...." Read more

"...genre is not what I usually read so I was hesitant, but the depth of the characters and their recognition of the flawed people they were, as well as..." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, with one customer specifically noting the well-executed sex scenes.

"...This was well written and the secrets unfold at a masterful pace that keep you wanting more...." Read more

"...On the adult nature of the book – there is a lot of (very well-written and engaging) sex in it...." Read more

"...The writing was beautiful, the characters believable, and the plot cohesive...." Read more

"...it as erotica, but rather as women's fiction with steamy and well-written sex scenes...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • The Girl Who Reads Too Much
    5.0 out of 5 stars Passion and Drama!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This was great fun, I enjoyed it immensely. Filled with passion and Italian family drama. Dio mio! XD I really loved Lia. She's a firecracker. She's sweet and caring and artistic, but she's no doormat! She gives as good as she gets, and that's why Nico can't get her out of his head.

    I have to admit that I'm not usually into the alpha male thing in romance. (Let's face it--there are enough jerks out there in real life, we don't need to glorify them in fiction too). But Ms. Strickland is very good at painting a picture of real human beings, not one-sided cardboard characters. Nico has his flaws, and as the story of the family's secrets unfolds we come to see why he is the way he is, and why there's so much tension among all the characters. Lia makes him want to be a better man, as he makes her want to walk the knife's edge. There's a delicious tension between these two that was a joy to read!

    This was well written and the secrets unfold at a masterful pace that keep you wanting more. I look forward to reading more in this series by Ms. Strickland!
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  • L. J. Kendall (author)
    4.0 out of 5 stars A satisfying and original adult romance
    Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I will state up front my connection to the author, Barbara Strickland: I read her blog(s), and we occasionally chat by email. She has also honestly reviewed my first two books, and I am now giving my own honest review of her work.

    Let me start off with the negatives: there are many typos in the book. I believe the author is currently working to fix that, so if you’re distracted by that kind of thing, maybe hold off on buying it until the 2nd edition is released.

    But that is the end of the negatives.

    Typos aside, the book is very well written: the language is good, with a distinctive “voice”. The pacing and plot was very good indeed, and very original. I don’t read many books in the Romance genre, though I do read a reasonable amount of paranormal romance, and have read and thoroughly enjoyed all the Madeleine Brent romance novels. So although a straight-up romance is outside my comfort zone, I think I’m familiar with many of the tropes: like “woman is torn between two men; picks the wrong one...” and “two people, perfect for each other, torn apart by misunderstandings...”, but in this story, both the sources of tension and the characters’ actions and responses felt very original to me, and also very authentic. Note that the author does not shy away from the sexual side of things, either, so this is an adult romance (more on that, later).
    Lia, the main character, last saw Nico (the other MC) during a stay in Italy when she was eight and he was sixteen, which ended with a tragic and dramatic family incident. The story shows what happens when the very determined Lia returns to Italy to try to reunite the families split by that tragedy. At the heart of the story is the relationship between Nico and Lia. Nico is a very controlled and controlling personality, who cannot handle messiness or change – and that dominance extends into the bedroom.

    I was kept on edge by the ease with which their developing relationship could turn destructive and explode apart. Many times it teetered on the edge of disaster, and the normal romance trope would be for it to fall apart in angst (before all was resolved and they reunited), but Lia’s integrity and courage, and Nico’s directness or need to be in control (especially of himself) either pulled them back from that edge – or plunged them over it in an unexpected direction.

    There’s a lot of tension in the book, generated from the numerous opportunities for vast misunderstandings to develop. There were many occasions where I thought the relationship would turn destructive and explode apart – but Lia’s integrity, empathy and insights steered them past those rocks time and again. So what’s the source of the dramatic tension? I won’t say, as that would be a spoiler, but on each occasion it comes very naturally from the characters themselves, even though I didn’t see them coming. The romantic tension, conflicts and twists were utterly plausible and natural, yet unexpected. In fact the whole book struck me as highly original.

    On the adult nature of the book – there is a lot of (very well-written and engaging) sex in it. (As an aside, how strange is it that in our society, a romance with a towering passion at its heart seems to blend genres simply because it refuses to shy away from the sexual side? Adding to that bravery is that the sex includes dominance and submission.) In some ways it reminded me of Stjepan Šejić’s Sunstone in its honest inclusion of mildly kinky sex – and in Lia’s honesty and courage. And similarly to Sunstone, the sex isn’t just healthy, it helps the main characters grow and mature.

    One thing that delighted me was that despite Lia’s inexperience, she doesn’t allow that to compromise her integrity, and sets firm boundaries and sticks to them. She’s young but mostly wise, and very determined. Nico, too, is a very interesting character, with depth and flaws, yet we feel we understand him. If you’ve every known someone unable to handle mess or change, who needs order and control, then Nico will strike a chord.

    All the characters felt well rounded, real, and drew me in and made me happy to spend time with them. A very enjoyable and satisfying read. Only the typos held me back from giving this book a 5-star rating.
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  • Leigh-Anne Robinson
    3.0 out of 5 stars Have only read the first chapter so far, but ...
    Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Have only read the first chapter so far, but am really enjoying it. Unfortunately I am an extremely slow reader.
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  • J. Rhoades
    5.0 out of 5 stars An unexpected delight
    Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Unexpected Obsession is more than a standard romance. It's women's fiction at its best. It's the story of a man crippled by his inability to give up personal control to the vagaries of life and love and the woman who shows him the way.
    At first I was worried that this would be another dominant male, submissive female story. It wasn't. Angelia is a woman who knows when to bend and when to stand her ground. She is as stubborn and emotionally damaged as Nico, but unlike him, she understands the power of love.
    The writing was beautiful, the characters believable, and the plot cohesive. There was a distinctive cadence to the dialogue that I Particularly enjoyed. It gave the English words an Italian flavor without resorting to exaggeration or stereotype. All said and done. this was a lovely tale and I look forward to more from this author.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Anna H
    4.0 out of 5 stars Barbara Strickland has written the kind of book I love: Deep characters
    Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Barbara Strickland has written the kind of book I love: Deep characters, a passionate love, steamy sex, and lots of good, intricate plot. Lia and Nico are two tormented characters with a shared past. They must confront issues in their own history before they can learn to love one other. Time and time again, their genuine affection for each another collides with seemingly insurmountable remnants of their family’s past. Although the novel deals with BDSM themes, I wouldn't class it as erotica, but rather as women's fiction with steamy and well-written sex scenes. If you love well-drawn characters dealing with mature, and sometimes difficult emotions; if you love strong heroines and anguished heroes; if you love exotic locales like Italy, then this book is for you. I really enjoyed reading Lia and Nico’s story, and I look forward to the next installment in this passionate series.
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  • Mysterious Stranger
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Character Building
    Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I enjoyed this book very much. The character development was excellent and the story line did not disappoint. This genre is not what I usually read so I was hesitant, but the depth of the characters and their recognition of the flawed people they were, as well as their determination to move past those flaws, drew me in. Highly recommend!
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  • Amazon Customer
    2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    This did not have much going for it. The transitional delivery was boring and out of sync. It did have an interesting idea, but the story is filled with one too many cliché . Also, the MC were a not very relatable and that made the book passable, nothing more.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • John Bacon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended Reading!
    Reviewed in Australia on February 10, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I purchased Unexpected Obsession on a whim, not really knowing what to expect. It didn't take long before I was hooked!

    The journey the reader shares as the characters develop is intoxicating. I found myself immersed in the interwoven fabric of their lives, their passions, and the evolving central relationship. The euro-centric location added to the richness\context and was an ideal canvas.

    I can't wait for the next book in the Unexpected series, please hurry Barbara!

    Recommended reading!
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  • Carrie
    4.0 out of 5 stars Obsession indeed
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 20, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I'm not normally a reader of erotic romance so this was an unusual choice. Although it does contain a high proportion of fairly explicit sexual content, the central relationship of Nico and Lia is also rather touching. Both are scarred from events of the past, revelations skilfully woven throughout the story. I did feel that the narrative need a little more plot and that it read more as a relationship study, but that may well be typical of this type of story. The characters were entertaining and the dialogue felt both clever and realistic, keeping my attention to the end. If this is your genre, you should enjoy it.
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  • New Reader
    4.0 out of 5 stars I really enjoyed this book
    Reviewed in Australia on October 10, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this book. It was a little different to what I expected. It was much deeper than the average romance. I couldn’t decide whether I loved or hated the male lead but the more I read the more I realised he might be difficult but his feelings for Lia were very strong. I thought he was too dominating at times. Lia though had lots of patience and knew how to stand up to him when she needed to. I think she made him understand things a little better. It was an excellent story with lots of sexy bits. The pace and the writing were good and the book flowed nicely. It had lots of warmth and the characters were easy to get involved with. I would definitely recommend it and am looking forward to reading Book 2.
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  • Alyson
    3.0 out of 5 stars I would just like to say that I have worked with this author ...
    Reviewed in Australia on November 20, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Before I give my review, I would just like to say that I have worked with this author previously.
    I loved the tension between the two main characters, Nico and Lia.
    It smacks you right in the face at the beginning and carries through to the end.
    There are a few sections that need tightening, but overall the story flows well.
    I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
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  • Jules
    5.0 out of 5 stars Not your average romance.
    Reviewed in Australia on December 15, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were well developed and it felt like the author had such a solid grasp on who they were and what they were about. It had a depth that I wasn't expecting from a romance novel. It certainly challenges your beliefs in some areas.
    Looking forward to the next one.
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