Review: 4.5 stars! Because You Are Mine, book 1-8 of 8.  Another whirlwind romance with a dominant & controlling, rich & sexy alpha male
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 12, 2013
"Because You Are Mine" (Ian's & Francesca's story) is an 8-part series, released in the fall of 2012.  Combined they make a 368-page read.  Please note that the Omnibus will be released in March 2013.And there will be a sequel to this series, "When I'm With You" (Lucien's & Elise's story) to be released in 8 weekly installments starting March 3, 2013 (series complete by April 23, 2013).Since I am a reader in need of a HEA, I made sure I waited to read this series until all installments had been released.  I read it in one sitting, thus I will review as a set.Hero: Ian Noble/British/30 years old/mogul-playboy/$$$$/dark hair/blue eyes/domHeroine: Francesca Arno/American/23 years old/student-artist/red-gold hair/brown eyes/innocentFrancesca is a young artist, who entered her painting in a competition held by the billionaire, Ian Noble. She wins the competition and is commissioned to create the centerpiece painting for the lobby of Ian's new Chicago Skyscraper.  The book opens up at the reception held in her honor.  Ian and Francesca are introduced and she feels in instant attraction (recognizing he is out of her league) while he is intrigued, but reserved.  He knows she is too innocent for the likes of him.  Francesca is a bohemian; she is nave, sweet and kind.  She has a strained relationship with her parents, never quite measuring up.  She lives with her three male roommates who are very protective of her.  Ian, on the other hand, is the rich and extremely successful business mogul; he is enigmatic, worldly, handsome, sexy and oh so dominant and too "corrupted" for her.  But there is much more to it, because Ian is full of secrets.  For starters: The reception was not their first encounter.  Four years prior Francesca had painted "The Cat That Walks By Himself".  As it turns out Ian had been the inspiration for that painting.  She had been sad to have to sell it.  And Ian had bought and tracked her down...Ian tries to fight his attraction to Francesca, but it's a losing battle and so their whirlwind romance begins, taking us across the ocean while Ian and Francesca get to know each other and have lot of scorching hot sex.  But as Ian's secrets are revealed, his mysterious past continues to cast shadows over their relationship.  Their love is challenged and their future threatened.I thoroughly enjoyed Ian's & Francesca's story.  And I very much look forward to Lucien's & Elise's story in "When I'm With You".***Hero rating: 5 starsHeroine rating: 4 starsSex scenes rating: 5 starsSex scenes frequency: 4.5 starsStoryline concept rating: 4.5 starsStorytelling skills rating: 5 starsStory ending rating: 4.5 stars******************************Overall rating: 4.5 starsWould I recommend this series: Yes.Would I re-read this series: Maybe later.Would I read future books by this author: Yes.