Customer Reviews

The Red Diary

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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This book by Toni Blake is NOT your typical erotic romance. It has warm endearing characters and a really touching story.

Nick is a housepainter with a wounded heart. Lauren writes her sexual fantasies in a Red Diary which Nick finds while painting her house. He is enticed by what she has written. He knows he shouldn't keep invading her privacy but continues to read the diary. They have some history and at first Nick wants to get even for a past wrong.

Lauren's love teaches Nick that love can heal even the worst of wounds. I definitely recommend this book!!!!

Nick Armstrong hates anything to do with the Ash family. After his mother died, his father took to the bottle and was ousted from a partnership with now multi-millionaire builder, Henry Ash. When Nick is hired to paint the house of Henry's daughter Lauren (whom he has not seen since they were children), he's instantly attracted to her, but can't fathom a relationship with the daughter of his enemy. When Lauren is out, he snoops in her house to get a glimpse of what "should have been his," only to find her diary. When he opens it, he discovers her erotic fantasies, and sets a plan in motion to seduce her with her own fantasies and break her heart. He doesn't factor in that his own heart might become involved. Lauren is not what Nick expects, and he soon finds himself falling for the one woman he doesn't feel he can have. When she discovers his deception, will she ever be able to forgive him?

While the plot itself is a bit predictable, the story is very engaging, and keeps the reader hooked. Nick has so many layers - he's both a tough guy and has a huge soft spot for the disabled brother he supports, while trying to find it in his heart to forgive his father for allowing their lives to be ruined. And Blake can really up to steam quotient - this is one hot book!

From the beautiful red rose cover to the end of the story, Toni Blake's THE RED DIARY is sexy, sweet and hot! A contemporary romance combines with a good old fashioned love story between two unlikely people. Even the secondary characters have a story you'll want to know more about--BIG HINT, WARNER! Overall, a very satisfying read and a story that will stay with you. Did I mention the sex? It's amazing. Thank you, Toni Blake!

In Clearwater Beach, Florida, Nick Armstrong blames his family's misfortune on his father's business partner of two decades ago, Henry Ash, who took advantage of a grieving man (Nick's mom had just died). Henry swindled Nick's dad out of his share of their business. Nick's father became an alcoholic, his brother became mentally unbalanced and his sister gave up her plans to attend college. Nick worked like a dog to keep the family alive and recently his Horizon Painters firm has had success.

Henry's daughter "Princess" Lauren hires Nick's firm to paint her house. Nick's first reaction to seeing her highness is that she is the prettiest woman he ever saw, but assumes she is a shallow man-eater. As he works on her home, he finds her RED DIARY in which she fantasizes about lovers similar to that of her loose best friend. Nick decides the best way to avenge his family is to give Lauren everything she asks for in her diary. However, as he succeeds in his quest, he falls in love with his victim and fears how she will react to the truth.

This enjoyable contemporary romance focuses on a deep message that destructive negative emotions by one person have a downward impact on other family members. Henry's collapse takes his children down with him in different way with the plot predominantly looking at Nick, who has a cancer inside him until Lauren's love begins to heal him. Lauren is a wonderful protagonist, perhaps too good for Nick even with her therapeutic love saving him from himself. Still Toni Blake makes it quite clear that revenge harms the culprit as much, if not more, as the intended target.

Harriet Klausner

As someone who has read and enjoyed each book this Author has written, I must say that Toni Blake's transition from Catagory Romance to Single Title brings the talent that she has shown in previous writing to it's fullest potential. "The Red Diary" is wonderfully written, and combines all the best aspects of a truly good book. Nick has a stormy past and holds Lauren's Father responsible for it all. What starts off as a means of revenge turns into something that keeps you turning pages until the end. The story that weaves around these characters is one that will touch you deeply, and will definately earn a spot on the keeper shelf!

This was a wonderfully sensual and emotional read that will draw the reader in until the final page has been read. The relationship between Lauren and Nick is not only hot and sensual, but it is also a relationship that brings change for the better in both characters personal lives.

Lauren is not like her fun loving party hard girlfriend Carolyn. In fact she can't be more opposite. This is not to say she is the "ice princess" everyone calls her. She does have a sensual side that she keeps hidden within the pages of a red diary that only she knows about. Here she feels safe to let her sensual self loose and engage in wonderfully sexy fantasies that always end with a sense of peace and well-being as well with the emotion of love being felt. Her privacy though is about to be invaded by her contracted house painter. She doesn't want to be attracted to Nick but she can't help feel the pull of their mutal attraction.

Nick has long hated Lauren's dad. His life has been hard and he blames whether right or wrong, Lauren's dad. He takes the contract to paint her house as a way of looking into a life that should have been his. He stumbles across her diary and reads a fantasy out of it. He can't believe that the "ice princess" has such a hot imagination, nor can he believe that it speaks to him. He thinks the best way to get his revenge is to act out a few of her fantasies, and then let her know he "knows" her secret. Problem with this plan though is he starts to get to know Lauren, and the searing sensuality of their relationship stays with him long after he has left her. Before he knows it he is sharing himself with her, and learning that Lauren is not all that he thought she was. In fact she is just the opposite, she fun loving, caring, friendly, and loyal. She is everything he thinks he dosen't deserve but wants, even if it means risking it all by telling her the truth. Will Lauren and Nick be able to save a relationship that neither was looking for but on that has become so important to them?

This was an incredible read! Nick and Lauren both grow and change over the course of the story and as a result their love is all the more sensual and sweet. Secondary characters such as Davy and Elaine are wonderful additions to this story and are important for the reader to understand Nick. Nick has a lot of baggage and the fact that he allows his heart to be opened by Lauren is amazing. Ms. Blake has penned a very sensual story but the sensuality is very key to the storyline. It is in no way filler and perhaps is as sensual as it is due to the relationship of Nick and Lauren themselves. This is one read that I highly recommend.

Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com

A friend gave me this book to read. I rarely buy/read new-to-me authors without a recommendation by someone whose opinion I trust. So when I got this from my friend with a big thumbs up, I knew it was a must read. I really enjoyed this book and I'm so glad she gave it to me, because I probably wouldn't have bought it otherwise. I would have read the back copy and figured the book was just 'all about sex' and put it back down. But it's so much more than that. The relationship between Lauren and Nick develops so well and naturally. All of the characters ring true - Blake doesn't pull any punches with her characters and shows them warts and all, which is quite refreshing and makes them all the more human. I will definitely buy this author's next book.

The Red Diary by Toni Blake is sensual writing at its best.

Lauren Ash isn't as outgoing sexual as her friends. But that doesn't mean she doesn't have those desires. Lauren keeps her hidden thoughts written into a diary at home.

Nick Armstrong has been hired by Lauren's company to paint her home. Nick's father used to be partners with Lauren's dad many years ago. Nick is extremely bitter over how he feels his dad was treated. Nick at first wants a glimpse into the world that could have been his families.

He is looking around Lauren's home and stumbles across the diary. Unable to stop himself he is drawn again and again into this fantasy world. Nick plans on using this new information against Lauren. But he didn't plan on it becoming so real.

Lauren as well is draw to Nick who closely resembles the man from her diary. Lauren begins to feel that what she has with Nick is better then any fantasy.

The Red Diary is a richly tantalizing story. The diary entries are as hot as the actual connections between Nick and Lauren. This story is very moving as well, the things from their past still haunt them today. When they come out its heart wrenching.

Toni Blake is an auto buy for me, can't wait till her next book comes out.

Nick and Lauren's story is so powerful and emotional I couldn't put The Red Diary down. I was completely drawn into the book. The sensual scenes are terrific. I liked The Red Diary so much I bought Toni Blake's back list of books. Can't wait to get started on more great stories.

Reading THE RED DIARY is like taking a peek into every woman's fantasies while sharing the view with a dark hero strong enough to make every one of them come true. Super read.