Command Performance (BookStrand Publishing Romance) [Kindle Edition]

I enjoyed this story. The premise of a young and innocent woman wrongly accused is a common one, but the author has breathed new life into the concept. Lindi is not a weak woman despite the controlling people around her, and she grows stronger and more determined as the story goes on. Vittorio is not particularly likeable in the beginning of the story, but when the reader is told the reasons for his attitude, he is easier to understand. The plot flows smoothly to a satisfactory conclusion and is easy to become involved in the story.

Maura
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

Ms. Quilford has a wonderfully gentle writing style that carries you along with her story. Lindi Ms. Quilford's heroine is portrayed as more than slightly gullible, incredibly naive, cowed by everyone around her, and I could truly feel her timorous approach to life. I was rooting for her to grow and learn from the new experiences bombarding her when Vittorrio, the author's hero, came into her life.

The whole story revolves round misconceptions, false accusations from Vittorio, and what truly amounts to kidnapping. I found myself wondering why Lindi simply fell in with his plans when he was less than pleasant to her. She may not like her mother's partner (and how could she not know they were lovers too?), but up to that point she'd never rebelled against anything she was told to do. At this point, it disappointed me I was not behind Lindi as solidly as I had been, especially as I was enjoying the author's wonderfully vivid description. I have seen Chesterfield's crooked church spire, and I've visited Venice and loved how Ms. Quilford took me back to those places so easily.

Unfortunately I never came to like Ms. Quilford's hero. Yes he was a man at the top who let nothing get in his way if he wanted something, but he didn't grow or change as the story unfolded.

It still didn't stop me from enjoying the sweet romance involved until suddenly without warning the timid beleaguered heroine turned into a dominant sexual partner who resorts to mild bondage all within one night, and then as quickly as the sun rises, reverted back to character.

While this may not have been my favorite book, that will not stop me looking out for more books by this author. I love her vivid descriptions; she has a writing style that appeals, and characters that bring out reader emotions whether they are negative or positive, and since that is what most writers strive for, Ms. Quilford has definitely achieved her aim with this book.

Originally posted at LAS Romance Reviews

Anyone who reads my reviews regularly would know that I am a fan of Sally Quilford's work. So if you're expecting me to give this book a glowing review, well, you'd be absolutely right.

What I love about Sally's work is that she is simply a joy to read. Her writing flows so beautifully that I tend to find myself finishing chapters before I know it. It's a bit like television - effortless entertainment. Her storylines are compulsive.

This book was written with Mills and Boon in mind but apparently, they turned it down. It's their loss. She is such an original writer. She took what is a sort of romance novel 'formula' i.e. an English rose and a handsome Italian. With her original approach, she made something completely different of it. I enjoyed reading about Belinda's awakening and self discovery - okay, she had this tall, dark, handsome hero helping her find her way, but who's complaining? I'm sure the readers won't anyway. I know I didn't.

Incidentally, this is the first time I've read anything by Sally with overtly sexual content in it. Her pocket novels usually steer clear of the dark side of life. They're the kind of books you could safely give to your kids to read without any worry about having their morals corrupted, so to speak. This story, Command Performance, is written with an adult readership in mind. Now me, while I like to read romantic fiction (provided it's good quality stuff) I'm one of those people who would prefer to leave the sexual details on the cutting room floor. I enjoy the spark, sizzle and chemistry when reading about a romancing couple. I have no desire whatsoever to get into bed with them. However, times have changed and many publishers demand that stuff nowadays. So if an author has to do what an author has to do, they should grasp the nettle bravely and this is exactly what Sally does. I've said it before about this writer and I'll say it this time too. She gets straight to the heart of the matter, no mucking about. She delivers her scene frankly and even with a sense of humour which I found rather endearing. Well done, Sally. I know I couldn't do that myself!

I'm rather a slow reader nowadays, but I finished this one within twenty four hours. That, in my opinion, says it all. Definitely paisa vasool (that's a phrase we have in India, which means 'value for money').

Maria (Reviewer for Romance Book Haven)