Kinky Neighbors by Jasmine Haynes

Grade - D-/C-
Hotness Level - Inferno
Kink Level - No kink
Genre - Contemporary, MenageSeries - Kinky Neighbors #1
Jointly Reviewed by Kate & Anne

*** This review contains spoilers***

So, I (Anne) knew that Kate was on the lookout for a good HEA foursome book.  There was a Valentine's Day sale on ebooks at All Romance eBooks and I had Jasmine Haynes on my wishlist.  So when I read the back cover copy for this one, I suggested Kate and I both read it.  Below is our joint review.

Kate:
Drew has always enjoyed the kinky side of his wife Cat. So when she suggests they invite their neighbors (and friends) Logan and Alexis to go away for a week of exploring new sexual territory, he agrees. Drew worries that the new dynamics might destroy the friendship, but Cat promises to take it slow. Logan, like Cat, is looking forward to the week. Alexis has always been a bit more sexually reserved than Logan, but agrees to go on the vacation.

I'll be honest, I didn't like this book at all. Not because of the writing, but because it just crossed some boundaries I didn't even realize I had. In the initial stages of the foursome, I felt uncomfortable because of some of the feelings Drew and especially Alexis were experiencing. The further into the relationship(s), the more uncomfortable I became. By the end if the book, I was forcing myself to finish...I was simply too close to the end to not finish.

Anne:
I really liked the first third of this book.  The part that takes place at their weeklong getaway at a mountain cabin.  I knew they were talking Alexis into things, but I felt like she was happy with what was happening and not having any second thoughts or anything.  Once they got back to real life, Drew and Alexis (the story is told from their alternating POVs) both seemed to have some reservations about what they were doing, and I started to get uncomfortable.  I was holding out hope that these were issues they'd just have to work through, but things just got worse and worse.  In the end, I was really disappointed because the story didn't meet my expectations. 

I wanted to read a fantasy where everyone was happy.  I didn't expect two marriages to fall apart.  Honestly, I'd guess that is how it would work in real life.  So, I'm complaining because the story was too realistic.  And when it was revealed toward the end exactly how much manipulation had occured and how early it had happened... well that ruined even the beginning of the book for me.  Even the twu wuv discovered between Alexis and Drew didn't save the story for me.

Kate:
I tend to rate books by how likely I am to reread them.  In this case I wrote the review, deleted the book from my Kindle and happily moved on.

Anne:
Yeah, I don't think I'd reread this book.  I will look for more by this author, because I thought it was really well written and the sex scenes were particularly good.  I'll be pretty careful about reading cover copy and probably other reviews before I read, though.

Kate:
There is a sequel to this story (Kinky Neighbors: Cat and Logan's Just Desserts) but I won't be reading it. I just don't want to know any more about these characters.

Anne:
Really.  A sequel.  Huh.  But I really hate Cat and Logan.  I can't imagine enjoying a book about them.  It's a damned if you do damned if you don't situation.  If they are happy, I'll think it's unfair and unlikely.  I'll be pissed that they walked away from their manipulations (and spouses!) without any consequences.  If they are unhappy, that won't be much of a read for an HEA lover like me.   So, yeah, I think I'll be skipping the sequel.

And, Kay, don't even think of picking this book up.  It would make you so angry!

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

Grade – B+
Hotness Level – Blaze

Kink Level - No Kink
Genre – Historical
Series - Bridgertons #2
Reviewed by Kate

When Anthony Bridgerton decides it is time to marry, he wants no part of love. He sets out to make Edwina Sheffield, the beauty of the season and someone he can tolerate without loving, his future bride. When he discovers Edwina will not marry unless her sister Kate approves of the suitor, Anthony makes impressing Kate his number one priority. But is he enjoying his time spent with Kate too much?

After a string of disappointing reads, I knew I could count on Julia Quinn and the Bridgertons for an enjoyable read.  This second installment certainly delivered.  Anthony is a conflicted but likable hero.  Determined not to fall in love, he doesn't know how to handle the feelings he's developing for Kate.  used to standing in her sister's shadow, Kate fully expects to become a spinster.  how can she believe Anthony would choose her over the beautiful Edwina?  Full of witty humor and tender moments, I read the entire book with a smile on my face.  And really, can you ask for anything more?

A Most Scandalous Proposal by Ashlyn Macnamara

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Genre-Historical Regency Romance
Reviewed by Kay

Julia St. Claire is twenty-two and has turned down many a suitor. She doesn't want to love someone and always discourages the matches when the men seem to be besotted with her. She prefers a loveless marriage.

Benedict Revelstoke is the second son of an earl. He has been Julia's lifelong friend and has loved her from afar.

Sophia St. Claire has pined for a man who has never showed her interest for five years. In her struggles to get this man's notice, she has also turned down many marriage offers.

Rufus Highgate is an earl with a wicked scar and a scandalous past. It was said that he was responsible for his late wife's accident. He hates the Ton and does his best to avoid it.

Julia and Sophia's parents want to see their daughters settled. They will do whatever they have to, no matter what, to ensure this. Even to the point of not taking their daughters wishes into account. Julia is basically sold to a man to cover her father's debts. What makes this worse, is that the man she's sold to is the man Sophia wants.

Julia gets the man she never knew she wanted.

Benedict gets everything he has ever wanted.

Sophia gets a man she never expected.

Rufus gets a woman he never thought he deserved a chance with.

This novel was entertaining. I don't think I've ever read a novel with two heroes and two heroines. It was a nice change from the norm. All characters got what they deserved and it just happened to be what they wanted too. It didn't get hot though until about 70% into the book and I didn't like that at all.

Hotter Than Hot by Tina Leonard

Grade - D
Hotness Level - Blaze
Kink Level - No Kink
Genre - Contemporary, very short story
Series - Pecan Creek #0.5
Reviewed by Kate
Small town virgin librarian (is there any other kind?) Monet has a secret second job as a sex-advice columnist. When threatening letters start arriving in town, her father hires Elijah to be her bodyguard. Monet decides it's time to learn something about sex and Elijah would be the perfect teacher.

This one is extremely short. Kindle has it listed a 78 pages but I read it in under an hour and it was over by the 47% mark. The rest was a sample of the next book in the series. It seems like a teaser to draw you into the full length book releasing next month, but it falls flat. There are no struggles or obstacles for the characters to overcome, no tension whatsoever. I've seen more tense episodes of the Brady Bunch. The ending is too quick, too easy, and too perfect (just like the Brady Bunch, come to think of it.)

Edge Of Dawn by Lara Adrian

Grade-B
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Midnight Breed #11
Reviewed by Kay

Edge of Dawn is the latest installment of Lara Adrian's very successful Midnight Breed series. It takes place 20 years after Darker than Midnight. Mira is the heroine and she was a child when we first met her. She's a Breedmate (potential mate/wife) for any Breed male. She also has a special gift like all Breedmates. Hers is that anyone who looks into her eyes can see their future. What people see isn't always pleasant and each time her eyesight weakens. She was taken in by the Order and raised by a warrior couple.

Kellen Archer is the hero and a Breed male. He and his grandfather were saved by the Order years ago after the rest of his family was slaughtered. He was a sullen and somber teen aged boy. He trained and became part of the Order. He and Mira were best friends and that grew into lovers. Kellen was on a mission where he died, although his body was never found.

Mira still grieves for him and sometimes it bleeds over into her missions. She's had some reprimands and is stuck babysitting a human inventor and is to escort him to a conference at which he is to be honored. Mira and the human are abducted by a rebel group. Here is where the fun starts.

I love the Midnight Breed books. Lara Adrian has always been an auto read for me. It was interesting to catch up with past characters. Also it was fun to read about the dynamic of the two societies interacting. In previous novels, the humans are unaware of the Breed existence and now they are. I would like to read about the rest of the team members. I loved this book right up until the end. A certain plot twist left me a little confused and irritated. I would still recommend this series to anyone who loves a good paranormal series.

Down To You by M. Leighton

Grade-D-
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-The Bad Boys #1
Reviewed by Kay

This series came highly recommended to me. I was very excited to read start it. I was also a little intrigued since the blurb about it said it was a love triangle that really wasn't one.

Olivia Townsend is a college student studying accounting with the hopes to help her dad with the family farm after graduation. She lives with her cousin, who she can't stand and who is a total witch.

Nash Davenport is a law student and the boyfriend of Olivia's cousin. He works with her cousin's father also.

Cash Davenport is the owner of a successful nightclub and the black sheep.

This is the story of the relationships between these three characters. The twins aren't real close to each other. Olivia is attracted to them both as they are to her. There is a secret that could put them all in danger.

This is not a good example of romance or romantic suspense either one. The romance was creepy and kind of gross. The heroine was slutty as were the twins. The secret was over the top to me as was the reason for the secret. I had a issue with the cheating, deceiving and a situation of questionable consent. This was an utter miss for me on all levels.

Restraint by Charlotte Stein

Grade - A
Hotness Level - Inferno
Kink Level - no kink
Genre - Contemporary, short
Reviewed by Anne

Mallory is pissed of at her friend.  He invited *Artie* along on their holiday.  Artie who hates her and thinks she's stupid.  But while they are sharing a vacation house, Mallory quickly realizes Artie doesn't dislike her, he just doesn't know what to do with the attraction he feels for her.  He's so uptight, conservative, restrained... he just doesn't know what to do with the physical reaction he has to her blunt words.

I'll stop there because it's a short story (51 pages on my reader) and I don't want to give it away, but it's incredibly good.  I love Charlotte Stein's voice.  Her first person story telling works for me, even though I'm not a first person fan, in general.  Early on in the story, before she understands why Artie seems to dislike her, Mallory decides she's never going to have Artie's approval and she doesn't care.  In fact, she's going to say more of the things that make him uncomfortable.

I can almost make out the pressure of his immense gaze on the side of my face, as I make a comment I know I shouldn't be making.

I know it, the second it comes out - but somehow I just can't help it.  I'm not even trying to employ this new "Artie can go fuck himself" attitude.  The words simply come out all on their own, like a reflex.

A rude, rude reflex, in response to Lucy's suggestion that she'd be happy just to have some movie star hunk of the week read the phone book to her.

'He could read the phone book to me, too, ' I say, and then the Doc hit my knee with the little hammer, and my leg kicks up. 'As long as he does so directly into my vagina.'

This story is very hot.  It's also got a dirty feel to it, which I really enjoyed.  The dirty comes from knowing how Artie feels about the things they are doing, not so much what they are doing.  I really enjoyed the writing!  Artie and Mallory also develop a sweet and believable love for each other.  I highly recommend this book.  It's going on my Best of 2013 list.

Leather, Lace and Rock-n-Roll by Mia Dymond

Grade-D
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-SEALS, Inc. #1
Reviewed by Kay

The story starts out a rock concert for Jaydon Hawke's band. Rachel, the heroine and Cameron, her best friend are trying to get backstage with only one pass. Cameron is trying to get Rachel to take a walk on the wild side and sleep with a rock star. Rachel is kind of shy and considers herself smart but not attractive.

Jaydon Hawke is a bonafide rock star. Oh yeah, and he's also a a Navy SEAL. Rachel helps him with a stuck zipper and he's hooked from there.  He's undercover trying to capture a terrorist and thinks Rachel is somehow involved.

Nothing about this story worked for me at all. I tried, I really did. It has two things I love to read about: Navy SEALS and rock stars. Still those things did not help. Let me list what I liked and disliked.

Like- Max. He was a good character.

Disliked- A rock star that's a Navy SEAL? Come on. Cameron grated my nerves so bad I thought I was gonna scream. The men in the story were a little Beta for me. The sex scenes-not enough and not hot enough.

I gave  the book a D rating because I admire authors and the sacrifices they and their families make so we as readers have something to read. Otherwise, my review rating would've been worse.

Cajun Hot by Nikita Black

Grade - D
Hotness Level - Inferno
Kink Level - Mild Kink
Genre - Contemporary
Reviewed by Kate

Sahara gets lost in the bayou trying to get pictures of a rare orchid. She is found by brothers Jacque and Quint and taken back to Jacque's small bayou home. Sahara and Jacque fall into instant lust, but can there be more?

After growing up in extreme poverty, Sahara is determined to become rich as an adult. Jacque has made millions but hides that fact from Sahara. He is looking for a woman who will love him enough that she would be willing to live in the bayou with him.

This one was a bit of a train wreck...I didn't like what I was reading but I couldn't put it down. When Jacque and Quint get Sahara home after rescuing her, a bit of a threesome happens. 'A bit?' you ask. Yeah, I'm going to go with 'a bit.' See, Quint's wife storms in and puts a stop to things before the three can take the... final plunge. But enough has already happened to make me feel squicky about it all. Sahara never knew that Quint was married, but sleazy Jacque - and obviously Quint - knew.

Missing the only bus leaving for days, Sahara agrees to stay with Jacque. A strange half naked, bayou style shotgun wedding later, and Sahara seems to be well and truly stuck with Jacque. Still wanting to leave, each escape attempt is thwarted by the bayou folk loyal to Jacque, who finally chains her to his bed. And between all of the attempts, what is poor little Sahara to do? Why enjoy all the hot sex that Jacque can provide, of course.

I'm still baffled by this book.

BB Dalton by Cat Johnson

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Red, Hot & Blue #3.5
Reviewed by Kay

This is a very short read. More of a short story than a novella.

BB Dalton is a Navy SEAL. His real name is William Robert Dalton. You guessed it...BB is short for Billy Bob. He was an underwear model in his life before the military.

Katie Jorgenson is an advertising executive, I think. She's in charge of a project that will help recruiting for the military, supposedly. She has chosen BB to be the poster child of this project.

Despite his wishes not to be a part of this, BB and Katie start touring after BB gets his pictures taken. The two become close after spending this time together. Katie is very concerned with the age difference, as she is eleven years his senior. BB could care less about the difference in their ages. Katie fights her attraction but does relent eventually and really, who could blame her.

This is a semi-steamy short story that can be finished in one sitting. I had been wanting and waiting to read a Cat Johnson story for a while. I liked it but I thought it would've been hotter.

The Magic Mirror and the Seventh Dwarf by Tia Nevitt

Grade – B+
Hotness Level – Ember

Kink Level - None
Genre – Fairytale
Series - Accidental Enchantments #2
Reviewed by Anne

I have a fondness for fairytale retellings, especially in the romance genre.  I’ve always got an eye out for them. I remember reading The Sevenfold Spell in 2011. (Kate's review of us just went up yesterday.)  It was a Sleeping Beauty retelling from a different point of view, and I enjoyed it.  So, when I saw Tea Nevitt had written a new story with her twist on Snow White, I was really looking forward to reading it.  I wasn’t disappointed!

In this story, we see how the Snow White events unfold as told primarily through the eyes of Richard, the man magically bound to the Evil Stepmother Queen’s mirror, and Gretchen, the seventh dwarf.  Richard must answer three questions from the Queen each sunrise and sunset when she calls on him through the mirror.  He must answer these questions truthfully.  He has taken to wandering through the countryside and staying away from people in order to avoid having knowledge that may get those people in trouble.  He hopes to someday find and destroy the mirror enslaving him.

Gretchen is the only dwarf in her small town.  Though much loved by her family, she feels like a social outcast.  When a traveling minstrel tells the tale of a farm run by dwarves, Gretchen decides she will go there and see if she might have a better life living on the farm.  She’s also curious to see if anyone else in the world truly looks like her. 

Richard and Gretchen’s storylines run in parallel, only overlapping toward the end of the book.  Richard finally finds his way to the city that houses the Queen and the mirror.  There he meets Snow White and falls in love, not with her legendary beauty, but the wonderful person she is.

Gretchen meanwhile is very much enjoying life on the farm with the other dwarves and has decided to choose a husband from the four available men.  She also becomes friends with Angelika (Snow White).

I really enjoyed the way their stories unfolded and finally intertwined.  It’s a really clever retelling of the Snow White story.  My favorite part of the book was the way a princess really wakes up from a magically induced sleeping spell.  (Hint: it’s not with a stretch and a smile.)  The Queen’s handling of Richard was deliciously evil.  She would never put him in a prison.  She knows he’s most miserable and of most use to her wandering her kingdom.

There were a couple negatives in the story for me.  The way Angelika’s aunt and uncle treat her didn’t seem to have a place in the story.  I wanted a better (more vengeful, perhaps?) ending for the Queen.  I didn’t like Rudolf, one of the dwarves, and felt like the story would have been better without him.

Overall, though, I really enjoyed this twist on Snow White, the two romances in it, the look at inner and outer beauty, and the cleverness of thinking about the enchanted mirror from a different point of view.  I enjoyed it enough that I can’t even complain about the lack of on page sex. (There was none!  But I’m not complaining, just mentioning.)  I recommend this book.

The Sevenfold Spell by Tia Nevitt

Grade - B-
Hotness Level - Blaze
Kink Level - No kink
Genre - Fairytale
Series - Accidental Enchantments #1
Reviewed by Kate

When it is decreed that all spinning wheels in the country need to be destroyed (you recognize Sleeping Beauty here, right?), Talia and her mother lose their only source of income. But Talia loses a bit more. They are forced to use her dowry to fund the purchase of a loom as well as food for the pair of them. With her dowry depleted, her chance for marriage disappears.

Willard, a local farm boy, had agreed to marry Talia. But being a younger son and no longer having her dowry, the pair would not be able to survive. Willard's father sends him to join the Church. Talia decides he shouldn't leave without knowing a woman's touch and the two engage in a three week affair that gives the town gossips something to talk about.

Failing to make a go of their weaving business, Talia and her mother craft an illegal spinning wheel. Then it is simply a matter of time before the curse comes to call. Can Talia change the course of the curse?

I don't know that I would label this as a romance. While love does develop between Talia and Willard, it becomes more of a back story as Talia has many other affairs. Most of the story is about Talia's place in the course of Princess Aurora's curse and how Talia's actions affect the outcome of the fairy tale.

Beautiful Bastard by Christina Lauren

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Beautiful Bastard #1
Reviewed by Kay

Bennett Ryan is the hero of the novel and he is a beautiful bastard. He's attractive so that covers the beautiful part. He's also a bastard because he's is arrogant and an ass of the highest order. "Beautiful Bastard" is his assistant's nickname for him.

His assistant and heroine of the book is Chloe. She works for him at his family owned media company as part of an internship for her college degree. She doesn't have any family in the area, so the Ryans have taken her in to their family in a way. Bennett was over in France during that time so he really didn't know her.

This novel is predominantly a collection of sex scenes with some story sprinkled in. Don't get me wrong, I love sex scenes but I would've liked a little more story to go with them. The characters were kind of unlikable too. Bennett was an ass and Chloe was bitchy. Together they were explosive but hard to root for. Regardless, I did enjoy the book.

The French Kiss Chronicles (Deux, Trois, Quarte) by Em Petrova

Grade - B
Hotness Level - Inferno
Kink Level - Mild Kink (menage, no BDSM)
Genre - Contemporary
Reviewed by Kate

Jane is happy in her relationship with her husband Ethan. But although she loves him deeply, she feels there is something missing fom her life. Or someone...Margot. Margot is in the same kickboxing class with Jane. Jane approaches her in the locker room after class one day and the encounter soon turns into an affair.

When Ethan finds out about Jane's affair with Margot, he asks to join in. Margot is initially hesitant, but quickly comes around and welcomes him. The three enjoy not only hot sex but deep heart felt connections as well.

A few months later Margot meets Danny. While she enjoys her bond with Jane and Ethan, she is still going home to an empty house. An instant connection with Danny gives her hope for more. But will he be interested in joining Jane and Ethan in bed?

I went into this trilogy with high hopes and was not disappointed. The scenes were plentiful and steamy...and in almost any combination imaginable. Going into the first book, I knew that Jane started her affair with Margot despite being married. Jane knows that Ethan will be fine with it, but I was a bit disappointed that Jane didn't discuss her desires with Ethan until after the fact. The other negative mark for me came when Margot begins her relationship with Danny. She knows that she is not willing to give up Jane and Ethan, but she waits until after Danny has declared his love and they've slept together to tell him about her other lovers. I enjoyed this series a lot and would recommend the stories to any menage romance readers.

**contains f/f, m/f/f, m/f/f/m, and m/m situations**

Happy Valentine's Day!

This one is from etsy.

 




 The previous two (and many more like them) come from geeksugar.

Another cool one from etsy.

Happy Valentines from the Dirty Girls, Anne, Kay, & Kate.  If you're looking for more Valentines that lean toward the nerdy side check out the Dirty Girls' Good Books Valentine's Day Pinterest page.

Painted Faces by L.H. Cosway

Grade – A-

Hotness Level – Blaze

Kink Level – No Kink

Genre – Contemporary

Reviewed by Anne

 

Freda, aka Fred, is an abrasive 25 year old woman living in Dublin.  She bakes cupcakes and works at a charity shop.  She has good friends, including her roommate, but she tends to speak her mind without filtering out things first.

 

Nicholas is Fred's new neighbor.  Not only is he gorgeous but she's instantly drawn to him.

Even within this short conversation, I've noticed something sort of electric about his personality, something addictive.  His eyes pull me in, like they hold secrets that could make my boring old life so much more exciting.  You don't come across men this alluring very often.
 

When Nicholas invites Fred to come see his show, she's surprised and then delighted to learn that he sings and dresses in female clothes.  He's very, very good and Fred is even more intrigued by her new neighbor.

 

However attracted Fred may be to Nicholas, but there's no way she'd act on it. She knows he's way out of her league and any kind of romantic relationship is bound to leave her with a broken heart.  Too bad for Fred, because Nicholas is very attracted to her and he's ready to act on it.  Fred is cautious with her heart, though, so they fall into a friendship with some incredible sexual tension. 

 

As I've mentioned before, I'm a huge fan of romance without external conflict, and that's exactly what this one is.  This whole story is about how Fred and Nicholas work through their issues and and it's delightful, funny, and painful to read.  This story is told entirely from Fred's point of view, and I really enjoyed her voice and the way she looked at the world.  Another bonus is that the story is set in Dublin and it's not Americanized.  I enjoy reading slang I don't know and I'm smart enough to figure out what phrases mean if it's not one I've seen before.

 

It's not a perfect read.  There were some things that bothered me.  Throughout the book, Fred says "No" to Nicholas' advances, while wishing in his head he'd ignore her and continue to pursue her anyway.  Often he does ignore her "No."  Fred is OK with this, because she's secretly hoping he really does like her enough to keep trying.  However, Nicholas had no way of really knowing that, so I found it annoying.  There were a couple plot lines that never went anywhere.

 

Still, it was overall a big winner for me. I didn't want to put this down while reading it, which made my real life quite inconvenient. 

 

A couple points I want to be clear on:

• This story does include references to Nicholas' sexual abuse as a teenager.  This is important to the story, not superfluous.  It is not discussed in graphic detail.
• While he enjoys dressing up as a woman, Nicholas' sexual orientation is straight, and Nicholas and Fred's relationship is a man/woman relationship.  These characters would have been interesting to read about regardless of sexual orientation, but I include this in my review in case you're looking for a specific kind of story.

 

I'd love to read more L.H. Cosway.  Goodreads shows that she's got two series, one looks to be vampire/paranormal, and the other a YA/paranormal.  I'm going to cross my fingers and hope she does some more contemporary romance.

At His Majesty's Convenience by Jennifer Lewis

Grade - C
Hotness Level - Blaze
Kink Level - No Kink
Genre - Contemporary (but in a fictional land)
Reviewed by Kate

Once upon a time (3 years ago), in the land of Ruthenia far, far away (okay, it's on Austria's border)...

After the communist regime fell, Jake, young and handsome, returned to his family's throne ending decades of exile in America. King Jake brought his loyal and uber professional assistant Andi with him. Upon regaining the throne, Jake promised his countrymen he would choose a bride by Ruthenia's third Independence Day celebration (mere weeks away). Being pursued by the daughters of the country's elite, Jake is trying to decide which of the conniving dears he finds least repugnant. Andi, who has loved Jake since she became his assistant six years ago, cannot bear the thought of watching him court and marry someone else. She hands in her resignation to Jake (who is stunned) and plans to leave right away.

Late that night, Jake finds Andi, who after a conk on the head cannot remember anything. Seeing a solution to his problems (losing his faithful assistant and having to pick a bride), Jake tells Andi that they had gotten engaged earlier that evening. Andi feels something isn't quite right, but believes Jake since he seems familiar and comfortable.

When Andi regains her memory, she confronts Jake. He convinces her to play along until after the Independence Day celebration and then make her decision. Andi chooses to leave, thinking Jake doesn't return her love. Meanwhile, Jake realizes that what started out as a desire to keep his assistant has turned into true love. He predictably chases after her...And they live happily ever after.

I almost quit reading this one at page 80. I was flabbergasted that Jake would even consider taking advantage of Andi by lying to her and yes, seducing her. I guess I have come to expect more from my heroes. However, I soldiered on. By the end, the author managed to turn Jake around. I finally found some sympathy for the jerk and managed to cheer when he and Andi finally reunited...but it was a close call.

Rough Ride by Keri Ford

Grade – B

Hotness Level – Blaze

Kink Level – No Kink

Genre – Contemporary

Series - The Roughnecks #1

Reviewed by Anne

 

Gretchen is a young widow who owns a trailer park.  Lane is back in town to help his brothers fix up some property and is renting a trailer from Gretchen.  He's been really clear about his short term status. He's not staying in town and he's not looking for a relationship.  Despite this, sparks fly between him and Gretchen. 

 

However, Lane is keeping a secret (cue drama) from his brothers.  (By the way, he's one of set of unidentical, but all handsome, triplet brothers, with a younger brother to boot.) This big secret makes him want to keep his distance from his brothers, hence his plans to leave town as soon as renovations to the property are done.  He knows Gretchen is a forever kind of girl, so he's not going to go anywhere near her.  Except when he does.  Which is kind of a lot.

 

Meanwhile, Gretchen decides, with the help of her two best and very funny friends, that it's time to have a no strings attached affair.  She needs to seduce Lane.  Except she really has no idea how.  So she sets out baking a lot.  She tries to explain this to her friends.

"They say the quickest way to a man is through his stomach."

 

"That's to his heart, Gretchen. I know it's been a while, but what you're looking for is a bit farther south."

 

This book really worked for me.  It's got over the top humor, and I was really in the mood for that.  It reminded me of the Neighbor From Hell Series by R.L. Mathewson.  Funny and cute.  As with the Neighbor From Hell series, food plays a big part in this story.  In this case, Gretchen really has a thing for pie.  Here Lane is asking her about pie:

"What are the options?"

"Cherry?  Lemon, lime, banana, coconut cream?"  She looked down, her lips twisted and she bit at her lower one.  "Um, sweet potato.  Pumpkin, oh my god, I can't wait for fall so I can make fresh pumpkin pie.  It's just creamy and sweet.  Spiced like Christmas and smooth like cheesecake.  Flavor just pops in your mouth."

Lane's tongue was thick in his mouth for reasons that had nothing to do with hunger for pie.  Her eyes glazed as she went on about different kinds of pies and their "full bodied" tastes.

"Oh yeah.  And the cheesecakes."  Her lips were parted, cheeks pinked and eyes a little dreamy.  "They have this stuff in the store.  Premade cheesecake pie filling and it's awesome.  I'll eat it off the spoon like a pudding cup."

There was a good chance she just had an orgasm on his couch talking about pie.

 

I really enjoyed Lane's brothers and Gretchen's friends, too.  Unfortunately, Lane's big secret seemed dumb to me.  I also thought the last few chapters of the story were weak, probably because the drama didn't really work for me. Overall, though, I enjoyed it and I'm putting the sequels, Rough Play and Rough Tumble, on my To Be Read list.