Anne

Dirty Girls’ Update

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

I found myself with a rare bit of free time today and made some updates to the sidebar.  I hope you enjoy the new definitions of kink and hotness levels as well as a long list of books we just can’t wait to read!

This has been a busy and exciting week for the women of DGGB.  Kay and I are getting ready to attend our very first RT Conference!!  That’s right, we’re heading to Kansas City with another book club friend and we’re going to pop our conference cherries.  I’m a planner and I’ve spent a lot of time pouring over schedules and figuring out how I can possibly to make it to every presentation and event I want to.  I made a plan I was happy with until I realized it doesn’t include any meals.  I’m working on that. 

Depending on the wifi status at the hotel, I may attempt a few RT posts while we’re there.  I’m going to try to take lots of pictures, and I have a list of authors I’m looking forward to stalking.  Kay and I are also attending a preRT Conference with Sarah from Smart Bitches, Trashy Books and Jane from Dear Author to try to pick up some blogging tips to make this a more fun place to visit.

Kate’s not attending RT, but she’s in a very happy place right now.  She started reading Black Dagger Brotherhood a few weeks ago and has been making her way through them in between review books for the blog.  She’s almost done with Phury’s book (and she likes it!)   It’s been so fun texting back in forth with her and hearing her theories for things as she reads through them.  She’s going to get me a list of favorite authors so I can look for swag/souvenirs for her at RT.

And then there’s Kay’s challenge.  Kay and I live in neighboring towns and we’re in a book club together.  It’s been a while since we were both able to attend book club on the same night, but it happened last week.  We were having a grand old time when Kay issued a challenge to me.  I have a hard time stepping back from a challenge and I suspect she knows that.  So, I’ve been challenged to finish reading Lorelei James’ Rough Riders series.  I’ve read the first few books and I liked them, but got distracted with other stuff.  Kay swears I stopped just when it was getting good and she wants me to finish so she and Kate have another person to discuss the books with.  Fine.   I’ll read them, but she’s agreed to read books of my choice in exchange.  Now I’m trying to decide what to make her read.  She’s unlikely to pick up a dragon book on her own, so I’m thinking of forcing one on her. 

I’m the slowest reader of the three of us Dirty Girls.  I’ve got a few books queued up on my TBR pile.  I JUST started Tempting Cameron by Karen Erickson.  I’ve got Stranded with a Billionaire by Jessica Clare, A Prior Engagement by Karina Bliss, The Rebound Girl by Tamara Morgan, and It Had To Be You by Jill Shalvis on deck.  Now I just need to find time to read.  Maybe while I’m eating at RT????

Loving an Ugly Beast by Danielle Monsch

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Loving an Ugly Beast (Fairy Tales & Ever Afters)
Grade: C+
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Fairytale/Historical
Reviewed by Anne

Benton is big and strong, but he’s covered with scars, so he’s known as the beast of his village.  Nissa is his best friend.  They secretly each like the other, but lack the confidence to make a move.  When a fairy godmother shows up and grants Benton’s wish to be more beautiful, how will things work out?
 
First off, what a great premise!  It’s pretty rare to read about a man who thinks he’s unworthy of a woman because of his looks!  I enjoyed seeing this cliche turned on its ear.  Second, this is a mid-evil set fairytale village.  I enjoy this kind of setting, and I really wanted to enjoy the book.
 
My biggest complaint is the modernisms that kept pulling me out of the story.  At one point they talk about having enough money to “keep your son in diapers.”  That didn’t make sense to me. They would have been using cloth diapers.  Expense wasn’t as much an issue as the time it took to wash them, I’d think.  Another time we see this line “Why is it always good for the man but a crapshoot for the woman?”  Crapshoot?  That seems like a more modern casino term to me.  I don’t know.  I’m not an expert.  Maybe I was being too picky, but little stuff like this kept pulling me out of the story.  That was disappointing!  It had a lot of promise.
 
Because of that promise, and because it was funny, and because I like fairytale romance, I’ll probably try another one by this author, but it’s borderline for me.

Lush by Lauren Dane

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Lush
Grade: B+
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: None
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Delicious #3
Reviewed by Anne

Mary is a caterer and phenomenal cook.  Her good friend is marrying a famous rock star, and through their wedding preparations and celebrations, Mary meets, Damien, rock star drummer.  Their attraction is immediate, and they have a one night fling.  Neither expects more than a night.  They are both very busy and successful in their own ways.  However, they start texting each other and really look forward to meeting again at a concert Mary and her friends were invited to.  

That’s really all there is to the plot.  Once they see each again, they start making ways to see each other.  The story is about how they realize their feelings for each other and how they work out their physical distance and busy schedules.  I really liked it.  I’m certainly love a low conflict romance, and this series by Lauren Dane fits the bill perfectly.  This was another solid entry.  I also enjoyed seeing the friends and couples from the books that came before this one, both in the Delicious Series and the Brown Siblings series before this one.  The characters from these previous books make cameos, but some have pivotal best friend roles, and I think you’d enjoy the book more for having read at least the Delicious series.

From the previous books, I knew I liked Mary and her friends.  Damien and his brothers were a delightful surprise in these books.  I especially liked Damien’s confidence.  He knows he’s lived a pretty wild life.  He’s cut back lately and is making more changes after meeting Mary, but he’s not ashamed about the life he lived before.  Mary is also confident in herself and comfortable with how much she likes sex.  I enjoy reading confident characters, especially confident women.  Yet neither Damien nor Mary is perfect, and watching them make mistakes and recover makes for an even better story.  I really want to pick it up and read it again!