B Reviews

The Party Girl by Tamara Morgan

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne
18365257
Grade: B-
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Getting Physical #3
Published:2/3/14 
Reviewed by Anne
250 ebook pages

Kendra is successful, happy, and self confident.  A one night stand with Lincoln left him wanting more, but instead they’ve become friends without benefits, and it’s through Lincoln that Kendra meets Noah.  Noah and Kendra couldn’t be more opposite of each other.  Kendra enjoys luxury and material comforts.  Noah lives off the grid.  No power.  No phone.  No car.  Really, the only thing they have in common is their friendship with Lincoln and his need for their help.  Well, they’ve got that and a tremendous case of horny pants that Noah says they can’t act on because Lincoln called dibs on Kendra.  

Tamara Morgan is awesome at writing strong heroines, and she does a great job with Kendra.  A lot of times when I read a story I like the heroine because I identify with her in some way.  I didn’t feel like I had much in common with Kendra, but I really, really liked her.  She’s a woman very happy with her body and her looks.  She’s had plastic surgery (breast augmentation) and she’s proud of it.  I can’t imagine ever getting a boob job, but if I did, I hope I would own it like Kendra.  She meets life with a “This is who I am” attitude that’s admirable.

On the other hand, not only is Noah different from Kendra in outward appearance and lifestyle, he’s an emotional mess inside.  This could be a recipe for disaster, with strong stable Kendra being a martyr for Noah, but it doesn’t turn out that way, which is a very good thing.

Unfortunately the first half of this book really dragged for me.  I probably would have stopped reading if I hadn’t enjoyed books by the author before.  I’m really glad I stuck with it, though.  The second half of the book was much stronger.  My main issue with the first half of the book was that the main conflict between Kendra and Noah, the thing keeping them from pursuing a relationship they both wanted, was that Lincoln had this crush on Kendra that he was sure would evolve into the great love of his life.  Despite the fact that Kendra told both Lincoln and Noah that she was never going to be romantically involved with Lincoln, it was this bro code that kept Kendra and Noah apart.  This left a bad taste in my mouth, because I felt like they were treating Kendra like an object.  It didn’t matter what she wanted, Lincoln’s hopes for her determined Noah’s actions.  It was like she was a toy and it was still Lincoln’s turn to play with her.  That was really frustrating for me.

On top of all that, Lincoln came across as very unstable, and it seemed unrealistic to me that Kendra and Noah would enable him.  Seriously.  The book starts with Lincoln at Kendra’s house in the middle of the night with a stab wound.  He won’t go to the hospital for it because he’s in trouble with the police department *where he works*.  This whole premise is a mess.

On part of the book I really loved is one I predict others may have a problem with.  There is no slut shaming in this book.  The opening pages have Kendra at home with a younger man getting ready to have sex.  They are not in a committed relationship, but are both consenting adults.  They are interrupted by Lincoln, who is a former one night stand.  Kendra is also ok with her college aged younger sister having one night stands.  These are things some readers might not like – this kind of behavior seems reserved for only the men in romance.  I thought it was refreshing in this book to read about women so comfortable with themselves and their sexuality.

While I complained about the first half of the book was really enjoyable, and not just because Noah and Kendra were finally having sex.  It was full of relationship stuff that I love.  They’re so different, so how can they work things out?  Their path to happiness isn’t smooth, but it’s real and I loved it.

This is the third in the series, but I think it stands alone.  I remembered Lincoln and Kendra from previous books, but not very well.  I don’t know if they weren’t very developed in the first two books or if it was a memory lapse on my part, but I think it would stand on it’s own.  This wasn’t my favorite Tamara Morgan book, but it was a good one and I enjoyed it.  She’s on my short list of must-read authors.  

How about you?  Who is on your must-read list?

Savage Secrets by Cristin Harber

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Savage Secrets (Titan, #4)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Titan #4
Genre-Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay
298 pages

Cristin Harber, you crafty author you. I’ve read all of your books and enjoyed them but this one is my favorite so far. Everything clicked for me with this story. I loved all the characters, old and new alike. Loved the story and the pacing of it. I was never bored or felt like I had to force myself to read. Action packed from beginning to end.

Caterina is a woman with a terrible past. Her family was murdered in front of her at her birthday party by an up and coming mobsterish type. She’s dedicated her whole life to vengeance. She doesn’t have a home or close ties because she’s always on the move, tracking the Dog killer. I know it’s kind of an odd name but when you read the story it all makes sense. She finally has a great lead but then the lead dies. She quickly comes up with a plan B. This is where Titan comes in.

In the previous book, Rocco Savage was injured by stabbing. Since then, Titan found out that the knife used to stab him with was laced with a high powered hallucinogenic. Rocco has had spells since then that leave him pretty incapacitated. He’s kept this a secret from his teammates in fear for his job. He sees an angel that helps him to his room one night during one of his spells. This angel was Caterina. She asks for Titan’s help with this case and picks Rocco as the one to pose as a couple with her.

From that point on, buckle your seat belts, because this is a roller coaster of a story. High suspense, questionable content for some, hot sex, a creepy bad guy with minions, and a very deserved HEA. If you haven’t read this series yet, you really, really should. Lovers of military romantic suspense will be singing it’s praises for the roof tops.

Desperate Housewives of Olympus by Saranna DeWylde

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Desperate Housewives of Olympus
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Genre-Contemporary Set Paranormal
Reviewed by Kay
314 pages

Man, I enjoyed reading this book and had waited along time to do so. Oh, it was so worth it.

I’ve always loved Mythology although I’m no expert on it. I think my love of Mythology is because it’s a soap opera and I’ve always loved soap operas. What’s not to love? Love, sex,suspense, backstabbing and of course, it’s very own over the topness. I don’t know if topness is a word but you know what I mean. This novel is about several people. Hades, Persephone, Demeter, Eros, Zeus, Hera, Thanatos, Abstinence, Nyx (who I’d never heard of before) and Apollo(who I loved even after the book Styxx ruined him for me).

It’s kind of like the T.V. show, Wife Swap a little bit. The couples you think you know are together aren’t and you root for the new couples this very talented author created. You get so sucked in and invested in these couples’ stories so quickly. These couples find out that:

1.) Sometimes you get a second chance to get it right.

2.) Loving someone with the heart of your youth doesn’t mean forever but it’s still an important love.

3.) Age doesn’t really matter when it comes to love.

4.) Sometimes you get what you really need even if you never thought you wanted it.

5.) Trust and respect are the most important things in a marriage.

6.) Everyone answers to someone.

What a great read! This author is fantastic and I will absolutely read more by her. Try it if you love Mythology, hot sex, high emotion and finding love in unexpected places. I’ll leave you with my favorite quotes from the book.

“Nyx’s mother had been none to pleased and she was the scary bitch kitty deluxe in her family.”

“I love you like the sun loves the sky-content to burn in its arms for eternity. My love is more constant than the stars and when they shudder into oblivion, it will still be there-strong in my heart as the day it was born. When the mortal world is nothing but dust and ash and all that makes us sentinent has slipped away in the granules of sand through the great hourglass-yes even then. No matter if you never feel your hurt beat again inside of your chest, no matter if you never feel anything but lust for me, I will love you.”

“This is enough for me. I don’t need anything else but what’s in this space of breath between us. Can you feel it? Can you taste it?”

“I’m embarrassed to tell you.” “Persephone, after a god has been ears deep in your nether bits,as you’ve described them, and you’ve ridden his face like a pony, nothing should ever be a taboo discussion between you.”