B Reviews

Throwback Thursday- Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Immortal in Death (In Death, #3)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-In Death #3
Genre-Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay
322 pages

Eve Dallas’ latest case hits a little too close to home. Her best friend, Mavis is accused of murdering a top fashion model who used to date Mavis’ current boyfriend, Leonardo. Mavis had a few physical altercations with Pandora (the model), so when Pandora ends up dead, naturally Mavis is in trouble. Eve has to prove Mavis is innocent, she has to. So she enlists the help of Feeney (spell), Peabody, a illegals cop named Casto and Roark of course.

She goes into the most seedy clubs and meets sketchy characters all in her quest to prove Mavis’ innocence. And all the while getting ready for upcoming wedding to Roark. What she doesn’t realize is that proving her friend’s innocence is just the beginning of this mystery.

I really do like this series more and more as I go on. I love the characters and the relationships that take place here. Eve is a tough bitch, Peabody, a straight laced, no nonsense cop, Feeney, comic relief and Roark is sigh worthy, as always. I have already started book four and look forward to the next mystery to be solved.

Awakening by Elene Sallinger

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne


Grade: B+
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Moderate Kink
Genre: Contemporary, BDSM
Published: 11/5/13Reviewed by Kate

224 pages

Evan, local bookshop owner, lost his wife/submissive to cancer 10 years ago. He was so in love with his wife that he can’t imagine loving anyone else. Claire is slowly entering the land of the living again after 1 year of self-imposed isolation following the breakup of her marriage. Her first adventure is to attend a book club meeting at Evan’s bookshop. Evan’s physical reaction to Claire is strong, but definitely unwanted. Then he overhears a conversation between Claire and a friend. He realizes Claire knows nothing about BDSM, but it may be exactly what she needs. What’s a Dom to do?

Here’s the thing, Evan’s an ass. He really is. The way he deals with his attraction to Claire is avoidance. In fact for the first 1/3 of the book, Evan and Claire barely talk. But he’s written in such a way that I completely got the ass-ishness and was okay with it.

Elene Sallinger has written strong characters with compelling stories. There is a unique tone to this story. A gradual build-up to a relationship here, rather than a ‘first meeting equals first scene’ pace that is usually seen in BDSM novels. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

A special note: References to Yoda and Harry Potter had my inner geek doing a happy dance!

M/M Monday – Wallflower by Heidi Belleau

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Wallflower (Rear Entrance Video, #2)

Grade: B
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Mild Kink
Genre: Contemporary, m/m
Series: Rear Entrance Video #2
Published: 10/21/13
Reviewed by Anne
206 pages
Rob is a college art student.  He’s a very shy nerd and enjoys gaming online.  He’s gay (but still in the closet) and he has a crush on one of his roomates (who happens to be straight.)  Rob just started working at Rear Entrance Video, a store that rents porn movies and sells sex toys.  He also fantasizes about dressing up like a woman and he’s really not sure what to do with those thoughts.
Dylan is a confident, tall, and big man.  He’s in one of Rob’s classes, he frequents the video store and he’s also gay.
This story is about how Rob and Dylan meet and what happens between the two of them, but it is much more about Rob coming to terms with himself.  It was a story that grabbed me and I didn’t want to put it down.  It was very interesting to think through how Rob felt as he considered spending time as “Bobby” and what that would and wouldn’t mean to him.  It’s not an easy path for Rob to walk; some of that is due to other people in his life, and some of it is due to his own hang ups.
I enjoyed Rob/Bobby’s growth throughout the story.  His choices on how to deal with things led to a precarious situation which was scariest because I could see how easily it could be true, and not without the happy ending this story had.  That was a sad reality to consider.  It was really a high to see Rob come to terms with himself, though – totally worth the angst that came before it!
I do imagine that this story was a little sweeter than real life would be for someone in Rob’s situation.  Only one asshole picked on Bobby.  Of all his friends and relatives, only one had a hard time with him coming out.  Dylan and his parents were all very understanding of what Rob/Bobby was going though.  I think real life is probably a bit more painful.  That’s not a criticism of the story, but a nod to the fact that this is the kind of HEA/HFN the book has.
The biggest criticism I have of the story is that the romance between Rob and Dylan felt very much like insta-love once they had sex.  They went from hating each other to loving each other pretty darn quickly.  I also found Dylan’s nickname for Rob (Puny) to be annoying, but I know I’m being overly sensitive on that front.
I do have to give bonus points to any story with references to Twilight AND Flowers in the Attic.  It’s also got a well adjusted and happy adopted character with adoptive parents who are lovely – all this while acknowledging the challenges of being adopted.
Overall this was a good read.  It made me think about gender in ways I hadn’t before, and I enjoyed it.  The romance was a bit rushed, but it still worked for me.  I recommend this book and I think I’ve found a new author and new series on the m/m side of things.