C Reviews

A Taste Of You by Sorcha Grace

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

 A Taste of You (The Epicurean, #1)
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-The Epicurean Series #1
Reviewed by Kay

The hero in this book is William Lambourne, a wealthy, single, business man in Chicago. The heroine is Catherine Kelly/ Catherine Ryder, a photographer. They meet outside a restaurant where they literally run into each other. There is instant attraction and it never lets up. They each have had a devastating loss in their lives and those losses have changed who they are as people. We, as the readers, watch them stumble through trying to build their relationship. It was a little frustrating for me at times.

This is a decent book but it never thrilled me. I never warmed to William at all but I did like Catherine. I felt for her because of her loss. It broke my heart when she developed the old roll of film. I think that before this series is over there will be  redemption for William and forgiveness of one’s self for Catherine. At least I hope there is.

Midnight Secrets by Ella Grace

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Midnight Secrets (Wildfire, #1)
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Wildfire #1
Reviewed by Kay

This is the first book in a series for Ella Grace. Ella Grace is a pen name for Christy Reece. The story starts 18 years ago with the double homicide of Beckett and Maggie Wilde.  It’s made to appear as a murder-suicide by Beckett Wilde. The couple’s identical triplet daughters, Savannah, Samantha and Sabrina are away at summer camp at the time of their parents deaths.

From there the story skips ahead 8 years to their senior year of high school. Prom night to be exact. Savannah’s date is drinking and obnoxious, so she goes outside in the parking lot to look for her sister, Samantha. What she finds is four would-be rapists.

Meanwhile, on his way home from work is Zach Tanner, local bad boy and son of the town slut. He sees the scene in the prom parking lot and steps in to rescue her. He drives her home and this begins a fragile friendship that quickly turns into first love. Both of them know Zach is going into the Army in two months. The night before he leaves for basic training he gives Savannah a promise ring and she gives him her virginity. He tells her that he’ll come by in the morning to say goodbye. He never shows up and her heart is broken.

Ten years later, Savannah is a Nashville assistant district attorney and is back in her hometown of Midnight to clear out her grandfather’s possessions after his death. Zach is now the police chief in Midnight. Savannah is soon deep into investigating her parents’ deaths after finding some letters of her grandfather’s.

It’s a good start to a new series. Good mix of romance and suspense. Good mystery also. It did drag a little bit in the middle for me though. A sweet story of first love lasting for years with doses of murder and mayhem sprinkled in.

Cutest Couple by Kate Davies

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Cutest Couple (Girls Most Likely to..., #2)
Grade: C+
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary, NovellaSeries: Girls Most Likely To… #2
Reviewed by Anne

Bree and Marc were devoted to each other in high school and were voted Cutest Couple of their class.  Bree was a military brat whose father died in service.  When Marc enlists just after graduation they have a huge argument and break up.  While Marc is gone at basic training Bree realizes she’s pregnant.  She makes an attempt to contact him, but when he doesn’t respond she feels further betrayed and abandoned and decides to raise their child on her own.  Now it’s their 10 year high school reunion and they are both attending.  Marc still has no idea he has a child, and Bree knows she must tell him. 

I really wanted to like this book more than I ended up liking it.  I think I’ve said that before.  It’s that darn secret baby trope.  I cannot set my inner parent aside, and it makes it really hard for me to understand and forgive anyone who would keep a baby a secret from its father.  So, right away this story has a mark against for me.  The thing is, when the explanation is believable, I enjoy a secret baby story.  In this case, I was so mad at Bree, it’s hard for me to say how I felt about the story.    I was pretty upset with Marc, too.  Here are two young adults (when they graduated from high school) who were each other’s world.  Then they have one fight and never say another word to each other.  Nope.  I can’t buy it.
 
There were some things I appreciated about this book, and this series, though.  I liked that Bree caught a lot of flack for her weak attempt (ONE attempt!) at contacting Marc.  I didn’t want instant forgiveness, and she didn’t get it. (It did come pretty quick, though.)  I really like how this story fit tongue in groove (not that kind!) with the first of the series.  The writing is well done and fun to read.  Sometimes you know what just happened off page because you read book one, and other times you can’t wait to read what just happened off page when you get to read book 3. I also really appreciated the friendship between Bree, Tess, and Kelsey.  It felt fun and real. 
 
It’s a nice quick read, and I’m curious to see what was going on in all those off page moments, so I may just have to read the 3rd one.  Which bumps this from a C to a C+.