contemporary

Bonds of Need by Lynda Aicher

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Bonds of Need (Wicked Play, #2)
Grade: B
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: BDSM, high kink
Genre: Contemporary, BDSM
Series: Wicked Play #2
Reviewed by Kate

Kendra, a masochist, has escaped an abusive relationship with her self-esteem in tatters and has decided to never give someone the power to hurt her like that again.  That means she will ignore her sexual desires and needs instead.  But when she attends an open night at a sex club (as a way to prove to herself that she no longer needs the pain), she realizes she can’t bury her needs forever.  Deklan, co-owner of the sex club, has met Kendra before, but when he sees her at the club he thinks he might be able to help her accept her needs.  And Deklan is always a giver and helper.  Deklan and Kendra enter into a two month Dom/sub contract, but both make discoveries about themselves that change everything.
 
This book was a little more intense, pain-wise, than most other BDSMs that I have read.  A masochist as a heroine was a new experience for me and I enjoyed Kendra’s character a lot.  She is a strong woman who has lost herself and is fighting to get back to some sort of normal.  Deklan is a wounded hero who has failed to help too many times in the past.  He struggles with allowing Kendra to find her own way, not helping too much.  I loved watching Kendra and Deklan change during the course of their contract.  I look forward to reading more of this series (the first book is now added to my TBR list) and more by this author.
 
 

Once Tempted by Laura Moore

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Once Tempted: A Silver Creek Novel
Grade-D
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Silver Creek #1
Reviewed by Kay

Tess Casari was swept off of her feet into a whirlwind romance and marriage. Less than six months later, she was a estranged widow. Distraught and terribly insecure she plays pin-the-tail-on-the-location and moves to start fresh.

Ward Knowles is a ranch at his family’s vacation ranch. He’s kind of sullen and somber. He has had his own share of disappointment in the love department. His ex-fiancee dumped him for what she thought was something more.

When Tess starts working at the ranch, she immediately dislikes him despite her attraction to him. Ward doesn’t dislike her but is cautious regarding his attraction to her. They play a cat and mouse game with each other and their feelings. As the relationship grows, they each learn more about the other and their secrets.

The story was okay but nothing special. I felt bored throughout most of it and had to force myself to finish it. This was my first novel by this author. It was hard to connect totally with the characters. I pitied Tess for the tragedy she went through with her deceased husband and his family. It ended nicely which was a plus. There were love scenes but they were too tame for me. This would probably be a good read for someone who likes a more tame and/or sedate love story.

Too Hot to Handle by Victoria Dahl

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Too Hot to Handle (Jackson, #2)
Grade – B
Hotness Level – Blaze
Kink Level – no kink
Genre – Contemporary
Series – Jackson #1
Reviewed by Anne

Merry has been a tumbleweed through life, but she’s finally putting down roots and showing her family and friends she can be a success.  She’s gotten a job as curator of a ghost town.  She’s going to develop it and turn it into a tourist attraction.  Shane lives across the hall from Merry.  He has ties to the ghost town that Merry doesn’t know about.  In fact, he is contesting a will that has direct effect on the ghost town.  Merry knows he does carpentry work and asks him to do some restoration work in the ghost town.  Shane accepts the job, thinking he can get a little inside information on the committee opposing him in the lawsuit about the will.  When he starts feeling attracted to Merry, his deception weighs on him, but not quiet enough for him to come clean.

I usually don’t like this kind of set up.  I’m not a fan of BIG SECRETS.  And I was initially annoyed at this one.  However, the farther I got into the story, the more believable it got.  Shane tells himself, just a little while longer.  With every passing day you know the revelation of the big secret will be even more painful, but I found myself rooting for them to stay in the lie just a little longer, because they were so good for each other and I knew the truth would rip them apart.  So I understood why Shane kept the secret.  In the end, I felt like his grovel and apology were fitting for the hurt he caused and I was ok with everything.
 
Other than the BIG SECRET, I really have nothing to complain about. I loved Shane and Merry’s chemistry.  Victoria Dahl is such a fun and funny writer!  There were so many stand out scenes in this book.  The shower scene, the hidden vibrator scene, all the moments between Merry and Grace were delightful, too.  I really enjoy a book where the characters have real friends.  Raylene at the bar was a hoot!  
 
This is the second book in the Jackson series.  I haven’t read the first book and I followed this one just fine.  I’m going to read the first one, though, because Grace was such a good friend to Merry and such a strong woman that I want to know more about her.  This is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it!  Dahl is back on my favorite writers list.