contemporary

Run to You by Charlotte Stein

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Run To You
Grade: B
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Mild Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Published: 7/25/13
Reviewed by Anne
186 pages
 
Alissa is has a lot of self esteem issues. A lot. And she leads a pretty boring life, just plodding along. So she surprises herself even when she finds out about an appointment for an “Assignation” that her roommate is out of town for, and she decides to go check it out herself. It turns out to be a club of sorts that meets at a hotel where the rich and lusty hook up with each other. Alissa is WAY out of her league.

Janos is a god. Rich and good looking, Alissa knows he’d never give her a second glance, even though just one look and the sound of his voice has her lusting for him. Except he does give her a second glance. In fact, he seeks her out. Now what?

Oh, my, this was a good and steamy read. Good, because you can depend on Charlotte Stein’s writing to grab you, and it does in this story. Told in first person from Alissa’s POV, I just didn’t want to put it down. She can’t even believe Janos is interested, and because I’m in her POV, I couldn’t either.

But when Janos turns out to have his own flaws? That’s when this story really shines. When Alissa grabs her own power and believes in herself, the story is a delight!

However, I wasn’t totally satisfied with the ending. I just wasn’t convinced that the same issues wouldn’t continue to crop up over and over and over. That takes some of the glow off of this story for me. Still, overall it was a good read.

The Next Best Thing by Kristan Higgins

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne


Grade: B+
Hotness Level: Ember
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary

Published 2/1/2010, 8/27/2013
Reviewed by Kate
400 pages 

Lucy’s husband died very young and for the past 5 years, she’s walked around in a funk — doing her best to just get through each day.  When her sister has a baby, Lucy decides it’s time to strive for something a bit more.  She wants to get married again and have some kids.  But that means getting rid of her friends-with-benefits, Ethan.  But Ethan doesn’t want to be gotten rid of.

 

The characters in this book were so well written.  Ethan’s character was endearing and the way he kept waiting for Lucy made me want to give him a hug quickly followed by a smack upside the head.  Lucy made me tear up a few times with her agonizing, but managed not to cross that fine line into annoying.  You really felt the pain she was going through, trying to move on with her life.  Lucy’s aunts and mother could rival Jill Shalvis’ Lucille of Lucky Harbor for the quirky older lady character of the year award.  They definitely provided some comic relief for the story.

 

My one complaint with this book was that it was told solely from Lucy’s point of view.  I really would have loved to hear Ethan’s side of things as well.  Of course, that might have spoiled some of the emotional build-up of the story.

 

I think it should also be noted that this book has fade-to-black, behind closed doors sex scenes.  I mention that strictly because this blog tends to focus on more steamy books in general and I don’t want anyone to be surprised by the lack of heat.  However I was almost finished with the book before I realized that there wasn’t really any on page sex.  I think that says a lot about the story that it could distract me from noticing that.

 

The Next Best Thing provides everything a strong romance requires.  Engaging characters, a moving story, and an ending that leaves you wanting more from the author.  Well done, Kristan Higgins.

Burn by Maya Banks

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Burn (Breathless, #3)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Mild Kink
Series-Breathless #3
Genre-Contemporary Erotic Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay
353 pages

This is Ash’s book and I’ve been so excited to read it. I even read it in book form and that’s saying a lot because I see much better in ebook format. I loved this story so much because I’ve been intrigued by Ash and I felt a little sorry for him after Jace’s book. I desperately wanted him to have his HEA and he certainly got it! He saw Josie across the park and knew right then that he had to have her, that she was different. Oh, he fought for about two seconds, stupid boy! They were kindred souls despite their vast differences.

They start their relationship quickly and no holds barred. Sex starts soon and continues very frequently, thank god! There was good hot sex in this book. I enjoyed the fact that even though she was submissive, she still had a backbone and didn’t let Ash walk all over her. I hope somehow she writes a book about Brittney, Ash’s sister. I’d like to read about her. I’m kind of sad that this is supposedly the end of the trilogy. I enjoyed it and this is my favorite story of the three.