contemporary

Reilly’s Wildcard by Anne Rainey

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Reilly's Wildcard (Blackwater, #4)
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Blackwater #4
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
115 pages

Reilly is one of the Jennings of Blackwater and this is his story. He had a one night stand with Lucy, who is the best friend of his brother’s girlfriend. The morning after ends badly and the two part ways. Reilly tries to contact her but she avoids him. Lucy has been hurt before and refuses to be hurt again. Two months later, she has a positive pregnancy test and has to tell Reilly. His reaction is one of shock but he accepts this and the rest of the story is their getting to know each other.

I’m a big fan of this series. I like family sagas and unexpected pregnancies in love stories. I wish the relationship would’ve had more time to build but this is a novella series. The love scenes were hot as hell. They always are with Anne Rainey though. I enjoyed this and look forward to the next one.

One Sweet Ride by Jaci Burton

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

One Sweet Ride (Play by Play, #6)
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Play-by-Play #6
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
309 pages

Gray Prescott races cars for a living and had made himself a very wealthy man. He has a group of best friends, loves his mother and sister, but he really hates his politician father. The two have been estranged for over a decade. When his father makes a bid for the White House, Gray finds himself back in his father’s life.

Evelyn Hill is an aide for Gray’s father and she is assigned to help him get votes from Gray’s fan base. She wants a future in politics and this job will help with that. She just has to find a way to get this father and son back on speaking terms.

I love this series and I have been anticipating reading Gray’s story since we met him in Garrett’s book. I liked both of the characters but all the scenes having to do with Evelyn’s political stuff just wore me slick. I was bored with it and that upsets me because I’m a HUGE Jaci Burton fan. I did enjoy the reconciliation between father and son. It was heart warming. And speaking of warm, the love scenes in this book were frequent and blistering which I do love so much. I will continue to read these books but I hope the next one is engrossing.

Her Favorite Rival by Sarah Mayberry

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Her Favorite Rival
Grade: A
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Reviewed by Anne
298 pages

Audrey and Zach are co-workers. They are both candidates for a promotion, and after a take over of their company, they’re also both at risk of being laid off. Both are driven and hard workers, and both of them are attracted to each other. They’re also way too smart to risk their jobs by indulging in an office romance. They’ve got a lot in common, though, and working together on an important project cracks the ice and starts a real friendship between the two.

Besides a great story between Audrey and Zach, there are wonderful secondary story lines. Audrey’s got a tense relationship with her family, who sees her as an under achiever. Zach is dealing with a troubled mother. Audrey’s got a best friend, Megan, and she’s not just for sequel bait!

Here’s Megan and Audrey in a bar after work discussing who might get laid off:

“I tell you who won’t be going, though – Zach. Fifty bucks he gets a promotion out of all of this.”
Audrey reached for the fries. “He’s not that good.”
“Sorry, sweetie, but he is. He’s smart, he’s good at what he does and he could charm a snake out of its skin.”
Audrey rolled her eyes. “Your’re only saying that because you have a soft spot for him.”
“Yeah, it’s called a vagina.”

There’s some great sexual tension between Audrey and Zach, and some great sex once they make the leap.

I highly recommend this book.  It’s a wonderful example of how good a contemporary romance can be!  Sarah Mayberry is an incredible writer and I love her books!
I also love that this book is set in Australia. There’s nothing special in the relationship that makes it Australian verses American, but I enjoy reading the different setting and slang. Do you have a favorite setting?