Kate

Reflection by Elene Sallinger

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne


Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level- Moderate Kink
Series-Chrysalis Series #2
Genre-BDSM
Reviewed by Kate
240 pages

Reflection is the compelling story of Bridget and Connor. Bridget is a professor and is still dealing with a rape that happened 20 years ago. She hasn’t let herself invest in a relationship since then. Connor is a janitor at the university where Bridget works and is a hobby photographer and artist. But when Connor and Bridget run into each other, Bridget finds herself wanting more in her relationship with Connor than she’s ever dreamed.

I cold not stop turning pages while reading this book. The emotional pain that both Connor and Bridget have to travel through to reach  their happily ever after is gripping while their budding relationship is tender and sweet and hot and steamy. A perfect combination. There’s even a secondary plot that adds a bit of suspense to the story. I would highly recommend this book (as well as the first book in the series, Awakening) to anyone who enjoys an emotional journey on the way to happily ever after and doesn’t mind some mild-moderate BDSM thrown into the mix. Elene Sallinger has me eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.

Ivan by Roxie Rivera

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Ivan (Her Russian Protector, #1)
Grade-C+
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Her Russian Protector #1
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kate
99 pages

Erin has been solving her druggie sister’s problems for a while. Now her sister’s missing and Ivan may be the only one who can help her. But Ivan’s rumored to be a part of the Russian mob. Will Erin end up making a deal with the devil?
 
I struggled with this read a lot. I understand that Erin loved her sister more than anything else in the world. I’m just not sure that I can believe she would jump into a sexual relationship so quickly with such a shady character, especially since it wasn’t part of a deal to find her sister. Ivan was one of those heroes who is rumored to have been involved in anything and everything secretive and dirty. And I know that it is a personal preference of mine, but I have trouble falling for a hero who is/was a mob boss and drug dealer.
 
Personal preferences aside, I liked the writing. It was sharp and the plot moved quickly. I wouldn’t hesitate to read more by Roxie Rivera, but probably not more of this series.
How about you? Is there such a thing a too bad of a bad boy?

A Boy and A Girl by Jamie S. Rich

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

A Boy and a Girl
Grade: B-
Hotness Level: Spark
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: futuristic, graphic novel
Reviewed by Kate

186 pages

When I ran across this one, I knew I had to read it. Comic and romance? Seriously, I was geeking out a bit. I’m sure there are other romance graphic novels out there, but this was the first I’d run across.

Travis is a crashing a party with his friend when he meets Charley, who is attending the party with her friend. The party they are attending is a welcoming party for Charley’s friend’s new robot mother (meaning his mother had died, so he ordered a robot made to look and act like her, and they’re having a party). Back to Charley and Travis though. Shortly after meeting, they sneak off to the host’s bedroom to get it on, and end up getting caught. After separating, Travis finally finds Charley again on the night before she is leaving town. The two set out on a sweet journey, determined to spend every last minute together.

I enjoyed the story of Travis of Charley. I was floored by Charley’s reveal about a 1/4 of the way in (I won’t ruin the surprise for any future readers). But it was the Scooby-Doo ending (not a mask-pulling-off-reveal, but more of a that-came-out-of-left-field) that shocked me speechless. Although, honestly, I probably wouldn’t have been as shocked had I read the description more closely-but again I was geeking out at finding a romance graphic novel. I’m not a fan of non-HEA romances, and you should know that Travis and Charley do not end up together. But it works in this story.

I enjoyed this unique storytelling format a lot and I look forward to enjoying more of this kind of platform.  Have you ever read any romance graphic novels?  Are you excited to try one out?  Any recommendations?