Grade: C
Hotness Level: No Sex
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Reviewed by Kate
Dan’s drug addicted brother has done the unthinkable-he’s killed a man just home from his honeymoon. Dan decides he needs to do whatever he can to try to make things easier for the victim’s widow, Jess. The news that she is pregnant wakes Jess from the haze of depression she’s been living in since her husband dies over 3 months ago. When her ex-father-in-law threatens to take the baby from her, Dan offers to marry Jess (in name only, of course) and adopt the baby.
Once the pair are married, the ex-father-in-law ceases to be a threat. Then the story becomes about dealing with the guilt. Dan feels responsible because he had seen his brother shortly before the murder. Jess feels disloyal to her dead husband because she begins having feelings for Dan. Can Jess and Dan get past the guilt to build a real marriage?
I am an avid reader of the marriage of convenience plot line, but this one fell a little short of my hopes. Perhaps just a bit too much realism for my escape reading. Well, that and the lack of sex didn’t help either.
Kate
Double Down by Katie Porter
Grade: C+
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Mild Kink (role playing, spanking)
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Vegas Top Guns #1
Reviewed by Kate
When Major Ryan Haverty sees the waitress wearing seamed stockings, he’s a goner. Cassandra Whitman is tired of having to put up with crap from the restaurant manager, who is also her ex-boyfriend. So when Ryan starts flirting, Cass decides to get back at the ex-boyfriend by making a dramatic exit on Ryan’s arm. The exit leads to a steamy weekend of role playing. Both Cass and Ryan are enjoying the fun, but Ryan is ashamed of his desires at the same time. Ryan’s fiance left him years ago because he asked her to wear a costume for him. But when one weekend leads to more, will they be able to work through their internal sludge to get to a happily ever after?
I really liked Cass’s character. Once she manages her dramtic exit, she goes on a journey turning herself from mousy to bold and daring. I wish I could say I enjoyed Ryan’s character as much. His internal dialogues were filled with mini pity parties that drove me absolutely nuts. I found myself wanting to give him a big smack upside the head. But, whether maid and employer, call girl and john, or student and professor…hot, hot, hot!
Her Bad Boy Billionaire Lover by Barbara Bretton
Grade: D
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Reviewed by Kate
Note: originally published in 1993 as Renegade Lover
19 year old spoiled, little rich girl Megan falls madly in love with poor Aussie Jake. They marry and get divorced a year later. Jake heads off to the tropics to lick his wounds while Megan runs home to Daddy (and his money). But wait…Daddy is out of money and when he dies, he leaves Megan with nothing but bill collectors knocking on her door. Oh, and did I mention she’s pregnant with Jake’s baby and he doesn’t know?
Flash forward six years. Jake is now a millionaire who owns multiple yachts and houses around the globe. He is currently holding a week-long competition among a select number of catering companies for a contract to cater his newest exclusive cruise ship (the competition takes place aboard the ship). Megan is struggling to advance her catering business and secure a future for her daughter. Winning the cruise ship contract will achieve both goals.
Jake, as owner of the ship, has arranged for Megan to compete. He has never quit lusting after her and figures one last time together should get her out of his system. Megan has never forgotten Jake either. She mistakenly assumes he is on board to play the piano and the two indulge in a week-long affair.
Throughout the book I found myself screaming at Jake and Megan (internally of course…I don’t like the strange looks I get from my husband when I yell out loud at book). Neither of them tells the truth…ever. Jake assumes Megan is still rich, Megan assumes Jake is still poor. Jake assumes Megan is still childless (I guess she’s one of those lucky stretch mark-less gals). She doesn’t bother to correct the assumption. I found it hard to respect either of the characters. In fact, in my notes I actually awarded Jake an “ass of the year” award. I kept waiting for some redeeming aspect of the story to come along. Sadly, it never did.
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