Kate

A Negotiated Marriage by Noelle Adams

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

A Negotiated Marriage

Grade – B
Hotness Level – Blaze
Kink Level – No Kink
Genre – Contemporary
Reviewed by Kate


Three years ago Luke and Molly entered into a marriage of convenience… a sexless marriage of convenience. Luke had a playboy reputation that constantly kept him in the tabloids. A stable marriage would be better for his business. Molly made the mistake of falling in love with someone who didn’t return her love. Marrying Luke, who she respected and trusted, was a good way to get back at her ex. Neither Luke nor Molly wanted the complications of emotions in their relationship.

Luke surprises Molly by asking to renegotiate their marriage contract… to include sex. What starts as a weekly commitment quickly turns to more, leaving Molly feeling like she is once again in a one sided relationship.

As both Luke and Molly are comfortable in their marriage, this became a story of two people getting to know each other all over again. I enjoyed this unique approach to a marriage of convenience a lot.

Under His Command by Kristine Cayne

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Under His Command

Grade – B
Hotness Level – Inferno
Kink Level – moderate kink
Genre – Contemporary, BDSM
Series – Six-Alarm Sexy #1
Reviewed by Kate
 

I admit to having a soft spot for a well written husband and wife reunion story that makes my heart sigh contentedly. Under His Command is just such a story.
 
Five years before our story begins, Jamie and Rickie spend one night together. One hot and steamy night. Jamie releases a bit of his Dom and it’s the best experience Rickie has ever had. That one night stand led to a pregnancy that led to a marriage.

Growing up, Rickie witnessed many of her mother’s relationships turn abusive. Rickie worries that her enjoyment of Jamie’s dominance means means she may be turning into her mother, so she shuts down any of Jamie’s attempts to take charge in the bedroom. Jamie feels guilty for ruining Rickie’s life with the unplanned pregnancy and tries to be the husband he thinks she wants.

After a year long separation, Jamie and Rickie decide to go on a long-delayed honeymoon and try to save their marriage. A week away is just what they need to really start communicating. Once both admit who they are and what they want, the fun can begin.

I really enjoy a couple who can talk to each other instead of pages of internal dialogue and wishing the other was a mind reader. I enjoyed the story of rediscovered and reawakened passion, a nice break from the love at first sight romances I’ve been reading lately.

 

Out of This World by Jill Shalvis

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Out Of This World
Grade – C+
Hotness Level – Blaze
Kink Level – None
Genre – Contemporary/Paranormal
Reviewed by Kate
One of the things I love about my library is it’s romance section. Four shoulder-height racks that rotate. The part I like best is that they are only loosely alphabetized. Meaning all the “M”s are together, but not necessarily in order. It might seem like a strange thing to appreciate, but I love stumbling across a favorite author’s book I haven’t heard of before. That’s how I found this quirky Shalvis read.

Rachel inherits a Bed & Breakfast in Alaska from her aunt. She takes her good friend Kellan with her to explore the B&B. There she meets Marilee, the cook who can’t cook, and Axel, the guide who always gets lost.

Rachel and Kel get struck by lightning and wake up with x-ray vision (for Rachel) and super-human strength (for Kel). And that’s just the beginning of the strangeness. A secret pair of guests, the aunt’s fully stocked gun cabinet, and dimension jumping pirates round out the plot.

This is definitely a departure from the Lucky Harbor Shalvis I am used to. Written in first person from both Rachel and Kel’s point-of-view, Shalvis has created a separate world that you are only given the smallest glimpse of, enough to leave me with tons of unanswered questions.