novella

Cosmo Red-Hot Read Week: Cake by Lauren Dane

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Note: This week we’ll be publishing reviews of Harlequin’s newest line of books: Cosmo Red-Hot Reads.  Today we have the first of four reviews.
Cake
Grade: A
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary, novella
Published: 9/15/13

Reviewed by Anne
87 pages
Gregori is a famous sculptor.  He’s got a mohawk, tattoos, a Russian accent (and heritage,) and a gruff and grumpy attitude.  Wren is an art student and delivery girl who brings papers from his personal assistant for him to sign.  She’s thinks he’s incredibly hot (and totally out of her league) but she’s not intimidated by him.  Over time her deliveries have morphed into breaks in his day where he sits down and talks with her, sharing a macaron, or even cake.  
This novella is the story of what happens when they take their friendship one step further, and I loved every second of it!  From their flirty conversations to the way they handle each other when they’re upset… I loved watching this relationship!  Wren and Gregori felt real to me.  His reasons for shying away from her seemed plausible.  I loved how she responded to that, too!  The whole thing really worked for me.
I think this book is an example of how the novella format can really shine.  I hope the Cosmo Red-Hot Reads line is full of stories like this one!   Have you read a Cosmo Red-Hot Read yet?  If so, what did you think?  If not, who do you think does the novella format really well?




Sins Of The Highlander by Dawn Halliday

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Sins of the Highlander (A Highland Erotic Romance)

Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Genre-Erotic Historical
Reviewed by Kay
158 pages

Aileen and Niall had known each other for years. They were close in age and he was her husband’s trainee in a way. They formed a friendship despite her husband’s physical and mental abuse. Niall realized his attraction to Aileen and left he castle but they never forgot each other.

After her husband’s death, Niall is sent to bring Aileen to her brother, so he can pick her next husband. The two catch up on old times, are still hot for each other but know it can’t go anywhere. One thin leads to another and they have a fling. They both know there’s no future in it but can’t help themselves.

Dawn Halliday writes good erotic historical romance. The love scenes were hot and plentiful. The characters were very enjoyable but I like my historical not quite so erotic. If that doesn’t bother you, check out this novella about two souls bound to each other in the hills of the Scottish highlands.

New Sensation by Clare Cole

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

New Sensation (Curves for the Rockstar, #1)
Grade-D
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Curves For The Rockstar #1
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
40 pages

This was a very short novella about a curvy photographer and a mega rockstar. Very cute premise because I always like the big girls getting the hotties but this didn’t grab me. At 52% in there was just one sex scene and it was the girl self pleasuring. It was a hot scene but I wanted the first love scene to be between both of them. Both lead characters were likable but just not engrossing.