novella

Ballroom Blitz by Lorelei James

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Ballroom Blitz
Grade-B+
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-No series, but there is a McKay appearance.
Reviewed by Anne

I really enjoyed this contemporary novella.  Jon White Feather is something of a rockstar drummer in a Native American rockband.  His teenaged niece, Raven, talks him into attending a ballroom dance class with her while he’s taking a break from touring and deciding what he wants to do next with his life.  Jon is a softy and easily agrees to take the class with Raven, though he warns her that he’s not a very good dancer.  This turns out to be quite an understatement!  Jon is a horrible dancer, and Jon and Raven end up getting quite a bit of extra help in class because of his lack of rhythm. 

Maggie is teaching the class with her Gay Best Friend [TM] (that has to be a trademarked cliche somewhere right?)  The attraction between Jon and Maggie is immediate and intense.  Jon invites Maggie to come see him play.  She’s heard of his band before, but has no idea what a huge following they have.  Jon asked her to stay after their set to see him, and she does.  When Jon comes out after the set, they are all over each other.  Unfortunately they get caught by a bevy of fans, AND Maggie’s older brother.  Older Brother is NOT pleased to see Jon and his little sister together.  Right on the heels of this confrontation, the fans show up and Jon has to finish cleaning up and Maggie feels ignored and ends up heading home alone.  (I thought she gave up too easily here.)

Never fear, because Jon tracks her down and good times follow. The conflict in this book comes from Maggie and Jon’s careers and whether they can make time for each other.  I thought this conflict was very believable!  At the same time, I didn’t like the pacing of the resolution and the very end of the story.

Overall, the book was a winner for me.  Lorelei James writes good banter and good sex.  I smiled and laughed a lot.  Here’s a favorite quote:

     “My life – sex and otherwise – has been very tame compared to yours.”
     He flashed her that pure bad-boy grin. “Lucky thing you have me here to further your raunchy education.”
     Maggie raised an eyebrow. “The student becoming the teacher? Bring it.”
     “Well, I have had this fantasy of smacking your ass with a ruler.”
     “Not a chance, little drummer boy. But if you do well on the oral exam I might let you bang my erasers.”


This would have been an A read for me without my frustration with the pacing of the ending.  I still really enjoyed the story and would recommend it!

Tempt Me by Olivia Cunning

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Tempt Me (One Night with Sole Regret, #2)
Grade-A
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Low
Series-One Night With Sole Regret #2
Reviewed by Kay

This is story two in the One Night With Sole Regret series. Sole Regret is a rock band with five members. This story focuses on one of the guitarists, Adam Taylor and his frequent hook-up, Madison Fairbanks. They’ve hooked up whenever he’s in Dallas for the last year. They very much enjoy each other and the time they spend together. Madison met Adam as a counselor for substance abuse. He’d just survived a drug overdose and was in treatment.

Madison comes to the decision that this hook-up is their last because she’s acknowledging that she had fallen in love with Adam. She knows their not seeing each other again will be painful but less painful than a broken heart. Adam has realized he’s tired of non-discriminate hook-ups with random women. He gets almost giddy with anticipation when he thinks about Madison. He tries to keep it under wraps because his band mates would give him hell over it.  He realizes that Madison accepts him, past and all.

Each of these characters get an education about each other and what the other sees in and expects of them. Adam gets to find out that Madison accepts his rock star lifestyle even knowing she might not be able to handle being a part of it. Madison finds out that Adam has been keeping a few big secrets from her.

This story captivated  me from the first page and never stopped. I’ve been a huge fan of Olivia Cunning’s from the beginning of the Sinners On Tour series. I have the third one of that series on my Kindle waiting! Can’t wait! I recommend anything she writes although she writes something with time travel in it that haven’t read. Read this story with a fan blowing on you because it’s a scorcher.

Comfort Reads

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Reno's Chance (Tempting SEALs, #1)

Reno’s Chance by Lora Leigh
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Low
Series-Tempting SEALs #1

This is one of my comfort reads. It may not strike others as a comfort read but for me, absolutely. It started an addiction for me with Lora Leigh’s SEALs. This is short story that spawned the series. It is about Reno Chavez and Raven McIntyre. Reno is a SEAL and several years older than Raven. Raven is the little sister of his best friend and SEAL teammate, Clint. She is also the best friend of Reno’s little sister, Morganna. These two have been raised around each other’s families through good times and bad.

I love Reno and not just a little bit either. A lot! He is alpha to the extreme but very patient with Raven. He’s waited for her for years to be mature enough for a relationship with him and all that entails. Raven is adorable too. She has been in love with Reno for as long as she can remember. He kept her close but not as close as she would have liked. It has always been a balancing act for her because loving Reno may come with a steep price. Her father was a SEAL and was killed in action and she doesn’t want to take a chance with her heart.

Watching the push and pull of this relationship always brings a smile to my face and has locked up a place in my heart forever for Lora Leigh. It doesn’t hurt that it’s hot as hell either.