Afterburn by Sylvia Day

Afterburn (Afterburn & Aftershock, #1)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Afterburn & Aftershock #1
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kay
99 pages

Warning, this is a cliffhanger. I am disliking those more and more. However, I enjoyed this start to this series, a lot.

Jackson Rutledge is from a very wealthy, politically powerful family. I can’t tell you what he does for a living. I don’t know if it was mentioned but it’s some sort of wheeling and dealing thing. He and Gia had a five week fling a few years ago and he ended by never calling again.

Gianna Rossi is from a restaurant family but she wants something related but different for herself. She and her family are close. She fell hard for Jax years ago and was very hurt by his actions. He shows up with her competition during a business meeting. This starts all sorts of feelings for Gia’s emotions to deal with. Gia’s not the same girl she was years ago and Jax is about to find that out.

Is Jax a changed man? Does he care for Gia or is he using her for inside information? I don’t know yet but I can’t wait to find out. This was a steamy and short read. I really enjoyed it.

Throwback Thursday- Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb

Immortal in Death (In Death, #3)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-In Death #3
Genre-Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay
322 pages

Eve Dallas’ latest case hits a little too close to home. Her best friend, Mavis is accused of murdering a top fashion model who used to date Mavis’ current boyfriend, Leonardo. Mavis had a few physical altercations with Pandora (the model), so when Pandora ends up dead, naturally Mavis is in trouble. Eve has to prove Mavis is innocent, she has to. So she enlists the help of Feeney (spell), Peabody, a illegals cop named Casto and Roark of course.

She goes into the most seedy clubs and meets sketchy characters all in her quest to prove Mavis’ innocence. And all the while getting ready for upcoming wedding to Roark. What she doesn’t realize is that proving her friend’s innocence is just the beginning of this mystery.

I really do like this series more and more as I go on. I love the characters and the relationships that take place here. Eve is a tough bitch, Peabody, a straight laced, no nonsense cop, Feeney, comic relief and Roark is sigh worthy, as always. I have already started book four and look forward to the next mystery to be solved.

The Accidental Call Girl by Portia Da Costa

The Accidental Call Girl  (Accidental #1)

Grade: B
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Moderate Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Accidental #1
Reviewed by Anne
239 pages
 
When Lizzie steps out of a friend’s wedding reception and into a hotel bar, she realizes the handsome older man at the bar thinks she’s a “high class call girl.”  It’s an exciting prospect to consider and she decides to play along.  It’s even more exciting when she realizes it will give her a chance to try out some BDSM play.
 
John is so fascinated by the strangely innocent prostitute he picked up in the bar that he makes her offer – be with him every night during his business trip and he’ll pay her handsomely for her exclusive services.  Neither of them expects to fall for the other.
 
This was a solid, well written book that was also really hot!  I enjoyed it and was totally drawn in, wondering what would happen next.  Though the story is told from both points of view, we know Lizzie’s secrets from the beginning but know nothing of John’s other than that he has secrets.  The main conflict in the story is what will happen when they are open with each other?
 
I was fascinated at how this played out.  It made me think about what it means to be a prostitute.  Lizzie doesn’t think she is one, because she doesn’t intend to keep John’s money and because she’d willingly do what he wants without it.  She’s quite swept away by him, even though she’s trying not to fall in love.  Even though not every secret is spelled out in great detail, I felt like The Accidental Call Girl had a very satisfying HFN ending with confidence that an HEA would follow.  
 
I was surprised when writing up this review to realize that this book is the first in a same couple trilogy.  I generally shy away from those, but I have to say this book stands on it’s own very well.  It has that wonderful fine balance of leaving you interested to know what happens next, while leaving you full of hope for the couple.  I very much appreciate the NON-CLIFFHANGER ending!
 
I’ve read short stories by Portia Da Costa before and enjoyed them.  How delightful to find out she’s an author who can write well in short and long form!!  
 
So, I’ve read stories where the male character is a prostitute, but this is my first with the female in that role.  I think it was highly romanticized (a la Pretty Woman) but it was good.  How about you?  Have you found a romance with a prostitute as a main character that you enjoyed?  Or does that not work for you?