Ass of the Year

Rush by Maya Banks

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Rush (Breathless, #1)
Grade-C
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-High Kink
Series-Breathless #1
Reviewed by Kay

Gabe Hamilton is a very wealthy business man who even conducts his love life like a business. With signed contracts and everything. He has lusted after his best friend’s sister for a loooong time. She has always been forbidden fruit for a variety of different reasons, his best friend would kill him, she’s 14 years his junior and his preferences in the bedroom.

Mia Crestwell is not as innocent as Gabe thinks she is. She was raised by her brother after their parents’ deaths, so they have a very close relationship. She has wanted Gabe for as long as she can remember and she finally got her chance and ran with it.

Gabe asks Mia for a relationship that she has to sign a contract for. I understood why he thought that was necessary but ewww! How utterly unromantic. He may have fought his feelings for her but as the  reader, we can see he loves her. So to treat her the way he does in this book was ridiculous. I never warmed to him as the hero or them as a couple. She was a bit too timid for me and he was an ass. Totally without a chance for redemption for me. When he tries to let other men touch her…OMG!
Ass! I love Maya Banks books, all contemporaries and historicals. I liked parts of the book and will continue the series even though I have issues with this one.

Lover At Last by J. R Ward

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Lover At Last (Black Dagger Brotherhood, #11)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Low
Series-Black Dagger Brotherhood #11
Reviewed by Kay

Beware there are spoilers below!

Blay and Qhuinn? Where do I start? I loved it! I just loved it! Okay, first off, I am so glad J.R. Ward finally brought them together. We have all waited forever. The relationship has been painful to watch over the years. My heart has always went out to Blay and in the last two books, Qhuinn. Before that, Qhuinn was kind of an asshat. I know he was in denial but come on! Watching their love unfold in this novel was beautiful. I couldn’t be anymore happy.

The fight for the throne? Yikes, I’m kind of scared about this one. It should be very interesting how this unfolds. Wrath and Beth? A baby? I hope so. Wrath handling the glymera? Loved it!

Qhuinn’s brother? Hmm? We’ll have to see about him. I’m still mad at him for his previous treatment of his brother.

Xcor and Layla? Wow! I can not freaking wait for their story!

Trez and Iam? Oh, please, please, please. Now!

Saxton, what’s he up to? I really like him. I wonder if he’s gonna upset me.

Qhuinn and Layla? What a wonderful relationship! I’m glad Qhuinn has an actual female friend.

An induction into the Brotherhood? Qhuinn? What about John Matthew and Blay?

I had three big problems with this book though. One was Blay’s dishonesty with Qhuinn about the end of his relationship with Saxton. Two was Qhuinn being okay with what he thought was cheating with Blay against Saxton. And three, Assail, in general. Don’t like his character.  I hope I will learn to like him like I did Rev.

This was a great read and I can not wait for the next book! I wish the next book was Xcor and Layla but no, it’s Wrath and Beth. Oh well!

Her Bad Boy Billionaire Lover by Barbara Bretton

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Her Bad Boy Billionaire Lover
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.