Best of 2014

Improper Proposals by Juliana Ross

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne
20409275
Grade: A
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Historical
Series: Improper #3
Published: 3/24/14
Reviewed by Anne
122 pages

“Instead of instructing young wives on how to roast a chicken or darn a sock or ease colic in an infant, I want you to write a guide that will tell them, plainly and directly, what they might expect from marital relations with their husbands.  It will tell them that it could and should be a pleasant experience, and not a shameful necessity to which they are bound to submit.”  -p.24

When her husband of eleven years dies, Caroline is distraught and alone, with no other family to turn to.  As time passes, she throws herself into the project of writing an instruction manual for young wives.   Once it’s done, she seeks out a friend of her husband’s who is a publisher.  She’s disappointed when he says there’s no market for her book, but he contacts her again, impressed with her writing and proposes she write the same sort of book, but this time have it focused on “marital relations.”

Juliana Ross really shines in this story!  I devoured it in one sitting and wanted to turn around and re-read it immediately!  Since Caroline lives in the country, and her publisher, Tom, lives in London, they send letters and manuscripts through the mail, then meet in person about once per month to discuss things. I loved the contrast between the formal way they talk and write letters to each other and how very dirty they are in the bedroom.  It was great read and an incredibly hot one!  The author also manages to sell me on a second love of a lifetime without bashing the first – something I really appreciate!  

My biggest complaint was how Caroline handled the obstacle they faced near the end of the story.  It seemed out of character, especially when the solution seemed so easy to me.  However, the way Tom reacted really redeemed things.  He was so confident in her love for him and his for her that he was able to handle things well.

I also want to note that Tom is a dirty talker in the bedroom, and Caroline finds that she really enjoys it.  The sex scenes are very well written!  I highly recommend this book – it’s going on my best of the year list!

Mine to Crave by Cynthia Eden

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne


                      Mine to Crave (Mine, #4)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-No Kink
Series-Mine #4
Genre-Romantic Suspense
Reviewed by Kay
280 pages
 
Romantic Suspense is one of those sub genres in romance literature that can be very, very good or very, very bad. This is an example of very, very good.

You have a former military man who now owns and runs multiple casinos with a tortured past. He has everything that money can buy but happiness. To have happiness you have to trust and Drake Archer trusts a very select few people but never a woman. He learned that lesson the hard way a long time ago.

Jasmine Bennett is a thief, or is she? She’s on the run from a so called bounty hunter while she’s in pursuit of Drake for information about his business dealings. She herself trusts very few people. She’s always had to pretty much rely on herself, even from a young age. Her own past is interwoven with Drake that leaves her vulnerable and in turmoil.

From the moment she crooks her finger at Drake the first time to the second time she does it, it’s non-stop action. I couldn’t hardly put it down. I even stayed up late to read it. Cynthia Eden, I just want to kiss you and hug you so tight. You had my heart racing with the suspense, fanning myself during the love scenes and my eyes misting at the emotional parts. That’s not just good romantic suspense but that’s a good novel.

In closing, a couple of my favorite lines:

The memory of being in Drake’s bed was too strong. I could still feel him on my skin.

She tasted just like he remembered. Like every dream he’d ever had. Like everything he ever wanted but didn’t deserve.

Live by Mary Anne Rivers

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne
18630722
Grade: A
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Burnside #1
Published: 1/21/14
Reviewed by Anne
267pages

Destiny Burnside is out of work, nearly out of money, and still mourning her father’s recent death.  Every day she treks to her local library to use their computers for her job search.  The only silver lining to this daily trip is the chance to see the quiet, good-looking wood carver doing restoration work in the library.  

Hefin is the woodcarver, and he’s noticed Destiny, too.  They’re both pretty quiet and shy, though, so it’s not until he sees Destiny crying one day that he approaches her.  He just wants to help her feel better.  This leads quickly to a friendship and an acknowledged attraction between the two of them.  The only problem?  Hefin’s time in the US is limited.  He’s heading home to Wales after he finishes the library project.  Destiny’s ties to her small town are many and strong, and this sets them up for an affair they know can’t last, but can’t resist either.

This is a kind of cliched setup, but I thought it was a very original story.  In fact, about half way through I realized I didn’t really know how they would work things out.  Hefin NEEDS to go back to Wales.  Destiny is very needed by her family in Ohio.  And, yes, I could guess at how they would work it out, but the journey to get there wasn’t a sure thing for me, and it was very enjoyable!

Another strength of this story was that Destiny and Hefin aren’t traditionally beautiful people.  Well, ok, Destiny kind of is.  I’ve always envied red heads and all their freckles.  It’s clear that Destiny doesn’t see herself as beautiful, but even more clear that Hefin DOES.  And Hefin thinks of himself as “quite hairy” which is not exactly a romance-land hero!

These two are both functioning, but functioning broken.  Limping along, living with the losses they’ve been dealt, and finding the courage to reach for more.  It was heartbreaking in a good way to read, because, yes, you felt their heartbreak, but you also got to go along for the ride through their healing.

I thought the sex scenes were hot and well written.  The characters felt like real people and the conflict was believable.  The pacing of the story was slow, but very enjoyable for me.  I can’t wait for more for Mary Ann Rivers!!