contemporary

Comfort Reads

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Dangerous Games (Tempting SEALs, #2)
Grade-A
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Mild
Series-Tempting SEALs #2
Reviewed by Kay

This is the first full length novel in this series. It is about Clint McIntyre and Morganna Chavez. It starts with flashbacks. These two people grew up together. He was her brother’s best friend and she was his sister’s best friend. I know, it’s kinda confusing. He’s a SEAL and she an undercover DEA agent. He doesn’t know she’s an agent though. He has always loved her but he has demons that he feels make him no good for her. She has always loved him and has been constantly rebuffed by him.

This was my first full length novel of Lora Leigh’s and definitely not my last. I found Clint an alpha male, which I love. Morganna was a strong and confident female who knew what she wanted. There’s a BDSM undertone to this book but no real deep description about that world, which was perfect for me. I love this book for the unrequited love story. Add in the date rape drug story and what you get is a great read. Oh and the sex scenes set the pages to blazing.

Naked by Raine Miller

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Naked (The Blackstone Affair, #1)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-The Blackstone Affair #1

Ethan Blackstone is British and this novel takes place in London. He runs his security company and is very wealthy. He is also ex-Special Forces. This novel starts for him at an art show where he sees a nude art piece of the a young woman. He seems to become very interested in it.

Brynne Bennett is an American in London  for school, studying art. She poses for her friend to help make ends meet. She has no real family in London or England for that matter. She’s also here to escape her past.

Their eyes connect across the art gallery and….here we go. The chemistry is wonderful and I liked the characters. Can’t wait to hear about the pasts. You don’t get closure about that in this book. Still a very good and engaging read. The revelation at the end of this book was a doozy and can’t wait for that to play out. This is one of those 50 Shadesque books but like Sylvia Day’s Crossfire Series, I think I like this better. A friend of mine suggested this series and I’m so very glad she did.

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!