contemporary

Every Inch of the Way by Heidi Belleau and Amelia C. Gormley

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne
Every Inch of the Way (The Professor's Rule, #4)
Grade: B
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Mild Kink
Genre: Contemporary, m/m, BDSM
Series: The Professor’s Rule #4
Published: 3/03/14
Reviewed by Kate
42 pages

Ah.  The story of James and Professor Carson and Satish continues.  Let me start by saying that if you haven’t read the first 3 in this series, stop everything and go read them, then come back.  It’s okay.  I’ll wait…


Okay.  #4 picks up right after #3.  Satish is debating about calling James.  After running into Carson, he decides to make the phone call.  But it’s what happens afterwards, when James goes back to Carson that has me so gobsmacked.  Thankfully I had #5 loaded on my reader and ready to go, because I don’t think I could have tolerated the ending otherwise.


Stay tuned for my review of the conclusion to the series…

The Bossman by Renee Rose

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne
18878014
Grade: D+
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Moderate Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Published: 3/08/14
Reviewed by Kate
114 pages

Sophie’s dad was a member of the mob and was killed when she was younger. Since then, she’s gone out of her way to avoid getting involved with the family again. But all of that changes when her car is about to be repossessed and the mob boss’ younger brother, Joey steps in and pays off the loan for her. Joey’s always been happy to stay in his older brother’s shadows and keep his hands clean. But can he ever have Sophie when she wants nothing to do with the family?

This one was a head shaker for me. First, I don’t think I’ll ever be a fan of mafia romance (this was my first mafia romance read) and, admittedly, I know very little about the mafia. Secondly, for not wanting to get involved in the family, Sophie was very quick to jump into bed with Joey and by the end of the second date she was ordering spanking implements for him?! Not to mention Joey doesn’t really seem to get off on spanking Sophie, yet he knows that’s what she really needs (yes, knows this by the 2nd date). Apparently mind reading ability comes along with your mafia membership card. And last, the ending seemed a little too easy. It’s presented as happily ever after, but I just can’t see it staying that way for long.

If the mafia romance angle sounds intriguing to you it may be worth a read, but for me, I don’t think I’ll be reading any more mafia romance. 

Has anyone else read a mafia romance? What did you think? Good, bad, indifferent?

Taken With You by Shannon Stacey

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne
18404803
Grade: A
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Kowalski Family #8
Published: 3/25/14
Reviewed by Anne
209 ebook pages

Hailey, the town librarian is happy with her life, but lately, watching all the Kowalski’s couple up and get married has got her wondering when she’ll find her own Prince Charming.  She’s pretty sure he isn’t in Whitford, because she’s looked!  And when her new neighbor, Matt, moves in, she’s sure it’s not him either.  She met him a few weeks before on an ill advised adventure weekend when she got lost in the woods.   He may have been able to guide her to safety, but he looked like he hadn’t seen a shower or washing machine in weeks!  And he might look a whole lot better in his forest ranger uniform, but she’s seen the real Matt and he’s not her Prince Charming.  That’s all just fine with Matt, who was burned once before by a girl friend who didn’t embrace his love of the outdoors.  So they’ll be good neighbors.  Maybe they’ll be very good neighbors… but both of them know they could never have a relationship.

Shannon Stacey’s humor and story telling is great in this book.  Hailey and Matt are both so sure they are just too different to make things work.  It’s a delight to watch them come together.  The small town of Whitford is all over the two of them, with everyone knowing they’ll be a couple before the two of them even get a whiff of it.  So fun and funny!

When I meet people who haven’t read romance lately and I want to recommend a book to them, Exclusively Yours, the first book in this series, is my go to recommendation.  It’s one of my all time favorite reads, right along side Yours to Keep, the third Kowalski book.  Even though the other books weren’t as good as those two, I’ve still enjoyed them as I’ve read through the series, but this one is a return to the best!  It’s not about a Kowalski, but there are plenty of Kowalskis in the story.  There’s not anything OF DOOM, but there’s still plenty of humor.  There’s some ATV fun and gossip at the diner and the grocery store.

This is a long running series, but you could easily jump in and read this book without having read the others – and I recommend you do!  It’s going on my favorite books of the year list!  Do you read the Kowalskis?  If so, what’s your favorite of the series?  And if you don’t, do you have a series to recommend?