contemporary

The Beginning of Us by Sarah Brooks

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne
The Beginning of Us
Grade-A
Hotness Level-Spark
Kink Level-No Kink
Genre-Contemporary/ f/f
Reviewed by Kate
115 pages
When I ran across this book, I got excited for three reasons. A-it’s f/f, a genre I wanted to read more of, B-it’s teacher/student, and C-it seemed that part of it would be written in letter format. I absolutely love a story written in the form of letters or journal entries or anything similar. I am so glad I picked this one up.
Tara is a senior in college who falls and falls hard for her professor, Eliza. When Eliza leaves without a word to Tara, Tara takes to her laptop and pours her heart and story out into a letter to Eliza. The entire story is written in a letter format. Tara’s words were so raw and gritty, stark and honest. The story hooked it’s claws into me and would not let go! I could not stop reading this one.
At first, the angst that Tara is feeling over being abandoned by Eliza reminded me of Bella Swan in New Moon and I worried that we’d soon find Tara curled in on herself and staring at a wall. Instead, Tara uses her words to cope with her loss. The story quickly started to remind me of The Girl in the Box by Ouida Sebestyen, a book I read as a teen that still sticks with me today (girl is kidnapped and left alone with only a typewriter-I would recommend reading if you haven’t already). There is a sense of Tara discovering herself through her own words. Almost a coming-of-age feel. This book, like The Girl in the Box, will stay with me for a long, long time. Sarah Brooks have given us such a different, unique voice with story, I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
The Girl in the Box is one of those rare books that has stuck with me for the last 20+ years. Do you have any books that just won’t let you go?

The Dom Project by Helloise Belleau and Solace Adams

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne
The Dom Project
Grade-B+
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-High Kink
Genre-Contemporary/BDSM
Reviewed by Kate
157 pages
 
Robin blogs about her search to find her perfect Dom to help her explore her submissiveness but so far all she’s come across is a long line of duds. Her best friend John is a Dom, although neither knows of the other’s sexual preferences. When they find out, they make a deal. John will act as Robin’s Dom and help her discover what aspects of submission she wants/needs. No sex involved. Surely they can do this experiment and maintain their friendship too.
 
If you want to take this story down to its bare bones, it’s a friends-to-lovers story with a heavy dose of BDSM. But it is so much more than just that. The characters were deep and complex. The story was fast paced and gripping, hot and searing. The resolution…*insert contented sigh.* This book has stayed in my head since I finished it a few days ago. In a good way.
 
I do want to mention that there are some scenes involving John and other partners. I mention it because I know that some readers are bothered by their heroes and/or heroines being with other characters. I felt it added more layers to John’s character. It made me want to know even more about him.
 
I love a story that sticks with me after I read it. The characters come alive in my head. This one certainly fit the bill. I certainly hope that the authors work together again because I can’t wait to see what else they could come up with. What a great read to kick off 2014.
 
Typically, I don’t enjoy seeing the hero/heroine in other sexual relationships, but this one worked for me. How about you? Does it bother you? Is it a deal breaker for you?

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

The Rosie Project

Grade: A
Hotness Level: Ember
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary, Nerdmance
Published: 10/1/13
Reviewed by Anne
292 pages
 
So, I saw this book had some good buzz last fall as a funny romance told from a Sheldon-like character’s POV.  I put it on my To Read List and finally got around to it over Christmas Break.  I devoured this book!  It gave me a serious case of Book Cranky as I had to fit it in around my kids and family obligations!
 
It’s told from the first person point of view of Don.  Don is someone I’d guess is on the autism spectrum.  He is certainly very literal minded and has a hard time understanding people.  He is very self aware, though, and his narration is unintentionally funny.  Actually, it’s unintentionally hysterical!  He knows he would like to have a wife, because he has observed in others a happiness level he associates with a long term partner.  After deciding that being set up with people and online dating are very unefficient ways to meet a potential mate, he begins The Wife Project.
 
He runs The Wife Project with the help of his married friends, Gene and Claudia.  Their relationship is a secondary story line.  In the course of The Wife Project, Don meets Rosie, who he immediately recognizes as unsuitable for wife material.  However, he’s intrigued at her current quest to find her biological father.  He finds this situation interesting enough to start The Rosie Project, his effort at helping Rosie in her quest.  
 
This story was touching and sad at points, but it’s so funny throughout that it didn’t bring me down.  Along with Don and Rosie’s quest, we hear about Don’s relationship with his elderly neighbor, Daphne, who helped inspire Don to undertake The Wife Project.  This story reminded, in emotional tone, to the beginning of the movie, Up.  Don and Daphne’s story is very simply told, but so much lays between the lines.  It’s an excellent way to get insight into Don’s character and it left me rooting for him!
 
I don’t really know if it’s an accurate portrayal of someone with Asperbergers or autism.  If it is not, a reader with familiarity to this issue might not enjoy the story.  That issue aside, I really enjoyed the book and I highly recommend it!
 
Note: I’m listing this one under Best of 2013 and Best of 2014, because I read it late in December, after I made my Best of 2013 list.