full figured heroine

Empty Net by Toni Aleo

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Empty Net (Assassins, #3)
Grade-A
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Assassins #3
Reviewed by Kay

I got this book right before I went to the Romantic Times book convention in Kansas City, so it took me a while to finish it. Those fifteen hour days didn’t leave much time for reading or I would have finished it very quickly.

Audrey Parker is the heroine for this story. If you’ve read the second book in the series, and you need to read them all in order, you’ll remember she is the sister of Fallon Brooks. Audrey works for the family wine business and hates it. She has deplorable taste in men also. She’s a full figured gal but not to the point I considered her heavy. She has had to make tough decisions and even made some bad decisions. After hooking up with her brother-in-law’s best friend at her sister’s wedding, she runs out not bothering to wake him the next morning. In her defense, she didn’t fully connect who he was until after they had slept together.

Tate Odder is the new goalie for the Nashville Assassins. He has learned to speak English and fully embraces his new country. He lost his family to an auto accident and struggles to deal with anxiety that is caused by their deaths. He takes one look at the woman at his best friend’s wedding and thinks she is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. He feels that they really connected(no pun intended) when they spent the night together and he’s very hurt that she snuck out while he was sleeping.

These two characters were both kind of broken due to the terrible losses that they suffered. Audrey fought her attraction to Tate for a long time. She was still sort of hung up on her horrific ex. Tate was very sweet and patient with her. He was all-in and let her know it. Let me tell you how sexy I think that is! The only problems I had with Tate were that he kept the reason for his sadness to himself even while wanting Audrey to open up. Also, he betrayed her trust regarding a secret that wasn’t his to tell. I don’t want to give anything else away so I’ll stop there. You just have to read this book, this series.

I had the pleasure of meeting Toni Aleo at the conference I just attended. She was very nice and kind. I enjoyed our brief conversation and am looking forward to any and all of her books. They are filled with wonderful characters you get to revisit and emotional scenes that will leave you in tears. If you haven’t read Toni Aleo yet, you really should.

Taking Shots by Toni Aleo

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Taking Shots (Assassins, #1)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Assassins #1
Reviewed by Kay

Shea Adler is a hockey pro at the top of his game. He loves hockey, his team, family, especially his twin sister and women. The first four of the above things he loves with some staying power but women, not so much. He’s kind of a love ’em and leave ’em sort of guy. He’s cocky, self assured and has never had to wait on or chase anyone he has wanted.

Eleanor “Elli” Fisher is a rich girl. She’s a photographer with a thriving business. She has a father that adores her. A best friend she loves and a great support staff of other close friends. But she is very insecure about a lot of things: men, family, weight and self worth.

These two see each other at a sports photo shoot and the sparks fly. This is an emotional read in regards to a woman who is almost broken but desperately wants to be loved and a man that never saw her coming. Elli is a character that is easy to like. She’s kind, shy and cares about people. Shea is absolutely precious. I love his character so much I can’t even tell you! He starts off wanting Elli and his pursuit is patient but persistent. When he fell,….sigh, he fell big time. Head over heels and so did I, with him.

I liked this book so much. Even through the “big misunderstanding” I loved Elli. She had been hurt before and she wasn’t taking any chances. I cried a couple of different times in the book: when he had dinner with her family and when he realized he was in love with her. This is a great new series for me and can’t wait to read the next one! Toni Aleo has gained a fan in me!

Wicked All The Way by Shayla Black

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Wicked All the Way (Wicked Lovers, #6.5)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Low Kink
Series-Wicked Lovers #6.5
Reviewed by Kay

Caleb Edgington is a retired Colonel and sniper for the Army. He has been mentioned in the other books of this series but as a background character. This novella is all about him and he’s as entertaining as the rest of the men in this series.

Carlotta Buckley is a divorcee and Caleb’s daughter-in-law’s mother. We met Carlotta a couple of books ago when her daughter rescued her from a abusive marriage. Caleb has been helping her get back on her feet.

Both of these characters had to do a lot of accepting, not only of the other but of themselves and their pasts. It was nice to read about Carlotta trying to be more independent after her marriage and Caleb trying to be less domineering with her.

Oh, Shayla Black. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. If you’ve never read Shayla Black then I highly suggest you do. No one writes a love scene better! No one! Her love scenes blister the pages and have you reaching for something to fan yourself with. Her stories are endearing for the most part. A little heavy on the BDSM at times for me, but I’m a little prudish to begin with for that sub-genre(pardon the pun). This was a great read and I can’t wait for the next book in this series coming out May 7th!