Heat Level – Blaze

The Things I Do For You by Minx Malone

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

The Things I Do for You (The Alexanders, #2)
Grade-D-
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-The Alexanders #2
Reviewed by Kay

Nick Alexander is a financial whiz kid and a bit of a reputed playboy. He owns the reputation with no problem at all but it is more of who he used to be. He had a blistering one night stand with his future sister-in-law awhile back and that has him rethinking his ways.

Raina Winters is a model whose biggest hope is to be a mother. She has endometriosis and has a timetable to get pregnant. She also has a fiancee who seems to be on the same page with a marriage of convenience. She will never forget the night of passion she shared with Nick, her future brother-in-law.

I loved the premise of the book and that’s what drew me in. What the book became was tedious and infuriating. Raina was a horribly selfish and annoying heroine. She constantly fought against her feelings for Nick. I won’t tell you how they end up as a couple just in case you want to read it for yourself. Nick does everything he can to prove himself and I thought it was a bit ridiculous. I have read Minx Malone before and enjoyed it but not this offering, not at all.

Once Tempted by Laura Moore

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Once Tempted: A Silver Creek Novel
Grade-D
Hotness Level-Blaze
Kink Level-None
Series-Silver Creek #1
Reviewed by Kay

Tess Casari was swept off of her feet into a whirlwind romance and marriage. Less than six months later, she was a estranged widow. Distraught and terribly insecure she plays pin-the-tail-on-the-location and moves to start fresh.

Ward Knowles is a ranch at his family’s vacation ranch. He’s kind of sullen and somber. He has had his own share of disappointment in the love department. His ex-fiancee dumped him for what she thought was something more.

When Tess starts working at the ranch, she immediately dislikes him despite her attraction to him. Ward doesn’t dislike her but is cautious regarding his attraction to her. They play a cat and mouse game with each other and their feelings. As the relationship grows, they each learn more about the other and their secrets.

The story was okay but nothing special. I felt bored throughout most of it and had to force myself to finish it. This was my first novel by this author. It was hard to connect totally with the characters. I pitied Tess for the tragedy she went through with her deceased husband and his family. It ended nicely which was a plus. There were love scenes but they were too tame for me. This would probably be a good read for someone who likes a more tame and/or sedate love story.

Too Hot to Handle by Victoria Dahl

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Too Hot to Handle (Jackson, #2)
Grade – B
Hotness Level – Blaze
Kink Level – no kink
Genre – Contemporary
Series – Jackson #1
Reviewed by Anne

Merry has been a tumbleweed through life, but she’s finally putting down roots and showing her family and friends she can be a success.  She’s gotten a job as curator of a ghost town.  She’s going to develop it and turn it into a tourist attraction.  Shane lives across the hall from Merry.  He has ties to the ghost town that Merry doesn’t know about.  In fact, he is contesting a will that has direct effect on the ghost town.  Merry knows he does carpentry work and asks him to do some restoration work in the ghost town.  Shane accepts the job, thinking he can get a little inside information on the committee opposing him in the lawsuit about the will.  When he starts feeling attracted to Merry, his deception weighs on him, but not quiet enough for him to come clean.

I usually don’t like this kind of set up.  I’m not a fan of BIG SECRETS.  And I was initially annoyed at this one.  However, the farther I got into the story, the more believable it got.  Shane tells himself, just a little while longer.  With every passing day you know the revelation of the big secret will be even more painful, but I found myself rooting for them to stay in the lie just a little longer, because they were so good for each other and I knew the truth would rip them apart.  So I understood why Shane kept the secret.  In the end, I felt like his grovel and apology were fitting for the hurt he caused and I was ok with everything.
 
Other than the BIG SECRET, I really have nothing to complain about. I loved Shane and Merry’s chemistry.  Victoria Dahl is such a fun and funny writer!  There were so many stand out scenes in this book.  The shower scene, the hidden vibrator scene, all the moments between Merry and Grace were delightful, too.  I really enjoy a book where the characters have real friends.  Raylene at the bar was a hoot!  
 
This is the second book in the Jackson series.  I haven’t read the first book and I followed this one just fine.  I’m going to read the first one, though, because Grace was such a good friend to Merry and such a strong woman that I want to know more about her.  This is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it!  Dahl is back on my favorite writers list.