Kate

Rule of Three by Kelly Jamieson

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Rule of Three
Grade: A
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: Mild Kink
Genre: Contemporary, ménage
Reviewed by Kate

206 pages


Kassidy is finally reaping the rewards of always following the rules. She has a job she loves and is in a fulfilling relationship with her boyfriend Chris. In fact, after a year of dating, they’ve just moved in together and it’s looking like marriage is on the horizon. Then Chris’s best friend Dag comes to town for a visit.

Dag has secretly been in love with Chris since they first met. But it was obvious Chris would never consider a relationship so Dag never admitted his feelings. He left town years ago, trying to outrun his feelings, but is back to see if there’s any chance of being with Chris now.

Kassidy and Dag are shocked by (and Chris is oblivious to) the immediate sparks that fly between them. To their credit, neither Dag nor Kassidy act on their attraction. Instead they spend a few days becoming good friends. When it comes out that Dag and Chris have participated in threesomes together before, Kassidy decides to step out of her good girl box and give a threeway a try. But when everyone’s true feelings are uncovered, will any of them be left without a broken heart?

I had just finished a Harlequin Special Edition and may have been complaining to Anne a bit because, while I love me a good Harlequin Special Edition, it just didn’t have the heat level I was looking for. So later Anne emails me about Rule of Three. Something like, “Saw this menage story. Thought of you.” Aren’t big sisters the greatest?

Kelly Jamieson has a new fan. Because holy hotness, Batman! This one was scorching. The kind where you just have to take periodic cool-down breaks, you know? But the best part was it wasn’t sex written for sex’s sake. These characters were deep and complex and-oh crap, I’m getting a tad gushy, aren’t I?

My only complaint was that the HEA ended too soon.  I would have liked to see an epilogue with this one.  Of course, without an epilogue, I get to make my own up.  How about you?  Epilogue or no?  Which do you prefer?

A Taste of Sin by Connie Mason

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

A Taste of Sin (Sin Trilogy, #1)
Grade: C-
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: HistoricalSeries: Sin Trilogy #1
Reviewed by Kate

After the battle of Culloden the king declares that the daughters of Scottish chiefs shall marry English lords. And so, 7 year old Christy Macdonald finds herself married to 14 year old St. John (Sinjin) Thornton, a marquis. Flash forward 15 years and Sinjin has become known as Lord Sin, a notorious rake who has never returned to his wife to consummate their wedding. Christy is now the laird of her clan in the highlands. She is under a lot of pressure to have her marriage annulled so she can marry a man from the highlands. Christy travels to London to seek out Sinjin. Her clan thinks she is going to get the annulment, but she has other plans. She’s going to seduce her husband.

I loved the premise of this book and it started off strong. I soon came to dislike Christy. She quickly developed a pattern of lying to Sinjin, then running away. Then Sinjin would take his own sweet time chasing after her and the cycle would begin again. I found this book overly dramatic. Romance does not have to equal drama. The whole thing could have been resolved by locking the two of them in a room until they talked (of course the same could be said for a lot of romances). However, if you like your highlander romances to read like a soap opera, give this one a try. 

To Sir Phillip, With Love by Julia Quinn

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

To Sir Phillip, With Love (Bridgertons, #5)
Grade: A-
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Historical
Series: Bridgertons #5
Reviewed by Kate

 
Eloise has been corresponding with Phillip since his wife passed away over a year ago.  When he invites her to visit him to see if they might suit each other, Eloise (a spinster who is starting to feel lonely) decides to be daring and go by herself.  She is surprised to find Phillip has a set of unruly twins.  Having learned a little about each other through letters, they get to know each other quickly.  And then Eloise’s four brothers show up on Phillip’s doorstep.

 
I am enjoying each Bridgerton book more and more.  Eloise and Phillip’s story is my favorite so far.  While both strong characters, there is a fragility about them that is so realistic it tugs at your heart.  There are moments of the Bridgerton humor I’ve come to love and appreciate, but I actually like the more tender tone of this book.