Grade: B-
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: HistoricalSeries: Bridgerton #6
Reviewed by Kate
Michael has been in love with Francesca since the first time he saw her… at a party celebrating her upcoming wedding to Michael’s cousin John. Michael settles for becoming a close friend of Francesca. When John dies suddenly, Michael flees to India to escape his feelings for Francesca. Four years later he returns to London and discovers Francesca is in town looking for a husband.
Of course, like all things Bridgerton, I enjoyed this book. Fast paced, humorous, lovable characters. I am not typically a fan of the widow-falls-for-dead-husband’s-brother/best friend story line, but Julia Quinn handled it very well. But because of the plot, it’s probably my least favorite of the series.
Kate
The Men With the Golden Cuffs by Lexi Blake
Grade: B
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: High Kink
Genre: Contemporary, Menage, BDSM
Series: Masters and Mercenaries #2
Reviewed by Kate
Serena writes erotic romances under a pen name. When she starts receiving threatening messages, her editor hooks her up with a security firm. Adam and Jake have been best friends since boot camp. Being assigned to Serena’s case isn’t a hardship at all. They’ve been looking for a submissive to share and Serena writes BDSM menage stories. Maybe they can provide her with some hands-on experiences.
Some of the conflict in this story comes from the stalker, the rest comes from Serena, Jake, and Adam. Each has been let down by love in the past and are scared to trust again. I don’t know that I’ve ever run across a trio of more stubborn characters. I felt the middle part lagged a bit because they were all refusing to talk to each other. Despite that, I really enjoyed the book.
I Need an Intervention…
I think everyone has at least one plot that they can’t pass up. For me, it’s a marriage of convenience with a particular soft spot for mail order brides. I love that part where the couple grapples with not marrying for love, but finding it anyway. Two of my all time favorite books, ones that I have re-read too many times to count, are marriage of convenience stories. Sunset Embraceby Sandra Brown and Susan Carroll’s The Bride Finder. I highly recommend both if you love the marriage of convenience story line, too.
However, I fear I may have over-read my favorite plot. Each one I read is starting to feel the same. Even when they’re well written, they’re getting old. The reasons behind the marriages seem to be getting more and more far fetched. Do two millionaires really need to marry due to an unplanned pregnancy in this day and age? Can a crazy old man really change his will so his son must marry in order to inherit?
So I’m taking a marriage of convenience break. Going into rehab, if you will. Anyone know of a twelve-step program? No more until 2014. And, if I have a relapse, Anne and Kay get to pick out a book for me to read. *shudder* But if I’m giving up the marriage of convenience, I’ll need something else to distract me. What’s your poison of choice? The one story line you can’t resist?
Dirty Girls' Good Books 