Kate

You’ve Got Male by Elizabeth Bevarly

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

You've Got Male (OPUS #1)
Grade – C-
Hotness Level – Blaze
Kink Level – None
Genre – Contemporary
Series – OPUS #1
Reviewed by Kate

Avery is an agoraphobic computer whiz.  She lives alone with her cat and does her best to never leave.  She has, however, met Andrew on line.  He is the perfect man.  Or so Avery thinks.
 
In truth, Andrew is Adrian (aka the Sorcerer), an OPUS agent gone rogue.  And he’s only after Avery’s mind (there’s something you don’t hear too often in a romance).  When Avery was barely an adult, she accidentally released a computer virus that caused tons of issues (revenge plot against a bad boyfriend gone wrong).  She ended up in prison for 2 years.
 
While Avery is unaware of Andrew’s true identity, Dixon knows exactly who the Sorcerer is and what he’s capable of.  An OPUS agent himself, Dixon has been trying to figure out who Avery is and what the Sorcerer wants with her.
 
OPUS uses Avery to draw the Sorcerer out.  Dixon remains as her side, and obviously the two grow closer.  Avery is sure she’s too messed up for anyone to love.  Dixon can’t figure out why he’s so attracted to her.
 
I have to admit this is the first time I’ve run across a heroine who dresses in pajama pants and raggy sweatshirts through most of the book.  While refreshing, it took a pat-down search for weapons for Dixon to become attracted to her. The single sex scene weirded me out a little.  It started with an online conversation between the Sorcerer and Avery, but ended up with Dixon and Avery going at it.  Throw in a relationship between Dixon’s partner and Avery’s sister and it was just too much.
 
Honestly, I struggled through the first quarter of the book.  By page 100 it started to get a bit better (page 100 is the point I give myself permission to quit reading a bad book).  By halfway through there was just too much extra stuff going on.  I’m not saying it was terrible.  I just wasn’t for me.  I almost wish I had quit at page 100.

Angel Baby by Leslie Kelly

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Angel Baby
Grade – C+
Hotness Level – Blaze
Kink Level – None
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kate
Claudia goes into labor while visiting her husband’s grave. Chase, who stopped to visit his mother’s grave, decides to drive her to the hospital. Realizing they won’t make it in time, Chase takes her to his house (conveniently close by-where any good hero’s house should be) to wait for the ambulance. Claudia ends up delivering baby Sarah in Chase’s bed.

Fast forward 9 months. Claudia is moving closer to her only friends and has a job interview. To her surprise, the interviewer is Chase, the owner of the company. No one should be surprised that he hires her.

Both Chase and Claudia are surprised at the strength of their attraction to each other. Both are battling with childhood issues that make them deny their attraction. Both follow a fairly predictable path to love.

I was surprised by the ending.  Instead of Chase turning into a sudden jerk and believing Claudia has done something completely out of character until she can force him to see reason, the author chooses to let Chase trust in the love he has for Claudia.  An ending that just didn’t seem to fit the formulaic story.  It actually felt too anti-climactic.




Candy Store by Bella Andre

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Candy Store
Grade – C+
Hotness Level – Blaze
Kink Level – None
Genre-Contemporary
Reviewed by Kate

I have been wanting to read a Bella Andre book for a while now, but the price tag on most of her full lengths are more than I like. So when this one came up as a freebie, I snatched it up — despite its nearly novella length of around 118 pages.
 
Right off the bat, the title reminded me of a disturbingly suggestive Brady Bunch song called “Candy (Sugar Shoppe)”.  Seriously, check out the lyrics sometime and see if you don’t agree. Who knew the Bradys were that dirty? But, I’m guessing that’s an issue that probably won’t bother most of you. Anyway **clearing throat** on to the review…

Callie is at a wedding one night bemoaning the fate of her candy shop. Unless she can make a lot of money fast, she’ll have to close the doors on her dream. It’s a good thing a consultant is coming the next day to help her out. It’s also a good thing there’s a really hot guy at the bar, willing to take her back into the commercial refrigerator of the reception hall and help her forget about business for the night.

Derek hates weddings and wouldn’t be at this one if he wasn’t the best man. Luckily he meets up with Callie, who proves to be just the distraction he’s looking for. But he’s a little confused when she runs away after it’s over.

The next day Callie heads into her store to await the consultant. That consultant, of course, is Derek. After taking care of some naughty business, they get down to the business of saving her store. I sure hope they remembered to bleach the counters-and the refrigerator-and the tables…

This was a fast read with characters who I immediately felt comfortable with. Although it was not a book I will reread, I look forward to reading more by this author.