no kink

Duende by E.E. Ottoman

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

22699093
Grade: B-
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Fantasy, m/m,
Series: Mechanical Universe #2
Published: 9/10/14
Reviewed by Anne
37 pages

Badri is the male lead in the city’s ballet company.  Aime is a famous opera singer.  They secretly each like the other.  On his birthday, Aime goes to see Badri dance, and then goes backstage to introduce himself.  Amidst all the other fans, Aime is very embarrassed and leaves quickly after meeting Badri.  However, that small act is enough to get Badri interested in Aime.

This is a very short story and it was very enjoyable.  I see that it’s part of the “Mechanical Universe” series, but it had a very historical feeling to it.  That was fine with me – a historical may as well be a fantasy when I read it.  I enjoyed seeing these men slowly but surely get to know each other.

Unfortunately, I found the cast of secondary characters confusing.  I would have enjoyed it more if it had concentrated fully on Aime and Badri.  It may be that reading the series in order would have made this one much more enjoyable.  It did leave me interested in checking out the first book in the series, though.

Talk Sweetly to Me by Courtney Milan

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

20325481

Grade: A
Hotness Level: Blaze
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Historical, London
Series: Brothers Sinister #4.5
Published: 8/19/14
Reviewed by Anne

I saw “Courtney Milan” and “novella” and “mathmetics” and I was in!  I have a good history reading Milan and enjoying her stories.  I’m not a huge historical fan anymore, but Milan + math was enough for me.  I was right, too, this story did not disappoint.

Rose is a “computer,” a person who does math for a researcher.  She’s a genius and really enjoys her work.  She’s a bit shy and shocked to find herself attracted to her neighbor, the scandalous Stephen Shaughnessy.  He’s an advice columnist and a known rake and he’s surprised to find himself falling for her.  As a way to spend more time with her, he manipulates her into giving him math lessons.  This leads to some incredible math innuendo!

Stephen and Rose are wonderful characters.  I was pleasantly surprised that the Rose is black!  That was new for me in a historical.  Stephen is white.  He seems untroubled by their differences, but Stephen is not a worrier by nature, and he’s not experienced the discrimination that Rose is used to, both for her gender and her race.

Rose is very intelligent and comfortable with it.  Stephen is entranced by her and her abilities.  He appears to be quite shallow, and as it turns out, he has a pretty light hearted approach to life, and he doesn’t feel bad about that.  It’s who he is.  It does turn out to be an obstacle between him and Rose, though.  He’ll have to convince her that he’s serious about her.

This was a wonderful historical novella, and I highly recommend it to historical or math lovers.  I think it’s the very first historical nerd-mance I’ve read!  And the math jokes abound and are awesome!

 

“You’re not going to multiply with me?”

“No,” she said somewhat severely. “You’re going to multiply on your own.” p. 20

 

 

“All you had to do was look up a number in a table.  Was that too difficult for you?”

“A great and might table, ringed by fearsome logarithms, with their terribly, terrible…” He trailed off.  “Oh, very well.  Set me another problem, Miss Sweetly.  My resolve is firm and my angles are acute.  But beware — if I have to draw another diagram, things may become graphic.” p.32

 

I will say, despite the cover, it’s not a ballroom and opera historical.  Stephen and Rose are solidly middle class.  It’s a great story, though!

This is the last installment in the Brothers Sinister series.  I haven’t read any of the others, and I still loved this one, so jump right in!

I only read historical romance occasionally.  How about you?  Do you enjoy historicals?  If so, do you prefer ballrooms and opera?  Pioneer America?  Medieval?  What’s your favorite?

Whipped by Sabrina York

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

22838382
Grade: B
Hotness Level: Inferno
Kink Level: No Kink
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Part of the anthology Brought to his Knees
Published: 8/19/14
Reviewed by Kate
50 pages

Dane is at his best friend’s lame bachelor party.  No strippers or hookers allowed because his best friend is *gulp* getting married.  His best friend is completely whipped.  Dane leaves early and runs across a woman he assumes is the hooker that was planned for his buddy’s party.  It’s not until the next day that he realizes the “hooker” he took to bed was no in fact a hooker, but his best friend’s baby sister, all grown up.  Tina has had a crush on Dane her whole life.  So when he propositions her, she gives him a false name and jumps at the chance to finally realize one of her dreams-sleeping with Dane.

This one was a short, sexy read.  One of the hottest sex-in-a-closet scenes I’ve ever read.  This one had me laughing, sighing, and fanning myself.  But what it did the most was leave me wanting more!  I’d recommend this one for anyone who enjoys spicy, low conflict short stories.