novella

Wicked All The Way by Shayla Black

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Wicked All the Way (Wicked Lovers, #6.5)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-Low Kink
Series-Wicked Lovers #6.5
Reviewed by Kay

Caleb Edgington is a retired Colonel and sniper for the Army. He has been mentioned in the other books of this series but as a background character. This novella is all about him and he’s as entertaining as the rest of the men in this series.

Carlotta Buckley is a divorcee and Caleb’s daughter-in-law’s mother. We met Carlotta a couple of books ago when her daughter rescued her from a abusive marriage. Caleb has been helping her get back on her feet.

Both of these characters had to do a lot of accepting, not only of the other but of themselves and their pasts. It was nice to read about Carlotta trying to be more independent after her marriage and Caleb trying to be less domineering with her.

Oh, Shayla Black. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. If you’ve never read Shayla Black then I highly suggest you do. No one writes a love scene better! No one! Her love scenes blister the pages and have you reaching for something to fan yourself with. Her stories are endearing for the most part. A little heavy on the BDSM at times for me, but I’m a little prudish to begin with for that sub-genre(pardon the pun). This was a great read and I can’t wait for the next book in this series coming out May 7th!

Restraint by Charlotte Stein

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Restraint
Grade – A
Hotness Level – Inferno
Kink Level – no kink
Genre – Contemporary, short
Reviewed by Anne

Mallory is pissed of at her friend.  He invited *Artie* along on their holiday.  Artie who hates her and thinks she’s stupid.  But while they are sharing a vacation house, Mallory quickly realizes Artie doesn’t dislike her, he just doesn’t know what to do with the attraction he feels for her.  He’s so uptight, conservative, restrained… he just doesn’t know what to do with the physical reaction he has to her blunt words.

I’ll stop there because it’s a short story (51 pages on my reader) and I don’t want to give it away, but it’s incredibly good.  I love Charlotte Stein’s voice.  Her first person story telling works for me, even though I’m not a first person fan, in general.  Early on in the story, before she understands why Artie seems to dislike her, Mallory decides she’s never going to have Artie’s approval and she doesn’t care.  In fact, she’s going to say more of the things that make him uncomfortable.


I can almost make out the pressure of his immense gaze on the side of my face, as I make a comment I know I shouldn’t be making.

I know it, the second it comes out – but somehow I just can’t help it.  I’m not even trying to employ this new “Artie can go fuck himself” attitude.  The words simply come out all on their own, like a reflex.

A rude, rude reflex, in response to Lucy’s suggestion that she’d be happy just to have some movie star hunk of the week read the phone book to her.

‘He could read the phone book to me, too, ‘ I say, and then the Doc hit my knee with the little hammer, and my leg kicks up. ‘As long as he does so directly into my vagina.’

This story is very hot.  It’s also got a dirty feel to it, which I really enjoyed.  The dirty comes from knowing how Artie feels about the things they are doing, not so much what they are doing.  I really enjoyed the writing!  Artie and Mallory also develop a sweet and believable love for each other.  I highly recommend this book.  It’s going on my Best of 2013 list.


Hot Secrets by Lisa Marie Rice

Posted on by Dirty Girl Anne

Hot Secrets: A Dangerous Lover Novella (Dangerous, #1.5)
Grade-B
Hotness Level-Inferno
Kink Level-None
Series-Dangerous #1.5
Reviewed by Kay

This was a very short read. I first read about these characters four years ago and found this novella about six months ago. I’ve wanted to read it for awhile but my TBR list is very long and I’m about a year behind on some things. Jack and Caroline’s story was just precious. They grew up in the same town. She was the rich, popular girl and Jack was raised by an abusive, drunken father. Caroline showed Jack several acts of kindness, which cemented his adoration of her.

After his stint in the military,  he inherits a great deal of money from his adoptive father. He then returns home to thank Caroline. He finds her still single and from there they fall in love. This story starts a year later, after they’ve married. Jack is always concerned with Caroline’s safety, almost to the point of obsession. He tries to train her in self-defense and to always be aware of her surroundings. She doesn’t really take it too seriously.

Caroline owns a bookstore and reads to the kids from the shelter there on special occasions. On one such occasion a step-parent of one the children comes in high on drugs and a hostage situation happens. The story is your to read for the wrap-up but if you’ve never read Lisa Marie Rice, you’re missing out. I love her books. She’s writing a military-paranormal romance series now.