Tag Archives: contemporary romance

A Piece of Cake by Mary Calmes

book review September 9, 2015 Leave a comment

This novella from the A Matter of Time series was a heightened reality ball of fluff that catches the two leads’ story in media res.

From Amazon: After years of domestic partnership, Jory Harcourt and Sam Kage are finally going to make it official in their home state of Illinois. It’s been a long and rocky road, and nothing—not disasters at work, not the weather, not a possible stalker, not even getting beat up and having to attend the ceremony looking like he just got mugged—will make Jory wait one more day to make an honest man of the love of his life.

A well-intentioned trouble magnet, Jory is kind of guy who things happened to. He and law enforcement official Sam have had a civil partnership and an out-of-state wedding, but now that marriage has become legal in their home state, they plan to marry again. They have two young children and are surrounded by a diverse group of friends and family. It’s a world in which billionaires and cops not only socialize, but also marry.

While Jory is busy being accident prone, Sam cleans up his messes and there is a subplot about something something stalked and/or killer on the loose which climaxes on their wedding day. I think if you were in the mood for some happy, pure escapism with a dose of adventure, this series might be for you. It wasn’t especially good, but it was kind of fun.

LGBT romance recommendations can be found here.

Links to my other reviews can be found on my complete reading list of books sorted by author or Author Commentary & The Tallies Shameful.

Sinner’s Gin by Rhys Ford

book review September 2, 2015 Leave a comment

So, that’s a super cool title. I received this contemporary romance as a gift, not for an “honest review” as one so often hears, but because my friend is lovely and knew I was looking for a good LGBT romance.

The Sinner’s Gin of the title is a blues-rock band that experiences a horrible tragedy the same night they win a handful of Grammys. Glorying in their success, their limo is t-boned by a large truck and three of the four band members are killed. The lone survivor, lead singer Miki, is recuperating alone in his converted San Francisco warehouse. When a stray dog adopts Miki and annoys his woodworking and happens-to-be-a-cop neighbour, Kane Morgan (romance novel name +4 points) enters the singer’s life. Complicating matters are the eviscerated body in Miki’s vintage car and the escalating violence around him.

A romance with a heavy dose of noirish mystery, there is a lot going on in this book (death of everyone Miki loves, murders, abuse, stalkers) and I don’t feel able to properly assess it because the novel made me squeamish. I’ll let the Amazon blurb explain:

But when the man who sexually abused him as a boy is killed and his remains are dumped in Miki’s car, Miki fears Death isn’t done with him yet… As the murderer’s body count rises, the attraction between Miki and Kane heats up. Neither man knows if they can make a relationship work, but despite Miki’s emotional damage, Kane is determined to teach him how to love and be loved – provided, of course, Kane can catch the killer before Miki becomes the murderer’s final victim.

I was really uncomfortable with the child sexual abuse subplot. There wasn’t graphic detail of the abuse, but enough oblique information to make my skin crawl. I do not belong to the group of people who enjoy a sophisticated, or otherwise, approach to horrifying topics. I can’t get past it to enjoy any artistry that may be underneath. Miki’s experiences overshadowed the reading experience for me and left me thinking more about the legacy of such abuse and the scars of its victims than the plot of the book, especially during the love scenes when my brain would be dragged back to what it is implied Miki has suffered. It was an interesting conversation going on in my head as I thought about recovery, the horrors that children are subjected to, how they rebuild their lives searching for some kind of “normal”, if it would affect their sexual tastes, wondering if Kane was being too forceful given what Miki had gone through, my own misconceptions and preconceptions about people who have been through these things, and the excellent movie Short Term 12. You can see how that is more interference with the reading experience than I might have been looking for. Sinner’s Gin’s love story was sweet and took its time, but it wasn’t enough to make me forget the more distressing content or the overburdened the plot, and did not make me want to read more in the series.

LGBT romance recommendations can be found here.

Links to my other reviews can be found on my complete reading list of books sorted by author or Author Commentary & The Tallies Shameful.

P.S. I also wondered about the realism of sleeping at a crime scene, but after being horrified by the general goings on in Sinner’s Gin that quibble is neither here nor there.

Try and Trust by Ella Frank

book review September 1, 2015 Leave a comment

There is a book, Take, that falls between Try  and Trust  in Ella Frank’s erotic romance trilogy, but I read them out-of-order and didn’t bother to read it because, and I can’t believe I am saying this either, and, please note, doing so for the first time in scores of romance reviews, erotic and otherwise,

this book has too much sex.

In Try, Logan* is a successful lawyer who very much enjoys his life as a good-looking, financially comfortable man about town. When he visits one of his regular haunts looking for someone to take home, he spots a new bartender, Tate. Instantly attracted, Logan presses his suit for the heretofore straight gorgeousness providing him with gin-and-tonics. Curious and confused, Tate resists Logan for a little while, but the man’s persistence wins out and they move towards progressively more sexually and, eventually, emotionally intimate encounters.

In Trust, Logan and Tate are established partners and Logan wants to move forward with living together. Tate is unwilling because he doesn’t feel he has enough to offer the relationship. They have a lot of sex, something bad happens, and Tate decides he’s ready to move in with Logan.

About the aforementioned unexpressed sentiment re: too much sex. Let me be clear, it’s really good sex, hot even, but for much of the two books it feels like that is all there is. This is not the time to remind me of the definition of “erotica”, but time to reconsider that of “erotic romance”. As with every story in this genre, a balance has to be struck between the tropes, wish-fulfillment characters, and sincere emotion. For much of Try, Logan and Tate alternate between sturm and drang. There is a passionate encounter, some kind of misunderstanding, and an intense reconciliation. Sex represents emotional connection in erotic romance, but a little more relationship building would have gone a long way.

LGBT romance recommendations can be found here.

Links to my other reviews can be found on my complete reading list of books sorted by author or Author Commentary & The Tallies Shameful.

*Logan is quickly gaining ground as one of the most popular names in romance and I can only assume it will accelerate as I read more contemporary stories. Logan must be the “modern” version of Simon.

Wrong Bed, Right Guy by Katee Robert

book review August 31, 2015 Leave a comment

Technically, it’s “right bed, wrong guy”, but that doesn’t work as well for a romance title, does it?

Elle has a desperate crush on her art gallery owner boss. In a move worthy of a fourteen year old at a slumber party, she decides it is a good idea to get undressed up and climb in bed with him. She does, he’s responsive, and everything instantly goes predictably awry when Elle figures out that Gabe was not her intended target. Mortified, she hies herself hence and hopes that her boss won’t find out. Given that her boss is her inadvertent bedmate’s brother this is unlikely.

Gabe had a lovely dream followed by an unpleasant awakening when the delicious woman in his bed turned out to be looking for someone else. Smitten and overwhelmed by their chemistry in the dark, Gabe decides to pursue Elle despite her reluctance. He wins her attention and her heart and they live happily ever after.

Two points for discussion:

Is it reasonable to think that just hopping into bed with someone in the dark and having a quick anonymous grope/snog could truly reveal potent sexual chemistry? This strikes me as unlikely, but I am not willing to put it to a scientific test.

Gabe has tattoos. Lots of them. Contemporary romance heroes often do. I do not enjoy tattoos as a rule. I understand that they are popular with the kids today and, on occasion, find them interesting but when they get as far as sleeves or almost full coverage it interferes with my reading. I am aware that this makes me a duddy being all fuddy, but this is a genre based on wish-fulfillment and fantasy men, so I would prefer that they conform to my personal preferences, although, if the book is interesting enough I don’t care; so, I guess what I am really saying is that Wrong Bed, Right Guy  wasn’t of sufficiently good quality to overwhelm my reservations about the biker-guy looking businessman hero, nor did it inspire me to read any of the other books in the series.

Links to my other reviews can be found on my complete reading list of books sorted by author or Author Commentary & The Tallies Shameful.

First Class Package by Jay Northcote

book review August 11, 2015 Leave a comment

Admission: I really like Christmas novellas. Not all of them, not all the time, but once in a while they make a nice break. After all, one of my top five romances of all time is a Christmas novella.

Jay Northcote can’t possibly have known of my penchant and, admittedly, I did not know this was a Christmas novella when I bought it, but it served its own Christmas in July purposes well enough. It’s not really a recommend or a keeper, but I am trying to broaden my character lead horizons and this M/M romance was highly rated and free. As Amazon ratings are notoriously unreliable, that last part was the relevant point. Speaking of points, Nrothcote gets three for the double entendre of his title: First Class Package.

Why does he have a shirt on? What kind of “romance novel” is this?

From notoriously unreliable Amazon: A geeky science writer has a crush on his postman—but will he ever make a move? Working from home suits introvert Jim until he gets a special delivery—an extremely cute, temporary postman called Patrick. Jim’s drawn to his wide smile and sexy legs, while Patrick can’t keep his eyes off Jim’s package. Their doorstep attraction seems mutual, so asking Patrick out on a date should be easy. There’s just one problem—Jim could fit all the pick-up lines he knows on the back of a postage stamp. As Christmas approaches, Jim knows the end of Patrick’s postal-delivery contract is looming. Taking a chance might be worth it if it keeps Patrick coming to his door.

Not particularly memorable, I can tell you that all of the stuffed animals Jim orders to keep Patrick visiting are cute and that the none of the packages involved disappoint, but I don’t think I need to read anymore Jay Northcote. The story wasn’t bad, it was kind of sweet really, but nothing special and I am looking for a new author’s catalogue to dive into. Gay, straight, contemporary, historical, POC, new adults, rich, poor, I don’t care as long as it’s not paranormal and the love story is sincere and well told. Recommendations are welcome!

LGBT romance recommendations can be found here.

Links to my other reviews can be found on my complete reading list of books sorted by author or Author Commentary & The Tallies Shameful.

La Vie en Roses Series: A Wish Upon Jasmine by Laura Florand

book review August 6, 2015 Leave a comment

This second book in Laura Florand’s La Vie en Roses contemporary romance series was not my favourite, but that in no way changes the fact that I will continue to buy everything she publishes, nor my strong recommendations for her novels. If nothing else, A Wish Upon Jasmine made me go and re-read a large portion of the preceding book Once Upon a Rose and that made me all smiley.

Damien Rosier, “the mean one”, is the glue that holds his family’s perfume business together. Working in the south of France among the rose, lavender, and jasmine fields, it falls to Damien to take care of the money that finances his family’s dreams. A blade of a man, he has a soft heart and a hard shell which rarely cracks, but six months ago it was shattered. Meeting, consummating their mutual attraction, and falling more than a little bit in love during an unintentional one night stand, the woman who snuck away comes back into his life when she receives a piece of his family history (a local perfume shop) as an inheritance. Damien’s Tante Colette has been doing this frequently of late and her gifts propel the action of the series.

Jasmin Bianchi, a top perfumer, may have had the Rosier shop fall into her lap, but it is exactly what she needs professionally and personally. She had an extremely tough year and although there was one possible bright spot, her intense night of emotional connection with Damien (which is not shared in enough detail before they jump to the more adventurous coitus), she panicked and fled. Essentially A Wish Upon Jasmine starts with The Big Misunderstanding that usually takes place much later in (hackneyed) romances and while I really liked the trope twist, the rest of novel didn’t work as well for me. Damien did everything short of setting himself on fire to make his intentions clear and she took forever to get it. Jasmin’s insistent obtuseness got very frustrating.

You can’t win them all and even with some bumps in A Wish Upon Jasmine, Laura Florand is still one of the best writers of contemporary romance publishing today. She is particularly good at portraying the intensity of emotional and sexual attraction, and I never get tired of her emotionally vulnerable heroes. Combined with the uber-romantic settings in Paris and the south of France, it’s a winning combination almost every time.

Addendum December 2015: After, presumably,  reading my mind and those of my fellow readers, Florand added a bonus prequel called Night Wish to the story that describes Damien and Jasmin’s first night together before the events of the novel unfold. It was wonderful and had that deliciously romantic tone that Florand excels at. If it had been included in the longer book, A Wish Upon Jasmine would have been a more successful novel.

Laura Florand’s Catalogue summarizes all of her books and happens to include one of my favourite romances off all time: The Chocolate Touch.

Links to my other reviews can be found on my complete reading list of books sorted by author or Author Commentary & The Tallies Shameful.

 

Liberating Lacey by Anne Calhoun

book review August 6, 2015 Leave a comment

At one point, I giggled and said, “This book is so much fun.”

I am working on a few books from NPR’s Happy Ever After: 100 Swoon-Worthy Romances and Liberating Lacey is one I selected from the erotic romance section. It was much better than another book in that group, The Lady’s Tutor, which I had the misfortune of reading about two years ago.

Lacey of the Liberating was married in her early twenties and spent many years bored with her sex life. Now 15 months out from her separation, and 3 months our from her official divorce, she is looking to make up for the sexy-fun-times she missed out on. Dressed up, she takes herself to the local hookup bar looking to get lucky. Hunter Anderson is 8 years her junior, a cop, and looking for fun of his own. As is the way of erotic romance, they start with a physical relationship and work backwards to intimacy and an emotional connection.

Simply an erotic romance done well, Liberating Lacey was a good read that acquitted itself successfully on its obligations. I liked the opposites attract characters; Lacey was 36, together, and emotionally mature. Hunter was outwardly laconic, but a good, sincere guy. There was no high drama, just two people surprised to find they have a connection that lasts despite their intentions.

I will look for more books by Anne Calhoun when I am in the mood for some fun escapism with a healthy dose of [insert funky bass line here].

Links to my other reviews can be found on my complete reading list of books sorted by author or Author Commentary & The Tallies Shameful.

Marketing Beef by Rick Bettencourt

book review August 5, 2015 Leave a comment

Clearly, Marketing Beef is the winner for Title of the Year. All other books need not apply.

cover

From Amazon: Shy accountant, Evan McCormick, is conservative with his money and tough on his body, yet the decent nest egg he’s amassed, and the toned physique he’s formed isn’t enough to fulfill him. Evan’s starving for affection. As an introvert, bonding with others isn’t Evan’s best quality. When Dillon—an impeccable-dressed and debonair ad executive—joins the firm, Evan lets his guard down. An office scandal and sexually-overt billboards popping up all over New England bring the two together in this funny yet romantic tale.

Includes moments of pure hilarity, off-the-wall sex, and downright fun.

LIES, ALL LIES! Okay, not all, the plot summary is accurate; I meant the promises of hilarity, great sex, and fun.

Another romance with two men written by a man, so it’s off to a good start and, it bears repeating, the title is hilariously tongue-in-cheek, but unfortunately there is not a lot more going on here. I have a couple of notes:

  1. Do men actually refer to their private parts as “down there”? I know Evan does in the story, but I reject this reality and substitute my own.
  2. The book was kind of dull AND had too much plot.
  3. No man ever looked smoking hot in a teal suit. The best he did was rise above it.
  4. Evan has a birthmark that he is extremely self-conscious about and his acceptance of it is used to symbolize his growth in confidence. I understood what it was going for, but it felt shoehorned in.
  5. Meh.

 

LGBT romance recommendations can be found here.

Links to my other reviews can be found on my complete reading list of books sorted by author or Author Commentary & The Tallies Shameful.

The Alphabet Game by Andie M. Long

book review August 4, 2015 Leave a comment

If it hadn’t been free, I would be so annoyed right now.

For the long plot summary of The Alphabet Game go to Amazon. Take your time, it’s a lot.

I will do my best to provide a short summary:

a. The love story is of the erotic romance ilk meaning that first comes sex then comes emotion. The protagonists decide to play a game (more on why below) in which they participate in some kind of congress based on proceeding through the alphabet, i.e. A is for Arousal, N is for Nookie, etc. When you read part b. of this section the answer to “Why did I finish this book?” is that I had to know what each of the letters stood for. I *may* have skipped ahead through the letters in my quest for all 26.

b. Stella and Gabe are also together because they are trying to take down her evil stepfather and his father who have business ties to sex clubs and pornography. Ostensibly, the alphabet game is to prepare Stella to infiltrate the clubs. When it looks like her father might not be quite the villain she supposed, Stella brings in a P.I. as well. From there, it descends into blackmail and psychopathology.

Seriously, that was the short version.

Here is a genuinely short version of my opinion: This book was really bad and the juxtaposition between the melodrama, the sexual adventures, and the nature of the villain was ridiculous.

Links to my other reviews can be found on my complete reading list of books sorted by author or Author Commentary & The Tallies Shameful.

A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev

book review July 27, 2015 1 Comment

I have read so very many historical romances set in 19th century England which is, admittedly, totally my jam. Trying to broaden my choices, and after being sent a fantastic NPR program link by a friend called Pop Culture Happy Hour: The Romance Novel Special, I was ready to expand my horizons. A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev was $2.99 on Amazon and gave me a window to a culture (Indian) different from my own in a contemporary setting.

That was a good start, but it’s two months later and I don’t really remember much about the book except some vague impressions. I’ll let Amazon help me out with the plot:

Mili Rathod hasn’t seen her husband in twenty years–not since she was promised to him at the age of four. Yet marriage has allowed Mili a freedom rarely given to girls in her village. Her grandmother has even allowed her to leave India and study in America for eight months, all to make her the perfect modern wife. Which is exactly what Mili longs to be–if her husband would just come and claim her. Bollywood’s favorite director, Samir Rathod, has come to Michigan to secure a divorce for his older brother. Persuading a naïve village girl to sign the papers should be easy for someone with Samir’s tabloid-famous charm. But Mili is neither a fool nor a gold-digger. Open-hearted yet complex, she’s trying to reconcile her independence with cherished traditions. And before he can stop himself, Samir is immersed in Mili’s life–cooking her dal and rotis, escorting her to her roommate’s elaborate Indian wedding, and wondering where his loyalties and happiness lie.

Amazon is bringing it’s A-game, even if I’m not.

I wanted to like Dev’s book and I enjoyed A Bollywood Affair  while reading it, quite a lot as I recall since Mili’s a pip, but it hasn’t left a lasting impression leading me to revisit it. Going back soon after my initial reading has been a pretty accurate litmus test for me of how much I genuinely appreciated a novel. Here’s what I remember about A Bollywood Affair: Mili is hurt early in the story and as Samir is the only one around, so he helps take care of her. She’s petite, he’s tall. She’s clumsy, he catches her.  She’s a victim of circumstance, he’s a tortured hero masquerading as a rake. He is smoking hot as is the way of romance – to which I say, “Brava” – and finds Mili irresistible. The action was a hodge-podge which is consistent with my extremely limited and therefore entirely invalid impression of Indian cinema based on one movie on an overnight flight to London, plus that kind of plotting is fairly typical for a lot of contemporary romances. So any guess that I make about Dev intentionally structuring it like a Bollywood film is likely wildly inaccurate, not to mention presumptuous, and I should remove it, but I want to keep it as review padding just in case I’m right.

That’s all I’ve got for now EXCEPT to say that if you know of any great romances featuring more diverse characters and cultures than one ordinarily finds in the genre, I welcome all recommendations. I’ve been looking and I will gladly l take suggestions for a starting point.

Links to my other reviews can be found on my complete reading list of books sorted by author or Author Commentary & The Tallies Shameful.