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Mixed Signals
Adele Western dreams of a thriving career as a cook, so when she is hired by Paul, an up-and-coming restaurateur, she couldn't be more pleased. That's until she meets Jude, the hunky builder who's working on the renovation of the premises. While everyone around her seems to be partner swapping, Adele is determined to keep her man. But in the hot and steamy working conditions, it's easy for the eye to wander...
273 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 2004
About the author
Anna Clare
12 books1 followerThere's an author interview up at her publisher's website.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 19, 2008
Anna Clare, Mixed Signals (Black Lace, 2004)
I actually got this one by accident for my birthday last year. I'd ordered a different Black Lace title, and the seller threw this one in instead. But, hey, it's Black Lace, I'll give it a shot, right? For those of you unfamiliar with this British imprint, Black Lace is, for lack of a better term, thinking person's erotica-- plenty of hot sex, but wrapped up in such niceties as character development, somewhat realistic plots, and the like. In other words, you'll still be embarrassed to be seen reading it on the train (though, in my opinion, the covers are tasteful-- certainly better than we got with those Beeline books), but at least you won't be embarrassed because you're reading a slapdash novel some unshowered guy in a wifebeater slapped out over a bored weekend.
The ensemble cast in this one is headed by Adele, a young chef with a really messy breakup in her past that she's never quite gotten over. She gets hired on by Paul, who left his wife for Ieuan, a working-class lad who can never quite seem to put it together, and who spends much of the book trying to get his wife to serve him divorce papers. On the day of her interview, Adele catches the eye of Jude, one of the workers involved in the renovation of the restaurant. Cue affair. Meanwhile, in a seemingly unrelated storyline, washed-up pop singer Suki is trapped in a loveless marriage, and sees a way out in Karina, who shows up at a party her husband throws at their country house. Cue affair #2. (The two storylines do eventually converge, but we'd be deep into spoiler territory before I explained how.)
The characters are well-drawn, not surprising for a Black Lace release, and the plot is solid, if it goes out on a limb now and again with the coincidence factor. (Okay, it loses credibility entirely a few times, but usually gets back on track.) And, of course, the sex is hot, and whatever your kink, it'll find a niche in here at least once. My only problem with the book, and the reason it only got the “mediocre” rating, is that the pacing moves at two speeds-- slow and stop-- until about halfway through the novel. Once there, it picks up like gangbusters, but you've got to make it through to that point. Still, once it gets going, it's a lot of fun. ***
I actually got this one by accident for my birthday last year. I'd ordered a different Black Lace title, and the seller threw this one in instead. But, hey, it's Black Lace, I'll give it a shot, right? For those of you unfamiliar with this British imprint, Black Lace is, for lack of a better term, thinking person's erotica-- plenty of hot sex, but wrapped up in such niceties as character development, somewhat realistic plots, and the like. In other words, you'll still be embarrassed to be seen reading it on the train (though, in my opinion, the covers are tasteful-- certainly better than we got with those Beeline books), but at least you won't be embarrassed because you're reading a slapdash novel some unshowered guy in a wifebeater slapped out over a bored weekend.
The ensemble cast in this one is headed by Adele, a young chef with a really messy breakup in her past that she's never quite gotten over. She gets hired on by Paul, who left his wife for Ieuan, a working-class lad who can never quite seem to put it together, and who spends much of the book trying to get his wife to serve him divorce papers. On the day of her interview, Adele catches the eye of Jude, one of the workers involved in the renovation of the restaurant. Cue affair. Meanwhile, in a seemingly unrelated storyline, washed-up pop singer Suki is trapped in a loveless marriage, and sees a way out in Karina, who shows up at a party her husband throws at their country house. Cue affair #2. (The two storylines do eventually converge, but we'd be deep into spoiler territory before I explained how.)
The characters are well-drawn, not surprising for a Black Lace release, and the plot is solid, if it goes out on a limb now and again with the coincidence factor. (Okay, it loses credibility entirely a few times, but usually gets back on track.) And, of course, the sex is hot, and whatever your kink, it'll find a niche in here at least once. My only problem with the book, and the reason it only got the “mediocre” rating, is that the pacing moves at two speeds-- slow and stop-- until about halfway through the novel. Once there, it picks up like gangbusters, but you've got to make it through to that point. Still, once it gets going, it's a lot of fun. ***
May 26, 2008
I mentioned this book in the polyamory/pansexual panel at Wiscon because it contains a poly relationship and a transgendered character.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews