Built

by Amie Stuart, Bonnie Edwards, Jami Alden

A sensual new Club Fantasy anthology features a trio of erotic tales that include Amie Stuart's "Kink," in which a beautiful manicurist, who has a penchant for wild, uninhibited sex, turns up the heat when she sets her sights on a gorgeous air-conditioner repairman. Original.

Genres: Anthologies, Erotica, Contemporary, Erotic Romance, Romance, Contemporary Romance

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Amie Stuart is the last of a dying breed: a Native Texan. She writes sexy, emotional contemporary romances set in small towns. In the past, she's worked as a receptionist, a daycare office manager, delivered pizzas, and was even a hairdresser for five years--all fodder for the writing gig. That and all those Barbara Cartland romances she cut her teeth on.

None of those careers can compare to her favorite job: writer. She's a storyteller through and through, even when she's keeping tabs on her almost-grown sons and many pets, or organizing promo and planning trips for her day job as a personal assistant. She smokes, she drinks, she writes, she curses--sometimes at the same time.

You can reach her online at www.amiestuart.com
And copy/paste the link to sign up for her newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bo1GNT

Reviews

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book made up of three short stories, about Cherise and D'Angelo, Taylor and Joe, and Lexa and Jake.

I think Cherise and D'Angelo's story is scary. I kept thinking that someone was going to catch something. Still, it was a very hot story with flashes of genuine character.

I have no idea why Joe would want to be with Taylor beyond the sex. She is a snob who is ashamed of him until after she finds out his sister is married to her boss. That is not why she changes her mind about him, but he has no way of knowing that.

Lexa and Jake's story make up for the other's. It is a sweet story about family, ghosts and predestined soul mates, with lots of hot sex thrown in. I loved the characters and the situation they were thrown into as well as the basic story and the author's writing.

I won this book from First Reads.

[Unapologetic_Bookaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

**My mid-way review**So far i am LOVING Jami Alden in this once again. Her balance between sex and romance, emotion and pure passion (those naughty thougts), are what I like about her. I can't wait to read a full length.

Kink by Amie Stuart, Down and Dirty By Jami Alden and Rock Solid by Bonnie Edwards. These are the stories that make up Built. All feature a handyman as the male lead character. I liked how in Jami Alden's story the handyman liked the snobby attitude of the lady and used that to get her attn. I liked the paranormal aspects in Rock Solid and I've found a new author to look up. Kink was the only one where I felt I didn't indentify well enough with the story to want to look up the author in anothr anthology, but it was an enjoyable story (book) overall.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three Fantastical books wrapped up into one book this was a very great idea i enjoyed every single one of them and the ending on the third one had me laughing aloud it was just funny what was said.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Built-

Kink by Amie Stuart
D'Angelo was a good character, however, I'm not sure if he was a good match for Cherise. I would have liked the story better if there was a sharing between Kevin, D'Angelo's best friend. If Cherise was their playmate. 66 pages wasn't enough to establish a relationship, or get down to the nitty gritty of why Cherise is so closed off. I would have liked to see why Vivi is labeled as such a bitch beyond the very lil snippits of she is just a hater.
I don't view Amie's "Kink" as kink, it was just normal stuff, to me.

Down & Dirty-Jami Alden
So adorable. I loved Joe and his 'real man' character. It was emotional when Taylor was not opening herself up to him. He just wanted to be with her. I'm so glad how it ended. This portion of the book flowed very well, nothing fet like it was missing or rushed.

Rock Solid-Bonnie Edwards
I LOVE Perditon House. Any story Bonnie Edwards has about Perdition House is great. Hot, sensual, sexual, love, caring. I totally love the characters and how the house wants their guests to fall in love, bringing the couples who are meant to be together, together.

[Ewa · Rating 3 out of 5]

2,5*
Bez większych emocji i wzruszeń, ot taka krótka miłosna opowiastka na jeden wieczór o której wkrótce się zapomni. Po 6 miesiącach mieszkania po sąsiedzku wreszcie na siebie wpadają. Ona snobistyczna wykształcona businesswoman, on projektant ogrodów - dla niej po prostu ogrodnik bez wykształcenia. Przyciąga ich chemia, łączy ich seks, ale kiedy on chce więcej ona ukrywa go przed światem, czyżby się go wstydziła?

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had not heard of Built - until receiving it from the First Reads program.

This story is actually three short stories in one novel. Each story has a HEA ending. All are erotic, ‘feel-good’ stories. I found that I enjoyed the second story - Down and Dirty - much more than the other two stories.

In Kink - we follow the love life of D’Angelo and Cherise. He is a typical bachelor, that enjoys non-committal romances. D’Angelo meets Cherise at his Aunts beauty shop. The energy between the two is instantaneous. Cherise lives her life with uninhibited sex. She frequents sexual clubs that cater to her desires. D’Angelo is attracted to the new sexual experiences.

I found this story not exactly captivating. The sexual encounters were descriptive and involve multiple partners, orgies, and an ‘open’ lifestyle.

In Down and Dirty - we meet Taylor. A young executive that finds herself lusting after her sexy neighbor. Joe finds himself wanting to put ‘prim and proper’ Taylor in her place, but finds his attraction for her insatiable. Taylor believes the two come from ‘different worlds’ and wants nothing more than the sexual relationship they are having. Joe finds himself wanting more. He truly believes that he can have a future with Taylor. Problem is…can he make her see that?

I really enjoyed this story. This short story would make a great full length novel is expanded upon.

In Rock Solid - Jake is a carpenter from Florida. He is called to renovate the Perdition House in Seattle. Upon his arrival, he meets Lexa, a landscaper also called in to give a restoration estimate. The two have an instant chemistry. Jake and Lexa find themselves pulled to one another, unable to resist their sexual urges. It is instantaneous. It is also the lure of the house. Legend has it that the house, that used to be a brothel, is haunted. It seems to push the two together. Can love really happen in just a few days?

This story was really ‘far fetched’. While it has the premise of being a good story, it would probably be better suited as a full length novel. There was too much information involving the legend and history of the house that seemed to be left out.

[Laurel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was one of those 3 book in one deals, but I'm not going to review them each individually, because I feel the same about all of them.

The sex was written well in that it was steamy and exciting and did what sex scenes in books are supposed to do.

The rest of each of the stories... not so much.

I'm not sure if the format was a problem (smaller novellas/stories to fit into a book of 3), or if they just didn't feel plot was pertintent, lol.

It's not that there weren't stories, or even that they weren't interesting and had all the right parts - it's that they just never fully developed. They seemed abbreviated, which made the flow of reading choppy and unnatural.

I'd like to see some longer books by these authors to give them a proper chance though, and I also have to admit in all fairness that I'm not a fan of sex/romance novels anyway, and that may be coloring my perspective.

Give it a shot and make up your own mind, I say. :)

[CraftyBirdies · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a fan of short stories, so that wasn't the problem. The problem was that the stories weren't strong. It's hard to write a short story but involve the reader in the characters, and this didn't really involve me. The sex scenes weren't quite amazing enough to counteract my not caring about the characters, so it wasn't great.

[Mollie *scoutrmom* · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first two stories were good but merely OK, the last, though clearly erotic romance, shows both characters stepping back and thinking, "Whoa, what am I doing?" They are determined to view their relationship apart from their sexual relations. This is the only one that hinted at marriage.

[clio teixeira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take on home repairs/construction business...

[Voirey Linger · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** Kink - Amie Stuart
***Down and Dirty - Jamie Alden
**Rock Solid - Bonnie Edwards

[FayAnn · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.3 Actually. First story a 1, disliked it greatly. The last two get 3's, even though I don't care too greatly about ghosts.

[Esia_90 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bardzo krótka i przyjemna erotyczna historia miłosna z morałem. Polecam dla zrelaksowania na jeden wieczór.

[Christine D · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kink: 0 stars (seriously, not a typo, it was that dumb)
Down and Dirty: 2.5 stars
Rock Solid: 2.5 stars

[Curious Bear · Rating 2 out of 5]

Only read the last two stories by Jami Alden and Bonnie Edwards.