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Florida Doctors #1
Perfect for the Beach
"Some Like It Hot" - Lori Foster
Family practitioner Cary Rupert wants Nora Chilton so badly he can barely keep a hold of his stethoscope. But what Nora wants is someone who will love her forever, and Cary's ready to show her that he's definitely the man for the job...
"One Wilde Weekend" - Janelle Denison
Alex Wilde is crazy about Dana Reed. Too bad the career-driven Dana only wants him as a lover, not a husband. In a last-ditch attempt to prove he's the right man for her, Alex kidnaps Dana and whisks her away to a private beach house where he's prepared to use every forbidden desire to make her his...
"Blue Crush" - Erin McCarthy
Dr. Sara Davis wants to lose her reputation as boring. Instead, she loses her bikini top to a powerful wave and finds herself in the arms of gorgeous lifeguard Kyle Vanderhoff who thinks she's drowning. She should correct him. Then again, a little mouth-to-mouth just might resuscitate her love life...
"My Thief" - Mary Janice Davidson
While trying to insert his key card in his hotel room door, john Crusher is grabbed and hauled into the room only to come face-to-face with a stunning redhead who orders him to strip. Naked. Now.But when the room service is this superb, what's a guy to do but show his heartfelt appreciation...
"Hot And Bothered" - Kayla Perrin
Marrying impossible Trey Arnold after a whirlwind summer romance was the dumbest thing jenna Maxwell ever did. Determined to really find Mr. Right, Jenna flies to Key West to get a divorce. Simple. But once she sees Trey's sexy bedroom smile again, things get a lot more complicated...and very, very hot...
"Murphy's Law" - Morgan Leigh
Kat Murphy is in love with her lawyer boss, Sam Parrish, but the handsome widower's heart may never heal. Needing a fresh start, Kat quits her job and heads for the beach. But when Sam follows her there, the sensual heat they generate is hotter than either of them ever imagined...
Family practitioner Cary Rupert wants Nora Chilton so badly he can barely keep a hold of his stethoscope. But what Nora wants is someone who will love her forever, and Cary's ready to show her that he's definitely the man for the job...
"One Wilde Weekend" - Janelle Denison
Alex Wilde is crazy about Dana Reed. Too bad the career-driven Dana only wants him as a lover, not a husband. In a last-ditch attempt to prove he's the right man for her, Alex kidnaps Dana and whisks her away to a private beach house where he's prepared to use every forbidden desire to make her his...
"Blue Crush" - Erin McCarthy
Dr. Sara Davis wants to lose her reputation as boring. Instead, she loses her bikini top to a powerful wave and finds herself in the arms of gorgeous lifeguard Kyle Vanderhoff who thinks she's drowning. She should correct him. Then again, a little mouth-to-mouth just might resuscitate her love life...
"My Thief" - Mary Janice Davidson
While trying to insert his key card in his hotel room door, john Crusher is grabbed and hauled into the room only to come face-to-face with a stunning redhead who orders him to strip. Naked. Now.But when the room service is this superb, what's a guy to do but show his heartfelt appreciation...
"Hot And Bothered" - Kayla Perrin
Marrying impossible Trey Arnold after a whirlwind summer romance was the dumbest thing jenna Maxwell ever did. Determined to really find Mr. Right, Jenna flies to Key West to get a divorce. Simple. But once she sees Trey's sexy bedroom smile again, things get a lot more complicated...and very, very hot...
"Murphy's Law" - Morgan Leigh
Kat Murphy is in love with her lawyer boss, Sam Parrish, but the handsome widower's heart may never heal. Needing a fresh start, Kat quits her job and heads for the beach. But when Sam follows her there, the sensual heat they generate is hotter than either of them ever imagined...
285 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2004
39 people are currently reading
1061 people want to read
About the author
Lori Foster
422 books11.7k followersSince first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. Lori has published through a variety of houses, including Kensington, St. Martin’s, Harlequin, Silhouette, Samhain, and Berkley/Jove. She is currently published with HQN.
Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.
Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/
Career Highlights
•In 2001, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy.
•In 2002, Lori’s book Too Much Temptation was the top-selling romance title for Amazon books.
•In 2003, Say No To Joe was the second “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for Waldenbooks.
•In 2004, Lori Foster was a clue in the New York Times crossword puzzle.
•In 2004, The Secret Life of Bryan was the “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2005, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Contemporary Romance.
•In 2006, Jude’s Law was the “Bestselling Romantic Comedy” romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2007, Lori launched a new “urban fantasy” series under the name L.L. Foster. See more on her “dark side” at www.llfoster.com.
•In 2007, Causing Havoc was among Amazon’s Top Ten Editor’s picks in Romance.
•In 2008, Hard to Handle made #2 on The New York Times.
•In 2009, Servant: The Acceptance was Amazon’s #1 Editors’ Pick in Romance.
•In 2010, Lori was a clue in the USA Today Quick Cross puzzle.
Lori hosts a very special annual “Reader & Author” event in West Chester, Ohio. Proceeds from the event have benefited many worthy causes, including the Hamilton County YWCA Battered Women’s Shelter, the Animal Adoption Foundation, The Conductive Learning Center for children with spina bifida and cerebral palsy, and The One Way Farm, Children’s Home.
Each year Lori donates all proceeds from one book to charity. You can see the benefit romance books here: http://lorifoster.com/benefit-books/
Career Highlights
•In 2001, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy.
•In 2002, Lori’s book Too Much Temptation was the top-selling romance title for Amazon books.
•In 2003, Say No To Joe was the second “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for Waldenbooks.
•In 2004, Lori Foster was a clue in the New York Times crossword puzzle.
•In 2004, The Secret Life of Bryan was the “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2005, Lori received the prestigious Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Contemporary Romance.
•In 2006, Jude’s Law was the “Bestselling Romantic Comedy” romance title for the BGI group.
•In 2007, Lori launched a new “urban fantasy” series under the name L.L. Foster. See more on her “dark side” at www.llfoster.com.
•In 2007, Causing Havoc was among Amazon’s Top Ten Editor’s picks in Romance.
•In 2008, Hard to Handle made #2 on The New York Times.
•In 2009, Servant: The Acceptance was Amazon’s #1 Editors’ Pick in Romance.
•In 2010, Lori was a clue in the USA Today Quick Cross puzzle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
November 19, 2009
*** NOTE: This rating is for Erin McCarthy's BLUE CRUSH only! ***
Quick, funny and sexy read, with very likable characters. The H/h didn't profess their undying love to each other at the end of the story, but I was totally OK with it. After all, the whole story took place in less than 2 hours. I really like Erin McCarthy's humorous writing, and this novella was no exception.
Quick, funny and sexy read, with very likable characters. The H/h didn't profess their undying love to each other at the end of the story, but I was totally OK with it. After all, the whole story took place in less than 2 hours. I really like Erin McCarthy's humorous writing, and this novella was no exception.
February 1, 2011
Six short stories of varying quality. Sex is certainly the focus of each. I know that the short story medium makes it hard to really feel much for a character but these are even shorter on any real emotion than you might first suspect. None of the stories are great. But they are all relatively hot - which is why I read the book in the first place. It would be too much to ask for great stories in my sex book. I'll do a short paraphrase of one of the stories so you get the idea.
Doctor Hottie (DH)'Go out with me.'
Innocent Receptionist (IR)'No'
DH storms off.
IR friend 'Why'd you say no?'
IR 'I'm very sexually inexperienced. Since my virginal husband of a couple of months died, I just don't know how to learn about sex to come up to DH's league.'
DH 'I was listening in to what you were saying as I hadn't really left. Go out with me.'
IR 'Well now that you were eavesdropping and have heard me reveal secrets about my sex life... OK.'
Less than an hour later, IR is home relaxing in her pool when DH shows up uninvited.
DH 'I think I'll join you in the water. You don't mind if I forgot my trunks do you?'
IR 'Oh my!'
DH 'I'm going to have sex with you now.'
IR 'OH MY!!'
(many pages later)
IR 'I never knew it could be like that.'
DH 'Even though you work in a OB/GYN office and I'm a medical doctor, I just had unprotected sex with you because neither of us has heard of safe sex.'
IR 'It's OK. Nobody has ever had any sort of consequence from having sex just once.'
DH 'Marry me.'
IR 'No.'
DH 'I have to go. I'll call you.'
(Two days later IR is still sitting by the phone staring at it.)
*Ring ring*
IR 'Hello?'
IR friend 'Well how did the date with DH go?'
IR 'We didn't go out. He just came over and screwed me silly instead. I've been waiting for him to call.'
Ir friend 'You know he lives five minutes from you.'
IR 'OK'
(IR goes to DH's house and listen's to a conversation between DH and DH friend.)
DH friend 'It's time to move on.'
DH 'I don't know if I can. She rejected me and I'm scarred for life.'
DH friend 'Dude, let's go to a titty bar.'
IR 'He doesn't want to go to a titty bar.'
DH 'You came!'
IR 'I was hoping to again.'
DH 'You want to have sex again?'
IR 'If you don't mind.'
DH 'Count me in. I'll even wear a rubber this time.'
IR 'Why? How are you going to father our children with one of those things on?'
DH 'You mean?'
IR 'Yep.'
(The End)
So yes I'm paraphrasing. (except for the "I'll wear a rubber this time." That's a quote.) You get the idea. 30-50 pages per story. 30-50% of each story is actually them having sex. Doesn't leave a lot of room for character growth or background. If I were rating it strictly on the stories, this would be a one or two star read. Were I rating strictly on sex quantity or even quality this very well may be a strong four star read. So I'll compromise and rest on the three with the warning to not take it too seriously.
Doctor Hottie (DH)'Go out with me.'
Innocent Receptionist (IR)'No'
DH storms off.
IR friend 'Why'd you say no?'
IR 'I'm very sexually inexperienced. Since my virginal husband of a couple of months died, I just don't know how to learn about sex to come up to DH's league.'
DH 'I was listening in to what you were saying as I hadn't really left. Go out with me.'
IR 'Well now that you were eavesdropping and have heard me reveal secrets about my sex life... OK.'
Less than an hour later, IR is home relaxing in her pool when DH shows up uninvited.
DH 'I think I'll join you in the water. You don't mind if I forgot my trunks do you?'
IR 'Oh my!'
DH 'I'm going to have sex with you now.'
IR 'OH MY!!'
(many pages later)
IR 'I never knew it could be like that.'
DH 'Even though you work in a OB/GYN office and I'm a medical doctor, I just had unprotected sex with you because neither of us has heard of safe sex.'
IR 'It's OK. Nobody has ever had any sort of consequence from having sex just once.'
DH 'Marry me.'
IR 'No.'
DH 'I have to go. I'll call you.'
(Two days later IR is still sitting by the phone staring at it.)
*Ring ring*
IR 'Hello?'
IR friend 'Well how did the date with DH go?'
IR 'We didn't go out. He just came over and screwed me silly instead. I've been waiting for him to call.'
Ir friend 'You know he lives five minutes from you.'
IR 'OK'
(IR goes to DH's house and listen's to a conversation between DH and DH friend.)
DH friend 'It's time to move on.'
DH 'I don't know if I can. She rejected me and I'm scarred for life.'
DH friend 'Dude, let's go to a titty bar.'
IR 'He doesn't want to go to a titty bar.'
DH 'You came!'
IR 'I was hoping to again.'
DH 'You want to have sex again?'
IR 'If you don't mind.'
DH 'Count me in. I'll even wear a rubber this time.'
IR 'Why? How are you going to father our children with one of those things on?'
DH 'You mean?'
IR 'Yep.'
(The End)
So yes I'm paraphrasing. (except for the "I'll wear a rubber this time." That's a quote.) You get the idea. 30-50 pages per story. 30-50% of each story is actually them having sex. Doesn't leave a lot of room for character growth or background. If I were rating it strictly on the stories, this would be a one or two star read. Were I rating strictly on sex quantity or even quality this very well may be a strong four star read. So I'll compromise and rest on the three with the warning to not take it too seriously.
February 9, 2017
Reviewed for THC Reviews
*newest review for this anthology
"4.5 stars overall
Some Like It Hot by Lori Foster - Some Like It Hot is the second story in Lori Foster's Dean Brothers & Friend novella series. It represents the “friend” portion of the series, featuring Axel Dean's best friend, Cary Rupert, a family practitioner, who has is bad for Axel's nurse, Nora. She's a tough nut to crack though, as she keeps turning him down, so Cary really has his work cut out for him convincing her they can be good together and that he can be trusted.
Nora is just too cute and sweet for words. She's a kind of geeky plain-Jane who wears glasses. I could totally relate to her social awkwardness, as well as her preference for relationships over casual sex. She's probably one of the most, if not the most, innocent heroine I've ever read in a contemporary romance, which might be off-putting to some readers, but worked incredibly well for me. In spite of being married for six months, she's still near-virginal and very self-conscious about sex, but her reasons were sound and believable. I thought that Ms. Foster built Nora's characterization quite well, especially considering the brevity of the story.
Cary was an almost perfect hero for me as well. He's definitely an alpha, but one of the good guys with a heart of gold. I love that even though Nora shot him down multiple times, he wouldn't give up on her. He knows that she's the woman for him and would do almost anything to prove it, right down to giving her everything she's always dreamed of. He's very sweetly seductive, gently persuading Nora to give him a chance and then coaxing her out of her shell. I also loved that Cary went for the shy, plain girl even though she's not his usual type and Axel thinks he's a bit strange for it, and that he thought she was so sexy, he lost control in a way he never had before. He was just an all-around great guy.
I absolutely loved this little novelette. It may have been short, but it was very satisfying to the hopeless romantic in me. Things may have moved quickly, but I was totally able to buy into the scenario. Cary and Nora's relationship is sweet and romantic, just the way I like it, while their love scene is super-hot and emotional. Since Cary is best friends with the Dean Brothers, Booker (He See's You When You're Sleeping) and Axel get some page time too. Axel is such a playboy, I'm still not sure what to think of him, but hopefully he'll find his match in his own story, Playing Doctor, which is the third and final one of the series. Some Like It Hot was originally published in this multi-author anthology, but is soon to be reprinted (Dec. 2015) in the single-author anthology, Give It Up, along with it's two companion novellas. Star Rating: *****
One Wilde Weekend by Janelle Denison - One Wilde Weekend is a short novella that falls between The Wilde Side and Too Wilde to Tame in Janelle Denison’s Wilde series. It features Alex Wilde, brother of Scott (The Wilde Side) and Mia (Too Wilde to Tame) and cousin to the Wilde men from the earlier stories, as the hero. He and his girlfriend, Dana, are celebrating their one year dating anniversary. Alex is more than ready to take the next step in their relationship, but Dana isn’t too sure. That makes Alex pull out all the stops to prove that she’s the only woman for him, she can trust him with her heart, and that they have a future together.
Dana is a career-driven woman who never thought she would get married. In fact, until Alex, she’s never dated the same guy for more than a few months. Not unlike all of the other heroines in this series, she’s a commitment-phobe. Because of the short length of the story, her background isn’t hugely developed, but there was just enough for me to understand her. It seems her mother was always dependent on having a man in her life, so Dana swore she’d be independent and never rely on a man for anything. Now she has Alex, a man whom she’s more comfortable with than anyone else she’s ever dated, asking her to marry him. But she doesn’t know if she’s ready to take than big of a step.
Alex was a wonderful man. He understands Dana in a way no one else in her life ever has. He knows how much her career means to her, and he’s never tried to change a thing about her. He’s even been comfortable letting her take the reins in their relationship, because he understands her need for control. But now that he’s ready to propose, he needs her to know that she can trust him not to ask too much of her and not to hurt her. To prove that, he decides to take control of their sex life for the duration of their weekend anniversary getaway, and boy does he ever do an amazing job with that. Whew! (Fans self.;-))
For such a short novella (43 pages), it was packed with some of the most delicious, smoldering hot love scenes I’ve ever read, and they’re just barely this side of erotic. Alex sure knows how to please a woman and persuade her to take a chance on a forever love with him. Having the hero and heroine already in a well-established relationship when it begins definitely helped to make the short length pack a huge punch and be totally satisfying. It didn’t take me long, but I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent reading it. It’s my favorite story I’ve read by Janelle Denison so far, which makes me look forward to the rest of the series.
Note: While perhaps not quite what I would term erotic, this book contains some very steamy content including mile-high sex, light bondage, and mild dominant play. IMHO, everything was tastefully done, but it could make some readers uncomfortable. Star Rating: *****
Blue Crush by Erin McCarthy - Blue Crush is a super-steamy little novelette that is the first story in Erin McCarthy's Florida Doctors series. In all honesty, it's pretty much one long extended love scene that takes place over one day's time. There are no unrealistic declarations of love, and the ending while happy, is more of an HFN than an HEA. Normally, these things would be a downside for me, but somehow the story and characters really clicked for me, making it a fun, enjoyable read.
Sara is a busy pediatrician who's been caught up in work for far too long and feels like she's forgotten how to be woman. In an effort to make herself feel desirable, she goes to the beach, hoping to get a hot, studly surfer to take notice of her and give her a quick hook-up. Usually a heroine who is looking for sex only would be a turn-off for me, but in this case, Sara showed just the right amount of sweetness and vulnerability to make me really like her. She's self-conscious about her body, feeling that her legs are too long and lanky and her breasts are too small. She's also rather shy and modest, almost preferring to stay in the ocean during a tropical storm, when Kyle comes to rescue her, than getting out of the water topless. She's a little clumsy and awkward, and she worries that when Kyle finds out she's a doctor he'll be intimidated. Yet, at the same time, she has enough confidence to proposition Kyle and ask for what she wants. Sara was a nice mix of shy and sweet with just enough self-assurance to put herself out there and fulfill her purpose in coming to the beach.
Kyle was a sweetheart too. He's finishing up his last day as a lifeguard before going back to school to become an EMT. He swims out to save the blonde woman who he thinks is drowning, only to discover she's lost her bikini top instead. Of course, he's instantly aroused, but I liked that he was trying his best to be nonchalant about it. What I really loved about him is that he's not a one-night stand kind of guy and he genuinely wants to do the right thing. He's very attracted to Sara and wants to ask her out on a real date and get to know her first before making love to her. With Sara being so seductive and them being stuck in the lifeguard hut for a while during the storm, it doesn't really work out that way, but for me, it was the thought that counted. He also made her promise that if he had sex with her, she would give him her phone number and wouldn't just run off afterwards. I also liked that Kyle is a tender lover who's very focused on Sara's pleasure. He also shows some vulnerability in that when she finally tells him her profession, he's a little taken aback, wondering what a smart girl like her would want with a guy like him, but he doesn't allow it to intimidate him to the point that he doesn't still pursue her. I really liked Kyle and thought he was a great match for Sara.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Blue Crush. Even with the HFN ending, I felt like there was enough of a connection to make me believe these two had a great chance at a long-term committed relationship. I hope to see more of Kyle and Sara in the next book of the series, Houston, We Have a Problem, which features Sara's friend, Josie, as the heroine. Blue Crush was so short, there weren't really any secondary characters to speak of, so Josie only warranted a mention in this story, but I look forward to learning more about her. Star Rating: *****
My Thief by MaryJanice Davidson - My Thief is the second novella I’ve read by MaryJanice Davidson that didn’t really do much for me. It was a little better than the previous one, but much like it, had a rather far-fetched plot that was difficult for me to believe. It also begins very similarly to Karen Kelly’s Southern Comfort with the heroine accosting the hero in his hotel room and demanding that he strip for the purpose, we discover, of creating a cover story. The main difference, though, is that in Ms. Kelly’s book, the heroine is an undercover DEA agent, while in My Thief, the heroine is – obviously – a thief.
The main reason I couldn’t truly get into this story is the highly improbable nature of the plot. Maybe some guys would be happy to be accosted by a strange woman who demands he strip naked, but there are plenty of guys I know who would be extremely dubious of such an ultimatum, unless of course she was holding a gun on him, which in this case she’s wasn’t. I couldn’t help but lose some respect for John right then and there, especially when he’s ready to have sex with Robin at the drop of a hat and rather disappointed when she splits moments later. John is an accountant, a profession stereotypical of cerebral types, but he barely questions what’s going on and he’s instantly intrigued by this oddball woman. Maybe he’s bored with his job or something and the spontaneity of it all is appealing, but if that’s the case, it isn’t really brought out well. I had a hard time believing that Robin has spent the last ten years of her life (all of her time as adult) doing nothing but playing a cat and mouse game with her uncle, stealing an initially mysterious item that belonged to her dad back and forth between them. I know she had an unconventional upbringing, but this was strange in the extreme. I most definitely wouldn’t want to get romantically involved with someone who’s possibly engaging in illegal behavior, not to mention, the whole scenario seemed a little immature to me. Then there’s the instant romance that felt rather forced. Thankfully John and Robin make no unrealistic declarations of love, only a tacit agreement that they want things to continue between them, which wasn’t entirely satisfying since I didn’t feel much of an emotional connection.
I think there are two reasons why I liked this novella a little better than the other one by Ms. Davidson that I read. The first is that, while I still didn’t find the heroine to be particularly relatable, I did like her a bit better, because she isn’t quite as abrasive. The other reason is that the one sex scene didn’t completely fizzle for me. Now as I said, though, I didn’t feel much of an emotional connection between them, so it really is pretty much just sex. It happens the same day they meet each other with virtually no build-up to it, but somehow it seemed a little steamier and more to my liking. I didn’t however like the lack of protection. Even though John mentions it, Robin simply bushes it off, saying she’s on the pill and assumes he not riddled with disease. I know this is a fantasy, but in real life, careless assumptions like that could potentially be disastrous, especially since they’d just met and had no idea if the other one was trustworthy.
Intellectually, I know this novella wasn’t meant to be taken too seriously, and I’m certain there are readers out there who would get a kick out of it. Even I admit that it was mildly entertaining, but I just don’t think I have the right sense of humor to fully appreciate it. At least the writing itself was pretty solid and more readable than I’ve found in some other stories, but overall, My Thief was simply too unbelievable to be fully enjoyable for me. Star Rating: ***
Hot and Bothered by Kayla Perrin - Hot and Bothered turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. I’d never read anything by Kayla Perrin before. In fact, other than seeing her name mentioned once or twice, I really knew nothing about her. Therefore, I was somewhat shocked to discover that she’s a pretty prolific author who’s been published for going on two decades, with quite a number of books to her credit. Of course, not knowing all that going into reading this novella, I had no idea what to expect, but it turned out to be a very good read.
Trey and Jenna married after a whirlwind romance that only lasted for one month. They were crazy attracted to one another and the sex was off the charts, but they perhaps didn’t know each other as well as they should have before making such a serious commitment. That’s why when a major conflict arose, Jenna went running back home. I have to admit that I was a little concerned in the beginning of the story, because their rash actions didn’t entirely make sense to me. But after reading the entire novella, I’m happy to say that every question I had was answered to my satisfaction. It just took a little while to get there.
Trey and Jenna have been separated for two years with no contact, and now Jenna is feeling her biological clock ticking and has decided to get on with her life and find someone new. The only problem is that in New York, she has to file for a legal separation and remain in that limbo for a year before officially seeking a divorce. She sends Trey the separations papers, but he won’t sign them without seeing her first, so she must travel to Key West, Florida to convince him to let her go. This leads to yet another problem for her. Being around him again, stirs up all the feelings she’s been trying to put to rest, as well as the combustible chemistry they share.
I loved that both Trey and Jenna have remained faithful to their marriage vows for the entire two years, and neither has sought out a relationship with anyone else, even though Trey, as a bartender, has been propositioned by women who come into his establishment. I also like that they both still love each other to distraction, and Trey is willing to do almost anything to get Jenna to give him another chance. He’s grown as a person since the blow-up fight that drove Jenna away and willingly admits his mistakes and explains everything that he couldn’t before. Jenna also comes to realize that she wasn’t entirely innocent in their break-up either. With a little help from Jeanna’s best friend, who has always thought they were soul mates, Trey pulls out all the stops to romance Jenna and remind her of their wedding night. I love that he remembers all her favorite things and knows her so well even after all this time. His actions totally made Jenna (and me) melt. Their love scene is deliciously sexy and filled with emotion too, which was the icing on the cake.
I wouldn’t have changed a thing about Hot and Bothered. It was a very tightly plotted little novella that was quite satisfying in spite of its short length and was yet another winner for me in this anthology. Now that Trey and Jenna had all their concerns out in the open, I was totally convinced that their reconciliation was going to be a success and that they’re definitely getting their happy ending this time around. This may have been my first read by Kayla Perrin, but it won’t be my last. I look forward to checking out her backlist and finding more great reads by her. Star Rating: *****
Murphy's Law by Morgan Leigh - Until picking up this anthology, I’d never really heard of Morgan Leigh before. As I discovered, it appears she’s only published a handful of novellas in anthologies like this, so that would probably account for me not knowing her. With that being the case, I went into reading Murphy's Law with no idea what to expect. I ended up having rather mixed feelings about this little novelette. The writing itself is reasonably strong and the story has some other positives going for it, which I’ll get to in a moment, but I had a hard time fully liking the heroine. I’m not a fan of game-playing in relationships. I’m also not a fan of misunderstandings in romance, and that seemed to be the primary conflict here. That, as well as the hero and heroine starting off the story in a heated argument, kind of dampened my enthusiasm right out of the gate. However, the things I did like mostly saved it for me in the end.
I ran out of characters in the review field.:-) Click over to my review blog, The Hope Chest Reviews, to read the rest. Read more of my review of Murphy's Law. Star Rating: ***1/2
*newest review for this anthology
"4.5 stars overall
Some Like It Hot by Lori Foster - Some Like It Hot is the second story in Lori Foster's Dean Brothers & Friend novella series. It represents the “friend” portion of the series, featuring Axel Dean's best friend, Cary Rupert, a family practitioner, who has is bad for Axel's nurse, Nora. She's a tough nut to crack though, as she keeps turning him down, so Cary really has his work cut out for him convincing her they can be good together and that he can be trusted.
Nora is just too cute and sweet for words. She's a kind of geeky plain-Jane who wears glasses. I could totally relate to her social awkwardness, as well as her preference for relationships over casual sex. She's probably one of the most, if not the most, innocent heroine I've ever read in a contemporary romance, which might be off-putting to some readers, but worked incredibly well for me. In spite of being married for six months, she's still near-virginal and very self-conscious about sex, but her reasons were sound and believable. I thought that Ms. Foster built Nora's characterization quite well, especially considering the brevity of the story.
Cary was an almost perfect hero for me as well. He's definitely an alpha, but one of the good guys with a heart of gold. I love that even though Nora shot him down multiple times, he wouldn't give up on her. He knows that she's the woman for him and would do almost anything to prove it, right down to giving her everything she's always dreamed of. He's very sweetly seductive, gently persuading Nora to give him a chance and then coaxing her out of her shell. I also loved that Cary went for the shy, plain girl even though she's not his usual type and Axel thinks he's a bit strange for it, and that he thought she was so sexy, he lost control in a way he never had before. He was just an all-around great guy.
I absolutely loved this little novelette. It may have been short, but it was very satisfying to the hopeless romantic in me. Things may have moved quickly, but I was totally able to buy into the scenario. Cary and Nora's relationship is sweet and romantic, just the way I like it, while their love scene is super-hot and emotional. Since Cary is best friends with the Dean Brothers, Booker (He See's You When You're Sleeping) and Axel get some page time too. Axel is such a playboy, I'm still not sure what to think of him, but hopefully he'll find his match in his own story, Playing Doctor, which is the third and final one of the series. Some Like It Hot was originally published in this multi-author anthology, but is soon to be reprinted (Dec. 2015) in the single-author anthology, Give It Up, along with it's two companion novellas. Star Rating: *****
One Wilde Weekend by Janelle Denison - One Wilde Weekend is a short novella that falls between The Wilde Side and Too Wilde to Tame in Janelle Denison’s Wilde series. It features Alex Wilde, brother of Scott (The Wilde Side) and Mia (Too Wilde to Tame) and cousin to the Wilde men from the earlier stories, as the hero. He and his girlfriend, Dana, are celebrating their one year dating anniversary. Alex is more than ready to take the next step in their relationship, but Dana isn’t too sure. That makes Alex pull out all the stops to prove that she’s the only woman for him, she can trust him with her heart, and that they have a future together.
Dana is a career-driven woman who never thought she would get married. In fact, until Alex, she’s never dated the same guy for more than a few months. Not unlike all of the other heroines in this series, she’s a commitment-phobe. Because of the short length of the story, her background isn’t hugely developed, but there was just enough for me to understand her. It seems her mother was always dependent on having a man in her life, so Dana swore she’d be independent and never rely on a man for anything. Now she has Alex, a man whom she’s more comfortable with than anyone else she’s ever dated, asking her to marry him. But she doesn’t know if she’s ready to take than big of a step.
Alex was a wonderful man. He understands Dana in a way no one else in her life ever has. He knows how much her career means to her, and he’s never tried to change a thing about her. He’s even been comfortable letting her take the reins in their relationship, because he understands her need for control. But now that he’s ready to propose, he needs her to know that she can trust him not to ask too much of her and not to hurt her. To prove that, he decides to take control of their sex life for the duration of their weekend anniversary getaway, and boy does he ever do an amazing job with that. Whew! (Fans self.;-))
For such a short novella (43 pages), it was packed with some of the most delicious, smoldering hot love scenes I’ve ever read, and they’re just barely this side of erotic. Alex sure knows how to please a woman and persuade her to take a chance on a forever love with him. Having the hero and heroine already in a well-established relationship when it begins definitely helped to make the short length pack a huge punch and be totally satisfying. It didn’t take me long, but I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent reading it. It’s my favorite story I’ve read by Janelle Denison so far, which makes me look forward to the rest of the series.
Note: While perhaps not quite what I would term erotic, this book contains some very steamy content including mile-high sex, light bondage, and mild dominant play. IMHO, everything was tastefully done, but it could make some readers uncomfortable. Star Rating: *****
Blue Crush by Erin McCarthy - Blue Crush is a super-steamy little novelette that is the first story in Erin McCarthy's Florida Doctors series. In all honesty, it's pretty much one long extended love scene that takes place over one day's time. There are no unrealistic declarations of love, and the ending while happy, is more of an HFN than an HEA. Normally, these things would be a downside for me, but somehow the story and characters really clicked for me, making it a fun, enjoyable read.
Sara is a busy pediatrician who's been caught up in work for far too long and feels like she's forgotten how to be woman. In an effort to make herself feel desirable, she goes to the beach, hoping to get a hot, studly surfer to take notice of her and give her a quick hook-up. Usually a heroine who is looking for sex only would be a turn-off for me, but in this case, Sara showed just the right amount of sweetness and vulnerability to make me really like her. She's self-conscious about her body, feeling that her legs are too long and lanky and her breasts are too small. She's also rather shy and modest, almost preferring to stay in the ocean during a tropical storm, when Kyle comes to rescue her, than getting out of the water topless. She's a little clumsy and awkward, and she worries that when Kyle finds out she's a doctor he'll be intimidated. Yet, at the same time, she has enough confidence to proposition Kyle and ask for what she wants. Sara was a nice mix of shy and sweet with just enough self-assurance to put herself out there and fulfill her purpose in coming to the beach.
Kyle was a sweetheart too. He's finishing up his last day as a lifeguard before going back to school to become an EMT. He swims out to save the blonde woman who he thinks is drowning, only to discover she's lost her bikini top instead. Of course, he's instantly aroused, but I liked that he was trying his best to be nonchalant about it. What I really loved about him is that he's not a one-night stand kind of guy and he genuinely wants to do the right thing. He's very attracted to Sara and wants to ask her out on a real date and get to know her first before making love to her. With Sara being so seductive and them being stuck in the lifeguard hut for a while during the storm, it doesn't really work out that way, but for me, it was the thought that counted. He also made her promise that if he had sex with her, she would give him her phone number and wouldn't just run off afterwards. I also liked that Kyle is a tender lover who's very focused on Sara's pleasure. He also shows some vulnerability in that when she finally tells him her profession, he's a little taken aback, wondering what a smart girl like her would want with a guy like him, but he doesn't allow it to intimidate him to the point that he doesn't still pursue her. I really liked Kyle and thought he was a great match for Sara.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Blue Crush. Even with the HFN ending, I felt like there was enough of a connection to make me believe these two had a great chance at a long-term committed relationship. I hope to see more of Kyle and Sara in the next book of the series, Houston, We Have a Problem, which features Sara's friend, Josie, as the heroine. Blue Crush was so short, there weren't really any secondary characters to speak of, so Josie only warranted a mention in this story, but I look forward to learning more about her. Star Rating: *****
My Thief by MaryJanice Davidson - My Thief is the second novella I’ve read by MaryJanice Davidson that didn’t really do much for me. It was a little better than the previous one, but much like it, had a rather far-fetched plot that was difficult for me to believe. It also begins very similarly to Karen Kelly’s Southern Comfort with the heroine accosting the hero in his hotel room and demanding that he strip for the purpose, we discover, of creating a cover story. The main difference, though, is that in Ms. Kelly’s book, the heroine is an undercover DEA agent, while in My Thief, the heroine is – obviously – a thief.
The main reason I couldn’t truly get into this story is the highly improbable nature of the plot. Maybe some guys would be happy to be accosted by a strange woman who demands he strip naked, but there are plenty of guys I know who would be extremely dubious of such an ultimatum, unless of course she was holding a gun on him, which in this case she’s wasn’t. I couldn’t help but lose some respect for John right then and there, especially when he’s ready to have sex with Robin at the drop of a hat and rather disappointed when she splits moments later. John is an accountant, a profession stereotypical of cerebral types, but he barely questions what’s going on and he’s instantly intrigued by this oddball woman. Maybe he’s bored with his job or something and the spontaneity of it all is appealing, but if that’s the case, it isn’t really brought out well. I had a hard time believing that Robin has spent the last ten years of her life (all of her time as adult) doing nothing but playing a cat and mouse game with her uncle, stealing an initially mysterious item that belonged to her dad back and forth between them. I know she had an unconventional upbringing, but this was strange in the extreme. I most definitely wouldn’t want to get romantically involved with someone who’s possibly engaging in illegal behavior, not to mention, the whole scenario seemed a little immature to me. Then there’s the instant romance that felt rather forced. Thankfully John and Robin make no unrealistic declarations of love, only a tacit agreement that they want things to continue between them, which wasn’t entirely satisfying since I didn’t feel much of an emotional connection.
I think there are two reasons why I liked this novella a little better than the other one by Ms. Davidson that I read. The first is that, while I still didn’t find the heroine to be particularly relatable, I did like her a bit better, because she isn’t quite as abrasive. The other reason is that the one sex scene didn’t completely fizzle for me. Now as I said, though, I didn’t feel much of an emotional connection between them, so it really is pretty much just sex. It happens the same day they meet each other with virtually no build-up to it, but somehow it seemed a little steamier and more to my liking. I didn’t however like the lack of protection. Even though John mentions it, Robin simply bushes it off, saying she’s on the pill and assumes he not riddled with disease. I know this is a fantasy, but in real life, careless assumptions like that could potentially be disastrous, especially since they’d just met and had no idea if the other one was trustworthy.
Intellectually, I know this novella wasn’t meant to be taken too seriously, and I’m certain there are readers out there who would get a kick out of it. Even I admit that it was mildly entertaining, but I just don’t think I have the right sense of humor to fully appreciate it. At least the writing itself was pretty solid and more readable than I’ve found in some other stories, but overall, My Thief was simply too unbelievable to be fully enjoyable for me. Star Rating: ***
Hot and Bothered by Kayla Perrin - Hot and Bothered turned out to be a very pleasant surprise. I’d never read anything by Kayla Perrin before. In fact, other than seeing her name mentioned once or twice, I really knew nothing about her. Therefore, I was somewhat shocked to discover that she’s a pretty prolific author who’s been published for going on two decades, with quite a number of books to her credit. Of course, not knowing all that going into reading this novella, I had no idea what to expect, but it turned out to be a very good read.
Trey and Jenna married after a whirlwind romance that only lasted for one month. They were crazy attracted to one another and the sex was off the charts, but they perhaps didn’t know each other as well as they should have before making such a serious commitment. That’s why when a major conflict arose, Jenna went running back home. I have to admit that I was a little concerned in the beginning of the story, because their rash actions didn’t entirely make sense to me. But after reading the entire novella, I’m happy to say that every question I had was answered to my satisfaction. It just took a little while to get there.
Trey and Jenna have been separated for two years with no contact, and now Jenna is feeling her biological clock ticking and has decided to get on with her life and find someone new. The only problem is that in New York, she has to file for a legal separation and remain in that limbo for a year before officially seeking a divorce. She sends Trey the separations papers, but he won’t sign them without seeing her first, so she must travel to Key West, Florida to convince him to let her go. This leads to yet another problem for her. Being around him again, stirs up all the feelings she’s been trying to put to rest, as well as the combustible chemistry they share.
I loved that both Trey and Jenna have remained faithful to their marriage vows for the entire two years, and neither has sought out a relationship with anyone else, even though Trey, as a bartender, has been propositioned by women who come into his establishment. I also like that they both still love each other to distraction, and Trey is willing to do almost anything to get Jenna to give him another chance. He’s grown as a person since the blow-up fight that drove Jenna away and willingly admits his mistakes and explains everything that he couldn’t before. Jenna also comes to realize that she wasn’t entirely innocent in their break-up either. With a little help from Jeanna’s best friend, who has always thought they were soul mates, Trey pulls out all the stops to romance Jenna and remind her of their wedding night. I love that he remembers all her favorite things and knows her so well even after all this time. His actions totally made Jenna (and me) melt. Their love scene is deliciously sexy and filled with emotion too, which was the icing on the cake.
I wouldn’t have changed a thing about Hot and Bothered. It was a very tightly plotted little novella that was quite satisfying in spite of its short length and was yet another winner for me in this anthology. Now that Trey and Jenna had all their concerns out in the open, I was totally convinced that their reconciliation was going to be a success and that they’re definitely getting their happy ending this time around. This may have been my first read by Kayla Perrin, but it won’t be my last. I look forward to checking out her backlist and finding more great reads by her. Star Rating: *****
Murphy's Law by Morgan Leigh - Until picking up this anthology, I’d never really heard of Morgan Leigh before. As I discovered, it appears she’s only published a handful of novellas in anthologies like this, so that would probably account for me not knowing her. With that being the case, I went into reading Murphy's Law with no idea what to expect. I ended up having rather mixed feelings about this little novelette. The writing itself is reasonably strong and the story has some other positives going for it, which I’ll get to in a moment, but I had a hard time fully liking the heroine. I’m not a fan of game-playing in relationships. I’m also not a fan of misunderstandings in romance, and that seemed to be the primary conflict here. That, as well as the hero and heroine starting off the story in a heated argument, kind of dampened my enthusiasm right out of the gate. However, the things I did like mostly saved it for me in the end.
I ran out of characters in the review field.:-) Click over to my review blog, The Hope Chest Reviews, to read the rest. Read more of my review of Murphy's Law. Star Rating: ***1/2
April 8, 2011
Some Like It Hot---**
I guess I'm just not a Lori Foster fan. Cary seemed like an ok guy. Nora had some preconceptions. They just had a small roadblock cause she was scared.
One Wilde Weekend---**
I was pretty lost when this story started. Then I realized this was a continuation from another story. The chick was too in her head. I hate stories that are all about how they are never gonna become their mother/father/brother/second cousin once removed.
Blue Crush---***
I liked this story. Don't ask me why.
My Thief---*
I hated this story. Don't know why. It's the same basic plot of the last one. I guess cause the dialogue was just too much. Too much snark, the comedic timing was too pat, nobody has comebacks that good ready that fast.
Hot and Bothered---**
This one was ok. The one thing that bugged me was that he drugged her to get her to go with him...and this is ok.
Murphy's Law---***
This was pretty good. The thing that bugged me was how jealous Kat was of Sam's dead wife. It struck me as kinda selfish. Other than that it was good.
I guess I'm just not a Lori Foster fan. Cary seemed like an ok guy. Nora had some preconceptions. They just had a small roadblock cause she was scared.
One Wilde Weekend---**
I was pretty lost when this story started. Then I realized this was a continuation from another story. The chick was too in her head. I hate stories that are all about how they are never gonna become their mother/father/brother/second cousin once removed.
Blue Crush---***
I liked this story. Don't ask me why.
My Thief---*
I hated this story. Don't know why. It's the same basic plot of the last one. I guess cause the dialogue was just too much. Too much snark, the comedic timing was too pat, nobody has comebacks that good ready that fast.
Hot and Bothered---**
This one was ok. The one thing that bugged me was that he drugged her to get her to go with him...and this is ok.
Murphy's Law---***
This was pretty good. The thing that bugged me was how jealous Kat was of Sam's dead wife. It struck me as kinda selfish. Other than that it was good.
March 25, 2011
Good stories. Liked the first and last best, but all were enjoyable to read.
October 4, 2013
Here's a collection of six erotic romance novellas I reviewed long ago for Affaire de Coeur magazine. Alas, I've lost my original review, but here are a few notes on each of the novellas for you erotic romance enthusiasts:
Some Like It Hot by Lori Foster
Heroine’s name: Nora Chilton
Heroine’s profession: (Axel Dean’s) Nurse; young widow
Hero’s name: Cary Rupert
Hero’s profession: General practitioner
Conflict: He wants her but she’s a shy widow who’s never had an orgasm.
Main plot: She mistakenly thinks he doesn’t want to get married. They fall into bed, where he proposes.
Explicit sex?: Yes, but pretty dull.
Secondary characters: Axel Dean, MD, ob/gyn, Cary’s best friend; Liza, Axel’s new secretary/assistant (fiftyish)
Criticism: Just ridiculous. Really ideologically distressing, besides being poorly written with dull sex.
1 star.
Notes: New York Times best-selling author
One Wilde Weekend by Janelle Denison
Heroine’s name: Dana Reed
Heroine’s profession: Works for an imaging firm; 35-year-old career woman
Hero’s name: Alex Wilde
Place: Ritz Carlton beach resort on Amelia Island in Northeastern Florida
Conflict: She’s afraid of commitment, afraid to become dependent on a man like her mother; he proposes and gives her the weekend to think about it. Getting tied up makes up her mind.
Explicit sex?: Yes—in airplane on way over, in hotel room bondage/scene.
Secondary characters:
Subplot:
Criticism: Not bad, 3+ stars
Notes: USA Today best-selling author
Blue Crush by Erin McCarthy
Heroine’s name: Dr. Sara Davis
Heroine’s profession: shy bespectacled pediatrician
Hero’s name:Kyle Vanderhoff
Hero’s profession: Lifeguard
Place: A beach
Main plot: She decides to walk up and down the beach in a little red glam-slam bikini and pick up a surfer for her first sex in two years. Instead, her bikini top comes off in a big wave, and guess who rescues her…
Explicit sex?: Yep, in the lifeguard station in a storm (!)
My Thief by MaryJanice Davidson
Heroine’s name: Robin Filkins
Heroine’s profession:
Hero’s name: John Crusher
Main plot: He’s coming back to his hotel room and gets grabbed by a sexy redhead who orders him to strip, takes off her own clothes and climbs into bed with him just before hotel security arrives looking for whoever cracked that safe deposit box downstairs.
Explicit sex?: Yes, in the hotel room.
Secondary characters: Robin’s Uncle Rich
Criticism: Frothy, light, mildly implausible but entertaining.
Hot and Bothered by Kayla Perrin
Heroine’s name: Jenna Maxwell
Heroine’s profession:
Hero’s name: Trey Arnold
Hero’s profession: Bar owner
Place: Key West
Conflict: She wants a divorce; he wants to stay married.
Main plot: They got married in Key West 2-1/2 years ago, and after 5 months had a fight after which Jenna considered her marriage over and left for Buffalo, NY. Now she’s back to file for a legal separation.
Secondary characters: Jenna’s long-time friend Ruby
Criticism: Contains a lot of really destructive programming. Romance need not be retrogressive and chauvinistic like this tale, in which the hero is some sort of benevolent abuser. First, Trey slips her a mickey and takes her, unconscious, to his bedroom, and we’re supposed to think that this next-best-thing to a drugged date-rape is okay. Meanwhile, like any good abuser, he isolates her from external support networks by convincing her friend Ruby to leave the island. Next, we learn that sleeping with your ex is a good idea! And that Trey’s failure to disclose a previous marriage was Jenna’s fault, because she only took a sabbatical from her job when they got married instead of quitting, which made him insecure and need to guard his heart. And that their troubled marriage can be saved if they immediately decide to make a baby. Puh-leeze!
1 star
Notes: Essence best-selling author
Murphy’s Law by Morgan Leigh
Heroine’s name: Kat Murphy
Heroine’s profession:
Hero’s name: Sam Parrish, Kat’s former boss at the law offices of McCauley, Parrish and Hawke.
Hero’s profession: lawyer, widower
Conflict: Sam’s wife was killed in a horrid car crash two years ago, just months before Kat came to work for Sam. He has too much emotional baggage to act on his attraction for her.
Main plot: Jonah has lent Kat his beach house after she quit her job at their firm.
Secondary characters: Jonah McCauley, Sam’s partner and best friend, engaged to Kat’s best friend Camelot (“Cam”).
Some Like It Hot by Lori Foster
Heroine’s name: Nora Chilton
Heroine’s profession: (Axel Dean’s) Nurse; young widow
Hero’s name: Cary Rupert
Hero’s profession: General practitioner
Conflict: He wants her but she’s a shy widow who’s never had an orgasm.
Main plot: She mistakenly thinks he doesn’t want to get married. They fall into bed, where he proposes.
Explicit sex?: Yes, but pretty dull.
Secondary characters: Axel Dean, MD, ob/gyn, Cary’s best friend; Liza, Axel’s new secretary/assistant (fiftyish)
Criticism: Just ridiculous. Really ideologically distressing, besides being poorly written with dull sex.
1 star.
Notes: New York Times best-selling author
One Wilde Weekend by Janelle Denison
Heroine’s name: Dana Reed
Heroine’s profession: Works for an imaging firm; 35-year-old career woman
Hero’s name: Alex Wilde
Place: Ritz Carlton beach resort on Amelia Island in Northeastern Florida
Conflict: She’s afraid of commitment, afraid to become dependent on a man like her mother; he proposes and gives her the weekend to think about it. Getting tied up makes up her mind.
Explicit sex?: Yes—in airplane on way over, in hotel room bondage/scene.
Secondary characters:
Subplot:
Criticism: Not bad, 3+ stars
Notes: USA Today best-selling author
Blue Crush by Erin McCarthy
Heroine’s name: Dr. Sara Davis
Heroine’s profession: shy bespectacled pediatrician
Hero’s name:Kyle Vanderhoff
Hero’s profession: Lifeguard
Place: A beach
Main plot: She decides to walk up and down the beach in a little red glam-slam bikini and pick up a surfer for her first sex in two years. Instead, her bikini top comes off in a big wave, and guess who rescues her…
Explicit sex?: Yep, in the lifeguard station in a storm (!)
My Thief by MaryJanice Davidson
Heroine’s name: Robin Filkins
Heroine’s profession:
Hero’s name: John Crusher
Main plot: He’s coming back to his hotel room and gets grabbed by a sexy redhead who orders him to strip, takes off her own clothes and climbs into bed with him just before hotel security arrives looking for whoever cracked that safe deposit box downstairs.
Explicit sex?: Yes, in the hotel room.
Secondary characters: Robin’s Uncle Rich
Criticism: Frothy, light, mildly implausible but entertaining.
Hot and Bothered by Kayla Perrin
Heroine’s name: Jenna Maxwell
Heroine’s profession:
Hero’s name: Trey Arnold
Hero’s profession: Bar owner
Place: Key West
Conflict: She wants a divorce; he wants to stay married.
Main plot: They got married in Key West 2-1/2 years ago, and after 5 months had a fight after which Jenna considered her marriage over and left for Buffalo, NY. Now she’s back to file for a legal separation.
Secondary characters: Jenna’s long-time friend Ruby
Criticism: Contains a lot of really destructive programming. Romance need not be retrogressive and chauvinistic like this tale, in which the hero is some sort of benevolent abuser. First, Trey slips her a mickey and takes her, unconscious, to his bedroom, and we’re supposed to think that this next-best-thing to a drugged date-rape is okay. Meanwhile, like any good abuser, he isolates her from external support networks by convincing her friend Ruby to leave the island. Next, we learn that sleeping with your ex is a good idea! And that Trey’s failure to disclose a previous marriage was Jenna’s fault, because she only took a sabbatical from her job when they got married instead of quitting, which made him insecure and need to guard his heart. And that their troubled marriage can be saved if they immediately decide to make a baby. Puh-leeze!
1 star
Notes: Essence best-selling author
Murphy’s Law by Morgan Leigh
Heroine’s name: Kat Murphy
Heroine’s profession:
Hero’s name: Sam Parrish, Kat’s former boss at the law offices of McCauley, Parrish and Hawke.
Hero’s profession: lawyer, widower
Conflict: Sam’s wife was killed in a horrid car crash two years ago, just months before Kat came to work for Sam. He has too much emotional baggage to act on his attraction for her.
Main plot: Jonah has lent Kat his beach house after she quit her job at their firm.
Secondary characters: Jonah McCauley, Sam’s partner and best friend, engaged to Kat’s best friend Camelot (“Cam”).
May 22, 2018
Some Like it Hot - 3 /5 - Axel Dean’s friend, Doctor Cary Rupert has been in love with Axel’s nurse, Nora for nearly a year. He’s asked her out multiple times but she keeps turning him down. He finally eavesdrops on a conversation that explains why - she wants a relationship with the potential of marriage and kids and she knows that he’s been a manwhore and isn’t interested in those things (though why she couldn’t have just said that when she was turning him down, I don’t understand...but if she had, then there’s no story). So he sets out to seduce her and set her straight...in that order. That was my biggest problem with Cary. Here’s the woman he loves and he finds the one obstacle to it and he’s so focused on getting his dick into her that it takes him forever to explain that he wants more than sex and that particular message took forever to sink in. I did like that it was the heroine who had to do the crawling back to beg for forgiveness though.
Wilde Weekend - Janelle Denison - 3 /5 - Alex Wilde is going on a beach vacation with his long-time sort of girlfriend, Dana, that he’s in love with. But she’s a commitment-phobe and shys away from any show of emotion and permanence and she feels the need to be in control. He no longer wants them to be up in the air as far as relationship status, so he’s asking for more, and he’s ready to risk their relationship for it. And so, Alex is going to ask her to marry him. And he figures the way to do this is to take control from her and make her see that she can trust him with her heart. It’s not easy going, as Dana certainly resists, but she’s pretty turned on by the take-control Alex and begins to see things his way. Unfortunately, the thing I didn’t care for was Alex’s insistence that she had to want more - his question, “But at some point don’t you want to get married and have babies and a family of your own?” I almost wish her answer had been no, because it was pretty presumptuous of him to assume that it was yes and then to issue an ultimatum without talking to her about it...and to make her “yes” some sort of proof of her love for him. He claimed that he wasn’t trying to change who or what she was, but it didn’t really seem that way.
Blue Crush - Erin McCarthy - 3 /5 - This had a strong start, but kind of a week ending. Sara Davis is a pediatrician who is tired of everybody treating her like a doctor and a nerd - she wants to be sexy to someone. So she goes to a beach before a hurricane and hopes to snag a surfer. Instead, she ends up being rescued by sexy lifeguard Kyle who tries to rebuff her advances, claiming that he wants to get to know her and date her first. But she wears him down and they have a hot sexy times. This was definitely the strength here. Afterwards, there’s a bit of awkwardness and Sara realizes that they still don’t know each other, and Sara laments that they hadn’t waited because now he’ll never want her. Then he follows her back to her condo, he thinks he’ll take her on any terms he can have her and then they agree to date and the story ends. And I felt let down because there wasn’t a solid conclusion or a even any resolution of the awkward feelings they’d been having.
My Thief - MaryJanice Davidson - 2.5 /5 - John Crusher is an accountant at a Convention when he gets caught in the middle of the ridiculous antics of a niece and uncle who are also thieves. John is intrigued by the mysterious woman, Robin, and helps her, but also wants to get to know her better. This was okay, but not really to my tastes. It’s kind of on fast forward, as Robin and John end up sleeping together within hours of meeting, but there’s a lot more than that happening too. It’s well written and it’s a light-hearted, amusing little romp, but I’m not a huge fan of humorous romance, which is definitely what this is.
Hot and Bothered - Kayla Perrin - 2 /5 - Gah. Two years ago, Jenna and Trey were lustfully married, but Trey wasn’t sharing much of his past or his heart. So, brokenhearted, Jenna left for New York. After sending him separation papers, Trey refuses to sign until Jenna comes to Florida to hash it out face to face. So she does. And she finds herself manipulated - forced into spending time with a man she loves, but is trying to get over. He doesn’t want the marriage to be over and he’ll stop at nothing to show her he’s a changed man. My problem here was mostly with Trey. He’s pretty much got, as he puts it, the “lion’s share” of the blame, but is he contrite? Not really. He’s super manipulative, giving Jenna alcohol he knows will make her black out and trapping her at his place so he can seduce her in to remembering how good it was between them, and then seducing her. He keeps trying to tell her he’s a changed man, but he doesn’t seem to understand that Jenna is going to have trouble trusting him with this and may actually need time to see that. It’s not something that can take a night. And I’m sorry, but the fact that a man has an ex-wife is pretty much need-to-know information for his new wife. But his worse sin, was that he let 2 years go by without trying to get her back. He only stepped it up when he realized he was going to lose her - that’s not exactly trustworthy behavior...and his explanation of that was not satisfactory. And it was even more difficult to believe that after all that, his piddly explanations and his seduction, Jenna is ready to throw away her life in New York again and live with him as his wife. What would have been amazing, was if Trey was willing to take time (not just 1 day) away from the bar he loves so much, go back to New York with Jenna and woo her like a man in love would do, giving her the time to really see how he’d changed
Murphy’s Law - Morgan Leigh - 3 /5 - This is one of the stronger stories in this anthology. Kat is in love with her boss, Sam, whose wife died 2 years earlier. Unable to take the flirtatious teasing and the guilt she’d see come over him, Kat began to pretend she was a wild child. Now, she can’t take the unrequited love anymore, so she quits her job and heads to the beach. She is quite surprised when Sam walks up to her and lays into her for leaving. She doesn’t know that he’s armed with knowledge - all her feelings and her deceptions. She also doesn’t know that he’s in love with her and determined to make her his wife. The emotions between Kat and Sam were what drive the story - their passion, Kat’s fear and Sam’s love. He loves her underneath it all, but he’s not show great at communicating that. He walks in knowing that she’s in love with him, but then doesn’t tell her until after they’ve had sex...when she’s asleep. And this is one case in which having a dead spouse did not make me feel like the heroine was second prize. Kat was more worried about the dead wife and Sam’s love for her than Sam was. I almost thought that Kat was somewhat immature and unable to understand Sam’s situation - she kept wanting Sam to love only her...she didn’t seem satisfied with the idea that Sam could still love his wife and still love Kat. So while it was a good story and had some strengths, it did still have some things that I struggled with. However, this was one of the better ones here.
Wilde Weekend - Janelle Denison - 3 /5 - Alex Wilde is going on a beach vacation with his long-time sort of girlfriend, Dana, that he’s in love with. But she’s a commitment-phobe and shys away from any show of emotion and permanence and she feels the need to be in control. He no longer wants them to be up in the air as far as relationship status, so he’s asking for more, and he’s ready to risk their relationship for it. And so, Alex is going to ask her to marry him. And he figures the way to do this is to take control from her and make her see that she can trust him with her heart. It’s not easy going, as Dana certainly resists, but she’s pretty turned on by the take-control Alex and begins to see things his way. Unfortunately, the thing I didn’t care for was Alex’s insistence that she had to want more - his question, “But at some point don’t you want to get married and have babies and a family of your own?” I almost wish her answer had been no, because it was pretty presumptuous of him to assume that it was yes and then to issue an ultimatum without talking to her about it...and to make her “yes” some sort of proof of her love for him. He claimed that he wasn’t trying to change who or what she was, but it didn’t really seem that way.
Blue Crush - Erin McCarthy - 3 /5 - This had a strong start, but kind of a week ending. Sara Davis is a pediatrician who is tired of everybody treating her like a doctor and a nerd - she wants to be sexy to someone. So she goes to a beach before a hurricane and hopes to snag a surfer. Instead, she ends up being rescued by sexy lifeguard Kyle who tries to rebuff her advances, claiming that he wants to get to know her and date her first. But she wears him down and they have a hot sexy times. This was definitely the strength here. Afterwards, there’s a bit of awkwardness and Sara realizes that they still don’t know each other, and Sara laments that they hadn’t waited because now he’ll never want her. Then he follows her back to her condo, he thinks he’ll take her on any terms he can have her and then they agree to date and the story ends. And I felt let down because there wasn’t a solid conclusion or a even any resolution of the awkward feelings they’d been having.
My Thief - MaryJanice Davidson - 2.5 /5 - John Crusher is an accountant at a Convention when he gets caught in the middle of the ridiculous antics of a niece and uncle who are also thieves. John is intrigued by the mysterious woman, Robin, and helps her, but also wants to get to know her better. This was okay, but not really to my tastes. It’s kind of on fast forward, as Robin and John end up sleeping together within hours of meeting, but there’s a lot more than that happening too. It’s well written and it’s a light-hearted, amusing little romp, but I’m not a huge fan of humorous romance, which is definitely what this is.
Hot and Bothered - Kayla Perrin - 2 /5 - Gah. Two years ago, Jenna and Trey were lustfully married, but Trey wasn’t sharing much of his past or his heart. So, brokenhearted, Jenna left for New York. After sending him separation papers, Trey refuses to sign until Jenna comes to Florida to hash it out face to face. So she does. And she finds herself manipulated - forced into spending time with a man she loves, but is trying to get over. He doesn’t want the marriage to be over and he’ll stop at nothing to show her he’s a changed man. My problem here was mostly with Trey. He’s pretty much got, as he puts it, the “lion’s share” of the blame, but is he contrite? Not really. He’s super manipulative, giving Jenna alcohol he knows will make her black out and trapping her at his place so he can seduce her in to remembering how good it was between them, and then seducing her. He keeps trying to tell her he’s a changed man, but he doesn’t seem to understand that Jenna is going to have trouble trusting him with this and may actually need time to see that. It’s not something that can take a night. And I’m sorry, but the fact that a man has an ex-wife is pretty much need-to-know information for his new wife. But his worse sin, was that he let 2 years go by without trying to get her back. He only stepped it up when he realized he was going to lose her - that’s not exactly trustworthy behavior...and his explanation of that was not satisfactory. And it was even more difficult to believe that after all that, his piddly explanations and his seduction, Jenna is ready to throw away her life in New York again and live with him as his wife. What would have been amazing, was if Trey was willing to take time (not just 1 day) away from the bar he loves so much, go back to New York with Jenna and woo her like a man in love would do, giving her the time to really see how he’d changed
Murphy’s Law - Morgan Leigh - 3 /5 - This is one of the stronger stories in this anthology. Kat is in love with her boss, Sam, whose wife died 2 years earlier. Unable to take the flirtatious teasing and the guilt she’d see come over him, Kat began to pretend she was a wild child. Now, she can’t take the unrequited love anymore, so she quits her job and heads to the beach. She is quite surprised when Sam walks up to her and lays into her for leaving. She doesn’t know that he’s armed with knowledge - all her feelings and her deceptions. She also doesn’t know that he’s in love with her and determined to make her his wife. The emotions between Kat and Sam were what drive the story - their passion, Kat’s fear and Sam’s love. He loves her underneath it all, but he’s not show great at communicating that. He walks in knowing that she’s in love with him, but then doesn’t tell her until after they’ve had sex...when she’s asleep. And this is one case in which having a dead spouse did not make me feel like the heroine was second prize. Kat was more worried about the dead wife and Sam’s love for her than Sam was. I almost thought that Kat was somewhat immature and unable to understand Sam’s situation - she kept wanting Sam to love only her...she didn’t seem satisfied with the idea that Sam could still love his wife and still love Kat. So while it was a good story and had some strengths, it did still have some things that I struggled with. However, this was one of the better ones here.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2015
I WANT MURPHY'S LAW!
"I could make a meal out of you, Kat."
"I suppose you expect me to tell you to 'eat me'?"
Murphy's Law - Morgan Leigh. Kat Murphy is in love with her lawyer boss, Sam Parrish, but the handsome widower's heart may never heal. Needing a fresh start, Kat quits her job and heads for the beach. But when Sam follows her there, the sensual heat they generate is hotter than either of them ever imagined...
Some Like It Hot - Lori Foster. Family practitioner Cary Rupert wants Nora Chilton so badly he can barely keep a hold of his stethoscope. But what Nora wants is someone who will love her forever, and Cary's ready to show her that he's definitely the man for the job...
One Wilde Weekend - Janelle Denison. Alex Wilde is crazy about Dana Reed. Too bad the career-driven Dana only wants him as a lover, not a husband. In a last-ditch attempt to prove he's the right man for her, Alex kidnaps Dana and whisks her away to a private beach house where he's prepared to use every forbidden desire to make her his...
Blue Crush - Erin McCarthy. Dr. Sara Davis wants to lose her reputation as boring. Instead, she loses her bikini top to a powerful wave and finds herself in the arms of gorgeous lifeguard Kyle Vanderhoff who thinks she's drowning. She should correct him. Then again, a little mouth-to-mouth just might resuscitate her love life...
My Thief - Mary Janice Davidson. While trying to insert his key card in his hotel room door, john Crusher is grabbed and hauled into the room only to come face-to-face with a stunning redhead who orders him to strip. Naked. Now. But when the room service is this superb, what's a guy to do but show his heartfelt appreciation...
Hot And Bothered - Kayla Perrin. Marrying impossible Trey Arnold after a whirlwind summer romance was the dumbest thing jenna Maxwell ever did. Determined to really find Mr. Right, Jenna flies to Key West to get a divorce. Simple. But once she sees Trey's sexy bedroom smile again, things get a lot more complicated...and very, very hot...
"I could make a meal out of you, Kat."
"I suppose you expect me to tell you to 'eat me'?"
Murphy's Law - Morgan Leigh. Kat Murphy is in love with her lawyer boss, Sam Parrish, but the handsome widower's heart may never heal. Needing a fresh start, Kat quits her job and heads for the beach. But when Sam follows her there, the sensual heat they generate is hotter than either of them ever imagined...
Some Like It Hot - Lori Foster. Family practitioner Cary Rupert wants Nora Chilton so badly he can barely keep a hold of his stethoscope. But what Nora wants is someone who will love her forever, and Cary's ready to show her that he's definitely the man for the job...
One Wilde Weekend - Janelle Denison. Alex Wilde is crazy about Dana Reed. Too bad the career-driven Dana only wants him as a lover, not a husband. In a last-ditch attempt to prove he's the right man for her, Alex kidnaps Dana and whisks her away to a private beach house where he's prepared to use every forbidden desire to make her his...
Blue Crush - Erin McCarthy. Dr. Sara Davis wants to lose her reputation as boring. Instead, she loses her bikini top to a powerful wave and finds herself in the arms of gorgeous lifeguard Kyle Vanderhoff who thinks she's drowning. She should correct him. Then again, a little mouth-to-mouth just might resuscitate her love life...
My Thief - Mary Janice Davidson. While trying to insert his key card in his hotel room door, john Crusher is grabbed and hauled into the room only to come face-to-face with a stunning redhead who orders him to strip. Naked. Now. But when the room service is this superb, what's a guy to do but show his heartfelt appreciation...
Hot And Bothered - Kayla Perrin. Marrying impossible Trey Arnold after a whirlwind summer romance was the dumbest thing jenna Maxwell ever did. Determined to really find Mr. Right, Jenna flies to Key West to get a divorce. Simple. But once she sees Trey's sexy bedroom smile again, things get a lot more complicated...and very, very hot...
January 18, 2009
I read the short novella "One Wilde Week-end" which is #6 in Janelle Denison's Wilde Series. What a waste. This was the ultimate jumble of clichés that I find boring, uninteresting. Bottom line it's boring, very boring, 43 pages of boring, uninspired, badly written sex scenes (2, one in a commercial airplane), how to turn a somewhat interesting lead male character into a boring, I will "cure" you of your emotional insecurities (in 2 days no less) through submissive sex (complete with bondage and blindfold). A female lead character that just fold like a house of cards.
This was embarrassingly boring and not up to the Denison's talent. Poor Alex got the short end of the stick, end of the barrel in the Wilde series so far.
This was embarrassingly boring and not up to the Denison's talent. Poor Alex got the short end of the stick, end of the barrel in the Wilde series so far.
June 16, 2014
It took me a long time to finish this one, mainly due to reading 3 books at the same time, a new kitten in the house and who kept me busy, and basically because the stories weren't quite as good at the others in this series of loosely connected anthologies. I kept to it due to wanting to read everything in Denison's "Wilde" series but the rest of the stories were just meh. I need to get back to historical romances. I've been reading a LOT of hot, erotic anthologies lately.
July 31, 2012
Another awesome anthology. All the story are short, light heartening and funny as hell. I couldn't help smiling and laughing my way through the novel. They are truly a delight to read, all these authors have major talent.
October 14, 2010
Some Like it Hot - C+
One Wilde Weekend - B-
Blue Crush - B
My Thief - B-
Hot and Bothered - C+
Murphy's Law - B+
One Wilde Weekend - B-
Blue Crush - B
My Thief - B-
Hot and Bothered - C+
Murphy's Law - B+
January 19, 2020
This is one of those great, easy, relaxed reads that is just perfect for an afternoon out in the sunlight. The title kind of hints at that. But after reading it, I can attest that it is most definitely a perfect read for the beach. A nice departure from the more intense reads I do tend to fill my shelves with.
Each and every one of these six novellas is incredibly easy to imagine reading at the beach. Sadly, I haven’t been to the beach in a year or two…. But it certainly helped me to imagine doing so. Not only were most of the stories set along the coast, but they also had that chilled, carefree feeling that I tend to associate a day down on the sand with. The fact that they were also contemporary romances with a great dose of humour… it was kind of fantastic.
I loved the fact that I recognised half the authors in this collection and found three new authors as well. I loved being able to revisit some of the styles of writing that I haven’t visited in a little while. And also find some new writing that I just wasn’t expecting. I loved each and everyone of these authors and their stories. Both standalones and parts of a series.
The cover of this collection mentions “bad boys”. There are none. Categorically so. There are no bad boys in this collection. There’s accountants and lawyers and sexy men with no clue how to treat the woman they love (until they get a kick up the ass). But no bad boys. Not that that’s a bad thing. Sometimes the bad boy trope is kind of overdone, and it was nice to have a different theme to pursue.
For individual reviews, head to: https://earthandskye.org/perfect-for-...
Each and every one of these six novellas is incredibly easy to imagine reading at the beach. Sadly, I haven’t been to the beach in a year or two…. But it certainly helped me to imagine doing so. Not only were most of the stories set along the coast, but they also had that chilled, carefree feeling that I tend to associate a day down on the sand with. The fact that they were also contemporary romances with a great dose of humour… it was kind of fantastic.
I loved the fact that I recognised half the authors in this collection and found three new authors as well. I loved being able to revisit some of the styles of writing that I haven’t visited in a little while. And also find some new writing that I just wasn’t expecting. I loved each and everyone of these authors and their stories. Both standalones and parts of a series.
The cover of this collection mentions “bad boys”. There are none. Categorically so. There are no bad boys in this collection. There’s accountants and lawyers and sexy men with no clue how to treat the woman they love (until they get a kick up the ass). But no bad boys. Not that that’s a bad thing. Sometimes the bad boy trope is kind of overdone, and it was nice to have a different theme to pursue.
For individual reviews, head to: https://earthandskye.org/perfect-for-...
April 10, 2021
I bought Perfect for the Beach for One Wilde Weekend by Janelle Denison. This was the wrap up of the Wilde Series. I gave it 4 stars just for that. In my opinion it was a perfect conclusion to the series. The rest of Perfect for the Beach was okay. Some of the stories were better than others. In my opinion if you like novellas it's a good beach read. I didn't find anything outstanding.
January 4, 2021
Some Like It Hot by Lori Foster - 3 stars
One Wilde Weekend by Janelle Denison - 3 stars
Blue Crush by Erin McCarthy - 2.5 stars
My Thief by MaryJanice Davidson - 1 star
Hot and Bothered by Kayla Perrin - 2.5 stars
Murphy's Law by Morgan Leith - 3 stars
One Wilde Weekend by Janelle Denison - 3 stars
Blue Crush by Erin McCarthy - 2.5 stars
My Thief by MaryJanice Davidson - 1 star
Hot and Bothered by Kayla Perrin - 2.5 stars
Murphy's Law by Morgan Leith - 3 stars
July 12, 2024
SOME LIKE IT HOT: Lori Foster 🌟🌟
ONE WILDE WEEKEND: Janelle Denison 🌟🌟
BLUE CRUSH: Erin McCarthy 🌟🌟🌟🌟
MY THIEF: MaryJanice Davidson 🌟🌟🌟
HOT AND BOTHERED: Kayla Perrin 🌟🌟
MURPHY’S LAW: Morgan Leigh 🌟🌟
ONE WILDE WEEKEND: Janelle Denison 🌟🌟
BLUE CRUSH: Erin McCarthy 🌟🌟🌟🌟
MY THIEF: MaryJanice Davidson 🌟🌟🌟
HOT AND BOTHERED: Kayla Perrin 🌟🌟
MURPHY’S LAW: Morgan Leigh 🌟🌟
January 10, 2018
some good some dirty all short
March 18, 2018
REVIEW TO COME
September 15, 2021
it's good.
October 17, 2021
I always love reading anthologies.
July 22, 2022
horrifying pls don't read. most memorable line was "five times he'd asked her out. five times she'd declined. he wanted her, damn it." XD
August 1, 2016
Some Like It Hot
Summary: Cary has wanted Nora since he met her but Nora doesn’t want a fling. She wants marriage and a family. Cary has to convince her that’s what he wants too.
Review: I like how forthright Cary is, how he doesn’t try to hide how much he wants Nora. Nora makes unfounded assumptions about Cary, despite the fact that he’s very honest with her, but it’s a short story so thankfully we don’t get too hung up on that. The sex was sweet and hot. If you lay aside your disbelief at the speedy HEA, it’s not a bad read.
Pet peeve: The premise that Cary has been asking Nora out for almost a year, despite the fact that she keeps turning him down, strikes me as more creepy than romantic. And that theme continues through the story, with Axel telling Cary to “seduce her” even though Nora said no and Cary showing up unannounced at her house.
Rating: 2.5
One Wilde Weekend
Summary: Alex and Dana have been dating for a year, and Alex is ready to pop the question. Dana has commitment issues, though, so Alex has to convince her.
Review: Alex proposes on their one-year anniversary and Dana internally freaks out, but Alex gives her time to think and she doesn’t run away. It’s unusual for this type of story in that the characters behave like mature adults. I thought that was well done, but also kind of boring. But Alex using dom-sub stuff in the bedroom to make Dana “prove” that she trusts him is no better. This story didn’t click for me, but I could see others enjoying it.
Pet peeve: The story starts with sex in an airplane washroom, which is supposed to be hot. But let’s be real, I’ve been inside that sort of washroom before and they are disgusting. I can’t get past that to enjoy any kind of sex, however fictional.
Rating: 2
Blue Crush
Summary: Dr. Sarah Davis, who’s always been so serious, decides to have a beach fling with lifeguard Kyle.
Review: It’s sexy fluff, but the conversation is cute and the sex is hot.
Extra points for: Fully consensual sex between adults, using a condom. Also, not a manufacturer HEA.
Rating: 3.5
My Thief
Summary: John the accountant checks in to a hotel for a conference and finds redheaded Robin in his room, hiding from hotel security. He provides her with an alibi and hijinks ensue.
Review: More fluff. Ridiculous characters all around, and the sex was just ok.
Rating: 2.5
Hot and Bothered
Summary: Jenna and Trey had a whirlwind romance two years back and got married in a rush. Six months in, they fought and she left. Now she’s back and Trey will stop at nothing to fix things between them.
Review: The story begins with him effectively drugging and kidnapping her, with her friend as a willing accomplice. The rest of the plot doesn’t redeem the beginning. Her turnabout from “no” to “yes” is too fast to be believable. And the sex scenes feel awkward.
Rating: 1.5
Murphy’s Law
Summary: Kat’s in love with her boss, but she thinks he’s hung up on his deceased wife. She quits and spurs him to action.
Review: I can’t pinpoint exactly why I enjoyed this. The early dialogue is a little off, and the sexy talk is downright awkward. For example: “‘Ah, yes. This is where I need you, Sam.’ Sam’s eyes closed. ‘Yeah,’ he growled.” But the chemistry is relatively believable. And the conversation where they hash it all out is very sweet.
Pet peeve: I think it’s ridiculous that the reason Kat quit was
Rating: 3
Summary: Cary has wanted Nora since he met her but Nora doesn’t want a fling. She wants marriage and a family. Cary has to convince her that’s what he wants too.
Review: I like how forthright Cary is, how he doesn’t try to hide how much he wants Nora. Nora makes unfounded assumptions about Cary, despite the fact that he’s very honest with her, but it’s a short story so thankfully we don’t get too hung up on that. The sex was sweet and hot. If you lay aside your disbelief at the speedy HEA, it’s not a bad read.
Pet peeve: The premise that Cary has been asking Nora out for almost a year, despite the fact that she keeps turning him down, strikes me as more creepy than romantic. And that theme continues through the story, with Axel telling Cary to “seduce her” even though Nora said no and Cary showing up unannounced at her house.
Rating: 2.5
One Wilde Weekend
Summary: Alex and Dana have been dating for a year, and Alex is ready to pop the question. Dana has commitment issues, though, so Alex has to convince her.
Review: Alex proposes on their one-year anniversary and Dana internally freaks out, but Alex gives her time to think and she doesn’t run away. It’s unusual for this type of story in that the characters behave like mature adults. I thought that was well done, but also kind of boring. But Alex using dom-sub stuff in the bedroom to make Dana “prove” that she trusts him is no better. This story didn’t click for me, but I could see others enjoying it.
Pet peeve: The story starts with sex in an airplane washroom, which is supposed to be hot. But let’s be real, I’ve been inside that sort of washroom before and they are disgusting. I can’t get past that to enjoy any kind of sex, however fictional.
Rating: 2
Blue Crush
Summary: Dr. Sarah Davis, who’s always been so serious, decides to have a beach fling with lifeguard Kyle.
Review: It’s sexy fluff, but the conversation is cute and the sex is hot.
Extra points for: Fully consensual sex between adults, using a condom. Also, not a manufacturer HEA.
Rating: 3.5
My Thief
Summary: John the accountant checks in to a hotel for a conference and finds redheaded Robin in his room, hiding from hotel security. He provides her with an alibi and hijinks ensue.
Review: More fluff. Ridiculous characters all around, and the sex was just ok.
Rating: 2.5
Hot and Bothered
Summary: Jenna and Trey had a whirlwind romance two years back and got married in a rush. Six months in, they fought and she left. Now she’s back and Trey will stop at nothing to fix things between them.
Review: The story begins with him effectively drugging and kidnapping her, with her friend as a willing accomplice. The rest of the plot doesn’t redeem the beginning. Her turnabout from “no” to “yes” is too fast to be believable. And the sex scenes feel awkward.
Rating: 1.5
Murphy’s Law
Summary: Kat’s in love with her boss, but she thinks he’s hung up on his deceased wife. She quits and spurs him to action.
Review: I can’t pinpoint exactly why I enjoyed this. The early dialogue is a little off, and the sexy talk is downright awkward. For example: “‘Ah, yes. This is where I need you, Sam.’ Sam’s eyes closed. ‘Yeah,’ he growled.” But the chemistry is relatively believable. And the conversation where they hash it all out is very sweet.
Pet peeve: I think it’s ridiculous that the reason Kat quit was
Rating: 3
February 7, 2014
"Some Like It Hot" - Lori Fosters: Cary has wanted Nora for months, but she steadily turned him down. Still there is something about her that makes him want more. Nora, a young widow, has been in love with the handsome doctor for months, but she doesn't want an affair, she wants forever. Still how can you have forever if you are not willing to risk it all? A hot little tale about wanting forever and having a second chance. "One Wilde Weekend" - Janelle Denison: Alex Wilde is in love with the independent and successful Dana Reed. Their one year relationship has given him more than enough to prove to him that she is whom he wants to spend the rest of his days with. Except Dana has commitment issues and tearing down her last barriers might prove to be the challenge that will break them apart. Dana needs control of all areas of her life. She wants financial independence, career success and total control of her heart. Even if Alex has gotten under her skin there is only so much she is willing give. A Wilde Weekend is a short story about meeting half-way if love is what you want to keep. "Blue Crush" - Erin McCarthy: Dr. Sara Davis loses her bikini top in the water and is saved by hot lifeguard Kyle Vanderhoff on his last day on duty. Sparks fly high but while the doc is happy with a one afternoon romance, Kyle can't stand the thought of taking advantage of the pretty damsel in distress. So what now? The hottest romance of the bunch. Nothing sexier than a good guy who knows how to rock a girl's world... "My Thief" - Mary Janice Davidson: Checking in early to his hotel room, John Crusher is pulled inside and ordered to strip by a gorgeous redhead. Who is he to argue with her? But when his pretty guest attracts the attention of hotel security, all bells go off and he is curious to what the pretty girl is up to. A sexy "catch me if you can" romance between an accountant and a thief. "Hot and Bothered" - Kayla Perrin: Jenna Maxwell was turning 30 and it was time to move on. It'd been two years since her marriage had been over. Now it was time to make it official and leave it behind her even if she still loved her husband. Trey Arnold made a big mistake letting Jenna walk out of his life, but he knew better now. They've both been wrong and now they would get it right. A steamy story of second chances. "Murphy's Law" - Morgan Leith: Katrissa Murphy is in love with her boss, Sam Parrish, but there are a few problems with that. He is in love with his dead wife. He thinks she is a promiscuous woman. And let's not forget the no interoffice dating police. Fearing his heart may never heal, she quits her job and heads for the beach. But when Sam follows her determined to conquer her fears and win her heart once and for all, not even Murphy's Law will be enough to keep these two apart.
December 29, 2012
Read this book of novellas for the Wilde Series. Discovered some new authors in the process.
Some Like It Hot
Second in the Dean Brothers and Friend. This is Corey Rupert's story. He's the friend. Funny. Laughing out loud funny. A brief cameo with Booker from the first story. Corey has to win the heart of Nora Chilton, a young widow, without upsetting the office dymanics of his best friend and Dean brother, Axel. Liked how two characters are not very sure of themselves. And the eavesdrop on each other. I really want to read Axel's story.
One Wilde Weekend
This was the story I got this book for. This is Alex Wilde's story. He wants to follow in this brother's Scott's footsteps and get married. His lady love is Dana Reed, an older professional woman who only wants him as a lover and not spouse. She wants to be in charge and not vulnerable like her mother. Liked how the roles were reversed, man chasing a woman for marriage. I did not feel that I knew Alex's character much. I felt more of his character was reveled in The Wilde Side.
Blue Crush
Doctor Sara Davis wants a little thrill. She picks the wrong day to go to beach. She losses her bathing suit and life gaurd Kyle Vanderholf rescuses her. She does not think she can get the attention of man like him. Boy, is she wrong. This is a nice sweet story about a woman getting what she wants. The length is of this story is perfect. I thought the characters are developed. And I really thought details of the setting are excellent. I thought this was the best story in the book.
My Thief
John Crusher is ambushed as he enters his hotel room by Robin Filkins. Turns out, she's a very good thief. More focus was put on the story than sex. The story behind the item is very touching.
Hot And Bothered
A new author I will look to read again. The main characters are Trey Arnold and Jenna Maxwell Arnold. Trey wants his wife back. She doesn't want it. Mix in a meddlesome best friend, and you've got the makings for a very entertaining story. The chacaters were well developed.
Murphy's Law
Another new author. While I felt the story was a little too rushed, I'll give the author another read. Kat Murphy is love with her boss, Sam Parrish. Kat thinks she does not have a chance with him because he is still in love with his deceased wife. He is love with her and goes to the beach to tell her. After an angst filled night, things work out. Things also work out with the other two partners of the firm, of which the reader only hears about though the convesations of the main characters.
Some Like It Hot
Second in the Dean Brothers and Friend. This is Corey Rupert's story. He's the friend. Funny. Laughing out loud funny. A brief cameo with Booker from the first story. Corey has to win the heart of Nora Chilton, a young widow, without upsetting the office dymanics of his best friend and Dean brother, Axel. Liked how two characters are not very sure of themselves. And the eavesdrop on each other. I really want to read Axel's story.
One Wilde Weekend
This was the story I got this book for. This is Alex Wilde's story. He wants to follow in this brother's Scott's footsteps and get married. His lady love is Dana Reed, an older professional woman who only wants him as a lover and not spouse. She wants to be in charge and not vulnerable like her mother. Liked how the roles were reversed, man chasing a woman for marriage. I did not feel that I knew Alex's character much. I felt more of his character was reveled in The Wilde Side.
Blue Crush
Doctor Sara Davis wants a little thrill. She picks the wrong day to go to beach. She losses her bathing suit and life gaurd Kyle Vanderholf rescuses her. She does not think she can get the attention of man like him. Boy, is she wrong. This is a nice sweet story about a woman getting what she wants. The length is of this story is perfect. I thought the characters are developed. And I really thought details of the setting are excellent. I thought this was the best story in the book.
My Thief
John Crusher is ambushed as he enters his hotel room by Robin Filkins. Turns out, she's a very good thief. More focus was put on the story than sex. The story behind the item is very touching.
Hot And Bothered
A new author I will look to read again. The main characters are Trey Arnold and Jenna Maxwell Arnold. Trey wants his wife back. She doesn't want it. Mix in a meddlesome best friend, and you've got the makings for a very entertaining story. The chacaters were well developed.
Murphy's Law
Another new author. While I felt the story was a little too rushed, I'll give the author another read. Kat Murphy is love with her boss, Sam Parrish. Kat thinks she does not have a chance with him because he is still in love with his deceased wife. He is love with her and goes to the beach to tell her. After an angst filled night, things work out. Things also work out with the other two partners of the firm, of which the reader only hears about though the convesations of the main characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2013
Contemporary romance anthology. As usual, waaay too many authors stuffed into 1 book. I was all set to give this book 1 star, that's how much I thought of these stories. There IS 1 good one in the whole book.
Lori Foster - 1 star. Now don't get me wrong, I like LF stories...USUALLY. This one is a stinker she must have typed out in 1 day.
#1 - I don't know if Lori has been to the Dr lately, but since the late 80's nurses have worn SCRUBS. Not "crisp white uniforms". Hospital nurses, office nurses, we wear them colorful & with prints & cartoon characters on them. If you're going to make your female lead a nurse - GET IT RIGHT!
#2 - Why do romance authors have characters who wear glasses act legally blind without them? Nearsighted means you can see just fine close up.
#3 - MD & nurse have sex WITHOUT PROTECTION!!! What the? Really?
I really hated this story (can you tell?). The female lead is dim & I have no idea why the male lead is into her. She's been widowed for 2 years & can't remember how to kiss a man...literally (whatever). The male lead is really only interested in the sex & once he has it he doesn't call for an entire week. Then when the female lead tracks him down its - "oh marry me please! I can't live without you", resolved in 3 paragraphs.
Yuck!
Janelle Denison - 4 stars. The best story in the book! Alex & Dana have been in a committed relationship for a year. Alex plans on popping the question. Dana panics when he does. The rest of the story is him talking her into taking a chance on him.
Erin McCarthy - 3 stars. Protected sex. EM has a way with short stories & what should turn out to be a one night stand turning into a relationship. Not instant marriage or some fake emotions. OK story.
Mary Janice Davidson - less than 1 star. Hated this one. Stupid mishmash with a female thief & male accountant. Stupidest line I've ever read in ANY romance story : "It's all right. I'm on the pill. And I'm going to assume you're not riddled with disease." Cause you can tell if someone has an STD by looking at them. Romance authors have an obligation to their readers to NOT promote this crap!
Kayla Perrin - 1 star. Didn't much like this one either. Unprotected sex. Man tries to woo his estranged wife back into his life by first drugging her. Yikes.
Morgan Leigh - 2 stars. Protected sex. This is a "in love with the boss" story. Started out OK, then went downhill from there. They go from sex to "I love you, marry me" in 8 hours flat. Since they haven't even been dating it's a stretch to believe. :(
Lori Foster - 1 star. Now don't get me wrong, I like LF stories...USUALLY. This one is a stinker she must have typed out in 1 day.
#1 - I don't know if Lori has been to the Dr lately, but since the late 80's nurses have worn SCRUBS. Not "crisp white uniforms". Hospital nurses, office nurses, we wear them colorful & with prints & cartoon characters on them. If you're going to make your female lead a nurse - GET IT RIGHT!
#2 - Why do romance authors have characters who wear glasses act legally blind without them? Nearsighted means you can see just fine close up.
#3 - MD & nurse have sex WITHOUT PROTECTION!!! What the? Really?
I really hated this story (can you tell?). The female lead is dim & I have no idea why the male lead is into her. She's been widowed for 2 years & can't remember how to kiss a man...literally (whatever). The male lead is really only interested in the sex & once he has it he doesn't call for an entire week. Then when the female lead tracks him down its - "oh marry me please! I can't live without you", resolved in 3 paragraphs.
Yuck!
Janelle Denison - 4 stars. The best story in the book! Alex & Dana have been in a committed relationship for a year. Alex plans on popping the question. Dana panics when he does. The rest of the story is him talking her into taking a chance on him.
Erin McCarthy - 3 stars. Protected sex. EM has a way with short stories & what should turn out to be a one night stand turning into a relationship. Not instant marriage or some fake emotions. OK story.
Mary Janice Davidson - less than 1 star. Hated this one. Stupid mishmash with a female thief & male accountant. Stupidest line I've ever read in ANY romance story : "It's all right. I'm on the pill. And I'm going to assume you're not riddled with disease." Cause you can tell if someone has an STD by looking at them. Romance authors have an obligation to their readers to NOT promote this crap!
Kayla Perrin - 1 star. Didn't much like this one either. Unprotected sex. Man tries to woo his estranged wife back into his life by first drugging her. Yikes.
Morgan Leigh - 2 stars. Protected sex. This is a "in love with the boss" story. Started out OK, then went downhill from there. They go from sex to "I love you, marry me" in 8 hours flat. Since they haven't even been dating it's a stretch to believe. :(
December 26, 2015
***-"Some Like It Hot" - Lori Foster: Family practitioner Cary Rupert wants Nora Chilton so badly he can barely keep a hold of his stethoscope. Now he's out to prove that when it comes to loving her forever, he's the man for the job. - Funny, especially all the eavesdropping. They couldn't get along without it. Also the receptionist has a house with a pool and the Dr lives in an apartment, what's up with that?
*-"One Wilde Weekend" - Janelle Denison: Alex Wilde is crazy about Dana Reed. Career-driven Dana wants him as a lover, not a husband...until Alex whisks her away for a weekend that will fulfil every forbidden desire. - Ugh. Alex gets Jan to commit to marrying him by tying her to the bed. I couldn't figure out why he bothered. She wasn't worth the effort.
***-"Blue Crush" - Erin McCarthy: Dr Sara Davis loses her bikini top to a powerful wave and finds herself in the arms of gorgeous lifeguard Kyle Vanderhoff...where a little mouth-to-mouth just might resuscitate her love life. - Cute. I'm figuring she's at least a couple of years older than he is. Loved how he thought of her super skinny sounding body though!
***-"My Thief" - MaryJanice Davidson: John Crusher is hauled into his hotel room only to come fact-to-face with a stunning redhead who orders him to strip. But when the room service is this superb, what's a guy to do but show his appreciation. - Hilarious. Couldn't think of it as a real HEA, but loved the dialogue and the crazy uncle.
DNR-"Hot and Bothered" - Kayla Perrin: Marrying Trey Arnold after a whirlwind romance was the dumbest thing Jenna Maxwell ever did. Divorce is the simple solution, but once she sees Trey's sexy smile again, things get complicated...and very, very hot. - These sorts of "marry in haste, repent at leisure, rinse and repeat" stories don't appeal to me.
*-" Murphy's Law" - Morgan Leith: Kat Murphy is in love with her lawyer boss, Sam Parrish. Fearing his heart may never heal, she quits her job and heads for the beach. And when Sam follows, the sensual heat they generate is out of this world. - Stupid. Can't figure out why she wanted him to think she was a bimbo. I guess so she could have sex with him without him feeling guilty?
*-"One Wilde Weekend" - Janelle Denison: Alex Wilde is crazy about Dana Reed. Career-driven Dana wants him as a lover, not a husband...until Alex whisks her away for a weekend that will fulfil every forbidden desire. - Ugh. Alex gets Jan to commit to marrying him by tying her to the bed. I couldn't figure out why he bothered. She wasn't worth the effort.
***-"Blue Crush" - Erin McCarthy: Dr Sara Davis loses her bikini top to a powerful wave and finds herself in the arms of gorgeous lifeguard Kyle Vanderhoff...where a little mouth-to-mouth just might resuscitate her love life. - Cute. I'm figuring she's at least a couple of years older than he is. Loved how he thought of her super skinny sounding body though!
***-"My Thief" - MaryJanice Davidson: John Crusher is hauled into his hotel room only to come fact-to-face with a stunning redhead who orders him to strip. But when the room service is this superb, what's a guy to do but show his appreciation. - Hilarious. Couldn't think of it as a real HEA, but loved the dialogue and the crazy uncle.
DNR-"Hot and Bothered" - Kayla Perrin: Marrying Trey Arnold after a whirlwind romance was the dumbest thing Jenna Maxwell ever did. Divorce is the simple solution, but once she sees Trey's sexy smile again, things get complicated...and very, very hot. - These sorts of "marry in haste, repent at leisure, rinse and repeat" stories don't appeal to me.
*-" Murphy's Law" - Morgan Leith: Kat Murphy is in love with her lawyer boss, Sam Parrish. Fearing his heart may never heal, she quits her job and heads for the beach. And when Sam follows, the sensual heat they generate is out of this world. - Stupid. Can't figure out why she wanted him to think she was a bimbo. I guess so she could have sex with him without him feeling guilty?
December 3, 2015
“Some Like It Hot” is a VERY short story by Lori Foster found in Perfect for the Beach, an anthology of 6 different short stories. “Some Like It Hot” is only around 50 pages, so I can’t say that it’s amazing. I mean, often a novella (around 100 pages, usually) is difficult to pull off, so a 50 pages romance . . . well, I can’t say that it totally works here. But, that said, I didn’t hate it either.
“Some Like It Hot” is about family doctor Cary Rupert who has been pretty much in love with Nora Chilton who works at Cary’s best friend doctor’s office. But every time Cary asks Nora out, she turns him down. Cary tries to convince Nora that they’d be good together. I really did like both Cary and Nora. I can’t say that I formed strong bonds to either because there really wasn’t that much time. The conflict was a little bit out there, but still, I did enjoy reading this. It’s good for when you’re in a reading slump.
“Playing Doctor” by Lori Foster is a novella found in When Good Things Happen to Bad Boys, another collection of novellas. “Playing Doctor” is around 100 pages which is nice since “Some Like It Hot” was half that.
“Playing Doctor” focuses on Cary’s friend Axel who is an OB/GYN doctor. He’s a ladies’ man. Anyway, he attends this head honcho’s party and runs into Libby Preston. They are both super attracted to each other right away, and start fooling around. But when Axel (seriously that name!) discovers Libby hasn’t had sex before, he freaks out, and totally pisses Libby off. But they do get together.
Libby and Axel do get together very quickly, which is typical in the novella department. Their age difference is pretty big, and that does make me a bit uncomfortable. But still, I enjoyed this. I think Lori Foster has a way with novellas, even if this isn’t her best.This review was originally posted on Quinn's Book Nook
“Some Like It Hot” is about family doctor Cary Rupert who has been pretty much in love with Nora Chilton who works at Cary’s best friend doctor’s office. But every time Cary asks Nora out, she turns him down. Cary tries to convince Nora that they’d be good together. I really did like both Cary and Nora. I can’t say that I formed strong bonds to either because there really wasn’t that much time. The conflict was a little bit out there, but still, I did enjoy reading this. It’s good for when you’re in a reading slump.
“Playing Doctor” by Lori Foster is a novella found in When Good Things Happen to Bad Boys, another collection of novellas. “Playing Doctor” is around 100 pages which is nice since “Some Like It Hot” was half that.
“Playing Doctor” focuses on Cary’s friend Axel who is an OB/GYN doctor. He’s a ladies’ man. Anyway, he attends this head honcho’s party and runs into Libby Preston. They are both super attracted to each other right away, and start fooling around. But when Axel (seriously that name!) discovers Libby hasn’t had sex before, he freaks out, and totally pisses Libby off. But they do get together.
Libby and Axel do get together very quickly, which is typical in the novella department. Their age difference is pretty big, and that does make me a bit uncomfortable. But still, I enjoyed this. I think Lori Foster has a way with novellas, even if this isn’t her best.This review was originally posted on Quinn's Book Nook
November 30, 2015
Perfect for the beach by MaryJanice Davidson, Perrin Kayla, Denison Janelle, Foster_ Lori, Leigh Morgan and McCarthy Erin
6 various authored book with a theme of perfect for the beach.
Some Like It Hot by Lori Foster
This story is about a doctors practice in OB/GYN where she works as a nurse and is widowed, 2 years and her spouse was a virgin also.
One of the doctors, Carey shows an interest in her, Nora and they agree to go swimming then they move the action to the bedroom in her apartment.
Very hot steamy sex scenes. Misunderstandings draw them apart....
.
One Wild Weekend
She's not wearing any panties and he can't move fast enough. He has the ring also.
Dana has always been the leader, he wants a turn at it...
.
One Blue Crush
Kyle is doing his last minutes as a lifeguard and the hurricane is moving towards them.
Sarah has lost her top with the undertow and he rescues her...
My Thief
An uncle and niece mess with each other as they steal from one another.
Now she's put the accountant in the mix...
.
Hot and Bothered
Jenna and Trey had known their marriage was over. She had papers for him to sign and wasn't looking forward to it.
Maybe they can work things out?
.
Murphy's Law
She works at a lawyer's office and was in love with him, she left the job, now down sunning in warmth of FL.
Jonah's apt is where she's staying, he's engaged to her bff and is a lawyer also.
Sam's followed her ...they are both staying at Jonah's....
6 various authored book with a theme of perfect for the beach.
Some Like It Hot by Lori Foster
This story is about a doctors practice in OB/GYN where she works as a nurse and is widowed, 2 years and her spouse was a virgin also.
One of the doctors, Carey shows an interest in her, Nora and they agree to go swimming then they move the action to the bedroom in her apartment.
Very hot steamy sex scenes. Misunderstandings draw them apart....
.
One Wild Weekend
She's not wearing any panties and he can't move fast enough. He has the ring also.
Dana has always been the leader, he wants a turn at it...
.
One Blue Crush
Kyle is doing his last minutes as a lifeguard and the hurricane is moving towards them.
Sarah has lost her top with the undertow and he rescues her...
My Thief
An uncle and niece mess with each other as they steal from one another.
Now she's put the accountant in the mix...
.
Hot and Bothered
Jenna and Trey had known their marriage was over. She had papers for him to sign and wasn't looking forward to it.
Maybe they can work things out?
.
Murphy's Law
She works at a lawyer's office and was in love with him, she left the job, now down sunning in warmth of FL.
Jonah's apt is where she's staying, he's engaged to her bff and is a lawyer also.
Sam's followed her ...they are both staying at Jonah's....
November 18, 2016
Story # 1 Lori Foster - Some like it Hot ***
Cute. The heroine seemed a bit mousy but the hero was totally besotted, glad he wore her down in the end.
Story # 2 janelle Dennison - One Wild Weekend **
Good enough - the hero is a bit Beta, but they have a bit of bondage so it's hot.
Story # 3 Erin McCarthy - Blue Crush *
What! No way, this had so many things wrong w it. The heroine is a doctor with low self image so she sets out to hook up w a lifeguard? It was not hot, no chemistry and it's like she forced him to have sex with her. Ugh
Story # 4 MaryJanice Dickinson- My Thief **
Heroine and her uncle are conmen, getting their kicks from tricking each other. Confusing? Yes even Hero is confused the whole time, but they have sex. H is a wuzz.
Story # 5 Kayla Ferrin - Hot and Bothered ***
Better than the last 2, second chance story they parted ways since when they fought the H shut down and wouldn't explain his past. The deal breaker - he had an ex-wife he never mentioned! How can anyone get married again without letting his partner know this is his second marriage.
Story # 6 Morgan Leigh - Murphy's law ***
Heroine is in love w her boss, a widower whom she thinks is still in love w his late wife. So she leaves. He follows her since he has been falling in love w her anyway. Just ok. They were probably characters in another book since they referenced other couples in the story.
Cute. The heroine seemed a bit mousy but the hero was totally besotted, glad he wore her down in the end.
Story # 2 janelle Dennison - One Wild Weekend **
Good enough - the hero is a bit Beta, but they have a bit of bondage so it's hot.
Story # 3 Erin McCarthy - Blue Crush *
What! No way, this had so many things wrong w it. The heroine is a doctor with low self image so she sets out to hook up w a lifeguard? It was not hot, no chemistry and it's like she forced him to have sex with her. Ugh
Story # 4 MaryJanice Dickinson- My Thief **
Heroine and her uncle are conmen, getting their kicks from tricking each other. Confusing? Yes even Hero is confused the whole time, but they have sex. H is a wuzz.
Story # 5 Kayla Ferrin - Hot and Bothered ***
Better than the last 2, second chance story they parted ways since when they fought the H shut down and wouldn't explain his past. The deal breaker - he had an ex-wife he never mentioned! How can anyone get married again without letting his partner know this is his second marriage.
Story # 6 Morgan Leigh - Murphy's law ***
Heroine is in love w her boss, a widower whom she thinks is still in love w his late wife. So she leaves. He follows her since he has been falling in love w her anyway. Just ok. They were probably characters in another book since they referenced other couples in the story.
July 3, 2014
I gave this book an overall rating of 4 stars. Here's how I rated them individually:
Some Like it Hot ---5 Stars
This story was fun and fast-paced. With enough of a foundation to make it feel like nothing was missing, which is how I sometimes feel when reading short stories.
One Wilde Weekend ---5 Stars
This was my first time reading anything by this author. And I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
Blue Crush ---5 Stars
A pediatrician and a lifeguard stuck in a lifeguard hut during a storm? Yes, please.
My Thief ---5 Stars
Interesting and funny short story!
Hot and Bothered ---3 1/2 Stars
This story was going along pretty well until..."baby-making-trying" was in there. Twice. That phrase got on my nerves for some reason.
Murphy's Law ---3 Stars
This one didn't hold my interest as well as the others but it was still pretty good.
Some Like it Hot ---5 Stars
This story was fun and fast-paced. With enough of a foundation to make it feel like nothing was missing, which is how I sometimes feel when reading short stories.
One Wilde Weekend ---5 Stars
This was my first time reading anything by this author. And I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
Blue Crush ---5 Stars
A pediatrician and a lifeguard stuck in a lifeguard hut during a storm? Yes, please.
My Thief ---5 Stars
Interesting and funny short story!
Hot and Bothered ---3 1/2 Stars
This story was going along pretty well until..."baby-making-trying" was in there. Twice. That phrase got on my nerves for some reason.
Murphy's Law ---3 Stars
This one didn't hold my interest as well as the others but it was still pretty good.
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