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Truth & Lies #1
How to Tell a Lie
Book One, Truth & Lies Allison Moore does her psychology research from the safety of the internet, where she can study her subjects' lying ways without the need for pesky human involvement. Online games are the perfect place to look for liars and have fun at the same time. Seth Brantley is a fellow professor who can make even economics seem sexy. When he and Allison realize they've been "researching" in the same game, a face-to-face meeting seems inevitable. After all, they're practically neighbors--they've been working in adjacent buildings for years. Fresh from a breakup and afraid to take a risk, Allison wants to keep her affair with Seth strictly electronic--but she can't deny their virtual antics are hot enough to melt their keyboards. Can Seth convince her to give up the safety of cybering and take a chance on passion in the real world?
130 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2009
43 people are currently reading
568 people want to read
About the author
Delphine Dryden
38 books369 followersI write contemporary and erotic romance, and sometimes steampunk romance! To contact me, go to my website or find me on social media.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
December 31, 2012
Great novella that tells a different sort of story and does it in an unconventional way. The hero and heroine meet within a World of Warcraft-esque MMO and strike up a friendship and mild flirtation. When they realize that not only are they both college professors using the game as part of their research but that they're both professors at the same college, things get complicated. Only four months removed from breaking things off with her fiance, Allison wants to keep their romantic relationship online, but Seth has other ideas.
The online gaming plays a major role in the plot and if the author doesn't play WoW herself, she certainly did her research. Everything from their chats to each other being pink to the elf dancing like a stripper to the frustration of dragging poorly-geared PUGs through a raid marked this as WoW to me, and I've been playing it off and on for, what, eight years now? Their in-game chats grow in flirtatiousness as the story progresses, and their chat-based sex scenes are charmingly awkward and scorching hot. All the chatting online shows the couple talking through the wonderful process of discovery that is dating someone new. By the time they connect in real life for the first time, they have the emotional intimacy of a couple that's been together for months. This leads the reader to easily read the ending as an HEA, even if forever and ever isn't really spelled out and would be sort of silly in context.
I have just one complaint. FOOD SEX IS GROSS. There's a long scene at the end involving chocolate mousse, a paintbrush and lots of licking. This is not hot. In fact, the whole thing made me vaguely nauseated. I don't know who wants to be coated in sticky food and saliva, but it sure as hell isn't me.
The online gaming plays a major role in the plot and if the author doesn't play WoW herself, she certainly did her research. Everything from their chats to each other being pink to the elf dancing like a stripper to the frustration of dragging poorly-geared PUGs through a raid marked this as WoW to me, and I've been playing it off and on for, what, eight years now? Their in-game chats grow in flirtatiousness as the story progresses, and their chat-based sex scenes are charmingly awkward and scorching hot. All the chatting online shows the couple talking through the wonderful process of discovery that is dating someone new. By the time they connect in real life for the first time, they have the emotional intimacy of a couple that's been together for months. This leads the reader to easily read the ending as an HEA, even if forever and ever isn't really spelled out and would be sort of silly in context.
I have just one complaint. FOOD SEX IS GROSS. There's a long scene at the end involving chocolate mousse, a paintbrush and lots of licking. This is not hot. In fact, the whole thing made me vaguely nauseated. I don't know who wants to be coated in sticky food and saliva, but it sure as hell isn't me.
November 18, 2013
Surprisingly good. Well-written, good characters, a proper amount of steam for the genre, and a good length for this kind of read (there's a double entendre in there somewhere...).
Allison does kind of get on the nerves a couple of times with her silly indecisions, but thankfully her friends are there to (figuratively) slap some sense into her, and since it's not a lengthy read, the reader isn't tortured with her idiotic indecision for very long.
The ending, however, felt extremely abrupt.
Allison does kind of get on the nerves a couple of times with her silly indecisions, but thankfully her friends are there to (figuratively) slap some sense into her, and since it's not a lengthy read, the reader isn't tortured with her idiotic indecision for very long.
The ending, however, felt extremely abrupt.
September 26, 2015
I really, really liked this. A short, snappy novella which did a lot within the word count. Allison is a psychology professor studying gaming. Her research is based on the text interactions in those big multiplayer role player style games (like World of Warcraft... maybe... I'm out of my element here, the last time I played a computer game Lara Croft still had pointy boobs). She's entirely unsure of what she wants out of a relationship having just got out of a serious one which was entirely wrong for her. She's a bit lost. Enter 'Notmyrealname', a man she's been chatting to online who turns out to be a professor at the same university, Seth. Seth is perfect for her (perhaps, all round, too perfect) and together they have some amazing cyber sex and some equally amazing real life sex. It's super, although there's a food scene and those don't work for me. Allison is unsure despite their connection, everything they have in common and the great sex. She's lies to Seth about her insecurities and lies to herself about what she wants and whether she's happy, but, with the help of her friends (all of whom will get books of their own), realizes that fact and goes to Seth. There was nothing too challenging about this. It flowed well and was an entertaining read, if not anything that will stay with me for very long. Allison's reluctance about the relationship (her fear that she drifted along in her last long-term relationship even knowing it probably wasn't right and might be do the same again) didn't quite hang together for me, particularly given that Seth was so brilliant. Aside from that I've few complaints & I've already purchased the next in the series.
Note: I'm not sure how it came about (I think I clicked something on Twitter) but received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Note: I'm not sure how it came about (I think I clicked something on Twitter) but received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 7, 2015
I heart nerd love!! :) This little story had a lot of potential, but ...
As a reader, I wasn't really excited about the content, tho. You see, this is the story of Allison Moore and Seth Brantley ... allegedly (lol)
I say allegedly, because it actually reads as the story of Allison getting past her relationship with her ex-boyfriend, James, so she can try with Seth...so basically, entirely too much of the story revolved around what James and Allison were instead of what Seth and Allison were becoming..
Which leads to my last little negative point ... the ending was a serious cliff drop! Not a cliffhanger, but a drop. Like one minute were in a room talking nonsense and the next ... BAM, ILY, The End ...(not kidding, just like that!)
Suffice it to say, not only was I surprised at the ending, but I was shocked it was over. And not because of content or anything (altho ILY came out of left field) but because of how it was presented to us....I'm pretty sure I stared at my kindle for more than a few seconds just so I could process (lol).
But make no mistake, the Delphine Dryden magic touch is there. I've read several of her works, and every time, I am captivated by her characters and the ease of her style. And this was no exception. I just wish there was more Seth than James ....
As a reader, I wasn't really excited about the content, tho. You see, this is the story of Allison Moore and Seth Brantley ... allegedly (lol)
I say allegedly, because it actually reads as the story of Allison getting past her relationship with her ex-boyfriend, James, so she can try with Seth...so basically, entirely too much of the story revolved around what James and Allison were instead of what Seth and Allison were becoming..
Which leads to my last little negative point ... the ending was a serious cliff drop! Not a cliffhanger, but a drop. Like one minute were in a room talking nonsense and the next ... BAM, ILY, The End ...(not kidding, just like that!)
Suffice it to say, not only was I surprised at the ending, but I was shocked it was over. And not because of content or anything (altho ILY came out of left field) but because of how it was presented to us....I'm pretty sure I stared at my kindle for more than a few seconds just so I could process (lol).
But make no mistake, the Delphine Dryden magic touch is there. I've read several of her works, and every time, I am captivated by her characters and the ease of her style. And this was no exception. I just wish there was more Seth than James ....
October 17, 2012
I picked this one up thanks to LizMc2's review, and I'm glad I did.
Allison Moore is a psychology professor. Her current research is on the cues that let you know when someone is lying in written communications, and she's found massively multiplayer online games the perfect arena to find research subjects (though how she figures out whether a particular player is, indeed, lying is never explained... never mind, though, I was able to skip over that).
One of the people she's been chatting with for a while is a player who, her research tells her, is someone who doesn't lie. As the book starts, their increasingly flirty online relationship turns into something more, when they realise, through a couple of innocent comments about their respective favourite Indian restaurants, that they work in the same university. In fact, Seth Brantley is also a professor there, and like Allison, he originally came to the game for his research (which sounded pretty interesting to this economist, especially given cases like this).
Their flirtation soon turns into something more, and it's clear from the start that these two are kindred spirits. However, Allison has just come out of a relationship, and is feeling particularly skittish, so she's reluctant to start another relationship.
There was a lot to like in this novella. The romance was lovely, in a very sweet, geeky way. Seth and Allison really click, and they get each other right from the beginning. It was also quite hot, even their initial sexual encounters, which take place online. Not only did I find these appealing, I thought they emphasised their mental connection very nicely. I also loved their quiet moments, which showed just how perfect they were for each other.
Something else I liked was the strong relationship Allison had with her female friends and with her father, and I enjoyed the setting and the use of the characters' research in the story. Allison's research into lying, especially, was used to very good effect.
The story wasn't perfect though. My main issue was that I really didn't buy Allison's reasons for being so reluctant to get involved with Seth. Yes, she's recently come out of a relationship, and it wasn't a good one. However, this wasn't because there was some sort of traumatic abuse there, but because her partner just didn't get her at all. He didn't see her as an individual, and just projected what he wanted from a future wife onto her. And Allison stayed with him much longer than she should have. She ended up leaving him, though, and it didn't sound to me like she was particularly broken up about it. I just couldn't make the connection between "I dated a guy who didn't know who I really was and didn't care" and "therefore I'm reluctant to get involved with this sexy guy to whom I'm ridiculously attracted and who totally gets me". That was a little bit frustrating.
In addition to this, the ending was terribly abrupt. The book just... ends, in what felt like the middle of things. It really needed a little bit more there. I don't need everything tied up in a nice little bow, but sex - hurried exchange of declarations of love - the end, is just not enough.
Still, a good one, and I will definitely try this author again. She does seem to have a few which are BDSM, though, which is not my thing at all, so I'll need to avoid them.
MY GRADE: A B-.
Allison Moore is a psychology professor. Her current research is on the cues that let you know when someone is lying in written communications, and she's found massively multiplayer online games the perfect arena to find research subjects (though how she figures out whether a particular player is, indeed, lying is never explained... never mind, though, I was able to skip over that).
One of the people she's been chatting with for a while is a player who, her research tells her, is someone who doesn't lie. As the book starts, their increasingly flirty online relationship turns into something more, when they realise, through a couple of innocent comments about their respective favourite Indian restaurants, that they work in the same university. In fact, Seth Brantley is also a professor there, and like Allison, he originally came to the game for his research (which sounded pretty interesting to this economist, especially given cases like this).
Their flirtation soon turns into something more, and it's clear from the start that these two are kindred spirits. However, Allison has just come out of a relationship, and is feeling particularly skittish, so she's reluctant to start another relationship.
There was a lot to like in this novella. The romance was lovely, in a very sweet, geeky way. Seth and Allison really click, and they get each other right from the beginning. It was also quite hot, even their initial sexual encounters, which take place online. Not only did I find these appealing, I thought they emphasised their mental connection very nicely. I also loved their quiet moments, which showed just how perfect they were for each other.
Something else I liked was the strong relationship Allison had with her female friends and with her father, and I enjoyed the setting and the use of the characters' research in the story. Allison's research into lying, especially, was used to very good effect.
The story wasn't perfect though. My main issue was that I really didn't buy Allison's reasons for being so reluctant to get involved with Seth. Yes, she's recently come out of a relationship, and it wasn't a good one. However, this wasn't because there was some sort of traumatic abuse there, but because her partner just didn't get her at all. He didn't see her as an individual, and just projected what he wanted from a future wife onto her. And Allison stayed with him much longer than she should have. She ended up leaving him, though, and it didn't sound to me like she was particularly broken up about it. I just couldn't make the connection between "I dated a guy who didn't know who I really was and didn't care" and "therefore I'm reluctant to get involved with this sexy guy to whom I'm ridiculously attracted and who totally gets me". That was a little bit frustrating.
In addition to this, the ending was terribly abrupt. The book just... ends, in what felt like the middle of things. It really needed a little bit more there. I don't need everything tied up in a nice little bow, but sex - hurried exchange of declarations of love - the end, is just not enough.
Still, a good one, and I will definitely try this author again. She does seem to have a few which are BDSM, though, which is not my thing at all, so I'll need to avoid them.
MY GRADE: A B-.
July 6, 2012
I read this while traveling so didn't put together a review. Just a few random notes:
-- I loved Seth's screenname, "notmyrealname." This was totally in keeping with his decision to be honest whenever possible.
-- Seth himself I found a little bland.
-- A scene in which the characters indulge in computer/phone sex while imagining what it would have been like when they were teenagers was just amazing. One of the hottest scenes I've ever read and they can't even really touch.
-- I loved Seth's screenname, "notmyrealname." This was totally in keeping with his decision to be honest whenever possible.
-- Seth himself I found a little bland.
-- A scene in which the characters indulge in computer/phone sex while imagining what it would have been like when they were teenagers was just amazing. One of the hottest scenes I've ever read and they can't even really touch.
July 5, 2018
Light, fun, and hot. Also currently FREE.
April 2, 2016
This sexy and fun romance (a re-release of a story first published in 2009) is the story of Allison and Seth. When they meet in an online gaming forum, it's all fun and games - until they discover inadvertently that they are both professors at the same school and are playing the game for research purposes (though truthfully they are having a pretty fun time doing it). Given the chance to meet up in real life, can they take the relationship they've built online and turn it into the real deal?
I loved this story! This is the first novel I've read where both characters are into online gaming in a really hard core way, and the descriptions of the gaming and their online interactions felt very realistic. Allison's psychology research involves discerning truth telling in online chats and she's searching for clues from her anonymous participants in how they 'talk' online since she isn't able to get the normal visual clues that indicate if someone is telling the truth. She's always thought that the man with the screen name "Notmyrealname" (ha!) came across as an honest individual. Seth on the other hand is studying economics in relation to game playing. Meeting up in person means they won't be able to use each other in their research as the anonymity will be lost, but they get one better - the chance to meet in person someone they've interacted with online, and discover that they have quite the attraction to each other. Allison is more reserved than Seth, and when their computer chatting turns intimate, she surprises herself by jumping head first into an affair (electronic at the start) with a man she hardly knows. But Seth is patient and sweet and generous and she soon discovers that a real relationship with him is better than any she's ever had before. Allison has trust issues, ones that make it easier for her to be more free in the privacy of her home than in person. But Seth takes care to make Allison feel at ease. He comes across as a genuinely nice, friendly and caring person, and I really liked his character. They share some pretty steamy scenes together both online and off, and I swear, their chat scene where they re-enact what it would have been like if they'd been making out as teenagers was spot on.
There are some very interesting secondary characters in the story as well (Seth's brother Drew and Allison's cousin Tess in particular) whose stories I'm looking forward to reading in other books in the series. There is a sweet and satisfying ending to the story, and I really enjoyed everything about it. A unique, sexy romance, and one I had a hard time putting down once I started reading. 4.5 stars.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
I loved this story! This is the first novel I've read where both characters are into online gaming in a really hard core way, and the descriptions of the gaming and their online interactions felt very realistic. Allison's psychology research involves discerning truth telling in online chats and she's searching for clues from her anonymous participants in how they 'talk' online since she isn't able to get the normal visual clues that indicate if someone is telling the truth. She's always thought that the man with the screen name "Notmyrealname" (ha!) came across as an honest individual. Seth on the other hand is studying economics in relation to game playing. Meeting up in person means they won't be able to use each other in their research as the anonymity will be lost, but they get one better - the chance to meet in person someone they've interacted with online, and discover that they have quite the attraction to each other. Allison is more reserved than Seth, and when their computer chatting turns intimate, she surprises herself by jumping head first into an affair (electronic at the start) with a man she hardly knows. But Seth is patient and sweet and generous and she soon discovers that a real relationship with him is better than any she's ever had before. Allison has trust issues, ones that make it easier for her to be more free in the privacy of her home than in person. But Seth takes care to make Allison feel at ease. He comes across as a genuinely nice, friendly and caring person, and I really liked his character. They share some pretty steamy scenes together both online and off, and I swear, their chat scene where they re-enact what it would have been like if they'd been making out as teenagers was spot on.
There are some very interesting secondary characters in the story as well (Seth's brother Drew and Allison's cousin Tess in particular) whose stories I'm looking forward to reading in other books in the series. There is a sweet and satisfying ending to the story, and I really enjoyed everything about it. A unique, sexy romance, and one I had a hard time putting down once I started reading. 4.5 stars.
Note: a copy of this story was provided by the author for review.
August 29, 2019
3.5
I LOVE the concept. I love the setting. The hot scenes were hot. And it had a nice arc, a bit of inner conflict and great banter. I am a sucker for professors and university people in romance (and real life) so this did some nice things to my platonic relationship with becoming a uni professor. And those research topics were fascinating, being a geek is awesome. Especially if said geek is hot and has social skills. Kind of unreal, but I can roll with it.
I refuse to acknowledge the previous cover because it is unspeakably bad and I just can't.
I LOVE the concept. I love the setting. The hot scenes were hot. And it had a nice arc, a bit of inner conflict and great banter. I am a sucker for professors and university people in romance (and real life) so this did some nice things to my platonic relationship with becoming a uni professor. And those research topics were fascinating, being a geek is awesome. Especially if said geek is hot and has social skills. Kind of unreal, but I can roll with it.
I refuse to acknowledge the previous cover because it is unspeakably bad and I just can't.
August 28, 2011
I was hooked by the premise instantly--two gamers who meet anonymously online turn out to be profs working in the buildings across from one another--and read it virtually in one sitting. It's smoothly & smartly written, the characters are loveable, and their neuroses and conflicts believable. Del's backlist, here I come!
January 7, 2022
Good quality nerdy smut, which unexpectedly sent me down a rabbit hole trying to find out if anyone has published anything like the fictional character's research into indicators of truthfulness in internet chat.
October 2, 2015
This was super cute, much like a lot of Del's books. Her books always guarantee me finishing a book with a huge, silly grin on my face :)
December 4, 2015
This was a sweet little novella. I LOVED Seth. Allison was a little harder to get close too which is why I am giving this one a 3 star as opposed to a 4 star.
June 30, 2016
I liked this one, but felt that it could have been a bit more engaging had it been fleshed out to an entire novel.
no-dnf-zzz-avoid
July 22, 2015Couldn't get past sample....boring
August 28, 2022
So I am rating this a 3.5. The story idea was so gosh darn cute. I could understand the problem in the FMC head, but sometimes I wanted to yell at her, but her besties/family did that for her lol. Seth the MMC is AHMAZING. Such a real kind and honest man. I think this is one of my favorite male characters I've read about. I normally read the dark messed up ones. But this was such a nice difference to read about. He was perfect in everyday and so understanding in every situation. The only reason it isn't 4 stars is because I feel like there was too much fluff I didn't care about in-between. I felt like her going back home to the game ect was just a little much. I guess it needed some backstory, so I understand. I did feel a tad bored at those times, but the other times it was right on the money. Thank you to the author for writing such a amazing male character and great chemistry between too spicy nerds.. 😍
July 23, 2017
Not a terrible read, just too bland for me. I was rather bored and kept skipping over parts just to get finished. Not to mention that I also thought this would be at least a little kinky, this was as vanilla as they come.
December 31, 2017
Delphine Dryden is good--certainly good enough that even when her romances are a bit slow and perhaps not that interesting, they're still pleasant to read. Good dialogue, good secondary characters--just not good enough (in this case) to warrant 4 stars from me.
But I did buy the second one.
But I did buy the second one.
October 18, 2023
Delivered what it promised. Unfortunately what it promised was cybersex and I didn't anticipate exactly how much that would make me cringe at certain points. But apart from the references to one-handed typing, Seth is just as smooth as he thinks he is (iykyk).
May 29, 2024
Too short
I am a Delphine fan. No doubt about it. I just wish her books were longer! I need more of her characters and more of her sexytimez. And if they were KU I’d be even happier.
I am a Delphine fan. No doubt about it. I just wish her books were longer! I need more of her characters and more of her sexytimez. And if they were KU I’d be even happier.
May 17, 2021
I'm on the fence as to whether I really liked or just liked it. It was cool.
October 17, 2022
I liked it! It was a quick read, funny and hot!
Want to read
March 12, 2023Purch Amazon Feb 6, 2018
July 30, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - amazing novella. short and sweet, and so endearing with the perfect amount of spice and realism mixed in
August 25, 2017
I felt I was missing something with this novel which is why it only rated three stars.
Allison is a college professor researching how people lie and how to detect lies. She is conducting her research in online gaming and her character's name is Aeiou. For the past three months she has been gaming as part of a group, one member in particular has caught her attention as he writes in full sentences and, to her knowledge, has not lied online, his character's name in Notmyrealname.
I really liked the sound of this story - a woman who shies away from commitment after a failed relationship meeting someone online and creating a connection. Unfortunately, for me, there was not enough development of the online relationship. All too soon Allison and Seth are having a private online conversation and realise that they are both professors at the same college - in fact they can see each other's windows in the quad.
As I have said, this wasn't quite the novel I was expecting, which may just be me misinterpreting the blurb. There was a tad too much sex (although reading the blurb for the next two books that appears to be the author's 'thing') and I frankly found Allison's two cousins/ friends pretty annoying. I really didn't understand why they were so irritated by Allison - perhaps I empathised with her too much (sharing a name and all) or perhaps there wasn't enough background to explain their frustration.
Allison and Seth fall prey to instalove (yeah, I know they've been online gaming for months but you don't really get an impression of the two of them gradually spending more time together and talking etc.
Anyway, if you are looking for a novel about two college professors who meet in an online gaming room and have lots of sex while she sorts out her feelings - this is the one for you.
Allison is a college professor researching how people lie and how to detect lies. She is conducting her research in online gaming and her character's name is Aeiou. For the past three months she has been gaming as part of a group, one member in particular has caught her attention as he writes in full sentences and, to her knowledge, has not lied online, his character's name in Notmyrealname.
I really liked the sound of this story - a woman who shies away from commitment after a failed relationship meeting someone online and creating a connection. Unfortunately, for me, there was not enough development of the online relationship. All too soon Allison and Seth are having a private online conversation and realise that they are both professors at the same college - in fact they can see each other's windows in the quad.
As I have said, this wasn't quite the novel I was expecting, which may just be me misinterpreting the blurb. There was a tad too much sex (although reading the blurb for the next two books that appears to be the author's 'thing') and I frankly found Allison's two cousins/ friends pretty annoying. I really didn't understand why they were so irritated by Allison - perhaps I empathised with her too much (sharing a name and all) or perhaps there wasn't enough background to explain their frustration.
Allison and Seth fall prey to instalove (yeah, I know they've been online gaming for months but you don't really get an impression of the two of them gradually spending more time together and talking etc.
Anyway, if you are looking for a novel about two college professors who meet in an online gaming room and have lots of sex while she sorts out her feelings - this is the one for you.
May 22, 2016
Started this for some reading before bed and stayed up the finish the whole thing! Slightly "sweeter" than her Science of Temptation series, but I liked it just as much. Great writing, realistic characters and an understanding of nerds/geeks/misfits/introverts combine to make a satisfying (heh) read.
I liked Allison, but I agreed with her cousins that she was way too attached to focusing on how things ended with her previous relationship. I'm glad they gave her a kick in the pants and basically said "we're tired of hearing about this guy, it's time to move on already!". It's nice to see female friendship in a romance novel, and give the heroine someone to talk to outside of her head.
Seth seemed like a nice, well-adjusted normal guy. We don't get to read his POV, so he didn't seem to have as much depth of character as Allie. He does have a really nice house though!
The ending was a little HFN, but since the rest of the series focuses on people both Allie and Seth know, I assume they'll be popping up in later installments and we'll hear how they're doing. Of course I'm particularly interested to read Lindy's story - "professional knitter" set off all my catnip alarms!
I liked Allison, but I agreed with her cousins that she was way too attached to focusing on how things ended with her previous relationship. I'm glad they gave her a kick in the pants and basically said "we're tired of hearing about this guy, it's time to move on already!". It's nice to see female friendship in a romance novel, and give the heroine someone to talk to outside of her head.
Seth seemed like a nice, well-adjusted normal guy. We don't get to read his POV, so he didn't seem to have as much depth of character as Allie. He does have a really nice house though!
The ending was a little HFN, but since the rest of the series focuses on people both Allie and Seth know, I assume they'll be popping up in later installments and we'll hear how they're doing. Of course I'm particularly interested to read Lindy's story - "professional knitter" set off all my catnip alarms!
August 2, 2012
3.5 stars.
Cute, sexy shortish novel about two professors who meet online in a MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing game - think World of Warcraft for example) and, after some mild flirting for months, realise that they are actually at the same university. The meet and things progress fairly quickly from there. I think the aspect of Allison self sabotaging relationships to protect herself from loss could have been explored further and the I love you will you marry me was too fast for me. But, for the most part, I found this an enjoyable read. As I don't play MMORPG's I can't say how accurate the play depicted was, but according to my husband (who does play) and from what I told him, it seemed like it probably was (with only a few name changes, I suspect to protect from copyright breaches).
www.kaetrinsmusings.blogspot.com
Cute, sexy shortish novel about two professors who meet online in a MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing game - think World of Warcraft for example) and, after some mild flirting for months, realise that they are actually at the same university. The meet and things progress fairly quickly from there. I think the aspect of Allison self sabotaging relationships to protect herself from loss could have been explored further and the I love you will you marry me was too fast for me. But, for the most part, I found this an enjoyable read. As I don't play MMORPG's I can't say how accurate the play depicted was, but according to my husband (who does play) and from what I told him, it seemed like it probably was (with only a few name changes, I suspect to protect from copyright breaches).
www.kaetrinsmusings.blogspot.com
July 16, 2017
Novellas are a difficult format. The limited length often leaves something wanting: characterization, conflict resolution, plot. Dryden has zero problems with any of these. This was an excellent read, featuring two intelligent characters navigating a new relationship after it turns out they've been playing in the same multiplayer online game for research purposes, Dryden excels at writing acedemics. She doesn't just tell us they're smart. The characters exude intelligence and appreciation of that quality in each other. I have no doubt that I could find research studies similar to Allison and Seth's. The only problem I had was that I shouldn't have made it my lunch time read, as it was really difficult to put down.
May 14, 2012
This was a freebie I picked up from All Romance Ebooks.
My quick notes: good, introspective, about academics, good depiction, sweet and hot sex. Look up her others.
More details: I really enjoyed this one. The hero and heroine were introverts and very intellectual. They spent a lot of time in their heads thinking through their relationship and where it was headed, especially the heroine. But it was all written in a very believable way. I thought the depiction of life in academia was realistic - no glamorous, jet-setting life, as depicted in other romances, research, writing papers, lectures, etc.
I'm looking forward to reading more books by Ms. Dryden.
My quick notes: good, introspective, about academics, good depiction, sweet and hot sex. Look up her others.
More details: I really enjoyed this one. The hero and heroine were introverts and very intellectual. They spent a lot of time in their heads thinking through their relationship and where it was headed, especially the heroine. But it was all written in a very believable way. I thought the depiction of life in academia was realistic - no glamorous, jet-setting life, as depicted in other romances, research, writing papers, lectures, etc.
I'm looking forward to reading more books by Ms. Dryden.
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