Story: 4 Presentation: 9
Total: 13
Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Contemporary Erotic
Blurb: Ethan’s on the run from the mob. He’s in for a surprise when he knocks on the door of his sister’s neighbor. The last thing he needs is a distraction like Bailey. She’s sexy and sassy and dressed in skimpy shorts—and he wants to take her where she stands.
Sex with a stranger? Bailey would never think of it. Ethan’s no stranger though, he’s her friend Jenna’s brother, so that makes him a friend too, right? Sex in the kitchen, sex in the bedroom, sex on the couch, it doesn’t matter. Bailey can’t get enough of this hot-blooded stranger.
Will Ethan’s past catch up to him and ruin any hopes for their future?
Review: Every now and again, there is a book that you hate to write the review. This is one of those times because I know Ms. Skyze is a better storyteller than this book delivers. (In fact read Ignited and see the review here )
There were a few moments of redemption where the action was fast and the sexual tension thickened. But sadly it wasn’t enough to save this story. The story and characters are rife with contradictions. Chapter One was weak, the motivation not only contrived but the characters are both unlikeable. In the author’s own words, Ethan could be a rapist standing at her door. But she still invites him in and is screwing him within minutes. The pacing and timing are off which makes the story difficult to follow. The sex was mechanical and even though they are complete strangers, there was no connection. And because they were complete strangers, I didn’t buy why Bailey was indignant, nor did I buy the instant love between two people who only wanted to fuck. The overdramatic way Bailey’s never felt this way before and for Ethan, she’s getting under his skin, but wait they don’t know each other. By the end of the story, he wants to take care of her and she’s in love. But it hasn’t been a full day. Ethan doesn’t want a serious relationship because women are more trouble than they are worth (funny for a guy in a whole heap of trouble) and then suddenly he is thinking about a future with her, a future he’ll sacrifice to keep her safe from the mobsters he owes money to. Which brings me to a very unheroic character that not only gets involved with gambling and the mob, but then potentially leaves his sister in the crossfire of the thugs. Alas the ending was too easy and I really didn’t get the “story” of this story. There was an abundance of graphic sex. But without investing the reader in the characters, I didn’t “feel” any of it. It was simply words on a page. Insert peg A into slot B. Even if you skip chapter one and pretend they’ve known each other longer than 15 minutes, this story still wouldn’t work for me.
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