The Theory of Attraction by Delphine Dryden
Contemporary Romance, BDSM
July 9, 2012
Carina Press
Reviewed by Mandi
When the review request for Theory of Attraction came my way, the author described it as a BDSM Nerd-mance. How could I resist a book like this? I wish more books were published with this theme. A nerd who has a secret BDSM side…let’s discuss.
Dr. Ivan Reynolds is a rocket scientist. He lives in a townhouse complex that is highly populated by computer scientists and other physicist types. His next door neighbor is Cami, who is a computer programmer. She has a crush on her reclusive, cranky neighbor. They have a friendship of sorts, but Ivan has a personality that is hard to crack. He is demanding of people and his manners leave something to be desired.
When Ivan hears his project might not get funding and that he might actually have to charm up donors to keep things going, he turns to Cami for etiquette behavior.
I really love this concept. A man who has no social grace, who by all accounts is extremely awkward in social situations, yet the heroine adores that about him and wants him in bed. Ivan is a very arrogant nerd. I wasn’t really prepared for that. I love a nerd, but I think the nerds I love more are the quiet ones. Ivan has a lot of confidence So much, that he actually comes off as a jerk. Cami recognizes this, and even likes it in a way:
I tried to think how I would phrase that. ‘Hey, I don’t know why exactly, because you can be a jerk sometimes, but I think your heart is in the right place and your jerkiness seems to arouse me. Let’s have sex.’
Nope. That was definitely not going to be said by me any time soon.
While Ivan is cold and sometimes it was hard for me to understand why Cami was so attracted to him, there are moments where her attraction comes through strong:
He seemed genuinely regretful as he rose and offered a hand to pull me up from my chair. This time I knew enough to brace myself for the hot shock of desire, the thrilling enervation from such a little touch. My overreaction would do any Regency romance’s maiden heroine proud, but I knew it was probably more a function of anticipation and imagination than any deeper chemistry or mystical bond between us. Still. It was hot, even if it only lasted for a second or two. Even if his momentary flirtation had vanished into the usually chilly, hard-to-read expression I knew so well.
I like that this author pairs Ivan with a heroine that is so relatable. She loves Mr. Darcy and romance books. She is open, warm and funny. While it was harder to connect to Ivan, Cami is the one that kept pulling me back into the story. And as they spent time together, I really was curious to see how Ivan would act and perform in the bedroom.
What we come to find out is that Ivan is ALL about control in the bedroom. And my, my, my, he is not shy about it one bit.
“I don’t play these games out in the real world, Cami.” His voice was rough, almost resentful. Torn, he sounded torn. I felt a surge of raw hope and need, even as he said everything he could to deter me. “I know how to fuck. I like to fuck. I just don’t do well with people, and I have very particular tastes.”
Ivan is dominant and his desires come out in an extreme form. I liked their bedroom play and it fit well with his arrogance outside the bedroom. As I was talking about this book on Twitter (while I was reading it) another blogger mentioned how he didn’t pick up on social clues in situations outside the bedroom, yet in the bedroom, he could read Cami. As I continued to read, I have to agree. There is even a line towards the end that reads, “He didn’t do subtext or innuendo.” But he does. In the bedroom, as a Dom, he has to pick up on every one of Cami’s slight needs, to keep her satisfied and to ride that edge of control so it doesn’t go the wrong way. He picks up on her every little desire. Yet in a social situation when he is conversing, he can’t read people? That doesn’t seem to mesh well. Had I picked up on this without the other blogger’s comment? I’m not sure, but I do have to agree with her assessment.
The end result is that I found Ivan to be a very different hero. Too much of a jerk for me? Yes. It was hard to get past his attitude sometimes. But I did find his relationship at the end with Cami believable. I’m glad the author took a chance with this one.
Rating: C+
Recent Reviews:
The Book Pushers – A-
Under the Covers – 3/5
RR@H Novel Thoughts – 3/5
Goodreads
Kindle l Nook l Carina Press
Oh, Ivan worked for me on every possible level! I love me some Ivan. :-)
I should probably say that I’m friends with the author & read this book in manuscript, but we’ve never talked about this particular point, so this is all me just spouting off. I think the thing about Ivan in the bedroom is that as a Dom, there’s a very particular set of rules, and he gets to set them. In the real world, people don’t always say what they mean, and they also say things they don’t mean. That doesn’t make sense to Ivan. It’s not so much that he doesn’t pick up on social cues, it’s that he doesn’t understand them, or (perhaps more often) that he *does* understand them but he thinks they’re stupid, and he doesn’t see why he should have to be bound by them. It’s like his logic brain is very poorly balanced out by his social brain. But in the bedroom, Ivan is in charge, and he can remake the world in a way that makes sense to him. I found that very convincing, and rather endearing, actually. I liked that Ivan had worked out a way to have a healthy, satisfying sex life — and I liked watching him try to adapt it as he had to find a way to fit Cami into it.
It’s not so much that he doesn’t pick up on social cues, it’s that he doesn’t understand them, or (perhaps more often) that he *does* understand them but he thinks they’re stupid, and he doesn’t see why he should have to be bound by them.
I buy into the fact more that he understands them, but he thinks they are stupid. Because I really think he does understand subtext and innuendo…and we are told he doesn’t, it did made me scratch my head a little.
But in the bedroom, Ivan is in charge, and he can remake the world in a way that makes sense to him
This is a good point. I almost want to have another book with them, so we can spend more time figuring Ivan out. I think there is a lot left to explore with him. Maybe see a little more warmth in his character towards the heroine.
That would be fun! Cara McKenna is doing this for Curio — a series of novellas that take place after the end of the book. Maybe she’ll start a trend. I’d be so on board for Cami & Ivan novellas! And it would be really interesting, too, to see how Cami adjusts over the long haul — whether she becomes a lifestyle submissive or not, and whether and how Ivan finds ways to accommodate being in a committed partnership.
Yes, excited for the McKenna novellas.
I think Cami and Ivan have a lot of story left in them. That would be cool.
Hmmmm…I could see a person being more astute in the bedroom then out, if only because the bedroom matters more. :) Sex for the win!! lol
I have this one waiting and hopefully I can get somedown time to read it. I’ll have to wait because with KA, I’ve almost overfilled on alpha macho jerks.
Hehe..the bedroom matter more.
You and your Ashley heroes! Can anyone live up to their alpha-ness?
Ummm……Barron is pretty dang close. :)
WORD.
I really liked Ivan. It was Cami who started to work my nerves towards the end. She knows how Ivan’s brain works and yet she would be pissed at him for not knowing how to act like a boyfriend. He’s never been anyone’s boyfriend. He’s a Dom. I couldn’t understand why she didn’t GET that. I still liked the book. I love hot nerds. There needs to be more of them in romance.
I really enjoy jerk heroes sometimes.. the noble and “good” ones get very tiresome. Is this out as an ebook yet? Totally going on my whishlist. Great review :)
Yes it’s out. The purchase link are at the end of the review. :)
You had me at Nerd-mance. I love nerdy heroes.
I love nerdy heroes too. I got this book based on your review. I would give the book a b or b-. I saw Ivan as that boyfriend that your nice friend has that you don’t hate, but you don’t really like. he’s not a complete jerk, but you find yourself wondering to yourself, “glad i’m not dating him.” i liked Cami and appreciated how you saw her falling for Ivan (before they began the relationship) even if the reader didn’t fall for him. i did wish it was a little longer; if only because the ending felt rushed & another scene with them as a couple with others would have given a little more “umph” to the ending. thanks for the review.
Glad you enjoyed..and yes..a little longer would have been nice. I totally agree with – iI saw Ivan as that boyfriend that your nice friend has that you don’t hate, but you don’t really like. he’s not a complete jerk, but you find yourself wondering to yourself, “glad i’m not dating him./i
Yes! :)
:)
The content was instead catching and interesting enough to
get all possible nuances to recall. I do get pleasure from reading the material and the composing manner of the writer, etc..