A Gentleman in the Street by Alisha Rai
Released: November 24, 2014
Erotic Romance
Self Published

Reviewed by Mandi

Favorite Quote: “When do you sleep?”

She glanced deliberately at her watch. “Sometime between fucking and ruling the world.”

This is one dirty book, with a very strong heroine and a grumpy, more serious hero. Thumbs up to this combination!

Akira Mori is very, very rich. She owns nightclubs and bars and is a brilliant business woman. She is known for her orgy filled house parties and wild lifestyle. Jacob Campbell is an author. He doesn’t have many friends and spends his time hiding in a cabin writing, and taking care of his seventeen year old sister. So how do these two meet? Well…. fourteen years ago, Jacob’s father married Akira’s mother. The marriage only lasted a year, but Jacob and his siblings became pretty close with Akira’s mother. Unfortunately, Akira and her mother have never gotten along, so this bond that Jacob has with her now deceased mother, has always eluded Akira. Her relationship with Jacob and his siblings has always been rocky too. However, Akira was close with her grandmother, and when she learns her grandmother’s heirloom has been passed down to Jacob, Akira tracks him down to ask for it back.

Ever since Akira and Jacob met, all those years ago, there has been something between them. Both would never admit it, but they are both addicted to the other. Jacob watched as his father became addicted to women and other things, and refuses to travel that path with Akira. Instead, he becomes distant with her, rude, and not treating her well when she is around, knowing if he ever let his guard down for one second, he would be lost in her. Akira isn’t rude to him, but a tease and a flirt. Calling him “Brother Jacob” in reference to their parent’s brief marriage together.

“My father was married to your mother for three minutes over fourteen years ago. Doesn’t make me your brother.”

What a logical man. She delighted in twisted logic. “A year, brother. They were married a year. But can you put a time limit on the bonds of family?”

Anything to get under his skin, or put on an act that all she care about is getting men (or women) in her bed. But Jacob has thoughts of his own when she tries to annoy him…

Teasing and flirting with him was a game to her, a way to prick his temper. He’d watched her employ the same strategies on other people for years.

Let her think he was an uptight prig. She didn’t know that every time she called him “brother” he wanted to put her over his knee and paddle that delicious bottom before he demonstrated all unbrotherly thoughts in his head.

These two have that “I hate you, but oh my god I love you so much” deep vibe going on. It’s so hot. And the tension that Alisha Rai writes into this story is done so well. Both Jacob and Akira didn’t have the best childhood or parents. Jacob has raised his two brothers (who are now adults and are very close and own their own landscaping business – I really hope they each get a book! They amuse me) and his younger sister, who is currently seventeen. He is a popular author, and weaving his way through raising a teenage girl and all the issues that come with that. When Akira pops back into his life, looking for her grandmother’s heirloom, the tension inside of him is almost too much to take. It felt like if he reached out and just touched her with his finger tip, he would explode. Just wait for when they actually do act on their attraction.

His lips slammed down on hers and cut off her words.

For a split second, she could only sit, stunned, as his mouth moved on hers. What. The. Fuck.

Had she ever been kissed like this? Had he ever kissed like this? Because he kissed like he hadn’t tasted a woman in forty years, like she was the last woman on earth. He kissed like there would be no beginning or end without her.

Fucking. Hot.

Alisha Rai writes some very, very hot scenes. There is a scene where Jacob watches while someone else has sex with Akira. Let’s have a peek:

A drop of sweat rolled down Jacob’s temple. He ought to be outraged. Or disgusted. Maybe writhing with jealousy. His cock shouldn’t be so hard it ached as he watched another man suck on the woman he lusted after. It shouldn’t grow harder at the thought of watching the other man fuck the woman he wanted to fuck.

There is also a big house party orgy scene (maybe a little over the top…but still sexy) and other times where they come so passionately together.

Akira is such a strong woman. While she feels vulnerable at times because of her poor relationship with her mother, and a horrible ongoing relationship with her douchebag father, she isn’t naive. She isn’t such a successful business woman without being very smart. She can be called names, or people can assume untrue things about her, and she can handle herself. She isn’t all smooth going with Jacob – her intense attraction to him is almost too much for her to take, but it’s fun to watch her try to keep her cool around him ad then eventually feel strong enough to totally be herself. Her shields are always up to high and tight to protect herself from those darn emotional feelings, when she drops them it’s rewarding.

While there is great sex in this book, what I really loved is the courtship. Jacob courts and woos Akira with flowers and thoughtful gifts. He takes his time with his romantic gestures. It’ sweet and softened his serious edges.

Definitely recommend this one.

Rating: B+

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