I feel like I’ve been away from the romance community for way too long! Two weeks ago we went to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, one of my absolute favorite places to go. Several families join us and we do NOTHING for seven days, but sit on the beach. It’s glorious. You would think I would have hours upon hours to read while sitting on the beach, but I never seemed to be able to pick up my Kindle for long. (I played a lot of Kan Jam and drank a lot of margaritas). I did read a bit of the Sebastian St. Cyr series by CS Harris. I’m on book three. By the rate I’m going, I’ll finish the series in about twenty years. I really love the hero and the author’s voice. I actually think I may start listening to them – they seem to have good reviews for the narrator at audible.
This week I read Devoted to Pleasure by Shayla Black. I haven’t read a ton of her work, but I knew I was in for a hot and spicy read. She definitely delivers in the bedroom. If you like erotic books, this one is filled with smexy times. Our heroine, Shealyn West, is an actress who is being blackmailed for a video of her, and her former lover, having sex. Shealyn just wants to pay the blackmail money and be on her way, but she hires the hero, Cutter, who is a bodyguard, to give her some protection until the mess can be sorted out. When the attempt at paying the blackmailer becomes an attempt at murder, Cutter goes on high alert and knows there is something bigger going on. These two fall hard and fast for each other but they have some obstacles in their way. Cutter had promised his childhood friend, who is single and pregnant, and terrified of being blacklisted by her family, that he would marry her to save her reputation (this was before he met Shealyn).
And Shealyn has a pretend relationship going on with one of her co-stars, to help him out of a jam. So while the fall into bed easily, and grow romantic attachments to one another fast, things also get messy.
I didn’t love the fake relationship that Shealyn had with her co-star and the side story that came with it. I wish more time had been spent building up Shealyn and Cutter’s relationship. It borders on insta-love and felt a little too easy for me. Cutter’s insane jealously also came on too strong for me. But I liked Cutter and Shealyn and if you are in the mood for an erotic book with a little suspense, you might want to check this one out.
Grade: B-
Today I’m starting a Gentleman Never Keeps Score by Cat Sebastian.
That sounds like a fun vacation, Mandi! I look forward to learning what you think of A Gentleman Never Keeps Score as I’ve read and enjoyed other books by the author.