The Theory of Attraction - by Delphine Dryden

I loved this story and could relate to it for so many reasons.  Mostly because like the hero of the story, Ivan, is not unlike my husband brilliant but socially inept.  And I like the heroine, Camillia, hung out with the geeks despite not being quite so brilliant.

Camilla lives next door to astrophysicist Ivan.  Recently she has discovered that he is something of a hunk underneath all that OCD and social awkwardness.  They have been friendly since she moved in and she knows his routine down pat (think Sheldon Cooper from Big Bang Theory).  But he knows he is out of his depth when it comes to social conventions and asks Cami to help him prepare for an important fundraiser where he is expected to mingle.  (Think Penny).  Now STOP.  This is where it deviates from any BBT analogy you might have.  Because of her attraction to Ivan Cami has often wondered about Ivan’s sex life.  She has never seen him with a date of either sex.  Ivan is a detail oriented man and at some point he was introduced to BDSM and it appealed to him because there are rules and it requires upfront communication.  After one of their socialization lessons where Cami has been more flirtatious than normal she finds out exactly what being with Ivan entails.  The chemistry is nuclear. 

This story is funny, quirky, sexy and an outright blast.

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

 Currently re-reading The Harlequin (Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, #15)

Timeless Bride has a new title - Timeless Desire.

Back in May I reviewed A Timeless Bride by Gwyn Cready.  The title has since changed to Timeless Desire and will be released on July 18^th.

A Timeless Bride by Gwyn Cready

A time-travel romance.  If you combine the best of contemporary and historical romance you get a Gwen Cready book. 

The local Carnegie library is having funding issues (and really who today isn’t).  In an attempt to find something she can sell to help; librarian Panna Kennedy finds a doorway to 1706 on the Scots English border where she gets involved with the handsome Captain Bridgewater. 

If you like dashing men in uniform (even if they are red) and a romp through history with a spunky librarian trying to save the day you will adore this book. 

An aside here: I loved the scene where Panna is trying to explain that sex has changed over the last 300 years.  Well played Capt. Bridgewater.  

Dangerously Close by Dee J. Adams

I’ve re-read books 1-8 of the Anita Blake series and took a break from Anita and her guys to read Dangerously Close by Dee J. Adams.

A little mystery, a little rock and roll and a wonderful romance. 

Rocker Seger Hughes has fallen prey to the rock and roll lifestyle.  When he wakes up after a show in Boise, Idaho with a girl just turned 18 in his bed and the hangover from hell he takes it as a wakeup call to rethink his life.  To that end he cleans up his act for the rest of his tour and arranges to take some time off.  He moves into one of his investment properties in L.A. for some peace, quiet, and introspection.  He didn’t count on neighbor Ashley Bristol.  She is recently blinded and doesn’t recognize him as he is using his given name.  They get to know each other without the barrier of his fame. 

I really liked Ashley as she wasn’t poor pitiful me but neither was she a Pollyanna.  It was wonderful watching Mel pull his head out of his ass and who could help but love Roamer the dog.

Only 14 more Anita Blake books to read before my birthday

Taking a day or two...

The new Anita Blake novel by Laurell K. Hamilton comes out today along with several other books on my wish list.  But the difference is that my daughter usually gets me the new Laurell K. book for my birthday coming up the end of this month.  So I got this crazy bug to re-read the entire Anita Blake series to date.

Guilty Pleasures 

The Laughing Corpse 

Circus of the Damned

The Lunatic Cafe

Bloody Bones

The Killing Dance

Burnt Offerings

Blue Moon

Obsidian Butterfly

Narcissus in Chains

Cerulean Sins

Incubus Dreams

Micah

Danse Macabre

The Harlequin

Blood Noir

Skin Trade

Flirt

Bullet

Hit List

Beauty: An Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter Out-take 

Kiss the Dead (this is the new one)  

Hidden Crimes (Hidden Series, #3) by Emma Holly

Emma Holly has done it again!  We return to the hunky werewolves of RPD we met in Hidden Talents.  This time playboy Nate Rivera is caught by alpha tiger Evina Mohajit from the RFD in a mystery that is replete with Ms. Holly’s trademark scorching hot sex scenes. 

Nate flirts with the curvy firefighter at the local meat market but she is a cat and cats and dogs don’t mix.  Evina has a skill that Nate needs to find out who killed a child and why.  He conscripts her aid and they find themselves getting pulled deeper into the mystery of who is killing shifter kids and why.  As they do they find that maybe cats and dogs can fall in love.

Shadow Rising (Dark Dynasties #3) by Kendra Leigh Castle

When I offered to read this for review for Netgalley I was unaware that it was the third in the series.  I was at first intimidated by the breakdown of the various bloodlines and their gifts.  But halfway into the second chapter I was hooked.  Ms. Castle tells an intriguing story.  I was fascinated by the world Ms. Castle has created.  I will most definitely be checking out the first two books in this series and looking forward to the next. 

What happens when a sheltered member of the Grigori and a world weary shape-shifting assassin are both trying to find the same guy?  Especially when the Grigori, Ariane, is beautiful, trusting and innocent.  Shadow Damian keeps running into Ariane as he tries to find Sammiel.  He is doing it for money and she is doing it for friendship.  Sammiel is the closest thing Ariane has ever had as a friend until she left her people looking for him.  Eventually Damian and Ariane agree to join forces in the hunt.  But the hunt for Sammiel is just the beginning.  Forces for change are happening and all the bloodlines are going to have to prepare for it.

Wicked Desires (Wicked Affairs, Book One) Eliza Lloyd

Regency England.  Michael Dunnaway 41 and his wife Clarissa 35 have a happy marriage based on love and respect.  Or do they?  Michael sees how men look at his wife still beautiful after giving birth to 3 children.  When he spies Clarissa receiving a kiss he immediately assumes she is being unfaithful and his self-esteem is threatened. He can no longer function with her sexually.  He relieves his sexual tension at the local whorehouse by watching others perform for him while he masturbates.  After a year of no intimacy Clarissa finally confronts Michael who refuses to tell her what is wrong.  Clarissa follows him to the whorehouse and the Madam allows her to see what he has been doing and arranges for Clarissa to perform for Michael.  Funny he has no problem getting it up when he thinks she is a whore.  Inevitably she gets caught.

This was a freebie from Amazon.  I couldn’t get over what an ass Michael was.  He feels guilt but keeps doing it anyway.  Why the hell didn’t he just talk to his wife?  The sex scenes were different and would have been more enjoyable if I could just get past the fact that Michael was such an idiot.  Don’t these people ever talk?  This was a quick read and most of the reviews I’ve read didn’t have the issue with Michael that I did.  Give it a shot you can’t beat the price.