Life, parents, work...

Today my dad is going to have quadruple bypass surgery, which, from all accounts should go smoothly. He was supposed to have it on Friday, but things didn't go as planned, naturally, so now it's today. One good thing, my mom isn't panicking, which says a lot, so I should feel pretty reassured. But it's my dad, and this is really the first serious health issue that's ever come up for him. He's 65, has a horrible diet despite my mother's rantings and her cooking, and doesn't really exercise unless their dog Chewy, a half Rottweiler, half German Shepherd drags him out of the house, so he should have seen this coming. Anyway, so at 11am CST today, he'll be wheeled into surgery. Needless to say, I'll be a little distracted at work today.

Tomorrow, I have a job interview. Technically it's for a job I already do, at least that's what my boss tells me, but now I should get the title, and the salary, for it. I hate interviews. Who doesn't? There will be a panel of about 6 people, so I'm trying not to freak out about that. I knew I wasn't going to prepare all weekend, so tonight I'll cram in some studying. That seems to work better for me during times ike this. And there is always the chance I won't get the promotion, so I'm being realistic about that. The cool thing is if I don't get it, I can always self-nominate again next month. But I really hope to get it over with tomorrow. Geez, I can't wait til it's Wednesday....

So that's what's going on with me. How are things in your world?

"Walk the Line" (2005) - movie review

In 1955, a tough, skinny guitar-slinger who called himself J.R. Cash walked into the soon-to-be-famous Sun Studios in Memphis. It was a moment that would have an indelible effect on American culture. With his driving freight-train chords, steel-eyed intensity and a voice as deep and black as night, Cash sang blistering songs of heartache and survival that were gutsy, full of real life and unlike anything heard before. That day kicked off the electrifying early career of Johnny Cash. As he pioneered a fiercely original sound that blazed a trail for rock, country, punk, folk and rap stars to come, Cash began a rough-and-tumble journey of personal transformation. In the most volatile period of his life, he evolved from a self-destructive pop star into the iconic "Man in Black" facing down his demons, fighting for the love that would raise him up, and learning how to walk the razor-thin line between destruction and redemption.

I grew up listening to Johnny Cash; both my parents loved that 70's and older country music, so it was a staple in our house, whether we were in the car or in the living room during dinner. I admit I didn't appreciate my parents' music much growing up. It wasn't until years later I began to really listen to it and realize how much I actually liked it. Still do.

I'm a fan of both Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon, so of course I wanted to see this movie. They are good together, and you can see the immediate chemistry between them very easily. I remember Johnny way more than I do June, but I think I got a good feel for their relationship and romance over course of several years.

We see John (JR) as a young boy working and fishing with his older brother, who plans to be a preacher one day, but dies in a tragic accident at an early age. This loss has a huge impact on Johnny's life, especially as he feels guilty for his brother's death, and is made to feel responsible for it. When he gets older, Johnny goes into the military and is stationed in Germany. He misses his girlfriend Vivian, and proposes to her (he's 22). They get married when he returns to Memphis and John tries to work as a salesman, but he's got music stirring too strongly in his blood. This doesn't sit well with his wife, who doesn't plan to be poor.

One day John comes across Sam Phillips and his studio. Getting together the two buddies he plays with, John gets an audition at Sun Records and they give a lackluster performance of a well-known song that doesn't impress Mr. Phillips. He wants something real, something from the gut. He's reluctant, but John sings a song he's been writing, and you just know that this is "it". A song John has lived and felt.

Things happen pretty fast, and soon John and his band are playing live. He meets an early inspiration, June Cash, whom he's quite taken with, and plays venues with acts like Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley. He starts taking drugs early on, and before too long there were other women. Vivian tells John, while pregnant with their second child, that she will never divorce him. Vivian, portrayed by the radiant Ginnifer Godwin, comes across as being cold and selfish, but at the same time, she's also a Christian woman trying to keep her family together as best as she can without much help from her husband.

Johnny spends more time with June, as they are all on tour together, and eventually things heat up between them, but June later marries someone else and John turns more and more to pills. I didn't realize Cash had a drug addiction when he was so young, but he apparently had some demons, as well as love for a woman other than his wife. It isn't until a few years later that John finally divorces Vivian, or rather she leaves him because of his drug problems, and he's more addicted than ever, even getting himself arrested, yet still he doesn't stop. He lies to his family and even to June, saying he's off the pills. But with the help of June and her family, John slowly overcomes his addiction, and he starts singing again, including an incredible performance at Folsom prison. He starts to re-build his life, accepting God into it and being a man worthy of his June.

I enjoyed this movie very much, and just loved Joaquin and Reese together. They both lit up the screen. Of course anything based on actual events must be taken with a grain of salt, as there are always more than one or two sides to a story, and I'm sure not all of the people involved would agree with the outcome, especially John's and June's children from their different marriages. I read that John and June approved of the casting of Joaquin and Reese, but both singers passed away in 2003, before the finished product. Their's was an incredible love story, and now they are together forever.

If you haven't seen the movie, I definitely recommend it. The music is incredible, and Joaquin sounds eerily like Cash at times. It spans from 1952 - 1968, so there are several decades after that are missing, but it tells the beginning of an amazing career and marriage. It's over 2 hours long, but they pack a lot into it, and the time just flew. Now that's the sign of a good movie.

Rating: **** 1/2 out of *****

A classic romance I've never read: "Flowers From the Storm"

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Pub. Date: October 1992
ISBN-13: 9780380761326

The Duke of Jervaulx was brilliant and dangerous. Considered dissolute, reckless, and extravagant, he was transparently referred to as the 'D of J' in scandal sheets, where he and his various exploits featured with frequency. But sometimes the most womanising rake can be irresistible, and even his most casual attentions fascinated the sheltered Maddy Timms, quiet daughter of a simple mathematician.

By now it's pretty obvious by now that my reading resume has several obvious gaps in it. (I guess if I didn't spend so much time reading the really naughty stuff I'd have a more well-rounded education).

So yesterday I was looking at my Amazon recommendations and came across this little gem. I've only read one Laura Kinsdale book in my time, and that would be "For My Lady's Heart". It was okay, but I remember that I couldn't wait to finish the book; I just wanted it to be over. Definitely not a re-read. And not the kind of reaction I like to have with my books.

Anyway, this book came to my attention, and the synopsis sounded really interesting to me. I even read some of the Amazon reviews (going back to a time before drama and controversy) and found a few that were very well written and piqued my curiosity even further. So now I'm throwing it out there and asking what readers in blogland think of this book and whether it is worth my time.

Is "Flowers From the Storm" worth my time?

You think WHO is sexy???

There's a lot of DIK talk in blogland these days (for those who don't know, or who just have dirty minds, those are Desert Island Keepers). The buzz has gone from books to one of my favorite topics - the hot men. And with all this talk of favorite, to-die-for heroes, and it got me thinking:

What heroe(s) do you just not get?

Maybe you can't figure out why tons of women are willing to forgive Sebastian, Lord St. Vincent, after the horrible way he treated Lillian in "It Happened One Spring".

Or maybe you believe Dain from "Lord of Scoundrels" is just a jackass and doesn't deserve Jessica in any way, shape,or form.

Could it be Roarke sets your teeth on edge (and not in a good way), or Ranger should just leave Stephanie the hell alone already.

I'm curious to know which heroes leave you cold while they definitely float someone else's boat. What heroes leave you baffled at their appeal?

"Rainfall" by Barry Eisler (2003) - review

Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Signet (July 1, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 045120915X
ISBN-13: 978-0451209153

John Rain kills people. For a living. His specialty: making it seem like death by natural causes. But he won't take out just anyone. The job must be an exclusive. The target must be a principal player. And he'll never murder a woman. Half American, half Japanese, but one of place in both worlds, Rain bases his operation in Tokyo, where even a crowded subway car is filled with opportunities -- like slipping a pacemaker-jamming device onto a victim. John Rain may not be a good man, but he's good at what he does. Reliably discreet, coldly efficient, Rain is the best hitman money can buy...

Until he falls for the beautiful daughter of his last kill.

Knowing I needed something different to read, I picked up this book to read on the plane for my trip this past weekend. See, I tend not to read romance in public, partly because I'm easily distracted and like to people-watch, but mostly because I really would rather not read the naughty bits while sitting so close to complete strangers. None of them are ever cute anyway, so what's the point, really.

So I chose this book, having been "friended" by the author some time ago at myspace, but never having read his books. I scanned the back cover and was intrigued by the premise, though not quite 100% sure it would be my thing. Still, I thought it was worth trying. Well, let's just say I needed have worred.

When we first meet John Rain, he is working with a partner on a kill, only Harry has no idea what John's actual intentions are, and thinks they are only following the man in question, not chasing him to his death. Just like in the past, through a discreet channel John has been offered this job, and having gone over the details, accepts the assignment. John excels at creating a death that looks natural, and this time is no exception. Having managed to successfully "kill" his target by making it look like a heart attack, he quickly leaves the scene, vanishing like the mist. Though something happens to make him pause. Still, it's not smart to hang around, so he ponders the situation far from the scene.

Later, John visits an old friend at a favorite jazz club called Alfie's, and is persuaded to meet the beautiful jazz pianist playing that night. Rain is immediately drawn to her, but tries to resist it. A man like him is only ever to experience temporary passion, and he senses Midori is so much more than a one-night stand. To complicate matters, he learns that she is the daughter of the man he recently killed, which makes him even more determined to keep his distance.

Then he gets a phone call asking him if he'd like to take another assignment. This time he's asked to do something he's always refused to do: kill a woman. The target: Midori. He's given 48 hours to make a decision, otherwise someone else will be given the job.

Knowing that he should stay away from her and not get involved, he cannot let anything happen to her, and sets out to protect her as best he can without her knowing. But soon that becomes impossible when she is discovered in her apartment by some men who think she has something they want. He has to tell her what's going on. This time he also involves Harry.

Since he's known him, John has tried to protect Harry as much as possible, preferring to utilize him more for his computer skills than anything else. He's your typical computer geek, a bit in awe of John, somewhat naive, but not as much as John thinks he is. Now John has to come somewhat clean with Harry, and learns that this young man trusts him, so he decides to trust him back. His life may depend on it,.

Men from John's past and present are involved in trying to get to Midori, and it leaves a bitter taste in his mouth, knowing he's been a pawn for quite some time. Well, John's not going to take it anymore...

My thoughts:

I enjoyed this book very, very much. I felt like I got a good taste of Tokyo, from the harried businessmen to the tired shopkeepers, to the jazz clubs and the trendy bars. To me it was a fascinating look into a different country, and I loved it. I believe Barry Eisler has been to Japan many times, and uses his travel experiences to create a believable setting.

I also liked John Rain, despite the fact he's a paid killer. There's something sad about him, maybe his awareness that there's no place in the world for people like him, after all he's seen and done. Maybe it's his heritage, being half Japanese, half American, not fitting into either too comfortably. Or it could be a multitude of things combined that make him easy to empathize with. His tentative friendship with Harry, possibly. Maybe it's the romantic in me that bleeds for him, thinking he cannot have a relationship with a woman. He really doesn't come across as a horrible person, though he's done really horrific things in his life.

I was impressed that Midori was not the stereotypical heroine you might sometimes find in a book written by a man. Yes she was beautiful, but she was also intelligent and talented and not just a token piece of fluff here. She was not a crazed sex bunny or an airhead, which was a huge relief. I could feel her passion for jazz and for playing the piano. The writing of the scenes where she was playing were so amazing I felt that I was there in the club listening to her play.

There were also very interesting details about Japanese government that when I googled them were actually true, which I found fascinating. I loved the combination of actual events with this fictional character. It truly added flavor to the story.

This is book #1 in the Rain series, and so far I think there have been 7 books released in all. So far, I plan on reading each and every one of them.

Rating: **** out of *****

D.C. and the Bellas

Sorry kids, got no pictures as my camera died on me Saturday morning,

despite feeding it new batteries before we left. Will

steal some (with permission) from another Bella soon.

Probably for the best, I'm not too proficient with a camera.

Wow, what a weekend! It was so much fun spending time with a group of women I've met online. That was definitely the best part of the weekend...well, that and the food. The Greek diner, Maggiano's, the big breakfast, it was all good. Very, very good.

Friday night we went to the Greek diner and then headed over to Kati's house to talk and share some books. I was good - only took 2! - and just sat and enjoyed the conversation. I am the quiet one of the group, but I hope the ladies didn't think that meant I wasn't having a good time, because I thought it was wonderful. It's just my way, and I love listening to these passionate conversations, especially when they are about books.

Saturday morning we had a big breakfast, and I cannot believe I've never had caramel french toast before. It was sooo yummy. We met up with one of the Bellas, Monica, and after fortifying ourselves, caught the train to head downtown.

We started out at the Washington Monument, and I thank Rach for being full of useful (not useless) information. We kept walking and saw a group of Canadian soldiers (and their forearms). The uniform has never done anything for me, but man, I have to admit they were built, and looked very capable...of many things. After enjoying that view, we made our way down to the World War 2 Memorial, which was very touching. One thing that really got to me was how many young people (teenagers) would go up to the veterans and thanking them for serving. It was just very moving, and reading the engravings really hit home as to how much we have to be thankful for.

Next we went to take pictures of the Lincoln Memorial, definitely a recognizable monument from many movies I've seen. Throughout our little outing we caught many glimpses of the White House, though no one was home, what with Jenna Bush getting married on Saturday.

By this time we were hungry again, so we stopped for a quick bite to eat. Isn't it nice to be around people who constantly think of food? I think it is. There was no going hungry on this vacation. Loved that.

Next we decided we wanted to see the National Cathedral, which was just astounding. I am not a religious person, nor was I raised with any religious education - my family didn't go to church - but I am spiritual and you can't help but feel a reverence for the beauty and peace of such an amazing place. The stained glass windows were incredibly gorgeous and vibrant, and the stone carvings and intricate detail were incredible. It was so beautiful. Did not see the carving of Darth Vader though, but that's okay.

By this time the Bellas were exhausted. We headed back, after waiting about 45 minutes for a bus, then went back to the hotel to crash and get ready for dinner, where more fun was to be had. Maggiano's is one of my favorite restaurants as I've never had a bad meal there, and this was no exception. We did family style, which if you love to eat is my idea of heaven. Appetizers, pasta, entree, dessert. It was all delicious, and the food never stopped coming. Our server was a good-looking and outgoing man with a Jamaican(?) accent by the name of Angus, and he really enhanced our dining experience in a variety of ways.

Oh, and more books were involved, as many brought their keepers to share. Me I should not go out in public, or at the very least have a checklist of things to doublecheck before leaving the house. I left my "Kingdom of Dreams" and "The Spymaster's Lady" at home. I need to stop putting books in Borders bags because I grabbed the wrong bag. So if any of the Bellas would like one of these books, please let me know. Whoever responds first will get that book.

Sunday it was time to leave. I was originally scheduled for a 2:35 flight but was encouraged to go standby on a 12:30 flight, but I felt bad for abandoning Julie so soon. (Jules, I'm glad you made it home all right, sweetie). I did make the earlier flight, which was a relief, and it was one of the more turbulent flights I've been on. It wasn't horrible, but it was very shaky, especially landing. You have to thank the pilots for a job very well done after that type of landing, that is for sure.

It was sad to have the weekend come to an end, but at the same time it was also the beginning of many good times to come. You just never know what the Bellas might get themselves into. I hope to be there for every single moment :)

Off I go....

I'll be up early tomorrow morning to catch a plane to D.C., and I am so looking forward to spending time with other romance readers. It's a small group, less than 10 of us, but I think that's just the right size. Let's us spend more time really talking about our favorite books, and catching up on everyone's life. I've known most of the group for over 2 years now, and I cannot wait to meet them in person.

Y'all have a wonderful weekend, and I'll be making the rounds again soon :)

Blogging? Can't right now, I'm reading...

It's true, blog burn-out has set in, and it shows. I just haven't had the heart to blog lately anyway. I'd rather be outside right now in the gorgeous 70+ degree weather we've been having, or at the very least, reading. So, I will most likely be M.I.A. for the next several days.

Friday I leave for D.C. to meet up with some of my favorite online friends for the weekend, and hopefully I'll be back with lots of pictures and stories to share. I am so looking forward to this, having known many of them for at least 2 years.

What have you been up to?

Planning on meeting any online friends anytime this year?

quickie reviews

Paperback: 312 pages
Publisher: Samhain Publishing (April 29, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1599987619
ISBN-13: 978-1599987613

Talk about a compromising situation! A storm of political intrigue, murderous mayhem and sexual hungers is brewing on planet Regelence. Swarthy Intergalactic Navy Captain Nathaniel Hawkins ran from a past he had no intention of ever reliving. But when his Admiral asks him to use his peerage, as an earl and the heir to a dukedom, to investigate a missing weapons stash, hes forced to do just that. As if being undercover on a Regency planet where the young men are supposed to remain pure until marriage isnt bad enough, Nate finds himself attracted to the kings unmarried son.

All Prince Aiden Townsend has ever wanted was to be an artist. He has no interest in a marriage of political fortune or becoming a societal paragon. Until he lands in the arms of the mysterious Earl of Deverell. One look at Nates handsome face has Aiden reconsidering his future. Not only does Nate make a virile subject for Aidens art, but the great war hero awakens feelings in Aiden he has never felt, feelings he can't ignore.

After a momentous dance at a season ball, Aiden and Nate find themselves exchanging important information and working closely together. They have to fight their growing attraction long enough to find out who stole the weapons and keep themselves from a compromising situation and certain scandal.

Warning, this title contains the following: explicit sex, graphic language, violence, hot nekkid man-love.

I saw quite a bit of buzz over this book in blogland, and thought what the hell, I've read and enjoyed man-love stories before, so I ordered it (though I go more for it when two totally hetero guys are lusting after each other, but that's just me). It was definitely an interesting read.

Older, masculine, virile Captain Nate is sent to Regelence, a planet when young, unmarried and titled men are treated like coveted prizes and must be protected from scandalous encounters or end up ruined. It's a twist on our beloved historicals, where young women are the ones whose virginity is valued at all cost. Anyway, Nate is there on a mission, and though he's drawn to the young, artistic Aiden, he has a job to do, and has no interest in marriage whatsoever. Besides, he has nothing to offer Aiden, certainly not a stable and comfortable life.

But Nate is a man with strong appetites, and the fantasies he has about Aiden get more insistent the longer he's around the young prince. Nate is tempted beyond endurance, and must eventually make a choice, one that will change his life forever.

My thoughts:

Definitely an erotically hot book. But my personal preference when I read a m/m romance is that both men are equally masculine and alpha, so I wasn't completely drawn into this story with one of the characters, Aiden, playing the more effeminate and submissive role. It's not that I didn't like him, it's just that I have a difficult time relating to him or finding him attractive. If Aiden was just as virile and dominating as Nate, I would have loved it. Again, that's just me.

I did enjoy the story, was intrigued by the fact that same-sex marriages were not only accepted but also the norm on Regelence. I was definitely drawn to Nate, who was a very earthy and forceful character, and very sexual. It wasn't a story filled with one sex act after another, there was actually a plot, and that definitely made it a better story, and made the scenes between Nate and Aiden crackle with tension.

As much as I enjoyed it, I don't know that I would pick up another book by this author. Much like I'm not into BDSM storylines, I'm not into m/m stories where there is one character considerably more dominant than the other. Just doesn't flip my switch, romantically or sexually, in my books. It's still a good story, well told with possibility for sequels, it's just not my thing. And it's my perogative to change my mind later.

Rating: ***1/2 out of *****

Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Avon Red (April 22, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0061283975
ISBN-13: 978-0061283970

Prim, headstrong, and beautiful Penelope is determined to expose the licentious affairs of the ton's randiest rakes. Now one of their powerful number—the unrepentant libertine Jeremy Vaughn, Duke of Kilgrath—has been selected to put an end to the prudish lady's interference. Jeremy's plan is devilishly clever: He will join Penelope's war against immorality, fighting passionately by her side, all the while showering her with anonymous erotic missives designed to titillate even the coldest, most unwilling maid. He will break down her defenses and inflame her repressed desires by escorting her (in the interests of their "noble campaign") to London's most notorious pleasure palaces. And he will visit her boudoir—masked—during the night to school her in the deliciously sinful arts she wishes to abolish. Then he will expose her hypocrisy to the world.

But the handsome rogue's scheme is doomed to go awry, even as the lovely Penelope sheds her every inhibition and freely gives in to his every whim. For in this sensuous game of hearts, it's the seducer who becomes seduced . . .

This book is the 2nd in a series by Jess Michaels, the previous being "Everything Forbidden" which I'd reviewed. At the ending of that book, Miranda's sister Penelope was engaged to be married to a man she didn't love, and she wasn't very happy with her sister Miranda because she believed she'd sold herself for the good of the family, and that just didn't sit well with Penelope.

Now, two year later, Penelope is a widow and the chosen leader of a crusade against immoral and deviant behavior in society. Wives and mistresses are up in arms, indignant over the men the men in their lives are treating them so callously, and Penelope finds herself to be on the receiving end of both praise and strong criticism. The men especially are fed up with her, and one man, Jeremy Vaughn, has decided to be the one to bring the prim and proper lady to her knees. His plan is simple: he will pretend to befriend her, all the while using his considerable charm and mutual attraction to seduce the lovely Penelope into declaring defeat in her battle against sensual pleasures. Of course the poor man never expects to find his heart engaged by this sad and passionate woman.

My thoughts:

This book answers many of the questions I had after I read the first story, and continues in the same emotional and sensual style as "Everything Forbidden". Penelope has never known pleasure, but keep down she's tempted by it, and by Jeremy, Duke of Kilgrath, though she knows he is the exact type of man she is fighting against. When he offers friendship and the desire to turn over a new leaf, she's suspicious, but also intrigued. I sympathized with her for being drawn into a cause that wasn't one of her making, but one she took on just the same. She didn't want women to be treated poorly by their husbands and protectors, and felt that many of them were.

This book was wonderfully sensual, drawing out the sexual tension between Penelope and Jeremy slowly and steadily all while letting them get to know each other. Penelope turned to Jeremy when she needed a confidante to discuss her most private thoughts, and he in turn got to see who the real woman was behind all her crusading. She was not a dried-up, harsh and cruel person, just one who's never experienced great passion or pleasure. Watching as they fell in love with each other was just delicious. I can't help it, I was in a sappy mood and this book totally worked for me. I'm definitely a fan of this author.

Rating: ****1/2 out of *****

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Kensington (August 1, 2006)
ISBN-10: 0758214073
ISBN-13: 978-0758214072

RESCUE ME...

Journalist Jenny Yuen lands a very steamy assignment: cover a firefighter calendar competition with some of the hunkiest half-naked heroes ever. Her personal favorite? Mr. February. Also known as Scott. Also known as hot...

Read all about it: the muscular, sexy rookie is the man of Jenny's dreams - her wildest dreams. She's up for a wickedly sensual game if they play by their very own set of rules: No taboos. No holding back. No commitment. But the desire they feel is impossible to control...and even harder to resist...

I'd read the first book, "Champagne Rules" ages ago, and have had this book on my tbr pile for quite some time. The Aphrodisia line is hit or miss with me, sometimes trying to be too sexual and shocking to be interesting, so I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but I was in the mood to read it.

Jenny Yuen is a young journalist who still lives at home with her very old-fashioned Chinese family. Despite that, she manages to have a pretty wild sex life, finding herself attracted to non-Chinese men that her family would never approve of. This leads her to lie to her family a lot in order to keep the peace. Keeping her sane are her three best friends. Together they make up the Awesome Foursome, all from different walks of life but who've found strong friendships with each other.

Jenny first meets Scott Jackman as he competes in a contest to be selected as part of a firefighter calendar. His incredibly sexy dance definitely works big-time for Jenny, and though he's the type of guy who goes for the usual busty, blonde type, Jenny knows she's got a secret weapon that gets 'em everytime. Sure enough, Scott can't ignore the confident, sexy Jenny, and soon the two of them are engaged in a heated affair, driven to fulfull their endless supply of sexual fantasies. Jenny knows there can never be anything more between them, even though Scott starts to have stronger feelings for her, and keeps a firm distance from him. Things start to get complicated when Jenny sees sides of Scott that draw her to him emotionally, and this bothers her because she knows that her family will never accept a non-Chinese man into the family. Can there ever be anything more between them?

My thoughts:

Wow, I really liked this one. Jenny was a fun, spunky heroine. I thought it was great that she reveled in her femininity and always wore pink, but didn't get all giggly and helpless in front of Scott. She was very much an independent woman, but one who didn't hide from her physical attributes but rather played up to them with pride. I also liked how respectful she was towards her family, even if she didn't agree with many of their beliefs. The lying was a bit hard to take, though I could see how she felt justified. The worst part was when it ended up hurting Scott, a totally hot guy who had way more depth than she originally gave him credit for. He revealed himself to her slowly, unintentionally, and whether she liked it or not, Jenny fell in love.

I was interested through the whole book, and read it in less than a day. It was a great story, the sex was hot and the fantasies were fun and sexy, and now I want to read Ann's and Rina's stories. Great end to a reading weekend.

Rating: **** 1/2 out of *****