Marilyn Lee

I read this because a friend rec'ed it to me saying "You'll love the interactions between the two leads".

And you know what? I totally did. Ignoring the sex and BDSM, the way that Javen and Devlin interact is pure wonderful fun to read. They had the sort of conversations that people would categorize as being 'ping pong' talks. Javen would say something, Devlin would respond, Javen would challenge that response, so Devlin would challenge her challenge and it would go back and forth like that for long bouts. And I never felt as if I was bored during these conversations, rather I was amused and wondered who would win out in the end.

Also, ordinarily I would be turned off by Devlin's very aggressive nature, but he doesn't come off as creepy or desperate, but rather the sort of guy who hates to put things off. Why wait when its inevitable? He does however give Javen space and 'romance' her. Which I think is more then she deserves at first; her entire rationale made me really cranky. You either love someone or you don't. You either want to marry someone or you don't. Wanting one last fling and then wanting to go marry the guy you rejected to have that last fling? Yeah no. As Devlin says at one point, Javen has a lot of issues to work on.

In the end however, they both learn a lesson and as its a romance no one should wonder at the outcome of their romance. This is actually my first story with such a high level of BDSM in it. I've read short stories where its been present, but not to the degree it was in this one. But then, I tend to just glance over the scenes of intense eroticism so it didn't discomfort me unduly. I don't skip them completely, can't write a review if you skip large chunks of the book!, but perhaps the better phrasing is I don't spend as much concentration of those parts as I do the rest.… (mer)

*Cleaner makes house calls*

Story opens with Jade Johnstone gazing upon the naked, perfect body of Reed Daniels lying in his bed in a feverish stupor. Her job (house cleaning) finds her leaning over this unbelievable sexy man and then being pulled into his dream web of erotic fantasy. The fantasy turns into real life ... very quickly and Jade is the recipient of her first devastating orgasm. He looks into her eyes, she flees and he falls back asleep.

Reed recognizes Jade in class later and soon the two become lovers. Their first time is explosive for both with such intense feelings that they lose control. The situation between Jade and Reed ...going back and forth... working out their differences, is sometimes just like real life and sometimes too extreme to believe.

A marriage proposal was hastily extended for the wrong reason and both are too stubborn for their own good when making their decision. We are pulling for both of them to admit their love and realize they are meant for each other. In the end, they find the truth and Reed goes to Jade. The final scene is very climatic (good word) with lots of very erotic, hot sex and explicit language about their desires. I like to read about people vocalizing during sex with more than nice flowery expressions.

I will read more of Marilyn Lee’s books because of the way she tells a story quickly with just the bare facts.… (mer)