Snowed in at School by Victoria Blisse

This story is written in the first person.

Miss Lucy Conrad is seen at a school fair. Mr. Gary Stephenson comes over to her booth. Is he flirting with her? Are the feelings mutual? Is it just the feelings of the holiday or will the feelings last? You will have to definitely read this story to find out.

Lucy has a very interesting fantasy that involves the very handsome Mr. Stephenson. Lucy sees herself as very curvy and Mr. Stephenson is way out of her league. Or is it just her imagination?

Neither Gary or Lucy realize that they share the same fantasy. As you read, you’ll see that they start to feel comfortable around each other. On Christmas Eve they have a great interaction at the school. Who says that romance can’t happen anywhere?

I never used to like reading stories that were written in the first person. But I’m starting to change my mind. It must be that in the past, I never found the right authors. Victoria gives the reader a treat with this one.

In most instances, when books are written in the first person it is from the viewpoint of one of the characters. Victoria gives us the viewpoint of both Lucy and Gary. I also love how Victoria’s curvy women are made out to be both sensual and sexy and that there are hunky men that love them.

I love how Victoria’s characters let us know how much pleasure they received from the other. There is mild spanking involved in this story. The scenes aren’t vigorous so you should feel very comfortable in reading this great holiday love story. And I would recommend reading this one every year.

Victoria again leaves us wanting more. What happens to Lucy and Gary after the holidays are over? Christmas is a time of hope. I hope Lucy and Gary have lots of great times ahead.

If you go over to Victoria’s site, http://www.victoriablisse.co.uk, you will find out that this story is also an audiobook. I would love to hear that one. Although I probably wouldn’t want to listen to it in the car – it would be way too distracting.

I give this great holiday read 4 1/2 stars.

A Shot in the Dark by Christine d’Abo

This is the second book in the “Long Shots” series.

Main Characters:  Paige Long is part owner of a coffee shop along with two of her siblings.  Carter is a firefighter who frequents her shop.  Right away he likes what he sees and invites her to Mavericks, a local sex club.

Paige walks into the coffee shop’s kitchen to find two of her employees having sex.  Now what would you do in her shoes?  She ends up working the rest of the night shift and this guy starts to hit on her – his name is Carter.  In talking with Carter, it finally dawns on her that he is a Dom.

Her brother Ian comes to see her the next day after hearing what happened the night before.  She’s concerned about him.  Is this what leads to Christine’s third book?  Can’t wait for number 3 to come out so that I can find out the answer.

On her way back to the coffee shop, guess who she meets again.  This time in a uniform.  Don’t you just love men in uniform?  He’s also back to hitting on Paige.

One thing I love about Christine’s writing is that she sticks to her scenes.  There is no going off on tangents that don’t have anything to do with the interaction of our main characters.  Or that don’t add anything to a scene. 

Things start to happen quickly for Carter and Paige – another good thing about short stories.  They both know that they can give each other what they want.  This is what makes Carter a good Dom.  You will find that the BDSM is very subtle in this story. 

If you are more of a sensualist, this story will be good for you.  None of the sex scenes are over the top and unbelievable.  If you have an adventurous sex partner this story may give you some ideas.  And isn’t that what some of our romance/erotic novels do?  Give us ideas that spice up our lives a little.

The story ends with us wanting more.  I can’t wait to see how Christine is going to end this trilogy.  Will Ian finally be happy and find love?  This is definitely a series that you will want to read again.

I do have questions for Christine though, is Josh going to have his own story?  He seems to be a link between our main characters.  I would love to see him connect with someone.  Is Maverick’s going to show up in other books? 

I give book 2 of the “Long Shots” series 4 1/2 stars

IOU Sex by Calista Fox

Main Characters:  Fiona Carlisle, jilted by her fiance for her sister.  Michael Houston, playboy photographer and Fiona’s rebound fling.

This is a book that is written in the first person.  The reader can get a sense of what it’s like to be in Fiona’s shoes.  Fiona begins her story by thinking about her sister’s engagement party.  In order for her to make it through the party, where her ex-fiance (of course) will also be attending, she has decided to ask Michael to go with her. 

Michael is definitely the ultimate bad boy.  Michael has been very persistent about sleeping with Fiona after that brief fling.  Just like all good romance novels, the female character doesn’t want a repeat because she is afraid how it will affect her.

You have to love the descriptions that Calista uses.  The reader can just imagine how vindictive Fiona’s little sister is.  You also have to sympathize with Fiona.  No one deserves to be treated the way she was.  But Calista also makes Fiona a strong independent woman.

When Fiona goes to see Michael to ask him a favor, you can just about see the electricity that is created between the two of them.  If I was reading a paperback, instead of an e-reader, I’d have to use the fire extinguisher to put the flames out.  Calista creates some really “hot” scenes.

Like every good erotic romance, you go over to ask a guy a favor and instead things get out of control and you have some very heavy petting.  But the girl comes to her senses at the last-minute and puts a stop to it.  No one wants to get burned twice.  Then the reader finds out how the book got its title.

One thing I like about Michael is he never quits when he wants something.  And what he wants is Fiona.  With Calista’s way with words, the reader can tell how much Michael cherishes Fiona.  This is the type of erotic romance that I love to read – so hot you can’t put it down.  The sex scenes are pure steam and no place is off-limits when making love.  Calista makes her sex scenes a natural progression of their love for each other.

Michael is Fiona’s strongest supporter.  Fiona fights their connection but I don’t think she realizes what a strong couple they really are.  Michael certainly knows how to take care of a woman.

Calista also does a great job with Fiona.  When it comes time for the engagement party, the reader has to cheer Fiona on.  We see how both vulnerable and strong she is.  Calista writes the type of book that you want to read again and again.

One thing I loved about this book is that there aren’t a lot of pages.  This forces the author to keep the scenes short and to the point.  We don’t feel that the scenes drag on forever before getting to the point.  If that did happen, the book wouldn’t flow as well as it did.  Plus, I don’t know that I would have liked it as well.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars.