Customer Reviews

Rough Around The Edges (Rough Around Edges)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After discovering the "spicy romance" genre a couple of years ago, my impression is that the short story or novella length is best for this type of tale. The 80 pages or so per story is enough to set the scene, develop the characters, crank up the intensity, and come to very satisfactory conclusion.

Susan Johnson's "Playing with Fire" and Stephanie Laurens' "Melting Ice" are set amongst the English nobility that romance authors seem to find especially fertile material. The authors know this arena so well they swiftly transport you the period. Although the outcomes were evident 10 pages into each story, I enjoyed every minute of the journey. The book's other two stories are present-day, and their very different characters and conflicts provide contrast and balance to the collection.

The stories in the collection are on a par with the ones in the "Secrets: The Best in Women's Sensual Fiction" (Volumes 1-4). Highly recommended.

Anthologies are short stories-which means you will not have to deal with a monstrous amount of subplots. (Yeah!!!!) Sometimes after reading amass of novels, anthologies give you a much-needed break. The short stories do not allow the 300+ pages authors use for interference from outsiders and forces them to stick to the main characters/plot.

Playing With Fire by Susan Johnson *****
Historical Romance: The penniless Duke of Ware has been brought and paid for by banker, John Overton who wanted a dukedom for his daughter, Olivia. Olivia is so excited that she does not even say "I do" when prompted by the priest and Ware is so enthused that he got drunk the night before his wedding and had to be dragged out of bed by his solicitor-after his the countess (his mistress) was dragged out. Unwillingly they must both stick with Overton's contract and each other until an heir is produced. I am partial to Susan Johnson and feel this is another great love story. Olivia is a strong woman and stands her ground with this notorious rake. Though he may be rough, she is tough enough to straighten out this Duke's edges.

Simple Sins by Eileen Wilks ****
Romance: Bad boy meets Good girl. Felicity is a school teacher in the good ole town of Cross Creek. Damon Reed left Cross Creek for the fast life and has only returned in order to get some closure after the death of his grandmother, Gertrude. Felicity is seeking closure too, her mother has a problem and she's trying to get into Gertrude's house to find it. Damon immediately recognizes her and since the road is flooded, they are forced to live under the same roof and play seek & find. Felicity knows there is no way someone like Damon could be interested in her but he has other ideas. First time I have ever heard of this author but that did not stop me from enjoying this great story.

Once Burned by Dee Holmes *****
Contemporary Romance: Marisa Thornton used to be in love with Deke Laslo until he for some unknown reason ended their relationship. She is trying to prove to her father that she has moved on, actually has a new beau, and decides to catch a ride with Deke to Rhode Island for her fathers' (also Deke's ex-boss) birthday party. Deke is a loner who recently quit his job as a mercenary and knows Marisa deserves someone more normal, stable, loveable, etc. Will he wisely use his second chance to have the love of his life? First time for this author also, hot, bumpy love story.

Melting Ice by Stephanie Laurens *****
Historical Romance: Dyan St. Laurent aka the lion has been forced to reluctantly return home to become the fourth Duke of Darke and continue the family line, immediately! He left this life behind him 15 years ago and is now happily living an uncomplicated, rich life in India. He bumps into Lady Iceberg aka Lady Fiona Winton-Ryder as she crashes an orgy held by their mutual childhood friends. Prime and Proper Fiona is a HANDful but Dyan is just the man to handle her. The distance did not diminish their mutual attraction. Hilarious at times, hot romance.

I am a big fan of Stephanie Laurens, and I just loved her novella 'Melting Ice' in Rough Around the Edges. More risque and carnal than her previous full length novels, which made it all the more enjoyable. Will be anxiously awaiting her story in the Scottish Brides anthology. I hadn't read any books by Susan Johnson, Dee Holmes and Eileen Wilks but enjoyed their stories very much as well, especially Susan Johnson's 'Playing with Fire'. I'll definitely have to consider reading more of her books.

This is a terrific book. All the authors have excelled themselves. The luscious love stories all have heroes and heroines breathing with life and acting realistically in coming to grips with their emotional problems and misunderstandings. The love scenes are hot and tillilating but never irksome as there is no gratuitous sex. I must say I have got much more than my money's worth.

I just finished this book and it was great. Susan Johnson proved to continued to be a great writer even it short form. Now Stephanie Laurens is new to me and I'm now composing a list of her other books. These two authors knows how to add SPICE to romance. I enjoyed the other 2 stories also. But Johnson and Laurens proved to be the best of them, plots were there and straight to the point. Did'nt leave me waiting for to see what would happen in the next book.

If you are going to the beach and need a book that can be read in short chunks between dips, this is the one. I thoroughly enjoyed all four stories and liked the mix of contemporary and historical venues. As a friend of mine would say this is not an anthology for those expecting tame and sweet. It is hot and spicy like the hot sausage at a clam bake. A keeper for me.

...however, I am a huge fan of both Susan Johnson and Stephanie Laurens, so I figured I'd give this book a try. Insomuch as a story of this length can be captivating, then these stories were. They were all very well written and packed with a lot of spice. If you need a book to read in shorts spurts, as is the case on vacation on the beach....then this book is perfect. I do not read much in the way of contempary romance, so I had not been exposed to either Dee Holms or Eilene Wilks before this book, but I liked their style and stories as well. The book is definitely worth reading, though I still prefer to read the full length novels.

I've read many other compillation of stories, and even though some are better than this one, it is good and unique in its own way. Loved Susan Johnson and Dee Holmes's stories.