The Zodiac Series Virgo
Fateful Fieldtrip
by Emma Bruce

First, let me say, Fatefield Fieldtrip received a DNF from me (did not finish). It begins with a schoolteacher about to puke from walking through the Birth tunnel at a museum. That was pulled right out of a Monk episode! Now, okay, I admire the decision to keep the hero so down to earth; I love that he's not a jet pilot or a movie star or a billionaire tycoon. But I really don't want to read a story that starts with someone getting sick. I valiantly soldiered on, but on page eight, when the heroine breathes, "It was meant to be", regarding their meeting (when mighty Tim was about to hurl), I almost gave up. I just can't get into a pre-destined vomitacious love stories.

Valiantly, for your sake, dear readers, I kept at it, in case this mangy dog turned into a winning pony. Well, on page nine, the heroine unsnaps her bra, watches her breastises pop out, wondering: "Why does she want him to see these? Why does she want the rough-and-tumble coach with the sexest smile she'd ever seen to bend down, kiss, lick and then, God forbid, chew?" Okay, honey, let me help you. It's called your SEX DRIVE. That's why you want him to play with your goodies. Although why she'd be overwhelmed with lust for a guy about to puke, I have no freaking idea.

Oh wait, yes I do! BECAUSE IT WAS MEANT TO BE. I bet my fated perfect lover is picking up trash on a highway somewhere in an orange jumpsuit. Oh fie, wicked, wretched fate that has kept us apart for so long because, y'know, I'm not in JAIL.

I soldiered on until he found her washboard like G-spot and fingered her until she was pliant and cooing. That was where I gave up. It's a dog. If you buy this book, let it be for the Keira Ramsay story (and don't blame Ms. Ramsay for this thing).

Moving on...

Blink of an Eye
by Keira Ramsay

Cassidy is a war widow before she ever became a wife, but she's thrown herself into running the diner and tries not to think about her loss. When a young airman comes into her restaurant, battle-scarred but irresistible nonetheless, she thinks maybe she'll give him a tumble. After all, women do have itches that need scratching. I appreciated that down-to-earth quality about her. So many heroines whinge and moan about fucking somebody. It was refreshing to have a woman take one look at a guy and decide to act on it.

With his injury and his little boy charm, Scott certainly made it easy to understand why Cassidy would be drawn to him. His torment regarding what he's seen and done renders him deliciously vulnerable and in need of a woman's touch. He's also a bit lost regarding his place in the world. The Air Force was everything he knew, everything he ever wanted, and now he's been stuck on a desk job because he's no longer physically able to do anything else.

Ms. Ramsay writes about military personnel with authority (that's uh-thor-uh-TIE to all you Cartman fans). There's an unmistakable sense of verity in her words, and the reader is left with no doubt that she knows her way around the armed forces.

The chemistry between them was explosive and the sex was smoking hot -- she writes the down and dirty exactly the way I like it. One line was just rawr. Cassidy has demanded he do something and we're in Scott's POV. His mental response is, "So, like the good soldier he was, he followed orders." Now ordinarily men in uniform don't do it for me, but something about that phrase...daaaaaaamn. Tell me that doesn't kick your imagination into high gear, the idea of a hardened veteran standing ready (yeah, I punned repeatedly, sue me) to receive your commands. Mmmm.

("Take out the garbage!" "Ma'am, yes, ma'am!" Ha! Caught you being dirty, didn't I?)

Because it was a novella, things moved a little bit fast for me. I'd call the pace breakneck in fact, and I wished more than once that the author had expanded the story, given it the slow, delicious build they deserved. There's a lot happening in relatively few pages and I wanted to read more. I was aggravated when I got to the "Four years later" part at the end. I felt cheated; I wanted to read about how they got there. So honestly, that's my main complaint. Too damn short.

I love this author's writing. In fact, her style reminded me quite a lot of my own. There was one line we had in common, almost verbatim, though I know for a fact she's never read Guide. I could bemoan my own lack of orginality, but instead I'm going to say, Great minds think alike and feel all squishy about it. Great novella, but I prefer something I can really sink my teeth into. You hear me, Ms. Ramsay? Write longer books!

Feeling brave? Your review could be here next week, so hit me up. And that's all for today. See you next time!

Labels: Ebook Thursday