Making Chase by Lauren Dane

Book Description:
Matt is an expert and the Chase is on. Tate doesn't stand a chance. Book Four In the Chase Brothers Series. Tate Murphy is a girl from the wrong side of the tracks. She grew up a million miles away from the easy life Matt Chase has had. She's spent her life pulling herself and her siblings up and out of that trailer by the railroad tracks and she hasn't looked back. Matt Chase is a dream of a guy and she's certainly not going to turn down a short fling with one of the most handsome men she's ever seen! Matt Chase has watched each one of his brothers find love and he knows he's ready for that too. It's all a matter of finding the woman who captures his heart. He's certainly sampled his fair share of them but none has moved him the way Tate Murphy does when he goes to her shop to thank her for some cookies and a thank you note. But as Matt gets to know Tate and appreciate her strength and unique beauty, he also realizes she's got some big self esteem issues about her past. To build a future, he's got to find a way past some big road blocks.

Review: Wow, what a conclusion to the series. I am not sure what other negative reviewers could find wrong with this story. Personally I felt Tate was the embodiment of all things "Chase" if you will. She was like Polly, the glue to her family, the backbone, the comforter, the one to come to for laughs and hugs. I loved the Murphy family, maybe more than the Chases. The Chases and Murphys were like a dose of reality to the other. The sex was awesome, I especially loved how Tate was totally confident in her sexuality and was not scared to have sex with the hot Matt. I find it annoy in books when the woman is having sex and constantly worries about how the man will feel about her plus size shape (yes, Tate had that intially, but didn't let it hold her back, she was eager and willing and only nervous for the first time). Tate was a phenomenal character, my favorite Chase wife! Matt was loving and supportive. For once the Chase family were the naive ones and I feel that it was good for them all to see those that they had surrounded themselves with. That is snippy, arrogant, ignorant, stuck up assholes unworthy of time and attention. The Chase men seemed to go after haughty , snooty skanks who found pleasure in running others down. For how "nice and goody goody" the Chases seemed they really had poor taste in previous bedmates! The Murphys as a whole were good for the Leave It to Beaver/ The Waltons type nature of the Chases. The series wrapped up satisfactorily for me . Awesome book, Tate is one of my favorite heroines of all time. Matt's just delicious, come on a hunky firemen! This book is a definite Keeper and Reread, which is what I am about to do!

To all those who hated Tate and this book, I leave you with a parting shot from Tate, "shut up and fuck off!" Hey, she said it, I didn't read the book for yourself to find it. (^.~)

The Chase Brothers 1-3 by Lauren Dane

Been a few days since I posted but I have a reason. Book 4 of the Chase Brothers series, Making Chase, concerns a plus size heroine, and I really wanted to read and review it. I read other reviews and people tended to complain a lot about it. I'm not sure why they disliked Tate, was it her size, family issues, what exactly? I am just beginning the book but I do know that I like Tate so far after reading these lines:

"No freaking way did Matt Chase rub up all over her while she lay sprawled in the street like a drunken hobo! Tate couldn’t believe her luck. The closest she’d ever been to the man and of course she had to have a torn shirt, bleeding face and her back-of-the-drawer panties. Special. Well okay, so he didn’t see her panties or anything but she’d known they were on. And she’d noticed, as Tim had insisted on driving her home, she’d spilled something or other on her shirt."

I must admit I have not liked all of this series. I did really like book one, Giving Chase. I totally felt that Shane Chase was aptly described as an "asshat". So his book was not great for me, just not interested but I did it. Unlike Maggie and Shane who did not sleep together and only dated twice, Liv and Matt screwed for a year and then she gets with Marc. OK, that's just gross, like sleeping with your sibling gross. Just don't like that so that book bothered me on that level. I stuck with to find the reason and get to the root of why people loved the first three books but no Making Chase. I want to find out if is to do with Tate's size or another reason. As I've only liked Kyle and Maggie so far, I'm not a great fan of this series, yet. We shall see how it all wraps up. Review will be up tomorrow.

Take Me by Belle Andre

From author's site:

An appetite for sensual pleasures must never be denied. . . .

Lily Ellis has curves--soft, beautiful curves. The kind of voluptuous body she fears Travis Carson, the man she's always loved from afar, would never crave. But Lily is about to be proven wrong. Her sensual adventure begins when, despite her inhibitions, the demure San Francisco interior decorator agrees to model a plus-size dress for her fashion designer sister. Watching this sensual beauty move down the runway with mesmerizing power, Travis can't believe it's the same Lily he's always known and always rejected. In a whirlwind of electric attraction, Lily is soon moaning Travis's name in his bed, not just in her wild fantasies. But Lily is all too aware that she's nothing like his past lovers . . . and now that she has him close at last, she's praying Travis likes what he sees and feels. Determined to beat Travis at his own game by guarding her true feelings of love and lust, she spontaneously partners with him on a business deal that takes them all the way to Italy. In the seductive warmth of the Tuscan sun, Lily is about to unwrap her real self, and play a game of desire with the hot-blooded Travis. Will she be burned by an ecstasy that's so all-consuming it has her seeing stars? Or will Travis open his heart to the sexy, exciting, and lasting love she has to offer?

Review: Take Me reminds me of Fall of Troy and Full-Bodied Charmer both by Marylin Lee. This story took me from the gutter to the sky twirled me around and then let me fall flat on my ass. I'm not really sure I liked Lily or Travis. Travis proves to be a jackass throughout the novel. Lily never seems to be able to decide if she is gonna have a backbone or not. At a size 16, she doesn't seem overly large to me, but when Travis only dates women that are under a size 4 then I see the problem. Travis seems as obsessed with Lily's size as she is. At separate times they both worry about how his friends and coworkers will think of her size. Janica, her sister, and Luke, Travis's twin, seem to not really know her either. They both came off as equal parts enabling and patronizing of Lily. This is probably due to Travis's well earned reputation as a womanizer, his demeaning attitude towards women and his apparent dislike of Lily that he has had for her since he was ten. At thirty, he has spent the last twenty years antagonizing and flaunting women in front of Lily-all of them the opposite of her. Lily has watched him from afar and hid from life to not get hurt. I completely understand Lily's descriptions of being invisible, a little too much. This story is an emotional roller coaster. Lily has hid from life and has been sheltered by Luke and Janica as she had in turn comforted them through points in their lives when they needed her. Travis and Lily's relationship moves too fast and unless they work through issues that were not completely resolved enough for me, then I do not see a continued HEA. Italy was wonderfully described and makes me want to go. In the end, Lily should have took up one of the many offers from the "Italian stallions" that flocked to her and lazed about with them in Italy for a few years instead. While not a bad read, or poorly written, the almost obsessive concerns by Lily and Travis over her weight and how people back home will treat them as a couple just brings it down. I really had to try hard to find the appeal of Travis, Lily with some confidence could have done better. Both characters do change attitudes and outlooks during the story, but Lily flip-flops so much that it becomes grating. It is a sexy, erotic tale but the emotional roller coaster over her weight and what a prick Travis is just left me with a bitter taste. In all not a horrible or bad read and for the most part enjoyable, but little appeal to the characters and their back history. I really couldn't see why Lily wanted Travis. I will not reread this book. It really just gave me a headache.

Useful phrases

While checking Amazon.com for a book I'm going to read and review, I followed a link to another book. Words fail me to describe what I saw, luckily the book description came with some. Enjoy! This is from Legacy of Sin (Paperback)by Ray Gordon

First Sentence:One man's rock-hard penis driving in and out of my drenched pussy, another massive organ shafting my inflamed anal duct, I sucked on the swollen glans throbbing within my gobbling mouth. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)

vulval flesh, rectal duct, solid clitoris, vaginal valley, sex sheath, succulent red lips, anal sheath, solid nub, pulsating clitoris, contracting cunt, drenched cunt, vaginal cavern, vaginal crack, sex cushions, burning cunt, sex valley, vaginal flesh, rectal sheath, solid penis, cunny lips, sperm gushed, vaginal sheath, contracting womb, love sheath, sperm oozing

Hidden Agendas (Tempting SEALS) by Lora Leigh

SAVING LIVES IS HIS MISSION.

Tough-as-nails Navy SEAL Kell Kreiger is the best there is at searching, rescuing, and taking no prisoners…yet even the rush of ever-more dangerous missions isn’t enough to satisfy him. Haunted by a tortured past, Kell seeks distraction in a secret world of dark intimacies. But when Emily Stanton, the one ray of light in Kell’s shadowy existence, is pursued by a ruthless drug lord, the rules of the game suddenly change—and Kell will have to go deeper undercover than he ever imagined…

SAVING HER IS HIS PASSION.

Emily has loved Kell ever since her father, a prominent politician, rescued him from a brutal life on the streets. They were kids then, too young to act on what was growing between them…but now that Emily is ready, the handsome, headstrong SEAL has decided he’s no good for her. Ever since he rescued her from Diego Fuentes’ compound, Kell’s only duty has been to keep Emily safe. But Fuentes isn’t finished with Emily—or Kell. And to protect Emily, Kell has no choice but to lay himself—body, soul, and secrets—bare…and fight against evil with all his heart.

Review: First off I'm not a huge fan of Lora Leigh's due to the Bound Hearts series, so I went into the Tempting Seals series thinking it would be more of the same thing. I am enamored with Hidden Agendas. The first non-swizzle stick legged overly melon breasted heroine I think I've seen from this author. I loved Emily, jonesing for Kell. Emily is supposed to be shorter and larger sized than a stripper, and claims to hate "skinny bitches" so that's her size wise. When Kell would fall back into his Cajun Creole accent I totally melted in all the right places and when he slipped in some French I swear my nipples burst through my shirt! (^.~) Negligible, if any, amounts of bdsm that so filled the much hated Bound Hearts series (yes, I know that was the point of those, its just that I have read better!). The suspense and intrigue of the drug cartel continues from Dangerous Games and there are quite a few plot twists and whodunits that will keep you on your mental toes only to have said toes curled from all the hot bedroom antics and just the draw that Emily and Kell feel for each other. I have read Reno's Choice from the Honk if You Love Real Men anthology and Dangerous Games. I can't wait to read more of this series. This is a definite keeper and reread!

Make That Man Mine by Shelley Munro

From Publisher:

On her twenty-fifth birthday, Emma Montrose decides it’s time to show bad-boy investigator Jack Sullivan she’s more than an efficient secretary. She’s a woman with needs, and she needs him.

Jack is a taniwha, a shifter, who requires women to satiate the sexual demands of the serpent within. Nothing more. Then work forces the reluctant Jack and ecstatic Emma undercover as a couple. Thrown together, pretence and reality blur, generating hot sex laced with risk…

Publisher’s Note: Story originally appeared in the Ellora’s Cave anthology Men to Die For.

REVIEW: This is a very sexy book. When Emma and Jack come together it is hot, passionate and urgent. The plot for the investigation does not fall at anytime. The reader remains aware that they are together to do a job. In other words, the sex does not overshadow the story. I really liked Emma. She is larger but is tall and curvy described as more Marilyn Monroe type. Jack is closed emotionally due to a trauma previously over his shape shifting abilities. So there is the reluctant lover plot element to his character. This gets old sometimes, but not so here. I enjoyed the sex between the two. This is helped by the fact that Jack already was drawn to Emma but kept his distance due to his previous trauma. Emma wants a piece of Jack and hopes to get his heart too! This was a fun and engaging book. I got hot and bothered a few times (ok, once the heat was turned on I stayed hot (^.~). I enjoyed it immensely. I would highly recommend this book to those who like to read about a plus-size heroine that does NOT drone on about her weight and is confident in her size and her sexual attractiveness. A nice change! I will try more Shelley Munro books. Great Job! Keeper and Reread

Note:This is for the Men to Die For edition, though there is no publisher stated difference-just to let you know.

I totally love this, uhm, faux tat, but it looks like the poor model lost a nipple in the cg process. Really love tribal tats, such a turn on.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taniwha

What it is all about...

This is a blog that supports the idea that women's sexuality is natural and normal. It is expressive and beautiful and should not be hidden behind sentimental words and flowery notions. It can be raw, powerful, steamy, sensual, and yes, dirty. It can come in many forms. What is sweet to one is vanilla (mundane) to another. What is forbidden to one is freeing to another. Especially what is going to be the main focus, the guiding concept, is that plus size women have sex and can have romances. BBW, Rubensesque, Buxom, etc. Women of size can, do and will have sex with men (and women) of all types. The intent of this blog is to focus on and ferret out erotic romances of all genres and pick them apart.