Double the Heat Book

Every story in this book was a win for me even with the individual and minor flaws I mention below. My biggest complaint is that these weren't full length books with the same amount of sweet romance, awesome dialogue and great characters.


3.5
Hart and Soul by Lori Foster

This short story should be read after Dex's story from Double the Pleasure but it's not absolutely necessary. In Dex's story we learn that Hart had a one-night stand with Lisa who he describes as plain and not his normal type. In Hart's story it opens with him sitting in his car in front of Lisa's apartment. He hasn't spoken to her since that night and she's been actively trying to reach him recently. He assumes her persistence means she wants him again. Who wouldn't. But no, Lisa wouldn't be this persistent just to sleep with him again. Not Lisa. This is bigger and it must mean she's...oh god, pregnant. He'd have preferred kids come later in life as he's just now starting a promising career as an SBC fighter, but kids are welcome and Lisa, well, he kind of lied when he said she was plain. She's really anything but. She's professional, smart, sexy and just not the type he normally dates. He slept with her in a moment of lust -a weak moment- and they both agreed it was just one time. Now she'll be the mother of his child and well, he's okay with that. Lisa however was only trying to get in touch with Hart for one reason and it's not because she is carrying his baby. She might want him but his is resistible. No, she was contacting him because he's in danger but cocky, arrogant Hart ignored her so she's done trying to help. He's on his own. Hart's suddenly not thrilled with her indifference and decides that he hasn't had enough of Lisa after all.

Hart's confidence was really appealing. He's really like the perfect man mixed with a fair bit of ego, confidence and caveman. These Winston men are pretty awesome though. Lisa was not a shrinking violet. She meets him toe-to-toe and even ignores him which brings out even more possessiveness and some sweet insecurity. This story has a bit of danger, a reappearance by Dex and Joe Winston, some good sass and lots of lovin'.

3.5
Breaking the Ice by Dierdre Martin

If you've read Double the Pleasure then you already know about the Wild Hart bar in Hell's Kitchen, NY where this story takes place. It's a whole new set of characters and a couple old ones but it is not necessary to have read the other story first.

27 year old Leonara (Lennie) Buckley has just moved to NYC from the Adirondacks. She's living with her Aunt Mary, her parrot Rudy II, and attending FIT (The Fashion Institute of New York). Sebastian Ivanson is an NHL player for the Blades and a recent transplant from Siberia, Russia. He's loving America and wishes he had a platonic female companion to sight-see with. His hockey buddies suggest he try CraigsList. He arranges to meet "New to New York" at the Wild Hart, a place he and his hockey pals frequent. He mistakenly thinks Lennie is the one he's meeting and they strike up an instant, easy conversation and make plans to take a bus tour on the weekend. Things slowly evolve from there.

So this little story was a bit unlike most. The relationship happens very slowly in terms of page length. You spend a great deal of the novella "savoring" (a secret word between Sebastian and Lennie) them simply being together as friends and maybe more. It was great. It was sweet and tender and kind and loving and I worried that for the first time ever, one of these short stories was going to end horribly. Horribly as in with a death or terrible secret and I wouldn't get my HEA (happily ever after). But the big conflict that interrupts this otherwise charming love affair was strained. What was really excessive was Lennie's reaction and then a very extended separation. What was worse was the conflict had me rethinking how charming the whole story was. I reconsidered other parts of the story that, while totally sweet (ideal even...one can wish) were actually artificial. Like his hockey buddies are hardly as bawdy as you'd expect and they get along remarkably well with the perfect amount of respect and joking. Again, an ideal scenario just not true to life and only one example of the inauthentic feel of the story. Yet, with my complaints it truly wasn't a big deal. The story was so sweet, with such a slow burn that it overshadowed any other issues. Sebastian is an awesome guy and that alone made this a good read.

3.5
Double Booked by Elizabeth Bevarly

Workaholic, Amanda Bingham has finally been convinced to take a vacation. She's going to Captiva Island off the Gulf coast of Florida to her married friends Kate and Marshall's luxury condo. Kate tells Amanda that all she'll need is a bikini and everything else will be stocked at the condo. But Amanda can't leave behind her contact solution and artificial tear solution and prescription glasses and sunglasses, and an extra pair in case those break. Kate probably never needed SPF 492 or special face wash because Kate's perfect. And Amanda can't forget her allergy meds and her lap top and her cell phone, because what if her boss needs her, and well, Amanda doesn't really know how to take a vacation. She's never taken one in her adult life and the only reason she's here now is because her boss is also on vacation. What she does know though is that the half naked man leaving the shower of her supposedly vacant vacation condo is none other than Max Callahan, 'God's gift to women' if you asked him. If you asked her he was the sorriest excuse for a human being ever...and the one man Kate has been telling her for years is perfect for her.

Max is the opposite of Amanda in every-way. She's a corporate drone who lives for work while Max works to live. One week he might be a carpenter and the next he's a pool cleaner. They both hate each other. They fight whenever they are in the same room. But something about her gorgeous eyes, and the way she wears those flowery jammies, and that soft, curly hair has him seeing uptight Amanda in a whole new light.

I'm always a big fan of adversarial love connections and this one hit the spot. A slow burn romance with a nice amount of bickering made this one an enjoyable read. I didn't like Max at all for several pages but one secret, little act of consideration and he won me over. I'm so easy!


3.5
Original Zin by Christie Ridgway

John Henry Hudson's doctor (and best friend Mark) told him that he needs to take it easy and find balance before he ends up working himself into an early grave like his father did a year and half ago. Dr. Mark's remedy is for John Henry to go away, get drunk and get laid. For the first week of his "vacation" John Henry still worked endlessly but after some stingy words from his sister he's decided that maybe he'll do exactly what Doc told him. He tosses some money to the limo driver and instructs him to find John Henry a beer and a willing babe.

Driving a limo is just one of Zinnia (Zin) Friday's job. She works tirelessly to make sure her eccentric parents don't go without or worse yet, have to ask random townspeople for money. Plus she has school loans to pay back and an undeserved reputation she fights against everyday. Zin is as surprised by her passengers proposition of a beer and a willing babe and her passenger is as shocked to find out that his driver is a women, not 'Carl' who he expected would be driving. John Henry is embarrassed and Zin thinks it's cute and he's funny so she's willing to help him out...at least with the beer part.

Another nice little story with lots of great dialogue or maybe it's just a few really, really awesome lines. Still it's pretty sweet and leaves your tummy a bit fluttery. Realistic characters and a believable dynamic with a solid dilemma that could break them up. The best part is John Henry's unending pursuit and seductive words.