Most readers ‘of a certain age’ (and this could really be just about any age, but let’s assume they’re all legal to vote in the US, okay?) have probably read one of the smutty books on the shelf. You know the ones – hot, half-naked man on the cover, hair blowing in the breeze, chest muscles glistening.
Yup, I read them, and I like them. They’re like Cheetos for my brain – no nutritional value but fun to consume.
I recently read two such books and thought I’d share with you.
Heat of the Moment (Out of Uniform #1) by Elle Kennedy
In this heat wave, anything and everything goes. A Red-Hot Summer story. Shelby Harper has lusted over Navy SEAL John Garrett for over a year, but no matter how many sexy signals she sends out, the man shows a complete lack of interest in getting naked. Then she overhears Garrett talking to his SEAL teammate–a discussion in which they conclude she’s vanilla. Stung, Shelby sets out to show them exactly how un-vanilla she is. Garrett can’t believe it when sweet, sexy Shelby suggests a wild and sweaty ménage. He’s been trying to figure out how to ask her out without coming off as a guy who only wants to get in her pants–her friendship is too valuable to him to risk it. But if a crazy, heat-wave three-way is what Shelby wants, then he’s ready and willing to give it to her. Once she gets it out of her system, however…well, then he’ll let her know he wants her all to himself.
This is the first ‘book’ in the Out of Uniform series, but be prepared, these are more along the lines of short stories than books. While these eBooks seem a bit pricey to me (currently $2.10 for 57 pages of smutty goodness on Google Books), the writing is fabulous.
These are not your average Porn-Without-Plot kind of romance novels. In 57 pages, we were introduced to the characters, exposed to the world of Navy SEALS and the women they have sex with, and brought to a fabulous climax (pun intended) filled with romance and…well, fabulous climaxes.
Be not afraid of the romance genre attached to these books – Elle writes for the modern smut-reading woman. There are no ‘dripping cores’ or ‘turgid members’, no ‘bundle of nerves’ that is rubbed until the poor girl ‘falls over the cliff of ecstasy’. We get a wonderfully smutty story filled with wet pussies, hard cocks, and clit licking bringing about fabulous orgasms. What more do we want?
This particular story is all about sweet, beautiful baker Shelby and how she desires SEAL Garrett. Unfortunately, Garrett seems to have no interest in pushing their current friendship into a more intimate zone. That is, until Shelby suggests a threesome with Garrett’s friend Carson. Ménage, people. Gotta love it. The sex is hot, the emotions are true and pure, and the story is a quick little read for a summer evening.
I rated this book three stars on Goodreads. It would have gotten four but there was one loose thread that was never tied up and it drove me crazy. See if you notice it – you may be distracted by all the bedroom time.
Heat of Passion (Out of Uniform #2) by Elle Kennedy
Carson Scott is the king of one-night stands, so a naughty encounter with a sexy brunette in a nightclub supply closet is right up his alley. When his mysterious seductress disappears, he’s blindsided by an unfamiliar emotion—disappointment. One thing’s for sure…if he ever encounters his lady of the evening again, he won’t let her slip away so easily. Between her catering business, family issues, and her broken heart, Holly Lawson has too much on her plate to think about committing to a serious relationship. Hot, sweaty, anonymous sex with a Navy SEAL…now that sounds like the perfect appetizer to take the edge off. With no plans to ever see him again, she indulges in a fling. Only to come face to face with him weeks later while working a wedding. Worse, Carson is hell-bent on the one thing she doesn’t want. The R word. She has no intention of falling for him, but in the face of his seductive, mind-changing methods, her resistance is crumbling…
This is the second in the Out of Uniform series, and this one got a four-star review from me on Goodreads. Hottie Carson is back and is in desperate need of a woman to take care of his big, hard… everything. That’s when ‘Jessica’ comes into his life and turns it completely upside down. For the first time, the sexually daring SEAL is ready for commitment, but his little seductress isn’t.
I really loved this short story – Holly (aka Jessica) was a wonderfully refreshing character, true to form with her false bravado and emotional walls. And Carson… oh, Carson. So wonderful, so patient with her. I can totally see why it was so hard for Holly to resist him.
These books are perfect for a quick read on the porch, in the bathtub, or sitting over your morning cup of coffee. I love Elle’s style and am really looking forward to finishing off this series so I can start on the rest of her stuff!
About the Author (from Goodreads):
A RITA-award nominated author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager. Elle currently publishes with Harlequin Romantic Suspense, Harlequin Blaze, Samhain Publishing, and NAL. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!
