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bookdrgn's review against another edition
#NetGalley #DangerousCurves
Open to Negotiation by Sara Marks
Lydia is a fun heroine who’s been burned before and is reluctant to let hot Marcus into her life for more than one night.
Marcus is determined to have Lydia in his life and goes about it in a sneaky way. Wasn’t a fan of his sister though.
I enjoyed this first person POV because it read like Lydia was talking to you, she is funny and not obsessed with her size in a negative way.
The Way You Look Tonight by Anna Fondant
A quick, fun read about two ships passing in the night, or so Melissa thinks. The writing was a little on the passive side, for me, but the pace moved well, and the descriptions were great.
Come to Me by Rachel Kenley
This short didn’t resonate with me. It seemed weird that these characters got together, and I feel like we missed something with the time jump to year into their future. Lindsay fell victim to the bigger girl without confidence trope, which is disappointing in a book with the potential to be a great example of body positivity.
Her Enchanted Curves Tonight by Trinity Blacio
I felt like I was missing a bigger piece of a puzzle, like to understand this, I needed to have prior knowledge of the universe these characters lived in. Chantal seems like an interesting character, but I didn’t connect with Asif.
The Beautiful Move in Curves by Elizabeth Black
Generally I’m fine with the threesome/reverse harem trope, but there was something about this story I didn’t connect with. Maybe it was because it was so short, with not a lot of room for backstory, I’m not sure, but I feel like the emotional connection was missing.
Delicious Hearts by Lia Violet
I felt like this had so much potential for more. Perhaps a heroine who wasn’t comparing herself to smaller women, a deeper mystery about the ‘villain’, more information on the shifter universe, mating rules etc. It was quick, flirty and fun but lacked some oomph.
Go for Broke by Barbra Campbell
The beginning of this was great but felt like it was just there to set up the sex scene. Zoe and Clayton; I wish this was a snippet of a larger novel for them. Their chemistry was great, and Zoe’s confidence was awesome.
Rock and Cinnamon Roll by Trevann Rogers
Who doesn’t want to have a hot night with a rock star? Cinnamon, an unfortunate name for a larger character and seemed a deliberate choice so jokes could be made, is another woe is me I’m fat no one will love me character who needs a hot fella to tell her she’s worthy. This is another one I could envision reading a longer novella or novel of, if Cinnamon’s confidence was fixed, the scene where she was shoved down by others was infuriating, especially when she didn’t stand up for herself.
Reunion by Raisa Greywood
Rachel, Rachel, Rachel. Rachel comes across as a very bitter woman. We’ve all been through high school and it sucked for most of us. But Rachel takes down her enemy well with a good confrontation and sassy retort.
But it really felt like she was the angry fat girl character with bridges to burn instead of taking the high road. She’s reluctant to believe Jake crushed on her in high school and he does come across very creepy with all the facts he knew about her, without ever talking to her in school.
Rachel puts forward a self-confident vibe, but it doesn’t show in her actions. Parts I loved, parts I didn’t.
My thoughts overall
I felt like this had the potential to be a great example of body positivity. The title “Dangerous Curves” made me think the heroines would be smart, sassy and bodacious with their Rubenesque bodies, but as a curvy woman, I was disappointed by the self-loathing stereotype most of these characters fell prey to.
***I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Open to Negotiation by Sara Marks
Lydia is a fun heroine who’s been burned before and is reluctant to let hot Marcus into her life for more than one night.
Marcus is determined to have Lydia in his life and goes about it in a sneaky way. Wasn’t a fan of his sister though.
I enjoyed this first person POV because it read like Lydia was talking to you, she is funny and not obsessed with her size in a negative way.
The Way You Look Tonight by Anna Fondant
A quick, fun read about two ships passing in the night, or so Melissa thinks. The writing was a little on the passive side, for me, but the pace moved well, and the descriptions were great.
Come to Me by Rachel Kenley
This short didn’t resonate with me. It seemed weird that these characters got together, and I feel like we missed something with the time jump to year into their future. Lindsay fell victim to the bigger girl without confidence trope, which is disappointing in a book with the potential to be a great example of body positivity.
Her Enchanted Curves Tonight by Trinity Blacio
I felt like I was missing a bigger piece of a puzzle, like to understand this, I needed to have prior knowledge of the universe these characters lived in. Chantal seems like an interesting character, but I didn’t connect with Asif.
The Beautiful Move in Curves by Elizabeth Black
Generally I’m fine with the threesome/reverse harem trope, but there was something about this story I didn’t connect with. Maybe it was because it was so short, with not a lot of room for backstory, I’m not sure, but I feel like the emotional connection was missing.
Delicious Hearts by Lia Violet
I felt like this had so much potential for more. Perhaps a heroine who wasn’t comparing herself to smaller women, a deeper mystery about the ‘villain’, more information on the shifter universe, mating rules etc. It was quick, flirty and fun but lacked some oomph.
Go for Broke by Barbra Campbell
The beginning of this was great but felt like it was just there to set up the sex scene. Zoe and Clayton; I wish this was a snippet of a larger novel for them. Their chemistry was great, and Zoe’s confidence was awesome.
Rock and Cinnamon Roll by Trevann Rogers
Who doesn’t want to have a hot night with a rock star? Cinnamon, an unfortunate name for a larger character and seemed a deliberate choice so jokes could be made, is another woe is me I’m fat no one will love me character who needs a hot fella to tell her she’s worthy. This is another one I could envision reading a longer novella or novel of, if Cinnamon’s confidence was fixed, the scene where she was shoved down by others was infuriating, especially when she didn’t stand up for herself.
Reunion by Raisa Greywood
Rachel, Rachel, Rachel. Rachel comes across as a very bitter woman. We’ve all been through high school and it sucked for most of us. But Rachel takes down her enemy well with a good confrontation and sassy retort.
But it really felt like she was the angry fat girl character with bridges to burn instead of taking the high road. She’s reluctant to believe Jake crushed on her in high school and he does come across very creepy with all the facts he knew about her, without ever talking to her in school.
Rachel puts forward a self-confident vibe, but it doesn’t show in her actions. Parts I loved, parts I didn’t.
My thoughts overall
I felt like this had the potential to be a great example of body positivity. The title “Dangerous Curves” made me think the heroines would be smart, sassy and bodacious with their Rubenesque bodies, but as a curvy woman, I was disappointed by the self-loathing stereotype most of these characters fell prey to.
***I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
intostarlight's review against another edition
2.0
I'm sorry to say I didn't enjoy this collection of novellas very much. they weren't bad just nothing special either.
Open To Negotiation by Sera Mark: 2 stars I didn't enjoy the first person point of view narration. And the story was way too brief and I didn't much like it.
The Way You Look Tonight by Anna Fondants: 2 stars It was just too da** short and it ended very abrubtly. And it also contains one of my most disliked tropes: lust and love at first sight.
Come To Me by Rachel Kenley 3 stars I loved the premise of thi story. It started great and I loved it at first but I didn't like the direction the story took. I was a little disappointed in the end.
Her Enchanted Curves by Trinity Blacio 1 star I liked this novella the least of them all. While reading it I had a feeling like I'm missing out on the story, like I should have already known about the setting, characters (from other books by this author maybe). Besides that it also feauters instalove which is a major pet peeve of mine. And on top of it all the story ended very abrubtly, the plot didn't get resolved at all (is there a part II maybe?).
The Beautiful Move In Curves by Elizabeth Blach: 2 stars Polyamory is so not to my liking. It was a good story otherwise. I especially liked the heroine who was older then her "love" interests (love in quotation marks because it was all sex, no love).
Delicious Hearts by Lia Violet: 3 stars This one was a shifter romance (werewolves). I liked it, but didn't love it. I wish it was longer.
Go For Broke by Barbra Campbell: 2 stars It had an awesome opening scene (5 stars for that scene).. Too bad the rest of the story didn't really hold my attention. It was just a long sex scene. I didn't feel the love.
Rock and Cinnamon Roll by Trevann Rogers: 2 stars Again, I didn't feel the love. The story wasn't developed enough. It all happend too quickly for my taste (the h/H meet one day, next day they're in love). Also, the rockstar hero came across as a creep.
Reunion by Raisa Greywood: 4 stars This one was my favorite of them all. I really enjoyed it and was disappointed when it ended.
***I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Open To Negotiation by Sera Mark: 2 stars I didn't enjoy the first person point of view narration. And the story was way too brief and I didn't much like it.
The Way You Look Tonight by Anna Fondants: 2 stars It was just too da** short and it ended very abrubtly. And it also contains one of my most disliked tropes: lust and love at first sight.
Come To Me by Rachel Kenley 3 stars I loved the premise of thi story. It started great and I loved it at first but I didn't like the direction the story took. I was a little disappointed in the end.
Her Enchanted Curves by Trinity Blacio 1 star I liked this novella the least of them all. While reading it I had a feeling like I'm missing out on the story, like I should have already known about the setting, characters (from other books by this author maybe). Besides that it also feauters instalove which is a major pet peeve of mine. And on top of it all the story ended very abrubtly, the plot didn't get resolved at all (is there a part II maybe?).
The Beautiful Move In Curves by Elizabeth Blach: 2 stars Polyamory is so not to my liking. It was a good story otherwise. I especially liked the heroine who was older then her "love" interests (love in quotation marks because it was all sex, no love).
Delicious Hearts by Lia Violet: 3 stars This one was a shifter romance (werewolves). I liked it, but didn't love it. I wish it was longer.
Go For Broke by Barbra Campbell: 2 stars It had an awesome opening scene (5 stars for that scene).. Too bad the rest of the story didn't really hold my attention. It was just a long sex scene. I didn't feel the love.
Rock and Cinnamon Roll by Trevann Rogers: 2 stars Again, I didn't feel the love. The story wasn't developed enough. It all happend too quickly for my taste (the h/H meet one day, next day they're in love). Also, the rockstar hero came across as a creep.
Reunion by Raisa Greywood: 4 stars This one was my favorite of them all. I really enjoyed it and was disappointed when it ended.
***I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
hexthebookworm's review against another edition
3.0
Like most anthologies, this was a mixed bag in quality but conceptually all the stories were entertaining. The two urban fantasy stories had the most unrealized potential and were possibly the roughest with regards to writing but I would very much like to see them in longer works. The best by traditional standards were probably the first and last stories, but nothing in this collection was truly bad. I'm a huge (pun intended) fan of the premise of this collection, a subset of romance I lovingly call "Fat chicks need love too, and I look forward to seeing more of these stories from these authors or this publisher.
hexthebookworm's review
3.0
Like most anthologies, this was a mixed bag in quality but conceptually all the stories were entertaining. The two urban fantasy stories had the most unrealized potential and were possibly the roughest with regards to writing but I would very much like to see them in longer works. The best by traditional standards were probably the first and last stories, but nothing in this collection was truly bad. I'm a huge (pun intended) fan of the premise of this collection, a subset of romance I lovingly call "Fat chicks need love too, and I look forward to seeing more of these stories from these authors or this publisher.
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