Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I devoured this book. It was quite possibly the hottest thing I’ve ever read, and I’m super glad my bedsheets didn’t catch on fire.
I don't read in the romance genre that often, but sometimes the mood strikes and I just want a light, breezy read that I know will end happily. I've read sweet romances and enjoyed them ([b:Bet Me|854757|Bet Me|Jennifer Crusie|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1316129534s/854757.jpg|1616066] by Jennifer Crusie is the most recent, and it's a total delight), but I hadn't read anything with much of an edge to it.
I can't say that anymore.
I heard about A Gentleman in the Street on NPR, of all places. I'm probably exposing my latent snobbery by admitting this, but I doubt I would have given the book a chance otherwise. Somehow the NPR stamp of approval can legitimize even romance novels in my mind. The commentators gave the book the highest “all the peppers” rating for steaminess, and let me tell you, they were not playing around. It's one of the kinkiest books I've ever read.
But it was so much fun! Alisha Rai breaks the tired and trite romance novel mold in several key ways that I absolutely loved. First, the protagonist, Akira, is a Japanese-American woman. What—a romance novel featuring an interracial couple? It's almost like such couples exist in the real world or something! Secondly, Akira is an international badass businesswoman with a healthy net worth. She doesn't need to chase a man for his money because she has her own, thankyouverymuch. And finally, Rai turns slut-shaming on its head by allowing Akira a substantial sexual appetite and a man who matches her instead of judging her.
All those busted stereotypes make for an empowering and titillating read. I want to be clear, however: this is not the romance novel for your shy, retiring great-aunt Mildred. If there were a romance novel spectrum, this one wouldn't be anywhere near Nora Roberts territory. Like, stand at Nora Roberts and throw this book as far as you can towards E.L. James. But if you don't mind some bad language and even badder behavior, A Gentleman in the Street is a fast, fun fling.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
I can't say that anymore.
I heard about A Gentleman in the Street on NPR, of all places. I'm probably exposing my latent snobbery by admitting this, but I doubt I would have given the book a chance otherwise. Somehow the NPR stamp of approval can legitimize even romance novels in my mind. The commentators gave the book the highest “all the peppers” rating for steaminess, and let me tell you, they were not playing around. It's one of the kinkiest books I've ever read.
But it was so much fun! Alisha Rai breaks the tired and trite romance novel mold in several key ways that I absolutely loved. First, the protagonist, Akira, is a Japanese-American woman. What—a romance novel featuring an interracial couple? It's almost like such couples exist in the real world or something! Secondly, Akira is an international badass businesswoman with a healthy net worth. She doesn't need to chase a man for his money because she has her own, thankyouverymuch. And finally, Rai turns slut-shaming on its head by allowing Akira a substantial sexual appetite and a man who matches her instead of judging her.
All those busted stereotypes make for an empowering and titillating read. I want to be clear, however: this is not the romance novel for your shy, retiring great-aunt Mildred. If there were a romance novel spectrum, this one wouldn't be anywhere near Nora Roberts territory. Like, stand at Nora Roberts and throw this book as far as you can towards E.L. James. But if you don't mind some bad language and even badder behavior, A Gentleman in the Street is a fast, fun fling.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
3.5/5
This was a refreshing, feminist read! I was looking for a sex-positive, feminist romance that I hadn't heard of before, and I came upon this one in my search. I've read a couple other books by Alisha Rai in the past, but I'd never heard of this one so I thought I'd give it a go.
If you're looking for a quick, *very* steamy read with a female protagonist who isn't ashamed of her body and sex? Try this one! I loved reading a book where the female MC was totally in control of herself and what she wanted/desired and had a feminist male love interest to boot! And, might I add, a love interest who had some of his own sexual hangups/shame to work through and DID and never made her feel bad about herself in the process.
While the plot definitely could have been a bit more interesting for me, this worked for what I was in the mood for and definitely delivered. The perfect afternoon read to keep me going in between heavier, more dense reads! :)
**Note: I don't think there's anything to warrant a content warning in this book, but as this is an erotica and not a contemporary romance, if you're worried about that, check for any content warnings before reading.
This was a refreshing, feminist read! I was looking for a sex-positive, feminist romance that I hadn't heard of before, and I came upon this one in my search. I've read a couple other books by Alisha Rai in the past, but I'd never heard of this one so I thought I'd give it a go.
If you're looking for a quick, *very* steamy read with a female protagonist who isn't ashamed of her body and sex? Try this one! I loved reading a book where the female MC was totally in control of herself and what she wanted/desired and had a feminist male love interest to boot! And, might I add, a love interest who had some of his own sexual hangups/shame to work through and DID and never made her feel bad about herself in the process.
While the plot definitely could have been a bit more interesting for me, this worked for what I was in the mood for and definitely delivered. The perfect afternoon read to keep me going in between heavier, more dense reads! :)
**Note: I don't think there's anything to warrant a content warning in this book, but as this is an erotica and not a contemporary romance, if you're worried about that, check for any content warnings before reading.
So this review is meant for my friend who shall not be named, the biggest Alisha Rai fan I know.
Did I like this book? No. I loved it. This book is hella erotic. I mean, every page is literally a breath before an orgasm. I love how Alisha kept the tone consistent. I loved Akira. She may be my new favorite heroine. I mean, Alisha is known for crafting kickass contemporary romance heroines so this was not a surprise but I think Akira is her best invention yet. She's also the rich one in this book. And the kind of rich that doesn't just sit back and let her money work for her. She's savvy and ambitious - reading about how she run her business was almost as fun as reading the rest of the romance.
I love how sexual Akira was, shamelessly. It's so rare to find such a character. Most heroines that fit this description only exist in some hardcore BDSM romances and they're usually submissives, who only fulfill their desires because their Master requires it. She reminded me a lot of Queen Lyssa from the [a:Joey W. Hill|103359|Joey W. Hill|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1442239390p2/103359.jpg]'s Vampire Queen series, who is also of Asian descent.
But anyway, enough about Akira. Jacob. Sigh. Just all of the sighs for this dude. Introverted, intense without the brooding asshole nature that usually comes with these characters. Super sweet. Delivers some super hot sex. Ideal hero.
In summary, Alisha Rai wrote an amazing contemporary erotic romance that you should definitely read if you're fan of great sex and badass, take-no-prisoners heroines who have soft spots for charming, sexy introverts with wild imagionations.
Did I like this book? No. I loved it. This book is hella erotic. I mean, every page is literally a breath before an orgasm. I love how Alisha kept the tone consistent. I loved Akira. She may be my new favorite heroine. I mean, Alisha is known for crafting kickass contemporary romance heroines so this was not a surprise but I think Akira is her best invention yet. She's also the rich one in this book. And the kind of rich that doesn't just sit back and let her money work for her. She's savvy and ambitious - reading about how she run her business was almost as fun as reading the rest of the romance.
I love how sexual Akira was, shamelessly. It's so rare to find such a character. Most heroines that fit this description only exist in some hardcore BDSM romances and they're usually submissives, who only fulfill their desires because their Master requires it. She reminded me a lot of Queen Lyssa from the [a:Joey W. Hill|103359|Joey W. Hill|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1442239390p2/103359.jpg]'s Vampire Queen series, who is also of Asian descent.
But anyway, enough about Akira. Jacob. Sigh. Just all of the sighs for this dude. Introverted, intense without the brooding asshole nature that usually comes with these characters. Super sweet. Delivers some super hot sex. Ideal hero.
In summary, Alisha Rai wrote an amazing contemporary erotic romance that you should definitely read if you're fan of great sex and badass, take-no-prisoners heroines who have soft spots for charming, sexy introverts with wild imagionations.
This was just the absolute best time. Scorching hot (kinks galore including BDSM, exhibitionism, group sex) but also has enough mutual pining and angst to make it interesting. The MCs, Jacob and Akira were both delicious and great and their character growth, extremely satisfying (especially Jacob’s sexual awakening). It was also tender and funny and the family dynamic, Alisha Rai does it so well! Basically, everyone needs to read this book.
The very first time I read this, I was mildly scandalized and very very intrigued. I've read it many times since but on this reread I can fully appreciate every aspect of this book and understand and sympathize with all the emotional aspects it hits with. I know this author's recent books are very popular but this book is possibly my favorite. The perfect combination of sweet and sexy.
"Googling what to wear to an orgy had resulted in little assistance. Many interesting images. Little assistance" (Loc 2455)
Besides some pretty great one-off quotes, there was little to recommend this book. The writing was middling and the sex scenes were the same.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
"Men, so dumb. So consumed with classifying women into types to satisfy their own sense of comfort" (Loc 144)
"'I like hiring good, competent women. It's not our fault parasites can grow inside our wombs and wreck our bodies and imbalance our hormones.' 'Um...' 'I mean, it's not our fault delightful gifts from God bless our lives. And everything else'" (Loc 586)
"No one was wearing a mask and advancing on him menacingly with a butt plug as soon as he entered. Anticlimactic" (Loc 2547)
"Don't mind her. That was just her knees going weak" (Loc 3037)
"Thoroughly addicted to his gentleman-in-the-streets-freak-in-the-sheets vibe" (Loc 3689)
Besides some pretty great one-off quotes, there was little to recommend this book. The writing was middling and the sex scenes were the same.
Here are some of my favorite quotes:
"Men, so dumb. So consumed with classifying women into types to satisfy their own sense of comfort" (Loc 144)
"'I like hiring good, competent women. It's not our fault parasites can grow inside our wombs and wreck our bodies and imbalance our hormones.' 'Um...' 'I mean, it's not our fault delightful gifts from God bless our lives. And everything else'" (Loc 586)
"No one was wearing a mask and advancing on him menacingly with a butt plug as soon as he entered. Anticlimactic" (Loc 2547)
"Don't mind her. That was just her knees going weak" (Loc 3037)
"Thoroughly addicted to his gentleman-in-the-streets-freak-in-the-sheets vibe" (Loc 3689)