Reviews

Perfect Ten by Michelle Craig

anasatticbookblog's review

5.0

GIVEAWAY OVER

Perfect Ten by Michelle Craig
Erotic Romance Standalone
Perfect Ten by Michelle Craig may be the most relatable book I have ever read. The heroine is a size 16 and completely down on herself. She has 2 skinny sisters and a skinny mom who are absolutely horrible people and taunt her about her weight. I sooooo get her! I have 2 skinny sisters and a skinny mom; though they aren't mean, and claim they want me to be healthy, they bring up my weight non-stop. My obsessive down-on-myself mentality is something I am working on, but not getting very far. My post here on my other blog, startingonmonday.com can illustrate more on that.

I also have an aversion to books classified as BBW (Big Beautiful Women). I don't want to be a genre. I look around at book signings and notice that book readers tend to be a bit heavier than the population, and I fit right in with other readers. I like characters I can relate to, but I don't want to be relegated to the BBW section, I know others who feel the same. So when I came across a promo on my Facebook feed with a curvy heroine, I had to get my hands on the book. Here is the promo:



Except for the hair & eye color, Faith Graham is me:

I’m five-foot-six, have slightly wavy strawberry blonde hair that I keep long so I can hide behind it— you know, for that extra layer of security— blue eyes and I’m a size sixteen. I’ve fought my weight my entire life. Sometimes, when I write everything down and count my calories, I can lose ten pounds or so, but honestly, I’m almost afraid to try anymore, because when the pounds come back— and they always do—they bring friends.

Joe Starling is an escort for 6 years. A very top of the line escort that takes beautiful, rail thin, botoxed women to charity events, and then expertly pleases a select few in the bedroom. Joe was all about pleasing women, and he enjoyed it all, and we get to see a bit of the action. (Can you say HOT?)

As I said before, I love pussy. Love it. I love the taste of it. I love the smell of it. I love it surrounding my entire face. If I could, I’d live there just licking my life away."

YES, please!

Faith had to go to her mean sister's wedding, and she had no date, a point that would just solidify her "fat loser sister" image with her family. So her friend gets her an escort. While at first she balks, she soon relents and figures why not? But when the original escort had to cancel, and Joe is the only one available to fill in, she decides she wants to meet her escort before she says yes.

“Oh, no way. I’m not hiring some pretty boy to take me to my sister’s wedding . They’ll see through that right away. Those escort guys are hot. No hot guy is going to want this.” I indicated my disgusting body, waving my arms around. “Who would believe that? And besides, he’ll probably think I’m hard up for sex and want him to be my stud for the night!”

But when Joe gets a look at Faith...

...an extraordinarily curvy, cute blonde on his arm. She looked a little frumpy in her plain gray skirt and matching high collared blouse; her curly hair was a bit out of control, but aside from that, she was adorable. To tell you the truth, at my first glimpse of her, I could swear my heart beat double time. It was weird. Something went through me that I can’t explain. It was a shiver. Well, not a shiver exactly—more like a shockwave . All I knew for sure was that I wanted her. I felt like wrapping my arms around her and taking her home with me. Pretty intense, huh? Yeah, tell me about it."

When she goes with him to the wedding, it's confusing. What is real, and what is he paid to say? I loved how Joe put her bitch sister in her place:

Hey, we just met, and I don’t mean to be rude, but I like my women— for lack of a better word— womanly. I need softness and curves. I’m sure plenty of men find your type attractive, but I’m not one of them.” I pulled Faith close again lowering my hand to rest on the soft curve of her bottom. “I certainly find your sister womanly though.”

Joe shocked her by wanting more, and his honest love of her body can pull anyone out of  self depreciation. Especially when it comes from someone like Joe.



I loved Joe's innocence  and excitement upon seeing Faith. To him, she was perfect just the way she was.

And she had those cute yoga pants on women loved now. Do NOT look at her ass. I was going to have to be really careful if I didn’t want to play ball with full wood."

Sure, this story is a bit of a Pretty Woman fantasy book. The premise is not that original, but I just loved the execution. I laughed a lot, cried a bit, and wanted to hang out with the heroine (or throw her in front of a bus and take her place.)

I want every inch of you. Every. Fucking. Inch.”

 

Likes:

• •Relatable, curvy heroine with lots of self esteem issues.


• •Totally hot sex. Scorching!


• •The way the 3rd wall was broken down and Joe talked to the reader.


• •Alternating POV and It was executed flawlessly.


• •I laughed, a lot.


• •I totally fell for Joe.


• •Joe was not shy about letting you know how he felt.


• •Sweet epilogue.

Dislikes:

• •The end didn't quite live up to the beginning, it was a bit rushed.


• •It wasn't very unique, but how many books are?

Rating: 5 stars, Heat: 5 Stars

I loved reading about a heavy girl who actually hated herself. I know that might sound crazy, but I think that is more realistic than the curvy girl who loves her curves. Even the ones who are usually body-positive will sometimes cringe when they see their double chin in that selfie. Joe Starling was just amazing. Are there real-life guys like that? Probably not. But I'm happy with Joe as my book boyfriend for now ;-)

I think Perfect Ten is great for any woman who loves a happier, upbeat, very sexy book. Do you have to be chubby to read this? NOT AT ALL. Though it's nice to be able to relate, I think most women have felt that "why would he want me?" feeling, and Perfect Ten nailed it.

Purchase Perfect Ten by Michelle Craig

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pretty_odd08's review

1.0

Eew

Way to make a main character so abhorrent it's impossible to get into the story. Couldn't get past chapter 3. I really don't get all the good reviews.

mandy_pandy's review

5.0

I really enjoyed this sweet story! Faith is a size 16 and struggles with her body image. She comes from a family of woman who are constantly putting her down and making her feel like less. Joe is the number one escort for Perfect Ten. He loves woman, loves sex and loves his family. He is kind, sweet, and incredibly sexy. I loved Joe! He is fantastic! I loved how Faith and Joe meet and the chemistry between these characters. There was some really hot sexual tension in this book, great build-up and the steamy scenes were incredibly hot. Faith has the best friends ever and I really hope maybe some of them will get their own book (CHLOE!!!) The epilogue was one of my favorites ever! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a sexy, hot, sweet romance!

slovenianbookworm's review

5.0

Perfect Ten

I have to say I really liked this story. Yes, it has bothered me at the beginning that hero talked about his previous encounters but I love how heroine put him in his place.
Mrs Covington was truly a wonderful lady!

tarazagata's review

5.0

From beginning to end I loved every minute in between with Joe and Faith! I literally could not put it down. When I'm that committed to the characters you know it's a great read!
Faith is me, I swear she is all of us curvy girls with the same body image issues, we feel like we aren't good enough for the perfect guy. But this story goes to show that curvy girls are HOT and we do it better! LoL
Joe, God I wish I had a Joe of my own he is the Perfect Ten. I may not like his chosen profession but it fit him and his character perfectly.
From the main characters to the supporting characters I love and hated every one of the characters.
You need to pick this book up its worth it!

bookwormlala's review

4.0

GREAT READ

The opening if this book I didn't care for. I didn't care for the scenes with the other woman, even though the sex was hot. I know that he and Faith hadn't met yet, but I don't care for those types of scenes, especially since it becomes an issue later in the book. Later, Joe dropped a notch in my book when he was thinking of having one last fling before he and Faith became official, since he kind of let a woman put her hands down his pants. And I didn't like the whole crazy ex-client thing. That was OTT and unnecessary.

I DID like how loving and affectionate Joe was. I liked the humor. I liked that Joe wanted Faith instantly. That he saw her differently than the negative people, that he honestly didr know why people thought he was out of her league. Usually I dislike h with conflicted feelings, but I totally understood Faith's reservations. The characters, with the exception of Faith's sisters and mom, were awesome.The sex was hawt.

Overall, this story was totally sweet. Joe was an awesome character, minus one little hiccup.

11momo's review

I'm so done with this hero. DNF at 12%. We haven't even met the heroine yet but I am done with him. He happily slept with one of his psycho customers even after saying he wasn't a prostitute. No, he's a man led by his dick. Not for me.

kiks396's review

2.0

This wasn't my cup of tea. The story dragged on for much longer than it needed to. Joe Starling is the number one escort at his agency. He loves what he does and fits the agency's name to a tee as he is a Perfect Ten. But things change when Faith Graham, a potential client, flat out refuses to have him as her date to her sisters wedding. She needs an average Joe on her arm and Joe Starling is definitely not it. But for Joe, Faith is everything he wants and needs and he didn't even know it. The biggest problem to them being together is Faith's lack of self-esteem. Gosh. Her family really did a number on her and majority of the book is about her dealing with those issues. As for Joe, he was kinda arrogant in the beginning. He eventually grew on me, especially with his persistence and how he changed and helped Faith. But overall, the story was far too long, it was one thing after another, and I landed up forcing myself to finish it.

dlparrott's review

5.0

Reviewed by #MinxD


Joe is sex on a stick, and he loves loves sex. But Joe has had a rough go of things, especially after his dad. When a once in a lifetime chance happens, He know works for Perfect Ten. It's an elite escort service that he has worked hard to be at the top of the industry. That was until Faith walks into the Perfect Ten offices and says one thing "No".
Faith is a sexy curvaceous woman who has a family that are nasty nice to her. Everyone but her dad, he is the light of her life. She has worked hard with the help of her friends to give herself and her body a chance to be loved. When she needs an everyday Joe to accompany her to her sisters wedding she never expected that Joe to be Sexier then sin Joe Starling. She took one look at him and said "No".
Joe wants to know everything about Faith but she knows a guy like him could never love a woman like her. Not only that but Joe dates other woman for a living, can Faith look beyond that or is that a deal breaker?
I instantly felt for Faith, having a family that can't see she is an amazing woman who deserves love no matter what he or she looks like. Faith is such a strong woman and she doesn't even know it. putting up with her family and still pushing forward is amazing. Joe oh man Joe, you can totally tell something is missing for him and it kills you that he doesn't know it yet till Faith. She is like his light at the end of the tunnel. Stan, ugh, I just have to comment on him real quick. He is a slime ball. I wanted to throw my kindle because of him. Grace oh man I loved her. I loved all of Faith's friends but she is a woman with balls of steel.
I Absolutely loved this book. it played like a movie in my mind the whole time reading it. I felt what the characters felt and the description of the people, places, and situations is just amazing.

katrinamarie's review

3.0

This review was originally posted on Bookish Things & More

I’m not going to lie, at first I didn’t like Joe Starling. He’s arrogant, and honestly, a little douchey.  But he grows on you. Especially when he learns that maybe he doesn’t want to live the way he does anymore.

Now I adore Faith. She’s fun when she lets her walls down, has amazing friends, and refuses to be made to look like an idiot.  I do wish she had a little more self-confidence, but she learns to love herself. And that is the most awesome thing ever! I love how much she grows throughout the book.  She doesn’t allow people to say crappy things to her anymore, and there’s this one moment where she just snaps. And it may be my favorite one.

Perfect Ten is a quick read.  You get lost in the attraction and the sweetness of moments.  You get outraged at the way some characters are treated, but then are okay because others are there for them.

If you like dirty talk, smexy scenes, fun banter, and characters getting to know each other then this is the book for you.