Lori Foster Reviews

Page Two

Added February 10, 2003

My House, My Rules

novella in Bad Boys on Board

Author: Lori Foster
Publisher: Kensington Brava
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: April 2003
Genre: Romance: Contemporary
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $14.00
ISBN: 0-7582-04280-9
Author Email/Website: www.lorifoster.com
Reviewer: Robin Tayler

Bad Boys on Board continues with its Bad Boys theme by giving us three amazing titles by three well-known names in the romance industry.

My House, My Rules by Lori Foster, is the first novella in this fantastic anthology. We meet Sam Watson, an undercover cop on assignment to bust a mugging ring. At the bar he is at, he spies a woman he believes to be his brother's girlfriend. Ariel Mathers is a woman he would like to really get to know. But, her attachment to his brother, plus the fact that he is 12 years her senior makes this impossible.

But, there she is, at the bar. Sam is undercover, so attempts to slip out of the bar unnticed by Ariel. As he attempts to catch the mugger, here comes Ariel to the rescue. Literally thrown together now, Ariel is finally able to tell Sam something she's wanted to tell him for a very long time. Sam, is not quite ready to hear this news. Well, part of him is ready. But, nope, despite his reputation, well, many reputations, he is quite honorable.

Since you already know that this is a romance. I will try not to feel too bad in telling you that Ariel wants Sam, not his brother. And, now that she has him cornered, so to speak, she's not going to take no for an answer. So, Sam decides to play the part of a bastard. First thing: my house, my rules. Sam's number one tenet. He'll push her until she just has to walk away. But, no, our heroine is tough. She'll take anything Sam dishes out, because her feelings for him are so powerful.

What does our Sam do? He gives Ariel what she wants and due to a sudden change in the agenda, decides to take what he wants. It's almost too good to be true. But then, a conflict arises which breaks the couple apart.

Now, the conclusion. My House, My Rules takes us through a quick, but thorough journey to the resolution of Sam and Ariel's situation. But, true Lori Foster style brings us in contact with Sam's family. It's great, really, because while your heartbeat is calming after reading the sex scenes between Sam and Ariel, you get to see the family strength and connectiveness. We briefly meet, but feel connected to secondary characters that Ms. Foster will be using in other books. I'd say, get your orders ready for Bad Boys on Board, because this is the first novella of the anthology that will make it worth money well spent.

Bad Boys on Board is a wonderful collection of novellas. Whether you want to read about an alpha male with his own set of rules, or about whether or not being stuck in an elevator for two people is really all that bad. Or whether you want to see an amnesia story just remind you that sometimes being at the right place at the right time can just lend a hint of fate to your lists of beliefs, you won't be let down. I have every book by these wonderful ladies, as they all are autobuys. So you must know that Bad Boys on Board goes on my keeper shelf, and that I will always try to be first in line for their upcoming books.

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Added September 24, 2002

Never Too Much

Author: Lori Foster
Publisher: Kensington Brava
Publishing Date: October 2002
Available at: Bookstores Everywhere
Genre: Romance: Contemporary
Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $14.00
ISBN: 0-7582-0086-2
Author Email/Website: www.lorifoster.com
Reviewer: Cyn Witkus

This is book is the follow up book to Too Much Temptation. Ben Badwin is bored, seriously bored and wants a challenge. He declares Sierra Murphy to be that challenge. She wants nothing to do with him, but she can't help but feel the attraction to the dark haired Ben. Ben exudes sensuality like most people need to breathe. Sierra isn't immune to his charms either. What starts out as a little bit of flirting escalates to a hotter than hot passion.

Ben is a likeable rogue. You can't help but love him. He loves women and the passionate creatures they are. However the way Sierra responds to his touch is something so much more, it makes him crave her more and more. Sierra can't believe this rogue of a male wants her and only her. When she tries to walk away, he won't let her. But when a threat from Sierra's past comes back, Sierra pushes Ben away even harder. She doesn't want him hurt. Because she knew once that threat knows of her feelings for Ben, there will be no stopping the retaliation.

We get to see Ben's mom, Brooke, Grace, Noah, and the incomparable Agatha Harper, Ben and Noah's grandmother. Seeing Agatha in action was a delight. She still wants the best for her grandson, Ben, but she wants it her way. Ben still pushes her buttons by calling her Aggie and refuses to go along with her plans. Noah and Grace see the passion between Ben and Sierra and try their best to help as things come up. In fact, it's a scene between Sierra and Noah that helps put everything in perspective for Sierra on how she feels for Ben.

I can't tell you how much I loved the book. I also won't spoil the ending. However, I will say Never Too Much is a read you'll find yourself pulled to over and over again. It's such a sensual read. From Ben's initial seduction of Sierra to the seduction of Ben's mom by Sierra's work partner, Kent there is seduction and romance woven throughout the book. The play on the family dynamics is even more pronounced in this book as well. Sierra's pain and the threat come from her family issues and seeing Aggie and the others in action shows her what a family can be like. Even a family with one Mrs. Agatha Harper at her finest most witty self. This moment was shown after the threat to Sierra was diffused.

****

*****

This book is all about family and love plus the intense sensation of moving from lust and like to love. From the playful moments where Ben feeds Sierra her favorite foods to steal moments in her life to where they fight so that it takes Noah and Grace to help soothe them on their way to a better relationship, this book rocks. I can highly recommend this one to the keeper shelf and regular rereading. Kudos to Lori for another winner.

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