Jan 30 2010

REVIEW: Waiting in Vain by Charlotte Stein

By Jane • B Reviews • • Tags: , , • • • Author:

Dear Ms. Stein:

cover image for Charlotte Stein Waiting in VainI get several requests a day from authors seeking a review of their book. I generally read the first page of every book I receive for review. Often times the first page is insufficient to keep me reading. The story however opens with an engaging premise, a humorous tone, any promise of a worthwhile read. Although it was short, it was one of the more pleasurable erotic romances I have read in a long time.

I always feel awkward at the Hennessey's annual family Christmas get-togethers-’maybe because I'm just the sister of a brother-in-law. I don't have any family except for him, so I get to be the tag-a-long. But I guess this year my awkwardness isn't quite so unwarranted, when you consider that the revoltingly handsome eldest son has his hand on my thigh, under the table.

The premise is fairly simple. Nancy attends Christmases with her brother and his wife’s family, the Hennesseys. She has been doing this for three years. Not once during those previous holidays, has Nancy ever received any type of signal from Mick, “the revoltingly handsome eldest son”, so his hand on her leg under the table comes as quite a surprise.

The story is fairly short and there’s really not much that I can say about it so I choose instead to quote liberally from the story allowing the author’s voice to tell you what the reading experience will be like. This is a buoyant, charming, and and funny erotic romance. I’ve read many an erotic romance and they’re often so dark, filled with emotional turbulence that reading this lighthearted take was a breath of fresh air.

The story is told in the first person, but through conversation we come to learn of why Mick hasn’t made a move before:

"You're absolutely gorgeous! Hideously gorgeous! I hate to break it to you, Mick, but gorgeous men aren't afraid of asking clever women out on dates. Quite the opposite."

"Did you work that out in your giant alien brain?" he says. Completely deadpan.

See-’not only is he gorgeous, he's also funny enough to make me laugh in the middle of indignation.

"No, but-’"

"Were there lots of equations involved? If X has a tight bum and Y has big knockers, do they intersect in column Z?"

The erotic part of the romance comes from the fact that Mick is a bit of an exhibitionist.

"Your Gran's in the next room," I hiss at him, when he starts pushing past just making out in the middle of the night on his old bed.

But I've got no room to talk, because I seem to be rolling his t-shirt up his amazing body. If he keeps tempting me like this, I'm going to go for the buttons on his jeans, I know I am. Please stop me, Mick, before I unbutton your jeans.

"Is she? Think she can hear me spreading your legs?"

"Oh, gross, Mick. Gross. She's eight hundred years old! And besides, I'm not spreading my legs so you can just-’"

"Get you to make loads of noise? I was planning on it, but thanks for the permission."

"I don't make noise. Ever. I only have very, very quiet sex."

"Aw, that's a shame. Because I'm a talker. A shouter, even."

"I don't know why you're telling me this. I'm not going to make you shout."

"Well, where would the fun in that be? I've just told you that I'm no challenge, so making me shout would be pretty boring. Making you shout, on the other hand…"

You even throw in some clever imagery regarding the labrinth tattoo that Mick has on his arm and a bit of character growth as Nancy blossoms under Mick’s dedicated sexual onslaught. Thanks for sending it to me. I’ll be on the look out for future Stein books. B

Best regards,

Jane

This book can be purchased in ebook format. The only place I could find it for sale was at Total eBound.

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By • B Reviews • 15 • Tags: , , • • • Author: