Limecello’s review of Seven Nights of Sin by Lacey Alexander
Contemporary Erotic Romance released by NAL Trade 1 April 08

I’d heard a lot of buzz about this book, so when I found it in my mailbox, I was very excited. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I thought I would, but it does have a fantastic ending.

Strange, that the conflict in this book was so mundane, so real and plausible… but I felt it was unrealistic. For her age, the heroine, Brenna, seemed way too clueless. She’s from Centerville, Ohio! I know where that is! They produce a lot of NFL players 🙂 Just because she’s not slutty, or promiscuous, doesn’t mean she doesn’t know sex exists. The wide eyed bambi feel didn’t so much breathe life to the character, as annoy the reader (read: me). Brenna was also excessively awed by Vegas. It’s not like it’s Stonehenge or St. Peter’s Basilica.

I got extremely impatient with the heroine. In fact, she’s an idiot. I realize it’s tough to make a life change, but she was too uncertain. If she’s determined to start her new life, she needs to stick with it. Otherwise, the book did pick up around the Second Night, Chapter 4. The book itself doesn’t have that great a plot. Who am I kidding, effectively, it’s not really there. What saves this book, is the how almost unbelievably compatible Brenna and Damon are. This book is hot. There’s a problem, however, when you only like the heroine during a sex scene. Good thing that’s about 80% of the book so you don’t walk away thinking she’s useless.

The hero, Damon, seemed to have a limited vocabulary, “Jesus God” being a favorite phrase. He said it whenever he was surprised during sex, or turned on – and, that was a lot. I’m not sure if I simply don’t read enough books like this, but … the hero always fell asleep after sex. Pretty much immediately. It was a bit surprising this was mentioned so many times, since it’s such a point of contention among couples, women getting annoyed by the guy who just rolls off and falls asleep.

Most of the interaction with characters outside of Brenna and Damon had me rolling my eyes. I finally got what was really bothering me around chapter four, night five – it reads like a high school fantasy. A super geek part of me questioned one of the last, encounters, shall we call them, at a club named Caligula’s. With all the excess of the Roman empire, Ms. Alexander chose to use the emperor named “little boots” – and one who was nuts and made his horse consul. Not very sexy. The classics scholar in me was also annoyed by the description of the club, but I put it aside. There was a lot of chin lowering as well. If the action wasn’t sexual, the characters were lowering their chins. Any and all of them.

Still, the chemistry between Brenna and Damon really draws you in. Ironically, I found myself really liking the book when it was ending. In fact, I didn’t feel very invested, until Brenna and Damon “broke up.” I’m wondering if there will be a sequel telling Kelly and Anthony’s story. 😉 I’m sure someone will know.

The last section of the book really clinched it for me. While I struggled to read the earlier sections of the book, Brenna and Damon finally developed into three dimensional characters, and I enjoyed watching their relationship take root.

Grade: C-

     Summary:

     A sizzling novel about seven steamy nights in Sin City, each one hotter than the last…

     Brenna Cayton doesn’t need a man. At least that’s what she keeps telling herself. Then her boss sends her on a business trip to Vegas to make sure Damon Andros-the sexiest man in the entire music industry-doesn’t live up to his bad boy image. But before she knows it, business turns to extreme pleasure as Damon brings out her naughty side, fulfilling every one of her wildest fantasies. Now, she has just seven sultry nights to commit every sin in the book. Because once Damon discovers her dirty little secret, he’ll surely never indulge their lust again…

     Read an excerpt here.