Gwen’s review of Italian Stallions by Karin Tabke and Jami Alden
Contemporary erotic romance anthology released by Aphrodisia 1 Jul 08

This two story anthology is centered around a restaurant in the San Francisco area. Both stories have several characters in common and a general theme – damsels in distress who are saved by the almighty peen, I mean, hero(es).

Tabke is one of the authors who employs the recently controversial Street Team concept. Something I find kind of funny, to be honest. I mean, how many years have I heard that authors dread having to market themselves and say that’s the worst part of the job. And yet, when a few of them actually do that by employing the oh-so-urban-hip-sounding “street team,” they’re criticized for it. You authors can’t win for losing sometimes, ya know? 😉

Okay – back to the book.

In His Bed by Karin Tabke

I was underwhelmed by this story. I didn’t find either the hero or heroine very believable and didn’t particularly care for the evolution of the romance.

The heroine, Gianna, is a protected Italian virgin who helps her traditional Italian father run a traditional Italian restaurant. She loses her father and is left to fend for herself. During this transition, she’s confronted with a local thug/mucketymuck who wants to pop her cherry. This thug employs other thugs, naturally, who almost take said cherry for themselves (huh???). The heroine is saved by an undercover FBI agent/hero who is gunning for the thug/mucketymuck.

The seriously alpha hero proceeds to conquer heroine’s heart and body with his almighty peen and saves the day. The heroine is mad at him for like two seconds about the lies he’s told her (undercover, remember?), forgives him, and they live HEA.

And that’s the story. See? A bit underwhelming.

Grade: D+

Summary: Intense and darkly handsome, Gabriel LaMotta is working an undercover FBI investigation in San Francisco–and he’s making the mob real nervous. Tough luck. They can’t hide inside a club full of pole-dancing babes. But Gabe would like to know what a demure, soft-spoken beauty like Gia Cipriani is doing there. But first he has to rescue her. Then he’ll ask the questions. And when they get behind closed doors, a high-octane attraction turns into blazing, soul-shattering sex. Gia may look innocent, but she sure knows how to show her appreciation–and set him on fire…

Will That Be All? by Jami Alden

This story was quite a bit better, in my opinion and with apologies to Tabke. I liked the heroine, sort of liked (if I didn’t fully believe in) the hero, and enjoyed the evolution of their romance.

The heroine, Theresa, is the best friend of the previous story’s Gianna. She returns to San Francisco and the family house after a disastrous relationship – one that estranged her father from her. Theresa goes to work for Gianna as a waitress, where she meets the hero, Vince. Vince is a regular and uber-rich guy. Through some twists in the plot the heroine moves into the hero’s guest house to train his dog. Nature takes hold and some very hot and steamy sex ensues.

What I liked particularly about this story was the heartwrenching break-up scene, even if I wanted to sock the hero in the nose. The heroine had been battered by the aforementioned disastrous relationship, so her reticence to open her heart and lack of self-esteem make her response to the break-up seem very believable.

The make-up was a bit out there, but I liked it. This was a hot little story and worth the purchase of the book.

Grade: B

Summary: Vince Mattera clawed his way up from poverty to the top of the financial heap in San Francisco. The hedge fund he manages is making millions. But he still eats at the same little Italian restaurant where he always ate. The marinara is homemade, the food is real, and it doesn’t hurt that the owner just hired a spicy little brunette. But smart-mouthed Theresa Bellessi is a whole lot more than a waitress–she’s a goddess. And Vince intends to sexually worship every inch of her glorious, soon-to-be-naked body. Check, please…

This was an entertaining little anthology, even if I had to put a large post-it over the mantitty cover before I would be seen in public with it. (It was just a bit too “in your face – I’m reading an erotic novel” for a self-confessed soccer mom at the dentist’s office with said soccer kid, if you know what I mean.) The first story wasn’t my cuppa tea, but I enjoyed the second one quite a bit more.

This was a very good summer read for some steamy pool-side action. Bring along your own personal hero, though, or you’ll be asking the cabana boy for more than a towel…

Overall Grade: C+

I couldn’t find excerpts of either story. And just because I know there are others who appreciate mantitty almost as much as I do, here’s the cover in larger format – you can thank me later: