Here are short reviews of three Virgin Black Lace-published books by Emma Holly…
Ménage
Published 1 May 07
I finally got to read this and I loved it! You can tell that she’s getting better. I haven’t read any of her paras but I think Strange Attractions is better written than Cooking Up a Storm and Top of Her Game. Ménage “topped” these last two IMO because it felt so real. The characters and story are so deeply drawn that I wondered several times if it were a true story. I don’t actually think so but details are included that give it a realistic feel.
This book takes place over a longer period of time than the other ones I’ve read. At times I felt it kind of drug on a bit but I finished feeling happy and satisfied, not relieved (some books are a relief when they FINALLY end).
This book is more of a romance than some of her others. A lot of the love scenes aren’t described. Several are but not all by far. Both men are wonderful and wonderfully different. Joe is sentimental and musically talented. Sean is dominant and aggressive. He is just at the limit before sexy male aggression turns to something scary, but firmly on the right side of that line.
I’m personally partial to Sean but he’d never fit the slot Joe fills. Kate definitely has the best of both worlds!
Grade: B+
The Top of Her Game
Published 29 May 07
This is a book that I approached with mixed expectations. I have loved most of Holly’s stuff but there were two that I really wasn’t crazy about. I’ve read some Dom/sub stuff that was not enjoyable to me in the last year. The slave/master or Dom/sub stuff I’d seen lately had me thinking I was out of the loop… thinking no one else was interested in reading about the kinds of games I have always liked.
What a pleasant surprise that this Dom lady practiced exactly that. It wasn’t harsh enough to make me want to turn and run. It was just right to be sexy and fun. Julia is a great character. She played a lot but never gave anyone the impression that she would do otherwise. And she changed and grew into a woman who could have a relationship by the end of the book.
Another very pleasant surprise was Zach. What a great guy! He’s just so real! I thought, at first, that I wouldn’t be able to read the book because he is pure-d cowboy and I hate cowboys. But I pulled a Rosario and broke my rule. I loved this guy!
And he didn’t break character just because he started falling for Julia. Holly took the tougher path and kept both of them exactly the people they were. I’d go so far as to say this book shows an amazing talent for character creation. Only one thing was out of character but it is a spoiler (even if everyone will know what’s going to happen) so I’ll tack it on at the end.
This is a dominant heroine so if the idea of a nicely warmed bottom doesn’t turn you on do not read it. It won’t be your cup of tea. Otherwise I say get it. You won’t be disappointed.
Grade: A
Cooking Up a Storm
Published 1 May 07
I wasn’t crazy about this book. It was enjoyable enough, I guess. I guess I just want more of a romance. This one was sort of a romance but it was more a sexual self-discovery book.
My problem is, while I don’t mind more than 2 people being involved… I can accept a multiple partner group. I had a problem with the hero or heroine going off to have casual sex without the other partner. I had no problem with the openness of sex between just 2 parts of a triad when one wasn’t there. But one part of a couple just having sex when they are out alone is crossing a line. I don’t care for it.
Like Lacey Alexander wrote in French Quarter… the involvement of strangers or casual partners should be to enhance the responses of the emotionally involved parties. When you’re in love it just isn’t much of a turn on if your partner isn’t there to enjoy it .
Grade: C
Strange attractions is my all time fav Ema Holly Book.
I hated the ending of Menage. She tried to turn him into some type of alpha hero, but he just came off as an a$$hole. It ruined the entire book for me.
I love her. And her weres… hmmm I even like her historicals…
But wow haven’t seen these covers. Much better then the tradesize ones I have. I recall liking Menage more than Strange Attractions.
You’re comment about Menage being awesome and Emma Holly gettting better had me wanting to mention that Menage is a reprint. It was actually Emma Holly’s First erotic book written, and was originally published in 1998. It’s one of my all time favorite books, and I still have an original copy.
However, like you, while I enjoy many of her erotic novels, there are some that don;t quite do it for me. And I’ve never read any of her paranormals.
Ugh. I wrote those reviews a while back. I wouldn’t make a dumb mistake like that, now, I hope… of course, I might.
My favorite, so far, is Strange Attractions with Top of Her Game a close second. I haven’t read Velvet Glove or All U Can Eat, yet, or any of her paras.
Sybil: Yeah, these are the new covers on the reprints that Black Lace reissued recently (I want to say May?). I like them too. I have the Cheek trade paperback reprints with the cartoon covers from a couple of years ago. Wasn’t wild about the packaging but was over the moon to finally find reasonably priced copes of In The Flesh and Top Of Her Game.
OOOH, you are TOUGH! Menage was my first m/m book and it has a permanent place on my “All Time Favorites” list. It’s one the first books I recommend to people.
Every one of her historicals have been DNF for me. boring boring boring. Emmam Holly is a real hit or miss. Like I said though, I loved SA.
Oh, I loved her Historicals.