LauraD reviews Lady Sings the Blues by Mallery Malone (no author site found)
Contemporary romance eBook novella released by Samhain 24 Jun 08

When I read the teaser for this novella, it went into my shopping cart right away. I’d just seen Doyle Bramhall II play at Antone’s, so a sexy story featuring a blues guitarist fit my mood. Lady Sings the Blues is Mallery Malone’s debut, and a sign of good things to come.

Alina Gabriel owns The Scarlet Lady, Atlanta’s hottest blues club. The name is a nod to her former stage name, Miss Scarlett; Alina earned the money for her club by working as an exotic dancer, and still struts her stuff on the bar at the club when the mood and music strike her. Joshua Hanover is a talented blues guitarist, who draws in the crowds nightly and has also drawn Alina’s interest. Joshua wants Alina as well, but he couldn’t care less that she’s the gorgeous Miss Scarlett – Joshua is blind.

Alina is a great character. She is a strong woman who has no problem running her business and is comfortable with her own desires. I appreciated that she’s unapologetic about her former career, even though it’s caused her to be cautious about trusting men. She’s also very honest with herself; when she makes a mistake she acknowledges it and moves on.

Joshua is basically just a nice guy, who’s brilliant at both the guitar and at sex. He treats Alina like a “normal” woman, even bringing her home to mom and dad. There is a 4^th of July party scene that seemed out of place within the novella format, but it does jar the couple out of their love-bubble.

I liked Lady Sings the Blues quite a bit. Both characters were likable, and it was quite hot but not sacrificing story for the sex. I liked the author’s descriptions of the club and the music, and she so made me crave a rainy day! I hope Ms. Malone’s next Samhain title is longer, I think she could do a lot with a longer format. Novellas are tricky, especially when they are as intensely erotic as this title – the author smartly kept her two characters isolated for most of the story and just let them evolve as people instead of trying to throw in a suspense plot or some sort of unnecessary razzle dazzle.

So go put on some blues and read it!

Grade: B+

(I did have one pet peeve, and if backdoor lovin’ bugs you, read no further. I thought, finally, an author who is going to admit that if you have anal sex, you need lube! Alina actually mentions it! But do they use it? Nooooo. Ouch, author, ouch. You try it, I dare you.)

Summary:

Summertime…and the living is steamy in Hotlanta. A Red-Hot Summer story.

Alina Gabriel has hit on the perfect formula to make her club, The Scarlet Lady, the hot spot in Atlanta’s night life. Men flock to see her alter ego, retired exotic dancer Miss Scarlet; and women line up to see Joshua Hanover and his blues band steam up the stage. Alina herself isn’t immune to the blind guitarist’s sensual songs and musical dexterity, but she refuses to be just another notch in his groupie belt.

That is, until Joshua debuts a new song, “Red-Letter Woman”, to entice Miss Scarlet to dance. The song and dance leave them both hot and bothered, and when Alina retreats to her office for personal relief, Joshua joins her and offers to strum her desire. But Joshua wants more than a one-night stand. He’s pushing for an encore, and Alina wonders if it’s her he’s after—or her exotic persona.

Warning: This title contains sensuous solos, decadent duets, dirty dancing, and a man who’s really good with his hands.

Read an excerpt.