Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of Eye Of The Storm by Delilah Devlin
Erotic romance short story ebook released by Spice Briefs 01 August 2009
I’m a bit of a contrary reader. Sometimes I want angst and gritty realism, other times I want something escapist and sexy. This latest Spice Briefs short story from Delilah Devlin scratched the last itch. In order for readers to enjoy it, they really have to be willing to go with pure fantasy.
One year ago Janie went to Jamaica to mend a broken heart. She got some help from Marcus. They had a brief, torrid affair, and agreed to have no further contact with each other. One year later, they would agree to meet back up in Jamaica. If they both showed, that will be the signal that they should explore a more structured relationship. However when Janie lands in Jamaica, she not only sees Marcus, but his best friend Cade as well. Janie isn’t exactly fond of Cade, but when Marcus suggests she ask them both up to her room, she starts looking at both men in a whole new light.
Gauging from various blogs I follow, I know some readers are a bit burnt out on the menage a trois M/M/F aspect that tends to crop up in erotic romance. This story isn’t likely to change your mind if you’re already burnt out, but if you’re like me and not? It’s a quick, sexy short story featuring two very different male personalities for the heroine to play with. Also, if you’re a reader that needs The Condom Moment, this story will also likely not work for you.
The author does include a couple of small instances where she writes a Jamaican accent into the dialogue. Blessedly she doesn’t do this throughout the whole story, and I suspect these few instances were used to add some “flavor” to the setting. I’m not much of a fan for written accents (Och! Scottish brogue!) and while I wasn’t wild about the author using it here, at least she didn’t pepper it throughout the whole blessed story.
All in all this was a quick, sexy read with a fun and erotic setting. It didn’t light my world on fire, and it’s unlikely to move readers burnt out on M/M/F stories, but for the rest of us? It’s a pleasing way to spend your lunch break.
Grade: B
Summary:
One year ago, Marcus healed Janie’s broken heart with his love. Now she has returned to Jamaica to see if their passion is as strong as before. Then Marcus’s friend Cade shows up, too. Janie never really liked Cade, but when Marcus asks her to take them both to her bedroom, Janie soon learns that the two men know exactly what she needs….
Wendy! Have you read the Undone called THE WARRIOR’S FORBIDDEN VIRGIN? I just read it and I thought it was decent – good shy hero. Just a head’s up — always love reading your Harlequin short story reviews.
KK: Oooh, that’s the new Michelle Willingham Undone! No, I haven’t read it yet – but it’s loaded and waiting for me on my Sony Reader. I will be reviewing it for TGTBTU, and I’m thinking it’s going to be my next read. Glad to hear you enjoyed it – and that it has a shy hero! I love shy heroes!
ohhhhhh YAY Michelle has a new one coming out?
Verra cool I didn’t know Delilah Devlin was writing for Harl or I did and I forgot. ACK so much to get done this weekend and want to read, read, read! Will need to check this out. And so want to place a Harlequin order.
Sybil: Yeah, Michelle has an new Undone out this month and an HH out in October. I have both of them, and yes – you’ll be getting reviews. Um, eventually. As soon as I read them.
And I want to say that this is the second Spice Briefs Devlin has done for Harlequin. But don’t quote me on that 🙂
@ Sybil and @Wendy:
Wendy’s right, Delilah Devlin wrote one other Spice Brief back in 2007, so it’s been a while 🙂
~Amy
Oh, I should add the title of her first Spice Brief was “Invite Me In” — it’s also in the anthology “Naughty Bits” (in both print & ebook) and an eBook Bundle of Spice Briefs called “Exotic Erotica Bundle”.
~Amy