Tara Crescent

When I saw the description of The Professor's Pet, I just had to read it. What professional woman hasn't worried, at least once, about her romance-filled Kindle falling into the wrong hands? I also happen to be a fan of the heroine falling for her mentor trope, and have enjoyed many of today's ever increasingly popular, erotic, BDSM romances.

Unfortunately, however, I think I was expecting the romance to evolve along with the passion in this story; and while the passion was definitely hot, I show more had trouble liking the hero, and his out of the bedroom effect on the heroine, which caused the romance to be a little strained for me. While a good erotic novel is usually a hit for me, without a believable, romantic connection, it just doesn't have the same feel.

For the past five years, Emily, a graduate student, has worked on the same floor with Professor Ballard; but they have never managed to say more than a few words to each other. On the day she successfully defends her dissertation for her doctorate's degree, she just happens to run into him at the local coffee shop. Flustered by Professor Ballard, who she has secretly admired for years, Emily inadvertently picks up his Kindle, instead of hers, when she is picking up her order.

Professor Ballard is somewhat shocked at the collection of "bodice-ripper" novels in Emily's Kindle. He believes that most Fifty Shades of Gray female readers, who fantasize about being dominated, are really just "topping from the bottom" since they expect their boyfriends to dominate per their own instructions. Believing Emily fits this mold, and wanting to embarrass her by proving it, he dares her to come over to his house for a real BDSM session. Surprisingly, Emily doesn't break as he expects. Shortly thereafter, however, Emily moves across the country to start her new job.

Coincidentally, a few weeks after she moves from Boston to San Francisco, Professor Ballard is hired for an 8-week consulting gig with the company that Emily works for. When they see each other again, they decide to take advantage of this time in the same city and commence an 8-week course in which Professor Ballard endeavors to be Emily's BDSM professor. Could a HEA be waiting for this couple after the completion of their course?

From the very beginning, we learn that Professor Ballard had not previously "paid much attention to [Emily] . . . though [he found her] pretty in a delicate, understated way, [he] didn't find tongue-tied stammering attractive." Then notwithstanding that he wasn't really that into Emily, and that he knows that Emily is very much infatuated with him, he still undertakes a BDSM relationship with her. This disregard for Emily's feelings bothered me. Particularly as an experienced Dom, I felt that Professor Ballard should have known that the trust that would flow from their Dom/Sub relationship would most likely magnify her feelings for him. Feelings that were not reciprocated. But even as he recognized that he was hurting her with his statements that there was no future for them, and that he could not commit to a monogamous relationship with her, he continued down this path. In fact, there were a number of times that he purposefully humiliated her, including by continuing to objectify her by calling her his "pet", even after she had asked him not to. I could have forgiven him for most of this behavior, had he quickly started evolving into a caring hero and commenced acknowledging feelings for the heroine, but I just never really got that feeling until it was too late. In fact, this treatment and indifference continued for so long, that I just had trouble accepting that there could ever be a HEA for this couple.

All that said, I do like the premise of this story, and the steamy scenes were scorching. Therefore, as a straight erotic read, I think it would be an above-average read. If you, like me, however, need a good dose of romance with your erotica, then I'd say that this is a 3-star read.

Source: I received a copy of this book from the author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. show less

Antonio and Lucia's first interaction was a sweet one. Even though they did not communicate with each other much and nothing happened between them, I could still feel an attraction forming. It might have been one sided with Antonio but still.

I love how strong Lucia grew up to be. She definitely kept v on his toes. Which as he admitted his life was getting boring and that changed with Lucia appearing in his life.

I thought this book had a good pacing. It did seem to move along at a fast show more speed. There was not really any downtime for me. The build up between Antonio and Lucia goes from teasing to angsty and them spicy! I will be checking out the next book in this series. show less

The smutty mood continued and picked another book from Kindle Unlimited to give a chance to another author. This time I enjoyed the writing and the plot of the book and the characters are good.
"The Bet" was my first read from this author. I was impressed. The overall quality of writing was really good, especially for an MFM story. Usually, on the quick and cheesy side, The Bet, DIDN'T fall into that category. Exciting events and several tense moments with life-changing choices that need to show more take place.
I am continuing with the series because I want to find out menage stories of the other members of The Thursday Night Club that takes place on Mondays, and their love interests. show less

Dirty Therapy is the first book from another Tara Crescent's series I started, and binge read in two-three days.
"Dirty Therapy" is the story of Mia, Landon & Ben. The plot was excellent and enjoyable, as were the characters.
Small towns can be a hoot, and Crescent wrote this story with all the gossipy and judgemental baloney that comes with them in mind.
Tara manages to hook the reader with her brilliant writing style, and with the hot scenes, she allows the characters to play out. She is fast show more becoming my a fav author of mine.
This novella was a quick, fun read. The characters are likable, there's a little bit of drama with the heroine's ex, the heroes' gossip of a receptionist, and a few nosy townspeople, but no real angst, and of course a happily-ever-after. show less