There was stuff to like and not like about this one. The dominance stuff wasn't really overdone, but got in the way of good fun sex. The Heroine's eating and body issues needed a bit more research. And the spanking should have been noted somewhere. There was more sex than character and relationship development which detracted from the overall picture. ( )

I really, really, really wanted to like this, because I adore an insecure heroine, but she was not overweight at all, despite the title and description. I am just not interested in skinny heroines in contemporary romance and erotica - I pretty much only want to read my favored tropes in this genre. I might have been able to ignore the fact that she is slender and identify with her insecurity, except that the heroine keeps harping on how disgusting she was when she weighed 200 lbs, and no one contradicts her. Folks looking for plus-size romance should steer clear, this is not for you. ( )

I really, really, really wanted to like this, because I adore an insecure heroine, but she was not overweight at all, despite the title and description. I am just not interested in skinny heroines in contemporary romance and erotica - I pretty much only want to read my favored tropes in this genre. I might have been able to ignore the fact that she is slender and identify with her insecurity, except that the heroine keeps harping on how disgusting she was when she weighed 200 lbs, and no one contradicts her. Folks looking for plus-size romance should steer clear, this is not for you. ( )

My review:

This book was very entertaining. I enjoyed it a lot and it had me smiling as well as scowling at Cole quite a number of times. I started the wrong way around in this series, but did not feel as if I am lost. I will definately read more of this author's works! Well done!

Synopsis:

Steering clear of relationships has never been difficult for demolitions expert Cole Bowen, but now, with his brother's engagement sending the female population into full-blown hysterics and the town of Alden's month-long festivities helping along, he finds himself in hell. When he discovers Alden's new resident and the object of all his wet dreams, Christine Sheridan, has sworn off relationships and is going to hire a gigolo to get professionally laid, he decides to kill two birds with one stone.

Christy is so not drinking again. Thanks to José Cuervo she has her friends signing her up for stud conventions and Cole frigging Bowen offering sex in exchange for fake dates, which is so out of the question it isn't even funny. She knows the domineering man will push her boundaries, and after battling all her life with self-esteem issues, she isn't ready for that. Too bad he won't take no for an answer.

Cole is determined to strip away all of her defenses but refuses to lower his ever-present walls, so when Christy realizes she wants more, she's left with only two options; walk away or crack his shield and risk her heart in the process. ( )

A Hearts On Fire Review

Issues!

Everyone's got them. (And if you don't you're lying so boom! automatic issue. ;P) And Christy and Cole Bowen, the heroine and hero of [b:Heavy Issues|13613441|Heavy Issues (Bowen, #2)|Elle Aycart|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1336026499s/13613441.jpg|19213375], they got quite a few of them. Their main issue: mommy issues which led to mold them into the people they are today. Christy's metamorphosed into an eating disorder. Cole's? He pushes everyone away, forms no attachments other than his current family (mother not included) and wants no relationship.

Now before I discuss my opinion of the story, let me just get out my BBW rating. It is because once you are a BBW, no matter if you lose the weight, yo-yo it on and off or keep it off, you will always be a BBW to me. And no one else other than another BBW would understand the rating. So yes, Christy is curvy in the book and has maintained weight loss but to me and I'm sure to her, she's a BBW.

Now onto the story, overall, I totally enjoyed it. Do I think it's better than book #1, More Than Meets the Ink? In some ways yes and some ways no.

Why yes? Christy is not Tate (She's not a fave with a lot of readers but I thought James handled her fairly well. She was tolerable to me). Christy acted like a grown ass woman and I respected that. She was upfront with her issues (they are quite a few especially with food and her body image- a long hard struggle that continues to be one on a daily basis), told Cole about them when necessary and didn't beat around the bush. It was refreshing. Cole and Christy started as a friends with benefits deal int eh beginning. He told her he wasn't looking for a relationship or attachments.

And Christy RESPECTED HIS BOUNDARIES! Granted the story is a romance so feelings are bound to be felt. But when she felt herself caring more deeply for Cole. She didn't play head games - she told him. And maybe you like the little girl BS games some of the other authors add to their stories for angst (I won't name names but I'm sure you might know a few) But I enjoyed the adult-ness of it all.

Now Cole...he's a Bowen. And if you are not familiar with this series or the family, picture, sexy ass men who are possessive and might have some control issues, protective of their ladies and are sex gods. Cole is the eldest brother, ex-marine (hubba hubba!) and has major control issues. I can work with that.

Now is he my fave Bowen? *shakes head* It still is James. (Now I read quite a bit, but James is one of my favorite heroes of all time. Imagine the vast number of book heroes I've read, I still remember his full name and everything. If I could stalk a book hero - James Bowen is on that list. It's that serious.) But Cole makes for a good second. (I have a feeling though that Max, the baby brother, might usurp Cole's status once his book comes out)

But Cole, he did the bonehead move in the book, not Christy. That was different. Instead of listening, he did what he always did. But grovelling was involved and HEA was the outcome so all was right in my world. (Though I wanted to smack him in the back of the head a time or three)

Things I didn't like so much:

-Calling lady...juices as lube. It threw me off just because I'm an avid MM romance reader, so referring to Christy's vadge wetness as lube? I always thought it was a backdoor scene (which this book has BTW and actual lube was involved-go figure!) Eh but it's a minor issue, more mine than others maybe?

-Rose. The resident villain. Um. No. It felt like an adult version of Mean Girls every time this skank made herself present in the book. Christy was overweight, key word was. Isn't that what all the shallow skinny people tell fat people to do all the time? Just lose weight? So if Christy actually did follow the simpletons' edict, why would it be such a big issue? And what she did to Christy went way past immature and petty and moved onto Reprehensible Street. I was happy Rose got a black eye but upset the scene wasn't fully described, just mentioned. And if someone maybe stomped her in the face a few times...I wouldn't have balked. Just saying. I'm on the fence about the need of Rose for the story because she brought it down to grade school levels of meanness. Evil bitch.

Excluding those items, you still have one great story of two adults falling for one another, having hot ass sex (it's scorching, remember I mentioned the backdoor action), dealing with their issues (they are not solved overnight- smile) and even a couple of laughs are thrown in.

I like my characters to feel realistic, don't you?

Oh you do?

Read this book. Try this series." ( )