The Jackson brothers – Jace, David, and Mitch -- are sexy as hell, and each are in need of a good woman…in bed, and out. Sounds clichéd, but other than the baseline true love and the occasional sappy injection, this is more complex than the run-of-the-mill romance. These three novellas read like a novel, following the brothers through their stories. But before you get any ideas, this is not a one-big-happy-family setting. The theme tying them all together is the tragic death of the oldest brother, Lou, and the guilt and grief still going strong three years later.
When Jace falls in love with Lou’s widow, Taylor, it’s not like he has far to fall. He’s been in love with Taylor from the first day Lou brought her home to meet the family. To add to Jace’s misery, he blames himself for Lou’s death and since that day, he has steadily taken care of Taylor and her children. Things turn from a brotherly love to a hot affair in a matter of a week but if their affair is uncovered, this pairing could easily rip the family apart.
In the second novella, David’s story picks up from the ugly showdown between the two brothers when David catches Jace and Taylor in bed. Refusing to accept the situation, David has his own problems to work out, but things don’t change much until he almost runs over the beautiful, blond Randi Andersen on the side of the road. And falls in love in three days.
Mitch, however, is a different story. Crazy in love with his wife, Connie, the problem is her driving desire to have another baby. Mitch has become fixated on financial stability…making sure Connie and the children are taken care of if he dies unexpectedly. Mitch can't take the fear of getting her pregnant, and their sex life comes to a screeching halt. Connie takes matters into her own hands to solve this problem with a visit to the local toy shop. It’s amazing what a couple of sex toys and a little honesty can do for a marriage.
Even though he’s dead and gee that’s awful, I took an instant dislike to Lou. He was a jerk, but his specter follows everyone and this sets this book apart from a banal feel-good collection of sex stories.
As for the writer’s abilities, the sex is hot and smart – no sweet baby talk or overindulgence in cuddling. In that alone, I appreciate the author’s version of reality over the silliness that rarely exists outside of a romanticized fantasy. This is inhibition stripped out, with hardcore language. One sex scene can make or break an erotic story, and each was well thought out, fun, and exciting. And not once was my vision diverted by a he did what with his what? moment.
I agree that it takes a real man to love a woman, but it takes a talented author to write exceptional erotica such as Somebody’s Lover.
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Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Berkley Trade (June 27, 2006)
ISBN: 0425209962
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