Sunday, January 20, 2013

The Book Shelf: Yvonne Nicholas

From time to time, I'd like to share who and what I'm reading. Writers MUST read other authors. Hell, they have to read PERIOD. Show me an author who doesn't read and I'll show you a writer who isn't worth your time.

One author who you should spend time checking out is the talented Yvonne Nicholas. I recently read her H-O-T interracial contemporary romance, Designing Love. First, the tease-

Book Blurb:

World renowned architect, Devon Sparks reluctantly accepts the job of designing a house for his former lover, who'd betrayed him with his best friend. Still a little emotionally battered, Devon is content to never love again, until Josephine shows up on his doorstep.

Josephine Burnett, a brilliant interior designer, is thrilled to be working on such a big project with Devon. She relishes the opportunity to showcase her talents, but wonders if accepting the job was a mistake in the face of Devon’s rude behavior. Soon she discovers the man behind the cold, hard exterior is capable of smoldering passion…

A passion she finds hard to deny.

Can they break free from their emotional restraints to experience the sultry heat of their love?


I found DL to be an engaging read. I particularly liked how all the characters were flawed, from Josephine Burnett, our smart, sexy protagonist who still clings to a one sided relationship with a disingenuous  lover ( to be polite!) to the object of her sexual  consternation, Devon Sparks, our initially self absorbed, egocentric 'hero.'  The supporting characters are quite colorful and unpredictable, especially  Josephine's gay friend BFF Pete (who plays ALL angles.)

Ms. Nicholas writes with an urbane sensibility which I found quite refreshing. If you are the causal romance reader, you may find some of the language choices a bit of-putting, but I suggest you stay with it, for it seasons the dialog with a dash of contemporary socio- pop culture reality.

The love scenes- SCORCHING. If your libido does not spark reading Ms. Nicholas words, then, quite frankly, you are on life support.

Ms. Nicholas stumbles a bit with ancillary characters that touch on stereotype and a soap-opera- ish 'big' reveal which falls prey to the contrivances of the genre, however those minor hiccups do not detract form the overall enjoyment of Designing Love. In fact, I urge to to 'design' some time to pick up this vibrant contemporary romance!

Buy link:
Amazon


I also encourage you to follow her sexy blog:

Yvonne's Erotic Universe