Review: Liberating Lacey by Anne Calhoun

13 Feb posted by scandal

Title: Liberating Lacey

Author: Anne Calhoun

Publisher: Ellora’s Cave

Genre: Erotic Romance

Rating: 4 stars

Source: self purchase

from Goodreads…

Newly divorced Lacey Meyers wasted too many years yawning through sex in the missionary position. Now she’s looking for a hookup with a man who can make her shatter. What she gets is a hot younger cop with handcuffs…and he’s not afraid to use them.

Hunter Anderson knows the score-though classy, successful women like Lacey might play with guys like him, at the end of the evening, they walk. But when one night leads to another and then another, he finds himself getting too attached to a woman he can’t have.

Lacey knows Hunter – gorgeous, hard-edged and eight years younger – won’t want anything permanent. No matter how hot and daring he makes her first public sex, quickie, backseat encounter and secret fantasy role-play, she can’t mistake adventurous sex for emotional involvement. They both know it’s got to end, and soon, or someone’s going to get hurt.

Reader Advisory: Lacey’s highly erotic “forced” sex fantasy comes true in this book. Lucky her.

Well now…isn’t this a steamy little nugget of sexy. After a good old tongue lashing from Linnik, I finally read Liberating Lacey. Geez Linnik, why didn’t you tell me about this sooner, what took you so long to share the goods? It’s like you just don’t know me…snark, snark, snark! I can’t even type that with a straight face, I know Linnik is going to have my head so I’ll just be very contrite and say, THANK THE TOOL BELT GODS FOR LINNIK!

“What do you have against the missionary position? It’s one of my favorites.” She frowned, refusing to get distracted by one of his favorites. “Oh? Why is that?” It was his turn to lean in…”Because there’s nothing like the feel of a woman’s body under mine, all tight and hot and wet as she slowly comes apart.”

That shit right there, is “you had me at hello” shit for me. (yep, “Show me the money” reference) Hunter says this very early on and it really sets the tone for the entire book. It’s safe to say Lacey is in for a wild ride with the slightly younger and more sexually adept Hunter. It’s sad Lacey lived in a relationship with her now ex-husband for so long without experiencing sexual bliss. I mean seriously, they were together a long time and the big O never stopped by for drinks? That’s a big fucking shame. Oh, and I find it especially refreshing that Lacey does just as shitty a job with her one night stand as I did over 20 years ago. Rock on sucky one night stander Lacey! And with a younger man no less…damn that Lacey is a girl after my own heart!

“Last time I checked, women didn’t come with expiration dates.”

Sing it loud!! In fact, we women are like a fine wine…sure sometimes it can turn to vinegar if it’s not cared for properly but hot damn, treat us right and we older ladies will blow you mind! True story.

I do need to say, this is one of those books you shouldn’t judge by its cover. I am not loving the cover but the story behind the cover is full of goodness. The many layers and troubles of Hunter – poor guy has some shit to sort out and Lacey coming into her own, sexually speaking makes for great reading. Lacey really is an awesome heroine. She’s independent, smart and courageous. Even after a spark-less marriage, she gets right back out there and decides she’s not afraid to ask for what she wants. Not all women would take that initiative. There is seriously a lot to love about Lacey.

As I teased earlier, Hunter has some problems he needs to sort out. Trust issues sort of problems. His story is rather heartbreaking and once you learn it, you’ll really understand his hesitations with Lacey. Luckily he’s not just a pretty, sexy beast…he’s smart enough to realize his mistakes and man enough to apologize. It’s really the icing on the Hunter cake if you will. Now, you guys know I love some wall sex. Well, this one has some outdoor, in the rain, up against a tree sex that will make your e-reader beg for a cigarette. Talk about scandalicious. Talk about hot. Talk about bark rash on your back…but soooo worth it! All of the sex in this book is fuckhot. Now that I’m thinking about it, a fair amount of the sexy times happen outdoors…I’m thinking the danger of getting caught is a big turn on for our author, Ms. Calhoun. Liberating Lacey is definitely an erotic romance – a combustable, lickable, steamy erotic romance. There’s tons of sex but it’s not sex for sex’s sake, there’s meaning to it, emotion behind it and it all leads to love. You can feel the chemistry between Lacey and Hunter. Thanks for twisting my arm Linnik. My Guy sends along his thanks, too. If you’ve not read this one – it’s a quickie – I read it in just a handful of hours. The pacing is great, the story is well defined and the characters are interesting and thoroughly developed….and the sex…well…let me know what you think of Hunter’s tool belt. Handcuffs anyone?