Mandi recs 'Foreplay,' 'Luckiest Lady in London,' 'Falling for the Marine'

Foreplay by Sophie Jordan (New Adult). I don't read a lot of New Adult books, but I'm really glad I picked this one up. Pepper is at Dartmouth College and has been lusting over her friend's brother, Hunter, forever, but he only sees her as a friend. Pepper doesn't have a lot of experience in flirting or seducing guys, so her roommates drag her out to a bar so she can practice. She sees bartender Reece and knows he is the one she wants to practice on. Reece is sexy and cool but also stand-offish. After some very awkward flirting, Pepper admits to Reece her plan – how she needs to practice with a man to win Hunter, the man of her dreams. Reece, to her surprise, thinks this is a fun plan and drags her up to his apartment to get the foreplay lessons started. As Pepper starts fooling around with Reece, she starts to get confused as to which man she really has true feelings for.

A few things in this book stand out. First, Pepper and Reece are both very likable characters. Pepper is 19, and Reece in a few years older and they both act their age, yet are not too immature for me. Sometimes when I read New Adult books, I feel old, but that was never the case here. Pepper's friends and roommates are outrageous but fun and supportive. There were no "mean girls" or ridiculous friends who act out. I really hope her friends all get books. And this book is sexy. I love that Pepper admits to Reece her plan to seduce him to get to another guy. That way, Reece knows he is being used to an extent and Pepper isn't taking advantage of him. A fun and sexy New Adult book.

The Luckiest Lady in London by Sherry Thomas (historical). I love Sherry Thomas' voice, and I think this is one of her strongest books. Felix was brought up in a home where his parents played games to hurt one another and love was never factored in. Felix learned how to play these games at a young age and when his parents die leaving him with their fortune, he makes the decision to be the "Ideal Gentleman" in the eyes of the ton, and to also never let himself be vulnerable to another person. But then he meets Louisa. Her family is poor and barely hanging on to respectability. She needs to marry and marry well to keep a roof over her sisters' heads. For years Louisa has very carefully planned and calculated her appearance and her flirting abilities to guarantee she will catch a husband on her only season she will be out. She thinks she is fooling everyone with her hidden bust improvement and her closed-mouth smile to hide her crooked teeth. But Felix sees right through it – and is intrigued. Intrigued with her cleverness and how strong and determined she is. Something shifts in Felix and before you know it, he is asking her to marry him. They have such a strong passion together, yet Felix is constantly battling his demons from the past. He can't fully trust Louisa and she recognizes this.

Their journey to trust and love is done so well. Their passion together is fierce and sexy. Their banter is fun and witty. A solid historical romance that I absolutely enjoyed.

Falling for the Marine by Samanthe Beck (contemporary romance). I had so much fun reading this book. All Marine helicopter pilot Michael wants to do is get back in the cockpit and fly again, but his lower back has other ideas. Grounded until his back heals, Michael is a bit cranky. Limping up the stairs to his apartment one night, he hears a woman yelling for help. Busting into her apartment, he gets quite the sight. Chloe had planned to end her long draught of no sex this night with a sexy birthday surprise for a male friend of hers, until he canceled at the last minute. Things get worse when her key to the handcuff that has her chained to her bed falls into the air vent, and then her bladder decides it's time to use the bathroom. Chloe is embarrassed, but more relieved that Michael can release her from her bed. The next day, Michael goes for a therapy massage and guess who his masseuse is? Chloe gives him an amazing massage, which turns them both on, and a happy ending is underway until her boss walks in. Now without a job or a place to stay, Chloe crashes at Michael's until another massage assignment turns up.

These two have great chemistry. They are so sexy together, Chloe being more of a whirlwind in Michael's life who comes in full force and livens things up. She is fun and flirty. Conflict comes in when Michael starts to fall for her but Chloe doesn't feel she is good enough for him. I really like these two together. This is the second book I've read by Samanthe Beck, and she writes fun, sexy books.

Mandi Schreiner started romance review blog Smexy Books in 2009. She is obsessed with reading romance novels and collecting fictional boyfriends.