Erotic Research

Erotic Research
Mari Carr
ebook, 105 pages
Published March 18th 2008 by Samhain Publishing
ISBN 9781599988948

It was just a little innocent research…

Romance writer Julia Martin is fine with her life, just the way it is. Her simple apartment, successful career and Thursday-night pizza dates with her too-hot-for-words editor Ross are more than enough for her. At least, that’s what she thinks until her cat dies.

Ross Philips has spent years lusting after his shy best friend, but fears his rather strong sexual desires will be too much for Julia. When she falls into a depression over the death of her cat and stops writing, Ross decides she needs a change.

His suggestion? Try a new genre—erotica. And, of course, being such a good friend and editor, he even plans to help her do a little research.

An historical romance writer, Julia has spent the last years of her life living in her head with heroes who loved their women more than life. Her greatest friend was her own cat. With its death, Julia now realizes Ross is the only friend she has left.

It felt like Carr spent the first part of this book doing all she could to make me hate Ross. As I recall, she did the same with my last read of hers too, but then she flips this switch and in seconds, I love the guy. You get a fairly good back story as Julia shares her memories of meeting Ross, and that one stupid night he had to come to her rescue. Even Ross shares a memory or two. There's seduction. And spanking. And roleplay-- Oh, yays for the roleplay.

As the story progresses, Ross is hell bent on doing all he can to win Julia over without scaring her away with his declaration of love. Throughout his agenda, I lost a good amount of the thrill and things took a dull turn. Then came that moment that pretty much has a make-it-or-break-it effect on me as a reader. For this book, because of the ebbing thrill, it was even more significant. That moment here is when Julia confesses her deepest sexual fantasy being a threesome and hot damn! - Best Menage Ever! I may hate toys but I love me a creative man!

Whatever strength had gotten Ross to her apartment and through her front door seemed to slowly seep out of him as he dropped into the chair behind him.
     “I don’t know what you want,” he said miserably.
     “Just read the paper. Please.” She was well aware of the pleading tone in her voice, but she didn’t care. All she wanted was to finish what he’d started in the cabin, the right way this time. He was silent for so long, she knew she’d lost. He would never forgive her.
     “How can you not know how I feel about you?” he started, his voice flat. Startled, she glanced up to see him reading the words on the page she’d handed him.
     “Every time I look at you, I see my past, present and future. All I want in the world is wrapped up in you. I love you, Jules. Dammit, I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” Crumpling the paper as the last words fell from his lips, Ross stared woodenly at the floor. He’d risked his heart for her again. Her courageous, handsome hero had given her his heart again.

And a note to the author: Great freakin' ending! Epilogues are awesome.

4 out of 5 stars.