'Jinxed' by Inez KELLEY

From the BLURB:

Frannie learned the hard way that a McHottie doesn’t always equal marriage material. She’s happy with her vanilla life. She has friends, a career and a double-D-powered vibrator. Then Fate shoves her, literally, into Prince Charming's lap. His declaration of love at first sight is cute - and spikes her bullcrap meter into the red zone.

She's more than willing to give in with her body. But she's barricaded her heart behind castle walls - and permanently welded the gates shut.

Tragedy taught Jinx that time is too precious to waste, so when a series of uncanny coincidences thrusts Frannie into his life, he holds on tight. He knows she thinks he's several fries short of a Happy Meal, but he's determined to breach the fortress around her heart and give her a Happily Ever After.

Even if he has to carry her fanny-first into his kingdom.

Warning: Includes jelly shoes, a narcoleptic cat, and meatloaf. The steamy sex scenes may lead to fogged windows and wet panties, so proceed at your own risk. Do not attempt to read without the following items: tissues, napkins for spewed beverages, and a booty call on speed dial.

‘Jinxed’ is a contemporary romance novel from Inez Kelley.

Air-travel is stressful at the best of times, but Frannie Sullivan just had the flight from hell. As well as getting oh-so-flattering travel-hair, a crick in her neck and leg cramps, Frannie managed to pick up a stalker/nut-job at the airport. Tall, dark and wickedly handsome, Frances ‘Jinx’ Sullivan had a seat mix-up with Frannie, and from the moment he laid eyes on her decided he’d have her.

An advantageous luggage mix-up ensures the two meet up again and Jinx decides he definitely, absolutely, positively has to have Frannie for himself. A marriage proposal soon follows and Frannie is utterly creeped out (/mildly flattered).

Jinx suddenly infiltrates every aspect of Frannie’s life, and weasels his way into her heart. He’s everything she should want – handsome, loaded, caring and eager to commit. Frannie would be over the moon if it wasn’t for her horrendous first marriage that left her wary and scarred.

But Jinx has his own reasons for rushing his and Frannie’s romance, and he won’t be taking ‘no’ for an answer.

It’s hard to do justice to the storyline of ‘Jinxed’. When written down it does seem like Jinx is a crazy stalker and Frannie is succumbing to Stockholm syndrome. But that’s not it at all! Jinx and Frannie have an awkward/hilarious first meeting on the airplane, and again when there’s a luggage mix-up. Jinx quickly realizes that Frannie is the girl for him, but she’s reluctant to accept his instant infatuation. At first, readers will be like Frannie and quickly skeptical of Jinx’s attraction – after all, Jinx is smoldering and Frannie (according to her ex-husband) is a vanilla, mediocre plain-Jane. Furthermore, ‘love at first sight’ is something only seen in Fairy Tales and Richard Curtis movies. But Kelley quickly surpasses the unbelievability of the romantic situation by including a number of crazy coincidences and connections between Frannie and Jinx. Plus, later on in the novel she sheds more light on Jinx’s reason for a hasty coupling with Frannnie . . . it’s still tinged with a syrupy sweetness, but there’s an undercurrent of sadness that makes it poignant and understandable (if still outlandish).

“Who in the hell do you think you are with that arrogant, high-handed, sexually dominant crap? You know what? Never mind. I don’t care. Just leave, now!”

Jinx leaned on the door frame and chuckled, which sent her volcanic ire skyrocketing. “Damn, you’re feisty. I'm going to marry you, know that?”

“And I'm going to commit you. Now out of my house, fruit loop!”

The novel is told from both Jinx and Frannie’s point-of-view. Frannie’s is sometimes a hard slog. She’s got little to no self-esteem, thanks to a five-year marriage that left her ruined and shame-faced – she’s constantly in a state of flux between lusting for and being skeptical of Jinx and his affections. But I quite liked that Frannie was battling body insecurities, and that she didn’t feel that she was enough for Jinx. It meant that the romance was all about Jinx affirming his feelings for Frannie and showing her how much he loves her . . . it was so nice to read a man fight for his girl. To know he wants her, and do anything to get her. ‘Jinxed’ is literally a modern fairytale, but instead of slaying dragons Jinx is slaying Frannie’s inner demons.

Having read Inez Kelley’s ‘Sweet as Sin’ and LOVED it, I knew she could write a whopper of a sex scene. She brings it again in ‘Jinxed’ – smoldering smut that is made all the sexier for the heady emotional complications between Frannie and Jinx. The sex is great because you know that by the time Jinx and Frannnie do get together, they have well and truly reached a point of connection and trust that makes the sex all the sweeter.

Inez Kelley is fast becoming a must-read author for me. She writes contemporary romances that are a winning combination of thoughtful, titillating and tender.

5/5

'Sweet as Sin' by Inez KELLEY

Received from NetGalley

From the BLURB:

John Murphy is tormented by nightmares. A bestselling young-adult author, he writes the ultimate fantasy: stories where good always triumphs. He knows better. His past has shown him the worst in people—and in himself. When he moves next door to the sexy, vibrant Livvy—a woman completely unlike his usual one-night stands—he's driven to explore every curve of her delicious body.

Pastry chef Livvy knows that giving in to the temptation that is John Murphy won't lead to anything permanent, but she deserves a passionate summer fling. John discovers she's as sweet as the confections she bakes while Livvy slowly unravels his secrets. But what will happen when she uncovers them all?

What do you do when a hunky bit of temptation moves in next door? Most people would jump and pant at the opportunity . . . but pastry-chef, Livvy, knows a dangerous thing when she sees it. And John Murphy is trouble encased in ass-hugging jeans. She’s tempted by his wicked smile and flirtatious words . . . but John is clearly not the sort of boy you bring home to mother. He’s a one-night-stand dream-boat and a heartbreak waiting to happen for Livvy – because she wants the minivan, white picket fence and a bun in the oven. Livvy wants what her sister Andrea has, a devoted fiancée and a march down the aisle.

But John is more than just a cock-sure grin. He makes Livvy laugh. He’s the young adult author of a new series about lovable monsters that is taking American by storm. He is a protective big brother to his little sister, and the coolest uncle to his nephews . . . and all of this means that Livvy is sure to lose her heart to the one man who is guaranteed to break it.

Because John doesn’t believe in love. He rejects hope and distrusts affection. He spent his childhood years cowered and beaten, and now as a grown man he still hasn’t gotten over the lessons that were crushed into him. John doesn’t just write about monsters, he lives with them.

‘Sweet as Sin’ is a new Erotic Contemporary Romance from Inez Kelley . . . and it’s incredible.

I want to start out by saying that ‘Sweet as Sin’ has hidden depths. The cover and blurb don’t accurately reveal just how complicated and compelling this book is. Yes, there is hot sex and a tender romance . . . but I found myself primarily drawn into the characters and their complicated pasts.

Livvy is living on a shoe-string budget as she tries to get her pastry business off the ground and profitable. She’s also hearing a ticking clock that’s only getting louder when her younger sister starts living the dream of kids, marriage and stability. Livvy wants to start settling into life and contentment – but nothing is really going according to plan . . . least of all, her love life. When John Murphy moves in next door Livvy is almost repulsed by her desire for him. Because she knows he’s a good time and nothing more; the most she could hope for is a one-night-stand and amicable neighbourly fallout when their dalliance inevitably ends. Livvy promised herself that she wouldn’t fall for such a clear womanizer – her mother did it and struggled with the heartbreak of a cheating spouse for the rest of her life.

“The big deal is he lives next door. What if things end badly? Then what?”

“Then you put up a privacy fence and we egg his house. Just because you’re in the market for a minivan doesn’t mean you can’t test drive a hotrod.” Andrea stopped with her hand on the door handle. “And if the engine purrs the right way, take several trips around the block.”

Livvy struggles and rails against her feelings for John. Regardless, something grows amidst her denial and Livvy discovers John’s hidden depths and faded scars. John is not your typical Erotic Romance hero. He’s tall, dark, handsome and could tempt a nun to sin. But Kelley has written a lustrous character in John Murphy – he’s a man as complicated as he is devilishly delicious.

John had a horrendous childhood. Ghosts are still plaguing him well into adulthood and it’s only by opening up to Livvy that John is able to recognize how raw his old wounds still are. Now, I loved the romance between John and Livvy – it was playful, tender and sizzling. But more than anything else, I loved how complicated it was.

‘Sweet as Sin’ is not your typical fairy-floss erotica read. This is not a story that you can read for a bit of fun and erotic frivolity. Kelley digs deep and serves up a romance that is at once romantic and darkly complex – as Livvy tries to find her way through John’s murky past and help him battle his inner monsters.

The novel isn’t all doom and gloom. I found myself smiling and laughing out loud a number of times, and I was oddly surprised by how erotic Kelley makes pastry;

“Remind me to bring you a Chocolate Orgasm.”

His fork halted in front of his mouth. “Chocolate orgasm? They come in flavours now? Damn, I didn’t think it had been that long since I got laid.”

But the real show-stopper of ‘Sweet as Sin’ is John and his tumultuous past. I found myself equal-parts flabbergasted, horrified and angered by John’s revelations – the shocks about his past are as much a rollercoaster as his and Livvy’s romance and it made ‘Sweet as Sin’ a far fuller and fulfilling read.

Inez Kelly has written a heartbreaking and scorching contemporary erotic romance in ‘Sweet as Sin’. Enjoy the sex and romance, but read it for the disturbing and enthralling journey that Kelley has written for one of the most endearing characters you will ever encounter.

5/5