Review: Gentlemen Prefer Curves by Sugar Jamison

Gentlemen Prefer Curves

Perfect Fit, #3
Sugar Jamison

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Date of Publication: September 30, 2014
Number of pages: 385

Available at the following retailers:
Amazon     BN     Kobo     ARe     eBooks

Quote-Tastic: Friction and Acorns

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Thrown for a Curve by Sugar Jamison

“Come on, old boy,” he said to Rufus as he opened his door and grabbed his bakery purchases. “It’s time to go home.”

Rufus bounded from the car and ran full-speed to the front door only to find it wouldn’t open. He looked back at Colin, then sat, his eyes begging to be let in. “I don’t have a key. We’re going to have to knock.”

He whimpered, causing Colin to smile as he knocked. But there was no answer. He knocked again and waited, but no one came to the door. Rufus scratched, but there was still no response. Colin put his hand on the knob and turned, nervousness rising up inside him.

Cherri mentioned to him that she was worried about her gran being alone.

Shit.

The last thing he needed was to walk in and find the old lady in trouble.

“Baba?” He walked in calling to her. He didn’t know her real name. He only had ever referred to her as Baba. “Where are you, darlin’?” He walked farther into the house, sending a silent prayer above that she was okay. “Baba?”

“Who are you? And what the hell are you doing in my house?” Baba wasn’t the little old woman he had pictured. She was robust, tall, with sharp green eyes and silver hair that fell down her back. He just took her in for a moment. Bright pink housecoat, red slippers, and the biggest damn butcher’s knife that he had ever seen.

Bloody fucking hell.

“What are you doing here?” She stepped forward, her huge knife slashing through the air. “Just because I’m old doesn’t mean I can’t kill you.”

“Whoa. Whoa!” He stepped back. She was quick for a woman her age. “Relax, you nutter. I’m Cherri’s friend. I’m just bringing your bloody dog back.”

“Cherri?” She came at him with the knife again and backed him against the door. It was so close to his Adam’s apple, he was afraid to swallow. “What did you do with my pixie? She was supposed to bring Rufus back. Did you hurt her?”

“I dropped her off at work. She asked me to bring the dog back and check on you so she wouldn’t be late,” he said in a rush. “Call her and check. My name is Colin O’Connell. I’m her friend.” Rufus squeezed between them, rubbing his head against Colin’s leg as if to vouch for him. “See, the dog likes me, and look.” He held up the coffee and box of still-warm apple fritters. “I brought you treats. What kind of maniac brings you treats?”

Baba lowered the knife, but only a bit. “It could be a trick. You could have drugged those things so you could have your way with me.” She turned her head to the side and studied him, reminding him very much of Cherri in that moment. “But you are cute so I might allow it. It’s been a long time since I have gotten any friction.”

“Friction?” He shook his head, not sure he understood her thick accent.

“You know friction. You men always go out looking for friction at the discos.”

“You mean action?”

“Yes, yes.” She took the pastries from him and walked away. “Friction. Action. It all means the same. I know who you are, Colin O’Connell. You have seen more panties than Victoria’s Secret. You know all about friction. You stay away from my Cherri or I’ll cut off your acorns.”

“You mean nuts?”

She looked back at him for a moment. “You don’t want to find out. Come to the kitchen and talk to me. I’ll put booze in the coffee. You’ll like it. Maybe if you are nice I’ll let you have your way with me.”

He followed her, a little bewildered, a little amused. He might be crazy but he kind of liked the nutty old woman.


This is the third story in the series and the second full length novel. The first book, Dangerous Curves Ahead, was a 5 star read. The second story was a novella, Have Yourself A Curvy Little Christmas, featured the sister from book 1, and I quite enjoyed it as well. So I was excited to grab this story shortly after it was released. I started it, but got pulled from it and with one thing and another, I *whispering* forgot all about it. So when I was recently cleaning out my reader and stumbled across the story, I pulled it back to the front of the list.

Cherri is a very mature 23 year old woman. Raised by her grandparents after her mother had her and all but left her on their doorstep, we met Cherri in book 1, working in Ellis' shop. Cherri worked in the shop part time, going to school to be an art teacher. Cherri has been the sole caregiver of her elderly grandmother, Baba, ever since her grandfather passed away.  Between school, work, managing her grandmother and being 6 feet tall, it's not like guys have been beating down her door.

Colin is the best friend of Ellis' husband Michael. He has his own shop, repairing and restoring old items, and has somewhat of a playboy reputation. But he's 6 foot 4 with an Irish accent, the women just seem to flock to him.

Ever since the first book, there has been this mutual energy between them. She would flirt and he would ever so carefully deflect. And though Michael warned him off and he denied interest, the underlying tension was there. So I was really glad to see that this book developed that tension and took it to the next level. Colin really did try to be a good guy and kept telling her that he was too old for her, that she was too young for him, but he remained fascinated. Meanwhile, Cherri continued to flirt, never truly believing that he would be interested in her.  Their coming together as a couple was sweet to watch, especially with Baba's antics.

Fair warning, this book turned out to be a tear jerker. I spent most of the last forth of the books with a tissue, but I couldn't put the book down. There was so much growth of the characters in the book, both as a couple and as individuals. At the end, I couldn't help but give the happy sigh.  I happily gave this book 4 stars.

WHEN YOU’RE A big girl

Cherri has often wished she were thin and graceful like a ballerina instead of being a six-foot-tall blonde with curves that require serious caution. Surely a charming Irishman like her new boss Colin, with his throaty brogue and to-die-for bod, would never go for someone like Cherri. Unless maybe he’s looking for the exact opposite of a delicate lass?

There’s more of you to love

When Colin hired Cherri to work in his furniture-restoration shop, he had his eyes, first and foremost, on her artistic talents. But now he can’t help but see Cherri for the lush, spirited beauty that she is…and, soon enough, he finds himself mixing business with pleasure. But Cherri turns out to be more vulnerable than she appears. Is she in need of more than Colin can give? Or could it be that a feeling stronger than lust has him thrown for a curve? ,

Available at the following retailers:
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Review: Have Yourself a Curvy Little Christmas by Sugar Jamison

I requested this novella from Netgalley because Dangerous Curves Ahead, the first book in the series was an absolute hoot and I couldn't wait to dig into another installment.  This book is the story of Dina Gregory, the sister of the female protagonist in the first book.  Dina came across as mean, a bit cruel and totally self-centered in the first book. She was an interesting character, but not very likable.  I was very interested in seeing what Ms. Jamison was going to do with her.

We meet up with Dina about two years after the end of Dangerous Curves Ahead.  She is in a small neighboring town to hunt down Virgil, the father of her 10 month old son Dash. She hasn't seen him since she found out she was pregnant, and he hasn't been answering her calls or emails, but she plans on demanding that he help provide for his child. Dina has been patient, but this is Dash's first Christmas.  Dina got a mighty big wake up call when she found out she was pregnant and had her son, but she is working very hard at turning her life around.  Dina wants to be the kind of person that Dash will one day be proud of, and if that means having a face to face confrontation with Virgil, then that is what is going to happen.

Unfortunately, Virgil is no longer able to be held responsible for his actions, as he died in a drunken skiing accident.  Ben, Virgil's older brother, had been fascinated with Dina the one time he met her, but assumed that she was just one of Virgil's good time girls. Now that she has shown up with the very last of his family line in her arms, he talks her into staying through the holidays.

I really liked this novella. Ben and Dina are opposites in so many ways, and yet underneath it all, the story of two lost souls finding each other and becoming a family is hard not to like. I gave this 4 stars on Goodreads.

A Special Holiday Novella!

On the first day of Christmas, Dina Gregory, former wild child and prodigal daughter returns home to New York on a mission. Finding her young son’s father and making him take responsibility for the child he created is the only thing on her wish list. But instead of finding the man she was looking for she runs into his stuffy older brother Ben.

Ben has never liked Dina, but being trapped together on the holidays allows him to see a different side of her. She brings back his Christmas spirit and in the process reminds him what it feels like to love. Dina’s past makes her wary of falling in love, but Ben is determined to make her stay as his permanent Christmas gift.

Available at the following retailers:
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Review: Dangerous Curves Ahead by Sugar Jamison

This is the first book in the Perfect Fit series by Sugar Jamison.  I received the book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  I am the first to admit that I do judge a book, at least initially, by its cover. Unless it is an author I know, I am more likely to look at the cover than the genre when browsing for a book. This one intrigued me with a plus sized heroine on the the front, an almost unheard of scenario. Combined with a title like Dangerous Curves, I was quickly clicking on it and reading the blurb.

The books opens with Ellison, or Ellis as she is typically called, standing in line at the Hot Lava Java just wanting to get a black and white cookie.  But instead she gets accosted by her mother's long time friend who also happens to be the aunt of her ex-boyfriend Jack.  Mrs. Agatha Toonmey runs a weight-loss clinic, is rail thin and basically tells Ellis that she needs to lose weight to win back her nephew. Ellis starts out trying to sidetrack her with humor, but when Mrs. Toomey tells Ellis that if the women who read her blog would put down the junk food and do some exercises, they could lose weight and that Ellis was just contributing to the problem by selling them clothes that fit.  The entire conversation, Ellis has been amusing someone in line behind, if his snorts and laughter are anything to go by.  At this comment though, just when Ellis is just about to rip Mrs. Toomey apart, he jumps to her defense and tells Mrs. Toomey off and then flirts with Ellis. When Ellis turns around, she is shocked to see an old crush who once upon a time dated her older and much slimmer sister Dina. The best part is that Michael doesn't recognize Ellis. The more he flirts and tries to figure out who she is, the more snarky and sarcastic Ellis gets. Mike wonders what it says about him that he likes her mouthy ways while Ellis is just determined to keep him at a distance.

This was a wonderful book.  Ellis and Mike make a great couple, when they finally become one.  I really liked that Ellis was trying to really own her own body and be happy in it while Mike was happy with it just the way it was. Of course there were obstacles and roadblocks and the occasional misunderstanding on the way to their HEA.  But overall, Ellis and Mike talked them out as they came. Communication was a very important theme in this book.  We saw a lot more of Ellis' family than we did Mike's, but both had their share of issues, as any real family does.  I fell in love with Ellis's dad Walter and though I wouldn't trade my dad for him, it would be a close call.  As far as I am concerned, Walter stole every scene he was in.

If you have been following my reviews, you know by now, I don't normally like books that I am going to cry in.  And I cried a lot. A LOT. They weren't all sad tears though. There were happy tears, frustrated tears and even I just can't handle this much emotion tears. By the time I finished the book, I felt wrung out and wasted - taken from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other. So much more than I was expecting from a romance novel with a cartoon-ish cover. Will I read the next book in the series? Damn straight.  This is a world full of characters that I can't wait to find out more about. I am going with 5 stars on Goodreads.

Ellis Garrett is dumping her critical boyfriend, opening a plus-size clothing store, and starting a blog—all to spread the word that fashion shouldn’t require a size-two body, and happiness should allow for the occasional cupcake. Or two. But is indulging fantasies about her sister’s long-ago ex, the still-hunky Michael Edwards, biting off more than she can chew?

Mike must be losing his detective’s touch. He doesn’t recognize Ellis when he bumps into her at Size Me Up, and he certainly doesn’t remember his ex-girlfriend’s outspoken sister being so irresistible. Her curves are indeed dangerous—and so is her wit. Could it be that Ellis is his Perfect Fit? One thing’s for sure: Mike will make it his sworn duty to find out…

Available at the following retailers:
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Quote-Tastic: Slimy Bastard

This meme is about sharing your favorite quotes and the books they come from!

Hosted by Anna at Herding Cats and Burning Soup.

Dangerous Curves Ahead by Sugar Jamison

Her chest was still heaving twenty minutes later. She couldn't believe he wanted her back. Just when she was finally over him, just when her self-esteem returned, he came back to turn her world upside down. She tried to push him out of her mind as she went back to work. But the words asshole, and shithead, and butt face wanted to pour from her mouth like she had some kind of man-hating Tourette's syndrome.

"Honey, what's wrong?" Belinda called to her. She quickly made her way around the counter and grasped Ellis's shoulder. "Ellis what happened? Did we get robbed? Are you hurt?" She looked around the shop, seeing that everything was in its place.

"Jack" was all she said.

"What?" Belinda frowned. "If you tell me Jack was here I'm going to scream."

"He was." Elllis nodded.

"Where's my knife?" Belinda let go of her to rummage through the drawer. "Oh these will work nicely!" She help up a pair of heavy-duty box-cutting scissors. "I bet you could cut his balls off with these. Slimy Bastard."

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Ellis has just had her ex boyfriend Jack, who she hasn't seen in 6 months, stop into her shop.  He basically tells her that he wants her back and that she should give up her shop and return to the city with him.  Nevermind that he was caught cheating with another woman and spent the months prior to the breakup degrading Ellis and making her feel worthless.  No, it was all her fault for not seeing that he was going through a rough time because Ellis was good at her job, getting the promotions and praise that he felt he should have gotten.  After reading about Jack, I am right there with Belinda!

I will be posting my review later today here.

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