Review: Loved This Book
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 10, 2013
Avoiding Mr. Right picks up where Vanilla on Top left off, but focuses on Heather's best friend Carla. Carla appears to have it all together. From her designer looks, to her high powered career. She thinks of men as her toys. She has a love them and leave them agenda, which she thinks protects her heart from the kind of loss her mother experienced.  But really all it serves is the make the gaping hole inside her bigger.Not many people see the caring side of Carla. The side where she volunteers for charity and drops anything to help friends and co workers in need. After a drunken encounter Andy gets a glimpse at the real Carla. He has secretly been interested in Carla for months, sensing something about her is deeper. He knows that if he can get past her outside shell they have a chance at a real relationship.But they both have issues. Carla has a past filled with hurt and perceived abandonment. Andy is dealing with the terminal illness of his beloved mother.  And this is where Ellisson shines. These issues fill the characters with realness and vulnerability that takes this book past your normal erotic romance novel. Ellisson has the the amazing ability to build sympathy and understanding in her characters in a real way. Though Carla's mother seems like a secondary character the whole story is centered on her choices in the past. Without her Carla would not be the woman she is. Both the good and the bad. Her backstory is central to the storyline in a subtle way.Once again Ellisson had given us a book that we can't put down for many reason. Hot romance and jaw dropping erotic bedroom scenes, coupled with tender moments filled with heartfelt honesty. I can't wait for the rest of the Wild Side series. And applaud her decision to go the self published route and keep her characters the whole people they are.  We can see just why C.J. Ellisson is a New York Times Bestselling author. This book is definitely a shelf keeper.