Review: One of my Favorite Books of 2012
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 28, 2012
Heather Morris had a wild party-girl youth but turned that around to become a straight-laced accounting executive adult. Though she may seem quiet and restrained, underneath the veneer she is challenging and masks her insecurity with defiance even if she sometimes lets her fear of messing up dictate her life. I adored Heather and she's been added to my list of favorite heroines!Captain Jon "Tin Tin" Carlisle is a fighter pilot. He's as defiant as Heather but he's also loyal, cocky, smart as a whip and caring. He's wicked dirty with a filthy mouth. Needless to say Jon has been added to my list of favorite heroes! He reminded me of Johnny Reed (Cindy Gerard's BOI-series) and Jack Devlin (Lisa Kleypas' SUDDENLY YOU).Both Jon and Heather have learned to hide their true feelings and vulnerability with an outward persona that's nothing like their inner personalities and cravings. Heather isn't the subdued, polite businesswoman and Jon isn't the careless, flirtatious playboy. They were both awesomely written characters that has a depth to them that spoke to me loud and clearI loved the chemistry and banter between Heather and Jon. There's humor and defiance and challenge in both of them and this translated brilliantly in their sexual compatibility and their dialogues. Their relationship starts off pure sexual and all kink but along the way there's a shift towards a deeper emotional connection as trust and affection infuse themselves into the equation.INSIDE BET had me completely in its grip, from start to finish. Jon and Heather mesmerized me with the heat they created and the battles they waged, both inside and outside the bedroom. Especially in the bedroom there was a battle to have the upper hand.Next book is Leah's and I can't wait. With her contributions to these first two books of the series I'm curious about her and where her self-destructive behavior is coming from. That's going to be one helluva story if I go by what I've been treated to with these first two books.I really like how the books (only read 2 but I'm pretty sure it's safe to call it) in this series are about so much more than just the hot, sexy scenes. In INSIDE BET next to the sex scenes and the witty sexual banter there's depth of character and emotional issues for both Jon and Heather. The sexy scenes only add to the characterization and never take away from it.There are very few authors that surprise me with refreshing originality in their erotic romances, either in the trope/theme or in the sexual acts, Katie Porter has managed to do so with both. The sex scenes this author team writes are so sexy and hot, it's indescribable and on top of that they add a little twist of new-to-me kink that leaves me breathless and in awe.Next to all the dirty, steamy sex INSIDE BET is a story of being in control, giving trust, bringing challenge and showing vulnerability. The last few chapters brought me to tears when all the emotions that had been pent up were let loose and I let them take me on the ride of the big argument, the realization, the groveling, my tears and Jon and Heather's HEA!Memorable Scenes:- the roulette game with the side bets > *fans self*- the scene in the bathtub at the Pallazzo and what follows after that > broadened my erotic romance horizon with some new-to-me kink- the scenes in against the car in the parking garage and in the desert > holy crap! That was hot!- the scene at the burger joint > awesome, sexy and powerful scene that was sort of a turning point in the emotional arc of the book- the scene at the Bellagio on the chaise > this was another important scene for the emotional development, not to mention it was so scorching hot I thought my phone would melt- the 2 chapters before the epilogue. OMG I bawled!