Viva Las Bad Boys

I read HelenKay Dimon's Viva Las Bad Boys some time ago and planned to blog about it. Then I caught a persistent stomach bug. I'm feeling a lot better these days (in other words, I no longer want to die, although I'm still consuming copious amounts of Sprite), so I'm hoping to get to some of the blog entries I've been wanting to make.

Now, enough about my stomach; onto the book. It's an excellent read: 4 out of 5.

Jackpot
Jack McAllister is looking to get lucky on his vacation, and the jilted bride sitting at the slot machine next to him might be his answer. Getting her up to his room is a breeze. Realizing Laine Monroe isn't a bride at all . . . also easy. The pretty blonde is there to catch Jack in a compromising position, and Jack's all too willing to compromise.

Player's Club
Consultant Jenna Barrister didn't get where she was in business by being a pushover. She just never expected to be assigned as playboy superchef Zach Jacobs' corporate babysitter. But when the lights go out, Jenna's resolve crumbles. She wants to experience the heat, and the rebellious chef knows just how to turn it up.

Two of a Kind
As the Casino faces its first blackout, Assistant Manager Alex Mitchell figures there are worse places to get stranded than in the soon-to-open spa with a mysterious and sexy guest. Alex doesn't know Caroline Rogers is a travel reviewer on a job, and she's not telling. When Caroline's business mixes with pleasure, Alex welcomes a game where the winner takes all.

I love good contemporary romance, and these stories are all strong. Each one tells the story of a couple who finds love during a casino blackout, and I found this to be an intriguing premise.

"Jackpot" gets the anthology off to an excellent start. Laine has ulterior motives for attracting Jack's attention. She picks an interesting approach, and I got a kick out of her explanation for wearing a wedding dress, especially when Jack begins to become suspicious and tries to get her to talk. I did wish Laine had been more forthcoming a little sooner, but that would have eliminated the conflict. The love scenes were very hot. 4 out of 5.

"Player's Club" is my favorite story of the three. I enjoyed seeing Jenna and Zach circle each other, as Zach pursued and Jenna tried to resist. Her resistance doesn't last long, although it was longer than I would have lasted. LOL! Zach and Jenna's first love scene was terrific, and I liked the way they made bets with each other--it gave the title of this story a fun double meaning. 4.5 out of 5.

"Two of a Kind" concludes the anthology, and although it's my least favorite of the three, it's still quite good. Alex and Caroline have strong chemistry, and I thought Alex was terrific. Caroline was a good match for him. I would have liked another 10 or 15 pages at the end of the story. The resolution seemed a little too quick, and another scene or two would have strengthened the ending. 4 out of 5.

I found it interesting that none of the stories feature a hero and heroine who have met before. With novellas, it can be challenging to create a meaningful connection between characters who meet for the first time, but the author does a fine job of that here. With Viva Las Bad Boys, Dimon proves herself to be a great new voice in contemporary romance.