THE BEST LAID PLANS
by Tamara Mataya
Publisher: Swoon Romance (Nov 12, 2013)
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Adult, Erotica
Format: eARC (172 pages)
Source: Free book from blog tour for honest review
Find It: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3 stars)
Jayne Griffin isn’t looking for Mr. Right. She’s looking for Mr. RTFN and a toe-curling good time. She’s got the brains, the powerful job as a futures broker, and thanks to a makeover and a thin book of dating advice, the confidence to turn any man’s head.
At A Glance
SEX SEX SEX! Read this for the sex. Nothing special about the story or plot, but a fun read nonetheless.
The Good
I had fun with this book. It aggravated the crap out of me, but it still left its mark at the end. I liked the characters and I liked the couple’s connection.
I respected Jayne sooo much. She was a tough-ass businesswoman who knew her way around money (how to invest it and how to make it). She works on her body and looks, not in a superficial way, but in a “I want to feel sexy and confident way.” She was bullied in school, and she wants her life to prove that those bullies were wrong about her. She also likes sex, and she openly admits it. She uses men like men use women. She doesn’t want a relationship because of the whole Why Buy the Cow concept. She is confident but also vulnerable. Her past still pushes her old fears to the forefront. When she meets Malcolm, her cool demeanor starts to deteriorate. She can say she doesn’t want more than sex all she wants but her feelings for Malcolm grow more and more through the whole book. It may have started out as just sex, but Malcolm had a way of breaking down Jayne’s barriers and I loved that.
Malcolm recognizes Jayne right away. She is the girl responsible for being bullied in high school. Her words started it all. And now it’s time for revenge. He is going to make her fall in love with him and then break her heart. But he didn’t think about the possibilities of his old feelings resurfacing. And as he tries to break Jayne’s shell, the more his own fractures. Soon he no longer wants revenge, he wants Jayne’s love, but will she hate him for his original motives? Malcolm was a hot piece of ass. 😀 He is a musician/guitar player. Yum! I liked this dominate attitude. He knew how to take control in the bedroom and it only made him more sizzling. He was horribly bullied in high school, but he took that experience and learned how to fight, how to take care of his body, and how to be successful. He turned it all around for himself and I respected him for that. I think his motives for revenge were childish (you will understand why when you read how it all started) but I understood his resentment.
Except for the bullying part, this story was super fun. The connection between Jayne and Malcolm was palpable. You could see and feel it with every second they spent together. I loved their sexual connection the most. The games they played added the perfect amount of spice. There were some very serious topics covered, and though I didn’t agree with how it was handled in the middle of the book, by the end, it worked out well.
The Bad
I do not like how this book handled the bullying situation. Nothing was done to help the victims and nothing was resolved when it came to the bullying. Malcolm was beaten, tortured, had his ribs cracked, nose broken, and was cut with a blade and he doesn’t reveal who the cowards were that tormented him because “there were no laws against bullying back then.” Um, yeah, I am sure there were laws about assault though. I mean, come on, that’s ridiculous. The school did nothing to stop the abuse, and Malcolm did nothing to get help. I feel like people should report abuse not just for themselves but for the future victims that these bullies will torment if they are not held responsible for their actions.
The middle had great sex, but the plot suffered. Nothing happened to move this story forward in the middle of the book.
The ending was wrapped up too fast and too conveniently. It was also mushy for my tastes.
The Snuggly
SEX! This book has lots of sex, and hot sex to boot. It borders on erotica because the sex is graphic, and I loved every minute of it. It was real and messy. Jayne and Malcolm love sex and they are not afraid to explore each other sexually.
Final Thoughts
I would recommend this to anyone looking for hot sex without an erotica plotline. There is more substance in The Best Laid Plans than in most eroticas. This is also an emotional read with serious issues covered, so that might intrigue some people. Overall recommended.
Questions flew out the window as he spun her around the stool, edging forward so his hips spread her legs. He leaned closer and winked so only she could see it. Cheeky ba–
His lips. He kissed her like she belonged to him, mouth demanding she respond in kind like they’d done it a thousand times before. His mouth says he knew she’d submit to him and her body vibrated with agreement, melding to his with complete abandon. Holy sh*t. She squeezed his hips with her knees.
“Come to my place?” she asked casually.
Yes! “I guess a gentleman would make sure you got home safely,” he replied, just as casually, though he could have back flipped around the bar, screaming in victory.
Jayne smiled like a cat that had the mouse firmly in its slinky, little paws.
Little did she know, she wasn’t the cat at all.
Author Bio
Tamara Mataya is currently a librarian; she lurked there for so long recommending books to patrons and shushing people, that she suspects they only hired her so it would be less creepy. Now she’s armed with a name tag, and a thin veneer of credibility. She’s also a musician with synaesthesia – which isn’t an issue until someone plays a wrong note, which makes her want to squirm inside out. It makes for a good live show. Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Blog
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Jeann @ Happy Indulgence
WOW sounds like a really hot read! I loved the sound of Jayne with how you describe her, confident, sexy and doesn’t let anyone stand in her way. When you brought up how Malcolm was bullied though, I think I would have a problem with it too. Thanks for the competition and great review!
Jeann @ Happy Indulgence
Jennifer Bielman
Jayne is like my hero right now. I would love her life.
Sarah Elizabeth
Well the sex sounds good! Can’t beat the odd bit of book porn ☺
Jennifer Bielman
Hehe, it didn’t feel like a porn book which was the great thing about it. All that sex without the guilt of reading erotica. lol.
Feaky Snucker
Thank you for reviewing my book! I’m so glad you GOT Jayne! The bullying, I’m sad to say, all of that actually happened to people I know – including me. I got stabbed with a pencil. I was trying to keep it as real as it was for the victims, and not everyone’s responded to it. Subjectivity, eh? 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
I know what you mean. I was bullied too. My personal experience was telling people what was going on and it helped. Thanks for the great book.
kimbacaffeinate
You review made me laugh and then get angry about the bullying. While I love the sex. sex. sex part and that cover is yummy….I know the abuse and the way it was handled will piss me off. Great review sweetie 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, it will piss you off. But I think I enjoyed the rest of the book enough to outweigh that part.
AToMR
“The connection between Jayne and Malcolm was palpable.” 😉 Thank you for reviewing and participating.
Jennifer Bielman
Thanks for the chance to read this book!
Ashley
“I feel like people should report abuse not just for themselves but for the future victims that these bullies will torment if they are not held responsible for their actions. “
I TOTALLY agree. That’s why I was a bit pissed off with Easy (still loved the book, but you probably remember that “I’m not going to report the attempted rape” scene…). I think it’s kind of the same thing here. Even if you’re embarrassed or don’t want to report it for whatever reason, at least tell someone for the sake of the future victims! God!
But that being said, I kind of want to read this book just for the sex.. LOL. Tempting!
Awesome review.
Jennifer Bielman
So happy you agree. It’s hard to talk about this stuff because you don’t want to offend anyone but I can’t help the way I feel. I know a lot of people don’t report abuse so it’s realistic, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t piss me off. OMG, Easy, so frustrating.
Brandi Kosiner
Love the sound of Jayne! I need to look up this one
Jennifer Bielman
Jayne makes it so worth reading this book.
Morena Black
Fantastic review, love the quotes 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
Thanks for stopping by.
Mary Preston
Any book that highlights abuse, bullying is a form of abuse, & brings it out into the open is welcome.
Jennifer Bielman
Very true. it does make you think.
Elisa
This one sounds like sexy fun! Great review 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
So much sexy fun!!!
Jaclyn Canada
My mind originally went to the Reese Witherspoon movie, but this one sounds quite different from that. I can see that the title really does fit though after you describe the book. Interesting mixture here with bullying, revenge, and sex. Sounds like a good mood read overall. Great review! Jaclyn @ JC’s Book Haven.
Jennifer Bielman
For the life of me I can’t think of that Witherspoon movie. lol Anyways, not sure if this one would be for you but you never know.
Jaclyn Canada
Oh 😀 It’s called Best Laid Plans – IMDB Info – It’s got kidnapping, murder, and a bunch of twists and turns. Was actually a pretty great movie back in the day.
Jennifer Bielman
Wow, I never saw this one. I am going to have to check it out.
Meghan
I really, really LOVE that cover! It’s designed really nicely!
Jennifer Bielman
I agree! So nice. And sexy!