Hey everyone!

So…for all you newcomers, I signed up for this amazing thing called NetGalley. Here’s the premise: if you promise to review books you get to read them FOR FREE!

Here’s the link: NetGalley!

Yeah, I signed up real fast when I heard that last part.

And even though I knew that trying to read Victoria Dahl’s latest series (Good Girls Don’t, Bad Boys Do, Real Men Will) all in one night was a BAD IDEA…I did it anyway. Which had everyone staring at me the next day because apparently I resembled a sleep-deprived zombie.

So worth it though.

Quick warning: these books have content that might not be for everyone. As in, if you know that romance novels make you uncomfortable feel free to skip this review. But keep in mind that not every one of my posts (or even reviews) will be a romance novel. So don’t let this keep you away!!!

Now let me tell you the premise:

The Donovan siblings (Tessa, Jamie and Eric) own a brewery.

Yeah, I’m just messing with you. There’s a lot more to it than that (insert evil chuckle) although I did enjoy the central role that the brewery plays in all three books.

Tessa is the youngest and she was fourteen when their parents died in a car accident. She has been trying her hardest to keep the family together ever since—not an easy task since her two brothers can’t stop squabbling.

Now, I really didn’t expect this to be my favorite book in the series. Based on the excerpts I had read on Victoria Dahl’s website (link is right here! Check it out: Victoria Dahl!) I expected bad boy brother Jamie would be my favorite. But I actually thought Tessa’s story was the best in the series. Her Twitter antics and her expletive of choice (balls!) kept me entertained. And even though she only complicates a break-in at the brewery, I was rooting for her and sexy detective Luke Asher to get together.

Out of the brothers…I’ve got to admit, I liked Jamie more. The bad boy with a really bad rap (that he may not deserve) Jamie is the kind of guy you, ahem, casually stalk notice when you happen to stop by his place of employment. A lot.

Jamie is the black sheep of the family. And because he, erm, slept with the daughter of a very important client, his siblings aren’t exactly happy with him. In fact, they’re pissed that he appears to have trouble keeping it in his pants.

But they’ve got him all wrong!

It’s only when he meets Miss Olivia that he really can’t keep it in his pants. But she’s not complaining.

I will admit that the whole, I only mess up because my siblings won’t give me a chance shtick got a little old. But I really enjoyed Jamie when he was in his element at the brewery. And Olivia is great. Especially when she tries to fit in at the book club/kilt-observing meeting.

Which brings us to big brother Eric…

Okay, this is definitely one of the steamiest books Dahl has ever written but…it’s not my favorite. Perhaps because I started from the very beginning with her novella Just One Taste in The Guy Next Door anthology.

To be fair: starting with a novella is a pretty bold move. I mean, you can’t get the characters together but you have to leave the reader super psyched to see them get it on (again) and fall in love. My problem was…they were a little too “It’s been fun! Have a nice life!” for my taste. Especially since I didn’t get what was stopping them from enjoying each other’s naked company on a regular basis. Beth it the manager of an erotica shop…so what? It’s not like she’s having threesomes on a regular basis (although her friend certainly is). And I really didn’t get why Beth would be embarrassed to introduce a preppy guy who works at a bar to her unconventional friends.

Honestly, I think she could have told them about where his hands happened to venture during their first date and they’d be high-fiving and cheering.

So…the lack of conflict bothered me. In fact, I think that was the largest flaw for the series: too much bickering, not enough action.

That said: I honestly enjoyed the series.

Victoria Dahl is an irreverent person who can get you laughing so hard it hurts. I think I prefer her historical books to her contemporary ones though. She excels at writing strong women who are sexual and intend to stay that way. I think setting that in a time period that tries to restrain them actually plays well to her skill set.

I thought she did a fantastic job with A Little Bit Wild.

But on the off chance that you are like me and tend to enjoy contemporary romance novels more…I’d suggest Crazy For Love.

These books got me hooked on Victoria Dahl. So hooked that I now stalk follow her on Twitter. And now one of my goals in life is to join Victoria Dahl and Zoe Archer at a girl’s night out.

Next book review: Doug Rees’ The Juliet Spell.

So stay tuned!

More later!

~Marni