THE last few books I’ve read have focused more upon the sugar than the spice so when I was looking for a new book to read, I sought out the darker covers with black, white and/or red. Usually (and I say usually lightly), they hold the most sauce and spice. So when I stumbled across Explicit by Roxy Sloane, I was very intrigued!
The Book
Title: Explicit
Author: Roxy Sloane
Publish date: March 23rd 2016
Pages: 277
Blurb
“I’ve told you I’ve fantasized about you. So, tell me the truth. Do you fantasize about me?”
Bestselling novelist Jackson Ford is arrogant, exacting, and relentless on the page and off. His irresistible new editor, Ellie Parker is smart, headstrong, and not intimidated by Jackson’s attitude – or the way he turns every exchange into a filthy seduction.
There isn’t a thing these two can agree on, except their intense attraction. But with Jackson’s deadline looming, can they stop fighting long enough for him to deliver the hit she needs?
The relationship between editor and author has never been so intimate or so explicit…
My Review
So my first impressions of the cover were; gritty, sexy, exciting. In my last review, I mentioned that I’m drawn to romance novels about writers at the moment because they’re inspiring me to start writing my own novels! So when I saw this cover, I was very interested and the blurb only pulled me in more!
Usually I take the bad news first but I don’t fancy starting on a downer, so let’s talk about what I loved about this book…
- As soon as I opened the book, I was met by a quote from Ernest Hemingway; “All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know.” It may seem so unimportant but when an author adds a quote at the start of the book not only can it give you a lil insight into the authors motive behind the book but it gives the impression that real thought has been put behind the words.
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- Something that is going to become clear when I review more books is that I’m a sucker for a good setting! I adore beaches, chalets and cabins because they make me feel all cosy and lovey-dovey. A good portion of the book is set in a cabin in the mountains and I definitely think it added a few brownie points for me!
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- I’ve been really motivated to learn new recipes and skills in the kitchen because at the moment, the most I can stretch to is a decent Bolognese. This book was full of cooking scenes that made me ravenous enough to *almost* put the book down and get some food! So put these recipes and my motivation together and you get an inspired reader out of it!
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- Aside from the main bulk of research required to write about publishers and authors, other odd bits of information about skiing and real estate were dotted throughout this book. To me, this shows that they consider small details to be just as important as the big details!
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Now, onto the not so great bits! (For me)
- Probably the most important thing that didn’t float my boat in this book was Jackson. When reading romance and sometimes erotica books, I’m often faced with domineering male characters that are hard to connect with but in the end you fall in love with them and are rooting for them. With Jackson, however, I didn’t find this to be the case. I really struggled liking him at all and there were times in the book when I wanted Ellie to just walk away from Jackson because he is so unreasonable and irrational. He gave me a little bit of a headache!
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- I’m biased because I prefer books in a series rather than standalone so this critique may not be for everyone! The epilogue reminded me of when you’re in an exam writing an essay but you’ve spent too long on the first half so you rush the second half and pull all of your points together into a tiny conclusion. I think it’s definitely a missed opportunity because the whole epilogue could’ve been a book within itself if the plot points were beefed out a little!
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- My final critique is that I felt like it lacked the mundane activities that make characters relatable. Now I know 277 pages isn’t a huge amount to work with (especially when most of them are taken up with plot points) but for me, there’s definitely something important about having a couple of chapters where the characters are doing mundane activities like shopping or tidying. It just adds a depth of realness and makes it so much easier to connect with them! This is especially important in shorter books.
Sugar and Spice time!
Sugar: 
/5 Spice: 
/5
Considering the fact that I couldn’t connect with Jackson and sometimes Ellie, I’m surprised I still enjoyed reading this book! I’m not entirely sure I would recommend this to a friend but the beautiful settings, Ellie’s wonderful friends and the mouth-watering recipes made it fun to read. I always say; whether or not I enjoy a book, there is always something to learn from it!
Overall rating: 
/5
I hope you guys enjoyed this Mondays review! Unfortunately it wasn’t a glowing recommendation but sometimes you just don’t connect with a book and that’s okay!
Have you guys checked this book out? Let me know what you thought of it!
Catch you in my next review, xo B
Read Astray 