Review: Taming Tara by Kelly Jamieson

Taming Tara by Kelly Jamieson

Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

Tara has needed to be tough and in control to prove to her grandfather, and the rest of the world, that she can run the family business. But when Grandpa hires Joe to help manage the business, her control is threatened.

Joe is desperate to make a success of this job after his career tanked in a disastrous scandal. When he runs into Tara at a club, her Dominatrix act doesn’t fool him—he can see the submissive inside her. He knows if he can show her that side of herself, it will make his new job a helluva lot easier. But teaching Tara to see inside herself becomes more than just a business strategy—it becomes personal.


Clare C's Review

What a great read. This novel is driven by both plot and the characters. Ms. Jamieson skimps on nothing. I was impressed with the amount of research that had to go into this novel, about business in general and olives in particular. I know nothing about either world, but thanks to Ms. Jamieson’s skillful telling of the story, I learned a lot without feeling like I was being lectured. She rolled that information right into the development of the story.

At the heart of this story are two people to whom life hasn’t been kind. Tara has spent her life constantly trying to prove to her misogynist grandfather that she is capable of running the company. Joe is running from a bad reputation he doesn’t deserve. Both are complex characters and the author takes the time to develop their layers as they fall for one another.

The sex scenes are very erotic and very romantic. Tara thinks she’s a Domme, but she’s not. As she learns to accept her limitations at work (she’s not perfect, just really good), she learns to accept and celebrate who she is in the bedroom.

The writing style is riveting and fast-paced, and yet it doesn’t skim over any of the details. This isn’t easy to do, yet Ms. Jamieson seems to do it effortlessly. This novel was one of the best I’ve read this year.

5 Tea Cups!