Review: At Ease by Olivia Brynn

At Ease by Olivia Brynn

Publisher: Ellora's Cave
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Heat Rating: 3

Blurb

In what’s become her favorite class, Jaycee Hanson sits behind Tyler Johnson, ROTC captain and star of most of her erotic fantasies. She doesn’t think he’d ever be interested in her, because in all the time she’s been watching him, she’s never seen him in the company of a white woman. She resigns herself to her thrice-weekly fantasy session during Psych 301.

But when an accidental touch near the end of class turns into an impromptu foot rub, Jaycee is more than willing to follow Tyler wherever he might lead. She doesn’t expect the stairwell.

Tyler isn’t sure what to make of the woman in his arms. She’s smart as well as beautiful. If he’d had any idea before today that she was interested in him, he would have made a move, but each time he looked her way in the past, she avoided his gaze.

Objections to their relationship come from an unexpected source, causing Jaycee to second-guess herself. She and Tyler have more than sexual chemistry, but will it be enough?



Hunter's Review

I think this is such a good story that five teacups really doesn’t do it justice. I would give it ten teacups if I could. Jaycee and Tyler sit in the same area of their psych class, both noticing each other but never speaking until an impromptu foot massage changes their lives.

The sex between them is HOT but objections to their being from two different races threaten to derail them before it ever gets started. Ms. Brynne, the alter-ego to Romance Novelist Alanna Coca, does a great job of using little touches to create a complete story even with the short word count. I’m thinking specifically of something that takes place in the hall after they almost caught during one of their hot early moments. A third party behaves very realistically and I loved it because she didn’t try to sugar coat how hard some of these issues are. At no time are any of the character vilified or made to be bad people.

It’s complicated and Ms. Brynee lets it be complicated. I loved this book and you will love it for the romance, the writing, the plot, and the hot sex scenes that don’t shy away from real moments. Bravo.

5 Tea Cups and a Recommended Read!