I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Jaded
by
Karin Tabke
in Paperback edition that was published by Gallery Books on June 17, 2008 and has 293 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Men Out of Uniform
Third in the Hot Cops erotica romantic suspense series surrounding a gentlemen’s club somewhere in California.
My Take
The primary theme is Jade’s fear of men, of sex. Tabke uses this to create tension between Jade and everyone with whom she comes in contact. Jade refuses to go beyond flirting and dinner with anyone in her very narrow world and she will not step outside of its boundaries. Jase certainly opens himself up to some harassment claims…even if his actions do come across as so very arousing!
My main complaint is Jade. She’s exactly what Jase claims. A cock tease. It seems to be the only interaction of which she is capable. And then she gets pissy when a guy pulls it on her. Hey! Turnabout is fair play. If you don’t like someone doing it to you. Don’t do it to them. She’s the same way with truth—a tease.
An interesting read with some depth; certainly with some twists and turns! I did love the sound of Jade’s dresses and I liked Jase’s very alpha approach.
The Story
Jade Devereaux manages Callahan’s, a gentlemen’s club. A good one until Jack Morton bought it from Callahan. Now Morton expects the girls to whore themselves. Only, it seems there is someone who doesn’t like it as member after member ends up killed.
Jade is terrified that she killed one of them. Considering the murder charge hanging in her past, she’s too frightened to consider talking to Detective Vaughan even when that same past rises up to threaten her.
The Characters
Jade Devereaux is hot enough that men’s jaws drop when she walks by. And she uses that reaction to get what she wants, even though she won’t go beyond the tease. Jade has issues about men touching her. Not surprising considering her past. What is surprising is that she took on this job even if it does enable her to provide for her little sister, Trish. Branford Pettigrew is Jade’s friend and lawyer.
Detective Jase Vaughan has recently returned to regular police work from having been undercover for too long. His partner, Ricco Maza, is Jade’s male version. A man hot enough to get any woman he wants with a crook of the finger — Jase comes a very close second. Detective Kowalski plays the police heavy in this.
The employees at Caldwell’s include…
…Rusty, a mentally-challenged young man to whom Jade gives a job; Mac, the bartender; and, Thomas Proctor, the majordomo; the ladies include Dominique and Genny.
Andrew Townsend is a nouveaux riche ass who can’t keep his dick in his pants. Jack Morton is the new owner of Callahan’s and seems to be having money problems considering how he’s allowed the membership qualifications to lower and is now insisting that Jade “take care of” Katsuo Hiro, Otis Thibodeaux, and any other clients who want it.
The Cover and Title
The orange-red on black cover is certainly sexy enough with the practically nude woman kneeling in her cute little dotted boy shorts, long tresses somehow covering the naughty bits. The title works on two levels as Jade Devereaux, the main character, certainly is Jaded by her past and her current lifestyle.
