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
"Hot Holiday Nights"
by
Jaci Burton
erotic romance in eBook edition that was published by InterMix on October 20, 2015 and has 139 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Mountain Moonlight, Unlaced, Riding on Instinct, The Perfect Play, Riding the Night, Fall Fury, Changing the Game, Heart of a Killer, Forbidden Fantasies, Taking a Shot, Playing to Win, Nautier and Wilder, Wild, Wicked, & Wanton, Thrown by a Curve, One Sweet Ride, Straddling the Line, Melting the Ice, All Wound Up, Unexpected Rush, Hot to the Touch
This is a short story, 10.5 in the Play-by-Play romance series, revolving around players, their families, and their agents. The threesome focus in “Hot Holiday Nights” is on Victoria Baldwin, Alex McConnell, and Ben Reynolds.
This really merits a 0.5 or a 1, but I’m upping it to a 1.5 simply on the basis of its sweet potential. I do not recommend wasting your time on this…and certainly not your money!
My Take
Oh. My. God. This was so incredibly, awfully, badly written. The sentiment of “Hot Holiday Nights” is sweet, but its execution… Yep, that’s what it was, a killing by words.
I cannot possibly believe Burton could write this crap. It’s all tell — and quite juvenile tell as well. It was almost embarrassing to read.
What exactly is it that Ben produces? Represents?
The scene in which Ben unexpectedly catches Tori and Alex going at it was but one of many with great show potential, and it was particularly unbelievable in how easy Tori’s acceptance was. There was no tension, no eroticism. Yes, yes, a threesome almost requires a label of erotic, but not the way Burton writes it.
I did enjoy the insight into what a sports agent actually does for her clients, as well as Alex’s graciousness to his fans.
The Story
Tori Baldwin always puts work first — unless she’s on vacation. Then it’s all about play.
On holiday in Hawaii over Christmas, she meets Alex McConnell and can’t think of a better vacation fling. But when she meets Ben Reynolds, she realizes she wants both men.
This could be her hottest holiday ever, and the vacation that changes her life.
The Characters
Victoria Baldwin is a sports agent based in New York City.
Alex McConnell is a thirty-five-year-old “international superstud on the surfing circuit”. Ben Reynolds is Alex’s business manager and one of his sponsors.
Zane Lee is one of Alex’s fiercest competitors; Matt and Silas are more competitors. Whitney is a fan, a surfer, and working on her business degree. Cade is a surfer with whom Whitney is hooking up. Heather is an ex-girlfriend. I think Larry Banders is another sports agent. Rob and Belinda aren’t big on privacy.
The Cover and Title
I’m not that excited about the cover either. Sure, “Alex’s” ripped body in those navy board shorts against his white surfboard is hot enough for the title, but a life preserver?? Ah, well, I suspect my disappointment with the story is playing a part…
The title is exactly what these three experience, “Hot Holiday Nights”.
