Ella James

Amazon.com (Firm)

Elizabeth DeVille doesn't belong at a party like this -- one where the gowns cost more than her Camry and cigars run higher than her grad school utility bills. Dragged out of seclusion by her best friend Suri, Elizabeth is merely playing dress-up, rubbing elbows with a crowd that banished her troubled family years ago. Hunter West is tired. Tired of parties, tired of pretending, and tired of trying to right a wrong that haunts him every day. Bourbon heir and professional poker player by day, by night Hunter is gambling with his life in a high-stakes game of crime and blackmail. When Elizabeth stumbles into Hunter's den of vices, she's a light in the darkness, a flame in the void. And, just like everything he touches, Hunter mars her in a record time. To rectify the damage done, Elizabeth needs money she doesn't have, and she's come up with a foolproof way to get it. Follow Elizabeth -- code-named Scarlett -- to the lush Nevada brothel where she'll auction her virginity and risk the only thing that's not for sale: her heart. The highest bidder is a familiar face, with wicked hands and the devil's mouth. And a secret so dark that it could cost her life.

A Love, Inc. Novel

Selling Scarlett

Find this review and more on my blog... 


  
    
  



  
    “Libby DeVille – virgin for sale.”
  


I was intrigued by the concept of this book. I knew there was a good chance it was going to be a little closer to erotica than what I typically read, but I was willing to give it a chance. It definitely pushed the line for me, but not in a bad way, for the most part. There was good character development and the storyline kept my attention. I did find the story dragging a little bit at times, but I’m glad I kept reading.


  
    “It’s ridiculous. I’m still blazing hot. I feel full and restless. Desperate. I know what I need. I’ve never done this outside my bedroom, but Hunter West does something strange to me, so I’m not entirely surprised – nor am I inclined to stifle my desire.”
  


Libby DeVille has loved (and lusted after) Hunter West since she was sixteen years old and he rescued her when she was having car trouble. After witnessing him in a moment of passion with porn star Priscilla Heat, she sneaks into a nearby bedroom to … relieve some tension… and he gives her a helping hand. I tried not to be disgusted about this, given what she caught him doing with another woman, but it bothered me. I mean, I get it, she’s lusted after him for a long time and he was there in her, ahem, time of need. He was the one who had her hot and bothered, but it did bother me a bit. But hey, to each their own, right? 


  
    “Is he some kind of sex fiend? A bedroom Batman?”
  


Libby and her best friend, Cross, get into a huge fight over her moment of passion with Hunter. Cross clearly has feelings for Libby and quite obviously doesn’t want her to be used, or hurt. Libby is a virgin and Hunter is a manwhore, after all. Cross leaves the party after their blow up and ultimately winds up in a motorcycle accident that leaves him in a coma. His affluent and important parents refuse to give him the best medical care available because they fear he is really gone, so driven by guilt, Libby comes up with a plan for getting the money for Cross’ care. She’s going to sell her virginity to the highest bidder. She’s ready to get rid of her v-card and will be able to help Cross out. Win-win.


  
    “Holy crap. Holy insanity. Holy vagina.”
  


Hunter pays $10M in the auction for Libby’s, ahem Scarlett’s, virginity. He couldn’t let her sell it to someone else. He cares about her too much. Desires her too deeply. Little does he know, she has wanted to give him her virginity since the day they first met.

The characters in this book were sometimes difficult to get my head around. Libby was young and naive in a way, but sensual and wanton at times. Hunter was an absolute enigma. He sleeps with prostitutes and porn stars, yet harbors a crush on a girl from his past. His scenes with Priscilla were a huge turn-off to me. They were too crude, too rough, too dark. I ended up skimming some of them because the combination of sex and violence was too much for me. It was hard to picture that Hunter as the one who was so kind and thoughtful and gentle with Libby. I think it pretty much goes without saying that I despised Priscilla. But, she wasn’t in the story to be liked. Suri and Cross were interesting. I hope follow-up novels will tell their story.

The other plot line that runs through this novel is the mystery of the disappearing escort. She’s the escort Hunter typically sees when he visits Love Incorporated. She disappears one night after an encounter with him. He’s unable to remember what happened and he ultimately becomes the prime suspect in her disappearance. The mystery and manipulation was very intriguing in the second half of this novel. I wanted to know who was framing him and what their motivation was. That alone kept me reading when the book started to drag a little.

All in all, I found this to be an entertaining read. I might not have picked it up on my own, so I’m glad the author’s publicist contacted me to review the book. I really liked Libby. I liked Hunter with Libby. Their love scenes were hot. The dialogue was good and believable. The characters were fairly well-developed, if confusing at times. But, that’s true of most people in real life, right? The mystery added another level that was perplexing and engrossing. This is the first book I’ve read by Ella James, but I plan to read more in the future.

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Patricia Santos

Opinião do blogue Chaise Longue: http://girlinchaiselongue.blogspot.pt...

Ella James é uma autora indie do Colorado que escreve livros tanto para adultos como para adolescentes. É presença contínua nas listas de bestsellers da Amazon desde que publicou o seu primeiro livro em 2011, tendo já publicado onze livros.
Selling Scarlet, a sua segunda obra mais popular, é o primeiro livro de uma nova série e foi publicado em Abril de 2013. A versão Kindle vai na quarta edição.
Virgindades leiloadas, chantagem e Las Vegas, são os temas que fazem de Selling Scarlett um livro controverso mas também cheio de adrenalina, perigo e sensualidade. Ella James surpreende, nem que seja por tentar que este não seja só mais um romance de amantes torturados mas, também, uma história sobre os meandros mais obscuros da política e do negócio mais rentável de sempre, o sexo. Através de uma escrita vibrante e provocadora, a autora dá-nos uma leitura fluída, que mesmo tendo as suas falhas, consegue agarrar o leitor da primeira à última página pela intensidade e ousadia que rodeiam esta história.
Bordéis, escravatura sexual e estrelas porno podiam ter feito desta uma história apenas centrada no sexo mas a autora, inteligentemente, foge do óbvio e acaba por incluir outros temas como o póquer, os segredos sujos dos políticos ou a vida degenerada levada pelos milionários e os seus vícios. Infelizmente, nenhum dos temas é bem explorado ou suficientemente explicado apesar do seu relevo para a história. Dá a sensação que a autora tinha excelentes ideias mas acabou por não conseguir delineá-las suficientemente bem, o que tornou o enredo confuso pela profusão de temas e não lhe deu a profundidade que poderia ter tido. A autora podia ter explorado melhor as competições de póquer, a rotina de um bordel, as consequências da droga, entre outros temas, mas acaba por lhes tocar superfluamente.
O mistério que se desenrola durante toda a narrativa acaba por sofrer com isso, já que, apesar de ser interessante, acaba por ser bastante confuso. Seria preferível se a autora tivesse apostado mais no romance e nos temas que tenta explorar em vez de adicionar mais um elemento que acabou por desgastar a história e retirar-lhe fluidez. Em comparação, o romance é o ponto forte deste livro. A intensidade da relação de Libby e Hunter é muito bem explorada e a autora não caí nos típicos exageros, apesar de ambos serem duas pessoas com passados complicados. O amor entre os dois é bonito e sensível e, não deixando de passar pela atracção sexual, acaba por ser mais sobre confiança e salvação do que destruição ou obsessão, o que é bastante favorável numa história em que o sexo e as suas vertentes mais obscuras estão bem intricados.
Também existem demasiadas personagens nesta história, demasiadas relações, que acabam por ajudar a tornar o enredo confuso. Penso que a maior parte delas não traz nada para a história e não precisavam de existir. Em compensação, os protagonistas são uma dádiva. Libby surpreende pela sua força de vontade e sensatez e, Hunter, por não ser o típico protagonista atormentado, não sendo nem obsessivo nem possessivo, mas sim preocupado e sensível. Como casal convenceram e gostava que a autora se tivesse concentrado mais neles.
Se fosse uma história mais simples, Selling Scarlett teria tudo para ser um bom romance, pois não lhe falta irreverência e ousadia. 

**I received a digital arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Selling Scarlett A Love, Inc. Novel

Reviews