Tempting

NEW ADULT  ROMANCE

Title: Tempting
Author: Crystal Kaswell  
Publication date: 09/27/2017
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Cliffhanger: I dunno

This book is the worst kind of DNF. It’s the kind of DNF you go into absolutely SURE the book is going to be good. How can it not be? The cover is good, the blurb is good, the writing as you crack the book open is good. How could it possibly go wrong? And that’s when the suck creeps over you, insidiously, like a bad smell you can’t quite identify or locate, invading your happy little reading space until you’re forced to admit that you’ve picked up a bad read and have wasted hours of your life you’ll never get back. It’s the bad book in a good book’s clothing, if you will.

Here’s what irked the crap out of me (keeping in mind that I only made it to 41% of the story, so anything super cool and interesting that happened after that was totally lost on me):

• I have no problem with a 26 year-old falling for an 18 year-old. Girls mature way faster than boys, anyway. BUT, in order for that scenario to work in a romance, I need the 18 year-old to be mature, an old soul. In this case, Kaylee was soooooo immature and naive that it felt like Brenden was creeping on a little girl. From her Disney obsession (she has an Ariel-inspired bikini and Little Mermaid sheets, y’all) to her complete lack of sexual experience (pretty sure she’s never made it to second base with any guys her own age before starting up a relationship with the hero), Kaylee is a little girl playing at having an adult, sexual relationship. And when you think of it like that, the sex scenes will ick you out. (Trust me)
• Kaylee, while WILDLY immature, is technically an adult. So, when her parents move away and stick her at Brenden’s house, she’s angry at them for their high-handed treatment of her. Well, sweetheart, you’re a grown up! You don’t have to stay where your parents put you. If you want to travel and visit your sick grandma, how about you handle it yourself? Beg, borrow, steal, work triple shifts to get the money...I don’t really care how you do it, but don’t pretend you’re this totally helpless little girl with no options.  
• The story moves at a positively glacial pace. I mean, smells travel faster than this story. The whole first 25% of the book is nothing but Brenden and Kaylee wanting each other, but holding back because their relationship is so “wrong”. Ugh. Either decide to go at it, or back off! Enough with the back and forth. Pick a direction and GO, people!
• The book looks like it’s being marketed as a romantic comedy. I didn’t laugh while reading. Not once. Didn’t even guffaw or chuckle. Absolutely zero funny. Just lots of brooding and sex.
• The fact that Kaylee wouldn’t tell Emma that she was having sex with Emma’s brother just pissed me off, especially since Emma expressed that such a relationship wouldn’t bother her. But I’m sure that at some point, it really bothered Emma that her best friend LIED to her, over and over again. (But then again, I wouldn’t know because I couldn’t finish the story. So, maybe I’m wrong about that.)
• Around the 40% mark, all that’s going on in the story is sex. Lots and lots of sex. In one way, I was glad that something in the story was FINALLY happening. But...is this all the story is going to be about? Am I going to get to the end and realize it was all just a waste of my time? I wasn’t willing to take that chance.   
• I’m calling bullshit on virginal Kaylee—little Kaylee with her cardigans and blue-framed glasses and Little Mermaid sheets–being into rough, adventurous sex. Nope. Not buying it.                

 
So, at the end of the day, I feel betrayed by this book with its good cover, good blurb, and good writing. And betrayed bloggers are NOT happy bloggers.

Does this book contribute to or help crush the romance stigma?
Contributes on nearly every front!

Other reading suggestions
For a great older man/younger woman read, try Scandalous by LJ Shen Or, if you want to read something truly funny that deals with an older woman/younger man, try Penelope Ward and Vi Keeland’s Dear Bridget, I Want You.

Note: You can check out our 5-star review of Scandalous and our 5-star review of Dear Bridget, I Want You.

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