Coming Up Roses (Black Lace)

Rating:
Summary: Sexy, unconventional romance with some loose ends...
Review: Black Lace's Coming up Roses is a good erotic novel with some loose ends. I'm going to start this review by pointing out the good things about this novel. I liked the original plot and dark humor. The story of two business rivals who try to outdo each other in erotic ways entertained me and made me laugh from beginning to end. I also loved the fact that the protagonists were landscape gardeners. The insights on the aforementioned profession made the novel all the more original. And, of course, I loved the insatiable sex scenes, especially the one in which Rosie gets tied up and ravished by the luscious Ben.

What I didn't like about the novel is that the story is at times inconsistent. In the beginning, the reader learns that Rosie is a tad repressed. Then she embarks upon exploit after exploit like an old pro. Rosie going from somewhat inexperienced to borderline nympho is not only abrupt but downright unrealistic. Also, I wasn't crazy about the whole brothel thing. It did nothing for me. The male characters' fixation with breasts made my eyes roll at times. Rosie and Ben's hostility with each other annoyed me as well -- though I can't deny that their sex scenes were hot, hot, hot! Crystalle Valentino wrote a good, unconventional erotic/romance novel, but she should pace herself and watch out for repetitions next time. All in all, I recommend this novel because of its juice-flowing descriptions and unique plot.

Rating:
Summary: Black Lace at its BEST
Review: Crystalle Valentino's "Coming Up Roses" Is Black Lace at its best, right up there with Emma Holly, one of my personal Black Lace favorite's, Ms.Valentino gives us a glimpse of the hot and heavy side of.... gardening?

Rosie is a hardworking gardener who has been having her share of problems lately with cencellations...mostly from her female clientele. Shocked to find out that her competition comes in the package of one gorgeous blond haired, giant of a man she is not against giving said gardener a run for his money, or playing dirty. What she didn't expect was to fall hard and fast, all the while hating the distraction.

Ben is a hardworking gardener who has been having his share of problems lately with cancellations...mostly from his male clientele. Shocked to find out that his competition comes in the package of one gorgeous red haired, feisty female he is not against giving said gardener a run for her money, or playing dirty. What he didn't expect was to fall hard and fast all the while hating the distraction.

Coming Up Roses is a romping good time with sexy, fun and hilarious characters and no end to the sexual escapdes. The characters are likeable and believable and more than that they make you root for them. Rosy is feisty and fun and Ben is gorgeous, and great with his hands. Why 4 stars instead of 5, merely for the ending, it was a little abrupt for my tastes, however that could also be because I didn't want the book to end. You won't want to put down this read. Hats off to Crytalle Valentino

Rating:
Summary: Loved the romance and the love scenes!
Review: This book has it all- romance, lust, and steamy sex. I recommend this book if you like erotica. The author makes you care about the characters and hope for a happy ending- with lots of forays into the bedroom, of course.

Rating:
Summary: Please don't be fooled like i was
Review: This is the first review i've ever written for amazon; so just the fact that i felt the need to write this one should speak for itself. I bought this book because of some of the great reviews i read about it, and i sincerely feel that i've been duped. The story line was good but the characters were atrocious. The female lead character is a spineless wimp who tries to play as if she has a back bone and the male lead is an unfeeling jack ass whose only redeeming characterestic is when he asks her to marry him in the end. The only reason i gave this book a star at all is because some of the sex scenes were good (i guess) but not enough of them were good enough for another star. So my last words for this review will sadly have to be "Please don't be fooled like i was."