Foreplay

by Sophie Jordan

The Ivy Chronicles, Book One

Book Description

Pepper has been hopelessly in love with her best friend’s brother, Hunter, for, like, ever. He’s the key to everything she’s always craved: security, stability, family. But she needs Hunter to notice her as more than just a friend. Even though she’s kissed exactly one guy, she has the perfect plan to go from novice to rock star in the bedroom: take a few pointers from someone who knows what he’s doing.

Her college roommates have the perfect teacher in mind. But bartender Reece is nothing like the player Pepper expects. Yes, he’s beyond gorgeous, but he’s also dangerous and deep—with a troubled past. Soon what started as a lesson in attraction is turning both their worlds upside down, and showing them just what can happen when you go past foreplay and get to what’s real. . . .

MY THOUGHTS: 2 OUT OF 5 FLEURS DE LIS

Foreplay by Sophie Jordan

I think I am going to stay away from the New Adult genre for quite a while, because lately all of the NA books I have read have been full of tedious cliches, so much so that it’s difficult to discern the plot of one or another. They all just kind of run together. Unfortunately for me, Foreplay fell right into this problem.

The main character, Pepper (hmm, really?) has been pining away for her best friend’s brother for as long as she can remember. When she finds out he’s finally single, she convinces herself that in order to get him, her little virginal self needs some…experience. Of the sexual variety. So she sets her sights on the local bartender, who she has heard has plenty to offer in that department.

Except, Pepper has the wrong guy: Reece is not a player, but he is willing to show her a thing or two. They both have horrible pasts, and because of this have trouble connecting. Pepper must decide to go after the guy she’s always desired, or the new man who’s rocking her world.

So, let me go ahead and get all the cliches that bothered me out in the open. Tattooed bad boy with a past: CHECK. Virginal girl next door with trust issues: CHECK. Friends that offer comic relief: CHECK. The two main characters “break up” more than once but can’t live without each other: CHECK. Literally, every New Adult novel I’ve read has had most of these elements going on. It makes the books very predictable, and when you go in with this feeling, it makes it difficult to connect with the characters at all.

Now for my other big issue: the sex scenes…OH GOD. I’m just gonna be nice and put it this way: they were very far from realistic. The first time they hooked up, all Reece did was touch Pepper ON THE OUTSIDE OF HER JEANS, and he gave her an orgasm. I mean…what do you say to that? This doesn’t happen to anyone, much less someone who has no sexual experience. And the scene where he took her virginity was just as bad for me.

What did I like? Well…Reece was a nice guy. I liked the way he treated Pepper, even though she treated him like garbage. Sorry, I just don’t have too much nice to say about Foreplay.

I could say a lot more, but I’ll leave it at that. I was invested in the story at first, but as it went on it got more ridiculous and I got very annoyed. This is the first book in a series, and if the next book is about these same two characters, I won’t be reading it.

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About the Author

Sophie Jordan took her adolescent daydreaming one step further and penned her first historical romance in the back of her high school Spanish class. This passion led her to pursue a degree in English and History. A brief stint in law school taught her that case law was not nearly as interesting as literature – teaching English seemed the natural recourse. After several years teaching high school students to love Antigone, Sophie resigned with the birth of her first child and decided it was time to pursue the long-held dream of writing.

In less than three years, her first book, Once Upon a Wedding Night, a 2006 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Nominee for Best First Historical Romance, hit book shelves. Her second novel,Too Wicked to Tame released in March 2007 with a bang, landing on the USA Today Bestseller’s List.

And as if she’s not busy enough, Sophie writes contemporary paranormals for Pocket under the name Sharie Kohler. Sophie resides in the Houston area with her family and loves to hear from readers.

Find out more about Sophie at her website, connect with her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter.