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35th out of 79 books
—
101 voters
Restraint
by
Charlotte Stein (Goodreads Author)
Mallory is certain that one of her friends – handsome but awkward Artie – hates her guts. The last thing she wants to do is go on a luscious weekend away with him and a few other buddies, to a cabin in the woods. But when she catches Artie doing something very dirty after a night spent listening to her relate some of her sexcapades to everyone, she can’t resist pushing his...more
Kindle Edition
Published
May 28th 2012
by Xcite Books
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Oh this was cute and fun!
I loved this to be honest, I thought it was so funny. Quite boldly written too, in a really great way. It was nice to find the main character stays exactly who she is all the way through. She is very full on, in a way that could be annoying in a full size book. But here it's peeeerfect.
Mallory, her 2 friends and Artie are going on holiday, Artie really doesn't like Mallory at all and so Mallory decides to try and sort it out.....and then....you know.....sex happens.
I loo...more
I loved this to be honest, I thought it was so funny. Quite boldly written too, in a really great way. It was nice to find the main character stays exactly who she is all the way through. She is very full on, in a way that could be annoying in a full size book. But here it's peeeerfect.
Mallory, her 2 friends and Artie are going on holiday, Artie really doesn't like Mallory at all and so Mallory decides to try and sort it out.....and then....you know.....sex happens.
I loo...more
I've heard Charlotte Stein reccommended as a good romance author, and when I saw this was just 99cents on amazon, I thought I would give it a try. It's a short story, so there's not much to say, but Ms Stein manages to acheive a lot in a short space of time. I really got a feel for the two main characters - they felt fully fledged very quickly and I was curious to see how these very different people could end up together.
Mallory really doesn't like like Artie - she thinks he's stuck up, and he a...more
Mallory really doesn't like like Artie - she thinks he's stuck up, and he a...more
After hearing about this book on Smexybooks, I just knew I would be buying it. I have read a previous book by this author and she writes amazing, sexy scenes. Plus, I am addicted to those scenes that involve the love/hate dynamic in the plot.
The first chapter of this short novella had me wondering what the heck was Artie's problem? Why is he so closed off and has a less than cheery attitude towards Mallory. Well, if you keep reading the book, you realize that its not that he doesn't like Mallor...more
The first chapter of this short novella had me wondering what the heck was Artie's problem? Why is he so closed off and has a less than cheery attitude towards Mallory. Well, if you keep reading the book, you realize that its not that he doesn't like Mallor...more
This is the second Charlotte Stein book in a row I've given a five star rating, but it's very different from Deep Desires -- probably the only thing they have in common is they're both narrated in the first person by women. Our narrator here is Mallory, a sharp, funny young woman who had me laughing, as she tells the story of how her friend James ruined their vacation plans by inviting her worst enemy Artie. For some unknown reason, Artie just seems to loath her.
"'He looked at you weird one time...more
"'He looked at you weird one time...more
8 likes · like · see review
I know me and Ms Stein haven't gotten along in the past, but I am glad I decided to give her books another shot. The blurb to this one was just too yummy to pass up on. My one issue was that it was written in 1st person from Mallory's POV, and we never really got to get under the skin of Artie.
I love that Artie was innocent enough to get turned on by boobs and a potty mouth. Though how innocent he really is we never really find out, hence why I wish this had been written in 3rd person so that we...more
I love that Artie was innocent enough to get turned on by boobs and a potty mouth. Though how innocent he really is we never really find out, hence why I wish this had been written in 3rd person so that we...more
1 like · like · see review
Originally posted on Books and Swoons
I was on my way home from vacation and I logged onto Twitter and I see one of my friends tweeting about a free ebook on an author she loves. Now, I love books and I love FREE books even more. So, I had some spare time while waiting for my flight and I started reading it right away.
Restraint was exactly what I was looking for. It was short, sweet hot, and dirty. My many sleepless nights during vacation could only handle something in novella length and I enjoye...more
I was on my way home from vacation and I logged onto Twitter and I see one of my friends tweeting about a free ebook on an author she loves. Now, I love books and I love FREE books even more. So, I had some spare time while waiting for my flight and I started reading it right away.
Restraint was exactly what I was looking for. It was short, sweet hot, and dirty. My many sleepless nights during vacation could only handle something in novella length and I enjoye...more
I tagged this friends-to-lovers, but it's really frenemies-to-lovers. Mallory is going away with her two best friends for three weeks: male and female. The male friend is finally ready to make a play for the other female. (And sorry, I can't remember friends' names because they really weren't a big part of the story at all.) Male friend invites one of his male friends, Artie, along. By all accounts, Artie can't stand Mallory. She doesn't understand why, and she's not happy about Artie going alon...more
This is a really short story (just over 50 pages, I would say), but to me, it was the perfect length. Mallory has always thought Artie hates her. He's friends with some of her friends, though, so they're forced to spend time together. Mallory has been trying to tone down her outrageousness in front of him, but as the story starts, she's had enough, and decides to go all out, and if he doesn't like it, he can go to hell. She soon discovers Artie's feelings for her are not quite what she thought.
O...more
O...more
I don't know where Charlotte Stein has been all of my erotic reading life, but damn....I think I'm in love. Mallory is going on holiday with friends when she finds out Artie is tagging along. Since Artie seems to loathe her existence (and she has no clue why), she's not exactly overjoyed to find out he's been invited along. What happens next shocks her to the core.
I've been whining a bit (OK, a lot) lately about how all erotica is reading the same to me - and this story was EXACTLY what I needed...more
I've been whining a bit (OK, a lot) lately about how all erotica is reading the same to me - and this story was EXACTLY what I needed...more
3 likes · like · see review
HOT! This has been sitting on my Kindle for a while and I finally got around to reading it today. It's quite short, but I loved it. I love Mallory's blunt style and sense of humor. The voice was so genuine and realistic.
One of my frequent complaints when reading erotica is that the characters are dull or stereotypical and are just vehicles for cliched sex fantasies. Mal and Artie had depth. Artie was more than a big jerk, and his tenderness actually surprised me in the best possible way. The way...more
One of my frequent complaints when reading erotica is that the characters are dull or stereotypical and are just vehicles for cliched sex fantasies. Mal and Artie had depth. Artie was more than a big jerk, and his tenderness actually surprised me in the best possible way. The way...more
this is a great short story. it is about a group of people leaving to go on vacation at a lake. there is this girl Mallory who is going with her 2 friends who are dating. she thought she would be the 3rd wheel and meet some nice handsome guy, but her friend James tells her that he invited Artie. Artie absolutely hates Mallory. every time she says something he always has something to say about it. all her friends tell her that he is a jerk and it is not her.
then while at the cabin Mallory finall...more
then while at the cabin Mallory finall...more
Mallory is a modern girl that knows what she wants in the bedroom which can be a bit intimidating to not-so-modern shy guys. So when she goes on a three week fun trip with friends and hears that Artie (the awkward friend of a friend) is tagging along, she is a bit put off. I totally understand that fifth wheel friend of a friend that can irk your comfort zone and make a fun weekend into a boring one. But I do like what happens between Mallory and Artie because it is hot and sexy with real chemis...more
Anyone who follows my reviews knows that I hate short books. Novellas, short stories...I'm just not a fan. Except when Charlotte Stein writes them. Then, apparently, I feel completely satisfied and happy.
Restraint is only like, three scenes long really. The heroine ends up on a lakeside vacation with a guy she's always thought hated her. He gives her mean looks that make her feel bad about herself and she doesn't want to be there with him. Turns out, he's really just repressed and channeling all...more
Restraint is only like, three scenes long really. The heroine ends up on a lakeside vacation with a guy she's always thought hated her. He gives her mean looks that make her feel bad about herself and she doesn't want to be there with him. Turns out, he's really just repressed and channeling all...more
This is - is my favorite book - hands down. Of all the books I've ever read this one is my most loved, most read, and most enjoyed.
The development of their relationship is great. The hot-tub scene is one of my overall favorites out of all the literature I've ever read. I truly disliked him when she did, and liked him when she did, and then loved him when she did.
Artie and Mallory will live on forever in my heart.
Thus - when I started writing a fun bit of fanfiction called Jezabella - I began my...more
The development of their relationship is great. The hot-tub scene is one of my overall favorites out of all the literature I've ever read. I truly disliked him when she did, and liked him when she did, and then loved him when she did.
Artie and Mallory will live on forever in my heart.
Thus - when I started writing a fun bit of fanfiction called Jezabella - I began my...more
I read this immediately after finishing Telling Tales, which features a somewhat similar dynamic (and was a bit longer and had a bigger emotional backstory), and the repetition of some tropes and jokes kind of put a limit of my potential enjoyment. But still, I like Stein's first-person heroines and their voices, and Mallory was no exception, and even if I had just read a similar dynamic, it's a dynamic I really, really, really love and don't find anywhere else, so.
THis was a really weird and uncomfortable story. It details the beginnings of a relationship between Malory and Artie.
Artie is repressed. No, Artie has a red hot poker shoved directly up his ass. Malory comes across as rather crude and foul mouthed. Obviously the two don't get along very well. They go on a group trip with another couple and end up in a relationship.
The story is uncomfortable for me because Artie is uncomfortable. And Malory is really aggressive - both sexually and verbally.
I'...more
Artie is repressed. No, Artie has a red hot poker shoved directly up his ass. Malory comes across as rather crude and foul mouthed. Obviously the two don't get along very well. They go on a group trip with another couple and end up in a relationship.
The story is uncomfortable for me because Artie is uncomfortable. And Malory is really aggressive - both sexually and verbally.
I'...more
3 likes · like · see review
ETA: Changing my rating to 5. I have reread this 3 times and been moved each time. That makes it 5* by some measure that matters.
Maybe 3 1/2 stars, but I'm rounding up because I enjoyed the repressed hero so much. I've heard mixed things about Stein's first-person, somewhat stream-of-consciousness voice but I think it worked in this story because we, like Mallory, don't know at first what Artie's thinking, and because the somewhat distanced narration (and then these other words came out of my m...more
Mandi from Smexy Books recommended this one in a recent post and as it was only 99c from Amazon I immediately went and bought it. As it is a fairly short story and I was between books at the time, I immediately went and read it. It's a sexy short about dirty talking Mallory who goes on holiday with her two best friends. Another friend is invited but unfortunately, Artie and Mallory dont' get along. She thinks he hates her because of her potty mouth. After a revealing conversating in the hot tub,...more
A very sexy and sweet erotic romance. I thought Mallory was a refreshing heroine with her sexual confidence that never went overboard. Artie as the repressed hero with quite the desirable...asset...was a wonderful combination of hot and awkward. I liked how Ms. Stein provided the reader with both plot and sex while still acknowledging the genre. I'm not a huge fan of erotica, but I really enjoyed Ms. Stein's writing so I'll definitely look more of her work up.
This was another short and steamy read, but a much better read for me. I liked the repressiveness of Artie, made him seem like any guy I could meet here in reality. Mallory was a bit over the top, but fun too. The only complaint I have is that Artie got over his repression a little too quick for me, I could see so many scenes of Mallory helping him get over it. There was probably a word limit and could not be done, but I must say it was a good read for me!
I haven't read anything this sexy in a while. Partly because I have been reading a lot of YA and I was worried that Amazon would flag me as a perv if I started alternating between the two genres...haha
This was a QUICK and easy read, and I LOVED it!
I would kill to have Mallory's confidence and I loved her daring.
Oh, and the sex scenes...well done Ms. Stein...my husband thanks you :)
I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this author.
This was a QUICK and easy read, and I LOVED it!
I would kill to have Mallory's confidence and I loved her daring.
Oh, and the sex scenes...well done Ms. Stein...my husband thanks you :)
I am definitely looking forward to reading more from this author.
This is a very odd little novella, but I liked it. The voice is unique and refreshing, but confusing at times in its weirdness and tendency to change time and location without warning.
I generally enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope, and this didn't disappoint. I also really liked the descriptions of Artie, and how they changed as the story progressed.
I generally enjoy the enemies-to-lovers trope, and this didn't disappoint. I also really liked the descriptions of Artie, and how they changed as the story progressed.
What a great little novella this was. For me, this goes to show that you don't need whips and contracts and controlling billionaire alpha males (not that there's anything wrong with that, if that's what floats your boat!) to make erotica powerful. Malory and Artie (Artie!) have never gotten along. Malory is about to find out why.
Very, very short novella.
I usually love Charlotte Stein, and Control is probably my fave book of all time in this genre, but I just couldn't get into these characters. The gal comes across as crude and rather disgusting, and the guy is an asshole of the first order. I really couldn't care less if either of them got their rocks off, which is not a good set-up for me.
This match was just too mismatched to work for me., and the peripheral characters were boring too. Oh well.
I usually love Charlotte Stein, and Control is probably my fave book of all time in this genre, but I just couldn't get into these characters. The gal comes across as crude and rather disgusting, and the guy is an asshole of the first order. I really couldn't care less if either of them got their rocks off, which is not a good set-up for me.
This match was just too mismatched to work for me., and the peripheral characters were boring too. Oh well.
Really loved how bold Mallory was, but got turned off a bit by some of her *ahem* colorful language. Not much does that to me, but see-you-next-tuesday is a guaranteed flop in my mind. Artie was sweet and shy, but when he got to the point of no return and let loose? Yum.
All in all, a short, hot read. Definitely worth the 99 cents!
All in all, a short, hot read. Definitely worth the 99 cents!
I gave this 3* because I wanted to see Artie squirm just that little bit more. There are also quite a few similarities between this and Ruthie Knox's How to Misbehave (bible school, dirty talk and some of the language) though I think this came first, and I preferred it. If only it had been longer.
This was pretty good! I enjoyed it, but it was too short. I think it needed more depth - and an editor. Overall, I liked reading this! I will definitely being trying out Ms. Stein's other works.
I may be giving this an extra star because it was free on Amazon. I'm a sucker for free things.
I may be giving this an extra star because it was free on Amazon. I'm a sucker for free things.
Jun 12, 2012
Meljean Brook
added it
I really liked this short by Charlotte Stein (who has the most amazing voice.) The hero is fantastically different, and I wasn't sure how well she'd redeem the really awful thing he says to the heroine early in the story (because it is, after all, a short) but it worked perfectly well for me.
Who takes a 3 week long vacation? Well I guess this set of 4 friends do. I'm not sure how i feel about this, I like books where the domineering one in the relationship is the guy, so it seems just strange that the guy is the "virgin" and the girl is the one that has all the experience.
4.5 stars! Really, really hot. The match between Mallory and Artie was so crazy, like I thought there's no way it could possibly work, but it did! As with all novellas, I wish it were longer. I loved the buttoned-up hero and his undoing at the hands of a confident, sexual woman.
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Charlotte Stein has published many stories in various erotic anthologies, including Fairytale Lust from Cleis, and Sexy Little Numbers, from Black Lace. Her own collection of short stories, The Things That Make Me Give In, is out now, and was named one of the best erotic romances of 2009 by Michelle Buonfiglio. She has novellas and a novel coming soon from Ellora's Cave, Total-E-Bound and Xcite, a...more
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Thank you Lisa! :)
25. April, 01:34 Uhr
Thanks Debra :D
25. April, 01:34 Uhr