Beach Blanket Bad Boys

Parable, Montana #0.5

by Alison Kent, Alison Kent, Lucy Monroe

Batteries Not Required by Linda Lael Miller
The only boyfriend Gayle Hayes has is the battery-operated kind. But when she returns to her small Montana hometown, rodeo bad boy Tristan McCullough gives her a whole new lesson in power surge...

Sara Smiles by Alison Kent
Six months ago, Sara Wade has turned down her boyfriend Jax's proposals. Now, it's her turn to convince the hunk she wants it all, starting with a steamy fantasy weekend in sultry Puerto Vallarta...

Seducing Tabby by Lucy Monroe
Everybody always wants Tabby Payton's beautiful sister. But not sexy English spy Calder Maxwell. He wants Tabby, body and soul, and he's willing to take the seduction to new levels to prove it...

Captivated by Jill Shalvis
James Scott warned his investigator ex-wife Ella to be more careful. Now he finds the irate woman nearly naked and handcuffed to the towel rack in his Mexican vacation condo. He should release her. Then again...

Sister Switch by Susanna Carr
Tracy Parks is in control of every situation. But on the eve of her society wedding, Tracy runs into her nemesis and ex-lover Nick...gorgeous, impossible Nick. And control is the last thing on her mind...

Spencer For Ever by Morgan Leigh
Heiress Arden Prescott is determined to turn her family summer home into a bed and breakfast. Fisherman Kip Spencer doesn't think she can handle the rustic life. After all, she can't handle him...

Genres: Romance, Anthologies, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Short Stories, Fiction

311 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 7, 2005

About the author

I often read of or hear about authors who knew they were meant to tell stories from the time they left the crib. Me? I didn't decide what I wanted to be when I grew up until I was thirty years old - and then sold my first book at thirty-four. Still, it was obvious that I always knew I was going places.

Like so many other authors, I was a voracious reader from day one, devouring everything from Nancy Drew to My Friend Flicka, which I remember sitting hovered over the heater vent in the kitchen floor to read while my father made his coffee.

I moved on to my mother's Phyllis Whitney, Dorothy Eden, and Mary Stewart gothics before discovering my first true romances written by Lucy Walker and set in the Australian Outback. And then, at last, when I was 18 I found 'The Flame and the Flower'. (My son almost spent his life as Brandon because of that, but I spared him and named him Casey instead!)

Why write romance? Because love stories have always been a major part of the books I've loved. Father Ralph and Meggie Cleary. (I did name my daughter Megan after reading The Thorn Birds! Do you see a trend here?) The aforementioned Brandon Birmingham and Heather Simmons. Wolf Mackenzie and Mary Potter.

Even more so, it's because I love writing romance heroes. The men who sweep both heroines and readers off their feet - not to mention their authors, too!

I've spent several years happily writing action adventure romance for Kensington Brava along with hot and sexy series romances for Harlequin Blaze. Now I'm thrilled to be a launch author for Vows.

Reviews

[Beverly Diehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

These six short, sexy stories are the perfect beach read. They're all written with a lot of humor, much steamy sex and several second chance romances. All by authors at the top of their game in romance.

This book was published in 2005, and has been in my TBR pile... for a while. The only thing missing is authors/characters who are Black or brown.

[Laurie Gold · Rating 2 out of 5]

Linda Lael Miller - Batteries Not Required - C-
Alison Kent - Sara Smiles - C+
Lucy Monroe - Seducing Tabby - B
Jill Shalvis - Captivated - C+
Susanna Carr - Sister Switch - C-
Morgan Leigh - Spencer For Ever - C

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Batteries Not Included – Linda Lael Miller – 3/5 – The premise is typical big misunderstanding = ten years of separation and long lost love sort of thing. Gayle comes back to town on business and has to face the guy she left behind, Tristan. Gayle is bitter about Tristan, who seems to be ready to pick things up again, but he really wants an explanation for her having run away in the first place. I don’t really mind these kinds of stories when there’s plenty of grovel, but in this case, it was a little strange. The heroine was technically at fault for not sticking around for an explanation and then high-tailing it out of town. So, she’s more or less at fault for her own suffering and since this is a first-person narrative, we don’t get much feel for the hero’s suffering. So even though it felt like the angst was concluded, I don’t think the hero got a sufficient apology. Also, the term “moustache ride” sounds really crude and out of place in this story. I’m not a fan of the term.

Sara Smiles - Alison Kent - 3/5 – Jax and Stacey are already in a relationship but are nervous about getting married. She finds out she’s pregnant and takes him on a lovely Mexico vacation on the beach to tell him and to accept the marriage proposal she refused 6 months ago. He’s rather reluctant because he thinks she only wants to get married for the sake of the baby and he doesn’t want to get married for the wrong reasons. This was just okay. It was honestly a bit boring. Well written and steamy, but otherwise, a bit bland.

Seducing Tabby – Lucy Monroe – 3/5 – Tabby has spent a lifetime answering questions for guys who want to date her younger, thinner sister. So she’s astounded when Calder Maxwell, hottest new guy in town has spent the past weeks asking questions to get to know her. He wants the works, a relationship, sex, friendship. Tabby goes into it skeptical, believing he’ll get tired of her and go on his way. This is a cute story, but there isn’t much to it. They meet, they start dating, they have sex and they live happily ever after. No angst, no conflict, just a little story about how these two meet. And honestly, as insecure as Tabby was and as much as she questioned Calder’s sanity for wanting to be with her, I think she’s lucky he was as patient as he was. She got on my nerves a bit.

Captivated – Jill Shalvis – 3/5 – Cute, but I gotta say, the heroine is TSTL. She has a dangerous job and she isn’t really cut out for it. Her husband, a cop, left her because he couldn’t take the stress of her constantly being in danger. Now her anger would be perfectly justified if she was actually competent at her job, but she isn’t. In fact, she has a counter case since he’s also got a danger job, but we’re assuming he’s actually competent. Not to say she isn’t perfectly justified for being pissed about the hero (her husband) leaving her because he doesn’t like her job, but this probably could have been avoided if she’d actually listened to him and maybe compromised or discussed all this. And then after they have a lot of hot sweaty sex and you think they’ll get back together, she leaves him (which was good for the vengeance feeling) but kind of stupid since I couldn’t really fathom her reasons. She talks about her job as being a part of her and it really isn’t. It’s not a personality trait, it’s just a job…where as he is a guy who loves her. Then she goes off and acts stupid again.

Sister Switch – Susanna Carr – 3/5 – Tracy is about to get married, but she needs to take a quick trip to New York for some business reason so she makes her twin sister Jessica fill in for her at the rehearsal. But Tracy misses the wedding. In an attempt to switch back, Tracy goes to the honeymoon sweet only to encounter the Best Man and the guy she was in love with. He’s there to get her back, but he plays her game and lets her believe he’s there to win Jessica. But he’s madly in love with Tracy and before long realizes he needs to be honest and put himself out there for her. This is kind of weird. At first I thought we’d get Jessica’s POV because that would be the interesting one…the one stuck in the switch, right? Nope. We get Tracy, who at times seems as unemotional and cold as a statue, but at others like an scared and immature teenager about her feelings. She’s one of those confident and powerful businesswomen who just can’t stand to be vulnerable and that’s what love does – it makes her vulnerable. We just have to trust that Nick and Tracy are actually in love, but we don’t really see the actual romance, just the getting back together. I liked it for the most part.

Spencer For…Ever – Morgan Leigh – 3/5 – Another cute story, this time with a lot of passion and long lost lover angst. Arden and Spencer knew each other 10 years ago and when Arden comes back to Martha’s Vineyard to stay, Spencer is shocked. Even more so when he finds out that she’s after him. This was okay, but I think would have been much more believable if they hadn’t been so young and known each other for such a short time. Arden was 17 and Spencer was 19, they knew each other for 3 months and never did more than kiss. I just find it hard to believe that from that, they could still love each other that deeply (so much so that it got Arden through an abusive marriage) and just pick up where they left off ten years later. Ten years is a long time and people do a lot of changing in that time. I would think they’d want to get to know each other again before making long term decisions or making declarations of love.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would give each story a C, other than Lucy Monroe's Seducing Tabby, which I would probably give a B.

[Sofie A · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★1/2
Sara Smiles by Alison Kent

★★ eh
Seducing Tabby by Lucy Monroe

★★★
Captivated by Jill Shalvis

★★1/2
Sister Switch by Susanna Carr

★★1/2
Spencer For Ever by Morgan Leigh

[Kerri Pollard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this!

[Maryjane Coons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it

[☂ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I find that with most anthologies the limited space doesn't allow for much development, character, plot or otherwise. In this anthology especially, some stories are limited to under 40 pages. That's brief but sometimes that's all you need. The benefit of such anthologies is that, at the very least they expose the reader to new or unknown authors. This one in particular features six authors, of those I've only read two.

All but one of these stories is about reuniting love and all of them give off a bit of steam, well as much steam as 50 pages allows, which is surprisingly a lot. Since most of the couples are former/current lovers or share a past, these stories tended to be uncomplicated, fun, realistic enough and nice quick reads.

Linda Lael Miller - Batteries Not Required

There are several funny parts alluding to the title. This is a story involving a former high school sweethearts forced back together after 10 yrs. The story itself is solid and features a cowboy (sweetness!). The reunion, well hopefully it doesn't happen like that in real-life -or maybe it should- might be unrealistic but heck it's only 38 pages, and it's sweet (and steamy) all in one. It has the makings of a Lifetime/Hallmark movie all over it. It's definitely worth a read.

Alison Kent - Sara Smiles

This story deals with a couple where the man wanted to get married and the female didn't. The couple stays together, unmarried, but now the reluctant partner has changed her mind. She has to convince him that her reasons are the right ones and that one very big change isn't why she's changed her mind.

Lucy Monroe - Seducing Tabby

This story felt the most unrealistic only because the couple involved isn't a couple to begin with. They have no past, no connection, they meet and fall in love, deeply in love, instantly. Overnight even. Who doesn't love that? It's less than 50 pages, it's cute and it features a shy and average sized female lead who is used to always being overlooked when she's not being pumped for info, by suitors of her "more desirable" sister. If you haven't read Lucy Monroe before be sure to check out her stuff. She writes some awesome characters.

Jill Shalvis - Captivated

If you've never read Shalvis give her a try. She creates some great leading men. This story involves a soon to be divorced couple who are estranged due to job hazards. Their story has a bit of danger which is always a catalyst to finding ones way back to where they belong. A little bit of danger, a little bit of loving, a little bit of fun.

Susanna Carr - Sister Switch

Sisters and twins, Jessica and Tracy have never switched places before but Jessica agrees to swap identities with her sister during Tracy's rehearsal dinner. Why you ask? Tracy's got a scheme in the works and if she succeeds she won't need to marry Devlin which was a business arrangement anyway. Tracy leaves town, fails at her scheme them doesn't even make it back in time for her own wedding. Oh no! The best man is waiting for her when she does arrive and he's got some things he's been meaning to tell her. This story was great fun and I'd love to have another short story telling us what happens to Jessica on the "wedding day."

Morgan Leigh - Spencer For..Ever

A "could have been" relationship as teens comes back to haunt Kip Spencer when Arden Prescott comes waltzing back into town 10 years later. Kip wants nothing more than to avoid her at all cost but it's impossible because Arden is conspicuously following him, everywhere. Kip doesn't want to but he has to find out why and put an end to it, but can he? Another steamy little read about reuniting.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Contemporary romance. One of the "Bad Boys" books. You know, when you read a book like this suspending belief is sometimes a requirement. It's hard though.

Linda Lael Miller - 2 stars. Protected sex. Told in the first person. I really have a problem with the old "separated for 10 years because the female lead jumped to conclusions & dumped the male lead". I was willing to give this one a chance because it IS well written with snappy dialogue. Unfortunately, the female lead lets the male lead into her pants (& other places) almost immediately. This is when she has what we readers think are legitimate gripes. The male lead is a jerk, but who cares 4 orgasms later. This just didn't work for me.

Alison Kent - 3 stars. Unprotected sex. The couple are in a monogamous, long term relationship. This one is OK. Couple working out their problems before moving on to the next step.

Lucy Monroe - 3 stars. Protected sex. This a stretch, but LM pulls it off. Average girl attracts handsome, buff, hot British secret agent. Hey it could happen :)

Jill Shalvis - 3 stars. Unprotected sex - the couple is married. Actually separated, but working to get back together. You have to suspend some disbelief that a naked, beautiful woman would not tempt 2 criminals into something other than handcuffing her to a towel rod & then leaving. Other then that, a well done story.

Susanna Carr - 3 stars. Unprotected sex. Twins switch places for one twin's wedding rehearsal when the corporate, ballbusting twin decides to make a power play. She comes back late to find her twin married to her groom. Typical.

Morgan Leigh - 2 stars. Protected sex. I don't know. There's something about this author I just don't like. This is another separated for 10 years due to a misunderstanding. I didn't like either the male or female lead at all. In fact, the female lead is TSTL after deciding a nighttime walk on her widow's walk in the middle of a thunderstorm is a great idea. Of course this gives the male lead an opportunity to rescue her & be rewarded with hot sex. Meh.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 3 out of 5]

All I can say after reading these stories is...I need to get to a Mexican beach!

Linda Lael Miller's Batteries Not Required was too funny. And a very sweet, cute romance involving a cowboy, a paralegal, and B.O.B. I MUST read more of her work.

Alison Kent's Sara Smiles started off as though the story had already ended. I kept wondering what was her reason for even writing the story when she hit me with it. Very nice. Very original. And, very sweet with a point. I want one of him...

Lucy Monroe's Seducing Tabby is a definite payback for all readers who are curvaceous and shy. Sweet, fun, and a triumph for anyone who's ever felt overlooked.

Jill Shalvis' Captivated is a fitting title for the start of this story! Conflict, pride, and love frustrate an insurance investigator and her about-to-be-ex cop husband. I think I may have to explore more of Shalvis' work.

Susanna Carr's Sister Switch had an interesting gimmick with the twin angle. I also enjoyed Tracy and Nick's devious and ruthless appreciation for each other's fierce, Machiavellian competitiveness. Had the very expected ending although Carr did introduce a slight twist which I wouldn't mind seeing her follow up.

Morgan Leigh's Spencer For..Ever was also sweet and very predictable.

[Samm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly I was a little disappointed with this Bad Boys Anthology. There's nothing specifically wrong with the writing style, I quite enjoy the other works of several of the featured authors, the short stories just feel a little lacking is all. I wasn't expecting six full sized novels from an anthology but everything feels rather rushed. Like some of the authors had the intent of writing significantly longer stories and cut out as much of that story as possible to get it in this anthology.

Also; when you read the title "Beach Blanket Bad Boys" you think of white sand beaches, tropical locales, sexy surfers, bar tenders, maybe a cabana boy or two? Instead all these stories focus on dysfunctional couples with communication issues making it work, with the barest mentions that they are taking place near the beach, if at all. It just feels like the title made a promise that the writers weren't able to keep.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a steamy collection of short stories, none more than 50 pages long. I’m not quite sure where the title of this book comes from, but it could be the fact that this is a perfect beach read. Each story is self-contained and quick to read. As with other compilations, I am basing my rating on the overall book on the average rating.

Batteries Not Required
by Linda Lael Miller
35 pages
Although this is a very short story, it felt complete. No extra characters to get to know, not really anyway. It’s focused on the heroine, Gayle, and the hero, Tristan. There’s not a lot of dialogue and it’s really not needed. Short, sexy, emotional, and fun.
5 stars

To see the rest of my review on the other 5 stories in this book, please visit my blog at https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.c...

[JoAnne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anthology with bad boys and summer as its theme. Stories by 6 different authors - 2 of which I've read books by before - Linda Lael Miller and Jill Shalvis. I felt like I had previously read the book by Miller before. The stories were short, steamy and there was always a past with the bad boy. A good beach read - even if I did read it in the winter and finished it up during a snowstorm!

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learned nothing from this book. It was mildly entertaining and definitely chock full of sex but putting six short stories in one book pretty much guarantees that there isn't going to be a lot of character development. Definitely a beach book.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun but trashy read. Very quick. I'm not a huge fan of short stories but I'm getting a little more used to them. These were such fluff reads that I really didn't feel like I was missing much and wasn't waiting for more of the story.

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories about renewing love. It was a bit....raunchy in the love making scenes. Each quick story were only about 50 pages, give or take, so there was no time to really develop the characters. All in all it was ok.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this steamy little book! The only author I was familiar with was Jill Shalvis. I enjoyed 4 of the 5 stories very much. I look forward to exploring these new authors. Its a perfect book to read at the beach or on vacation!

[Marran · Rating 2 out of 5]

Huh..well....the story s was a bit to short for my taste..even though I don't mind reading sizzling sex scenes these felt a bit to much wham bam thank you mam....I need more of a story to go with the sex...

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

good read to lose some time in.

[Julie (jjmachshev) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only three stars cause they were all too short!!

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hech yeah! Bring this book to the beach (I did), stories are short and quick reads so you can put this book down often. Its racy so if that isn't your thing, skip it.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

[ThePerpetualBookJunkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the best anthologies I've read so far. Each story made me want to fall in love and lust all over again. Simply scrumptious! ^_~

[Season · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is just okay to me. Some stories were better than others...but really no character development, but I should expect that in short stories.

[Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute for a very short quick read, such a sexy sounding cowboy :O}

[Noor · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Batteries Not Required - 3 STARS
2. Sara Smiles - 3 STAR
3. Seducing Tabby - 5 STARS
4. Captivated - 5 STARS
5. Sister Switch - 5 STARS
6. Spencer For Ever - 5 STARS

[Shaineinok · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the first 4 stories and gave this 4 stars based on them. It's a good beach or stuck at home with the flu read. :)

[Karon]

waste of time

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took this book to the beach and it was a great choice. Every story was predictable but that was expected. If you're looking for a collection of erotic short stories, this is for you.

[Hollie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Usually really like her books. This one just didn't do it for me.