Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Craving (Curio Vignettes #3) by Cara McKenna

Here we are in the third installment, returning to Caroly's POV. I really enjoyed this one, we started with Caroly and Didier having dinner together outside his apartment. I loved listening to Caroly's inner voice, explaining how she is the one who really knows Didier, the only one seeing him this vulnerable with hands shaking and a haunted face, and she is the one who experience these things with him without looking at him with pity or disrespect. She loves him for who he really is not just the beautiful guy or the one who really knows how to make a girl happy. From his perspective it's quite obvious that he truly trusts her and want to sort of "impress" her and "be normal" for her, so he can really be with her like "regular" couples are (naturally it's funny writing that when he is not "faithful" to her).
Returning home we get back to "tutoring" when Caroly looks inside the "treasure box" where Dider keeps his toys. It was an extremely sexy and naughty read! Unlike the sexual "session" they had in the previous part where they played two people they're not, I enjoyed much better reading their own experience, who they are, where they can go with their curiosity and sexual attraction. 

It's so much fun reading these small novellas. Each bringing us a different view - either Caroly or Didier, and getting to see how their relationship develops in those small glimpses each a few weeks / months apart making the built of the relationship feel more realistic. 

I just remembered this morning I got a recommendation to another short series by Cara - Shivaree. It has three parts, each quite short (80-140 pages). I'm not sure when I'll have time to read it, but I'll keep it for those times where I finish my planned reading for the month (like I did with this series). 


Additional Details: Kindle Ebook, 50 pages, 29 April 2014 / On GoodReads
 
ABOUT THIS SERIES
 
Curio Vignettes was the first (and only, actually) work I've read by Cara McKenna, I did read most of her Contemporary Romance work on her pan name Meg Maguire and was really interested in reading more by her in the Erotica genre. 

This is a series of short novellas telling us the love story between Didier and Caroly. The first novella is a bit longer than the others (~100 pages) while the other ones are shorter (~50 pages). Each novella tells us of how their relationship is going / proceeding which makes it more real than some novels telling us of love at first (or second) sight and then happily ever after too soon to feel reliable. Here it's different, each part takes place at least a week or few weeks from the other making the timing more real. 

I think you could consider this a full novel and not really a series but maybe because each part is set apart from the other and has it's separate story it makes more sense separating it into a series of novellas.  As I've written about "Roman Holiday" by Ruthie Knox, sometimes it's nice having a separate short story when you don't have the time to commit to a long book or series. 

I don't think I ever read a book with this sort of a plot line. Caroly, 30 years old, an American living in France is tired of the fact that she is still a virgin. Speaking to a friend about it she recommend Didier a mouth watering ex model who is also a man-whore - a high class whore. 

Caroly and Didier start their "relationship" exactly in the manner you think, she pays him to free herself of her virginity but both of them are surprised when it becomes more than that, they soon become friends. When Caroly learns the truth of what makes Didier keep his occupation (it's not what you think :P) she is determined to help him free himself of his burden. I really enjoyed the originality in this part and how it was brought and handled throughout the series. I don't want to write more not to spoiler.. 

I do think that we all need a lover like Didier. So in sync with our wants and needs. So patient and aiming to please. I don't think the majority of women can say they had a first (and second and..) time as AWESOME as hers :D A shame really :P

Recommended! :)

Books:
1. Curio (published 28 September 2011) ★★★★★
2. Coercion (published 29 August (2012) ★★★★½
3. Craving (published 26 September 2012) ★★★★★
4. Reversal (published 24 October 2012) ★★★★★
5. Confession (published 21 November 2012) ★★★★★
6. Exposure (published 26 December 2012) ★★★★★

 

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