A NIGHT OWL REVIEWS BOOK REVIEW | Reviewed by: Chris
39 and Holding Him intrigued me as a read due to my own age. As with any compilation of stories, some were better than others. I arrived at my rating by using an average. While some stories left me completely cold, others had me laughing out loud. Based on the language and unfamiliar terms scattered throughout, this anthology is from British authors. I struggled a bit with phrasing that I am sure is commonplace in England, but not in the backwoods of Michigan. That sometimes disrupted the flow of the stories for me, and I found it distracting. Of the eleven stories, my favorites were "Lady-Killer", "Smooth & Throaty" and "Gourmet". These seemed to have a more in-depth (how in-depth can you expect out a few pages) development of the story. They seemed to have a little more going for them than the other stories; be it irony, romance, or good story development. My next group with mid scores was "Till the End", "Silent Partner", "Over the Hill Party" and "An Affair with a Poet Much Younger than Myself". These were quick fun reads, but didn't draw me in as much as the first group. The least favorites were "Sweet Animals", "Ministering Angel", "The Entertainment Reporter" and "Anno Dominae". These left me cold, if not bored. One or two were a little too wordy or overly descriptive on subjects that didn't enhance the story. All in all, an entertaining read. While some stories were better than others, it was worth wading through to find the gems.
Feb 20, 2008 | 978-1-59426-596-9
5 = Rare - Top Pick | 4.5 = I Loved It - Top Pick | 4 = Good Solid Read
3.5 = Enjoyable | 3 Stars = OK - Needs a few changes | 2 Stars = It just didn't click / DNF
Book Blurb for 39 and Holding Him
Let's face it, 40 is the new sexy! And Phaze is celebrating with this sometimes hilarious, sometimes touching, and always passionate collection of mature heroines who set out to prove that once you crest the hill, you begin to pick up a little speed. Features stories by Robin Slick, Victoria Blisse, Fenner Jeckyll, Jalena Burke, N.L. Belardes, N, Missy Lyons, Shanna Germain, Rebecca Adamsi, and Belinda Franklin. Get ready for the second exciting volume in this series: 39 and Still Holding!
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