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Book Review By Tanya
The Damsel in this Dress by Marianne Stillings

Washington state detective J. Soldier McKennett has become a best selling author while he is on desk duty. Everyone seems to love his novels except the Port Henry Newspaper Editor Betsy Tremaine. She continues on her previous path and rips his fourth novel to shreds in his reviews. McKennett and his brother concoct what this reviewer must look like and have a good laugh.

Betsy lives alone in the house she grew up with. She is currently dog sitting her mothers Chihuahua “Piddle”. She was promoted to editor five months ago after the previous editor disappeared. She writes the book reviews on the side. She is very self conspicuous about her looks as she is not a “stick woman” which seems to be what everyone is looking for today. Even her mother says that her hourglass figure is not desirable.

Just before Betsy leaves for the Northwest Crime and Punishment Writer's Conference she is stalked by someone. Betsy and Soldier meet up at the conference after being immediately attracted to each other only to figure out their connection.

Soldier fights his attraction to Betsy as he has vowed that he will not be like his late partner and leave someone behind if there is an accident. But, as he protects her from the stalker he figures this is not going to happen. As things heat up both with the stalker and with their love life sparks fly. Betsy is not afraid to tell Soldier when he is being stupid or not living in reality.


Plot & Themes
Time/era of story
Action/suspense subplot? Yes
Action:
Inner struggle subplot Yes
Struggle with...

Main Male Character
Profession/status:
Age/status: - 20's-30's

Main Female Character - 20's-30's
Profession/status:
Effect of sexing

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Pacific NW
Misc setting - resort/hotel

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
What % of story is romance related? - 60%
How explicit is the sex? - descript of kissing - touching of anatomy - licking - actual description of sex - Boob talk - Weiner talk
Focus of story - equally on him and her
How much sexing? - 1-2 sex acts
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