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Camilla can set her watch by her hunky rocket-scientist neighbor who jogs past her window each day. She relishes each glimpse of his shirtless abs, and is dying to see more. But it's hard to connect with a man who doesn't seem to know she exists...
Ivan feels at home in the lab, not in social situations. When he finally approaches his attractive neighbor, it's not for a date—he wants tutoring in how to behave at an important fundraiser. Ivan doesn't expect the chemistry between them to be quite so explosive, and is surprised when Cami actually accepts his proposal to embark on a series of "lessons."
Cami soon discovers Ivan's schedule isn't the only thing he likes to be strict about—he needs to be charge in the bedroom as well. She's shocked at how much she comes to enjoy her submissive side, but wonders if a real relationship is in the equation...
47,000 words
The weather forecast called for a high of ninety-nine degrees. Again.
Still two digits, though, no big deal for Houston in August. It felt like melting when you stepped outside, but you were just supposed to pretend like it was not all that hot. People would assure you they'd known much, much worse.
It wasn't all bad. Hot enough to wilt the lettuce I'd attempted to grow in the backyard, but at least the roses were thriving. I could see them from my computer desk, nodding their pink and crimson heads in a stray breeze. And then a shadow crossed them, blocking their light. Standing up for a better view, I saw my neighbor Ivan heading out for his run.
This told me it was six-thirty, and I needed to stop checking work email from home and get dressed, so I could go into work and continue to check email from there.
I didn't bother to check the clock, because Ivan was better than a clock. Over the past two years I'd learned his routines until I thought I could probably tell you his location at just about any moment of any day. Not that I'm a stalker. But Ivan loves routine the way some guys love football.
He glanced up at my window and gave a nod and wave, which I returned as I did every weekday morning. I wasn't awake that early on weekend mornings, although I knew Ivan still went for his run at the same time. Six-thirty in the morning, out for a run each and every day. He took one of three routes, which I knew because I drove past him most mornings on my way to work. One path was for Mondays through Thursdays. He ran a different route on Fridays, and another still on the weekends, to account for differing traffic patterns so his time stayed consistent.
One week, that's all any good stalker would need to get the entire scoop on Dr. Ivan Reynolds, rocket scientist. But I doubt anyone would ever want to stalk Ivan. Well, maybe if he won a Nobel Prize or something. He's very much an acquired taste, and it took me a good year at least to realize I'd acquired it.
* * *
The first time I realized Ivan was sexy, he was being an asshole and then a hero.
We were in my apartment, where Ivan seemed to spend an awful lot of time for somebody who claimed not to like being around people. But I liked to cook, and there were a lot of hungry geeks in the complex, so my apartment had become kind of a social hub. Even Ivan seemed to appreciate the food, although in this instance he was more focused on wondering why the astrophysics department had to have a start-of-the-school-year party.
"It's supposed to help you get to know your colleagues better," I said. I had my head under the sink, looking for the scrubbing cleanser, so I had to listen hard for his answer.
"But I already know my colleagues. And anybody new, I'll meet soon enough. They're people I work with every day. Why am I expected to spend my valuable free time with them as well? And expend social energy on what should just be a crowd of work-related acquaintances?" He asked me these types of questions because my degree was in social anthropology, although I spent my days now writing computer scripts. Ivan's idea of a good party involved bringing your own computer gaming equipment and Cheetos, then staying up all night virtually shooting your friends.
This story is funny, quirky, sexy and an outright blast
I loved this story and could relate to it for so many reasons. Mostly because like the hero of the story, Ivan, is not unlike my husband brilliant but socially inept. And I like the heroine, Camillia, hung out with the geeks despite not being quite so brilliant.
Camilla lives next door to astrophysicist Ivan. Recently she has discovered that he is something of a hunk underneath all that OCD and social awkwardness. They have been friendly since she moved in and she knows his routine down pat (think Sheldon Cooper from Big Bang Theory). But he knows he is out of his depth when it comes to social conventions and asks Cami to help him prepare for an important fundraiser where he is expected to mingle. (Think Penny). Now stop. This is where it deviates from any BBT analogy you might have. Because of her attraction to Ivan Cami has often wondered about Ivan’s sex life. She has never seen him with a date of either sex. Ivan is a detail oriented man and at some point he was introduced to BDSM and it appealed to him because there are rules and it requires upfront communication. After one of their socialization lessons where Cami has been more flirtatious than normal she finds out exactly what being with Ivan entails. The chemistry is nuclear.
This story is funny, quirky, sexy and an outright blast.
10 out of 13 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.My Review:
I absolutely ADORED this book. Seriously, so cute and fun...Big Bang Theory meets erotica and yeah, like you'd expect, it was seriously a hot book too!!
Cami lives in a complex with a bunch of astro-physicists. They almost all have their levels of awkwardness, but sexy Ivan is the most awkward of the bunch. He's very OCD about details and his schedule. After two years of living next door to him and the last year spent lusting after him, Cami knows his schedule pretty much as well as he does. Yeah, she's a bit of a stalker, but they are friends. He realizes that he's awkward, and honestly he's pretty much okay with that, but there's an important fundraiser coming up and he needs to be able to schmooze the donors. Ivan doesn't know how to have a simple conversation. Schmoozing is certainly beyond his ability at this point.
There are no social graces to this guy...to the point where you can't help but feel for him. He simply doesn't process things the way other people do so he doesn't understand about people getting their feelings hurt when he tells them the truth or when he gets bored with a conversation and walks away or interupts. His world is very black and white. It's fun to watch his subtle transformation through Cami's care. She doesn't change him...she just makes him more aware of his environment and better able to read signals from other people. I really liked the fact that he didn't actually change through this book. He just becomes a more caring individual.
And yeah, we should probably talk about the erotic part of this book. OMG, this book is HOT!!! Ivan is a Dom which Cami had no clue about. In fact, she wasn't even sure he wasn't gay. In the two years she's known him, she's never seen him date...anyone. But this is a guy who knows what he wants. He may be socially awkward in other situations, but in the bedroom, he is fully in-charge, and whoa, is it sexy!!
Overall, I just really fell in love with this book. I gave it an A rating, but I just may have to up it to an A+. It was fun and creative and if you have a thing for sexy geeks, you are really going to love it. REALLY!! I need to go find some more books by this author!
7 out of 8 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.SuperBookish
Posted July 13, 2012
I Also Recommend:
A fantastic writer. Good story line. Very well written. A great summer read.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 14, 2012
While I did enjoy the read, be ready for a rather quick ending. I was reading, enjoying my time and all of a sudden the book is over. It left me feeling and literally saying out loud " oh...thats it? I expected much more" while it is hard to read books like this after my run in with christian grey...the ending leaves something to be desired.....like 2 more chapters to at least finish the story. To me it feels like an unfinished book. Pleased all the way until the end. It will take me a while to recommend this book to anyone.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.twocoulters
Posted July 20, 2012
Yes, Professor...I enjoyed that.
Thanks to the publisher, Carina Press, and NetGalley for the chance to read this early!
This is the first book by this author I have read but, based on her writing style and the great characters she created for this short story – I am hooked.
Brilliant, but socially inept, rocket scientist Dr. Ivan Reynolds works at the local university. He becomes very anxious after discovering that he is required to attend a fundraiser and talk potential donors into funding his research at the university. So he approaches his neighbor Camilla Novak to tutor him in social anthropology. However, his empirical, literal view of the world causes friction with Camilla’s emotive, instinctive attitude creating a tension between them. (Imagine Brennan or Zack from Bones; or Sheldon from Big Bang Theory ~ brilliant but socially awkward.)
Camilla is the only single female in a townhouse complex populated almost entirely by astrophysicists and computer scientists. She realizes that she is attracted to her reclusive geeky neighbor Ivan. He however doesn’t even seem to realize she is a female; let alone interested. Until he propositions her…NO…not that kind of proposition…he wants her to socialize him. He wants her to unitize her social anthropology degree to teach him how to socially interact with other professionals and potential donors.
“I need you to help socialize me.”
“To help socialize me. Make me more…social. I need you to show me how to do that.” Ivan’s proposition to Camilla.
Ivan is not only the student but Professor. Apparently, Ivan aka Professor has some secrets that Camilla has observed; and she thought she knew everything there was to know about him. Ivan complete focus on a task is something that Camilla will never again complain about.
The author infuses passionate lovemaking with raw, dirty mating that is so hot, you’ll require frequent breaks. This will be a repeat read for me.
I have no knowledge whatsoever with regard to the BDSM lifestyle; other than what I have read in past books. Despite the heavy BDSM theme (which I typically avoid), I rather enjoyed this book--.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 18, 2012
This story was believable. Geeks might surprise you.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 17, 2012
I thought it was funny and read the reviews before I bought it. I knew the ending would come quickly and it did.
Can be "wordy" in some areas, and I found myself skimming some areas that talked computer/science stuff to long.
Never could get the Sheldon image out of my head from the reviews, so that messed it up for me a little.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.I just couldn’t resist this read. The synopsis sounded that good. I was intrigued to find out what this story was about and found out I did!
First off this story is an erotica with BDSM in it. I personally don’t like BDSM and mostly because it’s not for me, I just don’t understand it AND it’s not for me. But hey, I won’t knock it and I’ll give it a chance every now and then (READING, that is). This would be one of those now and thens. I really enjoyed this story. It was cute, funny, mostly realistic and just plain fun.
Camilla lives near a University, in a building occupied by mostly professors and employees of said University. Camilla has this HOT neighbor, Ivan, who she has been observing, analyzing and drooling over for a while now. Everyone in the building gets along and friendships have formed. They hang out with one another, cook together and are there for one another. So it’s no surprise when Ivan asks Camilla to help him out by prepping him for a fundraiser that’s coming up. Ivan is brilliant academically, not so much socially. After a few weeks of tutoring Ivan, one thing leads to another and Camilla finds out that there is more to Ivan than she’s ever observed.
This was written well and I loved Camilla and Ivan. I even liked that the author didn’t just throw the BDSM in there like BAM in your face but actually weaved an explanation of what certain things mean. I.e. Blindfolding. It’s really about trusting that the other person won’t hurt you while enjoying the mystery and surprise of what’s happening around you. I get it… I can relate…in theory. :-)
So, yeah, I liked that Professor Ivan let some of us in on the psychological workings of a BDSM mind.
The only thing I had a problem with was the ending. Camilla had unrealistic expectations of Ivan. I would think she would know by now that he was going take things slow or not have a clue about what she wanted and thought. What she wanted or felt was realistic just how quickly she wanted Ivan to figure it out was not.
At any rate read the book, because I think you should, so you can find out what I’m talking about and let the discussion begin!
ARC provided by Carina Press via NetGalley.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.CBell1
Posted July 13, 2012
I realllly loved this book. At first, I thought I was going to be put off by the first person narrative, because I like to "see" the male point of view in my erotic romance, but it was done so well, I found myself completely engaged even without it. Cami is our protaganist and she's got a crush on her neighbor Ivan. Ivan is...what is Ivan? Endearingly clueless. Socially inept. Brilliant but barely functioning in the real world. He's also got a hidden dark side, and that's where things get spicyyy. This was so much fun to read because the characters are flawed in such a genuine way, it's impossible not to connect. Really great read and I can't wait to load up on the author's backlist.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 12, 2012
It was good.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 11, 2012
I wanted Ivan for myself..Camilla was great..not whiney at all and willing to do it all to be with Ivan!
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.BookishKitty
Posted May 6, 2013
I read the other reviews before I bought this book and came across comments comparing the male lead – Ivan – to one of the characters on the tv show Big Bang Theory. I thought this could be good or it could be very bad. I decided to take a chance. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It’s sort of Big Bang meets My Fair Lady with Camilla playing the part of the teacher who helps geek-boy Ivan understand people better. I even enjoyed the analyses the characters did of Young Frankenstein and Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. What was interesting was Ivan’s connection to BDSM and how its practices of safe, sane and consensual sex enabled him to connect with people in a way that made him comfortable. Makes me wonder how many people in real life are into BDSM for the same reasons as Ivan. Sex-o-meter 5-point scale rating: 3 = explicit sex with mild kink
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 17, 2013
Was okay but not great.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 25, 2013
It was ok but it should have been long.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 28, 2012
Good
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 22, 2012
Good read overall
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 22, 2012
Not my favorite kind of romance.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.AutumnReview
Posted August 25, 2012
I've come to realize that I must be pretty picky about my Erotica. Not
that I didn't enjoy this book, because there were some highlight worthy
moments. I guess it was just kind of...meh...for me. I struggled to get
into it, which says a lot if I can't get motivated to read a smexy.
Let's start with a quick run-down. Cami, the female lead, was just ok. I
didn't really like her, or dislike her. She has a fascination with her
hot scientist neighbor, who is a bit of a mystery. Cami and Ivan bump
into each other around the complex, but have never really had much to
chat about. But then, Ivan decides he needs Cami's help for a big
fundraiser that he will be attending. See...Ivan lacks a bit in his
social skills and he feels like Cami is his best bet at helping him
break those barriers. The more time they spend together
"practicing" his social skills, the more they want to act on
their sexual curiosity about each other. Which leads me to the smexy.
It took a while to get to it, but once I did...it WAS pretty hot. Ivan
has a bit of a darker, dominating side that he introduces to Cami. She's
experienced sexually, but she's never participated in any kind of
Dom/Sub scene. I was a bit shocked when the story took this direction
and I can't say that I'm all that interested in that lifestyle, but it
was sexy and not degrading. Be advised that there is
"backdoor" action at play. If you can't handle that kind of
thing, this may not be the book for you. While the sex was hot, I just
felt like it was a mediocre read for me. I found the plot lacking and it
was slow to start. It's not a very long book, so I was expecting the
action to take place a bit sooner. Plus, I felt like Ivan's background
was glazed over a bit and I would have liked to have understood him a
bit better. So...would I recommend this book? Yes, if you are looking
for a quick sexy read with not much of a plot. I really was expecting a
nice blend of story/smexy, but I was left feeling a bit disappointed.
Anonymous
Posted August 11, 2012
The characters were funny and sexy. The author did a good job of balancing erotic and emotionally engaging.
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Read on July 28, 2012
BOOK SYNOPSIS
Camilla can set her watch by her hunky rocket-scientist neighbor who jogs past her window each day. She relishes each glimpse of his shirtless abs, and is dying to see more. But it’s hard to connect with a man who doesn’t seem to know she exists…
Ivan feels at home in the lab, not in social situations. When he finally approaches his attractive neighbor, it’s not for a date—he wants tutoring in how to behave at an important fundraiser. Ivan doesn’t expect the chemistry between them to be quite so explosive, and is surprised when Cami actually accepts his proposal to embark on a series of “lessons”.
Cami soon discovers Ivan’s schedule isn’t the only thing he likes to be strict about—he needs to be charge in the bedroom as well. She’s shocked at how much she comes to enjoy her submissive side, but wonders if a real relationship is in the equation…
My Thoughts
Whoever said nerds/geeks are not sexy never met Dr. Ivan Reynolds, socially clueless he may be but a cutie nonetheless!
Camilla is a very "rare breed" in the apartment complex where she lives, she is one of only two women in the middle of a group of guys. What makes her truly special though is she is popular because of her ability to accept these particular males as they are, after all every one of them is a "nerd" or a "brain" or a "geek" depending on what you choose to define someone whose intelligence IQ is probably close to or beyond the genius level but their social IQ is almost below zero.
Dr. Ivan Reynolds, her next door rocket scientist neighbor is a case in point. Ivan has some major difference that sets him apart from the other guys, he is cute, has a nice physique and the "idiot" has no clue Cami exists as an available attractive member of the opposite sex!
I loved this books beginning, the way that Cami basically is "stalking" her neighbor by being so aware of his schedule that she even knows it is time to get ready for work when he goes off for his morning jog on weekdays! Plus living in a complex with people who are about as brilliant as they are clueless has to be quite an experience all on it's own.
The relationship between Cami and Ivan is very much something that was fun to watch as it took the turn from "neighbors" to friends to "friends with benefits". The understanding that Cami shows for all the OCD behavior that Ivan exhibits is nothing short of wonderful, her patience in looking beyond his brusque attitude to see that the man inside is so focused that he cannot understand why people just do not say exactly what they mean and point out exactly what they want warmed my heart and showed that she really "got" Ivan for who he is and did not try to change him into who she wanted him to be. (At least not too much anyway, smoothing his "rough edges" with some tactful tips was needed for the poor guy to learn to function in public situations better.)
The side of Ivan that Cami learns about almost by accident, the dominant articulate male that he becomes behind closed bedroom doors not only surprises her but it excites her beyond measure as well. This is a small taste for Cami of a lifestyle that she has not even associated with her rather uptight neighbor, BDSM is not something that she would have dreamed that he was aware of much less something Ivan actually regularly participated in. After spending more time with him and talking more about what his limits are in social situations it becomes clear to Cami that his sexual preferences are actually quite in keeping with his character as it is all about being in charge, being in control but at the same time relinquishing that control by trusting in his partner. An eye opening revelation for both Cami as well as the reader.
I had a good time reading this novella, the characters were fun to interact with, the plot was not hard to follow and the steamy sexual encounters made a hot summer day even hotter! All in all a quick, easy read that pretty much anyone who enjoys erotic short stories will find interesting and entertaining.
The story is very short, it however encompasses all the elements of a longer tale without any problems for me.
[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]
Overview
Camilla can set her watch by her hunky rocket-scientist neighbor who jogs past her window each day. She relishes each glimpse of his shirtless abs, and is dying to see more. But it's hard to connect with a man who doesn't seem to know she exists...
Ivan feels at home in the lab, not in social situations. When he finally approaches his attractive neighbor, it's not for a date—he wants tutoring in how to behave at an important fundraiser. Ivan doesn't expect the chemistry between...