Holly‘s review of Every Night I’m Yours (Spinster Club, Book 1) by Christie Kelley

A WOMAN YEARNING FOR A TASTE OF THE FORBIDDEN…

At twenty-six, aspiring novelist Avis Copley intends to wear spinsterhood as a badge of honor. But when she discovers a volume of erotica that ignites a searing fire within her, Avis realizes just how much she doesn’t know about the actual pleasures of the flesh. Determined to learn more, she devises a daring plan…

A MAN READY TO TEACH HER MUCH, MUCH MORE…

Avis chooses Emory Billingsworth, a fellow novelist-not to mention a beautiful specimen of manhood-to instruct her in carnal pleasure. But when the brash earl of Selby, Banning Talbot, a man she has known for years, unearths Avis’ true intentions, he claims she’s made a dangerously bad choice. Volunteering his services for one wicked night of reckless, abandoned passion, Banning promises he will satisfy all of her deepest longings. Yet Banning cannot begin to imagine the effect his willful, voluptuous, and very eager student will have on him-or how far an innocent lesson in desire can go…

This was a cute book. I really liked that it was the hero who decided he wanted to marry the heroine – for personal reasons, not mercenary – early on in the book. That was a nice change from the norm.

Avis Copley is very happily a spinster, though since her 26th birthday passed she’s been feeling..restless. She wants to know the passion of a woman and has decided to ask her best friend and fellow writer, Emory Billingsworth, to teach her. But her friends are concerned for her welfare and one of them enlists the help of Banning Talbot, the Earl of Selby, asking that he intervene and stop Avis from making a grave mistake.

Selby and Avis are hardly friends – as a matter of fact they’re more like enemies – but he agrees to look out for her. Only he finds himself offering to teach her instead. Much to the surprise of both. And just as surprising, she accepts. They agree to go away together for a fortnight so that Banning can teach Avis all the wicked delights of the flesh.

Banning just happens to be in the market for a wife. After considering his options he decides, before they depart for their time away together, that Avis herself is the best choice for him. Now he only needs to convince her…

As I said, I really enjoyed the twist in this story. That the hero decides he wants to marry the heroine early on, for no other reason than he thinks they’d suit, was very refreshing. I liked Banning quite a bit. He was very chivalrous and protective of those he loved, which I admired. He was also tender and caring when it came to Avis.

I truly liked Avis at the beginning of the story. I admired her moxie and verve. She wasn’t merely playing at being a spinster but wishing for a husband – she was happy with her lot in life. When she decided she wanted to experience passion I applauded her. Unfortunately as the novel progressed her wishy-washy attitude began to annoy me. Her reasons for not wanting to marry at first seemed legitimate but kept changing until they appeared rather contrived. It was as though the author realized her reasons for denying marriage were flimsy and tried to strengthen them. Unfortunately it didn’t work.

Aside from that I enjoyed the romance. The time they spent away together allowed us to see their affection for one another grow. I much prefer these types of stories, where I’m able to see them fall in love, rather than just being told they had.

Overall it was a sweet story that I really enjoyed. I was intrigued by Avis’ friends and look forward to reading their stories, as I believe all of them are to have books in this series.
4 out of 5
The Series:

This book is available from Zebra. You can buy it here (only $3.99) or here in e-format (for $2.27).