Blurb
Paige Warren is sure she's come to terms with her impending divorce, until she wakes up in bed with her soon-to-be ex, Danny. Worse yet, the bed belongs to Stacey, the sexual surrogate Paige and Danny have been sleeping with for months -- and Stacey's not there.
As much as Paige tries to deny it, she soon realizes she's still in love with Danny. Now she's torn between him and the woman who holds them together. Should she risk hurting Stacey to rekindle a monogamous relationship with the man she once thought she'd spend the rest of her life with, or should she learn from past experience?
Danny is a sensual, erotic novella following one woman's struggle between a love she thought was over and a relationship that's barely begun.
Review
Let me just take a little breather. I mean, after reading this steamy new erotic novel Danny, I must say that it really did take my breath away. Paige and her husband Danny, soon-to-be-divorced, haven't been on the best of terms. Our lovely MC was expecting something a little different in regards to their relationship. Something along the lines of less work and more play, if you know what I mean. Paige, as a character, is quite interesting in the way she perceives the way a relationship should work. Although, I'm going to consider her a little bit of a shy nymphomaniac. (I mean this in the nicest possible way).
Throughout most of the novel, she is eyeing up her husband, Danny, while feasting on darling Stacey that she describes as "looking like pure lust" and with the description in the novel, I can see how that might be true. Ah, in regards to Stacey, she is supposed to be the couple's "cure" for their relationship when throughout the novel it appears she is more like a double-edged sword because it just so happens that Paige has "fallen" for this little vixen. Now, don't get me wrong, as you go through the novel you can see that Stacey is kinda-sorta helping the couple along in their relationship but during those encounters she has with them it appears she's more of a poison than a cure.
I should get back to the original topic, about the characters; Danny, our hot smokin' husband, is well done in the way he tries to appeal Paige. I absolutely loved his development through and through because the reader, or myself, truly gets a sense of his uncertainty in the beginning that fades as he realizes what he really wants and how he has to go about getting it. The only downside that I really see in this novel would have to be that third chapter. Danny tells his sex-driven wife that he's given up his job and other things just to please her. That doesn't really strike me as something a confident man would do. I mean, why on earth? I suggest that Paige get herself a job and keep up with being able to pay off the bills for the house. I'd say, consdering that Danny was a doctor at a hospital, that he was getting some damn good money. Either Paige is stinkin' rich or she is definitely in need of some carnal satisfaction (nymphomaniac).
Most of the novel happens in the bedroom (well it is an erotica) and overall there isn't much detail to the scenery that goes around in the novel. We find out whose bed their on, whose house their in and the time of day it is but otherwise it's not very fleshed out. If you know what I mean. However, I believed this ties in pretty well with the plot. Or maybe just with the character that the novel is centered around - our lovely little nympho Paige. Paige describes the scene in that way of hers which basically consists of telling the reader whose room they are currently canoodling in but she doesn't go very far (which is kind of a relief) I mean, the setting in this kind of novel is important but with the way Rhea described it, it seems to fit in perfectly. I don't see any reason why it shouldn't.
Now, let's go on to the plot. We have Stacey, our supposed cure, and Danny the hunk of a husband, and Paige who currently loves Stacey, sex and (even though she filed for a divorce) monsieur Danny. In the beginning, Paige wakes up to see mister gorgeous laying in bed next to her with Stacey nowhere in sight. This causes quite the panic in her but as the novel progresses, Paige realises that she still loves her hunk of a husband. This now causes her to feel extremely guilty - even though the three of them end up having sex - and she feels like she should tell Stacey but being the good little nympho she is, she decides to keep it from Stacey who inevitably finds out.
The plot is original in the sense that it's not everyday that the couple share the "cure" in such a way, and even the fact that the developments between both Paige and Danny were slightly unexpected I believe that it warrants a good enough rating. However, I'd say that you'll have to read it to debate my opinion.
(Purchase links to Rhea's work are at the bottom of the post.)
So, for Danny by Margo Anne Rhea, I'll give it a healthy three and a half stars.
I hope to read more of her work soon!
Interview
We were given the chance to ask Margo Anne Rhea a few questions in regards to her life as an author. Here's what she said :
1. Where did you find the inspiration for Danny?
The inspiration for DANNY came in the form of a dream. In this dream, my significant other and I were separated, but we were both sleeping with the same woman. He was trying to seduce me to come back to him. When I woke up, I started writing. And DANNY was born.
2. Did you do any kind of research?
I looked at a LOT of pictures of hot guys on the internet. That's really all the research Danny required.
3. Have you experienced a similar situation such as this?
I haven't experienced it in real life, no. And to be honest, I'm a little glad I haven't. I imagine divorce is pretty painful for couples, even if they never officially go through with it.
4. What got you interested in writing?
I can't say that there was any one thing that got me interested. I've always written. I never really thought about it and it wasn't until was in college that I began to consider it anything more than just a hobby.
5. Tea or coffee?
It depends on the mood. If I'm writing and want to focus my thoughts, coffee. If I'm relaxing on a cool (because Florida never truly gets "cold") Winter's night, hot tea is lovely.
6. How long have you been writing?
Ever since I can remember. Somewhere in a box at my childhood home, there is an adorably poorly-written short story about a rash of crimes against small businesses. The mystery is of course solved by a Nancy-Drew-like heroine of the distinguished age of 8. That's the first thing I remember writing, but I'm told there were many more before it.
7. How many novels have you published? Can you give us a bit of a teaser to one of them (or an upcoming novel)?
Danny is my debut novella. I would be happy to share a little teaser!
At exactly 5:02 p.m., I shut my computer down, grabbed my purse, and made for the elevator. The ten-minute drive through rush hour traffic felt like it took an hour. But for all my impatience, when I finally parked just steps from Stacey’s front door, it took me several minutes to propel myself from my SUV and into the condo.
They were both waiting by the fire in the living room when I got there. Stacey, in a tantalizing black negligee that showed everything except what her matching thong covered, looked like pure lust. She had her auburn hair pulled up in a bun, flyaway strands framing her baby-doll face. Big baby blues peered up at me, perfecting the look of innocence.
Danny, on the other hand, seemed more than uncomfortable in nothing but a pair of red boxer-briefs that molded to his body. I couldn’t blame him. We’d certainly seen each other in less clothing than that, but even I felt exposed in jeans and a sweater right then.
“Good, you’re finally here.” Stacey purred the words and patted the space next to her on the down comforter they’d placed in front of the fireplace. I pulled my boots and socks off and joined them on the blanket. Danny had a glass of wine waiting for me and pressed it into my hands as soon as I was settled.
Stacey’s hand slipped under the hem of my sweater to fiddle with the button of my slacks. I knew what was going to happen next. We’d done this so many times, I could have done it in my sleep. And almost did the other morning, I reminded myself. I avoided looking at Danny.
Stacey’s fingernails grazed my thighs as she tugged my pants down and off my legs. My sweater was the next to go. She threw that behind her. I watched as it landed unceremoniously on the floor, a puddle of black mohair.
8. Was this the original plan for the novel? Or was it supposed to turn out some other way?
I didn't actually have a plan for how Danny would end when I started writing it. I just followed the flow. Looking back at it now though, I couldn't imagine a different ending for Paige and Danny's story.
9. Is there an alternate ending to Danny?
There isn't an alternate ending, but I have given some thought to writing a prequel about how Paige and Danny met.
10. Where did you come up with the idea of Stacey?
Stacey is actually based on a real-life friend of mine. In the dream that inspired Danny, Stacey was just an idea, an intangible character who wasn't actually there. When I was writing Stacey, I needed her to be a deeper character, so I based her on a good friend.
11. Why did you decide to write erotica?
It wasn't actually a decision. It just sort of happened. What can I say, I write what the characters in my head tell me to. :)
12. Are you planning to dabble in other genres as well?
I plan to dabble in any genre that will have me!
And thank you Margo for the wonderful interview you've granted us!
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Danny-ebook/dp/B00CVV1GQ8/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1368995381&sr=1-1&keywords=margo+anne+rhea
B&N:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/danny-margo-anne-rhea/1115374594?ean=2940016413310
Kobo:
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/317721
That's all we've got for our stop on Danny's Blog Tour! I hope to see more of Margo's work soon, and I hope to see it on the shelves this time.
