REVIEW: Dirty

Dirty, by Megan Hart
Published September 4, 2012
Publisher:  Harlequin MIRA
Format:  Paperback - own
Genre:  Adult Romance/Erotica

Rating:  3 STARS

(From Goodreads) I met him at the candy store. He turned around and smiled at me and I was surprised enough to smile back. This was not a children's candy store, mind you—this was the kind of place you went to buy expensive imported chocolate truffles for your boss's wife because you felt guilty for having sex with him when you were both at a conference in Milwaukee. Hypothetically speaking, of course.I've been hit on plenty of times, mostly by men with little finesse who thought what was between their legs made up for what they lacked between their ears. Sometimes I went home with them anyway, just because it felt good to want and be wanted, even if it was mostly fake.

The problem with wanting is that it's like pouring water into a vase full of stones. It fills you up before you know it, leaving no room for anything else. I don't apologize for who I am or what I've done in—or out—of bed. I have my job, my house and my life, and for a long time I haven't wanted anything else.

Until Dan. Until now.

Erotica isn't usually my first choice, but I do like a saucy tale from time to time. I was a big fan of the Fifty Shades of Gray series; I've read all three books twice. *blushes* What? It's good stuff! 

But, if I'm going to be honest with myself, my favorite part of books like the Fifty Shades series and the Crossfire series is not the hot sex. It's the romance. It's the rehabilitation of the conflicted guy, or sometimes, girl. It's the sweetness and tenderness that end up occurring in between the hot sex. 

Dirty had plenty of hot sex. Pa-lenty. But, it was seriously lacking in all the other stuff. There was no romance. No sweetness or tenderness. There was a girl who was completely messed up, and rightly so. She had some horrible things happen to her in her life. Then she meets an infinitely patient man who, very quickly (and very curiously) grows to love her. But, she spends the entire book pushing him away (in between ripping his clothes off). And, not even at the end does she allow herself a chance to be vulnerable and love him back. How disappointing. And, so very sad and depressing. 

I can handle sad and depressing. I can handle many levels of messed-uppery. But, if I'm going to put time and effort into reading a book, I want to walk away from it feeling like I got something out of it. And, I didn't feel like I got anything out of Dirty. There didn't seem to be a plot arc, really. The story started out, then grew, then... nothing. No major climax (pardon the pun). Definitely no resolution. 

If you want to read about sex, then this is a good book for you. If you want to read about neuroses and psychoses, then this is a good book for you. If you want a romantic story about two people who meet by chance and fall madly and passionately in love, then look elsewhere.