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A review by jenreadsromance
Hanky Spanky Christmas by Amy Andrews
3.0
This is a short, sexy, and fun Christmas novella. The set-up is honestly so charming---it's about Mitch and Darcy, who are both 20-somethings who spend a lot of time at an apartment building for senior citizens. Think Melrose Place for the 70 and 80 year old set. Mitch is the handyman and Darcy lives there with her grandmother. They do a lot of eye-fucking and have shared a few kisses, but nothing much happens until the night Darcy goes to a voyeur's club and realizes Mitch is a bartender there.
Darcy gets all hot and bothered...and drunk...and asks Mitch to spank her. Like a gentleman, he demurs until she's sober. I honestly am not sure what to make of what happens next. I have read authors who complain about inappropriate and even dangerous BDSM rep in romance. So in a weird way, this was pretty refreshing scene. Darcy wants Mitch to spank her with a crop, and then is like, "oh shit this hurts!" And then she wants them to try something else, and she is like, "OH SHIT THAT HURTS." I think this might be brilliant...reminding readers that maybe it's not a great idea to experiment with stuff you've only seen in books/movies?! But I tend to steer clear of BDSM in romance, so I also feel completely unsure of how to judge this scene. In the end, Darcy realizes maybe she's just okay with watching and that being with Mitch is enough.
I like a novella, but this is definitely the case where these characters and this set-up were SO good, I wish there would have been more to it. I would read a full length novel about these 2 falling in love at septuagenarian Melrose Place. As it was, it ended at 85% and even though I knew going it that it was a novella, it still felt short. I would call this a potential HEA waiting to happen more than a fully formed, satisfying romance.
Darcy gets all hot and bothered...and drunk...and asks Mitch to spank her. Like a gentleman, he demurs until she's sober. I honestly am not sure what to make of what happens next.
I like a novella, but this is definitely the case where these characters and this set-up were SO good, I wish there would have been more to it. I would read a full length novel about these 2 falling in love at septuagenarian Melrose Place. As it was, it ended at 85% and even though I knew going it that it was a novella, it still felt short. I would call this a potential HEA waiting to happen more than a fully formed, satisfying romance.