Book Enthusiast Promotions Present: Release Day Blitz "Entwined" by Harper Miller +giveaway & Double review

Book Title: Entwined 

Author: Harper Miller 

Genre: Erotica/Interracial & Multicultural Romance 

Release Date: November 5, 2015

  Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

Libertad's Review:

So Guinevere and I have different tastes when it comes to male heroes in books. Guin loves her Pacific Islanders, Her South Asians, Her South East Asians. Me? I can't help it, being Cuban, my heart is always going be for the Papis. But what attracted me to this book was the promise of a Hapa male protagonist. A Latina love interest as well as a Black female lead. Then I saw the teasers and was like oh what the hell. I'm queer and it's rare when I read about queer women in books especially queers like myself who like both(as well as many other genders) and not just one or the other more. And then the sista on the cover is outside the cookie cutter image of how most folks see black women(everyone seems to be digging the Olivia Pope's lately) so that really drew me in too!

My thoughts about the characters:

I walked in thinking I'd totally love Jake but he was just...I think a tad too misogynistic for me. I think on paper he sounded hot but then he kind of just started talking and I sort of just cringed at the thought of a 40something year old man choosing this sort of way to talk to women. The "sugar"references instead of calling her by her name even when she asked him to stop calling her that got to me. He was kind of likable sometimes but only sometimes. I kept thinking to myself if a Kat talked like that to me in real life I know I'd tell him Vayase a la mierda! So something about his character didn't work for me. I think I would have been able to swallow it if he was in his 20s but being 41, he came off as mad disrespectful and immature so I kept thinking why this chick emailing him back? But I give the fact that he was Hapa(Polynesian and white) an A for effort.

Gabrielle was probably the reason I picked up this book and decided not to put it down even though the Jake didn't really work for me. I loved that she was 37 as many heroines in romance books are in their 20s. I loved that she was kind of edgier than your typical heroine. Tattoos, the crazy hair color, shaved sides and the crazy lipstick? All of that was me at some point, though not at the same time lol. So I really related to her on a physical level since I don't consider myself to be "clean-cut" like most black heroines are in books. She liked sex she wasn't shy about it and she wasn't no damn VIRGIN. Ugh I can't stress that enough! I hate reading grown ass women in these virginal roles. I like to read about women who know what they're doing and don't just lie on their backs. But then again, I'm a different kind of reader, lol. I think the only thing I didn't like about her was that she wasn't really "queer." She was interested in women sexually but that's about it. Sounds a lot like the way men think nowadays so I wasn't really feeling that. I think I would've thought she was perfect if she would've been a bisexual so was out and proud about it. She only liked women for sex, and because I've been there. I was feeling some kind of way about that. Overall, she was my favorite character in the book!

The Latina character was kind of just there. She didn't really show up into the end and I wasn't sure how I felt about her. She was a bit of a stereotype to me with her thick accent,light skin, long wavy hair and big ass. I think what bothered me the most about her was she was described as a "Sofia Vergara" type(those exact words used) and I kept screaming in my head why wasn't she just a girl from the Bronx with a New Yawk accent instead. I felt sort of close to the way she was portrayed being Latina myself so I didn't necessarily love her. I also think the Spanish used was a little dated. "Amante" is not a word people usually use when they're about to screw, lol. It's a very proper word and the only time I've heard people use it is in poetry or boleros. I would've used Mami, Mi amor, Mamita Rica, or in Spanish we tend to give people sexy pet names based on skin color. I know, I know, it sounds kind of fetish-y but in Spanish calling someone "Negrita"(ppl call me this all the time), Triguenita, mulata and even blanquita, is a sign of endearment. Amante? I don't know anyone that uses that in everyday convo, so they wouldn't say it during sex. 

 The girl on girl action was my favorite part of the book. I'm a queer and a freak so I couldn't help but feel like I needed a cold shower after reading them girl on girl scenes. They were so hot and for me the highlight of the book!

The Sex:

The sex was hot, especially the girl on girl. I don't know bout that anal scene though, and the fact that he went raw dog and they ain't even know each other like that, I'm saying though, unless I performed the exam myself, there's no way I'm taking someone's word for it that they're clean. ESPECIALLY  in Nueva York. Anal just isn't something I personally enjoy so it's hard for me to wrap my hand around it that it feels good. For all you ladies how do like anal, the scene is well crafted and extra dirty so you will not be disappointed.

The book overall:
Overall I'd really recommend it especially for women that like that extra alpha male, for me I like my guys a little sweeter but ladies who like the more aggressive types, Jake will rock your world.

 

The book was short and sweet! There were things I liked about Entwined, and things I didn't connect with, but I think lovers of erotica/erotic romance would like it!

What I connected to:

The diversity. The main character himself was hapa. The main chick Gabrielle was African-American, and the side chick is Latina(though it doesn't really state what she is). I liked how none of the characters you'd actually cannon as White, even though Hapas and Latinx can be White(just sayin').

The f/f aspect. I thought the sex between the girls was a bit more appealing than overall. It just seemed more realistic than the rest of the sex in the book.

Gabrielle! She was an emo-ish/rockerish Black woman, with tattoos and an undercut(super sexy!). Romance writers, keep up the good work! We're not all Olivia Pope's!

Sex/Love over 30! Most Romance novels only focus on people under 25. People don't just die after 30! Jake was 41 and still kicking. Gabrielle was 37 and still hot! Win-win!

What I didn't connect to as much:

Jake. I usually love hapa men in books, but I just didn't connect to him. His narrative seemed like it was trying too hard to convince me he was a guy. He was sexist. Kind of hard to get around that. With his attitude, he just didn't make the connection I was looking for =(

The unprotected sex! It's hard for me to get into a sex scene that glosses over unprotected sex, especially at the dangerous rate WoC are getting STI's. I don't care how good a dude looks, there's no amount of sexy worth it. I know it's for a book, and it's supposed to be a sexual fantasy, but my generation can't afford to be that careless.

Lola. I liked that there was a Latinx in the book. But she was stereotypical. I'm Afro-Latinx, so it feels a bit coded when a Latinx person has an accent. 

Also, this was a very small detail most people would miss and wouldn't affect them, but Gabby's profile said she didn't want relationships with women, she only wanted sex. Understandable. But I felt some kind of way, like, even to other women, women are only props, not actual people. But when you're Quiltbag, comments like that get to you more than if you're cis and straight.

Overall, the book is entertaining. Wish it were longer. Maybe my feelings would be different if I had more time with each character!

Harper Miller is a thirty-something native New Yorker. She's traveled the world and lived in a variety of places but always finds her way back to the Big Apple.

A lackluster love life leaves time to explore new interests, for Harper it is writing. The Sweetest Taboo: An Unconventional Romance is her debut novel. In her mind, the perfect Alpha male possesses intellect, humor, and a kinky streak that rivals the size of California.

When she isn't writing, Harper utilizes her graduate degree in the field of medical research. She enjoys fitness-related activities, drinking copious amounts of wine and going on bad dates.

a Rafflecopter giveaway