Review – The Theory of Attraction

Cover image, The Theory of Attraction by Delphine Dryden

That cover seems really weird to me… I didn’t really examine the cover until I placed the image in this post, but doesn’t it look like the lady’s legs are in the wrong place?  Or is that her belly under his arm and her pushed-up shirt is just perfectly hidden?  And, honestly, it looks a little uncomfortable how he’s squashing her boob… but whatever.

Anyway, do you like Big Bang Theory?  How about erotica?  How about a combination of the two?  A few weeks ago someone on my Twitter feed used the term “nerdmance” in connection with this book, and I really think it fits.  Also, it convinced me that I should read this book.  As an aside, I’m listening to a brand-new nerdy playlist to help me connect to my geeky side while I write this review.  Also, my geeky side is never far away.

Here’s the publisher’s blurb:

Camilla can set her watch by her hunky rocket-scientist neighbor who jogs past her window each day. She relishes each glimpse of his shirtless abs, and is dying to see more. But it’s hard to connect with a man who doesn’t seem to know she exists…

Ivan feels at home in the lab, not in social situations. When he finally approaches his attractive neighbor, it’s not for a date-he wants tutoring in how to behave at an important fundraiser. Ivan doesn’t expect the chemistry between them to be quite so explosive, and is surprised when Cami actually accepts his proposal to embark on a series of “lessons.”

Cami soon discovers Ivan’s schedule isn’t the only thing he likes to be strict about-he needs to be charge in the bedroom as well. She’s shocked at how much she comes to enjoy her submissive side, but wonders if a real relationship is in the equation…

47,000 words

I really enjoyed this book, but I’m having a hell of a time trying to figure out what I can say about it on a blog that my mom reads (hi Mom!).  So here’s what I liked about this book:

1. Cami makes a great narrator.  She is likable, intelligent, funny, and easy to relate to (although I didn’t exactly relate to her willingness to stick her naked ass in the air, but whatever).  Hi Mom!
2. Ivan is just adorable.
3. The secondary characters are great, and that’s not exactly easy to achieve in a book this short.
4. It could have been totally crazy.  As you can see from the publisher’s blurb, there’s a bit of BDSM (I’d call it BDSM-lite, having read The Siren…), and Ivan introduces Cami to his sexual lifestyle, but he does it gently (if such a thing is possible) and with serious attention to her communications, both verbal and nonverbal.  Because of this, the BDSM stuff never veers anywhere near to abuse.
5. The ending made me smile.  Also, this book has further convinced me that I never want to live in Texas.  Apparently, it gets hot there.
6. It’s just fun.

There was a scene that was a wee bit too… um… yeah… hi Mom! for my particular taste, but that’s just me.  Shocked and slightly embarrassed though I was while reading that scene, I still thought it was handled very well and made sense within the context of the whole book, and it had this lovely little piece that helped me to understand Dom/sub relationships just a bit better.  I’d quote that section, but, seriously, my mom reads this blog.  🙂

Bottom line, this book is well worth a read, especially if you like erotica.

And I’ve got to finish with a shout out to my mom, because she’s awesome.

*FTC Disclosure: I received a free e-galley of this book from Carina Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*