When I had a chance to get my hands on the ARC of REVEALED–I jumped. With both feet. Bianca Giavanni’s erotic series has been top-rated on Smashword’s Erotic fiction list for a bit.

Now I know why!

The Story:

James Laird and Lola Caraway have been next door neighbors and best friends since elementary school. James was always the ultimate player, and after graduation moves to LA and finds his place as a rising star in the porn industry. Lola, three years younger, is a studious overachiever and on track for graduation and success in college.

Lola knows about and accepts James and his debauchery; it’s never been a secret between the two friends. However, a hometown visit prompts James to face his evolving feelings for her, especially after his conservative family discovers his true profession and she comes to his rescue. Not wanting to seduce the innocent Lola, he returns to California, where he sets his sights on becoming a superstar in the industry.

While Lola is visiting James from college, they dance around their attraction to each other. After Lola admits she’s never had an orgasm, James offers to be her hands-on teacher. A lifetime of friendship with a manwhore tells Lola that she should not get attached to James as a lover, as tempting as his offer may be. Can she please her body while still protecting her heart?

My review:
This fast-paced tale isn’t a love story. It’s an “I-know-this-will-end-poorly-if-we-give-in” story.

20 y/o James “Langdon” Laird is a porn actor. He’s beautiful, big, and buff, and thoroughly loves sex with women–many women. Any women. This began in junior high, and never stopped–even as a teen he happily served the cougar-wives who employed his dad’s landscaping company. Why not, right? Everybody got a happy ending. In his movies the gals adore him for his attention and respect.

17 y/o Lola Caraway is bright and shiny and fresh. She has loved James like a brother ever since they met as kids. She knows about his sex films, but it doesn’t matter to her–that’s just a job. She’s rather asexual, asctually, despite having a pubertal Swan-Transformation. Case in point: she’s going to Prom as a beard to her semi-closeted gay friend.

James has returned to their small Midwestern town to visit Lola and attend her high school graduation. Between them the relationship has always been platonic–but this visit James sees the new Lola. And he’s interested. Not enough to approach her sexually, though, so don’t call the cops.

Lola and James spend a fantastic night after she ditches out of her prom–romantic dinner on a lovely vista–and cuddling throughout the night. When he returns the next morning his parents are enraged. They were alerted to his porn career via some friends and his father kicks him out. Having no where to go, he collapses on Lola’s doorstep, shaken by their anger and abandonment. Lola’s mother takes James in–temporarily. He stays two night. Two night in Lola’s arms, though nothing happens. Well, not nothing. Lola’s open heart and soft embrace soothes James’ broken spirit. He wants to be physical with her–but he also doesn’t. He knows he’s not a relationship guy. Not the guy a Forever Girl like Lola deserves. He heads back to Cali to pursue his career with alacrity.

Meanwhile, Lola’s confused about her new attraction to James. She has the summer to stew on it, but has promised to visit him over Labor Day, and does.

This time, the chemistry between them is fierce and yet playful. Lola meets some of his co-stars and friends in the industry. Some catty-gals who enjoy their James-playtoy, and some genuinely nice gay boys who helped James learn the business. Lola and James experiment a bit sexually–though doing the deed? Well…

It’s an interesting friendship. I struggled a bit with the age disparity, the old sanctimonious gal in me got riled initially. But the compassionate way James treats Lola–and her stalwart resistance to any shenanigans–put me at ease. The book is written in clear language–no “too deep” conversation. These are still kids/new adults, after all. So, they razz each other. Playful flirting is carefully balanced by mutual respect and admiration. I felt comfortable with the story and its ending. See, usually I’m all “Where’s the beef?” when it comes to my erotic romance; not so here. I’m looking forward to Book 2 and wondering how this relationship will change, yet again. Lola’s going back to college–and the admiring boys she’ll surely encounter. James is going back to starring in his on- and off-camera sex scenes. Will they be able to connect again?

Interested? You can find REVEALED on Goodreads, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

About the Author:

Bianca Giovanni is an indie author. Her erotic romance really took off with early versions of Vice, Virtue, and Video selling like gangbusters on Smashwords. Now working with Omnific Publishing, her five book series will reach an even bigger audience. You can find her on her website, twitter, and Facebook.

Let me know if you’ve read any of Bianca’s Smashwords submissions–and if you liked them!

And, as always, keep reading my friends!