Book Review: Venus in Blue Jeans by Meg Benjamin

Venus in Blue Jeans is like a Harley Davidson among romance novels, a real American Classic. With a distinctive Harley "VROOM!" author Meg Benjamin unleashes the raw power of two lonely people hiding from the very love they moved to the Texas hill country to find.

Both Docia Kent and Cal Toleffson are transplants in the south Texas community of Konigsburg, and are as unlikely a pair to meet up for romance as any two people imaginable. Each came to Konigsburg to escape their pasts; Docia to hide from a failed romance, and Cal to escape what he perceived as the grind of a colorless life in rural Iowa. There were other secrets they kept hidden from each other and their friends, too.

Docia Mae Kent, daughter of Texas real estate magnate Billy Kent and his independently wealthy wife runs a small book store, is active in Konigsburg's business association, and, without her knowledge or assent (at the beginning, anyway) is the love of Cal Toleffson's life. If you don't believe me, make sure to read the first paragraph of chapter one. The fact that Cal had spent nearly an hour with one hand up a goat's tookus before seeing Docia Kent for the first time had nothing to do with that revelation, but might just be one more reason Cal and Docia dance around their strong secretive feelings for each other.

Cal Toleffson is of the "ah, shucks" variety Midwestern veterinarian. He is tall, powerful, and handsome as noted by many of the women in Konigsburg including the queen of the business and social circles in Konigsburg, Margaret Hastings. When Cal makes it apparent to Margaret that he is more interested in Docia Kent, Margaret becomes even more determined to run Docia out of town, and on a rail if it can be arranged.

As mentioned earlier, Venus in Blue Jeans is a classic romance easily compared to a Harley Davidson motorcycle, a lean mean romance machine, but, just like the Harley, there's a bit of an oil leak in Meg Benjamin's first novel. Even though it's all about the romance, and some steamy sex is always welcome, but the steam in the sex between Docia Kent and Cal Toleffson doesn't hide very much which heats things up even more. Some like it hot, some don't, and for the erotic scenes in this novel, reader's discretion is advised.

Venus in Blue Jeans is a fun read sure to give both the experienced romance novel reader as well as the novice a romantic thrill. But watch out! This is the first book in a series, so if you aren't hooked on the romantic shenanigans of Docia and Cal, you might just buy the next book to find out what happens to Police Chief Brody.

Venus in Blue Jeans at Amazon.com