*I received a free copy of Dating a Cougar from Selfpublished via Manic Readers. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review, which is honest and unbiased *
Warning: This book includes mature content such as: sexual content, and/or drug and/or alcohol use, and/or violence.
Dating a Cougar by Donna McDonald Series: Never Too Late #1
Published by Selfpublished on 10 March 2011
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 282
Format: eARC
Source: Manic Readers
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After several decades of looking for true love and never finding it, aging model and lingerie designer, Alexa Ranger, has finally given up the search. A couple years ago, she got tired of the game completely and just stopped dating. Now friends and family keep her mostly content, so it’s shocking at 50 yrs old to find herself suddenly wanting a sex life again. It’s even more shocking to be attracted to a much younger man this time. She definitely thinks medically retired Marine, Casey Carter is sexy, but can’t get passed their twelve year age difference to even consider a fling. Not that it matters anyway, anything resembling a normal dating relationship is totally out of the question because Casey is related to and living with her daughter’s boyfriend. The very last thing Alexa needs is yet another talk-show worthy drama in her already complicated life, no matter how amazing Casey’s kisses make her feel.
My Dating a Cougar review:
Dating a Cougar is a quick read filled with both romance and some unlikely things. MacDonald is very good at describing a mature woman’s wants and needs. I had a problem with this book though, and that was that as much as I really liked Alexa, I didn’t like Casey! He was acting very selfishly and did not take ‘no’ for an answer. I always get uncomfortable when a woman says ‘no’ and the man does not respect her answer. Even if Alexa was turned on by Casey, I think he should have listened to her and let her decide when their relationship should be taken to the next level. He also confused me because he would start kissing her and then turn her down when she wanted to continue. I also thought it was a little creepy that he wanted to sleep while still being inside her… the first night they spent together no less!
Alexa was a very strong and business-minded woman who knew what she wanted and didn’t want in her life. I loved that she was so secure in her seduction still, but I didn’t really get that Casey could make her insecure. I also thought their budding relationship was written as a budding relationship happens in a YA novel instead of in a novel for mature women. Alexa was thinking to herself that she would never change for a man, but in a way, she did, and Casey made her feel insecure because he was jealous and thought she was flirting too much.
When I read the summary of Dating a Cougar, I thought Casey and Alexa would have problems because of their age difference but both were more worried about what other people might think than having any difficulties pertaining to that between them. The sex scenes were well done, and I really loved the friendship between Alexa and her two best friends Regina and Lauren. That’s where I felt that Alexa was behaving like herself–confident, strong and beautiful.
This review first appeared @ Risqué Reviews
Some of my favorite Dating a Cougar quotes:
“Are you a person who peels off a band-aid slowly or just rips it off all at once?” Casey contemplated Alexa’s warning, recognizing it for what it was.”
“Fighting with a woman who has set her mind on something is harder than fighting a battalion of armed men The woman is more strategic mentally”
About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms
Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.
If there’s one thing I like is a story with an age difference, especially when it’s with an older women. HO-BOY it makes for an interesting journey. *wink* Although, one of the benefits to getting older is that you have less insecurities, so I’m bummed she wasn’t more secure with herself and wants. But it’s a story that I will definitely check out…fabulous review Lexxie!
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True, the insecurities Alexa felt is what made me take a star off… I think I care a lot less now about a lot of things than I did when I was in my late teens or early twenties. It was still a good story, though 🙂 And I love it when the characters are a little older 😉
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I’m not completely sold on the charcaterization of Alexa. i love my MC’s to be more secure with themselves, especially when she’s the older one in the relationship.
I’m thrille dyou had a good time with this one though Lexxie!
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I agree, that’s the one negative thing about this story, Lily. However, I guess some women especially can feel the pressure of being older more than others, and I think Alexa’s insecurities might stem from that more than anything else.
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I understand Alexa’s insecurities – you can be a self-assured woman in everyday life and still feel awkward around a younger man. Still, I don’t think I would like Casey at all. Great review 😉
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I didn’t love Casey at the beginning, but I enjoyed him more as the story went on, Iza. And you’re right, we can definitely be self assured in some areas of our lives as we are more mature, but still not be completely confident when it comes to all aspects of ourselves 🙂
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Despite some issues thus sounds interesting; )
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It definitely was interesting, Kim! Both because Alexa is older than Casey, and because the characters are all older than the norm in romance novels these days 🙂
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Sounds pretty good except for the whole *not* liking Casey and feeling as though their budding relationship was more YA than adult. I like that was a strong, independent-minded woman but the way you describe her actions where Casey is concerned makes it seem as though she isn’t quite as independent-minded as she’d like to be. I’m glad you liked this story overall, Lexxie. I’ll add it to my ‘might read someday’ list.
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday! **BIG HUGS**
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Yeah, if I remember correctly, the second book in this series was better, and I have others, too. I read this one a long time ago, but I hadn’t posted a review here, so I figured I might as well do it now, since I’m a little behind… *BIG HUGS*
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I’ve enjoyed this series. I need to pick up book 3.
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