Click for Source Image By Hayley Charlesworth
Continuing I’m With Geek’s exploration of sex in literature, we join a story where the course of true love never did run smooth. Take a Chance on Me by Kate Davies focuses on a substitute teacher, a security guard, a class production of Romeo and Juliet and a shocking school incident. But we’re here to talk about the sex, and Take a Chance on Me has a brilliant summation of the book’s naughty bits in its blurb: “This book contains sexy encounters in classrooms, inappropriate use of school facilities, backstage shenanigans, and illicit activities on a ferryboat.” Ferryboat? How can this NOT be a must read?
Continuing I’m With Geek’s exploration of sex in literature, we join a story where the course of true love never did run smooth. Take a Chance on Me by Kate Davies focuses on a substitute teacher, a security guard, a class production of Romeo and Juliet and a shocking school incident. But we’re here to talk about the sex, and Take a Chance on Me has a brilliant summation of the book’s naughty bits in its blurb: “This book contains sexy encounters in classrooms, inappropriate use of school facilities, backstage shenanigans, and illicit activities on a ferryboat.” Ferryboat? How can this NOT be a must read?
Click for Source Image Jessica Martin needs to turn her substitute teaching position into a full-time job, and will volunteer for anything in order to get it, even if that means directing the class production of Romeo and Juliet. It doesn’t leave her much time for romance, which is why former cop and current school security, Tom Cameron, is such an unfortunate distraction. They can’t ever seem to avoid each other, whether that’s in the empty school theatre or abandoned classrooms after dark. But Tom has a tragedy in his past that he can’t move forward from, and asking Jessica out is only a gesture of goodwill to save her from the stress of the play, isn’t it?
In Take a Chance on Me, Davies has crafted two dynamic and likable leads in Jessica and Tom, their chemistry palpable from their first meeting to their working together to prevent an off-the-rails student from causing a horrific tragedy. But of course, throughout the book our hero and heroine are reluctant to give in to their feelings, whether because of the skeletons in their closet or fear of getting their hearts broken. This leads to a number of tantalising sex scenes in which the pair have secretive, illicit trysts where their desire just gets too much for them. Nowhere is this more apparent than on the ferryboat.
The great thing about Davies’ writing in these scenes, especially on the ferryboat, is that her writing is sensual rather than sexual. Each moment that Jessica and Tom share is driven by emotion, and while, yes, it is sexy, it’s not driven purely by sex. This is built deep into Tom’s characterisation, as with each encounter, Tom is tentative to Jessica’s needs, responding to her reactions and focusing his attention on her. One could interpret this as Tom continuing to keep himself guarded, which is true for the majority of the book, but it also reveals the depth of Tom’s feeling for Jessica, no matter how much he may try to hide it.
Take a Chance on Me is a fun, sexy romp and an engrossing read. It is also rather unique in the romance genre, as it’s difficult to find an adult romance in a high school setting. The framing of the play is also a useful device, and Shakespeare nerds will have a great time finding all of Davies’ overt and subliminal references to the Bard in her prose. But it is Jessica and Tom, and their chemistry, that is this book’s selling point, and the reason why the sex scenes work so well. Davies proves herself to be a great writer of romance, and able to craft stories that are both sensual and touching.
In Take a Chance on Me, Davies has crafted two dynamic and likable leads in Jessica and Tom, their chemistry palpable from their first meeting to their working together to prevent an off-the-rails student from causing a horrific tragedy. But of course, throughout the book our hero and heroine are reluctant to give in to their feelings, whether because of the skeletons in their closet or fear of getting their hearts broken. This leads to a number of tantalising sex scenes in which the pair have secretive, illicit trysts where their desire just gets too much for them. Nowhere is this more apparent than on the ferryboat.
The great thing about Davies’ writing in these scenes, especially on the ferryboat, is that her writing is sensual rather than sexual. Each moment that Jessica and Tom share is driven by emotion, and while, yes, it is sexy, it’s not driven purely by sex. This is built deep into Tom’s characterisation, as with each encounter, Tom is tentative to Jessica’s needs, responding to her reactions and focusing his attention on her. One could interpret this as Tom continuing to keep himself guarded, which is true for the majority of the book, but it also reveals the depth of Tom’s feeling for Jessica, no matter how much he may try to hide it.
Take a Chance on Me is a fun, sexy romp and an engrossing read. It is also rather unique in the romance genre, as it’s difficult to find an adult romance in a high school setting. The framing of the play is also a useful device, and Shakespeare nerds will have a great time finding all of Davies’ overt and subliminal references to the Bard in her prose. But it is Jessica and Tom, and their chemistry, that is this book’s selling point, and the reason why the sex scenes work so well. Davies proves herself to be a great writer of romance, and able to craft stories that are both sensual and touching.
RSS Feed
