Long Time Coming Book Review *Scarlett Parrish*

Scarlett Parrish is a new to me author. I found out about her from Fiction Vixen. Long Time Coming was released last May, and if I had known about the book last year, it would have been in my top 10 of 2010. Long Time Coming is so full of win and a book I’m giving my call to action for readers to buy. The book is well worth the price, and one you’ll adore reading as much as I did.

When a hero such as the snarky, tell it like it is Irishman, Leo Carson, almost puts another to die for Irishman hero known as Roarke from JD Robb’s In Death series to shame, you know an author has created something special. Long Time Coming not only excels with the storytelling and an amazing hero, who had me begging for more, but has unique and emotional love scenes with a touch of erotic kink. Leo is the reason to get your hands on Long Time Coming. He puts the swoon in swoon worthy.

Long Time Coming is told from the first person POV of Piper Holt. Piper is bored with her recent boyfriend, Andrew, and after a less than mediocre romp in her bedroom, she throws him out. Andrew has no clue that Piper was so unhappy, or rather, he didn’t care to notice. There are some instances alluded to where Andrew has a temper and Piper was on the end of a few of his tirades. Piper doesn’t want to be tied down to one man. She wants to have fun, mainly some flings or one night stands since she’s so young (only 24 years old). She doesn’t want to be managed and wants to live life on her own terms.

After a false start where she brings her brother’s friend home for a night of fun, which ends with him admitting his love to her, Piper is back at square one. She just wants to have a no holds bars sex with a man who doesn’t want anything else in return. One night while trolling at a bar, she meets Leo. They hit it off and make plans to meet up elsewhere. One things leads to another and Piper invites Leo back to her place. Not only does he have her up against her door, but in her bedroom for hours. Leo gives Piper too man too count orgasms. Leo is raunchy, snarky and unbelievable dirty. He tells Piper in graphic detail what he wants to do to her. Piper is a puddle of lusty mush when it comes to him. After their night together, Piper doesn’t want it to end. Leo invites her to spend the weekend at his place, where they’ll have a ton more lusty relations between them.

Leo is a dream come true to Piper, but one who makes her very confused. Piper loves how Leo treats her, as well as pushes all her buttons. She can’t get him off her mind and this upsets her because even though she doesn’t want to admit it, she has fallen for the Irish stud with the body tattoos that makes her drool. While she’s all for giving Leo her body and finding her pleasure with him, she tries her best to shut down her emotions where’s he concerned. But Leo won’t allow Piper to do that. He wants to be her knight in shining armor, especially when it comes to her ex-Andrew, who wants revenge for Piper rejecting him. Leo is more than willing to come to Piper’s rescue, but that means she’ll have to open her heart to him. And that’s something she is unwilling to do and because she’s emotionally stunted that way.

Scarlett has created something special with Leo, the sex god lion. I adore Leo with everything I have inside me. This is a man who’s cocky, but in a loveable and sexy type of way. The moment Leo appears, you’ll be star struck by him. Piper takes some time to warm up to. When we’re first introduced to her, she comes across as immature and a bit cruel. I chock it up to her age and how she feels adrift in her life, especially with love. She’s a girl who just wants to have fun and can’t accept it when man to comes into her life and takes control of the relationship. Leo does that in his own way without backing Piper into a corner. What’s so special about Leo is although he comes across as a bad boy, he’s not at all. He may be in charge in the bedroom, but deep down he’s a big old pussy cat, a gentleman who treats Piper like a princess. Leo has money and a flashy lifestyle that worries Piper because she has the complete opposite. But Leo doesn’t rub that in her face. He enjoys being with Piper because of who she is. He wants to take care of her because he has that instinctual need in him. Leo has cavemen like tendencies and makes no excuse for them.

Roar! I'm Leo the sex god lion

If you’re looking for excellent raunchy and smuttastic sex scenes, look no further! Long Time Coming has them and more. Leo is a giver and I’m surprised Piper could still walk after Leo got through with her. There’s one scene where all Leo has to do is rub Piper’s lower back while they’re having sex and she falls apart. She also gets off on Leo’s very blunt way of speaking. Leo doesn’t have a filter and the things that come out of his mouth will have you hysterical.

Here’s a small taste of some Leoisms:

“Piper: “I’m just trying to examine you for signs of body art."
Leo in return: "If I said I had a tattoo on my cock, how closely would you examine that?"

And when Leo talks to Andrew on the phone:

“Unfortunately Piper is unable to come to the phone right now... Um, well you see...she has her mouth full." Leo’s gaze never wavered from mine as he added, "Of my nuts.”

Leo is a very chatty fellow and I can’t remember the last time I’ve read a book where the main couple talk so much to one another during sex. It was refreshing and cute.

The ending is a bit abrupt for my tastes. I wanted one last love scene between Piper and Leo before things ended because these two connected so well together with not only their bodies but their minds.

I just can’t get enough of Leo and how he romances the stubborn Piper. Scarlett has written the best type of hero you can think of. Long Time Coming is one romance that really should be given high marks for excellence. This is one not to be missed. READ THIS BOOK and fall for the charms of Leo Carson. (Available from Carnal Passions)

Final Grade: A-

Scarlett will stop by here on May 5th, one year to the date since Long Time Coming was released. She tells me she has a shower scene between Leo and Piper that was deleted from the final copy and one she may post here for all to read.