I have previously read a tale written by Ms Matthews, but that story was written in collaboration with another author. This is the first of Ms Matthew’s books I have read where she is the sole author. Having liked the previous tale, I have been on the look out for more from this author, though I admit that it was the title and plot of this particular story that first caught my eye.

Loving Lola is a fabulous read for anyone who is not stick insect thin. Tired of romances where the heroines are slim beauties? Then this will prove a breath of fresh air for you. This story does indeed prove that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and you don’t have to be petite to be good looking.

At size eighteen, Lola is definitely not a small woman. Highly conscious of her size, she tends to hide behind overly large clothes. That’s not to say her large breasted figure is unpopular with the men – especially, unbeknownst to Lola, her long time sparring partner Marcus. It is true to say that their sparring acts as a way to hide a much more different emotion than annoyance or intense dislike. An attraction between the pair simmers just below the surface, until the passion between them erupts on a hot Fourth of July afternoon – where Marcus discovers a secret about Lola’s sensual side that he never thought to, which drives him crazy with desire and fits in with his own sexual tastes.

Marcus is quick to come to terms with the fact that he has been more than half in love with Lola for years – and also quick to decide that she is the woman he wants to build a future with. His problem is convincing Lola that he is the right man for her. Not only does he need to overcome the years of teasing and provocation that has thrived between them, but also Lola’s life long desire to leave their hometown and settle in a large city. With such obstacles in his path, Marcus may well give up before accomplishing his goal – if he were not the strong, capable, charming and charismatic man that he is. As it is, he faces an uphill struggle to get Lola to agree to a fleeting relationship. Are the chances of her accepting anything more "slim to none"? Can Marcus get the girl, even using all the weapons in his arsenal?

The whole cast of characters in Loving Lola are extremely likeable, though most are only on the fringes of the story. Lola and Marcus are fairly well developed characters that have long hidden their attraction to one another behind a seemingly hostile outward facade. With a hot summer in the Bayou comes a heating up of their relationship. Sex in this tale is detailed, though maybe not to everyone’s tastes. Spanking, small slights of pain and anal sex are featured throughout the story, though it is definitely not hardcore BDSM. I chose to categorize this tale as contemporary romance rather than erotic romance because the characters, most especially Marcus, take the others feelings into consideration in all they do, particularly in regards to sexual acts. Marcus is hesitant to do unto Lola anything that could cause her pain she is unwilling to bear, no matter how he may have fantasized about it.

The emotional side of this story is developed well, though more subtly than the sexual. It is the emotional aspect that drew me into the story, more so than the sexual, though this aspect is also integral to the tale. A great read, Loving Lola is highly suited to readers searching for a tale where the heroine’s outward appearance is, perhaps, more like most of us in the ‘real world’. You don’t have to be slim to find romance and love. You don’t have to be confident, or conform to society’s expectations. You just need to be you.

Reviewed By Elizabeth
© December 2005