Piper Sheldon

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this opposites attract romance novel and I thought despite the differences between the leads, they mesh well together. I will notate that I wish there was a bit more sizzle in their relationship and some steamy scenes that would have made this a killer read but overall, it wasn't too bad.

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This first installment of the Scorned Women's Society didn't really work for me. While it was a clever-enough My Fair Lady / Pygmalion retelling (and sure, there were some fun Easter eggs like Suzie saying she "could have danced all night," ...), the characterization felt off. Early on, Ford's character seemed to have more nuanced motivations and feelings toward Suzie so that when the experiment began, it felt like a character regression into a grumpy Henry Higgins, solely done to hit certain plot points. For me, it came off as a tonal shift that worked directly against the aims the character said he had. Similarly, after the first couple of chapters, forcing Suzie into the constrictions of disliking her Eliza-style training felt like it was putting her into a box formed solely to have plotted scenes for elocution lessons, whining about elocution lessons, etc. It felt counter-productive since Suzie's internal dialogue seemed to make pretty clear that she didn't want to be a stripper, but was forced to be one in particular circumstances specifically due to a debt agreement. Basically, I thought the author kept the story plotted too closely to My Fair Lady / Pygmalion at the expense of both her own story's motivation / characterization, as well, to some degree, as at the expense of some of the more nuanced interpretations of the original story.

Finally, there were some other things that bugged me:
1) It makes zero sense for Ford to be an adjunct professor but being close to tenure. Those are two different tracks. Adjuncting is generally a per-semester contract to teach specific classes. Achieving tenure means being on the tenure track, and having teaching, research, and service expectations. On a related note, being put on "probation" when the "grant" funding fell through even though he got a different actual grant at the end is not really a thing? Staff might be put on probation, but essentially being on tenure-track is a 6-7 year probation. He was already on probation in that he did not yet have tenure.

2) Ford never explains how the research he does, which pretty clearly seems sociological/psychological in nature, has ANYTHING to do with engineering. Suzie even asks point blank "So, tell me how engineering has anything to do with what you want to do?", he responds with some blather about Maslow that sort of seems like it might be related to at least his personal motivation for his research (but she cuts him off before the point is made) but definitely not anything about engineering, she says he needs a more concise elevator pitch, and then she doesn't actually hold him to answering the question. Like, I get that it was convenient for him to be a "certified professional engineer" for the building inspection plot point, but it felt like pretty weak characterization for the only other supporting detail of his engineering to be that he taught "Engineering 101" courses at the university. At that point, it would have made more sense for him to have had some sort of blue collar background as a way to earn money getting through school before taking a hard right turn into academia and the social sciences.

and, for a major plotpoint:
3) Suzie was WAY too smart to work for Occum for 10 years, letting him be the intermediary in paying off her supposed debt to Razor without actually ever having been threatened by Razor. Who the hell who hates their situation that much doesn't figure out how much they owe, and y'know, keep track of how they are making progress toward their goal? I get that she expected "interest" to accrue at an unjust rate and things to keep it vague, but not even a ballpark? And 10 years? Just how much did she think she owed???? And Occum just got lucky for 10 years that him threatening her away from Wraith territory kept her from figuring things out even though Ka-Bar was basically able to tell her she didn't owe Razor anything after two vague partial comments about her situation?? Seriously, especially with the other two violent dunderheads helping Occum keep his cover, no one overheard THEM saying anything about her debt to Razor and reported THEM for unauthorized collections in his name that he was unaware of and NOT getting a cut of? Frankly, THAT seems like something Razor would be upset about.

and also:4) Really, they couldn't just talk to each other? He could ask how much she owed, figure out that it was money keeping her stripping and them work out how to deal with Occum together? I mean, they basically colluded on the front end that he wouldn't be signing off on the building but that they had time to figure out a workaround.... they didn't bother putting their heads together and figuring out a strategic workaround and plan for Occum's retribution? Or, like, go to the party with a recording device? Even if the guy hadn't "bought in" to the G-Spot, he was definitely the kind of guy it made sense to get proof of the contingency being fulfilled. Not just "oh, whatever you worked out with the Dean, so sure if that means you handing me a check, that makes sense," but "yes, now, sign here that the social experiment contingency of the grant has been fulfilled, which I'll deliver to the Dean, and yes, you can write a check to the University, but here's the wire transfer information for the university grants office and the code to include so that it's properly directed to the grant....." But no, instead the showdown is an offered check that doesn't make it into Ford's hand. Would have made WAY more sense at least to have a recording that could embarrass him if he backed out after agreeing Ford/Suzie met the terms of the experiment.… (plus d'informations)

Loved this addition to the Smartypants Romance series. In this “My Fair Lady” retelling, Ford, a professor, needs funding for his grant studying how social class and perception set you on a certain course from an early age, making it hard to break out and rise above no matter how hard you try. Susie knows all about that, having been abandoned by her mother, left to care for her alcoholic father, and forced to strip for the Iron Wraiths, and then a second motorcycle club.

The plot is a bit complicated to explain, but basically, Ford has to pass Susie off as not a stripper to secure funding. And of course, they fall for each other. This one was super cute, with two likeable, strong, flawed characters. And side characters I’m really hoping we might see again in future books. Also, I especially liked the way this one tied in bits of Green Valley lore. Will definitely be reading Piper Sheldon’s next Smartypants Romance book!

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
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OMG, Phantom of the Opera retelling with a moody motorcycle club conductor, a shy cellist and a best friend clarinet player? Silent scream!!!! This was so, so good. My inner music nerd wanted to fly within the pages and live inside Green Valley for this one, or maybe start singing along to each of my favorite Phantom songs, because oh the references. This is a great book for anyone who loves Phantom and also loves the SmartyPants Romance universe.

Christine/Kim is a cellist who was on course to go to Julliard as a teen until pressure and a few bad choices changed the course of her life. She’s also in the Scorned Women Society—Jethro Winston’s former girlfriends. Erik/Devlin/The Devil of the Symphony (our Phantom) is hiding his true identity as an ex pop star behind a mask he wears to rehearsal. He’s not exactly winning most popular conductor of the year and has a few nasty orchestra members to contend with. Piper Sheldon gets the details right in this one, all the little stuff from how an orchestra really applauds to the fact that skilled musicians can play on their own without a conductor. It’s a great read, made even more so with a racy cello lesson and a midnight thunderstorm thrown in. Loved these two and can’t wait to see the next member of the Scorned Women Society.

Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
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