Review: The Sex Bucket List by Prescott Lane

Note: This ARC was provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.

I've only read one Prescott Lane novel prior to this one and it was one of my favorite reads from last year. Now, I had to temper my expectations with her latest standalone, not because I don't think she's a talented author, but more because my previous read, The Reason for Me, was a highly emotional, angsty read. On the other hand, The Sex Bucket List was lighter fare. It's the story of a forty-something divorcée and single mother with three kids named Emerson Montgomery Baker. All it took was months of her marriage being strained and one ill-thought kiss with another man for her to end up divorced. She noticed the strain in the marriage, her husband, though decided the kiss was enough for him to want to split up with her. Now, they try to keep things amicable. Such is life with three kids to consider. However, Emerson has decided to work her way through her bucket list of sexual acts and finds a more than willing partner in thirty-something Mateo Reyes. She's armed to her hoo-ha and ready to check off every single item. The one thing that is not on her list, though, is "fall in love", but maybe it should have been...

My favorite thing about this novel was that it didn't try to water down or sugarcoat whatever Emerson was going through. She's in her forties, has had three children, and has endured a divorce, and in her mind, she isn't exactly a MILF. But when Mateo becomes a part of her life, she begins to see herself in a whole new light. Maybe she actually is this beautiful woman--inside and out--that Mateo believes she is. So, in terms of Emerson's evolution of coming into this updated version of herself, I give the book high marks. As far as the main characters go, however, I confess that I wasn't as much of a fan of Emerson's as I wanted to be. I can definitely relate to the insecurities and being a forty-something, but seriously, the woman flailed and failed when it came to making her mind up. I think her heart pretty much knew what it wanted, but goodness, I so wanted her brain to catch up more quickly. Mateo, though, was this gem of a hero, the kind that raises the bar for other fictional heroes and unfairly so. I liked that he refused to give up and went above and beyond for Emerson and her three kids. Four stars go to The Sex Bucket List. ♥

Date Read: 15 March 2017

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