Virtue – Book Review and Author Intereview

September 12, 2013 By

VIRTUE(3)

 

When I received an email and the opening line read:

Dear Blogger,

We wanted to provide you the opportunity to  review Virtue, the summer’s sassy, sultry  must-read! 

It peaked my interest. I needed a break from my usual reads and wanted something a bit sassy! When the book arrived the cover was a bit “wow” and my husband did a double take.

The book is about two very different women and each chapter is about one of them and they go back and forth.

Susan comes from a wealthy family in the South and went to charm school and was bascically brought up to be a good wife. Candice on the other hand lives in the penthouse suite in Manhattan’s’ best hotel. She is their in-house call girl. But it’s not all about sex for Candice. She pays attention to the psychololgical longings of her clients.

Susan finds out that her life is not what it should be and her husband became a different person after marriage. Candace has to look over her shoulder for the rest of her life until…

Seriously, this is a great book! A must read. I love Susan and Candace and felt very connected to them both. It’s one of those books you don’t want it to end!

 

Virtue, debut  novel by Allison Bassen, available on Amazon and other top retailers, is  summer’s hottest new read, and the perfect beach or poolside companion. This  sexy, sassy novel chronicles the lives of two very different women—swanky  Manhattan-based call girl Candice, and charm-schooled, wealthy Atlanta socialite Susan.  The plot builds as this steamy page-turner takes you on an unexpected journey of  psychological intrigue and sexual self-awakening.

 

 

From the opening  paragraph, Virtue hooks and  captivates its reader:

No, I’m not a virgin,  and no, I’m not a prude, but I have slept with only three  men.

The first was my  husband.  The second was the private investigator I hired to  see

if my husband was  cheating.  The third was my first one-night stand to see how it  felt

to have sex with a  stranger.  Anyway, that paltry number will most likely soar to  three

men a day as if it were  a toothbrushing or vitamin regimen.

An interview with author Allison Bassen:
HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THIS AMAZING STORY?
VIRTUE was ripped from the headlines. I’m sure you remember New York’s former governor, Eliot Spitzer, having to resign because of his scandalous usage of escorts. That made me scratch my head wondering why a powerful man would risk his career, reputation, and family for sex with a stranger.  The question became, why do men seek out prostitutes? And then I started thinking about the escort.  Here was a pretty girl from a middle-class suburb in New Jersey who chose to enter the oldest profession.  Why would a woman choose to sell her body?  I did a lot of research and intrigue gave birth to a novel that answers both questions.
I LOVED THE WAY THE CALL GIRL, CANDICE, NICK-NAMED HER CLIENTS.
Yes, Candice understands that sex is so much more than just sex.  She’s making the big bucks because she pays more attention to their psychological longings.  Not only does she nick-name them, she explains which “hat” she wears to please them.  What’s important is that she isn’t proud of being a prostitute, but she takes great pride in her career.
I READ SOME OF YOUR REVIEWS.  VIRTUE IS BEING COMPARED TO THE FIFTY SHADES TRILOGY.  THEY THINK YOUR BOOK IS BETTER.  HOW DOES THAT FEEL?
It feels wonderful. I think Fifty Shades sold well for one reason:  women have fantasies.  They’re not going to go on pornographic websites.  Their outlet is books.  I’ve been told by many female readers that “my husband thanks you for writing this book.”  Partners should talk about their fantasies with each other and fulfill them.  But regarding Fifty Shades, I think the editor of that book should be tied up and whipped!   Oh and by the way, the author of the Fifty Shades Trilogy did 93 million things right.
VERY FUNNY.  BY THE WAY, VIRTUE HAD SOME HYSTERICAL MOMENTS.  I NEVER KNEW SEX COULD BE SO HUMOROUS.
The two heroines, Susan and Candice, are facing Mt. McKinley sized challenges, and that calls for some tough choices.  Trust me; little girls don’t announce at the dinner table, “When I grow up, I want to be a prostitute.”  This was a choice made in order to survive.  Candice isn’t happy about her predicament, and she uses her sense of humor as salvation.  But as one reader said to me, “I can see how this happened and I would’ve done the same thing if I were in her shoes.”  That reader just happens to be a play-by-the-rules schoolteacher!
IS VIRTUE CONSIDERED EROTICA?
No.  Erotica is where the pizza delivery guy knocks on your door and within fifteen seconds they’re going at it on the kitchen table.  Basically, meaningless play-by-play sex with no rhyme or reason.  Sex is the plot, you could say.  When a novel has sex, the scene helps define the character and moves the plot forward.
allison_book_3

Allison Bassen is a transplanted  Southerner, raised in Atlanta, and now living in New York with her husband and three children.  When her son read the first chapter, he asked, “This is fiction,  right?”

Read more at  http:// www.allisonbassen.com

 

 

 I received a copy of the above book to review. Opinions are my own.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

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Comments

  1. Lisa @ Oh Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy says
    September 12, 2013 at 11:16 AM

    Sounds like a good book! I”m a ‘new adult or contemporary romance’ addict

  2. Penelope (NYC Blogger) says
    September 12, 2013 at 1:45 PM

    It sounds like a great read, and is it wrong that I love both looks on the cover? I love animal print pumps AND Mary Janes!

  3. Jenn says
    September 12, 2013 at 4:00 PM

    Sounds like one to indulge in along with chocolate and some time away from the kids!

  4. Angela says
    September 12, 2013 at 7:45 PM

    This sounds like a very fun read!

  5. Kelly @ A Girl Worth Saving says
    September 12, 2013 at 10:05 PM

    That cover made me do a double take also! This sounds like a great read.

  6. Susan McNeill says
    September 13, 2013 at 6:20 AM

    I like books that are based on real stories — sounds great!

  7. Dawn Lopez says
    September 13, 2013 at 10:33 AM

    Ooh this sounds like an interesting book. The cover sure got my attention too. it was a little freaky.. lol. .. but definitely peaked my curiosity! I am going to have to pick this up!

  8. Jennifer Soltys says
    September 13, 2013 at 10:40 AM

    Cool, I needed a new book!! Sounds like one I would like!

  9. Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell says
    September 13, 2013 at 5:55 PM

    Ok, you’re right. That opening paragraph is a definite hook!

  10. Pam says
    September 13, 2013 at 6:09 PM

    Yep, the cover and the first paragraph peaked my interest too.

  11. Andrea says
    September 13, 2013 at 6:57 PM

    Sounds and looks like a good book. I’ll have to see if it’s available at our library sometime. Thanks for sharing!

  12. Beeb says
    September 13, 2013 at 7:10 PM

    Her “Fifty Shades” joke is cracking me up! Thanks for the interesting Q&A with this author.

  13. Danielle @ We Have It All says
    September 13, 2013 at 7:13 PM

    Huh, sounds pretty good. I might have to check this one out, thanks!

  14. Marcie W. says
    September 13, 2013 at 7:23 PM

    This sounds like a very exciting risque read. Right up my alley!

  15. Brett says
    September 13, 2013 at 7:30 PM

    Hahahah. Looks awesome!! I want to read that

  16. Janel C says
    September 13, 2013 at 8:08 PM

    Hm, interesting! 50 shades hit it big!

  17. Lolo says
    September 14, 2013 at 12:22 AM

    I am sure that does help the plot move forward!

  18. Debi@ The Spring Mount 6 Pack says
    September 14, 2013 at 5:42 PM

    It sounds like a really great book.

  19. Allison Bassen says
    September 14, 2013 at 5:56 PM

    Love the enthusiasm. I want all of you to enjoy a great read. And I want to hear your own personal reviews! Here is the link to Amazon for VIRTUE:

    http://www.amazon.com/VIRTUE-ebook/dp/B00CJWTVY8/ref=sr_1_1_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1379195641&sr=1-1&keywords=virtue+allison+bassen

  20. Melanie says
    September 14, 2013 at 7:18 PM

    Sounds like a fun book…. I will have to ck it out, would be great for some me time

  21. Kristyn says
    September 16, 2013 at 6:22 PM

    sounds like an interesting read fr sure!

  22. Ashley says
    September 17, 2013 at 10:37 AM

    Hmm, interesting. I haven’t heard anything about it before.