Reviewed by Kevin R. Tipple
Whatever

By Dale Doty
ISBN # 1-929670-10-9
(http://www.renebooks.com)
Rating ****

One of the things I try to do, as a reviewer, besides not giving away too much detail and spoiling the book, is to give the author a fair shot in my review. As I made clear recently in this space, I was thoroughly and completely disgusted by Dale Doty's book, Light My Fire. It is hard to feel aroused when one feels like throwing up after reading almost every page. As such, I recommended strongly that no one should read it. But, I felt a personal responsibility in that my reaction to it could have been a bit extreme and based too much on my personal tastes. Therefore, I contacted the publisher, Renaissance E Books, and asked for his other novel listed with them, entitled Whatever.

I'm very glad I did. In a far cry from his other available novel at Renaissance E Books, author Dale Doty has pinned a very enjoyable and arousing romantic novel. It is erotically arousing, while at the same time examining the relationship of man and woman and love. Betrayal and deceit also raise their ugly heads for consideration and are dealt with throughout the entire novel.

Mr. Doty opens the novel with Jodi Swanson. Everything in her life has gone wrong and she has decided it is time for a fresh start in a new place. She has packed her few possessions in her old Ford Econoline Van and hit the road for Myrtle Beach, which is the one place in the world she wants to be.

She soon pulls into a truck stop gas station and stops for a refill. Before leaving, she flips the bird at a man who seems to be appreciating her body a bit more than he should. She heads back out on the road and quickly into a rainstorm. Trying to take a fork in the road, her van slides and crashes as she loses control.

Seconds before the van explodes into flames taking the last of her possessions with it, Nathan Wilson rescues her. Nathan just happens to be the man that she had moments earlier given the finger to back at the truck stop gas station. Fortunately, he is also going to Myrtle Beach and offers her a lift and a job.

With misgivings, she accepts both and soon winds up at his house on a small inlet called Murrell's Inlet. At his invitation, she makes herself right at home. Soon, she is acting on the sexual impulse that she first felt, albeit briefly, back before the crash.

The heat between the two primary characters slowly and steadily builds with long, sensual lovemaking scenes. At the same time, other potential partners make themselves potential available to Nathan straining their tenuous relationship. Nathan is also confused about the signals Jodi is sending him as well as his own needs and desires.

This very erotic adult novel combines complex character development, relationships, and sex to create a very good read. This is a far different Dale Doty and one that can be appreciated by all readers, especially couples. This is not one to be missed.