The Brass Bed

by Jennifer Stevenson

Book Overview

Jewel Heiss is a fraud investigator for the Chicago Department of Consumer Services. Her best friend is also her boss's wife. So when her boss tells her 'spy on my wife - I think she's having an... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345486684
• ISBN13: 9780345486684
• Release Date: April 2008
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.5" x 0.9" x 4.2"

Customer Reviews

Where's the TV show?

I was suprised by the number of mediocre reviews, but I suspect they come from people expecting something else out of this book. The Brass Bed really isn't exactly a romance novel, as I understand romance novels, which might account for some other reader's dissapointment. I'd call it solidly "light urban fantasy" and judge it against other such novels. With different cover art it could just as easily be marketed to a scifi/fantasy or contemporary fiction crowd of either gender. It's witty, it's zany, I read it on the train and spent a happily distracted time. It takes place in a confused half-magical future Chicago where odd incidents (pigeons have started smoking cigarettes, some homeless kid has a Genii in a bottle that he's renting out, causing havoc) are never explained -- much to the betterment of the book, I think -- we're plopped into this world and not spoon fed. There are scenes in which sex occurs, but if you're looking for a bodice ripper with muscled pirate captians spiriting off feisty, repressed, school marms with lots of underlined passages, this isn't it. I found the characters delightful, the dialogue zinging, and the fast-paced leap from outrageous situation to outrageous situation refreshing.

A fun read

This was a cute bit of zany fun. The tension between the main characters put me in mind of Ranger, Stephanie Plum, & Joe Morelli. I think some of the other reviewers were taking this book way too seriously. It was supposed to be fun not major literature! There was a few weird spots, but overall I really enjoyed reading a paranormal romance that wasn't so dark and gory like so many of them are now. I enjoyed the characters and the plot and thought there was a satisfying ending, but one that left you wanting more at the same time. I will definatly pick up the next books in this series.

The Brass Bed

Great book, kept my interest from beginning to end, in fact couldn't put it down. Highly recommend this book.

great read

The Brass Bed is deliciously naughty and has all the makings of a great summer read. Witty, sexy, and highly imaginitive, this novel is prefect for those lazy weekend afternoons or those hot summer nights. It opens with a bang and ends with a sizzle. The discovery of the brass bed, and the sexual adventures that come with it, enthrall the reader, nearly as much as Jewel becomes enchanted by her newly discovered sex-slave in the form of hunky Lord Randall. Though, this novel is overwhelmingly fun romp, it does have its faults, including the use of Chicago-speak in literary form as well as the clear lack of explanation of the term "hinky," a phrase literally used throughout the novel to describe the appearance of magical situation. It also tends to drag at some points, and the reader can get lost and confused when certain situations arise, forcing the reader to re-read passages in a vain attempt to make sense of them. In addition, the inclusion of the "genie in a bottle" as a secondary plot device seems contrived and forced, tends to take away from the novel and divert attention away from the drama of the main plot. The use of rotating third person perspective was alway enjoyable and an interesting twist, allowing the reader to have a sense of many of the characters without burdening the reader with an omnipresent perception and allows the reader to relate to the desires, needs, and whims of each one. With the exception of the faults mentioned above, it is an uncomplicated, unpretentious novel great to read during an off day, when you are ready to unwind and simply relax. The novel is, as of right now, the first of a trilogy and if the other two novel (due out in May and June 2008) are as this first attempt, a series that should be extended well beyond these three.

Hot and Spicy: Handle with Caution

So here's the thing. The Brass Bed is a fun, fast-paced read. If you're a reader who's uncomfortable with contemporary language and certain explicit sexual situations, you might consider this a book that will take you out of your comfort zone. But if you know that going in and are prepared for it, The Brass Bed is a hoot! It has some beautiful writing woven around the sexy romp of its tone, and it'll just swoop you up and carry you away. The premise of a haunted bed with the sexual implications is fun and inventive, and you'll have a good time reading it. Pour a margarita, sit back, and enjoy!