All That Glitters - Linda Howard I’ve got 18 books on my “virginity worship” shelf -- 19, now -- but I think this may be the first in which the label applied to the heroine, not the hero. Well, actually it applies to both of them, but she’s the most irritating: the stink she makes about her precious virginity you would not believe. And considering that she’s a widow, it just reeks of hypocrisy -- if you have your heart set on a white wedding, you don’t first make a MOC with a man old enough to be your grandfather.Hypocritical is the word that mainly comes to mind when thinking about Jessica, although “soggy,” “manipulative,” and “dumbass” also fit. And yes, Nikolas is equally horrific in his own way: if ever two characters deserved each other, it’s these two. It’s hard to know who I hate more -- they’re both such assholes.This was a compelling read for a while and might have been a fabulous wallbanger, but it’s just so relentless. It's all crazy, all the time. I craved a sanity break... just a little honesty or tenderness or plausibility to give a breather. By the time I got some on the very last pages it was too late -- I was wishing the bear from Prey would appear and eat them both.