tamabam

Way more fun than Eve and Roarke (and a Hero just as hot), these books are an absolute blast.

This one picks up three months after Flirting With Danger left off, and Sam and Rick are still striking sparks off each other and setting their sheets on fire. Sam is trying hard to stay on the straight and narrow and Rick is attempting to run his conglomerate while Sam is sleeping, it seems.

I absolutely love these two -- their banter is delicious:

"You're a good guy, Rick."
He smiled. "I keep telling you that."
Her smile joined his, her thoughtful green eyes studying his face. "Do you know what I want to do right now?"
Rick placed his cloth napkin across his lap. He should have asked for a less conspicuous table. "Tell me."
Samantha picked up a bread stick, examined it for a moment, then slowly licked the length of it. "Mm, salty goodness," she murmured.
"Christ. Cease and desist before I split my zipper."
"Oh, then I would have to sit on your lap in my short dress to protect your modesty. " She leaned forward, gazing at him serenely. "Comfortable?"

Have I said yet how much I love these books? The characters seemed like old friends by the time I was done the first book, and now re-visiting them in the second is like travelling home for Christmas. So much fun!

Because they are so engaging and the writing is so good I can overlook a couple of things about this book that chimed aloud as I read: the relationship between Rick and his ex and Sam at times defied belief, and sometimes Sam is just TOO stubborn about letting Rick know what she's up to.

Still, this series is fast becoming one of my all-time faves and I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a light, funny, sexy romp.

And because I really love Rick, I'm going to leave you with this:

"What's your horse's name?" she asked, tentatively patting the near shoulder or wither or whatever it was called.
"Middlebrook-on-Thames," he replied.
"What?"
"Tim, for short. He has a nasty long pedigree."
"Hence the stupid name."
Rick raised an eyebrow. "I have a nasty long pedigree."
"I know that, Richard William Addison, Viscount Halford, Marquis of Rawley."
He kissed her again. "You got it straight, Samantha Elizabeth Jellicoe of Palm Beach."

Sigh.

4 enthusiastic stars.