Fun. Steamy. Sexy. Sweet. These were all words that popped into my head when thinking about this quick-paced little romance. Although it's small in size (162 pages), it packs a big punch, and has the most delightfully roguish hero (Jacque Cherchat) that I've read about in a long, long time. Parts of this book are so hot they'll make you squirm and blush; other parts are silly and incomprehensible but still make for some fun reading!
The book starts off with a bang with the heroine, freelance photographer Sahara Jensen on the lookout in the Louisiana swamps for a rare orchid (with a suggestive name) to photograph for National Geographic. If they (NG) like the pics maybe they will hire her for future assignments and then her career will really take off. After her very humble beginnings in a California desert town, Sarah sure would like to strike it rich and have all the material things (and respect) that money can buy. But while looking for the orchid, she discovers she's hopelessly lost in the swamps with all kinds of creepy things floating in the water just ready to take a bite out of her...and then she spots a couple of dangerous but hunky looking men, heading her way in a boat...Maybe they'll help her--or are they here to ravish her?
My, my...Jacque and his brother Quint...oh jeez, no spoilers here, but what they do with Sahara...what's the Cajun French word for hot? I don't want to mislead anyone into thinking this is some kind of menage relationship, because there's just this one incident and it's not exactly a complete threesome, but it ceratainly sets a steamy tone for the whole book. The story is really about long-haired, sexy and buff Jacque, who has trouble finding a woman who wants him for himself, and not for his money, and his relationship with the beautiful blonde and spunky Sahara, who thinks she knows what she wants out of life...but then is thrown a huge curveball when she meets the delicious Jacque.
There's tons of heat in this book, and plenty of melt-the-pages sex scenes, as Jacque keeps Sahara as his (mostly) willing captive at his bayou shack, but a lot of it is told off the pages and after the fact--you need to use your imagination. But Ms. Black has a way of writing that you'll have no trouble imagining just what is going on between Jacque and Sahara.:)
I loved the characters in this book. Jacque was a devilishly sexy alpha character with a vulnerable side, and although I didn't agree with some of the methods he used to "test" Sahara's feelings for him, he charmed me so much that I was ready to slap Sahara if she didn't give him everything that he desired! I liked Sahara too--she was spunky and bold, loving and caring, and although I wanted her to give in to everything Jacque wanted, I also could see her point of view. I'm so glad that this couple was able to work everything out--I especially loved the payoff at the end when Jacque revealed his feelings for her. Very romantic and had me smiling.
If you like your romances fast-paced, white-hot,a bit playful, with plenty of sexy Cajun-French phrases tossed about, and a couple of smokin' hot leads that can get you all hot and bothered and also make you laugh---then you'll love this book! Ms. Black also writes mainstream romances as Nina Bruhns--if this is an example of what she can do, I can't wait to get started on those books! 4 1/2 stars