Well, well, well.
I was able to read an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from the author, and loves - am I sure glad I did! About three chapters in, and I was already hooked.
*Some slight spoilers - nothing major*
The basic story is about a woman Brenna, who, according to her friends, just isn't fun anymore. She needs those pipes cleaned - and badly! So when she meets the enigmatic Gabriel, and she assumes he's a *gift* from her friends for her otherwise horrid birthday, she gladly accepts a night of pleasure with him. Only, Gabriel isn't allowing Brenna to get away so easily. Even when she tells him she's only looking for Mr. Right, and he's nothing more than Mr. Right Now.
I can admit there were some tropes/cliches in the book - the ultra rich guy, the woman looking for love in all the wrong places, the girlfriends both protecting her and trying to push her out of her shell, the hero who needs to mature but ultimately realizes he's ready for change - but quite honestly, I love all of these, and Michelle wrote them so amazingly well.
Her style of writing is a wonderful combination of fast paced, yet expositional, which is really difficult to do well. Just when you think the book is about to end, another set of circumstances arise, and you get sucked right back in. (And yes, sucked in. I'll admit I started this in the bath. 3 hours - and cold water later - I had to get to bed, and then as soon as I got home from work, finished it the next afternoon. I couldn't stop thinking about it.)
There are multiple climaxes within the story - both the physical *wink, wink*, and plot types, which again, is refreshing. This is not a one-and-done. I can easily go back and re-read this just to be sure I didn't miss out on any details.
In all, I absolutely loved this book. It was super steamy in all the right places, making me both blush and swoon. Gabriel is a DEFINITE book boyfriend, one I'll enjoy reading about again and again. Brenna is intelligent, witty, confident yet naive at times, and is just... real.
5 very enthusiastic stars. Read it once and fall in lust. Read it twice and fall in love. Read it three times - now you're just playing with yourself!
Bravo, Michelle!