I do not read a lot of contemporary romance and thought it would be fun to start having some guest bloggers review that genre. Today, Fallon Blake is taking over Smexy reviewing Maya Banks’ latest book. Fallon will have her first book, This Side of Heaven, published early next year.

Author: Maya Banks
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Release Date: October 6, 2009
ISBN: 978-0425230695
Page Count: 304
Genre: Erotic Romance Contemporary

Message Therapist and salon owner Julie Stanford has had it bad for Nathan Tucker for some time now. He’s been coming in for massages and Julie loves having him at her mercy, but the gorgeous, hunk of a man is either just not interested or completely oblivious. The fact that he refuses to flip over during their sessions and work his front, for one very pointed reason, says it’s the later, but Julie is tired of waiting around for him to get the picture. In a bold as brass move, she dares him to turn over during his last massage and gives him a happy ending that blows his mind. And then she sends him packing, firing him as her client, in no uncertain terms.

Nathan Tucker has lusted after Julie’s bold personality and sexy curves since she gave him that first message. His problem? He has no idea how to act around her, other than mumble like a moron and wipe the drool off his chin. Now that she’s thrown down the gauntlet, he’s determined to have her, but he has to catch her first. When he learns she’s set up an anonymous, threesome at The House, he’ll do anything to make sure he’s the one who fulfills her secret fantasy, along with the help of one of his friends of course. Because there isn’t a chance he’ll let some stranger have her.

I was eagerly anticipating this book after Maya Banks fed us juicy little morsels about Julie and Nathan in Sweet Persuasion. I have to say that of the three books in the Sweet series, this is by far my favorite. Julie’s take no prisoners, brass-balls attitude really made her my kind of girl. I practically cheered when she walked out on Nathan after his massage and then when she cuffed him to her bed.

The ménage scenes with Nathan and Micah were scorching hot and will require readers a high powered fan and a tall glass of sweet tea at the very least. Ms. Banks delivers on the smexy guy factor times two. Nathan is that melt worthy hero who isn’t your average alpha male. And the little details we learn about Micah have me anxiously waiting for Sweet Temptation.

There were points in this book where I wanted to strangle Julie and Nathan and give them the swift kick they both needed. But without these scenes, the book would have lacked the vital tension to keep the plot moving forward. I am one who loves books that aren’t clear cut and have that particular brand of tension. It makes the outcome that much more satisfying. This one gets a big recommendation from me.