Money Honey by Susan Sey
July 6, 2010
Contemporary Romance
Paperback, 320 Pages
Berkley

Why I read: Author asked for review.

Favorite Quote: If she wanted to look even remotely like the kind of woman Patrick would pick up as arm candy, she was going to have to wear that dress.
She hissed out a breath through her teeth and said,” That dress shoves my boobs practically into the stratosphere.”
He smiled, silkily. “I’d wondered. Matching shoes?”
She closed her eyes and prayed for strength. “In the closet.”
”Excellent.”

Patrick O’Connor has spent the last three years of his life writing crime books, the occasional screen play and living the life. But this is not the life he is accustom to. Most of his life he was a very successful thief, coming from a big crime family. Although non-violent, he stole many, many things from people. His career comes crashing down when his sister, Mara, trying her hand at the family business gets caught. Patrick leaves his mentor, Villaneuva mid-heist, and without his money to bargain with the FBI. He agrees to work for them for three years, if his sister is released.

The next three years are unpleasant ones for Patrick, as he goes on the straight and narrow, and worse, has to work with the all business, prickly Special Agent Liz Brynn. On top of that Liz becomes the only person Patrick wants, but never gets. Liz is very good at her job, and has no time for the suave, good looking Patrick, with his devastating smile. Patrick serves his time and disappears.

But now Mara is having problems with counterfeit bills at her restaurant. Patrick comes into town, but with more on his agenda than just aiding his sister. He knows Villaneuva wants revenge, and he knows he is in Grief Creek. He would never admit to loving his sister more than anything in this world, knowing that would make her a target for his nemesis. Liz grudgingly decides to dangle Patrick out as bait – he is to pose as writing a screenplay and needs an ”expert” in the counterfeiting business to help his cause. Patrick can’t believe he has to work with the cold hearted Liz again, but knowing he may be keeping his sister safe he agrees. As Liz and Patrick work together, this time, he may be stealing her heart.

Money Honey is such a cute, adorable book. Patrick is just all out a smexy, smexy hero. He has that bad boy thing going on being a big time ex-criminal. At the heart of him though, he is a decent person. He is charming, funny, and can flirt like no one else. Liz tries so hard not to fall for him. She grew up with a horrible father, and is now working hard in her career to be everything he wasn’t. She doesn’t want to give herself over to someone who stole from people, changed people’s life for the worse. But, that is all Patrick knew growing up. He has changed these past few years. Deep down, he still considers himself scum, but he knows how to put on the mask of indifference.

Susan Sey writes so much sexual tension and energy in this book. So many pages of banter between Liz and Patrick that starts with Liz disgusted to have to work with this man again, to Liz fighting her ever growing feelings. Meanwhile, Patrick has always had a thing for Liz in her ugly, cheap suits. He has so much fun ribbing her, and doing everything he can to get that scowl across her face. Liz is always “on,” always calculating, and to watch Patrick try to get her to relax, is quite a feat.

So many moments in this book made me smile, even Mara’s two year old had me cracking up, and I usually don’t go for kids in books. The baddie, Villaneuva is set up to be this REALLY violent, bad dude. At times I would have liked to get more from his perspective. He was kind of always hanging around threatening, and I wondered why he didn’t act when he had ample opportunities. But maybe it was more he enjoyed playing with his targets.

Money Honey is a book filled with hot sexy banter, an even sexier hero, and many moments that will have you smiling. I definitely recommend this one.

Rating: 4/5

Recent Reviews:
Fiction Vixen – 4.5/5
Goodreads

Susan Sey will be back later this morning with a guest post!