Just Finished:

Synopsis: All Sophie Dempsey wants to do is help her sister make a video of a washed-up actress and get out of town before they get into trouble. The daughter of generations of con men, Sophie's trying to walk the straight and narrow, but it's, well, difficult.

All Mayor Phineas Tucker wants to do is run Temptation with as little fuss as possible and win his upcoming election without cutting into the time he needs for his real passion: playing pool. The son of generations of mayors, Phin's trying to be an upstanding citizen, but it's, well, boring.

It only takes one look before Sophie knows that Phin's the kind of boy her mother used to warn her about-- a fast-talking town boy-- and Phin knows she's the kind of woman his father told him to stay away from-- the devil's candy.

And in no time at all, boredom is the least of their difficulties. Gossip, adultery, and blackmail; pornography, politics, and murder; vehicular abuse of a corpse and slightly perverse but really excellent sex: all hell is breaking loose in Temptation, Ohio, while Sophie and Phin fall deeper and deeper in trouble… and in love.

My Thoughts: First of all, I need to thank the ladies at Book Binge for sending me this. This was just awesome. I loved Sophie and Phin, not to mention the numerous sex scenes that made me: a) hot; b) laugh; c) grin like a mad fool. I love stories that just make me feel good. And this one most definitely did.

Besides Sophie and Phin there were so many side characters like: Rachel, a twenty-something girl who’s only dream is to get out of Temptation; Dillie, Phin’s precocious 9-year-old daughter; Wes, Phin’s best friend and chief-of-police; Davy, Sophie’s con-artist brother with a heart for family; Amy, Sophie’s overindulged younger sister; Liz, Phin’s overprotective mother; and last but not least Clea, a semi-famous porn star (who was only ever in one movie) who has returned home to Temptation in order to film a “documentary”. Not to mention a host of other side characters I didn’t mention

I loved how Amy and Sophie wanted to get out of Temptation the minute they got in to it, in spite of (or maybe despite) the phallus-like water tower. (Seriously, you have to read about it to understand). I enjoyed Phin and Sophie’s first meeting ~ he referred to her as the devil’s candy and she referred to him as her worst nightmare. Also, it’s funny how Sophie and Amy find themselves going from filming a documentary, to accidentally (at least on Sophie’s part) filming a soft-porn film with Clea and the son of the boy who took her virginity.

Worthy of a second mention ~ this definitely has some hot sex in it. Which, I told Wena and Holly I learned the hard way that this was definitely a book I needed to read at home. Really ~ I read the first sex scene (aka the dock) at the gym. Thank God I was already red, hot, and sweaty ~ but thanks to the book, I also had a stupid grin on my face. I read the second sex scene (aka the alarm clock and the lamp) at my eye doctor’s office and laughed out loud. Luckily it was late in the day and I was the only one left in the reception area. Well, except for the secretary who was very fascinated in what I was reading. I think she may have gone out and gotten her own copy after work.

Verdict: This was Excellent. I laughed a lot and of course read most of this with a stupid grin on my face. Definitely a keeper and definitely a recommendation for anyone looking for a good, funny, hot, sexy romp.

Labels: Contemporary Romance, Excellent, Jennifer Crusie