Judith’s review of Whispered Surrender by Lynn LaFleur and Randi Monroe.
Abby Horton finds herself manipulated into managing her aunt’s upscale flower shop the week of Valentine’s Day. A Manhattan office manager by day and playwright by night, Abby knows nothing about the floral trade.
Retired NFL superstar Brett Kincade stops by to order his Valentine’s flowers and catches the gorgeous new gal in town reading an underground review of Whispers by the Sea–a five-star resort specializing in providing adult sensual dining and the guests’ wildest fantasies come true. Their attraction is instant. With a little coaxing from Brett’s famous “soft hands,” Abby eagerly accepts his invitation to Whispers the next night.
Dressed from head to toe in gifts Brett sends throughout the day, Abby can barely breathe wondering what is in store for her at Whispers. The reality tops her fantasy, but is this the start of something she’s dreamed of since her first visit to Seaside as a skinny, mouth-full-of-metal fifteen-year-old? Or just another one-night stand for an ex-jock who has everything?
I had recently read another novella by Lynn LaFleur and so was excited to be able to read another for this review. I have to say that I was not disappointed in the cohesion I found in this work between a very interesting plot, a measured amount of tension and conflict, strong characters who seemed comfortable in their own skin, and some unexpected developments that added spice and charm to this story.
Brett’s fans may have been very excited about his football expertise, even seeing him in social situations following his retirement, but Brett himself was not at all excited when a best friend’s fiance managed to sort of rope him into a Tarot reading which claimed that he would soon find his soul mate and would be very happy. He thought all that psychic stuff was, as he put it, ” . . . a bunch of woowoo stuff.” Nevertheless, he kept fairly calm until he heard his friend’s fiance describing a scenario he recognized. Then he became nervous.
Abby was not necessarily happy about having to assume management of her Aunt Rosie’s flower shop, but she depended on the staff of floral arrangers to handle the massive amount of business the shop always had on Valentine’s Day. She was completely unprepared for the jolt to her insides when she met Brett–not only his drop-dead good looks, but his seeming sincerity in wanting to treat her to a night of fantasy-fulfillment at famed Whispers by the Sea. Eventually they do indeed have their night in paradise and Abby has to admit that as crazy as it sounds, she has fallen, and fallen hard!
This is truly a very fun, cute story. The dialogue sparkles, the descriptive language used draws some delightful word pictures and the characters are forceful on the one hand and very likeable on the other. There is a sizeable amount of sizzle in this novella and yet that is balanced with the awareness the reader has that Abby has come through a terrible ordeal from her first marriage to a cocaine addict, ultimately believing that she really is the “loser” her ex has painted her. Brett, too, is tired of the glitz and glamour, and is looking for permanence with his own special gal. There are some very surprising developments in this story, and it is such fun to watch Abby slowly change from a rather shy and careful woman to one who is willing to explore her own inner heart and her wild side with Brett. I think the ending is unexpected and great fun.
I liked this novella very much. Any true romantic will find this a enjoyable read and quite possibly hear themselves chuckle from time to time with the shear fun of it. I think LaFleur & Monroe have done a very fine job of giving readers a very entertaining book.
I give it a rating of 4.25 out of 5.
You can read more from Judith at Dr J’s Book Place.
This book is available from Ellora’s Cave. You can buy it here in e-format.
Whispered Surrender sounds delightful. I look forward to finding out just how that title fits the story.