Kasey Jacobs spends her days as a bookkeeper for a discount furniture store and her nights writing erotic romances, still waiting to meet the man who could ring her chimes. Maybe her new neighbor, Skyler Brody?? Too bad she hasn’t seen him since the day he moved in.
Then Skyler, a cop recuperating from a gunshot wound, spies Kasey pleasuring herself in front of an open window and nearly trips over his tongue rushing to introduce himself. The sex is instantaneous and hot, with all the xplosiveness of fireworks. But Kasey wants something Skyler isn’t prepared to give. Perhaps they can find a way to each other’s heart, if they don’t burn themselves out with their nightly erotic activities.
First, I think the cover of this book is really kind of dopey. Really, what does it have to do with the story? I just can’t figure out why this particular design was chosen or who at Ellora’s Cave decided that this was the best to go with. Perhaps the authors liked it — well, anyway, I still think it’s dopey.
Beyond the graphics, I thought this story was a very good example of an entertaining tale with a really contemporary message: giving into one’s fears of the past rarely if ever makes a happy future. This is certainly the case with Skylar and perhaps even with Kasey. Both are looking for authentic relationship and neither one is so foolish to mistake their initial attraction as love. But as time goes on, both want more but are hesitant to give it. This is especially true of Skylar who has come out of a previous relationship that ended badly. Kasey is beginning to feel that she must have more of Skylar than just his body or his sense of humor; she wants the man himself. Big problem, so it would seem.
As always Holt and Standifer work well together. I don’t know what is their division of labor, but they manage to write some very good pieces. Each has a marvelous track record as a writer and a formidable history as collaborators. This “quickie” short story is one of those literary “snacks” that is fun to keep around and worth taking time away from the ponderous routine of life. Not a major time commitment, but nevertheless thought provoking in spite of being “lightweight.” I think they have done well to pose the question for all readers: “Can we really give all of ourselves to those we claim are important to us?” And to do so is to give one of the greatest gifts to significant persons in our lives. It also begs the question: “Can we have a genuine and solid love relationship if we withhold who we really are?”
This is a very romantic tale and will be enjoyed by romance lovers. It would stand up well were it longer or extended into a full novel. But Holt and Standifer have again given readers a very nice short story that will not only be fun to read the first time around, but I can testify that it stands up to repeated attention.
I give this work a rating of 3.75 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.
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