Ames review of Sex on the Beach by Susan Lyon.
I read a Susan Lyons’ novel a few years ago and really enjoyed it. So when I was given the chance to read Sex on the Beach, I jumped on it! I don’t even care for anthologies really, but I really like Susan’s writing.
THE STORY
An exotic wedding turns into an erotic escapade for three unlikely couples who find lust—and maybe even love—on the white sands of Belize. Get ready to get wet!
Sex on the Beach revolves around 3 couples in Belize. All characters are connected to the same wedding: the wedding planner, the best man, the owner of the resort where the wedding is taking place, a guest of the groom’s uncle and the mother and father of the bride. So there’s plenty of room for variety among all 3 stories.
Our first story features a wedding planner, and a cynic of a best man…
“War of the Sexes”
When wedding planner Sarah McCann learns that the groom’s best friend, Free Lafontaine, intends to save his pal from the mistake of marriage, it’s an all-out war between the sexes. Turns out, the prize could be much more than either of them expected, and this war just may have two winners.
This was a fun story! Sarah is not one to mix business with pleasure. But since none of the guests have arrived at the resort yet, she figures she can have a one night stand before she has to work. Little does she realize, the man she hooks up with is the best man, a man she’s been warned against. Free is very anti-marriage and considering the groom’s past (he was jilted by his fiancee for a richer man), he really wants to make sure his friend doesn’t make a mistake. Sarah is the complete opposite. She loves weddings and with her grandparents strong marriage as a beacon of hope, Sarah doesn’t understand Free’s perspective. But once these two realize who the other is (after a night of fantastic sex!) they agree to disagree and continue on with the bedroom antics. Without anyone knowing of course. But then Free goes a bit too far in trying to change the groom’s mind. And Sarah wonders if this is just a weekend fling or can she change Free’s mind about love. B (4/5)
“Sex With the Proper Stranger”
Model Tamiko Sato comes to the wedding as arm-candy for the groom’s deep-in-the-closet uncle. What’s she to do when resort manager Ric Nuñez proves far too tempting? Ric just might be the man who can help her heal the wounds left by past abuse, and open her heart to love.
Tamiko is a very vulnerable heroine. She comes across as this sophisticated model but she’s a small town girl who models because she needs to money to pay for her mother’s medical bills. She takes care of her family and she’s in a relationship with a gay man because it’s safe. Tamiko was abused by her father and although she thinks she’s over it, she can’t fully embrace her sexual self. Ric likes to take care of people. And something about Tamiko calls out to him. Ric and Tamiko begin an affair with the blessing of her gay boyfriend, as long as they keep it secret. But Ric’s been burnt in the past. His ex-wife was a city girl and couldn’t settle in Belize. Ric assumes that Tamiko is the same way, craving the hustle and bustle of New York. But the more these two get to know each other, the more he wants to change her mind. B (4/5)
“Sexy Exes”
Giovanna Moncrieff and her ex, James, mix as well as Italian olive oil and English tonic water. How embarrassing—and exciting!—to find that their passion for each other still burns hot and heavy. Is it possible to find true love the second time around?
This was my favorite story of the bunch. The mother and father of the bride. Giovanna and James met in Italy, where Giovanna is from. She was earthy and sensual and James wanted her. He was on vacation before beginning at aa East Coast University. These two came together with a passion that was in no danger of dying out. They were forced to marry when Giovanna ended up pregnant. When she returned to the US with him, things went downhill. Lack of communication was what killed their marriage and they divorced when Bella, the bride, was just a baby. Now Bella is getting married and these two are coming face to face over twenty years later. And that spark is still there. And the issues that broke them up in the first place are still there as well. But seeing the couples around them make them see things with a new perspective, and they re-connect. Although they think it’s only while they’re in Belize. B+ (4.25/5)
As a whole, I have to give Sex on the Beach a solid B (4 out of 5). Each story featured spicy sex and well-drawn out characters. And they weren’t corny. I don’t know, sometimes I find short stories like these somewhat corny. But each story had it’s own separate theme but was still connected to the overall theme of the collection. Very well done actually. I’ll definitely read more by this author.
Read more of Ames review over at Thrifty Reader.
This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.