Review: Ms Summers' writing is fresh, sexy, heart warming and full of humor!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 24, 2013
Beth Graison is stuck between a rock and a hard place. She has lusted after her boss, Dean Sutherland ever since she began working at Sutherland & Son. To her, he's practically perfect. He's good looking, charismatic, smart and successful. In short, he'd be a catch if it wasn't for one particular flaw - his bedroom may as well have a revolving door. Dean is known to go through women and tire of them quickly before moving on to his next conquest. There is no way that Beth can be with someone like him. Not just because sleeping with her boss could ruin her career, but she wants the dream - marriage, stability, love, white picket fence, 2.5 kids. For her, sex and commitment are a package deal, and there is no way that Dean fits the profile.Unfortunately, sweet, kind, nave Beth is about to find out that some people are unscrupulous. The big boss himself, Max Sutherland, propositions her to become his mistress. She's kind of doomed if she does, and doomed if she doesn't. Although she has no intention of ever taking him up on his offer, she's given the weekend to think things over. But how does she let the old man down easily and still keep her job? Why doesn't she slap him with a sexual harassment suit, you ask? Chances are really good that she will lose, and loose big if she does. Her only recourse is .... going to the bar to get good and sloshed for beginners. And that is exactly where Dean finds her shortly after.Dean Sutherland is charismatic, cocky, arrogant and a commitment phobe. He has no shortage of female admirers or bed partners, all except for the one woman he really wants, but can't have. Finding her drunk during work hours is the last thing he expected to see, so he offers to take her home,  and it takes every ounce of self control not to take advantage of the situation. In a moment of weakness, she throws herself at him. As much as he yearns to say "to hell with it!", he wants to do the right thing. Mistaking his rejection for disinterest, she lashes out in hurt and anger, throwing his one major flaw in his face. The gauntlet is thrown, and he's ready to accept the challenge.From that point on, it's an uphill battle for the both of them. Will he ever be able to be the man he knows she wants and deserves, or is the saying true that a leopard never changes its spots? Just how much willpower does she possess to withstand his seductive charms? They're both not above playing a little dirty to see who caves first.Beth was an absolutely believable heroine. I sympathized with her; I empathized with her. She was good person at her core. There wasn't a single person she didn't get along with at work. She is nave about a few things, but she listens more to her heart than her head. When it comes to Dean, she's clever enough to recognize the few momentous moments when he shows his vulnerable side. But unless she's actually looking into his eyes when he speaks, she can't discern truth from cockiness. I understood why she fought the attraction with everything she had, and I didn't fault her for it. I was rooting her on all the way to make him really work for it.Dean. Poor baby. Beth really had him tied up in knots. He knows she's too good for him, but that doesn't stop him from wanting her, and not just sexually. His father had done a thorough job of turning Dean off to love, loyalty and commitment, until Beth. She is the only woman he would be willing to change for, and for the first time that he can remember, he's ashamed and remorseful of his reputation. I loved his determination to win her trust and her heart.When their time together comes to an end, the question then becomes, would their weekend of revelations be enough to withstand the storm about to come crashing down around them? Just how far are Dean and Beth willing to go to get their HEA? They both have their flaws, but I could definitely see their growth as they discovered themselves and each other. They were also mature enough to do some self reflection and take responsibility for their actions in the end. To me, that was an integral part of finding these characters likeable. The ending was fantastic! The way he asked her for a date was just plain swoon-worthy! I haven't read anything like it before in any other romance.I absolutely adored this book! The author's debut story, Sneaking a Peek, was great, but this one just cemented her as a favorite author for me. Concealed Desire had the potential to be filled with emotional angst and over the top drama that would make you want to have a good cry and punch a pillow. What pulls this story back from the precipice of despair is the cleverly inserted one-liners. It's well timed and very in tune with her characters. I got a little weepy a few times (one of the scenes was the grocery store), but then the humor would subtly find it's way back in and take the hurt away. The love scenes were very steamy, but situation appropriate. Ms Summers is a great new voice in the romance genre with this fresh, engaging, humorous and heart-warming story.Disclaimer - I received an early review copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.