Review: A Who-dunnit with Sex Appeal
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 21, 2012
In typical Stephanie Bond fashion, I find myself putting another notch in my bookshelf with another of her witty and fun romantic mysteries in License to Thrill.  This who-dunnit will keep you guessing to the very end.  Now, I'm always up for a good mystery, I LOVE a good romance, I enjoy a funny wit surrounding the characters, and this book has all of that.  James Donovan, former secret agent, is retired from the British government service, but to help out his good friend (and former bed buddy, Lady Mercer), he is willing to endure a working vacation and provide security for an alleged rare love letter written by King George III. Did I mention James is British?  With dimples?  Oh, how I love a good Brit as my hero hunk-o-man.  He's not only a sexy Brit; he's wealthy and hard to tame with a self-confident, cocky, double entendre for any occasion.  This man knows no fear when it comes to getting what he wants, and he wants Kat, whom he has dubbed, Pussy-Kat."Are you carrying a gun to dinner?"His smile was tight-lipped.  "Madam, I carry a gun to the shower.""Am I in danger?"His dimple made an appearance.  "Most definitely," he said..."And I feel obligated to tell you I have more than one weapon on my person."Kat McKray, an art museum curator, is a hard-nosed business woman who leads a not-so-glamorous lifestyle.  She endures a bad employer employee relationship out of loyalty to her deceased father in an attempt to repair the damage done to his reputation in the art world.  When she first comes in contact with James, she is determined to have nothing to do with him.  She tries hard not to trust him but soon finds he is the man she has to trust with her life to help prove her innocence in a crime involving this rare love letter.  Never did she expect to fall for James Donovan, but once she does, she falls hard.  But can he reciprocate those feelings?"Love?"  James's brown eyes widened, then he shook his head with deliberate slowness.  "Not in my vocabulary."Stephanie Bond kept me guessing as the story unfolded.  Just when I think I know who the mystery culprit is ... anyone and everyone could be guilty ... I'm led to another suspect.  Just when I think the romance between James and Kat will blossom, I find myself surprised and screaming inside, Really?!  That's not what I wanted to happen!But, not to worry.  Stephanie doesn't disappoint with the HEA.  You will despise Lady Mercer and Guy.  You will love James and Kat, and her best friend, Denise, who holds a secret of her own.  Officer Tenner will seem like the good-ole-boy uncle you don't want to claim, but want to visit often.  He pulls no punches and puts it all out there with a quirky wisdom that will have you wearing a silly grin.  This is a very fast and fun read that puts a smile on your face in the end.  Stephanie also gives us a bonus chapter from Three Wishes at the end.  I give this book 4 stars and recommend it to those who love a good mystery with their romance.