Review: Temptation Bay by Anna Sullivan
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 2, 2013
This book was crazy good! I took a chance on a new author when offered the opportunity to give an honest review in exchange for the ebook from NetGalley. I am so glad I did!! There is so much to like about TEMPTATION BAY I hope I can put it into words to make you understand this is a Must-Read!!The premise is that Private Investigator, Dex Keegan, comes to Windfall Island to investigate the unsolved or cold case of a missing heiress who was kidnapped at 8 months old about 80 years ago. He shows up on the island claiming to be a lawyer, but gives away nothing about why he's there or who is client is. The mystery drives the locals, who are already all about the gossip that tourist and "outsiders" bring, crazy and they all take their turn at trying to get the scoop out of him. Especially the women, because he's single, tall, dark, mysterious, gorgeous, sexy hunk of man and they literally fight over him. This causes all kinds of hilarious scenes.Let me just make it clear right now, the dialogue in this book is so well done. Witty, snarky, sneaky, sexy, a little dirty in the appropriate moments and yeah, LOL funny! I have never high-lighted so many quotes on the interchanges between the characters in a book so much in my life. And it's not just the dialogue and banter between the H/H, it's all the characters. They are a sharp group of people that, unfortunately for Dex, are not easy to pull one over on and they love tormenting outsiders. Windfall Islanders are descendants of several generations of tough people who survived under harsh conditions in any way they had to in order to provide for their families. The current community is no exception and just as tight. And silent. Dex finds he gets nowhere with his questions until he enlists the local favorite girl, Maggie Sullivan, to help him.Even though Maggie wasn't born on the island, she is a loyal and protective local girl all the way. She can fly anything and owns the local airport and Sullivan Charters, with two airplanes, a helicopter and two boats. She is pretty much the island's link to the outside world. She is tough, beautiful, sexy, full of confidence and attitude, and all walled in against risking her heart and being vulnerable to a man. The latter thanks to being raised by a cold, SOB of a father, a general with too much ambition who has let her know she is a female thus a disappointment to him, since the day she was born. She has been in Temptation Bay since she was a teenager and has found the family and love she never had at home with the people of Windfall. She will do anything to protect them. Growing up in the General's home kept her on her toes, made her wary, and very suspicious of other people's motivations. So right away, she knows a lawyer means trouble for someone on the island and she doesn't trust Dex.Dex on the other hand, almost immediately recognizes Maggie's strong influence with the other residents. That is when he's not being turned on by her snarky attitude, witty insults and refusal to give him the time of day."If he'd had to choose the one thing about her that intrigued him the most, though, it would be her kiss-my-ass, get-the-hell-out-of-my-way attitude."The sexual chemistry between these two is off the charts and when they finally get together it is so steamy and emotional!! They both fight it for their own personal reason, but it's clear to everyone he wants her bad. The chase is fun to watch and provides plenty of opportunities for great humor. Bottom line? Ms. Sullivan is a very clever and talented writer. Temptation Bay is enjoyable to read from beginning to end and as funny as it can be, it is no piece of fluff. There are some intense emotional scenes, examples of great loyalty and friendship, betrayal, suspense, attempted murder, and catfights! A very well-rounded, well-written book!~Complimentary copy received as a contest prize.