Review: Smart and Sexy
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 22, 2014
As the opener for the Wedding Dare series of novels from some of Brazen's biggest names this is one you do not want to miss. Brother's best friend. Check. Stranded in a run-down motel thanks to monsoon season. Check. An unfinished steamy encounter that's left three years of barely contained sexual tension as she competes with him for a business contract. Double check. Holy [insert expletive here]! I love Kaye's books but I didn't really think the novella length was going to allow for much scorching build-up. I love being wrong.The stranded-and-forced-into-sharing-quarters trope is one that can get stale faster than a motel vending machine's snacks. But Kaye manages to take it to a new level. Colton and Kady both have a secret and in one of my favorite meta ways his stumbling on the book in her bag as the key to opening them up to one another's shared interest just plain rocks. They are both intelligent, professional people and their chemistry is palpable as it is but bringing in a kink manages to heighten it intensely.For me as a reader there are erotic things that I'd never go for outside of a book that still manage to make for great reading and this is a flawless example of that. I loved that there was communication between Colton and Kady that made their love scenes feel genuine and safe and ultimately part of a HEA. There's nothing vicarious about their intimacy and that makes it a steamy story that can stand for plenty of rereading. Even at novella length I felt well invested in the outcome of Kady and Colton's motel encounter and was left eager to read the Wedding Dare novels that follow.Totally a must-read if you like any of Kaye's work and if you plan on ready any of the Wedding Dare novels.Notes: ARC received via publisher.