Review: Turn It Up
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 15, 2011
I don't often read books twice. There are so many books available for reading, who has the time to go back for seconds? But I am a fan of Inez Kelley's books and so when I got this book months ago, I read it immediately. Knowing I wouldn't be posting a review for quite some time I procrastinated as I have a tendency to do sometimes. Then, later when I sat down to write a review I realized I was going to need some refreshing. So I grabbed my Kindle with the intention of doing a little skimming and ended up reading the whole book again. Dr. Hot and Honeypot had me at "s'morgasm"...both times.Charlie Pierce is a free-spirited radio talk show host who's on air alias is Honeypot. She's rocking the Betty Boop look and the attitude to match. The blurb says she doesn't "do" commitment but I think she does in her own way. She is totally committed to her friendship with Bastian. So much so that she doesn't want to risk losing his friendship by taking their relationship to a new level after he confesses that he's in love with her.Bastian is a divorced doctor who moonlights as Charlie's sex advice talk show co-host, Dr. Hot. He has been friends with Charlie during his marriage, during his after marriage recovery stage and now he's realized that Charlie is the one for him. He's serious. He doesn't just want her in bed, he wants a full on commitment and he's not likely to give up until he wins her over totally.Dr. Hot and Honeypot mix it up and have a lot of fun on the air. Their banter is laced with innuendos and sexual tension and their genuine affection for each other really adds to their on-air appeal. As a reader, knowing they have romantic tension off-air makes their interaction that much better. The author creates an atmosphere during these scenes that is filled with sexual tension and the playful giddiness that one feels during the early stages of romance. Charlie and Bastian have been friends for some time, but they're experiencing these emotions in full force now that the relationship bar has been raised and it's quite entertaining watching them dance around coyly--and sometimes not so coyly--flirting their way into somewhat uncharted territory.I say somewhat uncharted territory because at one point we learn that their deeper attraction to each other is not totally new. This is my only issue with this story. During Bastian's marriage Charlie and Bastian share a kiss at a holiday party. Bastian quickly shuts it down which implies it was not all that innocent, and Charlie wants to know if he ever told his wife about the kiss. Bastian believes that it wasn't cheating. His marriage was already on the rocks, it was something that  just happened, and telling his wife would only make things worse. I really wish this scene had been left out altogether. I was put off by the kiss and the implication that it was accidental and then using the excuse that the current relationship was already strained. I thought Bastian and Charlie had enough chemistry to carry this romance without having to give them a history of romantic tension while Bastian was married.While Bastian and Charlie have a fun relationship, it's not all fun and games for them when it comes to romance. Their relationship goes through it's paces before they get to their happily every after and they both have some emotional walls to break down before they are fully ready to commit to each other. I think Charlie's journey appealed to me most as she struggles with her fear of emotional intimacy while joyfully celebrating her sexuality. She is a ray of light in this romance and I completely adored her.This is a fun, light romance but Inez Kelley adds just the right amount of emotional angst for her characters to grow and make their happily ever after very satisfying.  I'm adding this one to my 2011 recommended reads list.