Tabitha Lyons, owner of Lyons Style, Inc., had a waiting list for her services as personal shopper and style consult. Control was her obsession and she had parlayed her organization skills into a successful business but had never really overcome the ghosts of her past. She had decided that since she seemed unable to win the game of love and romance her way, she just wouldn’t play the game at all.

When EJ and Tabitha meet, they strike instant sparks off each other – both of annoyance and lust.

I really enjoyed this story. Gracie has a very nice voice and a terrific sense of pacing and story momentum. I loved the prickliness and baggage of both the main characters and the way the struggled against each other and against their own baggage. Eric’s sense of responsibility and purpose made him instantly likeable. Tabitha’s complex character and the way she strives for logic and reason in emotions and things inherently irrational made her a heroine to eagerly follow and root for.

One of the most interesting things about this book was that, unlike many paranormals, it was more contemporary than paranormal. The characters live in the real world and their issues and growth is easy to comprehend and sympathize with. The paranormal aspect of this story was masterful. It didn’t beat me over the head and it didn’t hide in the background until the very last moment.

This is the first book I’ve read by Gracie McKeever but it won’t be the last.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Maura Anderson
July 15, 2006