Alexandra Barrett is the only child of Cliff and as a toddler it was her job to put the star on the tree. The next month her mother became ill then died. Now Alex is twenty-six and still living in her father's house and year after year she had to put that dang star on the tree! Alex was a grown woman now and she resented being forced to do it. Why had her father chosen to continue this silly tradition? Alex would rather be cuddled with the hunky Scott Clause. For four years Alex had a crush on him, but he was her father's Golden Boy at Barrett and Associates where he was the youngest partner in the company. This time at her father's annual Christmas party she intended to seduce Scott and have her way with him!

Pepper Espinoza's novel: SIDE PASSENGER is a very sensual read. The story was well written and flowed smoothly. I loved the way Rebecca got introduced to a swinger's Christmas party!

Rebecca Cooper glanced again at her bank statement not believing her bank balance. She'd deposited her check not three days ago and all ready she was in the minus department. Where had the money gone? Rebecca not only worked as a bank teller, but she worked part time for Star Parties, a catering service where she worked as a server. Rebecca had no social life with working two jobs and she did not have any friends to buy gifts for, thank goodness, but she needed money fast if she was to give her bank account an infusion of cash! Maybe she would call her boss at Star to see if she could pick up any hours. Mike, her boss, wanted her to drive Jeff to their assignments---UGH! There had to be someone else, but it was either her or she would get fired. So what were her choices? Either she drove Jeff, the bartender, around, or she could kiss the extra money goodbye-- some choice!

Jeff had been trying to get to know Rebecca for a long time, but every time he got close, she bolted like a burnt cat! It was a good thing that he and Mike were pretty close and they'd devised a plan so he and Rebecca could spend time together because Rebecca was hot!

Lisa Marie writes a tender novel: CHRISTMAS STRANGERS that will have you weeping and then cheering and encouraging Rachael as she boldly takes a chance on being happy.

Rachael had allowed her domineering father to get his way. After all, she was a female and not good for anything. He had tore down her self esteem until her mother put her foot down by allowing her to go to college. Rachael fled as far away as she could, putting as much distance from her father as she could and settled in Baltimore, Maryland where she got a job working as a manager of the Sliver Spoon diner. It was Christmas Eve and there were no customers. Rachael knew that she should close the diner and just go home to her cat, but this holiday season depressed her and she thought about the last Christmas she'd spent with her family. Rachael's mother had been diagnosed with cancer earlier the previous year and she died the following New Year. So what if this was a season to be happy, she had no life, no friends, and just a stupid cat to go home to. Well, at least she was not alone. Just when she made a decision to close up, in walks a man, and by the way he was dressed in designer clothes, Rachael knew that he did not belong in a greasy food diner.

Tyler Jennings walked into the diner and looked into Rachael eyes and saw a kindred spirit. Her eyes told him that she was in as much pain as he was. Julianna, his soon to be ex-wife, had dropped a bombshell this past Christmas… she was pregnant and the baby was not his!

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Very sensual

Reviewer: Linda B.
June 13, 2006