"Erotic author and fire marshall generate a lot of heat!"

Amethyst Fortuna Smythe-Davies, pen name Misty Fortune, is a successful author of women's erotica. Ten years ago she moved to NYC, no longer willing to live the life her upper- class British family thought proper for her. She's proud of her career and her ability to support herself writing about assertive women unafraid of their own sexuality. But although her heroines reflect some of her own personality, she doesn't have nearly their sexual experience, and she's beginning to feel that "the well is running dry" in her writing. So she decides to spend a few days experiencing one of the special packages at Blackstone's, a unique Las Vegas resort that caters to whatever sexual fantasies you have. The first day is spent in decadent luxury, and she's all prepared for her evening encounter with the partner who will tutor her in sexual arts. But the person who enters the room where she is reclining naked on silk pillows is . . . the fire marshall.

Tucker Greywolf, from a small town in New Mexico, is in Las Vegas to attend some forensics seminars at the Las Vegas Police Department. His new buddies at LVPD get a call about a murder at Blackstone's Resort, and ask Tucker if he'd like to come along and get some hands-on experience studying the evidence. He has an understandable reaction to the naked woman he finds while helping check out all the rooms to locate the guests and escort them to be interviewed. But after seeing her assured behavior and crisp British manner while being questioned by the detectives, he feels an incredibly strong attraction to her that has to do with far more than her looks and state of undress. He wants to see more of her, at least for the next few days that they'll both be in Las Vegas.

A short-term fling is not Misty's style, but then she realizes that she'd rather indulge her sexual fantasies with a real, if temporary, lover instead of a hired partner. It wouldn't be in the artificial environment of the resort, but it could still be no-strings-attached fun and games. Of course, once Tucker and Misty start spending all their time together - not just having fantastic sex, but also talking and sharing their pasts and their future plans -- there's the chance their hearts may become as involved as their bodies.

This story is not suspense or action or drama; it is very focused on the characters and their emotions, the development of their relationship. The murder investigation is merely a plot device to bring the hero and heroine together and provide opportunities for them to interact with secondary characters; the reader hears very little about it. I thoroughly enjoyed the personalities of both Misty and Tucker - strong, intelligent, competent people who had both reached a point in life where they were considering where they wanted to go from here, whether their old plans for the future were still what they wanted. There are no big misunderstandings, no contrived conflicts or silly separations. These are two mature adults who may initially be a bit hesitant to bare their hearts to each other, but who communicate and care in a believable and endearing manner.

Oh, and let us not forget the incredibly hot and adventurous sex! Misty and Tucker have a very balanced relationship: they both have to agree to whatever they want to try, and turn-about is fair play. And there's very little that they don't agree to try. Stairwells and limosines; showers and champagne; silk cords and strands of beads. I wish someone like Tucker had shown up during my last trip to Las Vegas - or anywhere, in fact.

Reviewed by Raelene Gorlinsky
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted January 14, 2003

Summary

Sex may be what she writes best, but he can teach her a thing or two...

Misty Fortune is a famous erotica author—a convincing one too, despite her considerably more tepid real-life sexual experience. Worried that her extended dry spell is affecting her writing, Misty heads to a unique Las Vegas resort, one that promises to fulfill every sexual fantasy a guest could want. But an unexpected encounter with a gorgeous fire marshal has her thinking that a session with him would be hotter than anything the resort has to offer...

Tucker Greywolf knew it was his lucky day when the Las Vegas police asked him to assist on a case involving an unusual hedonistic resort. But he never imagined he'd meet this lusty English writer—so teasingly prim and proper, yet so sexually adventurous—and offer his services! He figures four days helping Misty tap into her erotic side during his stay in town would be the break he needs, but four days may not be nearly enough!