"highly unorthodox bodybuilding session"

Midnight in a deserted gym, Brandy Schuller hungrily watches Franko Priest exercise. She's come to the 300-pound weightlifter to tone her body after a traumatic car accident. However, Priest has been watching the insecure young woman, and he knows that what Brandy needs more than physical training of her scarred body is emotional acceptance of herself. Thus begins a highly unorthodox bodybuilding session.

Though only 40 pages, HARD BODIES displays none of the classic flaws of the short story. Fast-paced and exciting, this Quickie manages to sustain intense sexual tension while carefully developing dynamic, sympathetic characters. My only quibbles with this story are entirely personal: I've never been that attracted to extremely muscle- bound "hard bodies", and I also would have preferred to see condoms being used. Nonetheless, it is a sign of Harper's skill that I thoroughly enjoyed this story. Harper is to be commended for her exquisite balance between sexual tension and character development in so short a tale.

Sensuality: NC-17, masturbation, oral sex.

Review © 1/03 Barb Chan for Sensual Romance.

Reviewed by Sensual Romance
Courtesy Sensual Romance
Posted January 4, 2003

Summary

Determined to get herself in working order after an automobile accident, all Brandy Schuller believed she wanted from world class weight lifter Franko Priest was some help in developing her body. But the moment she walked into the empty workout gym and saw the powerful, nearly naked man, she found herself wanting a whole lot more...

Short story. Sexual Content: NC-17.