Title: ‘Tis the Season to be Tempted
Author: Aimee Carson
Series: Baby, It’s Cold Outside
Genre: Contemporary holiday romance
Published: 2013
Pages: 70
Format read: ebook
Rating: B
Blurb:
After the worst year ever, free-spirited Evie Lee rings in the New Year alone, swearing off men forever. So when her brother’s childhood friend, the perfect man with the perfect life, winds up on the same plane home, she’s determined to ignore him. Wes is determined not to take her seriously. Unfortunately a snowstorm traps them at the airport with no way to finish their commute, and his perfect body is tempting her to break her vow—if only for one hot night!
CEO Wes Campbell is famous for always doing the right thing, and running into Evie again is torture. He’s determined to continue his hands-off attitude. But he wasn’t counting on the little hellion’s infectious smile, her killer body, or the vulnerability in her eyes. For the first time in his life, Wes is tempted to do the wrong thing…
Review:
Though this novella had a slower start, once the characters had me hooked (right about the point where Evie wakes up on a bench at the airport–great scene!), I didn’t want to put it down! Soon I was looking forward to her getting Wes to loosen up almost as much as Evie was. 🙂
Wes and Evie have known each other for years, though it’s been about ten since they’ve seen each other. Back then, both felt an attraction, but neither felt comfortable doing anything about it. Spending just a few minutes in Evie’s presence, though, soon has Wes doing things he wouldn’t dream of doing before, and wanting to do still more.
One of my favorite parts early on is when Wes teases Evie, from whom much of the plane trip was a blur due to her…ahem…self-medication. She wasn’t expecting it, and it was definitely laugh out loud:
He shot her a mock serious look. “And in answer to your question: the pool.”
She lowered her brow, staring at the gorgeous eyes, the beautifully masculine face. “What question?” The most unusual place he’d ever made love to a woman? How she could best put an end to her current humiliation by drowning herself?
“You asked me how I maintained my droolalicious physique.” His brow crinkled in suppressed humor. “Your word, not mine.”
“I’m sure a Harvard grad would never use such a phrase.”
He looked as if he were fighting to maintain a serious expression.
Gaze steady, he went on. “You offered me a night I would never forget.”
Heat speared her gut and moved lower. Maybe she was better off not knowing what she’d said. But now that she’d asked Wes to share, he appeared to be really warming up to the task.
“And then there was the mention of kitchen utensils,” he said.
She coughed hard and sat up straighter, her mind racing. “Kitchen utensils?” Her voice sounded embarrassingly husky.
“What kind of kitchen utensils?”
“Pastry brushes,” he said. “For the chocolate sauce.”
She’d never been that creative.
His mouth twitched, as if biting back a smile. “Cheesecloth in lieu of handcuffs.”
Her heart slid into third gear.
“And my personal favorite,” he said, the amused flicker in his eyes growing stronger. “The spatula.”
The words sent her pulse into overdrive. When the rest of his expression didn’t budge, she tipped her head at him, a glimmer of suspicion taking root. The pause was awkward for Evie, but apparently not for him. And who would have guessed Wes Campbell had a devilish side?
Bastard.
And then the use they make for ice tongs in their hotel room? Not to be missed.
My only complaint here is the length–it’s so hard to write a novella that feels totally complete and doesn’t leave you wanting more; but at least here you’re mostly just wanting more to continue their story, not to fill in missing gaps in plot or characterization.
This was my first read from this author, but it definitely won’t be my last.
And I may never look at certain kitchen implements the same again.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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