"One hot and heavy romance"
Reviewed by Gabrielle Lee
Posted March 28, 2011
Romance Contemporary | Erotic
We all have a mental list of our most secret fantasies.
What if you wrote your list down and your best friend found
it? What would you do? That is just what happened to
Sandra. Having drinks and some fun with her friend Aimee
they each jot down a list, but before Sandra can hide hers
Devlin finds it. He has waited for what seems like forever
to have a chance with her and this looks like it. Will
Sandra finally see what a great couple they could be? This book is one hot and heavy romance. With a little help
from Aimee, Sandra begins to scratch items off her list one
by one. Unbeknownst to Sandra, Devlin adds his help as well.
I enjoyed watching Sandra not only enjoy her new-found
freedom but also just plain enjoy herself. Devlin is a good
man who wants nothing more than the love of a woman and is
willing to go to great lengths to show her his love. Devlin
and Sandra make a great couple. The sparks between the two
ignite right from the start and watching the flames build
between them was a great read.
Not only do we get to see the romance build between Sandra
and Devlin but we see the friendship and trust that Aimee
has with the two. I enjoyed the aspect of their friendship
just as much as the romance. TOTAL ABANDON is an intense read. The author takes the
reader on an erotic adventure in this story. Even through
all of the eroticism we see the love and friendship shine
through. Each of the characters truly cares and loves one
another and it shows. I would caution readers that this
book is erotic and has strong situations. I myself enjoyed
this book and will be on the look out for more books from
this author.
SUMMARY
After her divorce Sandra swore off any involvement with
men for a year. On the anniversary of Sandra’s divorce,
her friend, Aimee, suggests she make a list of sexy things
she’s never done, but would like to. After Sandra makes a
few safe suggestions, Aimee cajoles her until Sandra opens
up and pulls out her deeper, darker fantasies. Thus, The
List is born. Devlin is in love with Sandra, but knows she’s not ready
for a committed relationship yet, so he and Aimee hatch a
plan to get Sandra to go away to a secluded hideaway for a
weekend, complete with two gorgeous hunks, to make The
List come true. But Sandra experiences something more intoxicating that’s
not on The List…falling in love.
Excerpt"I can’t believe you’ve gone an entire year without sex.
And by choice."
Sandra grimaced at her friend’s comment. She tightened
her fingers around her champagne flute. Many times she’d
regretted telling Aimee about her resolution, but in fact,
her confession to Aimee had forged a closer friendship
between them. A friendship that had helped her through some
tough times over the past year. Especially the loneliness.
Aimee held up her glass. "Happy anniversary." She
grinned. "A year well behind you."
Sandra clinked her champagne glass against Aimee’s, then
sipped the bubbly wine. Not that a failed marriage was
something to celebrate.
She glanced around Maelstrom’s Bar, wondering when
Devlin would arrive to join them. He’d called to say he’d
be a little late because he’d had to attend an afternoon
meeting on the outskirts of the city. That meant he had to
brave the rush-hour traffic driving back downtown to meet
them. Once he got here, he’d have some trouble finding
parking, too, since the bar was in a busy area.
Sandra pushed her long hair behind her ear as she
shifted on the upholstered seat. It was Friday evening and
the bar was filling up fast, but she and Aimee had walked
over right after work and grabbed one of the cozy curved
booths near the window.
"So, you’re sticking with your story that your ex wasn’t
a complete loser? Because I’m all ears if you want to dis
him. It’ll help get it out of your system."
"No, Eric was just the wrong guy for me."
Not that it hadn’t hurt to find he no longer loved her.
Or really, that he had never loved her. They’d dated since
high school, and for many years, they’d mistaken being
comfortable with being in love. But neither of them had
wanted the marriage to fail—to admit they had failed—so it
had taken ten years for them to finally realize that
divorce was the only answer. They simply weren’t happy
together. They were great roommates, but their connection
had broken down years ago—if it had ever been there in the
first place.
Aimee pursed her lips. "Okay then. Moving on. Tell me
what you’re looking for in a man."
She leaned toward Sandra and her lips turned up in a
crooked smile. Sandra could tell Aimee had had a little too
much to drink. And Sandra probably had, too. Champagne
tended to have that effect on her.
Sandra attempted to answer her friend’s question, but
when she tried to picture the man of her dreams, all she
came up with was a blank.
Aimee seemed to understand her dilemma. She sipped from
her glass, then giggled. "I have an idea. Let’s make a
list."
She opened her purse and pulled out a pen, then grabbed
one of the small square cocktail napkins the waitress had
left on the table with the appetizer platter. Aimee wrote
down the numeral one followed by a dot.
"Okay, I want you to think about"—she giggled—"you
know ... men ... and what you’d really like."
"What I’d like? I guess I’d like a guy who’s really
sensitive, with a good sense of humor and ... well, a sense
of adventure."
Aimee pointed at her and winked. "That’s what I’m
talking about. Adventure." She sipped her drink again, then
set down her glass. "Forget that Mr. Sensitive stuff. Think
about Mr. Muscle-Bound-Hunk meets Mr. Sexy-Bad-Boy and how
he"—she winked—"or, better yet, they could make your dreams
come true."
Sandra knew exactly what Aimee was talking about. Sandra
had made the mistake of telling Aimee about one of her
ultra sexy dreams, dreams that had been a frequent
occurrence over the past few months. Fantasies brought to
life in steamy erotic detail in the middle of the night,
leaving her hot and frustrated in the morning.
"Before you settle down with Mr. Right, you need to get
your mojo back. You know, enjoy the single life and see
what’s out there. Now"—she pointed at Sandra with her pen—
"tell me what kinds of adventures you want to have. Your
wildest, craziest fantasies. Let’s write them down."
"I don’t see the point in making a list." Sandra really
didn’t want her fantasies written out in black and white.
That seemed too ... sordid.
"Ah, come on. If you can dream about them, you can talk
about them."
Sandra’s cheeks flushed. "I don’t think so."
Aimee patted Sandra’s hand. "Honey, there’s nothing
wrong with having fantasies. And it’s good to examine them.
It’ll help you know what really turns you on. Which is good
since you’re going to start dating again. Look, I’ll get us
started. You told me about that one where you were captured
by pirates and carried off to their ship, so..."
Sandra watched as Aimee wrote Be held captive
beside the numeral one.
"Now you," Aimee said, pen poised.
Sandra shrugged. "I don’t know. I can’t think of
anything."
"What about that book you were reading a couple of weeks
ago? It had bondage, didn’t it?"
"Um ... dominance and submission, actually."
Aimee smiled. "You’d like to try that?"
Sandra shrugged again. Aimee nudged her shoulder.
"Come on. Get into the spirit of it. I’m just trying to
help."
Sandra took a sip of her champagne and gazed at Aimee’s
deep blue eyes. She did want to help. Sandra sighed.
"Okay. Well, I’m not sure about the bondage and
domination stuff. I’d have to know the guy pretty well."
"Well, yeah." Aimee nibbled on one of the chicken wings,
then picked up the pen again. "Okay, let’s leave that one a
little open."
She wrote down item number two as Experiment with
bondage .
"What else? Think about some fantasy that has really
intrigued you that you know you’ll never try but wish you
could." She grinned. "And don’t be shy."
One fantasy immediately popped into Sandra’s head. She’d
caught part of a show on sexual fantasies and she’d been
intrigued by one woman’s fantasy about being with a
stranger. To her surprise, that had turned on Sandra
immensely. Which was just crazy, especially since the only
man she’d ever been with was her ex-husband, Eric.
"You’ve got one. I can see it in your eyes. Spill it."
Sandra pursed her lips. "Well..."
"If you go, I’ll go."
Sandra nodded. "It’s ... well, being with a stranger."
"You mean a one-night stand?"
"No, more like making love with someone and not knowing
who it is."
"So, like, some sexy guy is making out with you and you
can’t see who it is? That’s pretty intense."
Aimee wrote down item number three as Make love to a
sexy stranger while blindfolded .
"Now yours," Sandra said.
Aimee wrote item four on the napkin, then turned it
toward Sandra so she could see.
Have sex with two men at the same time (maybe
more).
Sandra felt her cheeks heat. "That’s some list we have
there."
Aimee laughed. "It’s only four items. We’re not done
yet."
"I think I am."
"Okay, then. I’ll just put some down for your
consideration."
Aimee jotted several more items on the napkin as Sandra
watched. Finally, she turned it so Sandra could read it.
1. Be held captive.
2. Experiment with bondage .
3. Make love to a sexy stranger while blindfolded
.
4. Have sex with two men at the same time (maybe
more).
5. Be a love slave.
6. Have a love slave.
7. Be a voyeur.
8. Try exhibitionism.
"Want anything else?"
Sandra nearly jumped at the waitress’s voice. She wanted
to snatch the list from Aimee and stuff it in her purse,
but the young woman didn’t even glance at it.
"Yes. How about a couple of piña coladas?" Aimee said.
Sandra smiled and nodded. She loved piña coladas.
The waitress picked up the empty champagne bottle from
the table and placed it on her round tray, then grabbed the
two empty flutes. She disappeared into the crowd.
Sandra picked up a piece of zucchini from the appetizer
tray and dipped it in the dressing, then took a bite. The
waitress returned a few moments later with their drinks.
Sandra took a sip.
"It’s about time." Aimee glanced over Sandra’s shoulder.
Sandra glanced around to see Devlin approaching their
table. His glittering gaze locked on her as he walked
toward them with his usual relaxed gait, a charming half
smile curling his lips.
Although she couldn’t see the color of his eyes in this
light, she knew they were as blue as the sky at dusk,
dusted with golden specks, and surrounded by a midnight
blue ring. The raspy shadow across his jaw gave him a
definite masculine allure, and he’d tied back his medium
brown shoulder-length hair, which was typical on a workday.
His relaxed casual-Friday outfit consisted of well-worn
jeans and a brown tweed blazer over a brown striped shirt.
Sandra slid farther into the booth to make room for him,
and he sat down beside her.
His gaze fell to the table. "What’s this?"
Oh, damn. Sandra tried to grab the cocktail napkin as he
plucked it from the table—the napkin with the list
scribbled on it—but he snatched it out of reach and began
to read.
His grin broadened, revealing his strong white
teeth. "Well, this is quite the menu. Are there pictures to
go along with it?"
"You are so bad." Sandra’s hand brushed across his broad
chest as she tried to reach the list, but he held it
farther away from her. She stretched her arm more, trying
to grab the small square napkin, but his arms were longer
than hers. Suddenly, she realized she was practically
draped across him, her chest against his, and she became
intensely aware of his muscular arm beneath her fingertips,
her breasts pressed against his solid, ridged chest, his
face far too close to hers. Kissably close.
And kissing wasn’t something she intended to do with
Devlin. He was her friend.
She drew back and tugged the sides of her shirt down,
then smoothed it over her hips, her lips pursed.
Now would come the teasing.
"Is this your weekend to-do list?" he asked, eyebrows
raised.
"Well, maybe you and I can talk her into it," Aimee said
with a wink. "I’ve convinced her to stretch her imagination
a little. Now we need to convince her to go a bit wild."
Devlin grinned, his amused gaze settling on Sandra.
"Especially now that she’s lifted her ban on sex." Aimee
rested her chin on her hand. "A whole year without." Aimee
shook her head and gazed at Sandra. "I don’t know how you
lasted so long."
* * *
Devlin watched Sandra’s cheeks blush softly. He didn’t
know how he’d lasted so long. From the first time he’d met
her, he’d been crazy about her. Aimee had told him Sandra
had recently divorced and how tough it had been on her, so
he’d decided to tread carefully. He’d gotten to know her,
becoming her friend, making sure to give her plenty of
time, hoping when she was ready, she’d agree to go out with
him. Then he’d show her why the two of them were perfect
for each other.
But timing was everything. The woman hadn’t been with
anyone else since high school, and she was clearly on the
rebound. The first few guys she dated wouldn’t—shouldn’t—
lead to something permanent. He needed to wait it out
awhile longer, let her get a taste of the single life. Then
once she was firmly ensconced in the dating world, he’d
swoop in and make his move.
* * *
Sandra held one of Devlin’s arms and Aimee the other as
the three of them stepped outside into the warm summer’s
evening. Sandra took a deep breath and realized she felt
more than a little light-headed.
"My car’s around the corner," Devlin said as he tugged
her to the left.
"I’m glad we’ve got you as our designated driver," Aimee
said. "It beats taking the bus at this hour."
Sandra took the bus to work and no express buses ran at
this hour, so it would have been a long commute. Sometimes
Aimee drove her car, but Devlin hadn’t even asked. Aimee
and Sandra had both had enough drinks that he would ensure
neither of them drove. Even though Sandra didn’t need a guy
looking out for her, it was kind of nice that he did.
Devlin was a good friend.
He opened the front passenger door and Sandra climbed
in. Aimee got into the backseat—the usual arrangement,
since he would drop off Aimee first. As he drove, Sandra
relaxed in the front seat, her head against the headrest.
Suddenly she realized they’d stopped—she must have dozed
off—and Aimee was getting out of the car.
"I’ll be back in a minute," Devlin said. "I’ll just make
sure she gets in all right."
Sandra watched Devlin walk Aimee to the door of her
apartment building, wondering why the two of them weren’t
dating. Devlin was such a great guy, and available. Aimee
really was missing out. Sandra sighed. Maybe she should say
something to Devlin.
A few minutes later, Devlin opened the driver’s door and
slid into the seat beside her. He pulled the car into
traffic again.
"So, the year’s finally over." He glanced toward her,
then back to the road. "Are you looking forward to dating
again?"
She shifted in her seat. "Not really."
"Any particular reason?"
"Well, I’m out of practice, for one." She glanced over
at him. "And don’t say it’s like riding a bike."
He chuckled.
"I guess I’m worried I won’t find anyone who wants to
date me." She fiddled with her hands in her lap. "And then
I’m worried that if I do date someone, it won’t go well ...
I won’t know what to say or do. That kind of thing."
"I’m sure you won’t have any problem finding someone—
probably a lot of someones—who would love to date you."
He gazed across at her. Was it her imagination, or was
there a heated interest in his eyes? Butterflies quivered
through her stomach, but she realized it was most likely
her imagination. Probably the alcohol hazing her judgment.
"And if you want to go on a practice date or two—"
"You’ll volunteer? But that wouldn’t really be the same
thing. You and I are comfortable together. There wouldn’t
be any of the awkwardness of being with a stranger."
Devlin smiled but shook his head. "No, I was going to
say that I could set you up with someone. Maybe introduce
you to a couple of my friends over drinks, to see if you
hit it off in a casual sort of setup."
"Oh." As much as she’d protested, she’d actually liked
the idea that Devlin wanted to do some test dates with her.
The idea that he wanted to pawn her off on his friends
disappointed her for some reason.
He pulled in front of her building and parked the car,
then walked around it and opened her door. She stepped out
of the car and, as she breathed in the fresh night air,
felt a little woozy. Devlin took her arm.
"I think someone celebrated a little too much tonight."
He took her hand and rested it on his elbow, then walked
with her to the front door of her apartment building.
She rarely had more than a glass or two of wine with
dinner, or a single cocktail in an evening, so the
champagne and piña coladas had definitely gone to her head.
She pulled her key from her purse and pushed it into the
front door lock and turned it. Devlin opened the door.
"I’ll see you up," he said.
She walked beside him across the air-conditioned lobby.
He summoned the elevator and they stepped inside. As the
doors closed behind them, Sandra realized how small a space
it was and how tall Devlin was standing beside her. And how
broad his shoulders were.
And how safe she felt around him.
His arm brushed hers, and she realized he hadn’t
actually moved toward her; she’d listed a little to the
left and now leaned against him slightly. She should move
away, but it felt cozy leaning close to him like this. Her
good friend. Her buddy.
Her sexy, extremely masculine buddy.
The elevator dinged and the doors opened. She stepped
into the hallway and walked toward her apartment, Devlin by
her side. The lights of the city glittered below them as
she walked toward the big window at the end of the hallway,
where her apartment door was. Devlin took her key from her
fingers and pushed it into the lock, then turned it.
"You want to come in?" Sandra asked impulsively.
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