Corey and Matt are friends who get it on from time to time, but nothing more. Sure, they're there to help each other out, they discuss family troubles and each run their own business. But Corey is a stubbornly self-reliant girl, and Matt fears losing her if he pushes for more.

Corey is an award-winning chocolatier, with a small industrial premise, who sells at a market and takes custom orders. She doesn't have time for a boyfriend WITH STRINGS ATTACHED, but thinks it's great that Matt, who runs a micro- brewery and bar, is in her life. Then Dylan who's a professional surfer comes to stay with Matt while he recovers from an injury. Dylan, an old friend of Matt's, fancies Corey right away, but doesn't want to jeopardise anything Matt has going with her. Matt bravely states that they are just friends so Dylan allows his growing attraction to the girl to build, until none of the three can deny the sizzling heat going on and they all end up in bed. At the end of the day however Corey is going to have to choose one of the great young men, strings and all.

This tale by Kelly Jamieson is far more than a steamy story, because each character is well developed and their lives are rounded and peopled with family and friends. Matt is forever helping his mother with repairs in her house, so he is taken up short to discover that she has a new man in her life. Dylan is devastated by flashbacks from his near- death surfing accident which threaten to stop him competing or even enjoying his sport. And Kelly, whose mother has bipolar syndrome, buys her own cacao beans from Brazil and processes them into full cocoa butter truffles to corner the quality end of the market. WITH STRINGS ATTACHED also contains sensible advice for those who might be considering a threesome: using protection, a girl considering this rarely and only with men she trusts fully, and not suggesting such activities while in a committed relationship.

WITH STRINGS ATTACHED is a very readable and hot tale which makes us care about the characters and get involved in their lives, so it is well worth a try. I'll be looking out for more from this author.