People sometimes tease me about reading romance. They are stuck in the bodice ripper mindset and think every book is about a virginal woman waiting to be rescued by a man who will then introduce her to the pleasures of his love handle. While the boy-meets-girl theme is typical of romance, and much love handle fun is had by all in many of the books I read, the romance genre is so much more than that. LUSH by Lauren Dane (and the Brown series and Delicious series it is connected to) is a perfect example of contemporary romance at its best.

Mary Whaley is single and loves her life. She runs a successfully catering company and supper club in Bainbridge, Washington. She is surrounded by the love of her family and friends. She is independent, happy, and busy. She thinks a romantic relationship will interfere with her focus on building her business. So when she meets rock star Damien Hurley at her best friend\'s engagement party she seizes the opportunity for a no-strings-attached sexual adventure with a hot, tattooed, rock god who isn\'t looking for forever either.

Damien is attracted to Mary Whaley the minute he spots her in the kitchen working her magic with food. She\'s beautiful, sexy, smart, and fun to talk to. Damien may have a reputation as a rough rocker who has had more than his share of women but he knows that Mary is different. With Mary, settling-down looks more and more appealing. Can Damien convince her that what they have is more than just a fling?

So what about LUSH places it on my list of favorite romances? It goes without saying that I enjoy the development of the romantic relationship, but the powerful friendships and family ties that surround and support Damien and Mary elevate the story. Both characters come from healthy loving families. They are surrounded by family and friends, who are more than willing to argue, interfere, encourage, and rise in defense. I love that the romance adds to an already rich life. So where does the story come from? Some of it comes from the fun in watching Mary and Damien get to know one another as they explore each other\'s worlds. Tension and drama builds as they figure out how to adjust their lives to make room for a new relationship and from the special challenges of dating a rock star.