Just reading the first few pages of GOING NATIVE brightened up my day. In Dallas two girls are best friends, but their ways have parted so that Violet spends most of her life in her family's publishing house with a tiny, cramped office, while lively model Giselle is about to take off for a few weeks in Rio. Violet can't take up the offer of the trip, but she does offer to care for Giselle's small dog. Then Giselle suggests Violet could house-sit her loft in a trendy enclave, and make free with the contents, especially the elegant walk-in closet. Wow!

GOING NATIVE, Sensible Violet contrasts with the new Party Girl Violet, and all the single men seem very attractive in this enclave. Tipsy, Violet kisses one who's actually a new arrival, while an outdoor party is in full swing. She thinks it's harmless fun and her four-inch heels have her swaying into his arms. Luckily, Eddie is well-travelled and sits her down while he fetches some coffee. Coming to herself, Violet stumbles away to the loft.

Next day Violet's short elegant suit and pink heels earn her the glare of her staid aunt, but her uncle spots the potential. He asks the girl to take a break from organising the firm's ISO quality application to show around a lawyer working for a potential investor. That lawyer happens to be Eddie.... He can't believe his good luck with Texan ladies, but he knows something about the printing firm that Violet doesn't.

I had fun reading about Violet's double life and her unaccustomed hot dates. The outline of the commercial printing business was also well written. With so much going on-line nowadays, free-sheets and leaflets just aren't enough to keep a firm running. Dallas is described with as much care for neighbourhoods as we normally only see in tales about New York, with top-class food and a gay pickup restaurant to counter Eddie's old-fashioned views of the city. There are downsides to Giselle's lavish existence, which Violet only becomes aware of after spending some time in the loft and picking up her friend's messages. I thought it was a reasonable reminder that living high can be a fictional lifestyle.

For a lively, swift-moving adult romance try GOING NATIVE by Sally Felt, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.