How did a book with a premise this filthy end up as one of the sweetest romance books I have ever read? Danielle Higgs is a tight-laced secretary for the even more tight-laced furniture store owner, Victor Hughes. They are so formal with each other that they don’t even call each other by their first names. Danielle’s job can be very stressful, not because Mr. Hughes is a demanding boss, it’s just the nature of the business, so when she gets overwhelmed she does what anyone else would do and heads down to the local glory hole to get railed by a stranger. One night, she has a particularly amazing encounter and she finds herself picturing her boss the whole time. But it couldn’t possibly be him, right? SPOILER ALERT, it is, and they realize it the next day at work. They then realize that they have had a mutual attraction for the past 3 years and decide to act on it.
This book was sweet, tender, and filthy all at the same time. It also dealt with some sensitive topics, like Danielle’s hesitance to be looked at during sex because a past ex had shamed her about her strong sex drive. The book also talks about the importance of having hobbies and friends outside of work and was a great proponent of therapy and self-care. The best reason to read this book, however, is that there is no third-act breakup. The characters are adults who actually communicate with each other.
The writing in this book is swoon-worthy. I found myself highlighting quotes all over the place. Here are a few of my favorites.
“She looked at him only from the corner of her eye, because drinking him in fully with the knowledge that he might have feelings for her was impossible. It would be like staring into the sun. She’d melt into a mess immediately, and she’d never get anything done.”
“It’s impossible not to pine for someone as incredible as you, Danielle.”
“Hearts, it turned out, were made to be open.”
I got this book FOR FREE on one of the stuff your Kindle days, but I love it so much that I bought a signed paperback from the author’s website. This has become a bit of a comfort read, and I rate it as one of my top-tier romance books. It is truly a treasure among indie books, and I hope it finds the audience it deserves.
CBR Bingo: Sex
This book is full of sex and sex positivity.
