Focus of Desire

I found this book a total delight! I had forgotten how laugh out loud funny this author can be. I loved the 'round the world romp starting in NYC, then zipping to the frigid Midwest then on to Paris and Rome. Observing a top fashion photographer, soon to be forty Natasha 'Kash' Kashnikova, through the eyes of a mid-western baker/swim teacher, 29 year old lovely Isabel Sterling, and visa versa - was loads of fun! Eye popping locales and a night life that is so hot the next day is a blur the reader really feels like they are on the trip with them. A wonderful vacation read! Have fun!

If you can read this book without pulling your honey to the floor and making her evening utterly memorable, there is no hope for you! There. Got that out of my system. Kim Baldwin has created a hot, sexy romp that manages at the same time to be warmly touching. Baldwin is a skillful writer who has the knack of creating and maintaining tension. In this book it is sexual tension. Kash is every woman's idea of the ultimate bad girl, but Baldwin uses inner voice to make Kash vulnerable and believable. Isabel is our idea of the warm, loveable girl-next-door who deserves to get the girl she wants. Baldwin brings these two opposites together in a steamy encounter that feels completely believable. She handles Kash's growth from distant, cynical user to out-of-control, vulnerable lover with genuine compassion. Isabel's acknowledgement of her own sexual adventurousness is equally well done. By the end of this fiercely sexy book, you will watch the lovers come together and you will be delighted to say, "Awwww."

I've always liked Kim Baldwin's books, but this one is certainly one of her best. Here, she introduces the characters of Isabel Sterling and Kash. These women are more than just polar opposites; they have nothing in common and aren't even attracted to each other initially. Of course that all changes when they leave together for a three-week trip to four continents Isabel is a romantic. She believes in dating, falling in love, and then having sex. Her last few relationships have been disasters, but she still believes `the one' is out there waiting for her. Isabel decorates cakes for a living and teachers swimming in her spare time. Her schedule is dependable and she loves to plan and make lists. Humble about her volunteer activities and not one to seek attention, Isabel is surprised to learn she has won a magazine contest in which she will receive an all-expense paid trip to four continents, a new wardrobe, and a makeover. The only catch is she has to agree to be photographed for the magazine by Kash, a famous photographer with a womanizing reputation. Not to mention that Isabel's best friend, the playgirl Gillian, will be joining her on the trip... and Gillian has her sights set on a night with Kash. That is until Gillian realizes Isabel can't resist her growing attraction to Kash and lets herself have a taste of getting physical with a stranger. Kash is as talented with women as she is with her camera. She has her pick of women no matter where she goes. Her last few relationships were disastrous - her lovers not wanting her, but wanting something FROM her instead. As a result, she is the master in the bedroom and doesn't allow anyone to touch her. Kash doesn't trust anyone, but she finds the natural, genuine Isabel to be irresistible. This inner contradiction scares the dickens out of her. The only question is, will either woman be able to overcome their long-held personal isolation to allow more to develop between them. Certainly not for the faint-hearted, `Focus' is a well-told story about two women who desperately want to be loved. After finding each other, they struggle within and without to find the answers. Highly recommended by this reader.

Definitely Kim Baldwin's hottest book to date. Focus of Desire cannot and should not be compared to her previous works. Even though this book does not include action, (although the there is hot "action"), natural disasters or wildlife adventures, it does however include exotic locations, sexy characters, hot scenes and a romantic conclusion for two very different women who have to learn to look beyond their insecurities to see what really matters the most. I highly recommand it for an enjoyable evening.

I have read all of Kim Baldwin's novels. And I have enjoyed each one for its own genre and individual uniqueness. Though Focus of Desire my not pack a punch with the kind of action that you will find in Baldwin's other books, it does offer a steamy romance between two women, their individual struggles and their desire to nourish a craving. Not only will you discover the title of the book to be fitting, you will also experience a broader array of Baldwin's talents as a writer. Personally, I found this book to be very flattering for its humor, frustration and excitement that each character experiences. When an author writes a book where you can actually visualize the setting and experience the mood, then it's a must read. If you are interested in a hot romance, Focus of Desire is it.