Hittin' It

4.75 STARS - This book is split into two parts. The first part (about 150 pages) is Will and Sabrina's story. This is the romantic suspense portion of the book. Will is a strong, silent Beta hero and Sabrina is troubled but free spirited. They have fabulous chemistry and complement each other very well. Their story takes place in Texas during the hot summer, which gives the book a sultry feel. The action and suspense are intense enough to satisfy RS fans, but the drama never takes away from the romance and the lightness and natural feel of the dialogue lend a great sense of balance to the story. Will and Sabrina's story is wonderfully balanced and Will is one of the most gorgeous heroes I've encountered in my recent reading. The second part (about 90 pages) is John and Tish's story, and it's a sexy, funny contemporary romance. John gets suckered into playing bodyguard for a powerful colleague's daughter. John is more of a dry-humored "Alpha Lite". Alpha strength and abilities, Beta personality. Tish is a cute, funny heroine, and she's a perfect match for John. She's Trouble with a capital "T". The love scenes in this story are smokin' HOT, and the interplay between John and Tish had me laughing out loud several times. My only negative comment is a selfish one and is related to the length of the stories. It's tough to fully develop a storyline and characters in novellas. I enjoyed these characters so much that I really wished the stories could have been full length so I could learn more about them. I think a few of the background questions might be answered in Nailed, a previous book about big brother Wynn, so I'll be picking that up very soon. Still, Ms. Stuart's writing is so solid and her characterizations are so vivid that this is a very minor issue and did not interfere with my ability to enjoy the book. Amie Stuart writes sweet, sexy romances with natural language and ultra-realistic characters. If you're looking for a book that's fun and sexy, with characters that jump off the page and a story that won't make you roll your eyes, I highly recommend Hittin' It.

"Screwed: Will and Sabrina". In Texas professional hit man Will breaks the most important rule of his profession by agreeing to help Sabrina. However, he soon finds himself hiding from a hit taken out on him. When he retires, he and Sabrina hook up at his party. "Hooked: John and Tish". Professional hit man John breaks the most important rule of his vocation by making a hit personal. However, his thirst for revenge is put on hold by Tish, who demands he escort her to a wedding. There her mob chief father persuades John that love not war is the way to live a long prosperous life. The latest Collier brothers' tales are fun satirical contemporary romances starring two tough hombres NAILED like their sibling Wynn was. Both stories are well written with plenty of wry irony as the professional hit men take hits in their respective hearts, but in spite of being an Aphrodisia, the sheets are less explicitly soiled than usual for this imprint. Harriet Klausner