Simply Sinful

This is the first book of the Simply Triology by Carly Phillips- a full length contemporary romance that has all of Carly Phillips' usual elements...a great hero, a brave heroine and sizzling plot.BR> Kayla Luck is running her deceased aunt's etiquette school. Unbeknownst to her, the police and detective Kane are investigating it as a possible prostitution ring. Kane and Kayla are immediately drawn to each other, but the police case gets in their way. Soon Kayla is in danger and Kane must protect her, help her clear her aunt's name and find out the truth. <p>A great secondary character, is kayla's sister Cat- who will soon have her own story in book 2 of the triology.<br> This book is a great read- Carly Phillips has a fast paced and breezy writing style that will appeal!

Kayla Luck is built like a blonde bombshell so everyone takes on look at her and assumes she's a dumb bimbo. In actually, Kayla is a very smart accountant who has inherited her aunt's etiquette business, Charmed. The police received a lead that Charmed is a front for a prostitution ring. Detective Kane McDermott is sent to investigate. Kane poses as a traveling salesman who needs pointers for a big dinner with his boss. He convinces Kayla to go out to dinner with him hoping he can trap her. It doesn't take long for Kane to realize that Kayla is innocent but he is so attracted to her that he can't cut the evening short. The two end up spending the night together. The next morning when Kayla goes back to her business, there is a thug waiting for her who demands to know where the "money and books" are. When Kayla's sister comes in the front, the thug runs out the back. The sisters call the police to report what happened and guess who shows up...Kane. Kane is now convinced that there had been a prostitution ring run out of Charmed before Kayla inherited the business and that her life is in danger. When his boss won't authorize protection for Kayla, he takes leave and guards her himself.This was a very good book. I sat down and read it in one evening. The relationship between Kayla and Kane was very touching to see develop.

In "Simply Sinful," Carly Phillips pens a hot love story pitting Detective Kane McDermott against etiquette school, Charmed!, owner Kayla Luck in a battle of wills where everyone wins. The story has a believable premise (detective goes undercover to investigate whether business is a front for prostitution), the characters are people I would like to have as friends. They're honest with each other, they speak believable (intelligent) dialogue, there is no BIG MISUNDERSTANDING to keep them apart and they evoke a sense of sympathy and caring. Although both had suffered loss of parents and other close family, my heart went out to Kane the most. Kayla had her sister ( & her aunt, before the aunt's death), but Kane had no one who really loved him. At times, I had a lump in my throat as it became clear he blamed himself for the death of his mother even though he was a child at the time and there was little he could have done to prevent the suicide.An air of sensuality sizzles and crackles between them, yet Kane is ever mindful of Kayla's position and the danger she's in, and treats her with fiercely protective tenderness. (Hot chocolate and whipped cream will never mean quite the same thing to me again. ::: big grin::: ) These two are great for each other and I was very happy with the story's resolution. I loved this story and can't wait to dive into Cat's story, "Simply Scandalous." And be on the lookout for Carly's "Simply Sensual," in January 2001. I know I will. Carly also writes novels for Zebra Bouquet, as Karen Drogin. Check out "Perfect Partners" and "The Right Choice."

Carly Phillips has written another fantastic book for the Blaze sub-series of Harlequin Temptation. The story of Kane and Kayla's romance is sexy, fun and an all around perfect read. And it can only get better because Kayla's sister Catherine gets her own Blaze story next month. If you like your stories hot, don't pass up this book!

Kane and Kayla are characters you can fall in love with. But be careful, because it's a long, HOT trip to happily ever after.