C. K. Ralston

Once in a while, a new-to-me author will surprise me. This book explores a favourite theme and takes it somewhere unexpected.

Casey is thrilled when she is offered a position as PA to a wealthy businessman. When he offers her the job, Nick tells her he is attracted to her and that he is going to flirt with her and proposition her, repeatedly, if she works for him. He also assures her that is not the reason she is being hired, and that it will not affect their working relationship if she turns him down every time.

Casey takes the job. It pays well and will make a big difference to her and her husband, 'Woz'. She tells Woz about Nick's proposal and Woz is excited by the prospect. They discuss it, Woz tells her she should take up Nick's offer - the conversation is a huge turn-on for them and they have great sex.

For a while, Nick makes his advances, Casey flirts back and turns him down and goes home to her husband where they talk about it and reap the benefits. Woz continues to insist Casey should accept Nick's advances and, inevitably, one day she does so - with her husband's full support and encouragement, and therefore no "cheating" or "straying" occurs.

I said above that this book explores a favourite theme, and it does, but it does so with no shaming or hurtful behaviour directed by or toward any of the trio. Casey and Woz experience some initial anxiety over the path they've chosen to follow and they talk it out and get through it, reassuring each other that they are on the right track. Woz and Nick eventually meet, they take an immediate liking to each other and their story is ultimately more a ménage à trois than the hotwife/cheating tale it is billed as.

The three main characters are all very likeable and they get their Happy For Now ending, with strong HEA possibilities. The steamy scenes are plentiful and well-written, though their pillow talk and the scenes themselves are more porn-y than I'm accustomed to reading. To C.K. Ralston's credit, it works well for this story, and I understand it is something of a trademark for this prolific author.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I already have my eye on several more from the author. I think it is absolutely worth a look if you're a fan of sweet and very hot ménage stories.… (más)