The heroes did not have the charisma of the usual romance I've been reading, perhaps because I couldn't describe this as a romantic comedy, nor was it romantic suspense, as I found the plot too insubstantial.
Reflection months later: I was going through the exercise of clicking on books whose titles trigger nothing in my psyche – just to remind myself of what the books were about. Then I saw this cover. Despite everything, this cover is great! very evocative, and I instantly remember the novel. ( )

Another Bachelor in Demand bites the dust. York and Darcy have known each other for a couple of years since her best friend, Ellie, is married to his godbrother, Uriel (Bachelor Untamed). However, they don't get along and avoid each other during gatherings they both attend. York hit on Darcy at Ellie's wedding and got shot down in no uncertain terms. This put a dent in York's pride and colored the way he looked at her. What he didn't know was that Darcy had just ended a terrible marriage and was cynical about all men, and he got hit with the results.

Neither one expected to run into each other in Jamaica. Darcy was there on vacation and looking for a vacation playmate. York was there on business, investigating a movie piracy scheme. I had to laugh when Darcy first saw York because she didn't recognize him, and her dismay was hilarious when she did. It only got worse when he later confronted her about a man she talked to a hotel party. He had excellent reasons to warn her against Damien, but she didn't want to hear it. At the same time, the attraction that bubbled beneath their antagonism finally boiled over.

I enjoyed watching the development of Darcy and York's relationship. It started as purely physical, with Darcy intending that it end when she leaves Jamaica. York, on the other hand, sees no reason that they shouldn't continue. He doesn't expect to find that he wants more than just an affair. This quickly becomes evident to him when he hates to see her with someone else, and when his protective instincts are thoroughly aroused by the time she spends with Damien. I was a bit frustrated with Darcy's refusal to listen to York's warnings. I somewhat understood her reasons, but his experience should have made her more receptive.

I liked watching them grow closer the more time that they spent together. Darcy began to suspect that her heart was in trouble, but did not want to admit it. When the issue with Damien grew more intense, York made a boneheaded move that protected Darcy but made her feel betrayed and used. I hurt for her, but I also wanted to shake her for being so stubborn. I liked Ellie's conversation with Darcy and her attempt to talk sense into Darcy. The ending was good, as York showed up on Darcy's doorstep. I enjoyed how he took the wind out of the sails of her anger with a few words. The epilogue was fun, especially York's conversation with the three remaining bachelors' club members. ( )

There was so much repetition in words (especially), phrases, thoughts, and even paragraphs in this book it started to drive me crazy. Everything seemed to be repeated over and over and over. Or stated redundantly. For example, in case you don't get that he's hard we're told he's "hard and erect". Those mean the same thing in this context! There was a paragraph explaining the main characters' background, including how they met, that showed up a second time later on that was almost verbatim of the first.

The story borders on porn without plot. I thought the characters she created with Darcy and York were decent and interesting but they were kind of wasted in this story because all they do is sex sex sex sex sex sex sex sex sex sex sex and when you and even they think they've definitely had enough sex...they have more sex. There were some paragraphs indicating there was off screen talking. I guess we'll have to take their word for it. Aaaaand then they're in love. Well, sure. I totally believe that they're in love based on who the other person is and not the oh so amazing sex. Especially when about 98% of their thoughts about each other are about the ohmigodsoamazing sex. The sex scenes wanted to be hot. They definitely bordered on it, but they were also laugh-out-loud funny. Some of the word choices and thoughts the characters had were just plain funny, but none more than the guffaw I had when she asked him, not to come inside her, no, to "...let go inside of me. I want to feel your semen." And then that became a focus in the sex scenes.

The suspense plot was...there. For what reason I don't know. It was pretty much just there to give them a reason to talk, but their past with each other made the need for such a pretense unnecessary. It provided such minor conflict, blown up into being something huge, I'm sure something else that wouldn't have seemed so forced could have taken its place. The ending was seriously rushed. If the falling in love was fast and unbelievable the rest of it gave me mental whiplash and a serious scowl.

2.5 stars ( )