Welcome To Temptation by Jennifer Crusie (SMP, 2000)

If you haven’t read this book, you’re sure missing a lot! Jennifer Crusie has a talent for creating charmers-sexy men with off kilter senses of humor, lots of smarts, and an immeasurable degree of sexiness. Phin is a good guy who wants to take care of his family and live his life despite his interfering mother, and he has no problem standing up to her when he threatens the woman he loves. That’s the beauty of Phin’s charm-it’s disarming, but it hides a toughness that’s even more so.

STATS:

The mayor of small town Temptation, Ohio, and father to nine-year-old daughter Dillie, who announces that she needs a mom.

THE LOOK:

“He had broad shoulder, mirrored sunglasses, and no smile, and Sophie could hear ominous music on the soundtrack in her head as her heart started to pound. His fair hair shone in the late-afternoon sun, his profile was classic and beautiful, the sleeves of his tailored white shirt were rolled precisely to his elbows, and his khaki slacks were immaculate and pressed. He looked like every glossy frat boy in every nerd movie ever made.”

LEADING LADY:

Sophie Dempsey gets an assignment that brings her to Temptation, Ohio, something she dreads even before she sees the phallic-shaped water tower on the edge of town or meets Phin, who reminds her of “every rotten rich kid who’d ever belonged where she didn’t.” As Phin notes, the tension “radiated off her so hard that it had been exhausting just standing next to her.” Raised by a con-artist father and extremely protective of her brother and sister, she’s dating her ex-therapist, quoting movie lines, and using the famous “Dempsey” smile to get what she wants (mainly to be left alone)-at least until Phin comes along.

Unforgettable sex scenes:

On a dock one night, Phin and Sophie discuss whether having an orgasm should be her responsibility rather than her partner’s. Using the metaphor of a famished bear and making her an offer she can’t refuse, Phin –quite thoroughly-proves to her why selfishness has its rewards.

Another time, Sophie is staring at the ceiling, distracted and hot (not the good kind) while Phin makes love to her. He persists in finding out what her fantasies are, and then proceeds to fulfill them, until he can quite proudly proclaim that she’s so kinky her “soul is a corkscrew.”

Unforgettable humor:

Phin tells his mother that corruption runs in Sophie’s family and that the rest of her grandchildren (since he’s going to marry her) are going to be half-degenerate. After all, he has to marry her - she beats him at pool!

How he gets her to agree to marry him:

He tells her, “I love you. I’ll always love you. Forever. It’s a life sentence. Now put the damn ring on.”

BOTTOM LINE:

This book is full of laughs, tender moments, hot, hot sex, and even a little suspense. It’s as complex and feel-good as Phin’s character. He’s the kind of guy you could laugh, love, and fight with for a lifetime.

QUESTION OF THE DAY?

Do you like books that explore the kinky side of sex? How far is too far?