Arm Candy

The problem with regularly working 10+ hours a day is that I turn into a strange, not-quite-human creature that's incapable of much thought. Since I am feeling almost human at the moment, I decided to go with the feeling and blog about a book.

Jo Leigh's Arm Candy has a unique premise: Jessica's married boss won't accept that she's not interested in an affair, so she comes up with an idea--show him that she's involved with someone else. The problem is that she has devoted so much time to her career that her personal life has suffered. She isn't dating anyone. Enter Dan, the friend of a friend, who's willing to step into the role.

Sexual harassment is a serious issue, and Leigh treats it as such. Jessica has valid reasons for not wanting to report him. The way the subplot with her boss plays out is very satisfying.

The book's focus, however, is the relationship between Dan and Jessica, which is nicely portrayed. Their chemistry builds as they get to know each other and it continues after their relationship becomes physical. It's an adult story because it doesn't rely on gimmicks or on characters playing games with each other. It's about two adults with real emotions and real issues. Arm Candy receives 4 out of 5.

In other book news, I've experienced an amazing run of luck with contests lately. I received two prizes today and look forward to enjoying them.

Alyssa